ROBOTIC-ASSISTED TRANSAXILLARY THYROID SURGERY - THE RABIN MEDICAL CENTER EXPERIENCE

AIMS: To review the experience of a single-center with RATS and to assess its outcome, feasibility and safety. BACKGROUND: With the advent of minimally invasive techniquesin thyroid surgery, robot-assisted transaxillary thyroid surgery (RATS) has become one of the most popular approaches. Its main advantages are improved cosmetic outcome, thereby increasing patient satisfaction, improved visualization and range of motion. Several large-scale studies, have demonstrated its safety and feasibility. METHODS: A retrospective review of all RATS consecutive cases at Rabin Medical Center. RESULTS: A total of 38 RATS procedures were performed between July 2012 and May 2015. The mean age of patients was 39 years (22-74); all patients were females; the average BMI was 25 (18-32). Thirty-seven patients underwent partial thyroidectomy and one - total thyroidectomy. The average maximal diameter of nodules pre-operatively was 2.5 cm (0.5- 5). Seventeen patients (44%) had papillary carcinoma; 13 (33%) - hyperplastic nodules and 8 (20%) - benign thyroid adenomas or goiters. The average total operative time was 166 minutes. One case was converted to open due to a large tumor; there were 6 (15.7%) cases of vocal cord paresis, of which 1 (2.6%) was permanent; there were 8 (21%) cases of hypoesthesia - all resolved within 4-12 weeks. There were no cases of permanent brachial plexus injury. CONCLUSIONS: In skilled hands, RATS is a safe alternative to conservative thyroidectomy, and should be presented to patients with aesthetic concerns. As with any new emerging technique, careful patient selection is crucial and further evidence must be sought to confirm its indications over time.

Analysis of failure following transoral laser surgery for early glottic cancer.

This study aimed at clarifying further the clinical behavior of early glottic cancer following transoral laser surgery and to determine, using retrospective analysis, whether the site of tumor involvement along the vocal fold has prognostic significance. The study included all patients treated with transoral laser surgery, for early glottic cancer (T1/T2N0M0) between May 1998 and January 2012 in a university affiliated tertiary care medical center. Data on demographics, site and extent of disease, treatment and outcome were collected and analyzed. Patients with insufficient data and/or follow-up of <2 years were excluded from the study. One-hundred and twenty-one patients were eligible for the study. Mean follow up time was 6.7 years (range 2-12 years). Overall recurrence rate following primary transoral laser surgery was 16.5 %. Histological grade was associated with higher recurrence rate (p = 0.008). Anterior commissure involvement was associated with reduced disease-free survival and tumors extending to the middle third of the true vocal fold were associated with lower recurrence rate. As per the results, anterior extension of glottic tumors is associated with higher recurrence rate compared to middle vocal fold extension, presumably due to earlier detection, better visualization and different biological behavior pattern of middle vocal fold tumors. Patients with higher grade tumors should be closely monitored for disease recurrence.

Prognostic significance of nodal ratio in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

The TNM classification is not specific for head and neck skin cancer and makes no allowance for disease extent. Studies have shown that the relative number of metastatic-to-examined lymph nodes, termed the Nodal ratio, is a reliable independent prognosticator in several types of cancer. The study was designed as a retrospective analysis in a university affiliated tertiary care center setting. The files of all patients (n = 71) with cutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and regional lymph node metastasis who attended a tertiary medical center between 1990 and 2008 were reviewed for clinical variables and outcome, and Nodal ratio was calculated. Data were analyzed for impact on survival. On multivariate analysis Nodal ratio and age were found to be significant predictors of overall survival. The N-ratio was the only significant predictor of disease-specific survival. Age, type of treatment (selective/modified neck dissection), pathologic N stage, and radiotherapy had no effect. The Nodal ratio is a potentially valuable prognostic index in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. The minimal number of nodes that need to be excised has to be determined.

Quality of Life Following Robotic Transaxillary Versus Conventional Hemithyroidectomy: A Comparative Analysis.

