Using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 to improve depression screening in head and neck cancer patients.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the use of the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) to screen for depression in patients undergoing treatment for head and neck cancer and to evaluate potential patient-specific risk factors that may contribute to depression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study at a tertiary-level hospital of outpatient adult patients with head and neck cancer who completed the PHQ-2/9 from 2019 to 2020. Patients were given a PHQ-2 during a surveillance visit. A positive PHQ-2 screen (score ≥ 3) prompted further evaluation with a PHQ-9. Patients were stratified into either low risk (PHQ-2 score < 3) or high risk (PHQ-2 score ≥ 3) for depression. Univariate regression was performed on all variables, and a multivariate logistic regression was performed on statistically significant variables (P < 0.05). RESULTS: In total, 110 patients were included in this study. Fifteen (14 %) patients had a positive PHQ-2 screen with a score ≥ 3 and underwent evaluation with a PHQ-9. The median PHQ-9 score was 15 (6-26). The PHQ-2 ≥ 3 group were significantly younger (59 years vs. 67 years; P = 0.03) and had a greater number of patients with a psychiatric history (33 % vs. 8 %; P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong association between a PHQ-2 score ≥ 3 and detection of depressive symptoms among patients with head and neck cancer. Younger age and pretreatment mental illness are significant risk factors for developing depression following treatment. Early screening and treatment should be considered for all patients to mitigate the burden of depression and suicide in this patient population. Further research is warranted to investigate utilization of the PHQ-2/9 to detect depression and barriers that exist for timely screening and interventions.

Total laryngectomy negatively impacts sinonasal and olfactory-specific quality of life.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to characterize deficits in olfactory-specific and sinonasal-specific QoL after total laryngectomy (TL) with validated patient reported outcome measures. METHODS: Thirty patients who had a TL were prospectively enrolled. Patient demographics, as well as scores from the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders Negative Statements (QOD-NS) and the Sino-nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) were collected. Univariate analysis was performed to assess associations between patient characteristics and QoL scores. RESULTS: The average QOD-NS score was 37.9 ± 11.4 (<38.5 is considered abnormal) and average SNOT-22 score was 32.0 ± 3.8 (>20 indicates a moderate/severe impact on QoL). The abnormal QOD-NS group had a greater percentage of former smokers compared to the normal group (77.8% vs. 58.1%; P = 0.56) and more median days from surgery compared to the normal group (904 vs. 477 days; P = 0.24). CONCLUSIONS: Olfactory dysfunction associated with TL results in blunting of olfactory-specific QoL.

Surgical Options for Locally Advanced Oropharyngeal Cancer.

OPINION STATEMENT: Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) incidence rates have been steadily increasing over the past several decades, and this has been largely attributed to human papillomavirus (HPV)-related OPSCC. The rise of HPV-related OPSCC and the observed distinct survival advantage it offers compared to HPV-unrelated OPSCC have resulted in the development of a new staging system specifically for OPSCC in the eighth edition of the AJCC Staging Manual for head and neck cancer. The observations on HPV-related OPSCC and its prognostic implications have coincided with increasing utilization of transoral surgical approaches to oropharyngeal tumors, such as transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) and transoral robotic surgery (TORS). These approaches were once thought to only be applicable to patients with low T-stage OPSCC tumors; however, they are being increasingly utilized in locally advanced OPSCC cases as several studies have shown that both of these transoral approaches are oncologically sound alternatives to concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT), which was previously the standard-of-choice treatment in patients with locally advanced disease. Moreover, these transoral approaches have displayed better long-term swallowing outcomes compared to CCRT, as severe dysphagia is often the most bothersome functional impairment to OPSCC survivors who have undergone CCRT. While open surgical approaches were previously not utilized in the locally advanced OPSCC setting due to the risk of severe surgical complications compared to the potential benefits of organ preservation with CCRT and comparable survival rates after either treatment regimen, these approaches are still reasonable options for select patients in the salvage surgery setting, as they allow for maximum exposure to the deep oropharyngeal anatomy. Data from multiple clinical trials evaluating the potential for TORS to de-escalate radiation dose or CCRT regimen in certain settings will inform clinical decision-making for OPSCC patients for the next decade and allow for more personalized treatments tailored to an individual patient's disease burden.

