Staging more important than grading? Evaluation of malignancy grading, depth of invasion, and resection margins in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: The present study evaluated the predictive value of staging and grading parameters concerning the presence of lymph-node metastases, overall survival (OS), and relapse-free survival (RFS) of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: HE-stains of 135 surgically treated (R0) primary OSCCs were analyzed using a both microscopic and software-based approach. Depth of invasion (DOI) and resection margins (RM) were measured, and each case was graded according to the malignancy grading system as described by Anneroth et al. and Bryne et al. on two different sites of the tumor (surface and invasion front; TS and IF). RESULTS: Parameters that could be identified as significant predictors of OS and RFS were UICC cancer stage (p = 0.009 and p = 0.012); pT-stage as defined in the 7th edition (p = 0.029 and 0.015) and, after restaging using DOI, 8th edition (p = 0.023 and p = 0.005) of the TNM classification of malignant tumors; the presence of lymphonodular metastases (LM) (p = 0.004 and p = 0.011); degree of keratinization (p = 0.029 and p = 0.042); and pattern of growth (p = 0.029 and p = 0.024) at the TS after applying a binary scale for both parameters. Also, when directly comparing the most extreme subgroups (scores 1 and 4) of lymphoplasmacytic infiltration at the IF, there was a significant difference in OS (p = 0.046) and RFS (p = 0.005). Invasion of blood vessels (p = 0.013) and perineural invasion (p = 0.023) were significantly associated with a lower OS. Age lower than 60 years (univariate p = 0.029, multivariate p = 0.031), infiltration of lymphatic vessels (p = 0.003), infiltration of nerves (p = 0.010), pT-stage (8th edition) (p = 0.014), degree of keratinization at the IF (p = 0.033), and nuclear polymorphism at the IF (p = 0.043) after conversion to a binary scale were found to be significant prognostic parameters regarding the presence of LM. DOI evolved as a significant predictor for OS (p = 0.006), RFS (p = 0.003), and LM (p = 0.032) in metric and grouped analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The current evaluation revealed depth of invasion as strongest histologic predictor of metastatic tumor growth, overall survival, and relapse-free survival in OSCC, confirming the current adaption of the T-classification. Other distinct histologic grading parameters investigated during this study can give valuable indications of a tumor's potential aggressiveness, but the exact site, mode, and procedure need further exploration. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Integrating measurement of DOI also into the pretherapeutic staging process could aid in treatment planning.

Influence of early elective tracheostomy on the incidence of postoperative complications in patients undergoing head and neck surgery.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of postoperative complications after head and neck surgery is high. This study evaluated the influence of early elective tracheostomy on the incidence of postoperative pneumonia and delirium. METHODS: We reviewed the data of all patients who had undergone removal of an oropharyngeal tumor and microsurgical tissue transfer at our department in a two year period. Pearson's Chi-squared test and the Fischer's exact t-test were then used to measure the influence of patients' preexisting conditions and risk factors and of early elective tracheostomy on the incidence of postoperative complications. RESULTS: In total, 47 cases were analyzed. Patients with an endotracheal tube were ventilated for a longer time (3.4 days vs. 1.5 days) and were transferred to the regular ward later (after 6.9 days vs. 4.7 days) than patients with tracheostomy. Only 1 (2.1%) of the patients with a tracheostomy developed pneumonia in contrast to 5 intubated patients (10.6%) and only 2 patients with a tracheostomy developed postoperative delirium (9.5%) in contrast to 8 intubated patients (30.8%). CONCLUSION: Early primary tracheostomy in patients undergoing resection of oropharyngeal cancer seems to have numerous benefits, such as lower complication rates with regard to pneumonia and postoperative delirium and shorter duration of both mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit (ICU) stays. Further studies have to evaluate if these benefits also influence morbidity and mortality rates.

Elective Tracheotomy in Patients Receiving Mandibular Reconstructions: Reduced Postoperative Ventilation Time and Lower Incidence of Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia.

Elective tracheotomy (ET) secures the airway and prevents adverse airway-related events as unplanned secondary tracheotomy (UT), prolonged ventilation (PPV) or nosocomial infection. The primary objective of this study was to identify factors predisposing for airway complications after reconstructive lower ja surgery. We reviewed records of patients undergoing mandibulectomy and microvascular bone reconstruction (N = 123). Epidemiological factors, modus of tracheotomy regarding ET and UT, postoperative ventilation time and occurrence of hospital-acquired pneumonia HAP were recorded. Predictors for PPV and HAP, ET and UT were identified. A total of 82 (66.7%) patients underwent tracheotomy of which 12 (14.6%) were performed as UT. A total of 52 (42.3%) patients presented PPV, while 19 (15.4%) developed HAP. Increased operation time (OR 1.004, p = 0.005) and a difficult airway (OR 2.869, p = 0.02) were predictors, while ET reduced incidence of PPV (OR 0.054, p = 0.006). A difficult airway (OR 4.711, p = 0.03) and postoperative delirium (OR 6.761, p = 0.01) increased UT performance. HAP increased with anesthesia induction time (OR 1.268, p = 0.001) and length in ICU (OR 1.039, p = 0.009) while decreasing in ET group (HR 0.32, p = 0.02). OR for ET increased with mounting CCI (OR 1.462, p = 0.002) and preoperative radiotherapy (OR 2.8, p = 0.018). ET should be strongly considered in patients with increased CCI, preoperative radiotherapy and prolonged operation time. ET shortened postoperative ventilation time and reduced HAP.

Methylation matters? Decreased methylation status of genomic DNA in the blood of schizophrenic twins.

Studies of schizophrenia inheritance in identical twins show a concordance of about 50%, which supports an epigenetic model. In our present study we investigated methylation of genomic DNA and promoter methylation of Reelin and SOX10 genes in peripheral blood of twins suffering from schizophrenia. Global DNA methylation was reduced (52.3%) in schizophrenic twins if compared with healthy control twins (65.7%). The reduced methylation was significant in males only. We also found a similar hypomethylation in the non-affected twins of discordant pairs and a mixed group of psychiatric controls. In discordant twins there was a relative hypermethylation of the SOX10 promoter. Within-pair-difference of methylation of Reelin promoter was significantly lower in monozygotic twins than in dizygotic twins.