Enhancing quality of life in head and neck cancer patients: a comparative analysis of 3D exoscope-assisted surgery vs. traditional approaches.

Introduction: The increasing population of survivors of head and neck carcinomas is becoming more conspicuous. Consequently, the pivotal role of quality of life, particularly elucidated through the assessment of dysphagia and dysphonia, is progressively influencing the decision-making process. The current study aims to assess whether VITOM 3D could offer a comparable post-treatment quality of life to traditional approaches for patients with laryngeal cancer and oro-hypopharyngeal cancer. Methods: A case series of laryngeal cancer and oro-hypopharyngeal cancer patients treated either with an exoscopic-assisted surgical setup and with conventional treatments (transoral microsurgery and radio-chemotherapy) at the Otolaryngology Unit of IRCCS San Martino Hospital, Genoa, is presented. The post-treatment quality of life of the two cohorts were compared through the administration of the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire, Voiceik Handicap Index-10, M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory were administrated to both cohorts of patients. Results: In the laryngeal cancer group, a total of 79 patients were included. Of these, 50.1% underwent transoral exoscope-assisted surgery, while 49.9% underwent primary transoral microscopic-assisted surgical approach. No significant differences were observed in terms of the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire and Voice Handicap Index-10 between the two subgroups. Conversely, in the oro-hypopharyngeal cancer group, 43 patients were included. Of these, 37.2% underwent primary transoral exoscope-assisted surgery, while 62.8% received (chemo)radiotherapy. No notable differences were reported in terms of the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire and M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory between the transoral exoscope-assisted surgery and (chemo)radiotherapy subgroups. Conclusions: Assessments of quality of life, conducted through the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire questionnaire, dysphonia evaluations using the Voice Handicap Index-10, and dysphagia assessments employing the M.D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory questionnaire, demonstrate analogous outcomes between conventional treatment modalities and transoral interventions utilizing the 3D exoscope.

The impact of margins in laryngeal cancer patients treated with transoral laser microsurgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: In laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) treated with transoral laser microsurgery (TOLMS), the status of margins significantly affected local control. When a positive or close margin is present, there is no ubiquitous consensus regarding further treatments. The rationale of the present systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate the survival impact of the status of the margins in patients affected by LSCC treated with TOLMS. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. METHODS: We performed a systematic search, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Inclusion criteria were: patients affected by LSCC, staged according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging System and treated by TOLMS without any previous treatment; margins status (close, positive, negative) and the adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of overall survival, disease-specific survival, and disease-free survival has to be reported. RESULTS: Nine studies were deemed eligible for the qualitative analysis, and 3 for the quantitative analysis to investigate the association between margin status and OS. The cumulative number of patients was 3130. The sample size ranged from 96 to 747 patients. The follow-up period ranged from 0 to 201 months. The meta-analysis results show that positive margins have an aHR of 1.30 yet with CI range (0.56 to 2.97). CONCLUSIONS: Our current meta-analysis results are unable to definitively assess the real impact of resection margins on OS. Few authors provide accurate data regarding position and types of margins. Further prospective or high-quality studies are required.

Exploring the landscape of AI-assisted decision-making in head and neck cancer treatment: a comparative analysis of NCCN guidelines and ChatGPT responses.

