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BACKGROUND: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a highly aggressive malignancy that has consistently shown Wnt/ß-catenin (canonical) signaling activation in various study populations. There are currently no targetable treatments for BRAF-wildtype ATC and a lack of effective treatment for BRAFV600EATC. Our aim is to identify whether Wnt inhibitors could be potential therapeutic agents for ATC patients with limited treatment options. METHODS: In this Institutional Review Board-approved study, we utilize a cohort of 32 ATCs and 20 non-neoplastic multinodular goiters (MNG). We also use 4 ATC spheroid cell lines (THJ-16T, THJ-21T, THJ-29T, and THJ-11T) and two primary patient-derived ATC organoid cultures (VWL-T5 and VWL-T60). Finally, we use a murine xenograft mouse model of ATC for in vivo treatment studies. RESULTS: Using a large patient cohort, we demonstrate that this near-universal Wnt signaling activation is associated with ligand expression- rather than being mutationally-driven. We show that pyrvinium pamoate, a potent Wnt inhibitor, exhibits in vitro efficacy against both ATC cell lines and primary patient-derived ATC organoids VWL-T5 (p < 0.05) and VWL-T60 (p < 0.01) Finally, using a murine xenograft model of ATC, we show that pyrvinium significantly delays the growth of ATC tumors in THJ-16T (p < 0.005) and THJ-21T (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We tested Wnt inhibitor treatment, both in vitro and in vivo, as a potential novel therapy for this highly lethal disease. Future large-scale studies utilizing multiple Wnt inhibitors will lay the foundation for the development of these novel therapies for patients with ATC.
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OBJECTIVES: Virtual 3D specimen mapping of oncologic surgical specimens provides a visual record of the specimen and margin sampling sites which can be utilized in a variety of cancer care settings. Our objective was to perform a retrospective review of head and neck surgical oncology cases where the specimen was mapped post-operatively and to evaluate the utility of these 3D specimen maps amongst the multidisciplinary cancer care team. METHODS: A retrospective review of our 3D specimen model biorepository was performed. Surgical specimens were 3D scanned and then graphically annotated (or "mapped") during routine pathologic processing. The resulting 3D specimen maps were distributed to the multidisciplinary oncologic care team. Final margin status and any use of the 3D specimen maps were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 28 cases were included. Virtual 3D specimen maps were utilized by the cancer care team in 8 cases (29%), including 2 positive margin cases, 2 close margin cases, and 4 indeterminate margin cases. 3D specimen maps were used to visualize positive margin sites for pathologist-surgeon communication as a visual reference during tumor board discussions and to inform radiation treatment planning. CONCLUSION: Post-operative virtual 3D specimen mapping of oncologic specimens creates a permanent visual record of the specimen and the margins sampled and may serve as a beneficial tool for communication amongst the multidisciplinary cancer care team. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 134:191-197, 2024.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathologyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between comorbidities and the development of immediate post-operative complications in patients undergoing oral cavity composite resection (OCCR) with free flap (FF) reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis was completed on all consecutive OCCRs with FF reconstruction performed at a single quaternary care facility between 1999 and 2020. Comorbidities, immediate post-operative complications, patient demographics, and tumor characteristics were collected. Odds ratios (OR) with 95 % confidence intervals were calculated for associations between comorbidities and immediate post-operative complications. RESULTS: 320 patients who underwent OCCR with FF reconstruction were included. One hundred twenty-one (37.8 %) patients developed a post-operative complication during their initial hospital admission. The most common complications were non-pneumonia cardiopulmonary events (14.1 %), pneumonia (9.4 %), and wound infection (8.4 %). Other complications included flap compromise, bleeding, and fistula. On multivariate analysis, patients without comorbid conditions were less likely to develop a post-operative complication (OR 0.64; 0.41-0.98). Atrial fibrillation (OR 2.94; 1.17-7.39) and cerebrovascular disease (OR 2.28; 1.08-4.84) were associated with increased odds of developing any complications. Furthermore, cerebrovascular disease (OR: 2.33; 1.04-5.39) and peripheral vascular disease (OR: 2.7; 1.2-6.08) were independently associated with pneumonia. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective review of patients undergoing OCCR with FF reconstruction for oral cavity SCC, lack of identifiable comorbidities appeared to be protective for post-operative complications while atrial fibrillation and cerebrovascular disease were associated with increased odds of any complication. Pre-existing vascular disease was also associated with an increased risk of pneumonia.
