Patterns and Trends in Adjuvant Therapy for Major Salivary Gland Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate adjuvant therapy indications, utilization, and associated survival disparities in major salivary gland cancer (MSGC). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: The 2006 to 2017 National Cancer Database. METHODS: Patients with surgically resected MSGC were included (N = 11,398). pT3-4 classification, pN2-3 classification, lymphovascular invasion, pathologic extranodal extension (pENE), and positive surgical margin (PSM) were considered indications for adjuvant radiotherapy (aRT). pENE and PSM were considered possible indications for adjuvant chemotherapy. Multivariable logistic and Cox regression models were implemented. RESULTS: Among 6694 patients with ≥ $\ge $ 1 indication for aRT, 1906 (28.5%) received no further treatment and missed aRT. Age, race, comorbidity status, facility type, and distance to reporting facility were associated with missed aRT (P < .025). Among 4003 patients with ≥1 possible indication for adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (aCRT), 914 (22.8%) received aCRT. Patients with pENE only (38.5%) and both pENE and PSM (44.0%) received aCRT more frequently than those with PSM only (17.0%) (P < .001). Academic facility was associated with aCRT utilization (P < .05). aCRT utilization increased between 2006 and 2017 in both academic (14.8% vs 23.9%) and nonacademic (8.8% vs 13.5%) facilities (P < .05). Among 2691 patients with ≥1 indication for aRT alone, missed aRT portended poorer OS (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.28-2.03, P < .001). Among 4003 patients with ≥1 possible indication for aCRT, aRT alone (HR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.89-1.18, P = .780) and aCRT were associated with similar OS. CONCLUSION: Missed aRT in MSGC occurs frequently and portends poorer OS. Further studies clarifying indications for aCRT are required.

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Tube Timing in Head and Neck Cancer Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To examine outcomes and complications in patients receiving a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube on the same day of head and neck cancer (HNC) surgery versus later in hospitalization. METHODS: The 2003-2014 Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried for patients undergoing ablative HNC procedures who had a PEG tube placed. Cases were stratified by PEG tube timing into an early (on the same day as ablative procedure) and late (later in hospitalization) group. Demographics and outcomes were compared using univariate analysis and multivariate regression modeling. RESULTS: A total of 4,068 cases were included, of which 2,206 (54.23%) underwent early PEG and 1,862 (45.77%) received a late PEG tube. Late PEG tube patients were more likely to have a diagnosis of malnutrition (18.0% vs. 15.3%, p = 0.018) or renal failure (4.7% vs. 3.0%, p = 0.006). On multivariate regression analysis, patients receiving late PEG tubes were more likely to experience aspiration pneumonia, acute pulmonary disease, infectious pneumonia, sepsis, hematoma, wound disruption, surgical site infection, and fistula formation (all p < 0.05). The mean length of stay and hospital charges in the late PEG group were significantly greater (17.1 vs. 12.6 days, p < 0.001) and ($159,993 vs. $125,705, p < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing HNC surgery who received a PEG tube on the day of ablative surgery had lower complication rates, shorter length of stay, and decreased hospital costs compared to those who had a PEG tube placed later during hospitalization. Further research is needed to determine the causal relationships behind these findings. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 133:109-115, 2023.

Mucosal Melanoma of the Oral Cavity: What is the Role of Elective Neck Dissection?