PURPOSE: Recent breakthroughs in natural language processing and machine learning, exemplified by ChatGPT, have spurred a paradigm shift in healthcare. Released by OpenAI in November 2022, ChatGPT rapidly gained global attention. Trained on massive text datasets, this large language model holds immense potential to revolutionize healthcare. However, existing literature often overlooks the need for rigorous validation and real-world applicability. METHODS: This head-to-head comparative study assesses ChatGPT's capabilities in providing therapeutic recommendations for head and neck cancers. Simulating every NCCN Guidelines scenarios. ChatGPT is queried on primary treatments, adjuvant treatment, and follow-up, with responses compared to the NCCN Guidelines. Performance metrics, including sensitivity, specificity, and F1 score, are employed for assessment. RESULTS: The study includes 68 hypothetical cases and 204 clinical scenarios. ChatGPT exhibits promising capabilities in addressing NCCN-related queries, achieving high sensitivity and overall accuracy across primary treatment, adjuvant treatment, and follow-up. The study's metrics showcase robustness in providing relevant suggestions. However, a few inaccuracies are noted, especially in primary treatment scenarios. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the proficiency of ChatGPT in providing treatment suggestions. The model's alignment with the NCCN Guidelines sets the stage for a nuanced exploration of AI's evolving role in oncological decision support. However, challenges related to the interpretability of AI in clinical decision-making and the importance of clinicians understanding the underlying principles of AI models remain unexplored. As AI continues to advance, collaborative efforts between models and medical experts are deemed essential for unlocking new frontiers in personalized cancer care.

Depth of Invasion Assessment in Laryngeal Glottic Carcinoma: A Preoperative Imaging Approach for Prognostication.

OBJECTIVE: The prognostic value of depth of invasion (DOI) in oral squamous cell cancer carcinoma and cutaneous melanoma is well established, while there is a lack of reports investigating the role of DOI in laryngeal cancer. This study aims to explore the association of glottic cancer DOI with other established pathological risk factors and nodal metastasis and evaluate the feasibility of measuring DOI preoperatively using tomographic imaging. METHODS: The medical records of glottic cancer patients treated between 2015 and 2020 in a single tertiary referral center were screened retrospectively. Pathologically measured DOI (pDOI) value was also reviewed and registered. Preoperative computer tomography (CT) was used to obtain the radiological DOI (rDOI) measured by two dedicated radiologists. Their inter-rated agreement was assessed and the correlation between pDOI and rDOI was calculated. pDOI association with the main pathology report features was assessed with univariable analysis. Cox univariable and multivariable models were used to explore the role of pDOI on survival. RESULTS: Ninety-one patients had pDOI data available, of which 59 also had rDOI data. A strong concordance between the two radiologists was found (concordance correlation coefficient = 0.96); rDOI and pDOI were highly and significantly correlated (R = 0.85; p < 0.001). pDOI was significantly higher in patients with perineural invasion (PNI; p < 0.001), lymphovascular invasion (LVI; p < 0.001), and nodal metastasis (p < 0.001). pDOI was associated with disease-free survival at univariable analysis (p = 0.04) while it did not show a significant impact (p = 0.10) at multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: Glottic carcinoma DOI correlates with PNI, LVI, and nodal metastasis and it can be reliably assessed in a preoperative setting using CT imaging. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 2024.

Predicting the need for prophylactic gastrostomy in major head and neck cancer surgery: The PEG score.

BACKGROUND: To elaborate a preoperative score to predict the necessity of enteral nutrition at 28 days postoperatively in patients undergoing head and neck surgery. METHODS: A total of 424 patients with oral cavity, oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and hypopharyngeal carcinoma were retrospectively enrolled and analyzed to identify preoperative predictors of prolonged postsurgical enteral feeding which were used to create a prediction model with an easy-to-use nomogram. RESULTS: Five preoperative variables (body mass index, previous radiotherapy, preoperative dysphagia, type of surgery, flap reconstruction) were found to be independent predictive factors and were used to create a prediction model named PEG score together with the related nomogram. Accuracy, F1, and the area under the curve (AUC) were 0.74, 0.83, and 0.74. Different decision thresholds can be used to vary the sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSIONS: The PEG score showed high prediction performances for modeling the need for enteral nutrition at 28 days postoperatively. Prospective studies are needed to define a personalized nutrition protocol.

Can High-Frequency Intraoral Ultrasound Predict Histological Risk Factors in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma? A Preliminary Experience.

