Squamous cell carcinoma metastatic to the lymph nodes of the parapharyngeal space: case series and systematic review.

Objective: Parapharyngeal space (PPS) is a rare and unusual site of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) metastases. Treatment strategy for PPS metastases is still not well defined. This research aims to investigate the clinical implications and oncological outcomes of SCC metastases in PPS. Material and methods: A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA criteria. The authors considered only articles reporting the history and treatment of patients with PPS SCC metastases. A retrospective chart review was conducted in two tertiary referral academic centers collecting data of patients with diagnosis of PPS SCC metastases between 2010 and 2023 to study their outcome based on clinical presentation and treatment strategy. Results: The retrospective chart review showed that the oropharynx was the most frequent primary tumour site. The advanced stage at the time of diagnosis was related to poorer survival and higher recurrence rates. A significant difference in 2-year overall survival in the subgroup of patients who experienced PPS metastases within the primary treatment and those who experienced PPS metastases as regional recurrence (66.7 vs 30.8%) was observed. Similar low survival rates were reported in the literature review with a mean overall and disease-free survival of 19.8 and 8.6 months, respectively. Conclusions: PPS metastases are associated with a dismal prognosis, especially when diagnosed as regional recurrence after primary treatment, due to patients' poor general conditions and difficulty of treatment.

Calcitonin-secreting neuroendocrine tumor of the larynx, a diagnostic challenge of a rare neoplasm: a case report and literature review.

Background: Laryngeal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) represent less than 1% of all malignancies originating from the larynx and available data are limited on case reports. Calcitonin secreting laryngeal NETs are extremely rare and serial dosing of calcitonin in these patients might reveal early relapse or persistence. Case Description: We report the case of a 71-year-old woman with persistent pharyngodynia who underwent surgery for an initial diagnosis of small cell undifferentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCUNC) of the larynx (on the epiglottis extended to the left glosso-epiglottic vallecula). The immunohistochemical profile showed the presence of synaptophysin, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin A, pan-cytokeratin, including cytokeratin AE1-AE2, and focally calcitonin. The circulating NSE was 13.4 microg/L (normal level <12.5 microg/L) and the basal serum level of calcitonin was 237 pg/mL (normal level <11.5 pg/mL). The patient was started on first-line carboplatin-etoposide chemotherapy because of early relapse to an axillary lymph node. After 4 cycles of treatment, a radiological stability and metabolic response were demonstrated together with a drastic decrease of circulating serum level of calcitonin (from 237 to 57.9 pg/mL). During the follow up, locoregional relapse of disease occurred, associated with an increase of serum calcitonin (89.3 pg/mL). Disease further progressed on and rechallenge with platinum-etoposide chemotherapy was administered, during which clinical progression was confirmed. Due to the lack of response, a revision of the histology was performed and concluded for a definitive diagnosis of moderately differentiated G2 NET, with a Ki-67 index of 22.6%. Conclusions: This is the eighth case report of laryngeal NET, highlighting the challenge in pathological differential diagnosis and therapeutic strategies. The association with elevated serum calcitonin and the trend of this parameter during clinical progression suggest a role of this marker in the diagnosis and early identification of recurrent laryngeal NETs.

A Bilateral Vestibular Schwannoma is Not Always Related to Neurofibromatosis Type 2.

Bilateral vestibular schwannomas are commonly diagnosed in patients affected by neurofibromatosis type 2, a genetic disease caused by a heterozygous mutation in the gene region encoding neurofibromin-2. Sporadic bilateral vestibular schwannomas are very rare entities affecting almost exclusively elderly people. We present the case of a senior woman who was followed up with the "wait-and-scan" strategy for a unilateral vestibular schwannoma that later developed as a contralateral tumor, compatible with vestibular schwannoma, raising questions about its nature and risk of having been transmitted in offspring. Genetic testing excluded mutations of the neurofibromatosis type 2 gene. The presence of bilateral vestibular schwannomas is often considered pathognomonic of neurofibromatosis type 2, but the estimated probability of sporadic bilateral tumors in the absence of other neurofibromatosis type 2 features is 50% over 70 years of age. Therefore, the NF2 gene assessment is in any case recommended in these patients not only for an evaluation of the risk of being transmitted. The treatment strategy should be carefully personalized for each patient, considering the size of the tumors, symptoms, and hearing function together with the patient's age.

A Systematic Review of Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers for Head and Neck Cancer of Unknown Primary: An Unmet Clinical Need.