OBJECTIVES: Mucosal melanoma (MM) is a rare malignancy that can present in the head and neck (H&N). The Oral cavity is the second most common primary site in the H&N after sinonasal mucosa. This study investigates the impact of demographic and clinical factors on survival in oral cavity MM. Further, it investigates the outcomes and utility of elective neck dissections (END) in the management of oral MM. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was used to evaluate 432 patients with oral cavity MM from 2004 to 2016. Kaplan-Meir and Cox regression analyses were used to determine variables associated with survival. RESULTS: The mean age was 64.0 ± 16.0 years. Most patients were white (85.1%) and male (60.0%). Gingiva (37.6%) and hard palate (36.1%) were the most common primary subsites in the oral cavity. Five-year overall survival was 31.0%. Age (Hazards Ratio [95% Confidence Interval], 1.03 [1.01-1.06]), N-stage (1.94 [1.10-3.42]), M-stage (10.13 [3.33-30.86]), male sex (1.79 [1.06-3.03]), and African-American race (2.63 [1.14-6.11]) were significantly associated with worse survival. 199 patients (46.9%) underwent neck dissection including 118 with lymph node yield (LNY) ≥ 18. The rate of occult nodal positivity was 45.4% for LNY ≥ 18 and 28.3% for LNY ≥ 1. ENDs were not associated with improved outcomes. However, occult lymph node involvement was associated with worse overall survival (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Oral cavity MM has a poor prognosis. Lymph node involvement, distant metastasis, age, race, and male sex are associated with worse outcomes. Performing an END did not improve survival. However, END may have a prognostic role and help select patients for treatment intensification. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 133:317-326, 2023.

Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Vestibular Schwannoma.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Linear accelerator (LINAC) and Gamma Knife (GK) are common stereotactic radiation therapies for treating vestibular schwannoma (VS). There is currently limited literature examining specific demographic and socioeconomic factors, which influence the type of stereotactic radiation therapy a patient with VS receives. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective database review. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was queried for cases of VS between 2004 and 2016. Patient demographic characteristics were compared using chi-squared and t-tests between GK and LINAC treated groups. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to assess predictors of stereotactic radiation therapy received. RESULTS: Of the 6,208 included patients, 5,306 (85.5%) received GK and 902 (14.5%) received LINAC. The mean age of GK patients was significantly lower than that of LINAC patients (58.0 vs. 59.7, P < .001). Individuals treated with GK had greater proportions of private insurance (P < .001) and incomes greater than $63,332 (P = .003). A greater proportion of GK patients were treated in academic centers (P < .001), in high-volume facilities (P < .001), in metropolitan areas (P < .001), and in the Northeastern United States (P < .001). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, region, metropolitan area, facility type, tumor size, and distance traveled by patients independently predict receipt of GK versus LINAC. CONCLUSION: Differences in patient demographics and other social determinants of health influence choice of GK versus LINAC therapy for VS patients. Future studies focused on addressing barriers to care, which may influence postprocedural quality of life and clinical outcomes associated with these two treatments are necessary to better understand the impact of these social differences. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 132:2232-2240, 2022.

Facial paralysis and vaccinations: a vaccine adverse event reporting system review.

BACKGROUND: Vaccinations are a cornerstone of preventative medicine in the USA. However, growing concerns regarding facial nerve palsy following vaccination exist. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the occurrence of facial palsy as reported by the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the VAERS database was performed for cases of 'Facial Palsy', 'Bell's Palsy', 'Facial Paralysis' and 'Ramsay Hunt Syndrome' between 2009 and 2018. Subgroup analysis was performed to determine gender, age, history of facial palsy, type of vaccine used, number of days until onset of symptoms and overall facial palsy rate. RESULTS: Nine hundred and forty-four entries met our inclusion criteria with 961 vaccine administrations resulting in facial paralysis. Facial palsy following vaccinations was evenly distributed across all age cohorts with two peaks between 60 and 74 years old and between 0 and 14 years old. Most patients were female (N = 526, 55.7%) without a reported history of facial palsy (N = 923, 97.8%). In 2009, reported incidence rate was 0.53%, as compared with 0.23% in 2018. The influenza vaccine had the greatest number of cases (N = 166, 17.3%), followed by the varicella (N = 87, 9.1%) and human papillomavirus vaccines (N = 47, 4.9%). CONCLUSIONS: With the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and recent approvals of the vaccinations, there is growing concern of facial palsy following vaccination. Although it is a known adverse event following vaccination, the likelihood of facial palsy following vaccination is low, with only 0.26% of overall reported cases over a 10-year span.