Despite advancements in multidisciplinary care, oncologic outcomes of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have not substantially improved: still, one-third of patients affected by stage I and II can develop locoregional recurrences. Imaging plays a pivotal role in preoperative staging of OSCC, providing depth of invasion (DOI) measurements. However, locoregional recurrences have a strong association with adverse histopathological factors not included in the staging system, and any imaging features linked to them have been lacking. In this study, the possibility to predict histological risk factors in OSCC with high-frequency intraoral ultrasonography (IOUS) was evaluated. Thirty-four patients were enrolled. The agreement between ultrasonographic and pathological DOI was evaluated, and ultrasonographic margins' appearance was compared to the Brandwein-Gensler score and the worst pattern of invasion (WPOI). Excellent agreement between ultrasonographic and pathological DOI was found (mean difference: 0.2 mm). A significant relationship was found between ultrasonographic morphology of the front of infiltration and both Brandwein-Gensler score ≥ 3 (p < 0.0001) and WPOI ≥4 (p = 0.0001). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the IOUS to predict a Brandwein-Gensler score ≥3 were 93.33%, 89.47%, 87.50%, and 94.44%, respectively. The present study demonstrated the promising role of IOUS in aiding risk stratification for OSCC patients.

Functional outcomes of soft palate reconstruction after oncologic surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to analyze functional outcomes of soft palate reconstruction after oncologic surgery. METHODS: This study was conducted in conformity with the PRISMA statement. A single arm meta-analysis was performed for feeding tube dependence (FTD) (primary outcome), velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) and hypernasality (HN) (secondary outcomes) incidences. RESULTS: A total of 510 patients (males: 77.75%, n = 353/454) with a median age of 58 years (n = 480/510; 95% CI 57.0-61.0) who underwent soft palate surgical resection with primary reconstruction were included. Overall, the cumulative FTD rate was 1.55% (n = 28/510; 95% CI 0.24-3.96%), the VPI rate was 22.18% (n = 119/379; 95% CI 12.99-33.02%), and the HN rate was 33.01% (n = 88/234; 95% CI 19.03-46.61%). CONCLUSIONS: Soft palate reconstruction results in a low incidence of FTD, and most patients resume a full oral diet. Both obturators, primary closure, local and free flaps seem good reconstructive options. Nevertheless, more specific postoperative functional deficiencies like VPI and HN owns higher incidences, potentially affecting the quality of the swallowing and speaking function and the patient's quality of life.

The Role of Peritumoral Depapillation and Its Impact on Narrow-Band Imaging in Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

A recent study reported that the occurrence of depapillated mucosa surrounding oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas (OTSCC) is associated with perineural invasion (PNI). The present study evaluates the reliability of depapillation as a PNI predictor and how it could affect narrow-band imaging (NBI) performance. This is thus a retrospective study on patients affected by OTSCC submitted to radical surgery. The preoperative endoscopy was evaluated to identify the presence of depapillation. Differences in distribution between depapillation and clinicopathological variables were analyzed. NBI vascular patterns were reported, and the impact of depapillation on those was studied. We enrolled seventy-six patients. After evaluation of the preoperative endoscopies, 40 (53%) patients had peritumoral depapillation, while 59 (78%) had a positive NBI pattern. Depapillation was strongly correlated to PNI, 54% vs. 28% (p = 0.022). Regarding the NBI pattern, there was no particular association with depapillation-associated tumors. The presence of depapillation did not affect the intralesional pattern detected by the NBI, while no NBI-positive pattern was found in the depapillation area. Finally, the NBI-guided resection margins were not affected by depapillation. Peritumoral depapillation is a reliable feature for PNI in OTSCC. NBI margin detection is not impaired by depapillation.