Background: Robotic technology has proven safe and effective for thyroidectomy procedures. Few studies have addressed the quality-of-life outcomes of robotic thyroidectomy compared with conventional thyroidectomy. Materials and Methods: The database of a tertiary medical center was retrospectively reviewed for all patients with thyroid disease who had undergone robotic hemithyroidectomy in 2012-2020. All patients treated by transaxillary robotic surgery and a similar number of randomly selected patients treated by conventional cervical surgery completed a standardized self-administered thyroid disease-specific quality-of-life (QOL) questionnaire (ThyPRO). Clinical data were derived from the medical files. The results were compared using mean comparison tests and multivariate logistic regression models. Results: The cohort consisted of 131 patients: 63 after robotic thyroidectomy and 68 after conventional thyroidectomy. The mean age was 38.87 ± 14.11 and 58.85 ± 14.1 years, respectively (P < .0001). The robotic hemithyroidectomy group reported better QOL outcomes in physical and mental health parameters, including decreased anxiety, depression, lower sex life impairment, and cognitive impairment scores (P < .0001). Furthermore, after adjusting for age, gender, malignancy status, and surgical approach, we found that patients undergoing robotic hemithyroidectomy had a lower probability of experiencing depressive symptoms than the conventional hemithyroidectomy group (odds ratio = 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.11-0.88). Of interest, no significant difference in cosmetic outcomes was found. Conclusions: Patients who underwent robotic thyroidectomy report better postoperative QOL after surgery than patients operated by the conventional approach in terms of anxiety, depression, cognitive and sex-life scores.

The Impact of Superior Canal Dehiscence on Power Absorbance, Otoacoustic Emissions, and Hearing in Fat Sand Rats.

BACKGROUND: Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence (SSCD) may lead to vestibular and auditory impairments. OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of power absorbance (PA), Distortion Product Otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), and hearing thresholds in normal ears of fat sand rats, after a bullotomy, creation and patching. METHODS: SSCD was performed unilaterally in eight normal hearing animals while the contra-lateral un-operated ear was used as a control. Measures included auditory brain stem responses thresholds for air and bone conduction stimuli, DPOAEs and PA at peak pressure. RESULTS: The normal PA pattern of the animals grossly resembled that of human ears. A bullotomy generated specific, large and significant (p < 0.0001) changes in PA without altering hearing thresholds. SSCD significantly decreased PA at low (p < 0.02) and increased at high frequencies (p < 0.03), but on a smaller scale than the bullotomy. SSCD, induced a mean air-bone gaps of 24.3 for clicks, and 31.2 dB for 1 kHz TB. SSCD also increased the DPOAEs levels by mean of 10.1 dB SPL (p < 0.03). Patching the dehiscence, reversed partially the PA changes, the auditory threshold shifts, and the DPOAEs levels to pre-SSCD values. CONCLUSIONS: SSCD affects both incoming and emitting sounds from the ear, probably due to its effect on cochlear impedance and stiffness of the middle and inner ear. The presence of DPOAEs and ABGs indicated a "third window" disease, i.e., SSCD. Due to similar PA patterns after bullotomy and SCCD, PA alone has limited diagnostic yield for patients with SCCD.

Fish Bone Foreign Body: The Role of Imaging.

Introduction Fish bone foreign body (FFB) impaction in the upper aerodigestive tract is a common cause for emergency department referral. Its management varies in both diagnosis and treatment paradigms. Fish bone foreign bodies are more commonly found in the oropharynx in cases of patients < 40 years old, and in the esophagus in cases of patients > 40 years old. Symptoms are typically non-indicative for the location of the FFB, with the exception of foreign body sensation at/superior to the cervical esophagus. A lack of findings during the physical examination is routinely followed by imaging, with computed tomography (CT) being the preferred modality. In practice, many patients undergo unnecessary imaging studies, including CT scans. Objectives To identify patients with suspected fish bone impaction who do not require CT imaging and can be safely discharged. Data Synthesis We have searched the PubMed database for the following medical subject headings (MeSH) terms: fish bone , fish foreign body AND oropharynx , hypopharynx , esophagus , flexible esophagoscopy , and rigid esophagoscopy . Our search in the English language yielded 32 papers. Case reports were included, since they highlighted rare and serious complications. Conclusion In patients > 40 years old suspected of fish bone impaction, non-contrast CT is recommended and should be urgently performed, even in the presence of ambiguous symptoms. However, in patients < 40 years old presenting within 24 hours from ingestion, imaging has little diagnostic value due to the low probability of esophageal fish bones. For this specific subgroup, in the absence of clinical findings, discharge without imaging studies may be considered safe.