Subject(s)
Atrial Fibrillation , Cerebrovascular Disorders , Free Tissue Flaps , Head and Neck Neoplasms , Pneumonia , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Mouth , Postoperative Complications/epidemiology , Pneumonia/epidemiology , Pneumonia/etiologyABSTRACT
Genomic and transcriptomic analysis has furthered our understanding of many tumors. Yet, thyroid cancer management is largely guided by staging and histology, with few molecular prognostic and treatment biomarkers. Here, we utilize a large cohort of 251 patients with 312 samples from two tertiary medical centers and perform DNA/RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, and multiplex immunofluorescence to identify biomarkers of aggressive thyroid malignancy. We identify high-risk mutations and discover a unique molecular signature of aggressive disease, the Molecular Aggression and Prediction (MAP) score, which provides improved prognostication over high-risk mutations alone. The MAP score is enriched for genes involved in epithelial de-differentiation, cellular division, and the tumor microenvironment. The MAP score also identifies aggressive tumors with lymphocyte-rich stroma that may benefit from immunotherapy. Future clinical profiling of the stromal microenvironment of thyroid cancer could improve prognostication, inform immunotherapy, and support development of novel therapeutics for thyroid cancer and other stroma-rich tumors.
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The North American Airway Collaborative (NoAAC) previously published a 3-year multi-institutional prospective cohort study showing variation in treatment effectiveness between 3 primary surgical techniques for idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS). In this report, we update these findings to include 5 years of data evaluating treatment effectiveness. Patients in the NoAAC cohort were re-enrolled for 2 additional years and followed using the prespecified published protocol. Consistent with prior data, prospective observation of 487 iSGS patients for 5 years showed treatment effectiveness differed by modality. Cricotracheal resection maintained the lowest rate of recurrent operation (5%), followed by endoscopic resection with adjuvant medical therapy (30%) and endoscopic dilation (50%). These data support the initial observations and continue to provide value to providers and patients navigating longitudinal decision-making. Level of evidence: 2-prospective cohort study.
Subject(s)
Laryngostenosis , Humans , Constriction, Pathologic , Prospective Studies , Retrospective Studies , Laryngostenosis/surgery , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Numerous challenges exist in determining surgical margin status. Communication between surgeons and pathologists is crucial for specimen orientation and accurate margin assessment. METHODS: A prospective study to determine feasibility of incorporating three-dimensional (3D) scanning into surgical pathology workflow was performed. A structured-light 3D scanner captured the photorealistic surface topography of fresh surgical specimens. Computer-aided design (CAD) software was used to document sites of margin sampling and sectioning. Surveys were distributed among faculty and staff stakeholders to assess feasibility. RESULTS: A series of 40 cases were 3D-scanned. Median image acquisition time was 8 min. The majority of respondents agreed that the experimental 3D system helped achieve clearer communication. 3D specimen maps assisted in the communication of a focally positive or close margin in 4 of 17 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Routine 3D scanning and specimen mapping is feasible and represents an innovative approach to intraoperative and final pathology documentation, margin analysis, and surgeon-pathologist communication.
Subject(s)
Computer-Aided Design , Surgeons , Humans , Prospective Studies , CommunicationABSTRACT
Objective: The purpose of this study was to quantitatively compare the effectiveness of unilateral and bilateral botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injections for mitigating undesirable weak/breathy voice quality and dysphagia for patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia and/or essential tremor of voice (ETV). Methods: Data were collected from the medical records of 319 patients, yielding three treatment cohorts: patients who received an equal dose bilateral injection regimen (BL=) throughout their course of treatment at VUMC, patients who switched to a unilateral injection regimen (UL), and patients who switched to an unequal dose bilateral injection regimen (BL≠). Changes in length of improvement, duration of weak/breathy voice, and dysphagia severity were compared. Results: The BL = treatment group reported the longest duration of improved voice. Shorter periods of improved voice were reported at baseline by patients who later switched to UL or BL ≠ injection regimens. Patients receiving UL injections reported significantly reduced weak/breathy voice and dysphagia. Patients receiving BL ≠ injections reported increased length of improved voice; however, dysphagia symptoms increased. Ninety-two percent of patients with ETV switched to a UL regimen, with 61% of patients transitioning within the first three injections. Conclusions: Patients with pronounced dysphagia and extended periods of weak/breathy voice may benefit from a UL injection approach to mitigate side effects from BTX-A without sacrificing improved voice outcomes. For patients seeking to extend their length of improved voice, a BL ≠ injection regimen may be effective provided the adverse side effects from BTX-A are minimal. Patients with ETV may benefit from a UL injection approach at the outset of their course of treatment with BTX-A. Level of evidence: III.