Immunonutrition in major oncologic head and neck surgery: Analysis of complications, plasmatic equilibrium, and costs.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition, in patients with solid tumors, is associated with a worse clinical outcome and about 40% of patients affected by head and neck cancers (HNC) are malnourished at the time of cancer diagnosis. We investigated the potential benefit of a standardized immunonutritional protocol (INP) to patients with HNC receiving major ablative surgery. METHODS: An observational study was conducted enrolling 199 patients: 50 treated with the INP and 149 with standard enteral nutrition. Complication rates, need for medications, and costs were considered as outcomes. RESULTS: INP played a protective role in development of major surgical complications (OR 0.23, p = 0.023), albumin administration (RR 0.38, p = 0.018), and antibiotic duration (p < 0.001) and is cost-effective in patients with moderate or severe malnutrition (-6083€ and -11 988€, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports the utility of INP, and accurate nutritional screening can help to identify malnourished patients who would receive the most benefits from this protocol.

High-Frequency Intraoral Ultrasound for Preoperative Assessment of Depth of Invasion for Early Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Radiological-Pathological Correlations.

The eighth edition of the TNM classification officially introduced "depth of invasion" (DOI) as a criterion for determining the T stage in tongue squamous cell carcinoma. The DOI is a well-known independent risk factor for nodal metastases. In fact, several experts strongly suggest elective neck dissection for tongue cancer with a DOI > 4 mm due to the high risk of early and occult nodal metastases. Imaging plays a pivotal role in preoperative assessments of the DOI and, hence, in planning the surgical approach. Intraoral ultrasound (IOUS) has been proposed for early-stage SCC of the oral tongue as an alternative to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for local staging. The aim of this work is to investigate the accuracy of IOUS in the assessment of the DOI in early oral SCC (CIS, pT1, and pT2). A total of 41 patients with tongue SCCs (CIS-T2) underwent a preoperative high-frequency IOUS. An IOUS was performed using a small-size, high-frequency hockey-stick linear probe. The ultrasonographic DOI (usDOI) was retrospectively compared to the pathological DOI (pDOI) as the standard reference. In patients who underwent a preoperative MRI, their usDOI, magnetic resonance DOI (mriDOI), and pDOI were compared. Specificity and sensitivity for the IOUS to predict a pDOI > 4 mm and to differentiate invasive and noninvasive tumors were also evaluated. A high correlation was found between the pDOI and usDOI, pDOI and mriDOI, and usDOI and mriDOI (Spearman's ρ = 0.84, p < 0.0001, Spearman's ρ = 0.79, p < 0.0001, and Spearman's ρ = 0.91, p < 0.0001, respectively). A Bland-Altman plot showed a high agreement between the usDOI and pDOI, even though a mean systematic error was found between the usDOI and pDOI (0.7 mm), mriDOI and pDOI (1.6 mm), and usDOI and mriDOI (-0.7 mm). The IOUS was accurate at determining the T stage (p < 0.0001). The sensitivity and specificity for the IOUS to predict a pDOI ≥4 mm were 92.31% and 82.14%, respectively, with an AUC of 0.87 (p < 0.0001). The specificity, sensitivity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) for the IOUS to predict an invasive cancer were 100%, 94.7%, 60%, and 100%, respectively. The AUC was 0.8 (95% CI 0.646-0.908, p < 0.0001). The IOUS was accurate in a preoperative assessment of a pDOI and T stage, and can be proposed as an alternative to MRI in the preoperative staging of tongue SCC.

Oncological outcomes of compartmental surgery and wide local excision in oral tongue and floor of the mouth cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Oral tongue carcinomas represent more than half of the tumors arising in the oral cavity, a site with a high cancer specific mortality and impact on quality of life. Current guidelines are lacking for a standardized surgical approach of these tumors. The aim of this study is to compare two currently adopted surgical strategies, compartmental surgery (CTS) and wide local excision (WLE), with loco-regional control as the main oncological endpoint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational retrospective multicentric study was carried out enrolling a cohort of patients affected by oral tongue or floor of the mouth squamous cell carcinoma and surgically treated in 4 international tertiary referral centers. Survival analysis was performed by propensity-score matching approach and multivariable Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: A cohort of 933 patients was enrolled. CTS was applied in 113 patients (12.1%) and WLE in 820 (87.9%). Analyzing a propensity-score matched cohort (98 CTS vs. 172 WLE) and applying a survival multivariable modeling strategy on the whole cohort, both confirmed that CTS and WLE are comparable and oncologically safe. Parameters such as number of positive lymph nodes, depth of invasion, and lymphovascular invasion still represent the key prognosticators. CONCLUSION: The main goals for surgical resection of oral cancer remain its three-dimensional circumferential clearance with adequate margins and en-bloc removal of the tumor-lymph node tract, independently of the technique adopted (CTS or WLE). Further prospective studies including quality of life evaluation are needed to better understand if one of these approaches can provide superior functional outcomes.

