Factors Associated with Reclosure of Posterior Capsule Aperture by Flat Opacifications with Pearls after Nd:YAG Laser Posterior Capsulotomy.

In this retrospective case series, we investigated factors associated with posterior capsule aperture (PCA) reclosure following neodymium-yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy. The study encompassed patients who underwent cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation or a combined vitrectomy, cataract surgery, and IOL implantation between 2009 and 2022. PCA reclosure was observed in 22 eyes of 17 patients: 45% (10 eyes) underwent the triple procedure, and 55% (12 eyes) received cataract surgery with IOL implantation. In our clinic, 14% of patients were given IOLs with a 4% water content, while 73% (13 eyes) of those experiencing PCA reclosure had IOLs with a 4% water content. The mean interval between Nd:YAG capsulotomies was notably shorter than that between the initial cataract surgery and the first Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy. We also identified five stages of PCA reclosure progression. In conclusion, IOL water content may be linked to PCA reclosure, and the time to recurrence is shorter with each successive reclosure. Further research is needed to verify these findings and uncover additional contributing factors.

Phase II study of the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib for anaplastic thyroid cancer (HOPE).

PURPOSE: Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare and highly aggressive cancer for which effective systemic therapy has long been sought. Here, we assessed the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib in patients with unresectable ATC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was investigator-initiated and conducted under a multicenter, open-label, nonrandomized, phase II design. Eligibility criteria included pathologically proven ATC; unresectable measurable lesion as defined by RECIST 1.1; age 20 years or older; ECOG PS 0-2; and adequate organ function. The primary end-point was overall survival. Secondary end-points were progression-free survival, objective response rate, disease control rate, clinical benefit rate, and safety. RESULTS: Of 52 patients enrolled from 17 institutions, 42 patients who were confirmed to have ATC were included for efficacy analysis, and 50 patients were included for safety analysis. The estimated 1-year overall survival rate was 11.9% (95% CI, 4.4%-23.6%). One patient (2.4%) achieved complete response, four patients (9.5%) partial response, and 26 patients (61.9%) stable disease, including nine patients (21.4%) who demonstrated durable stable disease, giving an objective response rate of 11.9%, disease control rate of 73.8%, and clinical benefit rate of 33.3%. Adverse events of any grade were observed in 45 patients (90.0%), the most common of which of any grade included loss of appetite (48.0%), fatigue (48.0%), hypertension (44.0%), and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (26.0%). CONCLUSION: Lenvatinib treatment resulted in disappointing survival for unresectable ATC patients. Although the number of responders was small, responses were durable, indicating that lenvatinib may be beneficial for selected patients. Further investigation to identify suitable candidates for lenvatinib monotherapy is needed.

Findings in pseudophakic eye that developed liquefied aftercataract-like substance one day after vitrectomy.

Purpose: To report our findings in a case that had an accumulation of a translucent fluid between the intraocular lens (IOL) and posterior lens capsule one day after vitrectomy for a vitreous hemorrhage. Observations: A 67-year-old woman was diagnosed with diabetes 20 years before the vitrectomy and was treated with panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) for proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) 14 years earlier. She underwent cataract surgery with an implantation of an IOL 4 years earlier. She was referred to our hospital because of a vitreous hemorrhage, and we performed uneventful vitrectomy. However, the day after the operation, a translucent liquid substance that resembled liquefied aftercataract was observed in the lens capsule bag. With time, the liquid substance became cloudy. The opacification progressed for two years after the vitrectomy, and her visual acuity decreased. We then performed neodymium: YAG (Nd: YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy, and the cloudy liquid dispersed into the vitreous and the visual acuity improved. Conclusions and importance: Our findings indicate that liquified aftercataract-like substance can form after vitrectomy in a pseudophakic eye. We suggest that the aqueous humor might flow into the space behind the IOL during or just after the vitrectomy and was trapped behind the IOL optics. Then, the proliferating lens epithelial cells might be dissolved forming the white liquid substance immediately after the surgery.

A survey of feeding and swallowing function after free jejunal flap reconstruction in cases of head and neck cancer.