Open airway reconstruction in adults: Outcomes and prognostic factors.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to assess the success of open tracheal resection and re-anastomosis for non-malignant tracheal stenosis in adults. Successful operations were defined as T-tube or tracheostomy-free status by 6months post-operatively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective chart review was performed and data were recorded in a de-identified manner. The primary outcome was T-tube or tracheostomy-free status by 6months following tracheal resection. Clinical and demographic characteristics were evaluated as potential prognostic variables. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients met inclusion criteria, with a median age of 46. Seven patients underwent tracheal resection with primary closure, without stenting. Successful tracheal resection was defined as tracheostomy or T-tube free by 6months post-operation, and this was possible in 21 patients (66%). Eighty-two percent of patients with cricoid cartilage-sparing tracheal resection had a successful outcome, versus 30% of patients who underwent cricoid cartilage resection (HR 5.02, 95% CI 1.46-17.3; p=0.011). Patients with a history of tracheostomy-dependence were four times more likely to remain tube-dependent at 6months (HR 4.15, 95% CI 1.56-10.86; p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Tracheal stenosis remains a very difficult problem to treat. In our series, we confirm that patients with cricoid involvement or with a history of tracheostomy were more likely to be tube dependent at 6-months post-operation.

Transoral laser microsurgery in previously irradiated patients with laryngeal cancer.

PURPOSE: Early laryngeal cancer is successfully managed with transoral laser microsurgery. Previously radiated patients may experience more post-operative complications. We investigate disease-free survival and secondarily prolonged pain and chondronecrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 52 patients undergoing transoral laser microsurgery after previous radiation. RESULTS: Mean disease-free survival was 36.7 months. Overall disease-free survival was 57.6% at 3-year and 48.4% at 5-year follow-up, with no significant difference between surgery within as opposed to after 60 months of radiation or within as opposed to after 12 months of radiation. Thirteen patients, all with surgery within 60 months of radiation, experienced prolonged pain. Twelve experienced chondronecrosis, all within 12 months of surgery. CONCLUSION: Transoral laser microsurgery for early laryngeal cancer is an adequate therapeutic option in patients with history of radiation with comparable disease-free survival to other reports. Patients undergoing transoral laser microsurgery within 60 months of radiation treatment are more likely to experience prolonged pain.

Efficacy of 18FDG-PET/CT in Detecting Synchronous Malignancies in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography (18FDG-PET/CT) in detecting second primary malignancies (SPMs) in patients with treatment naïve head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). DATA SOURCES: Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus searched from 1946 to December 2022. REVIEW METHODS: Studies reporting the performance of 18FDG-PET/CT in patients with treatment-naïve, index HNSCC for detection of SPMs were included. The reference standard was histopathology, clinical follow-up over the duration of study, and other imaging modalities. Multiple investigators completed depth full-text analysis. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis guidelines were followed. Methodologic and diagnostic accuracy data were abstracted independently by multiple investigators. Risk of bias assessment was conducted using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool independently. Bivariate random-effects model meta-analysis and multivariable meta-regression modeling were used. RESULTS: Seventeen studies examining 4624 patients with a total of 475 SPMs were included in the final analysis. Eleven studies were found to be at low risk for bias, while the rest were in the high-risk category. 18FDG-PET/CT demonstrated pooled sensitivity and specificity of 0.73 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.49-0.88) and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.98-1.00) in detecting SPMs. Further subsite analysis revealed varied diagnostic performance across different anatomical regions, with sensitivity and specificity of esophageal SPMs being 0.47 (0.30-0.64) and 0.99 (0.98-1.00), and sensitivity and specificity of 0.86 (0.73-0.94) and 0.99 (0.98-1.00) for head and neck SPMs. Finally, this imaging modality showed sensitivity and specificity of 0.92 (0.84-0.96) and 0.99 (0.98-1.00) for lung SPMs. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest varied accuracy of 18FDG-PET/CT in detecting SPMs during initial workup for HNSCC, highlighting the importance of screening modalities such as esophagoscopy in high-risk patients.

