Management of Chronic Sialadenitis due to Sjogren's Syndrome and Radioactive Iodine Therapy Using Sialendoscopy.

INTRODUCTION: Sialendoscopy is a minimally invasive technique for the management of salivary gland disease. This work characterizes its utility for treating chronic sialadenitis due to Sjogren's syndrome and radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy. METHODS: A single-center, retrospective review of patients undergoing sialendoscopy between March 2013 and May 2019 for the treatment of chronic sialadenitis due to Sjogren's or prior RAI therapy was performed. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients with Sjogren's and 25 patients who received RAI were identified, undergoing a total of 86 procedures. Median age at presentation was 53 years with mean follow-up time of 14.3 months. Seventy-two procedures were performed on the parotid gland, four on the submandibular gland, and ten on both glands. Corticosteroid injection and duct dilation were performed most commonly. Sixteen patients required repeat procedure. All patients were symptomatically improved at follow-up visit. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: These results support the idea that sialendoscopy offers symptomatic benefit for patients with chronic sialadenitis due to Sjogren's or RAI.

COVID-19 survivorship: How otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons can restore quality of life after critical illness.

Mortality from COVID-19 has obscured a subtler crisis - the swelling ranks of COVID-19 survivors. After critical illness, patients often suffer post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), which encompasses physical, cognitive, and/or mental health impairments that are often long-lasting barriers to resuming a meaningful life. Some deficits after COVID-19 critical illness will require otolaryngologic expertise for years after hospital discharge. There are roles for all subspecialties in preventing, diagnosing, or treating sequelae of COVID-19. Otolaryngologist leadership in multidisciplinary efforts ensures coordinated care. Timely tracheostomy, when indicated, may shorten the course of intensive care unit stay and thereby potentially reduce the impairments associated with PICS. Otolaryngologists can provide expertise in olfactory disorders; thrombotic sequelae of hearing loss and vertigo; and laryngotracheal injuries that impair speech, voice, swallowing, communication, and breathing. In the aftermath of severe COVID-19, otolaryngologists are poised to lead efforts in early identification and intervention for impairments affecting patients' quality of life.

Outcomes After Tracheostomy in COVID-19 Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcomes of patients undergoing tracheostomy for COVID-19 and of healthcare workers performing these procedures. BACKGROUND: Tracheostomy is often performed for prolonged endotracheal intubation in critically ill patients. However, in the context of COVID-19, tracheostomy placement pathways have been altered due to the poor prognosis of intubated patients and the risk of transmission to providers through this highly aerosolizing procedure. METHODS: A prospective single-system multi-center observational cohort study was performed on patients who underwent tracheostomy after acute respiratory failure secondary to COVID-19. RESULTS: Of the 53 patients who underwent tracheostomy, the average time from endotracheal intubation to tracheostomy was 19.7 days ±â€Š6.9 days. The most common indication for tracheostomy was acute respiratory distress syndrome, followed by failure to wean ventilation and post-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation decannulation. Thirty patients (56.6%) were liberated from the ventilator, 16 (30.2%) have been discharged alive, 7 (13.2%) have been decannulated, and 6 (11.3%) died. The average time from tracheostomy to ventilator liberation was 11.8 days ±â€Š6.9 days (range 2-32 days). Both open surgical and percutaneous dilational tracheostomy techniques were performed utilizing methods to mitigate aerosols. No healthcare worker transmissions resulted from performing the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Alterations to tracheostomy practices and processes were successfully instituted. Following these steps, tracheostomy in COVID-19 intubated patients seems safe for both patients and healthcare workers performing the procedure.

