Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: Prognostic factors for development of distant metastases and oncological outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Distant metastasis (DM) development in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OPSCC) represents an important prognostic factor. The identification of a phenotype of metastatic patients may better define therapeutic and follow-up programs. METHODS: We included 408 patients with OPSCC, non-metastatic at the time of diagnosis, and treated with curative intent. The Overall Survival (OS) analyses were performed and the impact of developing DM on survival was analyzed through Cox proportional-hazard regression model. RESULTS: 57 (14%) patients develop DM. 302 (74%) were p16+ OPSCC and 35 of them experienced DM. Advanced clinical stage, smoking, p16-status, response to primary treatment, and loco-regional relapse influence the DM rate. Only in the p16+ group, DM onset results in a greater impact on OS (p < 0.0001). Lung metastases have a better OS compared to non-pulmonary ones (p = 0.049). CONCLUSION: This retrospective study shows a possible stratification of OPSCC patients based on the risk of the development of DMs.

Head and Neck Cancer During Covid-19 Pandemic: Was there a Diagnostic Delay?

The aim of the present study is to investigate a possible delay in diagnosis and therapy administration for Head and Neck oncological patients, during the Sars-Cov2 pandemic and to compare the median tumor stage (MTS) at presentation. This is a retrospective review on patients who presented at the University Hospital of Modena with a newly diagnosis of Head and Neck cancer (HNC), comparing the first pandemic period (from March 1st, to October 15th 2020) to the same period of 2019. The time in days from the diagnostic suspicion to the beginning of the treatment, hereafter referred to as delay in treatment initiation (DTI), and the tumor stage were calculated for all the enrolled patients. Mean percentage of reduction of the clinical and surgical activities was - 25.8% (range: - 66-1.5%), with higher percentages in phase 1 for all the analyzed activities. 125 HNC patients were enrolled in the analysis as the study group, compared with a cohort of 140 patients from the previous year. The MTS was III for both groups, however a significant statistical difference was determined in the stage comparison, p = 0.023. When DTI was analyzed no statistically significant differences were appreciated. A more advanced stage at presentation was demonstrated at our institution for HNC patients during the first phase of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. However, a statistically significant delay in time between diagnosis and therapy administration was not assessed, thus confirming the maintenance of a high level of care even in the COVID-19 era.

Prognostic role of pre-treatment magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiomic analysis in effectively cured head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients.

OBJECTIVES: To identify and validate baseline magnetic resonance imaging (b-MRI) radiomic features (RFs) as predictors of disease outcomes in effectively cured head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Training set (TS) and validation set (VS) were retrieved from preexisting datasets (HETeCo and BD2Decide trials, respectively). Only patients with both pre- and post-contrast enhancement T1 and T2-weighted b-MRI and at least 2 years of follow-up (FUP) were selected. The combination of the best extracted RFs was used to classify low risk (LR) vs. high risk (HR) of disease recurrence. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) of the radiomic model were computed on both TS and VS. Overall survival (OS) and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) Kaplan-Meier (KM) curves were compared for LR vs. HR. The radiomic-based risk class was used in a multivariate Cox model, including well-established clinical prognostic factors (TNM, sub-site, human papillomavirus [HPV]). RESULTS: In total, 57 patients of TS and 137 of VS were included. Three RFs were selected for the signature. Sensitivity of recurrence risk classifier was 0.82 and 0.77, specificity 0.78 and 0.81, AUC 0.83 and 0.78 for TS and VS, respectively. VS KM curves for LR vs. HR groups significantly differed both for 5-year DFS (p<.0001) and OS (p=.0004). A combined model of RFs plus TNM improved prognostic performance as compared to TNM alone, both for VS 5-year DFS (C-index: 0.76 vs. 0.60) and OS (C-index: 0.74 vs. 0.64). CONCLUSIONS: Radiomics of b-MRI can help to predict recurrence and survival outcomes in HNSCC.

