Anatomic Region of Cutaneous Melanoma Impacts Survival and Clinical Outcomes: A Population-Based Analysis.

PURPOSE: The objective was to determine the effects of the anatomic site of a cutaneous melanoma on the survival outcomes of diagnosed individuals. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) Database from 2004-2014 and included 178,892 cases of individuals diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma. Overall survival (OS) for each anatomic site as well as associated demographics, primary site, stage, and pathologic prognostic factors (Breslow's depth of invasion (DOI), level of mitoses, and ulceration), were analyzed. RESULTS: Lower extremity melanoma (LEM) was the most likely to have locoregional nodal spread, yet head and neck melanoma (HNM) was the most likely to present at the most advanced stage of disease (IV). Independent of other factors, HNM was associated with the greatest risk of death (HR 1.90 [95% CI, 1.85-1.96]) compared to other sites, and males experienced worse overall survival (OS) (HR 1.74 [95% CI, 1.70-1.78]) compared to females. The last and greatest risk of death is associated with LEM and HNM, respectively. CONCLUSION: Given these survival differences, consideration should be given to incorporating the primary site of melanoma into staging to ensure treatment is efficacious as possible.

Pharmacological Prevention of Noise-induced Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore and determine the effectiveness of current pharmacologic agents for the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) via a systematic review. DATABASES REVIEWED: The PubMed, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception through February 6, 2020. METHODS: Full-text, English-language articles detailing prospective randomized and nonrandomized clinical trials with pharmacological interventions administered to prevent NIHL were included in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The detailed search terms are included in the Appendix, http://links.lww.com/MAO/B67. RESULTS: Eleven articles were included in this review with 701 patients receiving a pharmacologic prevention for various noise exposures. Various regimens included administration of alpha-lipoic acid, ambient oxygen, beta-carotene, carbogen, ebselen, Mg-aspartate, N-acetylcysteine, and vitamins C, E, and B12. A number of studies demonstrated statistically significant amelioration of NIHL with pharmacologic intervention. Two studies demonstrated significantly better hearing outcomes for pharmacological prophylaxis with carbogen or ebselen as compared with placebo for the 4 kHz frequency, where the noise-notch is most likely to be encountered. Given the considerable heterogeneity in agents and methodologies, however, it was not possible to conduct a meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: While several heterogenous articles demonstrated promising results for Mg-aspartate, carbogen, vitamin B12, and alpha-lipoic acid, the clinical significance of these pharmaceuticals remains unclear. Initial data from this study alongside future clinical trials might potentially contribute to the generation of clinical practice guidelines to prevent NIHL. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.

Hearing Outcomes of Treatment for Acute Noise-induced Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of various treatment modalities used for acute noise-induced hearing loss (aNIHL) from acute acoustic trauma (AAT) via a systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus databases. STUDY SELECTION: The scientific literature was searched up to October 2018 for articles evaluating hearing outcomes after treatment of aNIHL. DATA EXTRACTION: The following were extracted: Oxford level of evidence, number of patients, mean age, time to presentation, source of noise exposure, method of treatment/intervention, baseline hearing threshold, posttreatment hearing threshold, hearing gain, proportion of patients with no recovery, partial recovery, or complete recovery, and treatment complications. DATA SYNTHESIS: Sixteen studies with 932 patients met inclusion criteria for systematic review and four studies with 187 patients were included in the meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment modalities identified were steroids, vascular agents, nootropics, antioxidants, vitamins, cell apoptosis inhibitors, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Meta-analysis demonstrated significant improvement in mean hearing threshold for patients with high-frequency hearing loss, those treated within 48 hours, and those receiving treatment with a nootropic agent. Significant heterogeneity was present in experimental design among included studies and many were of lower levels of evidence. More prospective, large scale, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trials are required to determine optimal treatment regimens for patients suffering from aNIHL caused by AAT.

Orbital complications of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis in the pediatric population: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Assess characteristics and outcomes of orbital complications of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS) in the pediatric population and evaluate trends over time. METHODS: A literature search of pediatric orbital complications was performed in the following databases: Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Studies reporting data for at least 10 subjects with orbital complications of sinusitis under 18 years old were included. Studies were grouped by publication year; before 2010 and after and including 2010. Studies that only included patients with subperiosteal abscess (SPA) were grouped in a separate category. Data collected include demographics, Chandler class complications, intra-operative culture, treatment, and outcomes. Meta-analysis of proportion was performed to compare data from studies published before 2010 and data published in 2010 and after. RESULTS: Thirty-five studies met inclusion criteria. No significant difference was observed over time in gender of subjects in the all Chandler complications or SPA only groups (P > 0.72). The proportion of subjects presenting with Chandler IV complications decreased from 6.8% to 2.9% in recent studies (P = 0.019). The proportion of subjects treated surgically decreased from 45.2% to 21.7% in the all Chandler complications group (P < 0.0001) and from 90.0% to 47.9% in the SPA only group, P < 0.0001. The proportion of S. pneumoniae positive cultures decreased from 20.5% to 9.1% (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The demographics of pediatric patients treated for orbital complications of ABRS in published literature has been stable. Patients reported in more recently published studies are less likely to present with orbital abscess and more likely to receive conservative treatment. The proportion of positive Streptococcus pneumoniae cultures have decreased.