Adequacy of Disease Control by Supraomohyoid Neck Dissection in cT1/T2 Tongue Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Patients affected by oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) underwent a supraomohyoid neck dissection (SOHND) or modified radical neck dissection (mRND) according to the clinical nodal status (cN0 vs. cN+). We investigate whether the type of neck dissection affects survival with the presence of extranodal extension (ENE) and multiple nodal metastases (MNM). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study enrolling surgically treated patients affected by cT1/T2 OTSCC and MNM or ENE. The outcomes assessed were: overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and neck-control- and metastases-free survival (NC-MFS). Survival curves were plotted by the Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test. Furthermore, we conducted a multivariable analysis with the Cox regression model. RESULTS: We included a total of 565 patients (36% cT1, 64% cT2). Of these, 501 patients underwent a SOHND, and 64 underwent an mRND. A total of 184 patients presented rpN+, with 28.7% of these in the SOHND group and 62.5% of these in the mRND group. We identified no significant differences in OS, DFS, and NC-MFS in the whole pN+ cohort, in the MNM, and the ENE subgroups. In the multivariable analysis, the type of ND did not affect OS and DFS. CONCLUSIONS: Treating cT1-2 N0/+ tongue cancer with SOHND is oncologically safe. ENE and MNM patients do not benefit from an mRND.

Comprehensive Evaluation of Vocal Outcomes and Quality of Life after Total Laryngectomy and Voice Restoration with J-Flap and Tracheoesophageal Puncture.

BACKGROUND: Tracheoesophageal puncture with a voice prosthesis is the gold standard for speech rehabilitation in patients that receive a laryngopharyngectomy. However, a novel surgical technique, using a tubularized anterolateral tight flap, named "J-flap," has been demonstrated to produce adequate voice restoration. We aimed to compare the outcomes and the quality of life of patients who underwent voice rehabilitation with both techniques. METHODS: We enrolled patients that underwent laryngopharyngectomy and voice restoration surgery. The control group received a tracheoesophageal puncture with a voice prosthesis, while the study group received J-flap reconstruction. A total of 20 patients received voice prosthesis rehabilitation, while 18 received J-flap reconstruction. Speech and vocal outcomes and quality of life metrics were collected. RESULTS: The objective phonatory performances and the acoustic voice analysis did not outline a significant difference. Speech pathologists judged the consonant pronunciation in the J-flap group as less accurate (p < 0.001). The voice handicap index revealed a moderate impairment for the J-flap group (p < 0.001). Quality of life scores were higher for the voice prosthesis group. CONCLUSION: Voice prostheses and J-flaps share similar objective phonatory outcomes. Quality of life was more impaired in the J-flap group. In our view, these two techniques possess complementary characteristics in clinical practice, taking into account health care system regulations and patients' social background.

Surgical management and oncological outcome of non-squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx: a bicentric study.

