Total laryngectomy increases the risk of chronic constipation: a cross-sectional study of 50 patients.

PURPOSE: Due to difficulties in breath holding, patients who undergo total laryngectomy may be prone to the development of chronic constipation. However, few reports have described chronic constipation in laryngectomized patients, and no report has described prevalence in patients who have undergone total pharyngolaryngectomy. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the prevalence of chronic constipation after laryngectomy and evaluated the relationship between patient characteristics and chronic constipation. Information on patient characteristics and the details of surgery were obtained from medical records and an original questionnaire survey in 50 patients. RESULTS: The prevalence of chronic constipation after laryngectomy was high, at 36%, with 18 cases. Patients who received total laryngectomy were significantly more likely to have chronic constipation than those who received total pharyngolaryngectomy (47.1% vs 12.5%, P = 0.026), who had a similar prevalence to the general public. Furthermore, the period from surgery to survey was significantly shorter in the constipation group than in the no constipation group (P = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of chronic constipation in patients who had undergone laryngectomy for head and neck cancer was high, particularly in patients who received total laryngectomy and in those with only a short period since surgery.

Novel color fluorescence imaging for sentinel lymph node detection in oral and oropharyngeal cancer.

AIM: Fluorescence imaging (FI) using indocyanine green (ICG) is a noteworthy alternative technique for sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection without radiation exposure in oral cavity and oropharynx cancer. However, conventional FI is monochrome, so the visibility is limited. This study assessed whether color FI using the HyperEye Medical System (HEMS) is feasible as an alternative for SLN detection. METHODS: Patients with previously untreated cT1-2N0 oral or oropharyngeal cancer who were to undergo primary tumor resection and elective neck dissection (END) in our hospital were enrolled from November 2012 to March 2016. The patients underwent SLN detection for biopsy via the HEMS following the injection of ICG solution around the primary lesion before neck dissection. The visibility and the diagnostic accuracy of the imaging were evaluated. RESULTS: SLNs were visualized in all eight cases; however, transcutaneous fluorescence detection was not observed in all cases. Utilizing color mode imaging simplified harvest by clearly discriminating SLNs from surrounding structures, while the monochrome mode proved to be more sensitive for detection. Two cases showed occult metastases on both sentinel and regional nodes. The identification and false negative rates were 100% and 0%, respectively. There were no complications incurred due to this method. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that color FI with the HEMS allows for the accurate and safe harvest of SLNs with a preparatory skin incision. Although there is room for improvement of sensitivity, this easy-to-handle procedure might provide the potential to expand the role of the ICG method for SLN detection in head and neck cancer.

The Significance of CD109 Expression in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Up-regulation of CD109 occurs in malignant tumours, although its role is unknown. Here we aimed to evaluate the significance of CD109 expression in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to assess CD109 expression in 169 patients with OPSCC. We assessed the effects of small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated inhibition of CD109 expression on the proliferation and invasiveness of the human papillomavirus 16-positive (HPV16+) head and neck SCC cell line UM-SCC-47. RESULTS: Expression of CD109 was associated with higher tumour differentiation in p16+ OPSCC (p=0.0036), and the CD109+ subgroup experienced significantly shorter progression-free survival (p=0.03). UM-SCC-47 cells with siRNA-mediated inhibition of CD109 expression showed reduced invasiveness (p=0.07). CONCLUSION: CD109 expression is associated with poor prognosis of HPV16+ OPSCCs.

Preoperative S-1 Therapy for Head and Neck Carcinoma During the Waiting Period Before Surgery.

