Management of vagal paragangliomas: review of 17 patients.

Vagal paragangliomas are very rare benign vascular tumors of neuroendocrine nature, and are much less frequent than carotid and jugulo-tympanic tumors. The goal of this retrospective study is to review the clinical and genetic findings, surgical treatment, and complications of vagal paragangliomas, as well as to discuss the management options. During the period 1990-2013, 17 patients with vagal paragangliomas were referred to our institution. There were ten patients with isolated tumors, and seven with multicentric paragangliomas. There were nine women and eight men. Mean age of patients was 51.4 years. Five cases had a positive family history of paraganglioma (29.4 %). Germline mutations of SDH genes were found in six of our patients (35.3 %). Many options were considered in the management of vagal paragangliomas. Surgical treatment was performed in 11 young patients (64.7 %) using different approaches: in 4 patients the tumor was resected through a transcervical approach; in 3 through a transcervical-transmandibular approach; in 1 it was resected using a transcervical-transmastoid approach, and in 3 a type A infratemporal fossa approach was performed. In all operated cases, the removal of the tumor led to sacrificing of the vagus nerve. Postoperative hypoglossal nerve deficit was reported in 4 cases (36.3 %). In six elderly patients (35.3 %), we decided to "wait-and-scan" in order to avoid creating greater morbidity than that of the tumor itself. Many factors should be considered in the treatment of vagal paragangliomas: the age and general condition of the patient, the biological behavior of the tumor, tumor size, genetic results, bilaterality, multicentricity, lower cranial nerve function, and of course the potential morbidity of the surgical treatment itself. Rehabilitation and, possibly surgery, are necessary to treat postoperative lower cranial nerve deficits.

[Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour of the infra-orbital nerve]. / Tumor maligno de vaina de nervio periférico afectando al nervio infraorbitario.

A malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (MPNST) is an uncommon neoplasm that rarely involves the head and neck region. It is even more infrequent for these tumours to affect cranial nerves. We report the case of a 53-year-old man who presented a MPNST involving the infra-orbital nerve, which extended through the orbit and the base of the skull, progressing intracranially. Histological studies identified the tumour as an MPNST. Response to radiotherapy was not complete and radical surgical resection was impossible, so the patient died 10months later. This rare case of MPNST with intracranial involvement illustrates the dismal prognosis for patients with these lesions. Prognosis is poor because of the difficulty of performing radical surgery with free margins in these locations.

Salvage total laryngectomy: is a flap necessary?

INTRODUCTION: Pharyngocutaneous fistula is the most significant complication after salvage total laryngectomy in patients who have received previous treatment with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose is to review the fistula rate in radiated patients undergoing salvage total laryngectomy, to determine if the use of pectoralis major flap interposition reduces the incidence and duration of fistula and to examine other risk factors. METHODS: We made a retrospective review of patients undergoing salvage total laryngectomy for exclusively larynx cancer after failure of primary curative radiotherapy between 2000 and 2017. General data from patients, risk factors and other complications were analyzed. RESULTS: We identified 27 patients whose mean age was 66.4 years, mainly male (92.5%). The primary closure group without pectoralis major flap included 14 patients, and the group with pectoralis major flap closure included 13 patients. Pharyngocutaneous fistula was present in 15 patients (55.5%). Global pharyngocutaneous fistula rate was higher in the group of patients without pectoralis major flap comparing with those were the flap was interposed (78.6% versus 30.8%, p=0.047). Also the pharyngocutaneous fistulas which need to be repaired with surgery (64.3% versus 7.7%, p=0.03) and large pharyngostomes (64.3% versus 0%, p=0.0004) were present in a higher rate in the group closed primary without pectoralis major flap. We did not find other risk factors with statistical significance. Oral diet initiation (84 days versus 21.5 days, p=0.039) and the duration of hospitalization (98.3 days versus 27.2 days, p=0.0041) were much lower in patients with a preventive pectoralis major flap. Two patients died as a consequence of complications of large pharyngostomes. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic pectoralis major flap reduced the incidence, severity and duration of fistula and should be considered during salvage total laryngectomy.

Postoperative Pain in Adult Tonsillectomy: Is There Any Difference Between the Technique?

Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed worldwide. Several techniques have been developed to reduce morbidity and enhance recovery after tonsillectomy. Our study was designed to compare post-operative pain with three different techniques: cold dissection (CD), monopolar-bipolar dissection (MBD) and coblation dissection (CBD). 103 adults were scheduled for elective tonsillectomy from September 2014 to December 2015, and were randomized to CD, MBD and CBD. Post-operative pain was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) and Lattinen Test (LT). We did not find significant differences between the groups in the VAS pain scores (p > 0.05), except for the first day, when CBD tonsillectomy showed a higher pain score (p < 0.05). The differences in LT scores between the three techniques were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Comparison of analgesic consumption between CD, MBD and CBD did not found any significant differences irrespective of the technique used. When first and second week after surgery were compared, differences in analgesics requirements were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Seventeen cases (16.5%) of secondary haemorrhage were reported, but there were no statistical differences in the rate of postoperative bleeding between the three groups (p > 0.05). We conclude that in our study comparison of the three techniques, CD, MBD and CBD, did not show significant differences in the post-tonsillectomy pain scores and bleeding rate.

Surgical treatment of vestibular schwannoma. Review of 420 cases. / Tratamiento quirúrgico del schwannoma vestibular. Revisión de 420 casos.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Vestibular schwannoma is the most frequent cerebellopontine angle tumor. The aim of our study is to reflect our experience in the surgical treatment of this tumor MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 420 vestibular schwannomas operated in our hospital between 1994-2014. We include tumor size, preoperative hearing, surgical approaches, definitive facial and hearing functional results, and complications due to surgery. RESULTS: A total of 417 patients with 420 tumors were analyzed, 209 female (50.1%) and 208 male (49.9%). Mean age at diagnosis was 49.8±13.2 years. The majority of the tumors were resected through a translabyrinthine approach (80.2%). Total tumor removal was achieved in 411 tumors (98.3%), and anatomic preservation of facial nerve in 404 (96.2%). Definitive facial nerve outcome was House-Brackmann grade I and II in 69.9%, and was significantly better in tumors under 20mm. Surgical complications included cerebrospinal fluid leakage in 3 patients (0.7%) and retroauricular subcutaneous collection in 16 (3.8%), 5 cases of meningitis (1.2%), 4 patients with intracraneal bleeding (0.9%), and death in 3 patients (0.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Surgery is the treatment of choice for vestibular schwannoma in the majority of patients. In our experience, the complication rate is very low and tumor size is the main factor influencing postoperative facial nerve function.

Head and neck paragangliomas: Experience in 126 patients with 162 tumours.

INTRODUCTION: Head and neck paragangliomas are rare tumours of a neuroendocrine nature. The aim of this study was to show our experience in the management of these kind of tumours. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of head and neck paragangliomas diagnosed between 1978 and 2014. A total of 126 patients with 162 tumours were analysed. The paragangliomas included 88 jugulotympanic tumours, 53 carotid tumours and 21 vagal paragangliomas. RESULTS: Mean age at diagnosis was 53.1 years; 87 patients were female (69.1%) and 39, male (30.9%). Multifocality was present in 24 patients (19.1%). Germline mutations were found in 20 patients analysed; SDHD and SDHB were the most frequent. Surgery was performed on 72 isolated paragangliomas: these were 9 carotid, 21 tympanic, 37 jugular and 5 vagal paragangliomas. There were 25 isolated tumours that were observed periodically: 7 carotid, 3 tympanic, 9 jugular and 6 vagal paragangliomas; 5 jugular tumours were irradiated. Multifocal paragangliomas were individually treated, with a total of 26 surgical procedures and 36 tumours resected, 9 irradiated and 12 tumours periodically observed. Postoperative cranial nerve deficits in isolated carotid paragangliomas were lower (15%) compared with jugular tumours (45.5%, P=.04). Nerve deficit was found more frequently in tumours with intradural extension (100%) than in extradural tumours (37.5%, P=.007). CONCLUSIONS: Management of head and neck paragangliomas include surgery, radiotherapy and wait and scan policies. A combination of all of them is usually needed in patients with multifocal paragangliomas.

Salvage total laryngectomy: is a flap necessary? / Laringectomia total de resgate: o uso de retalho é necessário?