Reconstructive surgery using the free jejunum flap for locally advanced head and neck cancer is effective in preserving the swallowing function; however, it does not allow normal oral intake in all patients. A total of 47 patients underwent surgery at Nara Medical University between Jan 2010 and Dec 2019. The patients' ages ranged from 48 to 86 years. Sites were the hypopharynx (33 cases), larynx and cervical esophagus (5 cases each) and oropharynx (4 cases). Swallowing function was assessed using videofluorography, from the start of oral intake to discharge, as well as meal form at discharge. Lateral-retropharyngeal-lymph node dissection (LRPLND), preoperative radiation therapy, extended resection to the nasopharynx and incidence of stenosis in the jejuno-esophageal anastomosis were examined. Significant differences were revealed in the scores of pharyngeal residues of contrast medium and pharyngeal contraction, with and without preoperative radiotherapy. LRPLND did not affect swallowing function; dissection group cases had lower scores for soft palate elevation. Overall, resection extended to the nasopharynx, and the anastomosis method did not affect scores of swallowing function.

Human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal carcinoma.

It was not until around 2000 that human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal carcinoma was recognized as carcinoma with clinical presentations different from nonrelated head and neck carcinoma. Twenty years after and with the revision of the tumor-node-metastasis classification in 2017, various clinical trials focused on human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal carcinoma to improve the prognosis and quality of life of patients with this disease. However, the incidence of human papillomavirus-related cancers is increasing, which is expected to be particularly prominent in Japan, where human papillomavirus vaccination is not widely available. In this review, we describe the current status of clinical trials (mainly focused on initial surgery and radiation dose reduction) for, primary and secondary prevention of, and the present status of human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal carcinoma in Japan.

Weekly Cisplatin Plus Radiation for Postoperative Head and Neck Cancer (JCOG1008): A Multicenter, Noninferiority, Phase II/III Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: The standard treatment for postoperative high-risk locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA-SCCHN) is chemoradiotherapy with 3-weekly cisplatin (100 mg/m2). However, whether chemoradiotherapy with weekly cisplatin (40 mg/m2) yields comparable efficacy with 3-weekly cisplatin in postoperative high-risk LA-SCCHN is unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this multi-institutional open-label phase II/III trial, patients with postoperative high-risk LA-SCCHN were randomly assigned to receive either chemoradiotherapy with 3-weekly cisplatin (100 mg/m2) or with weekly cisplatin (40 mg/m2) to confirm the noninferiority of weekly cisplatin. The primary end point of phase II was the proportion of treatment completion, and that of phase III was overall survival. A noninferiority margin of hazard ratio was set at 1.32. RESULTS: Between October 2012 and December 2018, a total of 261 patients were enrolled (3-weekly cisplatin, 132 patients; weekly cisplatin, 129 patients). At the planned third interim analysis in the phase III part, after a median follow-up of 2.2 (interquartile range 1.19-3.56) years, chemoradiotherapy with weekly cisplatin was noninferior to 3-weekly cisplatin in terms of overall survival, with a hazard ratio of 0.69 (99.1% CI, 0.374 to 1.273 [< 1.32], one-sided P for noninferiority = .0027 < .0043). Grade 3 or more neutropenia and infection were less frequent in the weekly arm (3-weekly v weekly, 49% v 35% and 12% v 7%, respectively), as were renal impairment and hearing impairment. No treatment-related death was reported in the 3-weekly arm, and two (1.6%) in the weekly arm. CONCLUSION: Chemoradiotherapy with weekly cisplatin is noninferior to 3-weekly cisplatin for patients with postoperative high-risk LA-SCCHN. These findings suggest that chemoradiotherapy with weekly cisplatin can be a possible treatment option for these patients.

Systemic therapy for salivary gland malignancy: current status and future perspectives.

Salivary gland malignancies are rare neoplasms that have a broad histological spectrum and a variety of biologic behaviors. Salivary gland malignancies are known as chemo-resistant tumors, which render optimal treatment challenging. This review summarizes the role of systemic therapy for salivary gland malignancies. To date, the advantage of adding concurrent chemotherapy has remained undefined for both postoperative and inoperable locally advanced salivary gland malignancy patients undergoing radiotherapy. For recurrent/metastatic disease, local and/or systemic treatment options should be discussed in a multidisciplinary setting with consideration to both patient needs and tumor factors. For symptomatic patients or those who may compromise organ function, palliative systemic therapy can be a reasonable option based on the results of phase II studies. Platinum combination regimens as first-line therapy have been widely accepted. Personalized therapies have become established options, particularly for androgen receptor-positive, HER2-positive and NTRK fusion-positive salivary gland malignancies (i.e. androgen receptor and HER2 in salivary duct carcinoma and NTRK3 in secretory carcinoma). For patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma, multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors have also been developed. Anti-PD1 checkpoint inhibitors have shown limited activity to date. Investigation of active systemic treatments for salivary gland malignancy remains a significant unmet need. Future directions might include a more comprehensive genomic screening approach (usually next-generation sequencing-based) and combination strategies using immune checkpoint inhibitors. These are rare malignancies that require ongoing effort in the conduct of high-quality clinical trials.