Defining the Role of Free Flaps for Transoral Robotic Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Transoral surgical techniques for oropharyngeal tumors have been widely accepted, yet often results in a significant functional deficit. Current reports on the safety, feasibility, and swallowing performance after microvascular reconstruction are limited to small volume case series. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 42 consecutive patients, between December 2013 and May 2016, who underwent transoral robotic surgery oropharyngectomy followed by microvascular reconstruction. RESULTS: Swallowing outcomes postoperatively resulted in 39 (93%) of patients tolerating oral intake postoperatively, with 13 (87%) of 15 patients at 1-year follow-up consuming an entirely oral diet. Thirty-eight (95%) of 40 patients who underwent a tracheostomy at the time of surgery were ultimately decannulated. No patients experienced complete flap failure in the current study. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive transoral surgical techniques have offered the opportunity to minimize surgical morbidity and potentially deintensify adjuvant therapies. Reconstructive options have evolved to match surgical advances seen with robotic surgeries of oropharyngeal cancers. Microvascular reconstruction has been indicated in select patients including those with extensive soft palate resection, primary tumor abutment of the medial pterygoid musculature, exposure of internal carotid artery vasculature, prior radiation therapy, or a significant defect of the oropharyngeal sphincter. Select patients, based on previously identified criteria, were preoperatively identified as suitable candidates for microvascular reconstruction of oropharyngeal defects. This study demonstrates that complex transoral robotic surgical defects are amenable to microvascular reconstructive in carefully selected patients.

Sialendoscopy for Definitive Management of a Submandibular Abscess following Radiotherapy for Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Sialendoscopy has as yet been shown to be ideal for the management of sialolithiasis and chronic inflammatory diseases of the salivary gland. However, its applicability to the management of a broad range of salivary gland disease is continually growing. METHODS: Here we present a case report where sialendoscopy was used to successfully manage an intraparenchymal submandibular gland abscess in a patient with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma managed with primary chemoradiation. RESULTS: The use of sialendoscopy enabled visualization of the patency of salivary ducts, drainage of abscess, and irrigation of antibiotic-impregnated fluid. In this particular patient, we were able to avoid a transcervical approach through a previously irradiated field, which would have necessitated concurrent tracheostomy and placed undue risk to surrounding neurovascular structures. CONCLUSION: Sialendoscopy should thus, in select patients, be considered as an initial intervention for patients with intraparenchymal salivary gland abscesses in which prior therapy creates an increased risk of complication from an open transcervical approach.

An Airway Rapid Response System: Implementation and Utilization in a Large Academic Trauma Center.

BACKGROUND: Rapid response teams mobilize resources to patients experiencing acute deterioration. Failed airway management results in death or anoxic brain injury. A codified, systems-based approach to bring personnel and equipment to the bedside for multidisciplinary airway assessment and rescue was reflected in the initial implementation of an airway rapid response (ARR) team. METHODS: A retrospective review of records of 117 ARR events in a 40-month period (August 2011-November 2014) was undertaken at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, a 789-bed, academic, urban, tertiary care, Level 1 trauma center. RESULTS: Of the 117 ARR events, 60 (51.3%) were called in the ICU, and 43 (36.8%) in the general ward. A definitive airway was secured in all patients for whom airway management was attempted. A new surgical airway was performed in five of the patients. Seven patients went to the operating room for airway management. Nine patients died or had care withdrawn shortly after the ARR. CONCLUSION: Difficult airway emergencies represent a small but critical element of airway rescue scenarios. Before the implementation of the ARR system, the process to bring the right team, equipment, expertise, and consensus on the right actions to critical airway emergencies was ad hoc. ARR activation, which brings multidisciplinary airway consultation, expert skills, and advanced airway equipment to the bedside, contributed to definitive airway management for surgical and nonsurgical airways. Performance of a bedside emergency surgical airway was uncommon. The ARR system represents a significant enhancement of the "anesthesia stat" system that typifies the airway emergency system at many institutions.

Transoral Robotic Surgery with Sialendoscopy for a Plunging Ranula.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Plunging ranulas are oral mucoceles that often cannot be visualized directly and thus can be challenging to diagnose and differentiate from other neck lesions. Surgery is the preferred treatment option, but the optimal approach requires careful consideration. METHODS: We report the case of a plunging ranula presenting as an isolated neck mass in a 33-year-old patient. This patient was treated with a novel transoral robotic surgery (TORS)-assisted approach aided by sialendoscopy. RESULTS: TORS allowed for exceptional visualization and access to the plunging ranula and sublingual gland while avoiding critical neurovascular structures. The patient healed well without recurrence or complications. CONCLUSION: The TORS approach with sialendoscopy for plunging ranulas described in this case report shows promise and should be considered for certain clinical presentations. Additional studies evaluating the effectiveness of TORS for plunging ranulas may be indicated.

