Selective Neck Dissection in Oral Cavity Cancer Is Not Without Morbidity.

The objective of this study is to analyze the morbidity of selective neck dissection (SND) in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC). This is a cross-sectional study of 106 consecutive patients with T1 and T2 (AJCC seventh edition) stage cancers. Morbidity in terms of scar characteristics, cervical lymphedema, sensation, shoulder dysfunction, and smile asymmetry were analyzed. Scar outcomes were inferior in terms of poor complexion in 15 patients (14.2%), poor texture in 25 patients (23.6%), limited skin movement in 9 patients (8.5%), soft tissue deficit in 13 patients (12.3%), and lymphedema in 14 patients (13.2%). Smile asymmetry was seen in 29.2%. Shoulder dysfunction was seen in 7.5%. Patients who received adjuvant treatment had significant scar issues (p = 0.001), lymphedema (p < 0.001), and sensory issues (p = 0.003). SND in OCSCC is not without morbidity. Smile asymmetry was the commonest problem. Patients who got adjuvant treatment had significantly more morbidity.

Facial artery-based islanded myomucosal and bone flaps in head and neck reconstruction.

This article aims to illustrate various applications of facial artery-based islanded myomucosal (iFAMM) and osseous/osteo-myomucosal flaps (iFOMM) in head and neck reconstruction. A retrospective analysis of 75 patients who underwent the reconstruction of various head and neck mucosal defects with iFAMM/iFOMM in a tertiary head and neck cancer department from May 2015 to May 2019 was performed. The patients had surgery for cancer, which involved the oral tongue, floor of mouth, oropharynx, lower alveolus, larynx, hypopharynx, cricopharynx and trachea. iFOMM was used in 3 patients. Functional and esthetic outcomes, short-term and long-term complications were analyzed. The flap was successful in 74 out of 75 patients. Speech was intelligible in almost all patients and majority of patients could take oral feeds without any restrictions. The esthesis of reconstruction was scored high with a mean visual analog scale score of 8.4. The most commonly observed complication was marginal mandibular paresis, which improved with time. Mouth opening was >3 cm in 68/75 patients. Adjuvant radiation was a common factor in patients with <3 cm mouth opening. Flap was sensate by 4 months in majority of patients. The reach, pliability, and esthetics of the flap combined with recoverable morbidity of donor site present in the facial artery-based flap as a good option in the reconstruction of various head and neck subsites. Reduced operative time, lesser complication rates, less financial burden, and simplicity of the procedure make it a cost-effective alternate solution for reconstruction.

Early Calcium Supplementation After Total Thyroidectomy Can Prevent Symptomatic Hypocalcemia - Findings from a Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Thyroidectomy for thyroid cancers and central neck dissection are considered as independent predictors of postoperative hypocalcemia. Post-surgical hypocalcemia is the most common and often the most difficult long-term consequence of thyroid surgeries. Management of hypocalcemia is done with calcium supplementation, but there is no consensus on the timing and the amount of calcium supplementation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of all thyroid cancer patients who underwent total thyroidectomy at our Centre, from August 2009 to August 2017 was done to evaluate the prevalence of symptomatic hypocalcemia. The patients were grouped into two based on the early and late supplementation of calcium in the form of intravenous calcium gluconate and oral calcium with calcitriol. RESULTS: There were 133 patients of which 109 had papillary carcinoma, 11 had follicular, 3 had hurthle cell and 10 had medullary carcinoma. Of these, 49.6% underwent total thyroidectomy alone and the rest with neck dissection. 38 patients (28.6%) had a unilateral neck dissection and 16 patients (12%) had a bilateral neck dissection. 14 out of the 67 patients (20.9%) who underwent neck dissection developed symptomatic hypocalcaemia, in contrast to only 2 patients out of the 66 (3%) without neck dissection. 31.7% of lateral neck dissection and 7.7% of central compartment dissection had symptomatic hypocalcaemia (p value = 0.0053). 22.5% of patients whose parathyroid were not identified had more symptomatic hypocalcaemia than in whom at least one parathyroid gland was seen (p value=0.0004). Eleven out of 73 patients (15.1%) who were treated late with calcium and calcitriol, and one out of 60 (1.7%) who had early calcium supplementation developed symptoms (p value=0.0073). CONCLUSION: Central compartment and lateral neck dissection were significantly associated with higher incidence of symptomatic hypocalcemia. Early intervention with calcium supplementation reduced the symptoms of hypocalcemia. Identification and preservation of parathyroid glands significantly reduces the hypocalcemia.