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OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of hearing impairment and associated risk factors in children living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Haiti. METHODS: A validated smartphone-based platform with pure-tone audiometry was used to screen 341 HIV-infected children for hearing impairment in Port-au-Prince, Haiti from March 2019 to September 2020. If screening was failed, a more comprehensive pure-tone audiometric evaluation was administered. Demographic, otologic, and HIV-related data were obtained through caregiver surveys and medical charts. Statistical analysis included univariate and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Sixty (18%) of 341 HIV-infected children (ages 7-18 years) had hearing impairment. Of those failing their hearing assessment, 17 (28%) had moderate and 5 (8%) had severe or profound hearing loss. Hearing impairment was associated with frequent ear infections (OR 3.37; 95% CI 1.76-6.46; p < 0.001) and family history of hearing loss (OR 5.12; 95% CI 2.14-12.23; p = 0.001) but not viral load (OR 1.00; 95% CI 0.73-1.02; p = 0.28) or antiretroviral therapy duration (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.79-1.17; p = 0.66). Only 35% of caregivers correctly perceived their child's hearing loss. CONCLUSIONS: Hearing impairment occurs at a higher prevalence in HIV-infected children in Haiti than what is expected for those living without HIV. Frequent ear infections were significantly associated with hearing loss while antiretroviral therapy duration was not. Despite their potential ototoxicity, antiretroviral therapies should be continued and may decrease incidence of otitis media. Low caregiver perception of hearing loss emphasizes the need for routine hearing screening for HIV-infected children.
Subject(s)
Deafness , HIV Infections , Hearing Loss , Otitis , Adolescent , Anti-Retroviral Agents , Audiometry, Pure-Tone , Child , Deafness/complications , HIV Infections/complications , HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV Infections/epidemiology , Haiti/epidemiology , Hearing Loss/diagnosis , Hearing Loss/epidemiology , Hearing Loss/etiology , Humans , Otitis/complicationsABSTRACT
Importance: Definitive diagnosis of a thyroid nodule in a child is obtained through diagnostic surgery. This is problematic because pediatric thyroid surgery is associated with higher rates of complications. In adults, preoperative molecular testing improves the management of thyroid nodules, but this has not been validated in children. Objective: To determine whether the molecular landscape of pediatric thyroid nodules is amenable to detection by a multigene genomic classifier (GC) test (ThyroSeq v3; Sonic Healthcare USA). Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a retrospective consecutive case series and GC testing of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues from sequential pediatric thyroidectomies performed between January 2003 and December 2019 at a single tertiary academic medical center. The study included 95 patients (median [range] age, 16.3 [4.8 to 21.1] years; 75 [79%] female) who underwent surgery for a thyroid nodule. Interventions: A total of 118 thyroid nodule samples (95 FFPE, 23 companion FNAs) yielded informative next-generation sequencing data and multigene GC. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the determination of the pediatric thyroid molecular landscape. The secondary outcome was the diagnostic accuracy of the GC test for pediatric thyroid nodules. Results: Of the 95 patients, 75 (79%) were female, and the median (IQR) age was 16.3 (14.0-17.3) years. Next-generation sequencing confirmed the unique molecular landscape of malignant pediatric thyroid nodules (compared with adults), which is dominated by gene fusions (most commonly RET and NTRK), rare BRAF/RAS alterations, and no TP53 or TERT promoter pathogenic variants. Several poorly differentiated thyroid cancers harbored DICER1 variants. Benign nodules appeared to be almost exclusively associated with TSHR and DICER1 alterations. The test demonstrated a 96% sensitivity (95% CI, 87%-99%) and 78% specificity (95% CI, 64%-88%). The negative predictive value was 95% (95% CI, 88%-98%) and the positive predictive value was 83% (95% CI, 74-89%). The concordance of GC between 23 pairs of matched FFPE and FNA tissues was 96%. Conclusions and Relevance: The study results of this retrospective consecutive case series suggest that the molecular landscape of pediatric nodules is unique but remains amenable to molecular classification. The multigene GC test, with high sensitivity and reasonably high specificity, represents a potential addition to the diagnostic workup of children with thyroid nodules and may decrease the use of diagnostic surgery.