PURPOSE: Non-squamous cell carcinoma (non-SCC) accounts for about 5% of laryngeal malignancies. Survival data are limited, and consensus on management principles is lacking. The present study reviews our experience in the surgical treatment of non-metastatic non-SCC of the larynx and compares oncological and functional outcomes in a cohort of patients affected by traditional SCC. METHODS: We collected data on 592 patients affected by laryngeal neoplasms. Univariate and multivariable survival analyses were performed using Cox proportional-hazards models; survival estimates were reported by hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), and survival curves were established with the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: We identified 326 patients affected by untreated SCC, while 21 had non-SCC histotypes. The non-SCC cohort was composed of 5 soft tissue sarcomas, 8 chondrosarcomas, 2 adenoid cystic carcinomas, 2 neuroendocrine carcinomas, 2 solitary fibrous tumors, 1 Kaposi's sarcoma, and 1 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Overall survival and disease-specific survival were not significantly different according to histology (p = 0.6 and p = 0.349, respectively). The non-SCC group showed an increased risk of recurrence (HR 5.87; CI95 2.15-16.06; p < 0.001). Nonetheless, no significant difference (p = 0.31) was found at multivariable analysis between the two groups in total laryngectomy-free survival with an organ preservation rate over 5 years of 81% for the non-SCC histologies. CONCLUSION: Non-SCC is a broad spectrum pathology, but generalized laryngeal surgical management principles are still feasible and it is possible to identify patients amenable to conservative surgical treatment without affecting survival.

The Prognostic Value of Lymph Node Burden in Oral Cavity Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Lymph node burden has been proposed to estimate the cumulative adverse effect of nodal metastasis. In this study, a meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the prognostic value of lymph node burden in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. STUDY DESIGNS: Systemic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library as well as manual searches were performed until April 2020. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of overall survival, disease-specific survival, and disease-free survival were extracted and pooled. RESULTS: Eleven included studies were published between 2009 and 2019. The cumulative number of patients was 20,607 (range 35-14,554). Extranodal extension was adjusted or evaluated in all of the studies. The meta-analysis indicated that a higher lymph node burden was significantly related to worse overall survival (HR 2.62, 95% CI 2.12-3.25), worse disease-specific survival (HR 3.14, 95% CI 1.85-5.33) and worse disease-free survival (HR 2.30, 95% CI 1.62-3.26). The highest hazard ratio was observed when the cutoff value was 3 for overall survival, 3 for disease-specific survival, and 4 for disease-free survival. The hazard ratio showed an upward trend before the cutoff value of 3 but no significant incremental change when the cutoff exceeded 3. CONCLUSIONS: In oral squamous cell carcinoma, lymph node burden is an independent prognosticator for survival outcomes. However, more prospective or high-quality studies are required to determine the optimal cutoff. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 132:88-95, 2022.

Characteristics and outcome differences in male and female oral cavity cancer patients in Taiwan.

ABSTRACT: Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a leading cause of death in Taiwan. Most of the patients in the literature are male. The risk factors, cancer characteristics, and treatment outcomes were investigated in female patients and compared with male patients in this study.This retrospective study recruited 2046 OSCC patients between 1995 and 2019. The age, tumor subsites, and survival were reviewed and recorded. Overall survival and disease-free survival were the main outcomes.Female patients represented 6.7% of the entire study cohort. Females were diagnosed at an older age and an earlier local stage than male patients (P < .001). Female patients were less exposed to cigarettes, alcohol, and betel-quid (all P < .001). The tongue (55.1%) was the most frequent subsite in females, while the buccal cavity (38.4%) and the tongue (35.3%) were more likely (P < .001) to be associated with the male gender. Female patients in the tongue cancer subgroup presented less frequently with extra-nodal extension compared with male patients (P = .040). No significant differences in recurrence or overall deaths were observed between the genders during the follow-up period.The OSCC male to female ratio in Taiwan was 14:1. Female OSCC occurred more frequently on the tongue, and was diagnosed at an older age and at an earlier tumor stage than in male patients. No survival difference was found between female and male OSCC patients.

The role of postoperative radiotherapy in pN1 oral cavity cancer without extranodal extension.