Incidence and survival trends of parotid malignancies over 42 years.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of information regarding the incidence and survival of parotid malignancies over time. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results population-based cancer registry was queried for parotid malignancies from 1973 to 2015. RESULTS: The age-adjusted incidence of parotid malignancies has increased by 58.1% (7.87-12.44 per 1 000 000). Analysis of histologic type revealed an increased annual percent change (APC) of acinar cell carcinoma (1.38) and squamous cell carcinoma (1.58), but decreased APC of adenoid cystic carcinoma (-1.63) and adenocarcinoma NOS (-0.86) (P < .05). The disease-specific survival of mucoepidermoid carcinoma, adenocarcinoma NOS, and squamous cell carcinoma significantly improved (P < .05) over time. CONCLUSION: The incidence of parotid cancer is rising steadily since 1973, while the incidence of overall head and neck cancer has decreased. Further research is necessary to understand the etiology, risk factors, and pathophysiology of parotid cancer to curb its rising incidence. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Factors impacting revision surgery in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) has evolved over the last decade as rhinologists have increasingly used topical steroid therapies and altered surgical techniques. It is important to understand the changes in success rates of surgery and frequency of revision endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in CRSwNP. The aim of this study was to retrospectively review the revision surgical rate of CRSwNP patients by evaluating outcomes in a cohort from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). METHODS: Retrospective review of CRSwNP patients operated upon at the MUSC between 2002 and 2019 by a single surgeon was performed. Assessed factors included demographics, comorbidities, CRSwNP subtype, extent of surgery, and steroid rinse compliance. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with revision surgery. RESULTS: Among 338 patients with at least 6 months of follow-up, 24.9% had revision surgery, with a mean follow-up of 52.6 months. In patients with any person-time measure, the revision rate was 5.58 per 100 person-years. Independent risk factors associated with increased odds ratio (OR) for revision surgery were: younger age (OR, 1.1); prior surgery (OR, 3.3); longer follow-up (OR, 1.1); and surgery before 2009 (OR, 2.4) (p < 0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: The revision surgery rate for CRSwNP was 24.9% among those with at least 6 months of follow-up. Risk factors for higher revision rates included younger age, previous surgery, longer follow-up, and surgery at the MUSC prior to 2009. As we enter an era of personalized medicine, it is important to consider patient- and surgeon-specific factors, which impact revision surgery rates.

Salivary Carcinosarcoma: An Extremely Rare and Highly Aggressive Malignancy.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Carcinosarcomas represent a rare entity of mixed malignant tumors of the salivary gland with limited evidence regarding management strategies. We aim to demonstrate the incidence, prognostic factors, and conduct a survival analysis for this aggressive malignancy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective database review. METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was queried for all cases of major salivary carcinosarcoma and its incidence from 1973 to 2015 to identify 66 patients. RESULTS: The incidence of this tumor was 0.02 cases per 1 million, with a rising number of absolute cases in the past 2 decades. The parotid gland was the most common site (78.8%) of involvement. The 5-year overall survival was 37% and 5-year disease-specific survival was 62%. Surgery was most common management strategy (95.5%), with total parotidectomy and facial nerve sacrifice procedures for those with parotid disease. Radiotherapy was commonly performed (75.8%) and chemotherapy use was rare (18.2%). Patients with distant metastasis had a greater than threefold increase in mortality, and those with total parotidectomy surgery had decreased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Carcinosarcomas of major salivary glands are extremely rare and highly aggressive tumors. We recommend prompt surgical management and postoperative radiation for this tumor with a poor prognosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 130:E335-E339, 2020.

Revision surgery rates in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps: meta-analysis of risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Wide variations in revision endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) rates for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) have been reported. It is important to understand expected revision rates and factors that impact the need for revision. METHODS: A literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review and meta-analysis was performed on studies that reported revision surgery data for CRSwNP patients. RESULTS: Forty-five studies with 34,220 subjects were meta-analyzed, with an overall revision rate of 18.6% (95% confidence interval, 14.1%-23.6%). Studies with extractable follow-up data reported a mean revision rate of 16.2% over a weighted mean follow-up of 89.6 months. Factors associated with increased revision rates included allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (28.7%), aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (27.2%), asthma (22.6%), prior polypectomy (26.0%), and publication prior to 2008 (22.7%) (p < 0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: Although polyps can recur after ESS, reported long-term ESS revision rates are approximately 14% to 24%. Identifying risk factors for revision surgery can help manage patient expectations and determine optimal personalized treatments.