Subject(s)
Thyroid Neoplasms , Thyroid Nodule , Adolescent , Adult , Child , DEAD-box RNA Helicases , Female , Formaldehyde , Genomics , Humans , Male , Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf , Retrospective Studies , Ribonuclease III , Thyroid Neoplasms/diagnosis , Thyroid Neoplasms/genetics , Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery , Thyroid Nodule/diagnosis , Thyroid Nodule/genetics , Thyroid Nodule/surgeryABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Acute oropharyngeal hemorrhage is a serious complication for patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), particularly in patients with a history of radiation therapy (RT). METHODS: Retrospective case series from at a tertiary care center for treated patients with HPV-positive OPSCC presenting with oropharyngeal hemorrhage. RESULTS: Median time from completion of chemoradiation to first hemorrhagic event was 186 days (range 66-1466 days). Seven patients (58%) required intervention to secure their airway. All patients were evaluated for endovascular intervention, six (50%) were embolized. Eight patients (67%) had a second hemorrhagic event; median time to second bleed was 22 days (range 3-90 days). CONCLUSIONS: Acute oropharyngeal hemorrhage is a sequelae following treatment for HPV-positive OPSCC. The majority of bleeds occurred within a year of completion of treatment. While more research is needed to determine optimal treatment paradigms, endovascular intervention should be considered, even if noninvasive imaging does not demonstrate active bleeding.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell , Head and Neck Neoplasms , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms , Papillomavirus Infections , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/complications , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/radiotherapy , Head and Neck Neoplasms/complications , Hemorrhage/complications , Hemorrhage/therapy , Humans , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/complications , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Papillomavirus Infections/complications , Papillomavirus Infections/therapy , Retrospective Studies , Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/complications , Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/therapyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: During the COVID-19 pandemic, maintenance of safe and timely oncologic care has been challenging. The goal of this study is to compare presenting symptoms, staging, and treatment of head and neck mucosal squamous cell carcinoma during the pandemic with an analogous timeframe one year prior. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective cohort study at a single tertiary academic center of new adult patients evaluated in a head and neck surgical oncology clinic from March -July 2019 (pre-pandemic control) and March - July 2020 (COVID-19 pandemic). RESULTS: During the pandemic, the proportion of patients with newly diagnosed malignancies increased by 5%, while the overall number of new patients decreased (n = 575) compared to the control year (n = 776). For patients with mucosal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), median time from referral to initial clinic visit decreased from 11 days (2019) to 8 days (2020) (p = 0.0031). There was no significant difference in total number (p = 0.914) or duration (p = 0.872) of symptoms. During the pandemic, patients were more likely to present with regional nodal metastases (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.846, 95% CI 1.072-3.219, p = 0.028) and more advanced clinical nodal (N) staging (p = 0.011). No significant difference was seen for clinical tumor (T) (p = 0.502) or metastasis (M) staging (p = 0.278). No significant difference in pathologic T (p = 0.665), or N staging (p = 0.907) was found between the two periods. CONCLUSION: Head and neck mucosal SCC patients presented with more advanced clinical nodal disease during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic despite no change in presenting symptoms.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/epidemiology , Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/pathology , Aged , Female , Humans , Lymphatic Metastasis , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Staging , Pandemics , Retrospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2 , Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/therapy , Tennessee/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Chordomas are rare, malignant bone tumors that arise from embryological remnants of the notochord, typically affecting the skull base, mobile spine, and sacrum with uncommon metastasis to the larynx. Patients with metastasis to the larynx may present with slowly progressive dysphonia and dyspnea. Here, we report an organ-preservation treatment strategy for a patient with widely metastatic extra-axial chordoma presenting with airway compromise who was found to have a new metastasis to the cricoid cartilage.