Four cases of medullary thyroid carcinomas associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia 2B with rearranged during transfection codon M918T mutation in the same family.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is associated with rearranged during transfection (RET) mutations. The authors encountered four cases of MTC-related MEN type 2B (MEN2B) with RET codon M918T mutation in one family. Case 1 included a 19 year-old male diagnosed with MTC with lung metastases. Genetic testing revealed an RET codon M918T mutation, which indicated MEN2B. The patient responded partially to vandetanib and the disease has shown no progression in 25 months. Case 2 involved the mother of the patient in Case 1. She underwent total thyroidectomy (TT) when diagnosed with MTC-related MEN2B at 12 years of age, but was not counseled adequately. Cases 3 and 4 involved the sisters of the Case 1 patient and were assessed after Case 1 was diagnosed. Genetic testing revealed the same mutation. Case 3 was diagnosed with MTC and underwent TT. Case 4 was asymptomatic but underwent prophylactic TT; histopathologic examination revealed MTC tissue. Prophylactic TT prevented MTC from being detected at an advanced state. Genetic counseling is essential in treating MEN2B. The mother was uninformed about the genetic characteristics of MEN2B, delaying the detection of MTC in her children. The present study reaffirms the importance of family history and screening.

Results of subjective visual vertical tests in patients with vertigo/dizziness.

OBJECTIVE: We previously established the head-tilt subjective visual vertical (HT-SVV) test to evaluate head-tilt perception gain (HTPG) in addition to the original head-upright SVV (HU-SVV) test (Wada-Y et al.: Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol, 2020). In this study, we aimed to investigate the HU-SVV and HT-SVV abnormality rates among patients with vertigo/dizziness. METHODS: Between July 2014 and December 2020, 357 patients were hospitalized for examining the HU-SVV and HT-SVV at our vertigo/dizziness center. Among these patients, 120 had Meniere's disease (MD), 99 had unilateral vestibular disease (UVD), 76 had benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), 14 had vestibular migraine (VM), 13 had orthostatic dysfunction (OD), 12 had bilateral vestibular disease (BVD), 12 had central dizziness (CD), 7 had vestibular schwannoma (VS), and 4 had psychogenic dizziness (PD). We determined the reference values of the absolute HU-SVV (<2.5°) and HTPG (0.80-1.25) for the sitting position and used these for calculating the HU-SVV and HT-SVV abnormality rates in each type of vertigo/dizziness. RESULTS: Among the 357 patients, 111 had abnormal HU-SVV results (31.1%), 132 had abnormal HT-SVV results (37.0%), and 185 had abnormal HU-SVV and/or HT-SVV results (51.8%). The modified HT-SVV test in combination with the original HU-SVV test could detect gravity perception disturbance in patients with vertigo/dizziness significantly better than the original test alone (chi-square: p=0.00019). The HU-SVV, HT-SVV, and HU-SVV and/or HT-SVV abnormality rates were significantly higher in patients with peripheral vestibular diseases, i.e., MD, UVD, BPPV, and BVD than in those with other types of vertigo/dizziness, i.e., VM, OD, CD, VS, and PD (chi-square: p=0.010, p=0.020, and p=0.0025, respectively). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the combined HT-SVV and HU-SVV test could be a powerful neuro-otologic examination for detecting pathologies in the vestibular otolithic pathway.

Severe anaphylaxis caused by intravenous anti-cancer drugs.

