[A thyroid pathology: The great simulator]. / Une pathologie thyroïdienne : la grande simulatrice.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis remains a major public health problem in developing countries. Thyroid localization is very rare, and often the cause of misdiagnosis. Pathological anatomy plays an important role in the diagnosis of certainty. The authors report a case of primary thyroid tuberculosis in a 22-year-old patient. We highlight the epidemiological particularities of this case, and discuss diagnostic methods and the contribution of pathological anatomy. OBSERVATION: A 22 year-old male patient, with no reported pathological history, was seen in the clinic for the management of an isolated anterior cervical swelling that had been evolving for two months. Clinical examination revealed only a small thyroid nodule, with no inflammatory or vascular features. Biological tests were unremarkable. Ultrasound revealed a 2.4cm hypoechoic, homogeneous, poorly vascularized tissue mass in the left lobe, classified as EU-TIRADS 3. Fine needle aspiration with cytopathological study revealed a necrotizing granulomatous lesion suggestive of tuberculosis. A lobo-isthmectomy was performed, and histopathology revealed thyroid parenchyma destroyed by tubercular granulomas. The postoperative course was straightforward, with an exeat on postoperative day 6. Anti-tuberculosis treatment was instituted for 6 months. Three- and six-month follow-up examinations were unremarkable. The evolution was favorable, with recovery after treatment. CONCLUSION: Primary thyroid tuberculosis is rare. Cytology is important for orientation, and often helps to avoid misdiagnosis. The diagnosis should be considered in the presence of any thyroid mass in a patient from a tuberculosis-endemic region.

[Basicervical ectopic goiter associated with a eutopic thyroid gland: a case report]. / Une association d'un goitre ectopique basi-cervical et d'une glande thyroïde eutopique: à propos d'un cas.

Thyroid gland is an endocrine gland playing a major role in energy and phosphocalcic metabolism, among others. It commonly occurs in the anterior cervical and pretracheal region. Ectopic thyroid is quite rare. It is dominated by ectopic basilingual thyroid. We here report the case of a patient with goiter in normal cervical position (eutopic) and ectopic thyroid tissue in basicervical position. Cervicotomy revealed the ectopic nodule and the diagnosis was confirmed by histology. This clinical case illustrates a differential diagnosis of cervical masses.

AfHNS fellowship: Model to improve access to head and neck cancer care in Africa and developing countries.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancers occur predominantly in developing countries where access to care is poor. Sub-Saharan Africa has <20 head and neck surgeons for >1 billion people and has only two fellowship training programs. METHODS AND RESULTS: The AfHNS Head and Neck Fellowship is being introduced to accelerate training of African surgeons to improve access to resource appropriate cancer care. By avoiding fixed time-in-training and single training sites, training can be offered at multiple centers in Africa, even with lower patient volumes. It also creates opportunities for accredited international surgical outreach programs to contribute to training. CONCLUSIONS: Having prescribed reading and appropriate Entrustable Professional Activities that are assessed through Workplace Based Assessment, and having a summative virtual oral examination ensures that fellows are fit-for-purpose to practice in an African resource-constrained setting. Other developing countries are encouraged to adopt a similar approach to expanding head and neck cancer services.

Facial nerve monitoring during parotid gland surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Facial nerve injury remains the most severe complication of parotid gland surgery. However, the use of intraoperative facial nerve monitoring (IFNM) during parotid gland surgery among Otolaryngologist-Head and Neck Surgeons continues to be a matter of debate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature was conducted including articles from 1970 to 2019 to try to determine the effectiveness of intraoperative facial nerve monitoring in preventing immediate and permanent postoperative facial nerve weakness in patients undergoing primary parotidectomy. Acceptable studies included controlled series that evaluated facial nerve function following primary parotidectomy with or without intraoperative facial nerve monitoring. RESULTS: Ten articles met inclusion criteria, with a total of 1069 patients included in the final meta-analysis. The incidence of immediate and permanent postoperative weakness following parotidectomy was significantly lower in the IFNM group compared to the unmonitored group (23.4% vs. 38.4%; p = 0.001) and (5.7% vs. 13.6%; p = 0.001) when all studies were included. However, when we analyze just prospective data, we are not able to find any significant difference. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that IFNM may decrease the risk of immediate post-operative and permanent facial nerve weakness in primary parotid gland surgery. However, due to the low evidence level, additional prospective-randomized trials are needed to determine if these results can be translated into improved surgical safety and improved patient satisfaction.

Gingival metastasis of a breast carcinoma.

We report a case of metastasis to the gingiva of breast carcinoma. The breast tumor was treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by a radical mastectomy associated with axillary dissection. The gingival lesion occurred 7 months after surgery; the metastasis was confirmed by a biopsy.

Is AJCC/UICC Staging Still Appropriate for Head and Neck Cancers in Developing Countries?

By 2030, 70% of cancers will occur in developing countries. Head and neck cancers are primarily a developing world disease. While anatomical location and the extent of cancers are central to defining prognosis and staging, the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)/International Union Against Cancer (UICC) have incorporated nonanatomic factors that correlate with prognosis into staging (eg, p16 status of oropharyngeal cancers). However, 16 of 17 head and neck surgeons from 13 African countries cannot routinely test for p16 status and hence can no longer apply AJCC/UICC staging to oropharyngeal cancer. While the AJCC/UICC should continue to refine staging that best reflects treatment outcomes and prognosis by incorporating new nonanatomical factors, they should also retain and refine anatomically based staging to serve the needs of clinicians and their patients in resource-constrained settings. Not to do so would diminish their global relevance and in so doing also disadvantage most of the world's cancer patients.