Head and neck cancer of unknown primary (HNCUP) is defined as cervical lymph node metastases without a detectable primary tumor. The management of these patients presents a challenge to clinicians since guidelines in the diagnosis and treatment of HNCUP remain controversial. An accurate diagnostic workup is fundamental for the search for the hidden primary tumor to allow the best adequate treatment strategy. The purpose of this systematic review is to present the currently available data about the diagnostic and prognostic molecular biomarkers for HNCUP. Systematic research in an electronic database was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol and identified 704 articles, of which 23 studies were selected and included in the analysis. Fourteen studies investigated HNCUP diagnostic biomarkers and focused on the human papilloma virus (HPV) and the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) due to the strong associations with oropharyngeal cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer, respectively. HPV status was shown to possess prognostic value, correlating with longer disease-free survival and overall survival. HPV and EBV are the only available HNCUP biomarkers, and they are already used in clinical practice. A better characterization of the molecular profiling and the development of tissue-of-origin classifiers are necessary to improve the diagnosis, staging, and therapeutic management of patients with HNCUP.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of microRNAs in Patients with Laryngeal Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Laryngeal squamous cell cancer (LSCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the head and neck region, with a poor survival rate (5-year overall survival 50-80%) as a consequence of an advanced-stage diagnosis and high recurrence rate. Tobacco smoking and alcohol abuse are the main risk factors of LSCC development. An early diagnosis of LSCC, a prompt detection of recurrence and a more precise monitoring of the efficacy of different treatment modalities are currently needed to reduce the mortality. Therefore, the identification of effective diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for LSCC is crucial to guide disease management and improve clinical outcomes. In the past years, a dysregulated expression of small non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), has been reported in many human cancers, including LSCC, and many miRNAs have been explored for their diagnostic and prognostic potential and proposed as biomarkers. We searched electronic databases for original papers that were focused on miRNAs and LSCC, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol. According to the outcome, 566 articles were initially screened, of which 177 studies were selected and included in the analysis. In this systematic review, we provide an overview of the current literature on the function and the potential diagnostic and prognostic role of tissue and circulating miRNAs in LSCC.

The role of adjuvant therapy in pT4N0 laryngectomized patients: Multicentric observational study.

BACKGROUND: To retrospectively evaluate oncological outcomes in two groups of patients with pT4aN0 glottic SCC treated with total laryngectomy (TL) and neck dissection (ND) who underwent postoperative radiotherapy or exclusive clinical and radiological follow-up. METHODS: It includes patients with pT4N0 glottic SCC who underwent TL and unilateral or bilateral ND with or without PORT. Divided in two comparison groups: the first group underwent adjuvant RT (TL-PORT); the second group referred to clinical and radiological follow-up (TL). RESULTS: PORT was associated with a better OS while no differences were found in terms of DSS. A better local control is achieved when PORT is administered while no differences in terms of regional and distant control rates were found. Bilateral ND positively impacts on the regional control while the PNI negatively impact the regional control. CONCLUSIONS: A tailored PORT protocol might be considered for pT4N0 glottic SCC treated with TL and ND, both considering the ND's extent and presence of PNI.

Acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland: Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes? A multicenter retrospective analysis focusing on survival outcome.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the demographic data, surgical and adjuvant treatment data and the survival outcomes in adult patients affected by acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland (AciCC). METHODS: A retrospective multicenter analysis of patients treated for AciCC of the parotid gland from 2000 to 2021 was performed. Exclusion criteria were pediatric (0-18 years) patients, the absence of follow-up and patients with secondary metastatic disease to the parotid gland. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with survival. RESULTS: The study included 81 adult patients with AciCC of the parotid gland. The median age was 46.3 years (SD 15.81, range 19-84 years), with a gender female prevalence (F = 48, M = 33). The mean follow-up was 77.7 months (min 4-max 361, SD 72.46). The 5 years overall survival (OS) was 97.5%. The 5 years disease-free survival (DFS) was 60%. No statistical differences have been found in prognosis for age (< 65 or ≥ 65 years), sex, surgery type (superficial vs profound parotid surgery), radicality (R0 vs R1 + Rclose), neck dissection, early pathologic T and N stages and adjuvant therapy (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study did not find prognostic factor for poorest outcome. In contrast with the existing literature, our results showed how also high-grade tumours cannot be considered predictive of recurrence or aggressive behaviour.

Molecular Epidemiology in 591 Italian Probands With Nonsyndromic Retinitis Pigmentosa and Usher Syndrome.