Portrait of a Surgeon: Artificial Intelligence Reflections.

Text-to-image artificial intelligence (AI) programs are popular public-facing tools that generate novel images based on user prompts. Given that they are trained from Internet data, they may reflect societal biases, as has been shown for text-to-text large language model programs. We sought to investigate whether 3 common text-to-image AI systems recapitulated stereotypes held about surgeons and other health care professionals. All platforms queried were able to reproduce common aspects of the profession including attire, equipment, and background settings, but there were differences between programs most notably regarding visible race and gender diversity. Thus, historical stereotypes of surgeons may be reinforced by the public's use of text-to-image AI systems, particularly those without procedures to regulate generated output. As AI systems become more ubiquitous, understanding the implications of their use in health care and for health care-adjacent purposes is critical to advocate for and preserve the core values and goals of our profession.

Parental leave and family building experiences among head and neck surgeons in the United States: Career impact and opportunities for improvement.

BACKGROUND: The availability of paid parental leave is an important factor for retention and wellness. The experiences of head and neck surgeons with parental leave have never been reported. METHODS: A survey was electronically distributed to head and neck subspecialty surgeons in the United States. Responses were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Male surgeons had more children and took significantly less parental leave than women. Thirty percent of respondents reported that parental leave negatively impacted compensation, and 14% reported a delay in promotion due to leave, which impacted women more than men. The vast majority reported they are happy or neutral about covering those on leave. Most respondents utilized paid childcare, and approximately one quarter of respondents spending 11%-20% of their income on childcare. CONCLUSIONS: This study illuminates the current disparities regarding parental leave-taking within the subspecialty of head and neck surgery in the United States. Women surgeons are more likely to be impacted professionally and financially.

Gender Bias in Artificial Intelligence-Written Letters of Reference.

OBJECTIVE: Letters of reference (LORs) play an important role in postgraduate residency applications. Human-written LORs have been shown to carry implicit gender bias, such as using more agentic versus communal words for men, and more frequent doubt-raisers and references to appearance and personal life for women. This can result in inequitable access to residency opportunities for women. Given the known gendered language often unconsciously inserted into human-written LORs, we sought to identify whether LORs generated by artificial intelligence exhibit gender bias. STUDY DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Multicenter academic collaboration. METHODS: Prompts describing identical men and women applying for Otolaryngology residency positions were created and provided to ChatGPT to generate LORs. These letters were analyzed using a gender-bias calculator which assesses the proportion of male- versus female-associated words. RESULTS: Regardless of the gender, school, research, or other activities, all LORs generated by ChatGPT showed a bias toward male-associated words. There was no significant difference between the percentage of male-biased words in letters written for women versus men (39.15 vs 37.85, P = .77). There were significant differences in gender bias found by each of the other discrete variables (school, research, and other activities) chosen. CONCLUSION: While ChatGPT-generated LORs all showed a male bias in the language used, there was no gender bias difference in letters produced using traditionally masculine versus feminine names and pronouns. Other variables did induce gendered language, however. ChatGPT is a promising tool for LOR drafting, but users must be aware of potential biases introduced or propagated through these technologies.

The Use of Chatbots in Head and Neck Mucosal Malignancy Treatment Recommendations.

OBJECTIVE: As cancer patients increasingly use chatbots, it is crucial to recognize ChatGPT's potential in enhancing health literacy while ensuring validation to prevent misinformation. This study aims to assess ChatGPT-3.5's capability to provide appropriate staging and treatment recommendations for head and neck mucosal malignancies for vulnerable populations. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Forty distinct clinical vignettes were introduced into ChatGPT to inquire about staging and treatment recommendations for head and neck mucosal malignancies. METHODS: Prompts were created based on head and neck cancer (HNC) disease descriptions (cancer location, tumor size, lymph node involvement, and symptoms). Staging and treatment recommendations according to the 2021 National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines were scored by three fellowship-trained HNC surgeons from two separate tertiary care institutions. HNC surgeons assessed the accuracy of staging and treatment recommendations, such as the completeness of surgery and the appropriateness of treatment modality. RESULTS: Whereas ChatGPT's responses were 95% accurate at recommending the correct first-line treatment based on the 2021 NCCN guidelines, 55% of the responses contained inaccurate staging. Neck dissection was incorrectly omitted from treatment recommendations in 50% of the cases. Moreover, 40% of ChatGPT's treatment recommendations were deemed unnecessary. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes ChatGPT's potential in HNC patient education, aligning with NCCN guidelines for mucosal malignancies, but highlights the importance of ongoing refinement and scrutiny due to observed inaccuracies in tumor, nodal, metastasis staging, incomplete surgery options, and inappropriate treatment recommendations. Otolaryngologists can use this information to caution patients, families, and trainees regarding the use of ChatGPT for HNC education without expert guidance.