BACKGROUND/AIM: In patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), delayed surgery can result in poorer postoperative function and prognosis due to the growth of the tumor and extended surgery. Further, delay may even make the tumor unresectable. To prevent tumor growth during the waiting period before surgery, S-1 has been administrated preoperatively at several facilities in Japan. To date, however, the safety and efficacy of preoperative S-1 remain unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 118 patients with SCCHN treated with S-1 before radical surgery at 2 institutions in Japan. We evaluated the safety of S-1 therapy, which was evaluated by the incidence of grade 3 or greater adverse events (AEs). The rate of achievement of non-growth of tumors was also calculated. RESULTS: Regarding safety, 125 AEs of all grades were recorded in 71 patients (60%). Of these, grade 3 AEs were detected in 3 patients (3%), and no grade 4 or 5 AEs occurred. The nongrowth rate of primary lesions and lymph node metastases was 89% and 85%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Preoperative S-1 therapy might be useful, with acceptable toxicity, on an outpatient basis in patients with SCCHN.

Removal of a Giant Parapharyngeal Space Oncocytoma Without Osteotomy.

Oncocytoma arising from the parotid gland and extending into the parapharyngeal space (PPS) has not been previously reported. A 64-year-old woman presented with a large slowly growing mass extending from the parotid to the submandibular area, expanding medially to displace the pharynx across the midline. Core-needle biopsy revealed an oncocytoma in the PPS measuring 120 × 88 × 60 mm in size. Although the tumor was of an unprecedentedly large size and extended into multiple spaces, it could be removed via a cervical-parotid approach without osteotomy. The resected tumor was again diagnosed as oncocytoma. A postoperative complication was weakness of the ipsilateral facial nerve, which almost completely resolved in 6 months. No recurrence has been noted on 1 y follow-up. We were able to resect an extremely large oncocytoma arising from the parotid gland without osteotomy.

Evaluation of the usefulness of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and the ValsamouthⓇ by an otolaryngologist in patients with Hypopharyngeal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the usefulness of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and the ValsamouthⓇ by an otolaryngologist in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer to assess the risk. METHODS: The study group comprised 41 patients with untreated hypopharyngeal cancer that was precisely diagnosed by an otolaryngologist using upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and the ValsamouthⓇ at our hospital from January 2016 to December 2017. With upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and the ValsamouthⓇ, the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx, and esophagus were observed in this order. Narrow-band imaging, and subsequently, white-light observation were performed. At the hypopharynx, vocalization, and subsequently, the Valsalva maneuver were performed. After observing the esophagus, Lugol chromoendoscopy of the esophagus was performed. RESULTS: The mean age of the 38 men and 3 women included in the study was 69.7 ± 10.0 years (range, 51-94 years). As for the T category of hypopharyngeal cancer, T1 cancer was observed in 9 patients, T2 cancer in 14, T3 cancer in 11, and T4 cancer in 7. With vocalization, the grade of visualization in the hypopharynx was 1 in 30 patients (73.2%), 2 in 11 patients (26.8%), and 3 or more in 0 patients (0.0%). With the Valsalva maneuver, the grade of visualization in the hypopharynx was 1 in 1 patient (2.4%), 2 in 15 patients (36.6%), 3 in 8 patients (19.5%), 4 in 11 patients (26.8%), and 5 in 6 patients (14.6%). The grade of visualization in the hypopharynx on average was 1.27 after vocalization and 3.15 after the Valsalva maneuver (p < 0.001). With vocalization, the percentage of patients in whom the entire image of hypopharyngeal cancer could be observed was 0.0% for grade 1 and 18.2% for grade 2. With the Valsalva maneuver, the percentage of patients in whom the entire image of hypopharyngeal cancer could be observed was 0.0% for grade 1, 40.0% for grade 2, 50.0% for grade 3, 86.1% for grade 4, and 100% for grade 5. Synchronous esophageal cancers were detected in 17.1% (7/41) of the patients. The grade of Lugol-voiding lesions was A in 5.6%, B in 52.8%, and C in 41.7%. CONCLUSION: The examination with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and the ValsamouthⓇ by an otolaryngologist is feasible in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. This procedure can detect synchronous esophageal cancer, allowing the risk of metachronous cancer in the head and neck or the esophagus to be recognized after the treatment.