Value of Adherence to Posttreatment Follow-Up Guidelines for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: The utility of intensive posttreatment surveillance of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has been debated. The objective is to investigate adherence to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) posttreatment follow-up guidelines and assess the association with recurrence and survival. METHODS: A total of 452 patients diagnosed with HNSCC at an academic medical center in a socioeconomically disadvantaged, urban setting were categorized by adherence to NCCN follow-up guidelines. Survival analyses were conducted to study the association between adherence and the 5-year overall survival and disease-specific survival in the entire cohort and subset of patients with documented recurrence. RESULTS: We found that 23.5% of patients were adherent to NCCN follow-up guidelines in the first year after treatment, and 15.9% were adherent over 5 years. Adherence in the first year was significantly associated with 5-year overall survival (HR 0.634; 95% CI 0.443-0.906; p = 0.0124) and disease-specific survival (HR 0.556; 95% CI 0.312-0.992; p = 0.0470), but consistent adherence over 5 years did not show a significant association. Among the 21.7% of the cohort with recurrence, adherence was not associated with early-stage recurrence (AJCC stage I/II). In this subset, first year adherence was associated with improved disease-specific but not overall survival, and adherence over 5 years was not associated with survival. CONCLUSION: Adherence to NCCN follow-up guidelines in the first year after treatment was associated with a better chance of 5-year overall and disease-specific survival, but this significant association was not observed among those who demonstrated consistent adherence over 5 years. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:708-716, 2024.

Use of Predictive Modeling to Tailor Molecular Testing Utilization for Thyroid Nodules.

OBJECTIVE: Various risk stratification systems for cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules are available. However, malignancy risk assessment data, such as ultrasound features, are not always used when the decision is to order molecular testing or not. Our aim was to investigate the utility of molecular testing after incorporating an algorithm with ultrasound-based risk of malignancy (ROM) estimation. STUDY DESIGN: Diagnostic/prognostic study. SETTING: Single-institution urban tertiary care center. METHODS: We performed a single-institution retrospective chart review of all thyroid nodules that had undergone molecular testing. A web-based Malignancy Risk Estimation System for Thyroid Nodules was utilized with ultrasound findings to stratify malignancy risk according to the Korean Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS), French TI-RADS, American Association of Clinical Endocrinology guideline, and American Thyroid Association guideline. A novel algorithm for utilizing molecular testing at our institution was developed with the Korean TI-RADS and with recommendations from the American Thyroid Association and National Comprehensive Cancer Network. RESULTS: The Korean TI-RADS performed best in our population (area under the curve = 0.83). A positive molecular test result had a positive association with a higher ROM according to all 4 models (P < .05). Use of our algorithm prior to molecular testing would have prevented 38% of benign/low-ROM negative nodules (n = 28) from being tested. CONCLUSION: In patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules, an algorithm built on pre- and posttest probability to guide molecular testing might reduce unnecessary testing of benign and low-risk nodules.

Comparison of Survival Outcomes Following Postsurgical Radioactive Iodine Versus External Beam Radiation in Stage IV Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of well-powered data regarding outcomes in stage IV differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) treated with postsurgical radiation. The objective of this study was to examine survival in patients with stage IV papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) who received radioactive iodine (RAI), external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), or neither following surgery. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, data collected from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) yielded 11,832 patients with stage IV DTC who underwent primary surgical treatment between 2002 and 2012. Patients were stratified by histology and sub-stage. Fully parametric, multilevel survival-time models were used to evaluate survival outcomes in three adjuvant treatment groups: RAI, EBRT, or no adjuvant radiation. Hazard ratios (HR) and time ratios (TR) were calculated against patients who did not receive radiation. All models were adjusted for demographic and clinical factors. RESULTS: The mean age of all patients was 61.6 years (SD = 11.6), and 57.5% were female. Patients who received EBRT had significantly higher 5- and 10-year hazards of death in several PTC sub-stages (10-year HRPTC Stage IV-A = 2.12 [confidence interval (CI) 1.79-2.52]; HRPTC Stage IV-B = 2.03 [CI 1.33-3.10]). For stage IV-B PTC requiring EBRT, lifespan after diagnosis was shortened by a factor of 3 when compared to patients who did not receive radiation (TRPTC Stage IV-B = 0.32 [CI 0.16-0.62]). In contrast, RAI was significantly associated with improved 5- and 10-year survival in both PTC and FTC patients regardless of pathological sub-stage. Large reductions in mortality were observed in patients with FTC who were treated with RAI (HRFTC Stage IV-C = 0.19 [CI 0.06-0.65]). When patients with stage IV-C FTC were treated with RAI, life-span after diagnosis doubled (TRFTC Stage IV-C = 1.98 [CI 1.31-3.00]). CONCLUSIONS: Through the NCDB, this study sought to describe prognosis and survival for adjuvant radiation in stage IV DTC. RAI was associated with improved survival for stage IV DTC. Despite treatment benefits conferred by adjuvant EBRT, indications to treat with EBRT were associated with poorer survival outcomes in patients with advanced-stage DTC, particularly PTC.

The Growing Epidemic of HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Carcinoma: A Clinical Review for Primary Care Providers.

While the rate of head and neck cancer has decreased in recent decades, the prevalence of oropharynx cancer has dramatically increased due to human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal cancer. Three of 4 newly diagnosed oropharyngeal carcinomas are HPV-positive, and by 2020 it is projected that the prevalence of this disease will overtake that of HPV-related cervical cancer. Recognized in recent years as a malignant entity distinct from HPV-negative oropharyngeal carcinoma, HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer is associated with younger age at diagnosis, oral sexual behavior as a primary risk factor, nonspecific presentation, and improved treatment response compared with HPV-negative disease. Early recognition and referral for definitive treatment are paramount in decreasing morbidity and mortality, as well as improving the quality of life of these patients. Primary care providers are in an ideal position to improve patient outcomes through early recognition and referral, as well as coordination of comprehensive care of patients with this potentially devastating disease. Awareness of risk factors, a high index of suspicion, counseling patients and parents on the importance of vaccination against HPV, and coordinated care between primary care providers and specialists are vital to achieving improved outcomes for patients with this increasingly prevalent cancer.