Efficacy of the nasal airflow-inducing maneuver in the olfactory rehabilitation of laryngectomy patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effectiveness of the nasal airflow-inducing maneuver (NAIM) in olfactory rehabilitation for total laryngectomy (TL) patients. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature search following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The inclusion criteria required that patients must have undergone a TL with subsequent NAIM training for at least 2 weeks and olfactory evaluation. The impact of NAIM on olfactory outcomes compared to that at baseline was measured. Olfactory measures included the Sniffin' Sticks Test, Smell Disk Test, Scandinavian Odor Identification Test, and Quick Odor Detection Test. The primary outcome measures were the proportion of patients with normosmia at baseline and after intervention. RESULTS: Seven studies from 2000 to 2023 comprising a total of 290 TL patients met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed that prior to intervention, the pooled proportion of patients with normosmia was 0.16 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.09‒0.27, p = 0.01). After intervention, the same proportion increased to 0.55 (95% CI: 0.45‒0.68, p = 0.001). Among the included patients, 88.3% were initially anosmic or hyposmic, which was reduced to 48.9% after NAIM practice, with 51.1% achieving normosmia. The percent improvement was not found to be significantly associated with the timing of intervention post-TL (p = 0.18). CONCLUSIONS: NAIM increased the proportion of patients who achieved normosmia in TL patients. NAIM stands out as a safe, easily teachable maneuver with promising results. Further efforts are warranted to provide specific recommendations and guidelines for the use of NAIM in clinical practice.

Functional Laryngectomy and Quality of Life in Survivors of Head and Neck Cancer With Intractable Aspiration.