Exploratory analysis on the association of mental health disorders with in-hospital postoperative complications and mortality in head and neck cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: The objective was to assess the association of mental health disorders with in-hospital complication and mortality rates in patients undergoing head and neck cancer surgery. METHODS: In this exploratory retrospective study, the Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried from 2003 to 2014 for all patients with a diagnosis of head and neck cancer who underwent surgery. Univariate cross-tabulation, logistic regression, and propensity score matching (PSM) were used to compare demographics, procedure-related variables, and in-hospital postoperative complications and mortality between patients with and without selected comorbid mental health disorders. RESULTS: Of 39 600 included patients, 3390 (8.6%) had a selected comorbid mental health disorder diagnosis. After PSM, patients with selected mental health disorders had increased risk of overall medical complications on multivariable analysis (OR 1.28 [CI 1.12-1.46], P < 0.001) but not overall surgical complications or mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a mental health disorder diagnosis have increased risk of in-hospital medical, certain surgical, and total complications.

Adverse Events Associated with Intranasal Sprays: An Analysis of the Food and Drug Administration Database and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Intranasal sprays (INSs) are commonly used medications for the treatment of many rhinologic conditions. Despite their popularity, an analysis of a nationwide reporting database and comparison to the available literature has never been performed. METHODS: The Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database was accessed to obtain adverse event (AE) records from 2014 to 2019 for varying INSs, including: 10 corticosteroids, 1 alpha adrenergic, and 3 antihistamines. The Proportional Reporting Ratios (PRR) and Reporting Odds Ratios (ROR) were calculated for dyspnea, anosmia, ageusia/dysgeusia, epistaxis, and headache. A PRR ≥ 2 or ROR ≥ 1 was considered significant. RESULTS: Corticosteroids had 98 864 total reported AEs to the database, followed by antihistamines (7011) and alpha adrenergics (2071). In total, dyspnea was reported 5843 times, followed by headache (4230), epistaxis (1205), ageusia/dysgeusia (920), and anosmia (312). Overall, PRR and ROR values for dyspnea ranged from 0.51 to 4.25 and 0.51 to 4.49; for dysgeusia/ageusia from 0.56 to 6.09 and 0.56 to 6.12; and for epistaxis from 1.03 to 27.24 and 1.03 to 30.76, respectively. All medications which listed anosmia within the top AEs had PRR and ROR values exceeding 2 and 1, respectively. The PRR for headache exceeded 2 for 1 medication and the ROR exceeded 1 in 7 medications. CONCLUSION: The AEs of dyspnea, anosmia, ageusia/dysgeusia, epistaxis, and headache are reported within the FAERS database for commonly prescribed INSs. When compared against the existing scientific literature, the clinical significance of this reporting tool from the FDA for these classes of medications remains unvalidated.

Clinicopathologic characteristics of laryngeal chondrosarcoma: An analysis of the National Cancer Database.

OBJECTIVES: Laryngeal Chondrosarcoma (LC) is a rare malignancy with limited studies documenting its clinicopathologic characteristics and treatment options. This study reports demographic and clinical determinants of outcomes for this rare tumor. METHODS: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for cases of LC reported from 2004-2016. 274 cases that met inclusion criteria were analyzed for demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics. Kaplan-Meier (KM) and Cox proportional hazard analyses were conducted to identify variables that impacted the overall survival of these patients. RESULTS: LC was found to be more common in males (74.8%). The mean age of patients was 61.8 years and 92.3% of the patients were white. 91.3% of patients were treated with only surgical resection, most commonly: partial laryngectomy (31.6%), total laryngectomy (25.7%), and local resection (22.4%). 98.8% of patients had no evidence of nodal disease and 99.6% of patients did not have distant metastasis at presentation. KM analysis revealed a 5-year overall survival (5YOS) of 89.0%. Age, insurance status, facility type, and surgery type were significant predictors of 5YOS (p<0.05). On Cox Proportional Hazard analysis, private insurance significantly improved survival (HR 0.21; p = 0.048) while increasing age was a poor prognostic indicator (HR 1.10; p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: The majority of LC patients present with no nodal involvement or distant metastasis at diagnosis, and overall this tumor has a favorable prognosis. Increasing age was found to be a poor prognostic factor while private insurance status was associated with improved survival.