BACKGROUND: The incidence and risk factors of severe anaphylaxis by intravenous anti-cancer drugs are unclear, whereas those of milder reactions have been reported. STUDY DESIGN: Electronic medical charts of cancer patients who have undergone intravenous chemotherapy between January 2013 and October 2020 in a university hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Non-epithelial malignancies were also included in the analysis. "Severe anaphylaxis" was judged using Brown's criteria: typical presentation of anaphylaxis and one or more of hypoxia, shock, and neurologic compromise. (UMIN000042887). RESULTS: Among 5584 patients (2964 males [53.1%], 2620 females [46.9%], median age 66 years), 88,200 person-day anti-cancer drug administrations were performed intravenously, and 27 severe anaphylaxes were observed. The causative drugs included carboplatin (14 cases), paclitaxel (9 cases), and cisplatin, docetaxel, trastuzumab, and cetuximab (1 case each). The person-based lifetime incidence of severe anaphylaxis for patients who received at least one intravenous chemotherapy was 0.48% (27/5584, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30%-0.67%) and the administration-based incidence was 0.031% (27/88,200, 95% CI 0.019%-0.043%). Among 124 patients who received at least 10 carboplatin administrations, 10 patients experienced carboplatin-induced severe anaphylaxis (10/124, 8.1%, 95% CI 3.0%-13.1%). Carboplatin caused severe anaphylaxis after at least 9-min interval since the drip started. Thirteen out of 14 patients experienced carboplatin-induced severe anaphylaxis within a 75-day interval from the previous treatment. Paclitaxel infusion caused severe anaphylaxis after a median of 5 min after the first drip of the day at a life-long incidence of 0.93% (9/968, 95% CI 0.27%-1.59%). CONCLUSION: We elucidated the high-risk settings of chemotherapy-induced severe anaphylaxis.

Docetaxel plus cisplatin in recurrent and/or metastatic non-squamous-cell head and neck cancer: a multicenter phase II trial.

The clinical utility of systemic therapy and genomic profiling in non-squamous-cell head and neck cancer (NSCHNC) has not been fully elucidated. This phase II trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of docetaxel and cisplatin combination in the first-line setting. Eligibility criteria were recurrent and/or metastatic NSCHNC; progressive disease within the last 6 months; no prior systemic therapy; and ECOG performance status of 0-1. Patients received docetaxel (75 mg/m2 on day 1) and cisplatin (75 mg/m2 on day 1), repeated every 21 days for 6 cycles. The primary endpoint was confirmed objective response rate (ORR). The secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and adverse events. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed using the Ion AmpliSeq Cancer Hotspot Panel v2. Twenty-three patients were enrolled from November 2012 to October 2016, of whom 8 were male. Median age was 57 years. Ninety-six percent of cases were metastatic. Among 22 evaluable patients, confirmed ORR was 45% (95% confidential interval 24-68%). With a median follow-up period of 18.8 months, median PFS and OS were 6.7 and 20.1 months, respectively. Grade 3/4 adverse events included febrile neutropenia (39%) and anemia (22%). No treatment-related deaths were observed. NGS analysis revealed potential treatment targets, including ERBB2, KIT, and ALK. The docetaxel and cisplatin combination regimen can be considered a new treatment option in recurrent and/or metastatic NSCHNC, although primary prophylaxis for febrile neutropenia should be considered. Diverse genomic alterations may lead novel treatment options.This trial was registered with the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry as UMIN000008333 on [September 1st, 2012].

Sites of invasion of cancer of the external auditory canal predicting oncologic outcomes.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to reveal the influence of the invasion site of external auditory canal (EAC) cancer by analyzing the outcome of patients with advanced tumor. METHODS: A total of 111 patients with T4 EAC cancer were enrolled in this study. Of these patients, 79 underwent chemoradiotherapy and 32 underwent surgery under curative intent. Univariate and multivariate analyses and the Kaplan-Meier method were used to focus on the tumor invasion sites and overall survival of the patients. RESULTS: The 3-year overall survival rate of all patients was 55.0%. In multivariate analysis, the only significant invasion site for overall survival was the facial nerve, with the dura mater being the next most influential site. When Kaplan-Meier survival curve was calculated, facial nerve and dura mater were the significant factors resulting in poor patient outcomes. CONCLUSION: The facial nerve and dura mater are crucial sites of EAC cancer for patient outcomes.

A study of 24 cases of salivary gland carcinoma with distant metastasis.