Importance: Late effects of head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment include profound dysphagia, chronic aspiration, and death. Functional laryngectomy (FL) can improve patient survival and quality of life (QoL); however, removing a failing larynx for a noncancer reason is a difficult decision. Data regarding the ability of FL to improve self-perceptions of voice, swallowing, and QOL in survivors of HNC with intractable aspiration are inconclusive. Objective: To investigate the association of FL with changes in self-reported perceptions of voice, swallowing, oral intake, QoL, and mood in survivors of HNC experiencing profound dysphagia and intractable aspiration. Design, Settings, and Participants: This cohort study was conducted at a single academic institution and included survivors of HNC with profound swallowing dysfunction and intractable aspiration who underwent FL from July 2016 through March 2022. Of the initial 22 patients enrolled, 2 patients (15%) died of aspiration pneumonia before receiving FL. Data analyses were performed from July 2016 through March 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures: Self-reported measures of voice using the VHI (30-item Voice Handicap Index), swallowing using the EAT-10 (10-item Eating Assessment Tool), functional oral intake scale using the FOIS (Functional Oral Intake Scale), and quality of life using the FACT-H&N (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head & Neck) were assessed before FL and at 1, 3, and 6 months after FL. Mood states were evaluated using the POMS (Profile of Mood States, second edition), before FL and at 6 months after FL. Results: The study analyses included 20 patients (mean [SD] age, 72.4 (7.0) years; 19 [95%] males and 1 [5%] female) who underwent FL and had complete data across all time points. Among these, 12 patients (60%) had received chemoradiation for oropharyngeal, 7 (35%) for laryngeal, or 1 (5%) for nasopharyngeal cancer. The mean (SD) time from completion of oncologic treatment to FL was 15.5 (5.5) years. Mean (SD) score on the EAT-10 improved from 33.2 (7.4) to 23.1 (10.8) at 1 month; 12.1 (9.1) at 3 months; and 8.3 (7.4) at 6 months, with a large effect size (η2 = 0.72; 95% CI, 0.54-0.80). Mean (SD) score on the FOIS improved from 2.0 (1.5) to 2.9 (1.7) at 1 month; 4.8 (2.5) at 3 months; and 5.2 (1.7) at 6 months, with a large effect size (η2 = 0.6; 95% CI, 0.38-0.71). Improvement in oral intake was achieved in 19 patients (95%), and feeding tubes were removed in 10 of 16 patients (63%) who were feeding tube-dependent; 6 patients (27%) continued to require supplemental tube feedings. Mean (SD) score on the VHI improved from 63.6 (34.0) to 86.9 (33.7) at 1 month; 71.3 (36.1) at 3 months; and 39.7 (26.9) at 6 months, with a large effect size (η2 = 0.42; 95% CI, 0.19-0.56). Seventeen patients (85%) were able to use a tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis for alaryngeal communication. Mean (SD) score on the FACT-H&N improved from 86.2 (17.8) to 93.6 (18.4) at 1 month; 109.0 (18.4) at 3 months; and 121.0 (16.8) at 6 months, with a large effect size (η2 = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.42-0.74). Mean (SD) score on the POMS improved from 58.9 (13.2) at baseline to 44.5 (9.9) at 6 months, with a large effect size (Cohen d = 1.04; 95% CI, 0.48-1.57). None of the patients experienced major complications of FL; 1 patient (5%) had a postoperative pharyngocutaneous fistula. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this cohort study indicate that FL was associated with marked improvements in self-perception of voice and swallowing, functional oral intake, QoL, and mood state among survivors of HNC. These findings can serve as a framework for FL counseling among HNC survivors experiencing profound dysphagia and intractable aspiration.

Effect of Sarcopenia on Swallowing in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Sarcopenia, characterized by decreased skeletal muscle mass, is associated with poorer oncologic outcomes in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. The effect of sarcopenia on swallowing following HNC treatment is unknown. This study aims to investigate the association of sarcopenia and swallowing dysfunction in patients treated for HNC. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Academic medical center. METHODS: Pretreatment sarcopenia was assessed using the skeletal muscle index calculated from cross-sectional imaging at the third cervical vertebra. Feeding tube dependence, patient-reported dysphagia, and swallowing safety were assessed before and after treatment with the Functional Oral Intake Scale, Eating Assessment Tool-10, and Penetration Aspiration Scale, respectively. The association between sarcopenia and swallowing dysfunction was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 112 patients were included, 84 males (75%) and 28 females (25%). A total of 69 (61.6%) had sarcopenia prior to initiating HNC therapy. Sarcopenia was significantly associated with an elevated risk of patient-reported dysphagia (odds ratio [OR] = 2.71 [95% confidence interval, CI, 1.12-6.79]; P < .05). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that sarcopenia (OR = 15.18 [95% CI, 1.50-453.53]; P < .05) is an independent predictor for aspiration following treatment for HNC. CONCLUSION: Patients with pretreatment sarcopenia had higher rates of dysphagia before treatment and were more likely to develop aspiration after completion of HNC therapy. Sarcopenia is readily measured using cross-sectional imaging and may be useful for identifying patients at risk of swallowing dysfunction and those most likely to benefit from prehabilitation efforts.