Purpose: To describe the molecular epidemiology of nonsyndromic retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and Usher syndrome (US) in Italian patients. Methods: A total of 591 probands (315 with family history and 276 sporadics) were analyzed. For 155 of them, we performed a family segregation study, considering a total of 382 relatives. Probands were analyzed by a customized multigene panel approach. Sanger sequencing was used to validate all genetic variants and to perform family segregation studies. Copy number variants of selected genes were analyzed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Four patients who tested negative to targeted next-generation sequencing analysis underwent clinical exome sequencing. Results: The mean diagnostic yield of molecular testing among patients with a family history of retinal disorders was 55.2% while the diagnostic yield including sporadic cases was 37.4%. We found 468 potentially pathogenic variants, 147 of which were unpublished, in 308 probands and 66 relatives. Mean ages of onset of the different classes of RP were autosomal dominant RP, 19.3 ± 12.6 years; autosomal recessive RP, 23.2 ± 16.6 years; X-linked RP, 13.9 ± 9.9 years; and Usher syndrome, 18.9 ± 9.5 years. We reported potential new genotype-phenotype correlations in three probands, two revealed by TruSight One testing. All three probands showed isolated RP caused by biallelic variants in genes usually associated with syndromes such as PERCHING and Senior-Loken or with retinal dystrophy, iris coloboma, and comedogenic acne syndrome. Conclusions: This is the largest molecular study of Italian patients with RP in the literature, thus reflecting the epidemiology of the disease in Italy with reasonable accuracy.

Mutation profile of BBS genes in patients with Bardet-Biedl syndrome: an Italian study.

BACKGROUND: Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare inherited multisystemic disorder with autosomal recessive or complex digenic triallelic inheritance. There is currently no treatment for BBS, but some morbidities can be managed. Accurate molecular diagnosis is often crucial for the definition of appropriate patient management and for the development of a potential personalized therapy. METHODS: We developed a next-generation-sequencing (NGS) protocol for the screening of the 18 most frequently mutated genes to define the genotype and clarify the mutation spectrum of a cohort of 20 BBS Italian patients. RESULTS: We defined the causative variants in 60% of patients; four of those are novel. 33% of patients also harboured variants in additional gene/s, suggesting possible oligogenic inheritance. To explore the function of different genes, we looked for correlations between genotype and phenotype in our cohort. Hypogonadism was more frequently detected in patients with variants in BBSome proteins, while renal abnormalities in patients with variations in BBSome chaperonin genes. CONCLUSIONS: NGS is a powerful tool that can help understanding BBS patients' phenotype through the identification of mutations that could explain differences in phenotype severity and could provide insights for the development of targeted therapy. Furthermore, our results support the existence of additional BBS loci yet to be identified.

Oguchi type I caused by a homozygous missense variation in the SAG gene.

Oguchi disease, is a very rare form of night blindness caused by biallelic variations in the SAG or GRK1 genes, both involved in rod restoration after light stimuli. Here we report the clinical and genetic findings of an 8-year old boy with a history of reduced visual acuity, nyctalpia and hemeralopia. Clinical findings, in particular the Mizuo-Nakamura phenomenon, were compatible with a diagnosis of Oguchi disease. Genetic testing revealed a novel missense homozygous variation in the SAG gene. This is the first evidence that the disease can be caused by missense variations in this gene.

Comparison of 5-year progression of retinitis pigmentosa involving the posterior pole among siblings by means of SD-OCT: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to analyze and compare the progression of photoreceptor atrophy among siblings affected by retinitis pigmentosa by means of spectral SD-OCT. METHODS: Fifty three eyes of 27 patients belonging to 12 family clusters were analyzed. To assess the annual progression rate of photoreceptor atrophy, the ellipsoid zone (EZ) line was measured in OCT sections through the fovea. We used multivariate generalized mixed effects to model the rate of progression and its relation to the initial ellipsoid zone line width. RESULTS: During our 4.84 years (± 1.44) mean follow up time (range 3-7) 53 eyes were examined. The ellipsoid zone line width declined with a yearly average rate of 76.4 µm (4.16% / year) (p-value < 0.0001). Progression rates were poorly correlated within family clusters (p-value = 0.23) and showed statistical difference between affected siblings (p-value = 0.007). There was no correlation between inter-familiar progression rate and mode of inheritance (p-value = 0.98) as well as between age and ellipsoid zone line width among siblings (p-value = 0.91). CONCLUSION: RP could be extremely heterogeneous even among siblings: an accurate and sensitive method to follow the progression of the disease is fundamental for future development of clinical trials and therapy strategies.