Salivary gland carcinoma is a relatively rare disease of the head and neck. Although it frequently presents with distant metastases, few reports have been published on this subject. The present study investigated the prognosis of patients with distant metastases from salivary gland cancer. A total of 24 cases of salivary gland carcinoma with distant metastasis who were initially treated at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of Nara Medical University during a 16-year period from August 2004 to July 2020 were included. The histopathological types included salivary duct carcinoma (8 cases), adenoid cystic carcinoma (6 cases), myoepithelial carcinoma (3 cases), Squamous cell carcinoma (2 cases), adenocarcinoma (2 cases), acinic cell carcinoma (2 cases) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (1 case). A total of 18 patients had stage IV carcinoma, which represented the majority. Of all patients, ~80% developed distant metastases within 2 years of initial diagnosis. Survival rates after the appearance of distant metastases were 43.5% at 5 years and 14.5% at 10 years. The results of the current study revealed that no factors significantly influenced long-term prognosis after the development of distant metastases. In future, it may be necessary to re-examine these results in a larger sample size and standardise treatment methods as a result.

Phase 3 Randomized Trial of Topical Steroid Versus Placebo for Prevention of Radiation Dermatitis in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Receiving Chemoradiation.

PURPOSE: Radiation dermatitis is one of the most common acute toxicities induced by chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for head and neck cancer (HNC). The benefit of topical steroids in the management of radiation dermatitis is still unclear. This phase 3, multi-institutional, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of topical steroids for radiation dermatitis in patients with locally advanced HNC receiving CRT. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Eligible patients were scheduled to receive bilateral neck irradiation (≥66 Gy) with concurrent cisplatin (≥200 mg/m2) as definitive or postoperative CRT. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either topical steroid or placebo when grade 1radiation dermatitis was observed or the total radiation dose reached 30 Gy. Basic skin care including gentle washing and moistening in the head and neck region was performed in both groups. The primary endpoint was the frequency of grade ≥2 radiation dermatitis, in accordance with the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0. Grading of radiation dermatitis was performed by independent central review using photographs taken weekly. RESULTS: A total of 211 patients were enrolled (intention to treat: steroid 101 and placebo 102). The frequency of grade ≥2 radiation dermatitis was not significantly reduced with the steroid (73.3%; 95% confidence interval, 64.6%-81.9%) compared with the placebo (80.4%; 95% confidence interval, 72.7%-88.1%; P = .23), whereas the steroid significantly reduced the frequency of grade ≥3 radiation dermatitis (13.9% vs 25.5%; P = .034). No significant differences in adverse events, including local infection or compliance with CRT, were observed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Topical steroid may reduce the severity of radiation dermatitis in patients with HNC and thus may become an important therapeutic tool in the management of radiation dermatitis.

The Third Mobile Window Effects in Otology/Neurotology.

It has been revealed that the pure-tone audiometry demonstrates large air-bone gaps at low pitches due to the presence of inner ear fistulae. When a third mobile window resulting from an inner ear fistula is present, in addition to the 2 normally present windows consisting of the oval window and the round window, a portion of the air-conducted waves escape from the scala vestibuli through the inner ear fistula. On the other hand, bone-conducted waves traveling to the scala vestibuli are reduced by an inner ear fistula; however, bone-conducted waves traveling to the scala tympani are not affected by an inner ear fistula. This results in a larger gap than usual in compliance between both perilymphatic spaces and leads to a decrease in the bone conduction threshold. This phenomenon, so-called the third mobile window effects, sometimes may lead otology/neuro-otology surgeons to misunderstand the reason why large air-bone gaps still exist after ossicular reconstruction in tympanoplasty. This review article gives good examples regarding the third mobile window effects in otology/neuro-otology diseases and surgeries.

Surgical technique for the prevention of tracheal necrosis following total pharyngolaryngectomy.

Total pharyngolaryngectomy with cervical esophagectomy (TPLCE) is an invasive procedure with various post-operative complications. Tracheal necrosis (TRN) is a fatal complication of TPLCE. The present study aimed to identify a surgical technique which may be used to prevent TRN. The post-operative complications of 48 patients who underwent TPLCE from January, 2010 to December, 2019 were retrospectively investigated. The incidence of TRN was examined and measures against TRN were reviewed. The results revealed that 3 patients (6%) experienced TRN within 1 week following surgery. In addition, 2 patients required the surgical debridement of the necrotic tissue and tracheoplasty. The other patient underwent conservative treatment. Stomal recurrence developed in 1 patient (2%). On the whole, the present study demonstrates that the incidence of TRN following TPLCE is lower than that observed in previous reports, and only one stomal recurrence was reported. Preserving the blood supply to the trachea is essential for the prevention of TRN. The eight surgical processes used herein effectively preserved the blood supply. Further investigations however, are necessary in order to confirm the present findings and to ensure effective measures are found with which to prevent TRN following TPLCE.