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OBJECTIVES: To examine whether social determinants of health (SDH) factors are associated with time to diagnosis, treatment selection, and time to recurrent surgical intervention in idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS) patients. METHODS: Adult patients with diagnosed iSGS were recruited prospectively (2015-2017) via clinical providers as part of the North American Airway Collaborative (NoAAC) and via an online iSGS support community on Facebook. Patient-specific SDH factors included highest educational attainment (self-reported), median household income (matched from home zip code via U.S. Census data), and number of close friends (self-reported) as a measure of social support. Main outcomes of interest were time to disease diagnosis (years from symptom onset), treatment selection (endoscopic dilation [ED] vs cricotracheal resection [CTR] vs endoscopic resection with adjuvant medical therapy [ERMT]), and time to recurrent surgical intervention (number of days from initial surgical procedure) as a surrogate for disease recurrence. RESULTS: The total 810 participants were 98.5% female, 97.2% Caucasian, and had a median age of 50 years (IQR, 43-58). The cohort had a median household income of $62 307 (IQR, $50 345-$79 773), a median of 7 close friends (IQR, 4-10), and 64.7% of patients completed college or graduate school. Education, income, and number of friends were not associated with time to diagnosis via multivariable linear regression modeling. Univariable multinominal logistic regression demonstrated an association between education and income for selecting ED versus ERMT, but no associations were noted for CTR. No associations were noted for time to recurrent surgical procedure via Kaplan Meier modeling and Cox proportional hazards regression. CONCLUSIONS: Patient education, income, and social support were not associated with time to diagnosis or time to disease recurrence. This suggests additional patient, procedure, or disease-specific factors contribute to the observed variations in iSGS surgical outcomes.
Subject(s)
Laryngoscopy/methods , Laryngostenosis/surgery , Social Determinants of Health , Adult , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Recurrence , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome , United StatesSubject(s)
Ameloblastoma/surgery , Free Tissue Flaps/adverse effects , Mandibular Neoplasms/surgery , Postoperative Complications/diagnostic imaging , Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color/methods , Adult , Humans , Male , Medical Illustration , Monitoring, Physiologic , Point-of-Care Testing , Postoperative Complications/etiology , Postoperative PeriodABSTRACT
The goal of this prospective cohort study was to characterize the ability of teachers to identify schoolchildren at risk of hearing loss in order to maximize hearing screening efficiency in low-resource settings. At 4 semirural schools in Malindi, Kenya, preselected schoolchildren perceived as hearing impaired were compared to children thought to have normal hearing using portable audiometry. Eight of 127 children (54% male) failed hearing screening, all of who were identified by schoolteachers as having a high risk of hearing loss. Thus, for every 5 children prescreened by schoolteachers, an average of 1 child would be identified as having hearing loss. Overall, teacher prescreening had a 100% hearing loss identification rate and a 20% referral rate. In conclusion, in resource-limited settings, where universal hearing screening is challenging, teachers can effectively identify children with hearing loss for early intervention.