Quality, Reliability, and Readability of Online Information on Rhinoplasty.

BACKGROUND: With an ever-growing reliance on technology, patients are increasingly resorting to websites for their medical information. This study evaluates the readability, quality, and reliability of online information available on rhinoplasty provided by academic centers or impartial reference sources and private practice websites. METHODS: A cross-sectional study from July to August 2019 was performed looking at the first 42 informational websites on a Google search for the term nose job. Websites were categorized as belonging to impartial sources and academic centers or private practices. Two independent reviewers evaluated websites on their quality, readability, reliability, and technical qualities using several validated measures. The Health on the Net code (HONcode) and DISCERN questionnaire were used to assess the quality and reliability of the information presented on the websites. Significance tests were performed using SPSS Version 25. RESULTS: Of the 42 websites, 23 were impartial sources or academic centers (54.8%) and 19 were private practice websites (47.6%). The mean (±SD) for the HONcode and DISCERN scores were 5.7 (±2.8) and 2.6 (±0.7), respectively. The mean (SD) HONcode scores for impartial sources and private practice websites were 7.1 (±2.9) and 4.1 (±1.5), respectively (P < 0.001). The mean (±SD) DISCERN scores were 2.9 (±0.7) and 2.3 (±0.5), respectively (P = 0.009). There was no statistically significant difference in scores for readability and technical qualities. CONCLUSIONS: While impartial sources and academic centers score higher on quality and reliability scores, their scores were also low. These findings are concerning as many consumers use the information provided by online websites to guide decisions regarding their health.

A Single Center Review of Pediatric Nasal Bone Fractures - An Analysis of Concomitant Injuries, Management, and Outcomes.

Background: Pediatric nasal bone fractures presenting as isolated fractures or with concomitant facial injuries are rare and not well documented. Analysis of treatment at an urban, level-one trauma center provides insight into their management. Methods: Data were collected for pediatric nasal bone fractures diagnosed between January 2000 and December 2014. Patients were divided into groups based on presence or absence of isolated nasal bone fractures. Groups were compared using Chi-squared analysis, and a Bonferroni correction was used for a more conservative alpha (a = .004). Results: Assault was the most common etiology presenting in 46 of 122 pediatric nasal bone fractures. There was no significant difference in surgical versus non-surgical management of isolated and non-isolated nasal bone fractures (P = 0.98). Treatment for both was predominantly watchful waiting in 91% to 95% of the cases followed by closed reduction in 3.2% to 3.3%. In the patients with isolated fractures, 11.5% sustained intracranial hemorrhage, compared to 35.6% of multifracture cases (P = .002); 15.0% of isolated fractures sustained a traumatic brain injury, compared to 55.9% of multifracture cases (P = .000003). No significant difference in fatality existed between groups (P = 0.53). Conclusions: Multi-facial fracture cases were more likely to present with traumatic brain injuries and be admitted to the intensive care unit than isolated nasal bone fractures. Rates of surgical and non-surgical management were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Watchful waiting of pediatric nasal bone fractures was the management approach selected 92% to 95% of the time regardless of the presence or absence of concomitant facial fractures.

A Single Center Review of Pediatric Nasal Bone Fractures - An Analysis of Concomitant Injuries, Management, and Outcomes.