Cancer of unknown primary in the head and neck: Diagnosis and treatment.

Cancer of unknown primary in the head and neck is defined by the presence of cancer in one or more lymph nodes within the head and neck region, not confined to the supraclavicular region, without an identifiable primary tumor. These primary sites are increasingly being identified with the help of advanced diagnostic techniques such as endoscopy, PET/CT, the HPV test, the EBV test, evaluation of biomarkers, and pathological examination. However, the remainder of these patients fall into the category of metastatic cervical cancer of unknown primary (MCCUP). MCCUP accounts for approximately 3-5% of all head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). Moreover, optimal therapy for patients with MCCUP is still controversial. The treatment options range from neck dissection alone to irradiation of the bilateral neck, with or without irradiation of plausible primary sites as well. In future, precision medicine should improve the diagnosis and methods of therapy for MCCUP patients.

Multi-institutional Survey of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the External Auditory Canal in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for patients with advanced cancer of the external auditory canal (EAC) by analyzing the outcome of the patients. METHODS: This is a multi-institutional retrospective survey, and we reviewed the medical records of the subjects. A total of 181 patients with tumor (T)3 or T4 tumor in 17 institutions were enrolled. Further analysis was performed for 74 patients who underwent CRT under curative intent. RESULTS: Overall 5-year survival rates of the patients who underwent CRT (n = 74) were 54.6%. Those of the patients who underwent CRT with modified TPF (docetaxel, cisplatin [CDDP], and 5-fluorouracil) regimen (n = 50) and CRT with CDDP regimens (n = 24) were 64.4% and 36.7%, respectively. Significant differences were observed between these two groups. CONCLUSION: Given the tendency that head and neck surgeons prefer CRT for advanced larger cancer of the EAC, CRT for advanced EAC cancer using the modified TPF regimen showed good clinical outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E870-E874, 2021.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Follow-Ups for Vertigo/Dizziness Outpatients.

OBJECTIVES: In the present report, we aimed to investigate the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on vertigo/dizziness outpatient cancellations in Japan. METHODS: We examined 265 vertigo/dizziness outpatients at the ear, nose, and throat department of the Nara Medical University between March 01, 2020, and May 31, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. We also focused on 478 vertigo/dizziness outpatients between March 01, 2019, and May 31, 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, to compare the number of cancellations between these 2 periods. The reasons for cancellation and noncancellation were investigated using telephone multiple-choice questionnaires (telMCQs), particularly for patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and Meniere's disease (MD). RESULTS: There were many cancellations for medical examinations during the 2020 study period. The total number of vertigo/dizziness outpatients decreased by 44.6% in the 2020 period compared to the same period in 2019. The percent reduction in clinic attendance from 2019 to 2020 (ie, [2019-2020]/2019) for patients with BPPV was higher than that for patients with MD. Compared to the other vertigo-associated conditions, patients with MD exhibited a lower percent reduction in clinic attendance. According to the results of the telMCQs, 75.0% of BPPV cases and 88.2% of MD cases cancelled their appointment and gave up visiting hospitals due to fear of COVID-19 infection, even if they had moderate to severe symptoms. On the contrary, 25.0% and 80.0% patients with BPPV and MD, respectively, did not cancel their appointment; they should not have visited the hospital but stayed at home because they had slight symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that advanced forms should be prepared for medical care, such as remote medicine. These forms should not only be for the disease itself but also for the mental distress caused by persistent symptoms.

A study of 17 cases for the identification of prognostic factors for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) has a poor prognosis. ATC accounts for only 1-2% of all thyroid carcinomas, yet it is one of the most lethal neoplasms in humans. Notably, there are no established treatment protocols for ATC. The present study investigated the prognostic and predictive factors of ATC. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 17 patients with histologically confirmed ATC. The median overall survival of all patients was 3.8 months. In patients under the age of 70 years, the statistically significant prognostic factors indicating longer survival were the absence of distant metastasis and treatment by radical resection. Furthermore, in contrast to previous findings, tumor size and white blood cell count were not associated with ATC prognosis in the present cohort. Importantly, tracheostomy did not contribute to improvement of prognosis and should perhaps not be considered, when unnecessary, to preserve the patient's quality of life. Prognostic factors for ATC are critical to clinicians to enable them to determine which patients will benefit from aggressive treatment strategies, as opposed to supportive care.