Abstract Introduction: Pharyngocutaneous fistula is the most significant complication after salvage total laryngectomy in patients who have received previous treatment with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. Objective: Our purpose is to review the fistula rate in radiated patients undergoing salvage total laryngectomy, to determine if the use of pectoralis major flap interposition reduces the incidence and duration of fistula and to examine other risk factors. Methods: We made a retrospective review of patients undergoing salvage total laryngectomy for exclusively larynx cancer after failure of primary curative radiotherapy between 2000 and 2017. General data from patients, risk factors and other complications were analyzed. Results: We identified 27 patients whose mean age was 66.4 years, mainly male (92.5%). The primary closure group without pectoralis major flap included 14 patients, and the group with pectoralis major flap closure included 13 patients. Pharyngocutaneous fistula was present in 15 patients (55.5%). Global pharyngocutaneous fistula rate was higher in the group of patients without pectoralis major flap comparing with those were the flap was interposed (78.6% versus 30.8%, p = 0.047). Also the pharyngocutaneous fistulas which need to be repaired with surgery (64.3% versus 7.7%, p = 0.03) and large pharyngostomes (64.3% versus 0%, p = 0.0004) were present in a higher rate in the group closed primary without pectoralis major flap. We did not find other risk factors with statistical significance. Oral diet initiation (84 days versus 21.5 days, p = 0.039) and the duration of hospitalization (98.3 days versus 27.2 days, p = 0.0041) were much lower in patients with a preventive pectoralis major flap. Two patients died as a consequence of complications of large pharyngostomes. Conclusions: Prophylactic pectoralis major flap reduced the incidence, severity and duration of fistula and should be considered during salvage total laryngectomy.

Resumo Introdução: A fístula faringocutânea é a complicação mais significativa após laringectomia total de resgate em pacientes que receberam tratamento prévio com radioterapia com ou sem quimioterapia. Objetivo: Revisar a taxa de fístula em pacientes irradiados submetidos a laringectomia total de resgate, para determinar se o uso de interposição de retalho do peitoral maior reduz a incidência e a duração da fístula e examinar outros fatores de risco. Método: Fizemos uma revisão retrospectiva de pacientes submetidos à laringectomia total de resgate para câncer exclusivamente laríngeo após falha da radioterapia curativa primária entre 2000 e 2017. Dados gerais dos pacientes, fatores de risco e outras complicações foram analisados. Resultados: Foram identificados 27 pacientes com média de 66,4 anos, principalmente do sexo masculino (92,5%). O grupo de fechamento primário sem retalho de peitoral maior incluiu 14 pacientes e o grupo de fechamento com retalho de peitoral maior incluiu 13 pacientes. Fístula faringocutânea esteve presente em 15 pacientes (55,5%). A taxa global de fístula faringocutânea foi maior no grupo de pacientes sem retalho de peitoral maior em comparação com aqueles que receberam o retalho (78,6% vs. 30,8%, p = 0,047). Além disso, as fístulas faringocutâneas que precisaram ser reparadas através de cirurgia (64,3% vs. 7,7%, p = 0,03) e grandes faringostomias (64,3% vs. 0%, p = 0,0004) apresentaram uma taxa mais alta no grupo fechado primariamente sem retalho do peitoral maior. Não encontramos outros fatores de risco com significância estatística. O início da dieta oral (84 dias vs. 21,5 dias, p = 0,039) e a duração da internação (98,3 dias vs. 27,2 dias, p = 0,0041) foram muito menores nos pacientes com uso preventivo do retalho do peitoral maior. Dois pacientes morreram em consequência de complicações de grandes faringostomias. Conclusões: O uso profilático do retalho do peitoral maior reduziu a incidência, a gravidade e a duração da fístula e deve ser considerado durante a laringectomia total de resgate.

Conservative management of vestibular schwannoma.

INTRODUCTION: Vestibular schwannoma (VS) is a benign, slow-growing tumour originating in the 8th cranial nerve. The treatment includes microsurgery, stereotactic radiotherapy and conservative management of tumours with periodic radiological tests. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients with VS following conservative management in a tertiary hospital between 1993 and 2013. A total of 73 patients were enrolled in our protocol. The mean age at diagnosis was 59.7 years. The average size was 11.9mm (4-27mm); 58.9% of the tumours were intracanalicular and 41.1%, extracanalicular. The mean follow-up period was 35.75 months. RESULTS: In 87.7% of patients there was no evidence of tumour growth. A total of 9 tumours (12.3%) increased in size. The average growth rate was 0.62mm/year. The percentage of extracanalicular tumours that grew (20%) was higher than that of intracanalicular tumours (7%). Seven patients (9.5%) experienced significant changes in their symptoms and 6 of these (8.2%) experienced a loss of useful hearing. Six patients (8.2%) left follow-up and underwent surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Periodic monitoring of vestibular schwannomas with magnetic resonance imaging represents an option for management, because most small tumours experience little or no growth over time.