Open partial horizontal laryngectomy and adjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: results from a multicenter Italian experience.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the functional and oncologic outcomes of adjuvant (chemo)radiation [(C)RT] after open partial horizontal laryngectomies (OPHLs). METHODS: Multicenter retrospective evaluation of 130 patients (116 males, 14 females) submitted between 1995 and 2017 to OPHL Types II and III for laryngeal cancer and receiving adjuvant (C)RT for one or more of the following risk factors at histopathologic examination of the surgical specimen: pT4a and/or > pN2a categories, close/positive resection margins, or presence of both perineural (PNI) and lympho-vascular invasion (LVI). The primary study endpoints were evaluation of the presence of tracheostomy and/or gastrostomy at last follow-up, and calculation of laryngo-esophageal dysfunction-free survival (LEDFS). RESULTS: Mean age of the study cohort was 60.8 ± 8.9 years (median, 62; interquartile range [IQR], 13). Mean follow-up was 50.7 ± 39.4 months (range 24-188; median, 38; IQR, 51). Adjuvant therapy consisted of CRT in 53 (41%) patients, and RT alone in 77 (59%). Five-year LEDFS was 85%. Overall survival was 71.5%, while 13% of patients remained tracheostomy- and 3% gastrostomy-dependent at the last follow-up. The only significant variable in predicting survival (p = 0.020) was tracheostomy dependence: it was maintained in 7.5% of subjects after OPHL Type II and in 34% of those submitted to OHPL Type III (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients affected by advanced laryngeal cancer, OPHLs Type II and III have a relatively good laryngeal safety profile and provide favorable oncologic outcomes even in case of need for adjuvant (C)RT.

Salvage open partial horizontal laryngectomy after failed radiotherapy: A multicentric study.

OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of the present study was to report our multi-institutional experience in surgical salvage with open partial horizontal laryngectomies (OPHL) after failed radiotherapy (RT) for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Secondary aims were to analyze the prognostic meaning of the main clinical and pathological parameters in relation to the oncologic outcome and to compare our results with the available literature. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective multicenter analysis of surgical oncological outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively review the clinical charts of 70 recurrent LSCC patients after primary RT failure undergone salvage OPHL. RESULTS: At last follow-up, 46 patients (65%) were disease-free; six (9%) were alive with disease; nine (12%) died because of the disease; and nine (12%) died without evidence of disease. The final local control, overall survival, disease-specific survival, and laryngectomy-free survival were 87%, 75%, 87%, and 91%, respectively. Twelve patients (17%) experienced postoperative complications, whereas 18 patients (25%) experienced late sequelae. In five patients (7%), decannulation was not possible because of postoperative laryngeal stenosis. CONCLUSION: In selected patients, when proper selection criteria for conservation laryngeal surgery are adopted, OPHL can be considered for salvage after RT failure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 130:431-436, 2020.

Variations in concerns reported on the patient concerns inventory in patients with head and neck cancer from different health settings across the world.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to collate and contrast patient concerns from a range of different head and neck cancer follow-up clinics around the world. Also, we sought to explore the relationship, if any, between responses to the patient concerns inventory (PCI) and overall quality of life (QOL). METHODS: Nineteen units participated with intention of including 100 patients per site as close to a consecutive series as possible in order to minimize selection bias. RESULTS: There were 2136 patients with a median total number of PCI items selected of 5 (2-10). "Fear of the cancer returning" (39%) and "dry mouth" (37%) were most common. Twenty-five percent (524) reported less than good QOL. CONCLUSION: There was considerable variation between units in the number of items selected and in overall QOL, even after allowing for case-mix variables. There was a strong progressive association between the number of PCI items and QOL.

Radiological assessment of the sinus tympani: temporal bone HRCT analyses and surgically related findings.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the morphology of the sinus tympani (ST) based on computed tomography (CT) scans (axial view), describing the findings in a cohort of 148 patients (296 ears), and classifying the prevalence according to our ST classification. To evaluate the surgical prevalence based on the type of ST. To calculate the sensibility and positive predictive value (PPV) of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans for ST involvement by cholesteatoma. METHODS: Retrospective review of the radiologic database and surgical reports. RESULTS: In total, 98/296 (33.1%) middle ears presented a radiologic morphology Type A; 185/296 (62.5%) middle ears presented a radiologic morphology Type B; 13/296 (4.4%) middle ears presented a radiologic morphology Type C; HRCT showed a sensibility of 91%, specificity of 65%, PPV of 68% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 90%. CONCLUSIONS: ST shape and depth can influence surgical preference in cholesteatoma surgery. In the case of a shallower ST, an exclusive endoscopic exploration is chosen; whereas in the case of a deeper ST, a retrofacial approach is usually preferred. HRCT scans demonstrated high sensibility and NPV for ST involvement by cholesteatoma.