Background: Pediatric nasal bone fractures presenting as isolated fractures or with concomitant facial injuries are rare and not well documented. Analysis of treatment at an urban, level-one trauma center provides insight into their management. Methods: Data were collected for pediatric nasal bone fractures diagnosed between January 2000 and December 2014. Patients were divided into groups based on presence or absence of isolated nasal bone fractures. Groups were compared using Chi-squared analysis, and a Bonferroni correction was used for a more conservative alpha (a = .004). Results: Assault was the most common etiology presenting in 46 of 122 pediatric nasal bone fractures. There was no significant difference in surgical versus non-surgical management of isolated and non-isolated nasal bone fractures (P = 0.98). Treatment for both was predominantly watchful waiting in 91% to 95% of the cases followed by closed reduction in 3.2% to 3.3%. In the patients with isolated fractures, 11.5% sustained intracranial hemorrhage, compared to 35.6% of multifracture cases (P = .002); 15.0% of isolated fractures sustained a traumatic brain injury, compared to 55.9% of multifracture cases (P = .000003). No significant difference in fatality existed between groups (P = 0.53). Conclusions: Multi-facial fracture cases were more likely to present with traumatic brain injuries and be admitted to the intensive care unit than isolated nasal bone fractures. Rates of surgical and non-surgical management were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Watchful waiting of pediatric nasal bone fractures was the management approach selected 92% to 95% of the time regardless of the presence or absence of concomitant facial fractures.

Analysis of Characteristics and Survival of Primary Cutaneous Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Primary cutaneous adenoid cystic carcinoma (PCACC) is a rare skin tumor. The head and neck (H&N) is the most common anatomical location. Due to limited published cases, its clinical course and management are not well understood. METHODS: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried for all cases of H&N PCACC diagnosed from 2004 to 2016. Kaplan-Meier (KM) and Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine clinicopathological and treatment factors associated with survival outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 201 cases were analyzed. The average age of diagnosis was 57.7 years (± SD 15.8). There was a female predilection (57.7%; P < .05) with the most common primary site being the ear (58.2%). The average tumor size was 15.9 mm in diameter. The most common treatment was surgery alone (51.7%) with wide local excision being the common surgery performed (36.3%). 5-year and 10-year OS were 87.0% and 76.0%, respectively. A total of 65.8% of cases were localized (Stage I and II). KM analysis indicated that gender, age, insurance status, Charlson-Deyo Comobordity Score, and stage were significant predictors of OS (P < .05). Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed that patients with both private (HR 0.11, 95%CI [0.019-0.670]; P = .02) and government (HR 0.12, 95%CI [0.019-0.972]; P = .03) health insurance had a significantly decreased hazard of death than patients who were uninsured. Increasing age was associated with an increased hazard of death (HR 1.06, 95%CI [1.016-1.110]; P = .01). CONCLUSION: This study represents the largest cohort of H&N PCACC studied to date and provides important clinicopathologic information for this rare tumor. Additionally, our results emphasize the importance of health insurance as an independent predictor of survival in PCACC.

Analysis of Head and Neck Primary Cutaneous Mucinous Carcinoma: An Indolent Tumor of the Eccrine Sweat Glands.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma (PCMC) of the head and neck is a rare pathologic entity that is an adenocarcinoma of the eccrine sweat glands. Though it has low metastatic potential, it does have a significant recurrence rate. Due to its rarity, its clinical features are not well-known. METHODS: The authors searched the National Cancer Database (NCDB) for all cases of PCMC with primary sites of the skin of the head and neck confirmed histologically diagnosed from 2004 to 2016. Those with missing survival information were excluded. Kaplan-Meier (KM) and Cox proportional-hazards models were used to analyze the epidemiology and survival outcomes of PCMC. RESULTS: The authors analyzed 289 cases. Females were more commonly affected (58.8%; P < 0.05) with the most common primary sites being the eyelid (41.9%) and scalp/neck (25.3%). The average age of diagnosis was 63.8 years (± SD 12.5). Almost all patients received surgery as standalone treatment (92.7%) with wide local excision being the common surgery performed (36.3%). Mohs surgery represented 15.2% of surgically treated cases. Mean overall survival (OS) was 11.4 years with 5-year and 10-year OS being 85.0% and 78.0%, respectively. Most cases were localized at diagnosis with only 2% metastatic at presentation. KM analysis indicated that surgical procedure type, age, tumor diameter, Charlson-Deyo Comorbidity Score, facility type, and stage were significant predictors of OS (P < 0.05). Cox proportional-hazards analysis did not reveal independent association of the aforementioned factors with OS. CONCLUSION: Primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma has an excellent prognosis with 98% of cases being diagnosed in Stage I and Stage II. As most cases present in the eyelid, special attention should be given to surgical treatment to ensure optimal aesthetic outcomes in this sensitive region. This study represents the largest cohort of head and neck PCMC studied to date.