Validation of the eighth edition AJCC staging system in early T1 to T2 oral squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: To validate the newly proposed American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) eighth edition staging in early T1 and T2 oral cavity cancers and its effect in predicting tumour control. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes of 441 T1 to T2 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and tumour control were calculated and compared between the AJCC 7 and 8 staging systems. RESULTS: The 5-year OS was 78% and 61% for T1 and T2 tumours, respetively (P < 0.001) (AJCC 7) vs 87% and 67% (P < 0.001) (AJCC 8). The 5-year DSS was 78% and 61% for T1 and T2, respectively (P < 0.001) (AJCC 7) vs 89% and 71% (P < 0.001) (AJCC 8). For stages I and II tumours the 5-year OS was 81% and 76%, respectively (P < 0.302) (AJCC 7) vs 87% and 73% (P < 0.017) (AJCC 8). The 5-year DSS was 83% and 82% (P < 0.222) vs 89% and 77% (P < 0.016). With the AJCC eighth edition the 5-year local, regional, and distant control rates for T1 vs T2 tumours were 85% vs 74% (P = 0.003), 95% vs 77% (P = 0.001), and 95% vs 80% (P = 0.014), respectively. CONCLUSION: The AJCC 8th staging system provided for more accurate prediction of OS, DSS, and disease control in early oral cavity cancers.

Role of adverse pathological features in surgically treated early oral cavity carcinomas with adequate margins and the development of a scoring system to predict local control.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the factors affecting local control in patients with T1N0 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 144 patients with pT1N0 SCC of the tongue who underwent wide excision and neck dissection without adjuvant therapy. RESULTS: The adverse pathological features associated with local control were least margin 5 mm (P = .004), infiltrative margin (P = .403), depth >4 mm (P = .136), lymphovascular invasion (P = .301), and perineural invasion (P = .342). We derived a scoring system of 10 points based on the hazard ratio for local failure; those with scores >5 points had a 5-year local control of <60%. CONCLUSION: This study suggests patients having a margin of 5 mm need revision, however, if they do not have additional adverse pathological features (score ≤4), local control is 88% at 5 years, and they may be observed. Those who have margins over 5 mm with a total score >5 may still benefit from adjuvant therapy. Those with margins over 5 mm have improved local control (P = .029).

Implementing American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th edition for head-and-neck cancer in India: Context, feasibility, and practicality.

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition marks a paradigm shift in the staging of head-and-neck cancers. It introduces several novel considerations into the staging of head-and-neck cancer, with distinct therapeutic ramifications, to stage and prognosticate patients better. In oral cancer, it introduces the depth of invasion as a determinant of T-stage. The nodal staging recommendations have also upstaged extranodal extension, which has been shown to be a high-risk adverse feature associated with worse survival. In oropharyngeal cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV) expression of tumors has been used to reclassify tumors into two separate entities, with distinct staging systems. For HPV-positive tumors, nodal staging has been divided into clinical staging and pathological staging, for better prognostication of HPV-positive diseases treated with surgery. In carcinoma of unknown primaries with cervical nodal metastasis, immunohistochemical staining of nodal tissue for HPV and Epstein-Barr virus has been recommended in all cases. These recommendations are based on a high-quality evidence aimed at personalizing cancer therapy to optimize outcomes while minimizing morbidity. The new recommendations address many of the shortcomings of the previous editions. The practice of oncology in India, however, is markedly different from that in the Western world. Majority of these recommendations are universal; however, some are likely to have hurdles in implementation in India.

Extent of Thyroidectomy in Differentiated Thyroid Cancers-Review of Evidence.

Differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC) are seen with increasing incidence in clinical practice. These tumours have good prognosis and the extent of surgery can be tailored to the size and pathological characteristics of the lesion. Historically total thyroidectomy was the recommended procedure for tumours >1 cm; however, current recommendations suggest a more conservative approach. This review focuses on the evolution of the extent of surgery in differentiated thyroid cancer.