Risk of lymph node metastasis and recommendations for elective nodal treatment in squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal cavity and maxillary sinus: a SEER analysis.

BACKGROUND: Risk of nodal involvement in patients with squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the nasal cavity and maxillary sinus has not been well defined, especially by risk factors beyond local T-stage. Additional criteria defining patients at highest risk, as well as specific nodal levels at highest risk, has been limited in small retrospective series. We describe a population-based assessment of specific nodal involvement in this group. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database from 2004 to 2010 identified 1283 eligible patients with SCC of the nasal cavity or maxillary sinus. Neck involvement and individual nodal level involvement at presentation were assessed, and comparison made with a contemporaneous cohort of patients with a borderline clinically significant risk of nodal involvement and recurrence. RESULTS: Among 1283 patients, 182 (14.2%) had nodal involvement at presentation (4-27% by site and local extension). T-stage alone was associated with higher rates of nodal involvement in maxillary sinus SCC, while higher T-stage and size >2 cm were associated with higher rates of nodal involvement in nasal cavity SCC on multivariable analysis. Facial nodes and cervical nodes at levels 1 and 2 have the highest rates of involvement in T4a nasal cavity SCC, whereas nodal levels 1, 2, and/or 3 have the highest rates of involvement in T2 or higher maxillary sinus SCC when compared with a clinical reference standard. CONCLUSION: In this population-based study, there are high rates of initial nodal involvement when stratified by local extent determined by T-stage in nasal cavity SCC and maxillary sinus SCC, and independently by size in nasal cavity SCC. Involvement of the facial and nodal levels 1-3 varies depending on site and local extent of tumor involvement. These observations may help guide treatment decision making in the inclusion of and extent of elective nodal treatment fields.

Positron emission tomography in Warthin's tumor mimicking malignancy impacts the evaluation of head and neck patients.

PURPOSE: 1) To determine SUVs and PET/CT characteristics of Warthin's tumors in patients presenting to a head and neck cancer clinic. 2) To analyze the impact of PET/CT on the clinical course of these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a single-institution retrospective analysis of patients with proven Warthin's tumors who underwent PET/CT done at or near the time of diagnosis and presented to a head and neck cancer practice. Data were obtained from the electronic medical records of these patients and the imaging and pathology databases. RESULTS: Six patients with Warthin's tumor met the criteria for and form the study cohort. Three patients had bilateral tumors. The SUVs for Warthin's varied from 3.4 to 16.1 in these patients, with an average of 7.8 and these SUVs were higher for Warthin's than for the cancers. These findings on PET/CT in this group required additional workup of all patients and required FNA, surgery or SPECT-CT to confirm the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Although it is known that Warthin's tumor may be hypermetabolic on PET, this finding in the parotid or neck on PET/CT alters the evaluation and treatment of head and neck cancer patients and patients with cancers outside the head and neck by raising the concern about metastatic disease or multiple primary cancers. In other patients, PET/CT obtained for other reasons may prompt concern about incidental malignancy. This series specifically characterizes clinical features, SPECT-CT and FNA findings that can help reinforce the diagnosis of Warthin's and facilitate management.

Salivary neoplasms presenting with radiologic venous invasion: an imaging pearl to diagnosing metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

We report the case of a 64-year-old otherwise healthy woman who presented with left facial swelling. Imaging of the neck revealed multiple masses in the salivary and thyroid glands. The mass in the left parotid gland was associated with an intravenous extension into the retromandibular, facial and internal jugular veins in the left neck. Based on multiplicity of these masses and the presence of radiologic venous invasion, the diagnosis of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) was suggested on imaging, which was subsequently confirmed on systemic workup and pathology findings. Although RCC metastasizes to the salivary glands, the primary presentation of RCC with both salivary and thyroid gland masses is extremely rare, with only a few reports. The above feature and its imaging diagnosis based on local venous invasion are the highlights of this report.

