Magnetic resonance imaging-based prediction models for tumor stage and cervical lymph node metastasis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of preoperative MRI-based measurements to predict the pathological T (pT) stage and cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) via machine learning (ML)-driven models trained in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC). Materials and methods: 108 patients with a new diagnosis of OTSCC were enrolled. The preoperative MRI study included post-contrast high-resolution T1-weighted images acquired in all patients. MRI-based depth of invasion (DOI) and tumor dimension-together with shape-based and intensity-based features-were extracted from the lesion volume segmentation. The entire dataset was randomly divided into a training set and a validation set, and the performances of different types of ML algorithms were evaluated and compared. Results: MRI-based DOI and tumor dimension together with several shape-based and intensity-based signatures significantly discriminated the pT stage and LN status. The overall accuracy of the model for predicting the pT stage was 0.86 (95%CI, 0.78-0.92) and 0.81 (0.64-0.91) in the training and validation sets, respectively. There was no improvement in the model performance upon including shape-based and intensity-based features. The model for predicting CLNM based on DOI and tumor dimensions had a fair accuracy of 0.68 (0.57-0.78) and 0.69 (0.51-0.84) in the training and validation sets, respectively. The shape-based and intensity-based signatures have shown potential for improving the model sensitivity, with a comparable accuracy. Conclusion: MRI-based models driven by ML algorithms could stratify patients with OTSCC according to the pT stages. They had a moderate ability to predict cervical lymph node metastasis.

Early Onset of SARS-COV-2 Antibodies after First Dose of BNT162b2: Correlation with Age, Gender and BMI.

BACKGROUND: The first goal of the study was to analyse the antibody titre 21 days after the first dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine in a group of 252 healthcare workers (HCW). The second goal was to analyse how the antibody titre changes in correlation with age, gender and body mass index (BMI). METHODS: Participants had a nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 and were assessed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at baseline and 21 days after the BNT162b2 priming dose. RESULTS: First dose of BNT162b2 activated immune responses in 98% of the participants. Five HWC had no increase in antibody titre 21 days after the first dose. Antibody titre was greater in young (<38 years) vs. older participants (<38 vs. 47-56 p = 0.002; <38 vs. >56 p = 0.001). Higher antibody levels were detected in underweight vs. pre-obesity group (p = 0.026) and in normal-weight vs. pre-obesity group (p = 0.007). This association was confirmed after adjusting for age (p = 0.0001) and gender (p = 0.00001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that a single dose of BNT162b2 activates the immune response, and being young and normal-weight correlate positively with this response. Larger specifically designed clinical trials are needed to validate these results.

Initial observations on age, gender, BMI and hypertension in antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 vaccine.

BACKGROUND: Literature data suggests that age, gender and body mass index (BMI) could be associated with difference in immune responses to vaccines. The first goal of the study was to analyze the antibody titre seven days after the second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine in a group of 248 healthcare workers (HCWs). The second goal was to analyze how antibody titre changes in correlation with age, gender, BMI and hypertension. METHODS: An immunogenicity evaluation was carried out among HCWs vaccinated at the Istituti Fisioterapici Ospitalieri (IFO), Rome, Italy. All HCWs were asked to be vaccinated by the Italian national vaccine campaign at the beginning of 2021. 260 vaccinated HCWs were enrolled in the study. All eligible participants were assigned to receive the priming dose in two weeks' time and the booster dose exactly 21 days thereafter. Blood and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected at baseline and 7 days after second dose of vaccine. Quantitative measurements of IgG antibodies against S1/S2 antigens of SARS-CoV-2 were performed with a commercial chemiluminescent immunoassay. Presence of SARS-Cov-2 in nasopharyngeal swab was determined by commercial RT-PCR testing. FINDINGS: 248 HWCs were analyzed, 158 women (63.7%) and 90 men (36.3%). After the second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine, 99.5% of participants developed a humoral immune response. The geometric mean concentration of antibodies among the vaccinated subjects after booster dose (285.9 AU/mL 95% CI: 249.5-327.7) was higher than that of human convalescent sera (39.4 AU/mL, 95% CI: 33.1-46.9), with p<0.0001. Multivariate linear regression analysis of AU/mL by age, gender and BMI multivariate was performed by the inclusion of covariates. This analysis demonstrated that age (p<0.0001) and gender (p = 0.038) are statistically associated with differences in antibody response after vaccination, whereas BMI and hypertension have no statistically significant association (p = 0.078 and p = 0.52 respectively). INTERPRETATION: 99.5% of HCW developed a humoral immune response and female and young participants seem to have an increased capacity to mount humoral immune responses. BMI and hypertension seem not associated with difference in immune response to the vaccine. FUNDING: None.