Head and neck surgical antibiotic prophylaxis in resource-constrained settings.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Antimicrobial resistance represents a global threat and causes almost 700 000 deaths per year. The rapid dissemination of resistant bacteria is occurring globally, turning this into the primary threat to public health in the 21st century and forcing organizations around the globe to take urgent action. RECENT FINDINGS: About risks related to surgical site infection (SSI) in head and neck surgery, surgical limitations in resource-constrained settings, comorbidities and the risk of SSI, evidence about surgical prophylaxis from low and middle-income countries, SSI gap between the developed and developing worlds and how to reduce resistance. SUMMARY: Antibiotic protocols can be adjusted to local and regional bacterial resistance profiles, taking into account the availability of antibiotics and cost limitations on each country in order to decrease the SSI risk.

African Head and Neck Society Clinical Practice guidelines for thyroid nodules and cancer in developing countries and limited resource settings.

BACKGROUND: International thyroid nodule and cancer management guidelines generally fail to take into account potential limitations in diagnostic and treatment resources. METHODS: Thyroid cancer specialists from the African Head and Neck Society and American Head & Neck Society Endocrine Section developed guidelines for diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules and cancer in low resource settings. Recommendations were based on literature review and expert opinion, with level of evidence defined. RESULTS: Using the ADAPTE process, diagnostic and treatment algorithms were adapted from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Low resource settings were simulated by systematically removing elements such as availability of laboratory testing, hormone replacement, imaging, and cytopathology from NCCN guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Successful management of thyroid nodules and cancer in low resource settings requires adaptation of treatment methodologies. These guidelines define specific scenarios where either more or less aggressive intervention for thyroid pathology may be advisable based on limited available resources.

Intralingual Mucous Extravasation Cyst: An Uncommon Lingual Cyst.

OBJECTIVE: We report a rare case of an intralingual ranula. The differential diagnosis, etiology, diagnostic features, and management are discussed. CASE REPORT: An 18-year-old man presented with a mass that extended along the ventral surface of the tongue and up to the tip. The computed tomography scan clearly defined the extent of a cystic lesion. The pathologic diagnosis of an intralingual ranula was made. CONCLUSION: Lingual cysts have a varied etiology. Diagnosis hinges on histological examination of the cyst wall. Conservative resection and histological examination is the standard of care.

African head and neck fellowships: A model for a sustainable impact on head and neck cancer care in developing countries.

BACKGROUND: There is an extreme shortage of head and neck surgeons in Africa. Fourteen head and neck surgeons have completed fellowships in Cape Town and Cameroon. This study determines whether such Africa-based fellowships are a good model for developing countries by making a sustainable impact on head and neck cancer care. METHODS: An observational study was conducted by emailing questionnaires to past fellows. RESULTS: All fellows had returned to teaching hospitals in their counties. Seven established new multidisciplinary cancer teams. Head and neck operations had increased by >335%, as had complexity of the surgery. There was effective transfer of surgical skills to trainees. All considered head and neck fellowships to be the best model to grow head and neck care. CONCLUSION: Head and neck fellowships in developing countries are effective models for establishing training programs and for increasing provision of specialized surgical services in a sustainable fashion.

[Post-intubation tracheal lacerations during cervical spine surgery: about 3 cases]. / Plaies trachéales post intubations dans la chirurgie cervicale: à propos de 3 cas.

We report 3 rare cases of post-intubation tracheal lacerations detected during cervical spine surgery. Our study involved 3 patients aged 27, 30 and 42 years admitted to the operating room for total thyroidectomy for heterogeneous multinodular goitre under general anesthesia. Orotracheal intubation using 7.5 rigid guide probe and balloon cuff was performed. During surgery we discovered a protrusion of the balloon cuff at the surgical site through posterolateral tracheal rupture. The treatment was based on closure of the tracheal rupture in 2 cases and on surgical abstention in the third case, followed by a drainage of the thyroid lodge. The postoperative course was uneventful. Post-intubation tracheal lacerations are rare. Intraoperative detection during cervical spine surgery is exceptional. They have multiple causes: intubation difficulties, membranous rupture caused by probe beak, by a rigid guide, coughing effort with inflated balloon at the awakening, balloon hyperinflation, structural and anatomical changes of the trachea in patients with chronic goiter. There is no consensus about treatment.

An Unusual Laryngeal Foreign Body in Adult.

The accidental aspiration of a foreign body is a frequent domestic accident among children but a rare occurrence in adults. The laryngeal impaction of a coin is an unusual accident; only a few cases have been reported in the literature. Diagnosis is mostly achieved by clinicoradiological examinations. The authors report an uncommon case of laryngeal impaction of a coin in a 21-year-old patient, presenting with dysphonia without dyspnea or stridor. The extraction was performed by endoscopy.

Unusual nasopharyngeal foreign body: a hooked iron rod.

Foreign bodies lodged in the nasopharynx are rare. We report a case of an unusual foreign body in the nasopharynx: a hooked iron rod. The patient was a 5-year-old girl. The foreign body had to be removed under general anesthesia. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no similar published report of a hooked iron rod in the nasopharynx.