BACKGROUND: The administration of postoperative radiotherapy remains controversial in pN1 oral cavity cancer patients without extranodal extension. The aim is to determine whether postoperative radiotherapy reduces the neck recurrence rate and improves the survival outcomes of pN1 patients. METHODS: This study consecutively enrolled 1056 patients with newly diagnosed oral squamous cell carcinoma who underwent tumor wide excision and neck dissection from September 2002 to November 2019. One hundred two pN1 patients without extranodal extension were eligible for analysis. Then, a subgroup analysis of 40 patients was performed after patients with other adverse risk factors (positive margins, close margins, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, tumor depth ≥ 10 mm, and poor histological differentiation) were excluded. RESULTS: Of the 102 eligible pN1 patients, 26 patients received surgery alone, and 76 received postoperative radiotherapy. No significant differences were observed in the neck recurrence rate (7.7% vs. 15.8%, p = 0.30). Similarly, in patients without other adverse risk factors, no significant differences were observed in the neck recurrence rate (5% vs. 20%, p = 0.15) between surgery alone group and postoperative radiotherapy group. Moreover, no significant difference was found in the neck recurrence-free survival rate, overall survival, and disease-specific survival (77.1% vs. 52.5%, p = 0.42, 83.5% vs. 64.5%, p = 0.81, and 88.2% vs. 67.9%, p = 0.34, respectively). CONCLUSION: Postoperative radiotherapy did not significantly decrease the probability of neck recurrence and survival outcomes in pN1 patients without extranodal extension. Radical surgery alone may be considered sufficient treatment for pN1 patients without other adverse risk factors.

Application of a symptoms score questionnaire after conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy: outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate medium/long term outcomes and patient satisfaction through relief of symptoms and improved quality of life (QoL) after Jones tube conjunctivodacryocystorhinostomy (JT-CDCR) using the Naso Lacrimal Duct Obstruction symptom-score (NLDO-SS). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, non-comparative, multicentric study including patients with complete obstruction of the superior and inferior proximal lacrimal drainage system. All patients underwent JT-CDCR, and the patency of the tube was evaluated with saline irrigation and endoscopic examination. We assessed patient satisfaction and quality of life administering the NLDO-SS. RESULTS: We enrolled 16 patients, for a total of 21 eyes operated. The success rate for procedures was 81%. The success rate for single parameters was globally 95.9%; if considered separately, ocular symptoms and nasal symptoms were respectively 94.3% and 100%. CONCLUSIONS: JT-CDCR was a reliable procedure, able to solve symptoms in a majority of patients and guaranteed a good quality of life over a long period of time.

Validation of the European Laryngological Society classification of glottic vascular changes as seen by narrow band imaging in the optical biopsy setting.

PURPOSE: In 2016, the European Laryngological Society (ELS) proposed a classification for vascular changes occurring in glottic lesions as visible by narrow band imaging (NBI), based on the dichotomic distinction between longitudinal vessels (not suspicious) and perpendicular ones (suspicious). The aim of our study was to validate this classification assessing the interobserver agreement and diagnostic test performance in detecting the final histopathology. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out by reviewing clinical charts, preoperative videos, and final pathologic diagnosis of patients submitted to transoral microsurgery for laryngeal lesions in two Italian referral centers. In each institution, two physicians, independently re-assessed each case applying the ELS classification. RESULTS: The cohort was composed of 707 patients. The pathologic report showed benign lesions in 208 (29.5%) cases, papillomatosis in 34 (4.8%), squamous intraepithelial neoplasia (SIN) up to carcinoma in situ in 200 (28.2%), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in 265 (37.5%). The interobserver agreement was extremely high in both institutions (k = 0.954, p < 0.001 and k = 0.880, p < 0.001). Considering the diagnostic performance for identification of at least SIN or SCC, the sensitivity was 0.804 and 0.902, the specificity 0.793 and 0.581, the positive predictive value 0.882 and 0.564, and the negative predictive value 0.678 and 0.908, respectively. CONCLUSION: The ELS classification for NBI vascular changes of glottic lesions is a highly reliable tool whose systematic use allows a better diagnostic evaluation of suspicious laryngeal lesions, reliably distinguishing benign ones from those with a diagnosis of papillomatosis, SIN or SCC, thus paving the way towards confirmation of the optical biopsy concept.