Surgeons reaching satisfying outcomes without surgery: nasal dorsum skin cancer recurrence treated with electrochemotherapy.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck district are generally treated with surgery. Surgery is the standard treatment in early stages and local advanced tumors, followed by adjuvant therapy, radiation or concurrent chemoradiation therapy. Local recurrence treatment depends on previous therapies, though radical surgery is often the first choice at the expense of anatomy preservation. We present the case of a patient with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal dorsum which relapsed after surgery and radiation therapy. The patient refused radical surgery and electrochemotherapy under general anesthesia was administered. After 6 months from treatment, the patient showed a complete clinical response. Electrochemotherapy could be considered as an alternative to surgery in small lesion when other approaches are refused.

Oncological outcome and prognostic factors in malignant parotid tumours.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the oncological outcome of malignant parotid tumours and identify the prognostic factors for survival. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: One hundred and forty-one patients with primary epithelial carcinoma of the parotid gland were examined. The overall survival (OS) and disease specific survival (DSS) rates were calculated. The DSS was evaluated according to different parameters. RESULTS: The 5- and 10-year OS rates were 72.3% and 58.4%. The 5- and 10-year DSS rate was 75% and 71%, respectively. The univariate analysis showed that the pathological staging, clinical and pathological tumour and nodal status, surgical procedure and histological subtype significantly influenced the DSS (P ≤ 0.05). The 5- and 10-year loco-regional control rates were 82.1% and 78%. The multivariate analysis showed that the pathological nodal status and the pathological staging influenced the DSS. It further demonstrated that the clinical tumour status and the histological subtype were the most important preoperative prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: The pathological nodal status, the pathological staging, the clinical tumour status and the histological subtype are the most important factors influencing survival in malignant parotid tumours.

Active middle ear implant after lateral petrosectomy and radiotherapy for ear cancer.

BACKGROUND: Tumor of the temporal bone is a rare disease with a very poor prognosis. Surgery and postoperative radiotherapy are usually the recommended treatments for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the external and middle ear, which may cause conductive hearing loss. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the audiologic results and compliance of active middle ear implant (AMEI) and establish the feasibility of the procedure in a patient treated for middle ear cancer. METHODS: A 73-year-old patient treated with lateral petrosectomy, neck dissection, reconstruction/obliteration by pedicled pectoralis major myocutaneous flap, and postoperative full dose radiotherapy for external and middle ear SCC was selected for AMEI. Preoperative audiometric and speech audiometry tests were performed on both ears before and after the activation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pure tone free field audiometry. Binaural free field speech audiogram. RESULTS: Aided pure tone free field audiometry AMEI results show an increase in air conduction. Speech audiogram showed better discrimination scores in AMEI-aided situations. No complications were observed. CONCLUSION: AMEI after surgery followed by radiotherapy for middle ear cancer is feasible. Acoustic results in obliterated ear are satisfactory.

Long-standing postsurgical lower cranial nerve palsy mimicking a pharyngolaryngeal submucosal mass in an elderly patient.

Changes that occur as a natural part of senescence in the complex action of deglutition predispose to dysphagia and aspiration. This dysfunction is worsened in patients with preexisting anatomic or functional alteration such as in case of a postsurgical lower cranial nerve palsy. We present the case of a 72-year-old woman who underwent surgical resection of a right jugulotympanic tumor 33 years ago, resulting in lower cranial nerve palsy, and came to our attention referring a 4 months' history of progressive dysphagia in which a pharyngolaryngeal submucosal mass was suspected.

CT and MR imaging of the adrenal glands in cortisol-secreting tumors.