Nonmelanoma skin cancer of the head and neck region in solid organ transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSC) are the most common malignancies in solid organ recipients. We investigated the incidence, clinical features, and outcome of solid organ recipients with NMSC of the head and neck. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted for solid organ recipients who were treated from 1992 to 2015 and who developed NMSC of the head and neck. RESULTS: Of 3339 organ recipients, 259 patients developed 697 head and neck NMSC. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common malignancy (55%). The overall 5-year and 10-year survival was 68% and 45%. Kidney recipients had better survival outcome than other organ recipients (10 vs 7 years). Advanced-stage cancers (10%), aggressive patterns of tumors (21%), and treatment with Prograf and Cellcept were associated with increased disease-specific mortality. CONCLUSION: Solid organ transplant increases the risk of NMSC of the head and neck. Aggressive tumors decrease patient survival and warrant more decisive and multidisciplinary approach.

The cause of brachial plexopathy in robot-assisted transaxillary thyroidectomy-A neurophysiological investigation.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: During robot-assisted transaxillary thyroidectomy, the patient's arm is maintained in an overhead flexed position for a prolonged time, which poses a risk of postoperative brachial plexopathy. The aim of the study was to identify the causes of brachial plexopathy and to assess the benefit of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) in preventing positional brachial plexopathy in this setting. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: The computerized database of a tertiary medical center was searched for all consecutive patients who underwent robot-assisted transaxillary thyroidectomy between 2012 and 2014. Clinical, operative, and outcome parameters were collected from the medical files. Findings were compared between patients operated with and without IONM. RESULTS: The cohort included 30 patients, 14 operated with IONM and 16 without. Three events of impending brachial plexopathy were detected in the monitored group. The monitored group had significantly better shoulder movement (P = .003), a lower rate of hypoesthesia (P = .011), less pain (P = .001) in the early postoperative period than the nonmonitored group and higher quality of life in the early postoperative period (P = .012). The monitored group was significantly younger than the nonmonitored one (P = .02) and had a significantly larger diameter of thyroid nodule than the nonmonitored group (P = .043). CONCLUSIONS: IONM during robot-assisted transaxillary thyroidectomy may improve short-term postoperative pain and shoulder movement and longer-term quality of life. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 126:2187-2193, 2016.

Prognostic factors in metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck poses a significant therapeutic challenge due to its aggressive biologic behavior. We conducted a retrospective study of 71 patients-58 men and 13 women, aged 28 to 88 years (mean: 71)-who had been treated at our university-affiliated tertiary care medical center for metastatic cutaneous SCC over a 15-year period. In addition to demographic data, we compiled and analyzed information on tumor characteristics, the site and extent of metastasis, treatment, follow-up, and outcome. Among the tumor factors, poorly differentiated carcinoma was an independent predictor of poorer disease-free survival, and older age was found to be an independent predictor of poorer overall survival. We found no significant difference in disease-free or disease-specific survival among patients with parotid involvement, neck involvement, or both. In our series, the site of nodal involvement appeared to have no prognostic significance in patients with metastatic cutaneous SCC of the head and neck.

Brachytherapy for radiotherapy-resistant head and neck cancer: A review of a single center experience.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Despite advances in radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments for head and neck cancers, the local failure rate is high. In most radiotherapy-resistant cases, surgery is performed; however, some cases are considered unresectable. No standard treatment for these situations has been established. In this study, we review our experience with brachytherapy (BT), which has a different biological mechanism than standard radiotherapy. METHODS: All patients received prior radiation to the recurrence area. Median high-dose radiation BT dose was 50 Gy, administered in 5 to 10 Gy fractions twice daily for 5 days. High-dose radiation was given via four to 10 catheters inserted under local anesthesia (3 patients) or general anesthesia with preventive tracheostomy (10 patients). RESULTS: Thirteen patients received BT from 2010 to 2014. Male:female ratio was 1.6:1, and median age was 66 years (range 23-89). Of those 13 patients, 10 patients were diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity, two patients with SCC of the nasal mucosa, and one patient with eccrine duct carcinoma. Prior radiation dose ranged from 60 to 70 Gy. Local control was achieved in 11 of 13 patients; only 15.3% (2 of 13) had in-field recurrence. Five patients developed local out-of-field recurrence, and two developed distant metastases. Five patients are alive with no evidence of disease. No major toxicities were encountered. Two patients had severe mucositis and recovered within several weeks. CONCLUSION: Brachytherapy for radiotherapy-resistant head and neck cancers is feasible with minor adverse events, which enables good local control. However, many advanced head and neck cancers develop regional or distant metastases; therefore, additional treatment should be suggested. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4. Laryngoscope, 126:2246-2251, 2016.

