Cribado de cáncer de cabeza y cuello en pacientes candidatos a trasplante hepático / Diagnostic utility of labyrinth capsule bone density in the diagnosis of otosclerosis with high resolution tomography

INTRODUCCIÓN: El trasplante hepático constituye la única alternativa de tratamiento en pacientes con hepatopatías crónicas avanzadas. La etiología más frecuente en nuestro medio es la viral y la alcohólica. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue determinar si los pacientes que son candidatos a un trasplante hepático precisan una exploración de cabeza y cuello de forma sistemática para descartar neoplasias de dicha área. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Todos los pacientes candidatos a la realización de un trasplante hepático entre los años 2011 y 2017 fueron incluidos en nuestro estudio. A todos ellos se les realizó de forma sistemática una exploración de cabeza y cuello por un otorrinolaringólogo para descartar neoplasias de cabeza y cuello. RESULTADOS: Un total de 141 pacientes fueron incluidos en nuestro estudio. En 2 de ellos (1,3%) se detectó un carcinoma de cabeza y cuello (uno de orofaringe y otro de laringe), estando ambos pacientes asintomáticos. Fueron tratados con quimiorradioterapia, falleciendo uno de ellos durante el seguimiento por la aparición de un tumor metacrónico pulmonar. El otro paciente está libre de enfermedad 2 años después del diagnóstico, pero no ha recibido trasplante hepático hasta la fecha. Ambos pacientes tenían antecedentes de tabaquismo y alta ingesta de alcohol. CONCLUSIONES: En pacientes que son candidatos a un trasplante hepático, y que presentan antecedentes de tabaquismo y/o alta ingesta alcohólica recomendamos la realización de un estudio de cabeza y cuello pretrasplante que incluya exploración nasofibroscópica de las regiones faringolaríngeas para despistaje de tumores sincrónicos

INTRODUCTION: Liver transplantation is the only alternative treatment in patients in end-stage liver function. In many cases the need for liver transplantation is a consequence of the toxic effects of alcohol.The aim of our study was to determine if patients who are candidates for a liver transplant require a systematic exploration of the head and neck to rule out malignant lesions in this area. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All the candidates for a liver transplant, between 2011 and 2017, were included in our study. All of them underwent a systematic exploration of the head and neck by an otolaryngologist to rule out malignancy of the head and neck. RESULTS: A total of 141 patients were included in our study. In 2 of them (1.3%) a carcinoma of the head and neck was detected (one of the oropharynx and the other of the larynx). Both patients were asymptomatic from an ENT point of view. They were treated with chemoradiotherapy. One of them died during follow-up due to the appearance of a metachronous lung tumour. The other is free of disease 2 years after diagnosis but without having been transplanted. Both patients had a history of smoking and high alcohol intake. CONCLUSIONS: In patients who are candidates for a liver transplant who have a history of smoking and / or high alcohol intake, a pretransplant head and neck study including pharyngo-laryngeal fibroscopy is indicated

Head and neck cancer screening in patients eligible for liver transplantation. / Cribado de cáncer de cabeza y cuello en pacientes candidatos a trasplante hepático.

INTRODUCTION: Liver transplantation is the only alternative treatment in patients in end-stage liver function. In many cases the need for liver transplantation is a consequence of the toxic effects of alcohol. The aim of our study was to determine if patients who are candidates for a liver transplant require a systematic exploration of the head and neck to rule out malignant lesions in this area. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All the candidates for a liver transplant, between 2011 and 2017, were included in our study. All of them underwent a systematic exploration of the head and neck by an otolaryngologist to rule out malignancy of the head and neck. RESULTS: A total of 141 patients were included in our study. In 2 of them (1.3%) a carcinoma of the head and neck was detected (one of the oropharynx and the other of the larynx). Both patients were asymptomatic from an ENT point of view. They were treated with chemoradiotherapy. One of them died during follow-up due to the appearance of a metachronous lung tumour. The other is free of disease 2 years after diagnosis but without having been transplanted. Both patients had a history of smoking and high alcohol intake. CONCLUSIONS: In patients who are candidates for a liver transplant who have a history of smoking and / or high alcohol intake, a pretransplant head and neck study including pharyngo-laryngeal fibroscopy is indicated.