Subject(s)
Hearing Loss/diagnosis , Hearing Tests/methods , Mass Screening/methods , Risk Assessment , School Health Services , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Developing Countries , Female , Hearing Tests/instrumentation , Humans , Kenya , Male , Prospective Studies , Referral and Consultation , School Teachers , StudentsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To establish the feasibility of a systematic, community health worker (CHW)-based hearing screening program that gathers Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant electronic data (otoscopic images of tympanic membrane and audiometric evaluation) on a smartphone in an effort to streamline treatment options in resource-limited communities. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study in which four schools were screened in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, during in April 2018. A total of 122 subjects (61% female) aged 5-17 years underwent an initial brief audiometric screen followed by a more comprehensive air conduction audiometric evaluation if they failed their initial screen. Participants with more than 35-dB loss in any frequency on their comprehensive audiometric evaluation received endoscopic otoscopy. RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of subjects (91/122) passed their initial screen. Of those who failed, 9% (4/44 ears) had a severe or profound hearing loss on comprehensive evaluation. Abnormal otoscopic findings (11/36 ears, 31%) included are cerumen impaction (n = 6), myringosclerosis (n = 3), tympanic membrane perforation (n = 1), and tympanic membrane retraction (n = 1). The average duration of the initial testing was 100 seconds (SD = 74 seconds), whereas the duration of comprehensive testing was 394 seconds (SD = 175 seconds). Extrapolating from these data, we estimate that a group of seven trained CHWs could gather formal audiologic and otologic data points for 100 children per hour using this protocol. CONCLUSIONS: A systematic approach that utilizes local resources (CHWs) and existing infrastructure (cell phones and the Internet) can significantly reduce the burden of hearing healthcare specialists while simultaneously facilitating early diagnosis and management of disabling hearing loss in low-resourced settings. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4.
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BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16) E6 seropositivity is a promising early marker of human papillomavirus-driven oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC), yet more sensitive imaging modalities are needed before screening is considered. The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity of transcervical sonography (TCS) for detecting clinically apparent HPV-OPC in comparison with computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET)/CT. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with known or suspected HPV-OPC without prior treatment underwent oropharyngeal TCS and blood collection (for HPV multiplex serology testing). Eight standard sonographic images were collected; primary-site tumors were measured in 3 dimensions if identified. Each patient underwent a full diagnostic workup as part of standard clinical care. The pathologic details, HPV status, final staging, and imaging findings were abstracted from the medical record. The sensitivity of each imaging modality was compared with the final clinical diagnosis (the gold standard). RESULTS: Twenty-four base of tongue cancers (47%), 22 tonsillar cancers (43%), and 2 unknown primary cancers (4%) were diagnosed; 3 patients (6%) had no tumors. All p16-tested patients were positive (n = 47). Primary-site tumors were correctly identified in 90.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78.6%-96.7%) with TCS, in 69.4% (95% CI, 54.6%-81.7%) with CT, and in 83.3% (95% CI, 68.6%-93.0%) with PET/CT. TCS identified tumors in 10 of 14 cases missed by CT and recognized the absence of tumors in 3 cases for which CT or PET/CT was falsely positive. The smallest sonographically identified primary-site tumor was 0.5 cm in its greatest dimension; the average size was 2.3 cm. Among p16-positive patients, 76.1% (95% CI, 61.2%-87.4%) were seropositive for HPV-16 E6. CONCLUSIONS: TCS and HPV-16 E6 antibodies are sensitive for the diagnosis of HPV-OPC.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/blood , Oncogene Proteins, Viral/immunology , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/diagnosis , Repressor Proteins/immunology , Ultrasonography/methods , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/virology , Positron Emission Tomography Computed TomographyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of training otolaryngologists to perform head and neck ultrasound in low- and middle-income countries over a short timeframe. DESIGN: Prospective cohort evaluating an ultrasound training course for otolaryngologists in low- and middle-income countries. SETTING: Surgical training camp for otolaryngologists in semirural Kenya. METHODS: Participants were prospectively recruited to participate in an ultrasound training course during a 2-week surgical training camp. They performed baseline ultrasound exams (9-item test, 5-point scale) with no assistance, followed by didactic sessions teaching ultrasound techniques. Participating surgeons then performed head and neck ultrasound exams on patients in clinic or in the operating room with direct supervision. Postcourse ultrasounds were performed, and the results of these tests were compared to baseline exams. RESULTS: Eight surgeons were enrolled out of a total of 13 (62%). Three were attending surgeons (37.5%), 1 enrollee was a head and neck surgery fellow, and 4 were senior residents (50%). Six of 8 surgeons were from Kenya. The mean precourse test score was 25 (range 21-30) compared to a mean postcourse test score of 40 (range 37-45, p < 0.005). All participants significantly improved their scores, with a mean improvement of 16 points (range 10-23). DISCUSSION: Otolaryngologists are uniquely equipped to learn head and neck ultrasound given their familiarity with the anatomy and pathology in this region. Training physicians without prior experience can be done even over short timeframes. Early training should focus on ultrasound, with later stages of training focusing on pathology.