Cushing's syndrome (CS), first described by the neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing in the 1930s, is the result of chronic glucocorticoid excess. In patients with adreno-corticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent CS, bilateral hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex occurs, while in those with ACTH-independent primary CS, either adrenocortical tumors or primary adrenal hyperplasia can be observed. Cortisol-secreting adrenocortical tumors are more frequently adenomas, while adrenal carcinoma accounts for only 5% of cases. Unfortunately, no reliable endocrinological tests are available and no specific tumor markers exist to differentiate between benign and malignant adrenal tumors, so both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies are currently required to localize and define adrenal lesions. Additional information to conventional imaging can be obtained using ¹8F-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/CT, while percutaneous image-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in some cases has shown a high accuracy in detecting malignancy and in confirming adrenal metastases. New PET tracers with selective affinity for the adrenal tissue are still under evaluation. Multidetector CT scan, with the combination of unenhanced and dynamic scans, represents the single most accurate modality for the detection and the characterization of adrenal adenomas. In these lesions, chemical-shift MR imaging produces a typical loss of signal intensity on out-of-phase breath-hold gradient-echo images in lipid-rich adenomas. For these lesions there is no difference between CT and MR imaging, while MR chemical shift imaging is very helpful in identifying the additional small group of adenomas where intracellular lipid content is minimal.

Carcinoma of the buccal mucosa metastasizing to the talus.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are tumors with propensity mostly for locoregional spread. Most frequent sites of metastasis from cancer of the oral cavity include lung, bone, liver, adrenal, heart, and kidney. The advent of newer surgical techniques and an improved understanding of head and neck cancer have further improved control of cancer above the clavicles. Furthermore, the overall survival rate in patients with advanced head and neck cancer has not improved significantly. This has been partly because of the emergence of second primary cancers and the development of distant metastasis defined as cancer deposits below the clavicles. Authors reported a case of a 60 years-old man affected by squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity treated with surgery and adjuvant radiochemotherapy that developed a metastatic lesion to the left talus 10 months after primary treatment. In conclusion, bone is a rare metastatic site for HNSCC, much rarer in case of sites distal to the knee. Owing to paucity of the literature on this, no definite predisposing factor is identifiable. Because of the rarity of these lesions, bone scintigraphy remains not indicated in case of HNSCC, but attention has to be paid to eventual symptoms, also if frequently sensitive for advanced lesions.

Rhabdomyoma of the parapharyngeal space presenting with dysphagia.

Rhabdomyoma is an exceedingly rare soft tissue benign tumor of skeletal muscle origin classified into cardiac and extracardiac types based on location. Extracardiac rhabdomyoma is further classified into adult, genital, and fetal type depending on the degree of differentiation. Adult rhabdomyomas are rare, but morphologically characteristic, benign mesenchymal tumors with mature skeletal muscle differentiation that in 90% of cases arise in the head and neck region, mainly in the mucosa of the oropharynx, nasopharynx, and larynx, from the branchial musculature of third and fourth branchial arches. Most patients are between 40 and 70 years old, with a mean age of 60 years with a male predominance. Usually presenting symptoms include upper airway obstruction, Eustachian tube dysfunction, and mucosal or neck mass, but rarely does it arise as pure dysphagia. This article presents a case of parapharyngeal rhabdomyoma presenting with only progressive dysphagia.

Minimally invasive video-assisted submandibular sialoadenectomy: a preliminary report.

Open-field sialoadenectomy is the first-choice treatment for submandibular disease. Conventional surgery is based on the transcervical approach. The present study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a minimally invasive video-assisted sialoadenectomy and to describe a new technique to perform it. A 52-year-old man affected by chronic sialoadenitis underwent minimally invasive video-assisted sialoadenectomy under general anesthesia. The ultrasound scanning of the submandibular gland showed a 6.5-cm hypertrophic gland with dilatated intraglandular ducts and a 2-cm long intraglandular sialolith. After surgery, no static or dynamic nerve deficiencies were detected, but slight temporary deficiency of the marginalis mandibulae nerve recovered in 15 days. Cosmetic results satisfied the patient. Minimally invasive video-assisted submandibular sialoadenectomy can be a feasible and safe procedure, which could be a valid choice to conventional surgery if performed on selected cases. More experience must be collected to analyze the cost-effectiveness.