Robotic transaxillary thyroid surgery.

Recent technological advances have led to a rapid progress in endocrine surgery. With the advent of minimally invasive techniques in thyroid surgery, robot-assisted transaxillary thyroid surgery (RATS) has emerged as one of the most promising approaches. Its main advantages are improved cosmetic outcome, avoiding cervical incisions, increased patient satisfaction, improved visualization, arms articulations, eliminating surgeon's natural tremor, thereby increasing precision. The main disadvantages are longer operative time, and increased cost compared to conventional thyroidectomy, as well as potential injuries to the brachial plexus, skin flap, esophagus, and trachea. Large-scale studies, mainly from South-Korea, have proved that in skilled hands, RATS is a safe alternative to conservative thyroidectomy and should be presented to patients with aesthetic concerns. As with any new emerging technique, careful patient selection is crucial, and further evidence must be sought to confirm its indications.

Robot-assisted transaxillary thyroid surgery-feasibility and safety of a novel technique.

Developments in technology have led to a rapid progress in robotic endocrine surgery applications. With the advent of minimally invasive techniques in thyroid surgery, robot-assisted transaxillary thyroid surgery (RATS) has emerged as one of the most promising approaches. Its main advantages are improved cosmetic outcome, avoiding cervical incisions, thereby increasing patient satisfaction, and improved visualization, arms articulations, and precision, resulting in fewer surgical complications. The main disadvantages are potential new injuries to the brachial plexus, esophagus, and trachea, longer operative time, and increased cost compared to conventional thyroidectomy. In skilled hands, RATS is a safe alternative to conservative thyroidectomy and should be presented to patients with aesthetic concerns. As with any new emerging technique, careful patient selection is crucial, and further evidence must be sought to confirm its indications over time.

Fish Bone Foreign Body: The Role of Imaging

Abstract Introduction Fish bone foreign body (FFB) impaction in the upper aerodigestive tract is a common cause for emergency department referral. Its management varies in both diagnosis and treatment paradigms. Fish bone foreign bodies are more commonly found in the oropharynx in cases of patients < 40 years old, and in the esophagus in cases of patients > 40 years old. Symptoms are typically non-indicative for the location of the FFB, with the exception of foreign body sensation at/superior to the cervical esophagus. A lack of findings during the physical examination is routinely followed by imaging, with computed tomography (CT) being the preferred modality. In practice, many patients undergo unnecessary imaging studies, including CT scans. Objectives To identify patients with suspected fish bone impaction who do not require CT imaging and can be safely discharged. Data Synthesis We have searched the PubMed database for the following medical subject headings (MeSH) terms: fish bone, fish foreign body AND oropharynx, hypopharynx, esophagus, flexible esophagoscopy, and rigid esophagoscopy. Our search in the English language yielded 32 papers. Case reports were included, since they highlighted rare and serious complications. Conclusion In patients > 40 years old suspected of fish bone impaction, noncontrast CT is recommended and should be urgently performed, even in the presence of ambiguous symptoms. However, in patients < 40 years old presenting within 24 hours from ingestion, imaging has little diagnostic value due to the low probability of esophageal fish bones. For this specific subgroup, in the absence of clinical findings, discharge without imaging studies may be considered safe. (AU)

Cancer of the head and neck region in solid organ transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Solid organ recipients are at an increased risk of developing various malignancies. We investigated the incidence, clinical features, and outcome of patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer after organ transplantation. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was undertaken of patients who underwent solid organ transplantation (kidney, liver, lung, heart) treated at our institution from 1992 to 2010. RESULTS: Of 2817 organ recipients, 175 patients (6.1%) developed 391 head and neck malignancies. Cutaneous malignancies were the most common (93%): squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; 51%) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC; 42%). The average interval from transplantation to diagnosis of head and neck malignancy was 7.3 years, with liver recipients diagnosed earlier. Eighteen percent of patients presented with an aggressive pattern of head and neck cancer, including 24% of patients with cutaneous SCC. CONCLUSION: Organ transplantation recipients are at a higher risk to develop head and neck cancer with an aggressive behavior characterized by multiple recurrences and decreased survival.