Specimen-Based Resection Margins and Local Control during Transoral Robotic Surgery for Oropharyngeal HPV-Mediated Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the association of surgical margin conditions, including positive specimen margins revised to negative relative to local recurrence, disease-free survival, and overall survival (OS) within a cohort of HPV-mediated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) who underwent en bloc resection via transoral robotic surgery (TORS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort of patients with untreated HPV-mediated OPSCC cT1 or T2 undergoing TORS resection between October 2014 and March 2020. The methodologic description of our interdisciplinary institutional approach, number of cut-through margins (CTMs) during intraoperative consultation, percentage of final positive margin cases, and disease-free survival and OS stratified by margin status and margin tumor-free distance is identified. RESULTS: 135 patients with primary cT1/T2 HPV-mediated OPSCC met inclusion criteria. Twenty-eight of 135 (20.7%) specimens revealed CTM and were revised during the same operative setting. Three of 135 (2.2%) surgical cases had positive final margin status. Local control rate was 97%. On univariate analysis, margin distance did not impact OS. CTM and final positive margins had lower OS than initially negative margins (p = 0.044). Pathologic N-stage significantly impacted OS (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: High local control rate and low final positive margin status confound the study of specimen margin-based techniques in HPV-mediated OPSCC resected en bloc with TORS. Pathologic N-stage may impact OS more than margin status. Larger numbers are needed to confirm differences.

Botulinum Toxin-A Dosing Trends for Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia at a Single Institution Over 10 Years.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify the changes in dosing of botulinum toxin-A for adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD) over a prolonged period. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective chart review. METHODS: One hundred thirteen subjects treated for ADSD from 2003 to 2013 were identified from a clinical database. Subject age, gender, and total injection dose amount were all recorded for all subjects who had at least 10 injections. RESULTS: Fifty-four subjects met criteria for inclusion. There were no age or gender differences in the starting dose for subjects. Dosing decreased significantly compared with the second dose (5.05 ± 1.623 Units), by the sixth dose (4.26 ± 1.698 Units), and continued through the 10th dose (4.08 ± 2.019 Units) (P < 0.005 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Botulinum toxin-A dosing for ADSD decreases consistently over subsequent injections after the initial two dose titrations.

In-office drainage of sinus Mucoceles: An alternative to operating-room drainage.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Endoscopic drainage has become the standard of care for the treatment of mucoceles. In many patients this can be performed in the office. This study reviews our experience with in-office endoscopic mucocele drainage. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: A retrospective review of one surgeon's experience with in-office endoscopic drainage of sinus mucoceles between 2006 and 2014 was performed. Charts were reviewed for patient demographics, previous surgery, mucocele location, bone erosion, and outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients underwent 36 in-office drainage procedures. All procedures were performed under topical/local anesthesia. The mean age was 55 years (range, 17-92 years). The mean follow-up time was 444 days. Fifty-five percent had previous sinus surgery. The primary sinus involved was the frontal (12), anterior (11), posterior ethmoid (six), maxillary (four), and sphenoid (two). Bone erosion was noted to be present on computed tomography in 18 mucoceles (51%) (16 orbital, seven skull-base). All mucoceles were successfully accessed in the office with the exception of one, which was aborted due to neo-osteogenesis. Five patients (14% of mucoceles) required additional surgery, two for mucocele recurrence and three for septated mucoceles not completely drained in the office. No treatment complications occurred. All but one patient preferred in-office to operating-room drainage. CONCLUSIONS: In-office drainage of sinus mucoceles is well tolerated by patients, with high success and low complication rates, even in large mucoceles with bone erosion. The presence of septations and neo-osteogenesis reduce the likelihood of complete drainage and are relative contraindications. Orbital and skull base erosion are not contraindications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Safety and efficacy of multiuse botulinum toxin vials for intralaryngeal injection.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines maintain that single-use vials cannot be used for multiple patients. Botox product labeling states that the reconstituted toxin should be used within 4 hours on a single patient based on concerns of reduced potency, contamination, and consequent infections. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of using single-use vials in a multidose fashion. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study and cohort chart review. METHODS: A multi-institutional three-part study was performed between May 2013 and October 2013: 1) a summation of subjects' recall of their past experiences (symptoms/response) with previous multidose Botox injections, 2) a prospective study of intralaryngeal injections, and 3) a chart review of injection responses in a subset of the cohort. RESULTS: Seven hundred forty-three subjects receiving 6,216 injections demonstrated zero infection-related complications on retrospective chart review. One hundred seventy-nine subjects recalled 24.0% overall adverse events, 10.6% redness, 7.3% pain and swelling at the injection site, and 0% fever. One hundred seventy-four subjects prospectively reported 12.6% overall adverse events. The self-reported efficacy rate of Botox injection was 96.6%. CONCLUSIONS: The low rates of adverse events following the use of Botox in a multipatient fashion are consistent with other percutaneous injections. No evidence of infection was found with multidose Botox use. Given the low incidence of side effects and high success rate, Botox can be used both safely and effectively in a multipatient fashion. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4

Regulated neuronal neuromodulation via spinal cord expression of the gene for the inwardly rectifying potassium channel 2.1 (Kir2.1).

BACKGROUND: Neuromodulation is used to restore neural function in disorders that stem from an imbalance in the activity of specific neural networks when they prove refractory to pharmacological therapy. The Kir2.1 gene contributes to stabilizing the resting potential below the threshold of activation of voltage-gated sodium channels and action potentials. Therefore, the delivery of the Kir2.1 gene to neuronal cells could reduce the probability of action potential generation, inhibiting excessive neural activity. OBJECTIVE: To address the hypothesis that overexpression of the inwardly rectifying potassium channel 2.1 (Kir2.1) gene could inhibit motor neuron activity and therefore be therapeutically used in gene-based neuromodulation. METHODS: To induce expression of Kir2.1, the inducible RheoSwitch promoter was used and controlled by ligand. In vivo gene expression was accomplished by an adenoviral vector to deliver unilaterally into the lumbar spinal cord of rats. RESULTS: Behavioral assays demonstrated that neuromuscular inhibition was exclusive to rats that received the ligand. Histological analysis also showed evidence of some motor neuron loss in these animals. Behavioral effects of Kir2.1 expression were completely reversible, arguing that the behavioral effect did not result from motor neuron death. CONCLUSION: Delivery of the gene for Kir2.1 inhibits neurons by resisting depolarization to the action potential threshold. Regulated neuronal expression of Kir2.1 may provide an elegant means for neuromodulation in a selected neuronal population.