Subject(s)
Clinical Competence , Surgeons , Feasibility Studies , Humans , Kenya , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Identify risk factors and outcomes of recurrent well-differentiated thyroid cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case-control analysis. SETTING: Tertiary care academic center in Nashville, Tennessee. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This single-center analysis reviews 478 patients who underwent initial surgical management of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma between 2002 and 2017. Patients were dichotomized with or without recurrent well-differentiated thyroid cancer. Demographic and clinicopathologic risk factors were carefully reviewed. Univariate, multiple regression, and survival analyses were used to evaluate predictors of recurrence. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients (7.9%) who received initial surgical intervention for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma at our institution recurred, with an average time to recurrence of 24 months. Male sex, tumor size, multifocality, extrathyroidal extension, lymphovascular invasion, number of positive lymph nodes, and low lymph node yield were all significantly associated with locoregional recurrence (P < .05). Multiple regression analysis showed that extrathyroidal extension, number of positive lymph nodes, and low lymph node yield were independent factors predictive of posttreatment recurrence (P < .05). Metastatic lymph node ratio, the ratio of positive lymph nodes extracted to lymph node yield, of ≥0.3 is associated with increased risk of recurrence (P < .001) and decreased 5-year recurrence free survival (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Extrathyroidal extension, number of positive lymph nodes, and low lymph node yield are independent clinicopathologic risk factors for postoperative recurrence of well-differentiated thyroid cancer. Metastatic lymph node ratio is uncommonly used but can be an important prognosticator of recurrence. Patients with metastatic lymph node ratio ≥0.3 should be counseled on their increased risk of recurrence and should undergo close surveillance following surgery.
Subject(s)
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/epidemiology , Thyroid Neoplasms/epidemiology , Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Female , Humans , Lymphatic Metastasis , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology , Time Factors , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Importance: Surgical treatment comparisons in rare diseases are difficult secondary to the geographic distribution of patients. Fortunately, emerging technologies offer promise to reduce these barriers for research. Objective: To prospectively compare the outcomes of the 3 most common surgical approaches for idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS), a rare airway disease. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this international, prospective, 3-year multicenter cohort study, 810 patients with untreated, newly diagnosed, or previously treated iSGS were enrolled after undergoing a surgical procedure (endoscopic dilation [ED], endoscopic resection with adjuvant medical therapy [ERMT], or cricotracheal resection [CTR]). Patients were recruited from clinician practices in the North American Airway Collaborative and an online iSGS community on Facebook. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was days from initial surgical procedure to recurrent surgical procedure. Secondary end points included quality of life using the Clinical COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) Questionnaire (CCQ), Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10), Eating Assessment Test-10 (EAT-10), the 12-Item Short-Form Version 2 (SF-12v2), and postoperative complications. Results: Of 810 patients in this cohort, 798 (98.5%) were female and 787 (97.2%) were white, with a median age of 50 years (interquartile range, 43-58 years). Index surgical procedures were ED (n = 603; 74.4%), ERMT (n = 121; 14.9%), and CTR (n = 86; 10.6%). Overall, 185 patients (22.8%) had a recurrent surgical procedure during the 3-year study, but recurrence differed by modality (CTR, 1 patient [1.2%]; ERMT, 15 [12.4%]; and ED, 169 [28.0%]). Weighted, propensity score-matched, Cox proportional hazards regression models showed ED was inferior to ERMT (hazard ratio [HR], 3.16; 95% CI, 1.8-5.5). Among successfully treated patients without recurrence, those treated with CTR had the best CCQ (0.75 points) and SF-12v2 (54 points) scores and worst VHI-10 score (13 points) 360 days after enrollment as well as the greatest perioperative risk. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of 810 patients with iSGS, endoscopic dilation, the most popular surgical approach for iSGS, was associated with a higher recurrence rate compared with other procedures. Cricotracheal resection offered the most durable results but showed the greatest perioperative risk and the worst long-term voice outcomes. Endoscopic resection with medical therapy was associated with better disease control compared with ED and had minimal association with vocal function. These results may be used to inform individual patient treatment decision-making.