Head and Neck Paragangliomas: Overview of Institutional Experience.

Head and neck paragangliomas (HNPGLs) are rare and have high rates of genetic mutations. We conducted a retrospective review of 187 patients with 296 PGLs diagnosed between 1974 and 2023. The mean age of diagnosis was 48.8 years (range 10 to 82) with 69.0% female and 26.5% patients with multiple PGLs. Among 119 patients undergoing genetic testing, 70 (58.8%) patients had mutations, with SDHB (30) and SDHD (26) being the most common. The rates of metastasis and recurrence were higher among patients with SDHB mutations or SDHD mutations associated with multiple PGLs. Metabolic evaluation showed elevated plasma dopamine levels were the most common derangements in HNPGL. MRI and CT were the most common anatomic imaging modalities and DOTATATE was the most common functional scan used in this cohort. Most patients (81.5%) received surgery as the primary definitive treatment, while 22.5% patients received radiation treatment, mostly as an adjuvant therapy or for surgically challenging or inoperable cases. Systemic treatment was rarely used in our cohort. Our single-center experience highlights the need for referral for genetic testing and metabolic evaluation and for a team-based approach to improve the clinical outcomes of patients with HNPGLs.

Proposal for standardized ultrasound analysis of the salivary glands: Part 1 submandibular gland.

Objectives: The Salivary Gland Committee of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery seeks to standardize terminology and technique for ultrasonograpy used in the evaluation and treatment of salivary gland disorders. Methods: Development of expert opinion obtained through interaction with international practitioners representing multiple specialties. This committee work includes a comprehensive literature review with presentation of case examples to propose a standardized protocol for the language used in ultrasound salivary gland assessment. Results: A multiple segment proposal is initiated with this focus on the submandibular gland. We provide a concise rationale for recommended descriptive language highlighted by a more extensive supplement that includes an extensive literature review with additional case examples. Conclusion: Recommendations are provided to improve consistency both in performing and reporting submandibular gland ultrasound.

Transoral robotic surgery in head and neck cancer: what radiologists need to know about the cutting edge.

The evolution of oncologic surgical technology has moved toward reducing patient morbidity and mortality without compromising oncologic resection or oncologic outcomes. The goals in treating head and neck cancer are to cure patients, as well as to provide quality of life by improving functional and social outcomes through organ-preservation therapies, which may include surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is an emerging technique that provides several benefits over existing treatment regimens and over open surgery for head and neck cancer, including reductions in operative times, blood loss, intensive care unit stays, and overall duration of patient hospitalization. Transoral robotic techniques allow wide-view, high-resolution, magnified three-dimensional optics for visualization of the mucosal surfaces of the head and neck through an endoscope, while avoiding the extensive external cervical incisions often required for open surgeries. Radiologists play an important role in the successful outcome of these procedures, both before and after TORS. Determining a cancer patient's surgical candidacy for TORS requires a thorough preoperative radiologic evaluation, coupled with clinical and intraoperative assessment. Radiologists must pay particular attention to important anatomic landmarks that are clinical blind spots for surgeons. Knowledge of the expected postoperative imaging appearances, so that they can be distinguished from recurrent disease and second primary tumors, is essential for all radiologists involved in the care of these patients.

CIC-DUX4 Sarcoma Involving the Skull Base: A Rare Presentation and Review of the Literature.

