Epidemiological and clinical description of patients with oropharyngeal cancer treated in a public oncology referral hospital in Chile.

Introduction: The incidence of squamous carcinoma of the oropharynx (OPSCC) has presented an increase worldwide, a fact that occurs along with a phenomenon of epidemiological transition, whose pathogenesis is linked to human papilloma virus (HPV) in a significant part of the cases. Published evidence at the Latin American level is scarce. The present study aims to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with oropharyngeal cancer treated in a public oncology reference centre in Chile. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out. Patients with histological confirmation of OPSCC aged 18 years or older, referred to the National Cancer Institute of Chile between 2012 and 2023 were included. The association with HPV was determined by immunohistochemistry for p16. Results: 178 patients were analysed, most of them in locoregionally advanced stages involving the palatine tonsil. Seventy-seven percent were male, with a median age of 60 years. Sixty-seven percent of patients were positive for p16, with a progressive increase to 85% in the last 2 years of the study. The p16(+) patients were younger and had fewer classical risk factors. Primary treatment was radiotherapy in 94% of patients. Conclusion: The epidemiological profile of patients with OPSCC treated in a Chilean public oncology referral centre reflects the epidemiological transition observed in developed countries. This change justifies the need to adapt health policies and conduct research that considers the characteristics of this new epidemiological profile.

Destructive psoriatic arthritis of the temporomandibular joint: a clinical case, an overview of the pathophysiology and its differential diagnoses.

Background Clinical assessments and uniplanar images in temporomandibular disorders are not always entirely reliable. This predicament is especially important when clinicians need to determine the nature of temporomandibular joint disease, particularly when clinical features are not helpful in determining the diagnosis.Clinical presentation A 63-year-old female patient presented with mild pain in her right TMJ. During routine imaging exams, a destructive monoarticular arthritis was noticed, producing multiple erosions of the mandibular and temporal condyles. In addition, attrition of the ceiling of the glenoid fossa was observed, generating a communication with the endocranium. Only the presumptive biological behavior revealed on TMJ imaging and the appearance of the psoriatic plaques later during follow-up helped the authors to narrow the differential diagnosis.Conclusion The clinical case presented illustrates the difficulties in diagnosing an erosive, seronegative TMJ destruction, suggestive of a systemic arthritis.

Linfoma Extranodal de Células T/NK en Cavidad Oral. Reporte de un Caso en Chile / Extranodal Lymphoma of T / NK Cells in Oral Cavity. Case Report in Chile

RESUMEN: El linfoma extranodal de células T/NK es una neoplasia maligna agresiva que se caracteriza por una destrucción de estructuras de la línea media de la cara como paladar y fosa nasal. Presentamos el caso de un paciente de sexo masculino, 48 años de edad, consumidor de cocaína, que consulta en la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad de Chile en Septiembre del 2015 por síntomas de disfagia, rinorrea y que presenta al examen clínico un tumor ulcerado que compromete paladar duro y blando, de un mes de evolución. Se confirma diagnóstico de linfoma de células T/NK con una batería de pruebas inmunohistoquímicas. Esta patología, aunque infrecuente, siempre debe ser considerada dentro los diagnósticos diferenciales en tumores ulcerados en esta localización.

ABSTRACT: Extranodal T / NK cell lymphoma is an aggressive malignant neoplasm characterized by destruction of midline structures of the face such as the palate and nasal fossa. We present the case of a male patient, 48 years old, cocaine user, who consults at the Faculty of Dentistry of the Universidad de Chile in September of 2015 due to symptoms of dysphagia, rhinorrhea and presenting to the clinical examination an ulcerated tumor which compromises hard and soft palate, a month of evolution. Diagnosis of T / NK cell lymphoma is confirmed with a battery of immunohistochemical tests. This pathology, although infrequent, should always be considered within the differential diagnoses in ulcerated tumors of this location.

[Head and neck cancer: validation of the QLQ-H&N35 quality of life questionnaire]. / Cáncer de cabeza y cuello: validación de cuestionario QLQ-H&N35.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancer affects esthetic and anatomical parameters, causing pain and functional impotence, affecting vital functions such as eating and breathing, hampering the quality of life of patients. EORTCQLQ-C30 questionnaire with its supplementary module QLQ-H & N35 evaluates the quality of life of these patients. AIM: To statistically validate the QLQ-H & N35 questionnaire in patients with head and neck cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, we studied patients with head and neck cancer who attended a rehabilitation unit. Reliability was measured using Cronbach's α and validity was determined by the diagnostic efficiency of the QLQ-H & N35 scale as compared with the SF-36 quality of life survey. A Receiver Operational Characteristic (ROC) curve was generated. RESULTS: The Cronbach's α global internal consistency of the questionnaire was > 0.70 and its discrimination capacity was 74.2%, which are considered acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the statistical validity of the QLQ-H & N35 questionnaire, specifically for patients with head and neck cancer in Chile.

Cáncer de cabeza y cuello: validación de cuestionario QLQ-H& N35 / Head and neck cancer: validation of the QLQ-H& N35 quality of life questionnaire

Background: Head and neck cancer affects esthetic and anatomical parameters, causing pain and functional impotence, affecting vital functions such as eating and breathing, hampering the quality of life of patients. EORTCQLQ-C30 questionnaire with its supplementary module QLQ-H & N35 evaluates the quality of life of these patients. Aim: To statistically validate the QLQ-H & N35 questionnaire in patients with head and neck cancer. Material and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we studied patients with head and neck cancer who attended a rehabilitation unit. Reliability was measured using Cronbach's α and validity was determined by the diagnostic efficiency of the QLQ-H & N35 scale as compared with the SF-36 quality of life survey. A Receiver Operational Characteristic (ROC) curve was generated. Results: The Cronbach's α global internal consistency of the questionnaire was > 0.70 and its discrimination capacity was 74.2%, which are considered acceptable. Conclusions: These results confirm the statistical validity of the QLQ-H & N35 questionnaire, specifically for patients with head and neck cancer in Chile.