Transoral laser microsurgery for T1 glottic cancer with anterior commissure: Identifying clinical and radiological variables that predict oncological outcome.

PURPOSE: The involvement of the anterior commissure (AC) is regarded to be a risk factor for poor results after transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) for early glottic cancer. The objective of this study was to determine how AC-related clinical and radiological factors affected oncological outcomes in a cohort of patients with T1 stage early glottic carcinoma involving the anterior commissure who were treated with TLM with negative surgical margins. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on clinical, radiological, and follow-up data of patients consecutively treated with TLM at a tertiary academic center between November 2011 and August 2021 for T1 glottic squamous cell carcinoma involving the anterior commissure. Recurrence-free survival (RFS), local control with laser alone (LCL), laryngeal preservation (LP), and overall survival (OS) rates (Kaplan-Meier) were the primary outcome metrics. RESULTS: In our series, 5-year OS probability was 75.1%, RFS was 64.8%, LCL was 73.8%, and LP was 83.4%. OS and RFS were higher in patients with early stages of AC pattern than in patients with advanced stage (p = 0.004, p = 0.034, respectively). Vertical extension ratio was found to be associated with OS and RFS (p = 0.023, p = 0.001, respectively), and thyroid cartilage interlaminar angle with LCL by multiple Cox regression analysis (p = 0.041). CONCLUSION: TLM remains a valuable treatment option for AC involvement. AC3 type involvement and elevated vertical extension ratio were associated with negative prognosis. There have been signs that thyroid cartilage with a narrow angle increases recurrence. Alternative modalities should be kept in mind in the treatment decision of these cases.

Alternating pattern of rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis with COVID-19 in diabetic patients.

PURPOSE: Our aim was to analyze the patients with diabetic rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis that we have treated in our clinic in the last 5 years, and to reveal the altering conditions with COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 39 rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) patients with diabetes mellitus between 2017 and 2022. The patients were divided into two groups as those associated with and not associated with COVID-19 and compared. RESULTS: Thirty-nine diabetic patients were included in the study, with 15 (38.5%) of them being COVID-19 associated mucormycosis (CAM) group. CAM patients showed higher orbital involvement and cavernous sinus involvement (p = 0.002 and p = 0.013, respectively). The mortality rate in the non-COVID-19 associated mucormycosis (non-CAM) group was statistically higher in patients with intracranial and cavernous sinus involvement (p = 0.015 and p = 0.033, respectively). The difference between the overall survival of the CAM patients and non-CAM patients was not statistically significant (p = 0.741). CONCLUSIONS: With COVID-19, progressive mucormycosis accompanied by orbital and intracranial involvement is observed more frequently. However, on the contrary, the mortality rate in COVID-19-associated mucormycosis is considerably lower than expected. The fact that temporary immune suppression can be ameliorated with adequate supportive treatment and liposomal amphotericin-B which can be given to patients in high doses may explain this situation. It has been attained hints that the essential factor in the treatment of COVID-19-associated ROCM is the control of the underlying disease and to be cautious in the decision of early aggressive surgery.

Assessment of Videos on YouTubeTM about Nasopharyngeal Cancer in Terms of Accuracy, Reliability and Understandability.

INTRODUCTION: In the internet era we live in, it is very easy to access information. While this situation has positive effects for patients using the internet, it also brings some negative effects. The effects of the quality of YouTube™ videos on nasopharyngeal cancer were examined. METHODS: "Nasopharyngeal Cancer" as search term was used to conduct a search on YouTube™. The 'Sort by' search filter was set at 'relevance', which is the default for YouTube™ searches. The first 250 results were reviewed and analyzed. After the videos were eliminated according to the exclusion criteria, 45 videos were evaluated by two authors. Video materials were categorized according to "video type" and "source of content". According to "video type" and "source of content" the videos were categorized into  two as educational and testimonial and three as medical institution, medical website, and individual users. After recording the features of all evaluated videos, accuracy score, audiovisual score, modified discern score, patient education materials assessment tool for audiovisual materials (PEMAT) score and usefulness score were determined for each video to evaluate the accuracy, reliability, and understandability of the videos. RESULTS: The usefulness score, modified discern score, and accuracy score of the educational videos were significantly higher than testimonial videos (p<0.001 for all). Educational videos provided more useful and accurate video content than testimonial videos. In addition, it was also determined that the median PEMAT actionability score and audiovisual score of the individual group were statistically significantly lower than medical institutions and medical websites (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). The videos provided by medical institutions, including universities, did not have a significant advantage over other groups in terms of accuracy, reliability, and usefulness. CONCLUSION: Healthcare videos concerning nasopharyngeal cancer on YouTube™ are heterogeneous and are not peer reviewed. Therefore, medical professions on nasopharyngeal cancer need to upload more accurate, reliable and easy to understand videos onto online platforms such as YouTube™.

Risk factors associated with nocturia in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

AIM: To evaluate the risk factors associated with nocturia in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients aged over 18 years who had been diagnosed with OSAS using polysomnography (PSG) from January to December 2019 were evaluated. The number of nocturia episodes had been assessed in a 3-day bladder diary. We analysed the age, sex, body mass index (BMI) score, apnea-hypopn ea index (AHI) score and severity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking and heart diseases in all patients. RESULTS: A total of 124 patients with a mean age of 49.9 ± 11.6 years (range: 25-81 years) were included in the study. Ninety-two (75.8%) patients had nocturia. The mean number of nocturia episodes of patients with nocturia was 2.4 ± 1.3. To determine factors affecting the risk of nocturia, the logistic regression analysis was performed. Patient age and BMI scores were found as the most effective risk factors determining nocturia (P < .05). The odds of patient age were 1.06 (odds ratio: 1.12; 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.11; P = .010) times higher for patients with nocturia. Every 1-unit increase in the BMI score increased the risk of nocturia 1.12 times. In the study period, 48 patients with nocturia had undergone the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy or surgical treatment. The mean number of nocturia episodes of these patients was 2.3 ± 1.4 before treatment and 1.7 ± 2.2 after treatment, showing a significant decrease (P = .032). Although the total daily urine volume increased significantly with the treatment, the total night-time urine volume decreased significantly at night (P = .016 and P = .024, respectively). CONCLUSION: The age and BMI score were the risk factors associated with nocturia in patients with OSAS.