Adverse Events Associated With Botox as Reported in a Food and Drug Administration Database.

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin treatment is the most frequently performed noninvasive cosmetic procedure performed in the USA. Because of its widespread use, an analysis of the adverse event (AE) profile of Botox injections is needed. METHODS: The FDA Adverse Event Report System was queried using an online web-based tool to determine the top 15 adverse events reported for four Botox brand names: Botox/Botox Cosmetic, Dysport, and Xeomin. The proportional reporting ratios (PRR) and relative odds ratios (ROR) were determined. A literature review was performed for eight AEs of clinical significance: eyelid/eyebrow ptosis, asthenia, muscular weakness, facial paresis, dysphagia, botulism, and death. RESULTS: Botox/Botox Cosmetic had 38367 AEs. Dysport had 3582 AEs. Xeomin had 1405 AEs. All drugs with reported cases of eyelid and eyebrow ptosis had significant PRR and ROR values. The PRR and ROR values for asthenia were not significant in any of the drugs and only reached significance for Dysport for muscular weakness and dysphagia. Both Botox/Botox Cosmetic and Dysport had elevated PRRs and RORs for facial paresis and botulism. While all drugs had at least one reported case of death related to Botox injection use, none of the PRR or ROR values were significant. CONCLUSION: Known AEs for Botox injection use include eyelid/brow ptosis and muscular weakness. Feared but rare complications of Botox injection use include dysphagia, botulism, and possibly death, owing to systemic spread of the toxin. This is the first study to analyze the AE data reported to the FDA on Botox injection use. EBM LEVEL: III.

Time is Money: Relative Value Units and Operative Time in Otolaryngology.

OBJECTIVES: Physician compensation for procedures is typically rooted in the work relative value unit (wRVU) system. Operative time is one of the factors that goes into the determination of wRVU assignment. There should be consistency between the wRVU/hr rate, irrespective of average operative time required to perform certain procedures. We investigate if wRVU assignment for otolaryngology procedures adequately accounts for increased operative time. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of a surgical database. METHODS: NSQIP was queried from 2015-2018 for the top 50 most frequently performed otolaryngology Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes completed as standalone procedures. Median operative time was determined for each CPT code, and wRVU/hr was calculated. Correlations between operative time, wRVU, and wRVU/hr were investigated using linear regression analysis. A secondary analysis using complication rate as an indicator for procedure complexity was performed to examine the relation between wRVUs and complication rates. RESULTS: Fifty CPT codes containing 64,084 patients where only one code was reported were included in this analysis. The median operative time was 84 minutes, median wRVU was 11.23, and median wRVU/hour was 7.96. Linear regression analysis demonstrated a strong positive correlation between operative time and wRVU assignment (R2 = 0.805, P < .001). Further analysis found no correlation between operative time and wRVU/hr (R2 = 0.008, P = .525). Linear regression of wRVU/hr and complication rate showed a statistically significant positive correlation (R2 = 0.113, P = .017). CONCLUSION: This analysis suggests that compensation for otolaryngology procedures is positively correlated with operative time. Surgeries where more than one code is reported could not be evaluated, thus excluding some common combination of procedures performed by otolaryngologists. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E395-E400, 2021.

Microcystic adnexal carcinoma of the head and neck: Characteristics, treatment, and survival statistics.

