Transcanal endoscopic carbon dioxide laser resection of early-stage (A1-B1) glomus tympanicum tumours: single-centre case series.

OBJECTIVE: To report a single-centre experience in the endoscopic carbon dioxide laser-assisted approach to glomus tympanicum tumours. METHODS: A retrospective case review was conducted of patients diagnosed with class A1 to B1 glomus tympanicum tumours who underwent exclusive transcanal endoscopic carbon dioxide laser surgery. RESULTS: Seven patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All patients (100 per cent) were women, with a mean age of 65.4 years (standard deviation, 13.6). There were five A2 tumours, one A1 tumour and one B1 tumour. One patient presented with a delayed tympanic membrane perforation needing myringoplasty on follow up. There were no substantial post-operative complications. The mean hospitalisation time was 9.5 hours (standard deviation, 9.8). The mean follow-up period was 32.7 months (standard deviation, 13.1), with all cases having resolution of pulsatile tinnitus and no tumour recurrence. CONCLUSION: The study provides further evidence on the safety and efficacy of endoscopic carbon dioxide laser surgery as a minimally invasive technique for treating early-stage glomus tympanicum tumours.

Significado pronóstico de la extensión extranodal en pacientes con carcinomas escamosos de cabeza y cuello cN0 con metástasis ganglionares ocultas / Prognostic significance of extranodal extension in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cN0 patients with occult metastatic neck nodes

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVOS: La presencia de extensión extranodal en adenopatías metastásicas de pacientes con carcinoma escamoso de cabeza y cuello es un reconocido factor de mal pronóstico. Sin embargo, pocos estudios analizan específicamente su significado en pacientes sin evidencia clínica de extensión ganglionar en el momento del diagnóstico inicial. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo de 348 pacientes con carcinoma escamoso de cabeza y cuello cN0 tratados con un vaciamiento cervical electivo. Se evaluó la presencia de metástasis ganglionares ocultas con extensión extranodal y se analizó su impacto sobre la supervivencia. RESULTADOS: El porcentaje de pacientes con metástasis ganglionares ocultas fue del 33%. De estos, un 23,5% presentaron al menos una adenopatía metastásica con extensión extranodal. Existieron diferencias significativas en la supervivencia específica en función del estatus ganglionar. La supervivencia a los 5 años para los pacientes sin afectación ganglionar patológica fue del 90%, para aquellos con metástasis ganglionares ocultas sin extensión extranodal, del 71,2%, y para los pacientes con metástasis ganglionares ocultas con extensión extranodal, del 25,9% (p = 0,0001). En un estudio multivariante la presencia de metástasis ganglionares ocultas con extensión extranodal fue el factor relacionado de forma más importante con la supervivencia. La incorporación de la extensión extranodal como criterio de clasificación histopatológico en la octava edición del TNM mejoró la capacidad pronóstica en relación con las ediciones anteriores. CONCLUSIONES: La presencia de adenopatías metastásicas con extensión extranodal es un factor de mal pronóstico en pacientes con carcinoma escamoso de cabeza y cuello sin evidencia clínica de afectación regional en el momento del diagnóstico de la enfermedad

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Extranodal extension in nodal metastases is an independent adverse prognostic factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. However, few studies specifically address the subgroup of patients with no clinical evidence of nodal disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed data from 348 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients without any previous treatment and lacking clinical or radiological evidence of neck node metastases during the initial workup, treated with an elective neck dissection between 1992-2014. The incidence of occult metastatic neck nodes with extranodal extension and the impact of extranodal extension in survival were evaluated. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with occult neck node metastases was 33%. Of these, 23.5% had at least one metastatic neck node with extranodal extension. There were significant differences in the disease-specific survival rate according to neck node status. Five-year disease-specific survival for patients without histopathological metastases was 90%, for patients with occult neck node metastases without extranodal extension it was 71.2%, and for patients with occult neck node metastases with extranodal extension it was 25.9% (P = .0001). The multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of occult node metastases with extranodal extension was the factor with strongest impact on survival. The inclusion of the extranodal extension as a criterion of histopathological evaluation in the 8 th TNM classification edition improves the prognostic capacity compared to previous TNM editions. CONCLUSIONS: Appearance of metastatic neck nodes with extranodal extension is an adverse prognostic factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients without clinical evidence of regional disease during the initial workup of the tumour

Prognostic significance of extranodal extension in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cN0 patients with occult metastatic neck nodes. / Significado pronóstico de la extensión extranodal en pacientes con carcinomas escamosos de cabeza y cuello cN0 con metástasis ganglionares ocultas.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Extranodal extension in nodal metastases is an independent adverse prognostic factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. However, few studies specifically address the subgroup of patients with no clinical evidence of nodal disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed data from 348 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients without any previous treatment and lacking clinical or radiological evidence of neck node metastases during the initial workup, treated with an elective neck dissection between 1992-2014. The incidence of occult metastatic neck nodes with extranodal extension and the impact of extranodal extension in survival were evaluated. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with occult neck node metastases was 33%. Of these, 23.5% had at least one metastatic neck node with extranodal extension. There were significant differences in the disease-specific survival rate according to neck node status. Five-year disease-specific survival for patients without histopathological metastases was 90%, for patients with occult neck node metastases without extranodal extension it was 71.2%, and for patients with occult neck node metastases with extranodal extension it was 25.9% (P=.0001). The multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of occult node metastases with extranodal extension was the factor with strongest impact on survival. The inclusion of the extranodal extension as a criterion of histopathological evaluation in the 8th TNM classification edition improves the prognostic capacity compared to previous TNM editions. CONCLUSIONS: Appearance of metastatic neck nodes with extranodal extension is an adverse prognostic factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients without clinical evidence of regional disease during the initial workup of the tumour.