Prognostic factors associated with achieving total oral diet following osteocutaneous microvascular free tissue transfer reconstruction of the oral cavity.

INTRODUCTION: Osteocutaneous microvascular free tissue transfer (OMFTT) is the current standard in reconstruction of large bony defects of the oral cavity. Although being able to swallow ranks as a top priority for patients undergoing OMFTT, factors associated with achieving an oral diet following surgery remain unclear. We sought to describe the rate of total oral diet achievement, and to identify possible pre-, intra-, and post-operative factors associated with achievement in patients undergoing OMFTT. METHODS: Retrospective review between January 1, 2010 and March 31, 2018 at two tertiary academic centers. RESULTS: 249 patients (67% male, mean age 58 years) met inclusion criteria, with a median follow up of 15 months. Overall, 142 (57%) of patients achieved a total PO diet post-operatively, with median time to achievement of 3.2 months. Multivariate analysis identified that lack of concurrent glossectomy (SHR 1.72 [1.09-2.70], p = 0.02), N0/1 disease (SHR 1.92 [1.16-3.13], p = 0.011), avoidance of post-operative fistula formation (SHR 1.96 [1.22-3.23], p = 0.005), pre-operative G-tube independence (SHR 3.33 [1.69-6.25], p < 0.001), and successful dental rehabilitation (SHR 2.08 [1.43-3.03], p < 0.001) are independently associated with total oral diet achievement. CONCLUSIONS: Bony resections not requiring glossectomy, limited nodal disease burden, pre-operative gastrostomy-independence, avoidance of post-operative fistula, and dental rehabilitation are independently associated with achievement of total oral diet following OMFTT reconstruction of the oral cavity. Counseling patients on associated risk factors is important in guiding post-treatment expectations. Minimization of post-operative fistula, and maximization of dental rehabilitation may significantly improve total oral diet achievement in this patient population.

Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma: A review of incidence, demographics, risk factors, and survival.

PURPOSE: Identify variables that are independent predictors of survival in carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA) of the major salivary glands using a population-based database and evaluate the incidence and management strategies for this rare malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database was queried for all cases of major salivary gland CXPA from 1973 to 2015. RESULTS: Of the 619 patients identified, the parotid gland was the most common site of involvement (76.9%, 476/619). The reported incidence of CXPA has risen in the past decade (2005-2015, 0.24 to 0.63 per 1,000,000). The 2-year and 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 90.3% and 80.4%, respectively. On univariate analysis, facial nerve sacrifice was not a statistically significant predictor of survival (HR = 1.213, 95% CI [0.588-2.058], P = 0.602). Patients with a tumor size >4 cm, multiple positive lymph nodes, and distant metastatic disease had a 2 to 4-fold statistically significant increase in mortality using a multivariate analysis. Statistical significance was not demonstrated in the DSS of patients who underwent partial versus total parotidectomy procedures. CONCLUSIONS: CXPA is a rare salivary malignancy that has a reported increased incidence in the last decade. Tumor size >4 cm, multiple positive lymph nodes, and distant metastatic disease are predictors of disease-specific mortality. Further research should be conducted to improve early detection and survival strategies for this salivary cancer. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Carotid-cochlear dehiscence: a dangerous mimicker of inner ear pathologies.

A 67-year-old woman was referred to the otolaryngology service after presenting to the emergency department for dizziness and loss of balance. She reported several similar episodes over the past years. Physical examination was unremarkable. A temporal bone CT scan revealed dehiscence between the bony carotid canal and the cochlea resulting in the diagnosis of carotid-cochlear dehiscence (CCD). CCD is an extremely rare condition involving the thinning of the bony canal separating the internal carotid artery from the cochlea. CCD is best diagnosed with temporal bone CT scan. Treatment options include observation as well as chemical or surgical labyrenthectomy. Despite similar clinical and diagnostic characteristics of reported CCD cases, general trends and consensus on treatment options cannot be ascertained due to the extreme rarity of this condition. Regardless of these limitations, CCD is a critical diagnosis as it mimics other inner ear conditions and poses a potential, significant surgical risk for the otolaryngologist.

Quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment Versus Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome Criteria for Predicting Organ Dysfunction and Mortality.

The International Consensus Definition for Sepsis and Septic Shock Task Force has recently developed new methods to determine whether a patient is at risk for end organ failure after he has been suspected to have sepsis. One of the newest measures developed is a quick Sequential (Sepsis-related) Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA), and it is used to identify patients who are at risk of sepsis outside the intensive care unit. The systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) score has previously been the standard for determining a patient's sepsis risk and prognosis for future mortality. With the development of these new tools, it is imperative to compare qSOFA to SIRS in order to determine which method is best and under which circumstances. We conclude that according to evidence currently available, qSOFA has limited use for patients in the intensive care unit at the time of evaluation for predicting mortality and organ dysfunction. Furthermore, qSOFA outranks SIRS for patients in the emergency department except for SIRS delivering positive results more quickly.