Background CIC-DUX4 sarcoma is a rare, aggressive tumor that is difficult to diagnose. Although it is closely related to Ewing's sarcoma, each is a distinct pathologic entity and both have been previously reported in the skin, lymph nodes, and viscera. We report the first description of CIC-DUX4 involving the posterior cranial fossa and review the distinctive symptomatology, morphology, immunoprofile, and genetic signature that differentiate this rare tumor. Case Report A 32-year-old man presented with an enlarging right lateral neck mass, progressive hoarseness, and orofacial pain. Biopsy revealed a high-grade undifferentiated malignant neoplasm. Imaging demonstrated an 8-cm mass in the right neck extending to the skull base and abutting the carotid sheath, in addition to pulmonary nodules and pelvic lymphadenopathy. Despite initial response to chemotherapy, he experienced disease progression and underwent surgical resection, radical neck dissection, and brachytherapy. Definitive pathologic diagnosis was achieved with next-generation sequencing. Within weeks of treatment, he developed symptoms reflecting progression of disease involving the neck, posterior cranial fossa, and lung. Adjuvant chemotherapy was planned, but the patient succumbed to his disease prior to initiation of further therapy. Conclusion CIC-DUX4 sarcomas are uncommon and can progress rapidly. Diagnosis requires either fluorescence in situ hybridization or next-generation sequencing. Due to its rarity, there is no standard-of-care treatment for this tumor and further investigations are needed to understand disease behavior and develop targeted therapeutic modalities.

Carcinoma Ex Pleomorphic Adenomas: An Institutional Experience and Literature Review.

OBJECTIVES: To provide an institutional experience with cases diagnosed as carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA), including the cytologic and histologic findings and clinical follow-up, followed by a comparison to the experience documented in the literature. METHODS: We identified cases of CXPA diagnosed at our institution from 2011 to 2021 and reviewed the cytologic and histologic diagnoses, as well as the treatment and clinical outcomes. Additionally, a literature review of the English literature was performed on CXPAs from 2011 to 2021. RESULTS: Forty-one cases of CXPA were identified, with the majority subclassified as adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified. Five tumors underwent cytogenetic studies and five underwent molecular studies. To date, 36 patients are alive, 8 of whom experienced locoregional recurrence or distant metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Our institutional experience was comparable to that reported in the literature. Further studies are required to inquire about the role of molecular profiles of CXPAs in clinical risk assessment.

Post-operative Monitoring for Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstruction in the Era of Resident Duty Hour Restrictions: A Retrospective Cohort Study Comparing 2 Monitoring Protocols.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether 2 different methods of post-operative head and neck free flap monitoring affect flap failure and complication rates. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 803 free flaps performed for head and neck reconstruction by the same microvascular surgeon between July 2013 and July 2020 at 2 separate hospitals within the same healthcare system. Four-hundred ten free flaps (51%) were performed at Hospital A, a medical center where flap checks were performed at frequent, scheduled intervals by in-house resident physicians and nurses; 393 free flaps (49%) were performed at Hospital B, a medical center where flap checks were performed regularly by nursing staff with resident physician evaluation as needed. Total free flap failure, partial free flap failure, and complications (consisting of wound infection, fistula, and reoperation within 1 month) were assessed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between Hospitals A and B when comparing rates of total free flap failure, partial free flap failure, complication, or re-operation (P = .27, P = .66, P = .65, P = .29, respectively). There were no significant differences in urgent re-operation rates for flap compromise secondary to thrombosis and hematoma (P = .54). CONCLUSIONS: In our series, free flap outcomes did not vary based on the degree of flap monitoring by resident physicians. This data supports the ability of a high-volume, well-trained, nursing-led flap monitoring program to detect flap compromise in an efficient fashion while limiting resident physician obligations in the age of resident duty hour restrictions.

Contemporary Review of Submandibular Gland Sialolithiasis and Surgical Management Options.

One of the most common disorders of the salivary glands is obstructive sialolithiasis. Salivary gland obstruction is important to address, as it can significantly impact patient quality of life and can progress to extensive cellulitis and abscess formation if left untreated. For small and accessible stones, conservative therapies often produce satisfactory outcomes. Operative management should be considered when stones are inaccessible or larger in size, and options include sialendoscopy, laser lithotripsy, extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy, transoral surgery, and submandibular gland adenectomy. Robotic approaches are also becoming increasingly used for submandibular stone management. The purpose of this review is to summarize the modern-day management of submandibular gland obstructive sialolithiasis with an emphasis on operative treatment modalities. A total of 77 articles were reviewed from PubMed and Embase databases, specifically looking at the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of submandibular sialolithiasis.