CT predictors of sub-centimeter occult lymph node metastases in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: For patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) without evidence of nodal metastasis (cN0) on pre-operative evaluation, there are no clear guidelines who should undergo elective neck dissection (END) versus clinical surveillance. OBJECTIVE: To identify CT imaging characteristics of sub-centimeter lymph nodes that would help predict the likelihood of nodal metastases on pathology. METHODS: Retrospective review of cN0 OCSCC patients at a tertiary academic medical center was performed. Inclusion criteria included elective neck dissection, pre-operative CT imaging and presence of metastatic disease within lymph nodes. Control group consisted of patients without nodal metastases on pathology. CT features that were evaluated included asymmetric size, disrupted fatty hilum, asymmetric number, presence of cortical nodule, cortical nodule size, and round/oval shape. We evaluated the associations between CT LN features and the presence of metastases using multi-level mixed-effects logistic regression models. Model evaluation was performed using 5-fold cross-validation. The positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. RESULTS: 26 patients in each study and control groups were included. Three-level mixed-effects logistic regression models indicated round/oval shape (OR = 1.39, p = .01), asymmetric number (OR = 7.20, p = .005), and disrupted fatty hilum (OR = 3.31, p = .04) to be independently predictive in a 3-variable model with sensitivity = 38.0%, specificity = 92.0%, and PPV = 93.8%. CONCLUSIONS: In cN0 OCSCC patients undergoing END, round/oval shape, asymmetric number, and disrupted fatty hilum of lymph nodes on pre-operative CT imaging are novel and highly predictive of occult nodal disease.

Stratification of surgical margin distances by the millimeter on local recurrence in oral cavity cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

There are limited data supporting the commonly suggested 5 mm margin cutoff as the optimum value in defining clear margins in oral cancer. A database search of Pubmed/Medline, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost was performed from inception to June 2022. A random-effects model was chosen for this meta-analysis. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed throughout this study. Seven studies met study criteria (2215 patients). The risk ratio was significantly higher for margins <5 mm when compared to those ≥5 mm (2.09 (95%CI: 1.53-2.86, I2  = 0.47)). Subgroup analysis (I2  = 0.15) of margin distances of 0.0-0.9, 1.0-1.9, 2.0-2.9, 3.0-3.9, and 4.0-4.9 mm calculated risk ratios for local recurrence of 2.96, 2.01, 2.17, 1.8, and 0.98, respectively. Margins between 4.0 and 4.9 mm had similar risk ratios for local recurrence compared to ≥5 mm, while margins <4.0 were significantly higher.

Predictors of Health Care Utilization Following Major Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery in Older Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To identify patient factors in older patients associated with making posttreatment visits in the first year after major head and neck oncologic surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Academic institution. METHODS: Patients aged ≥60 years who underwent a neck dissection with or without a free flap reconstruction were retrospectively analyzed. Data collected included patient demographics, comorbidities, social variables, perioperative course, and clinical visits. RESULTS: Within a 1-year postoperative period, the 181 patients in our cohort had a mean ± SD 6.37 ± 3.6 postoperative clinic visits; 70% attended at least 4 visits. Multivariable regression analysis showed a significant association with distance closer to the hospital (P = .013): for every 10-mile increase in distance, the number of visits decreased by 0.15 (SE = 0.06). Additionally, receiving adjuvant radiation therapy (P = .0096) demonstrated significant associations: when compared with no adjuvant therapy, radiation therapy had on average 1.5 (SE = 0.56) more visits, and chemoradiation had 0.04 (SE = 0.73) more visits. CONCLUSION: Older patients who undergo major head and neck oncology surgery are more likely to attend posttreatment visits in the 1 year following surgery if they are discharged home rather than to a skilled nursing facility, live closer to the hospital, and undergo adjuvant radiation therapy.

Tumor and Nodal Disease Growth Rates in Patients with Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Though specific growth rate (SGR) has potential prognostic value for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), there is sparse literature defining these rates. Our aims were to establish the SGRs of primary tumors (PTs) and lymph nodes (LNs) in OPSCC and to correlate SGR with oncologic outcome. A pilot study was designed with a retrospective analysis examining 54 patients from the University of California, Davis with OPSCC (diagnosed 2012-2019). Radiation oncology software and pretreatment serial CT scans were used to measure PT and LN volumes to calculate SGR and doubling time (DT). The mean PT-SGR was 1.2 ± 2.2%/day and the mean LN-SGR was 1.6 ± 1.9%/day. There was no statistically significant difference between slow-growing and fast-growing cohorts in terms of age, gender, smoking status, tumor subsite, HPV status (as determined with p16 staining), initial volume, or overall stage. SGR had no impact on 2-year overall survival, disease-free survival, or disease-specific survival. We found the average daily growth rates for OPSCC to be 1.2%/day and 1.6%/day. Our findings suggest PT- and LN-SGR are independent factors, not heavily influenced by known biomarkers and patient characteristics, without a statistical impact on prognosis. This information has value in patient counseling regarding tumor growth and in providing patients worried about fast-growing tumors the appropriate reassurance.

