Risk Factors Associated With Recurrence and Death in Patients With Tall Cell Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Single-Institution Cohort Study With Predictive Nomogram.

Importance: Tall cell morphology (TCM) is a rare and aggressive variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) that has been associated with poor outcomes; however, the risk factors for worse survival are not well characterized. Objective: To identify prognostic factors associated with cancer recurrence and death in patients with PTC-TCM. Design, Setting, and Participants: All patients treated for PTC-TCM at a single tertiary-level academic health care institution from January 1, 1997, through July 31, 2018, were included. Tall cell variant (TCV) was defined as PTC with TCM of 30% or more; and tall cell features (TCF) was defined as PTC with TCM of less than 30%. Patients with other coexisting histologic findings and/or nonsurgical management were excluded. Clinicopathologic features associated with worse outcomes were identified using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional-hazards model. Data were analyzed from March 1, 2018, to August 15, 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures: Locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRRFS), distant recurrence-free survival (DRFS), and overall survival (OS) after surgery. Results: A total of 365 patients (median [range] age, 51.8 [15.9-91.6] years; 242 [66.3%] female) with PTC-TCM (TCV, 32%; TCF, 68%) were evaluable. Total thyroidectomy was performed in 336 (92%) patients; 19 (5.2%) received radiotherapy; and 15 (4.1%) received radioactive iodine. Clinical features were pT3 or T4, 65%; node-positive, 53%; and positive surgical margins, 24%. LRRFS at 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year was 95%, 87%, 82%, and 73%, respectively. On multivariable analysis, male sex and age were not independent predictors of inferior 5-year LRRFS, whereas positive surgical margins (HR, 3.5; 95% CI, 2.0-6.3), positive lymph nodes (HR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.4-5.8), and primary tumor size of 3 cm or more (HR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.4-7.8) were strongly associated with worse LRRFS. Age 55 years or older (HR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.5-7.0), male sex (HR 4.5; 95% CI, 2.1-10.0), positive surgical margins (HR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.2-6.0), nodal positivity (HR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.3-7.7), tumor diameter of 1.5 cm or more (HR, 20.6; 95% CI, 2.8-152.1), and TCV vs TCF (HR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.5-6.7) were associated with worse DRFS. Male sex (HR, 3.1; 95% 1.4-6.8) and tumor diameter of 1.5 cm or more (HR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.0-7.4) were associated with worse OS. A findings-based nomogram was constructed to predict 10-year LRRFS (C index, 0.8). Conclusions and Relevance: This retrospective cohort study found that in patients with PTC-TCM, positive surgical margins, node positive disease, and tumor size of 3 cm or more were risk factors for worse LRRFS. Intensified locoregional therapy, including adjuvant radiation, may be considered for treating these patients.

Tumor Volume Useful Beyond Classic Criteria in Selecting Larynx Cancers For Preservation Therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between tumor volume and locoregional failure (LRF) after concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) for locally advanced larynx cancer (LC). METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study from 2009 to 2014 identified from an institutional review board-approved registry. Fifty-nine of 68 patients with locally advanced larynx cancer treated with definitive CCRT who had available imaging for review were identified. The main endpoint to be assessed was the association between gross tumor volumes (GTV; T = total, P = primary, N = nodal) and LRF. Receiver operative characteristic (ROC) curves were used to investigate diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: Twenty LRFs were observed, resulting in a 2-year LRF rate of 39% (95% CI, 23-52%). On UVA, the GTV-T (P = .01), GTV-P (P = .05), and GTV-N (P = .04) were statistically significant predictors of LRF. Furthermore, age, smoking status, N-stage, larynx subsite, and tracheostomy/feeding tube dependence were potentially associated with LRF (P < .3), whereas T-stage (T3-4 vs. T2) was not (HR 1.05, 95% CI, 0.38-2.91, P = .92). In the multivariable model, GTV-P (HR 1.022, 95% CI, 0.999-1.046, P = .07) and GTV-N (HR 1.053, 95% CI, 1.0004-1.108, P = .05) were the two most impactful covariates on the model's R2 . ROC analysis suggested an optimal cut point of 12 cc in the GTV-T. The 2-year LRF for GTV-T > 12 cc was 64.2% and ≤ 12 cc was 16.4%, P = .006. CONCLUSION: GTV is associated with LRF after definitive CCRT for LC. Patients with bulky primary and/or nodal tumors may be better served with upfront surgical resection regardless of T-stage. Further investigation into the safety of larynx preservation for low-volume T4 tumors can be considered. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 130:2372-2377, 2020.

A Case of Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Multiple Treatments Including Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy Alone for Oligometastases to the Parotid Gland.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has a reported average of around 15% metastases at presentation with chemotherapy being the mainstay of treatment for widely metastatic disease. However, in select patients with oligometastatic disease, local ablative therapy (commonly including surgery or radiotherapy) can be utilized with the possibility of improving survival, decreasing morbidity from the metastases, and obviating the need for systemic therapy with its possible side effects. However, most research has been of ablative therapy has been performed for pulmonary and hepatic oligometastatic lesions.  In this case, we present a patient who initially presented with a metastatic base of tongue malignancy with left axilla metastases who was treated palliatively with systemic therapy with an initial complete response. She subsequently progressed on maintenance therapy with a locoregional recurrence that was treated with definitive chemoradiation with complete response. There was a subsequent recurrence again in the left axilla that was treated as well with chemoradiation with complete response. Next, there was a recurrence in the right occipital lobe and left parotid gland with treatment with surgical resection, plus stereotactic radiotherapy boost and stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR), respectively. This all occurred over a 30-month time frame from initial therapy to her last treatment, with an additional 42 months at the present time with no recurrence.  This case highlights the future of care of oligometastatic disease of HNSCC with potential long-term survival in appropriately selected patients treated with stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy. Furthermore, this is one of the first reported cases in the literature of SABR for an oligometastatic lesion of the parotid gland, especially from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity, with no recurrence of disease over 40 months removed from treatment.

Fatal Case of Recurrent Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Presenting with Cardiac Arrest and Variable Ventricular Involvement What Role Beta Agonist and Beta Blockers?

In conclusion, we believe that the demise of the patient is due to the combination of severe emotional distress, respiratory distress with fear of impending doom, and the overuse of B2 agonists likely created an opportune environment for Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. We also propose a mechanism whereby recurrences with different wall motion variants may occur during beta blocker therapy.