Studies on microcystic adnexal carcinoma (MAC) survival rates have been limited. This effort examines the association of patient demographics, treatment modalities, and tumor stage with overall survival (OS) in patients with MAC of the head and neck. All cases of MAC with primary sites of the skin of the head and neck, confirmed histologically, and diagnosed from 2004 to 2016 in the National Cancer Database, were analyzed. We utilized Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional-hazard models to analyze the characteristics and survival outcomes of the 415 cases that met the criteria. The mean age of diagnosis was 63.8 years (SD ±15.8). Mean OS was 10.8 years with 5- and 10-year OS being 81.0% and 68.0%, respectively. Women were more frequently affected (59.0%; P < .001). Stand-alone primary site surgery was the most common treatment (81.4%): 15.9% of patients were treated with postexcision radiation therapy (RT). 18.3% were treated with RT with or without surgery and/or chemotherapy. RT was independently associated with a decreased hazard of death (HR = 0.23; P = .044). MAC of the head and neck disproportionately affects whites, is more common in women, and has the potential to metastasize. Surgical excision is the commonest treatment; our study shows benefit from judicious RT.

The Current State of Clinical Trials Studying Hydrocephalus: An Analysis of ClinicalTrials.gov.

Introduction Hydrocephalus is a significant public health concern estimated to affect 380,000 new individuals annually. In addition, it exhibits an increasingly high financial burden for the healthcare industry. Clinical trials are the gold standard for evaluating preventative and therapeutic strategies to bring potential treatments to the forefront of clinical practice. Methods A study of the ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted in April 2019 to examine all current and previously reported clinical trials studying hydrocephalus. Studies were reviewed to extrapolate information to characterize the current state of research being conducted for hydrocephalus. Results In total, 80 clinical trials met inclusion criteria and were analyzed: 48.8% were observation and 51.2% were interventional. Of those, 55% have been completed while 30.0% are still recruiting, and 15.0% are not yet recruiting. The United States has the most clinical trials (42.0%) and a plurality of trials has a sample size of 0-50 participants. The majority of studies included only adults (53.8%). Of those studies, 54.0% were cohort and the majority were prospective (74.0%). Of the different types of hydrocephalus, normal pressure hydrocephalus and pediatric hydrocephalus have generated the most interest for research comprising a majority of the clinical trial registry. While 44 of the trials are complete, only 20 have published results in peer-reviewed literature highlighting the need for improvement in publishing study results even if the results of the trials are null. Conclusion Most clinical trials to date have pertained to the treatment of normal pressure hydrocephalus and pediatric hydrocephalus. While great advancements have been made for the treatment of hydrocephalus, there remains much room for improvements in therapeutic interventional modalities as well as ensuring the reporting of all undertaken clinical trials.

Endoscopic Versus Open Resection of Non-Squamous Cell Carcinoma Sinonasal Malignancies.

OBJECTIVE: Non-squamous cell carcinoma (non-SCC) variants of sinonasal cancer are rare cancers which are optimally managed with complete surgical resection. This study aims to assess the impact of surgical approach on outcomes by comparison of cases managed with open versus endoscopic resection. METHODS: The National Cancer Database 2004-2015 datasets were queried for all cases of non-SCC initially managed with definitive surgery. Patients were grouped according to surgical approach (endoscopic vs. open) and compared for patient, tumor, and treatment variables using chi-squared analyses. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of receiving endoscopic surgery. Subgroups were compared for survival using Cox regression and perioperative outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 1595 cases of non-SCC sinonasal cancers managed with definitive surgery, 42.2% were treated endoscopically. Open and endoscopic groups differed significantly by stage, primary site, histology, facility type, margin status, and clinical stage. Logistic regression showed that increased income was a significant predictor of receiving endoscopic surgery whereas stage IV (odds ratio: 0.58, P = .017) reduced the odds of receiving endoscopic surgery. Open resection patients had longer mean length of stay (LOS) than those who underwent endoscopic resection (5.09 vs. 3.16 days, P < .001). On Cox regression, no difference in survival was observed between open and endoscopic patients (P = .534). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with non-SCC sinonasal cancer managed with endoscopic surgery had a decreased LOS and no significant difference in survival compared to patients undergoing open resection. Therefore, an endoscopic approach may be considered a viable alternative to open resection. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 130: 1872-1876, 2020.