Anatomy-Specific Classification Model Using Label-Free FLIm to Aid Intraoperative Surgical Guidance of Head and Neck Cancer.

Intraoperative identification of head and neck cancer tissue is essential to achieve complete tumor resection and mitigate tumor recurrence. Mesoscopic fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm) of intrinsic tissue fluorophores emission has demonstrated the potential to demarcate the extent of the tumor in patients undergoing surgical procedures of the oral cavity and the oropharynx. Here, we report FLIm-based classification methods using standard machine learning models that account for the diverse anatomical and biochemical composition across the head and neck anatomy to improve tumor region identification. Three anatomy-specific binary classification models were developed (i.e., "base of tongue," "palatine tonsil," and "oral tongue"). FLIm data from patients (N = 85) undergoing upper aerodigestive oncologic surgery were used to train and validate the classification models using a leave-one-patient-out cross-validation method. These models were evaluated for two classification tasks: (1) to discriminate between healthy and cancer tissue, and (2) to apply the binary classification model trained on healthy and cancer to discriminate dysplasia through transfer learning. This approach achieved superior classification performance compared to models that are anatomy-agnostic; specifically, a ROC-AUC of 0.94 was for the first task and 0.92 for the second. Furthermore, the model demonstrated detection of dysplasia, highlighting the generalization of the FLIm-based classifier. Current findings demonstrate that a classifier that accounts for tumor location can improve the ability to accurately identify surgical margins and underscore FLIm's potential as a tool for surgical guidance in head and neck cancer patients, including those subjects of robotic surgery.

Free flap volume changes: can we predict ideal flap size and future volume loss?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Under anticipating free flap volume may lead to deficits in functional and aesthetic outcomes. Alternatively, over anticipating may compromise airway patency, lead to prolonged tracheostomy dependence or poor oral intake, and cause poor cosmetic outcomes. Surgeons face a fine balance in creating a functional reconstruction that accounts adequately for volume changes in the future. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies are elucidating the complex and multifactorial volume changes of free flaps that are dependent on postoperative radiation, flap composition, weight fluctuations, and site of reconstruction. Radial forearm free flaps typically lose about 40% of their volume, regardless of patient-dependent variables. Muscle flaps exhibit significant fluctuations with patient-dependent variables. Adipose-prevalent flaps are likely more resistant to radiation effects but are more dependent on postoperative weight changes in the patient. SUMMARY: Free flap volume over anticipation recommendations range from 1.1 to 1.4 times the final volume to account for future atrophy but patient characteristics including postoperative radiation, anticipated weight loss, and flap composition should be incorporated into intraoperative decisions for final flap volume.

Intraoperative delineation of p16+ oropharyngeal carcinoma of unknown primary origin with fluorescence lifetime imaging: Preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated whether fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm), coupled with standard diagnostic workups, could enhance primary lesion detection in patients with p16+ head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of the unknown primary (HNSCCUP). METHODS: FLIm was integrated into transoral robotic surgery to acquire optical data on six HNSCCUP patients' oropharyngeal tissues. An additional 55-patient FLIm dataset, comprising conventional primary tumors, trained a machine learning classifier; the output predicted the presence and location of HNSCCUP for the six patients. Validation was performed using histopathology. RESULTS: Among the six HNSCCUP patients, p16+ occult primary was surgically identified in three patients, whereas three patients ultimately had no identifiable primary site in the oropharynx. FLIm correctly detected HNSCCUP in all three patients (ROC-AUC: 0.90 ± 0.06), and correctly predicted benign oropharyngeal tissue for the remaining three patients. The mean sensitivity was 95% ± 3.5%, and specificity 89% ± 12.7%. CONCLUSIONS: FLIm may be a useful diagnostic adjunct for detecting HNSCCUP.