Preliminary evidence for endoscopic surgery combined with postoperative anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in advanced recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUD: Endoscopic surgery can be used as the main treatment for advanced recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (rNPC). However, there is a huge clinical controversy about the need for consolidated immunotherapy after surgery. METHODS: We performed a retrospective propensity score-matched analysis (1:2) of patients with locally advanced rNPC who underwent endoscopic nasopharyngectomy (ENPG) combined with anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) monotherapy or ENPG alone. The survival rate was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR). Potential surgical-related complications and immune-related adverse events (AEs) were also assessed. RESULTS: We recruited 10 patients receiving ENPG plus anti-PD-1 monotherapy and 20 receiving ENPG alone. During the mean follow-up of 23.8 months, a significant improvement in the 2-year PFS was detected in the consolidation immunotherapy group compared to the ENPG alone group (80.0% vs. 40.0%; HR = 0.258; 95% CI: 0.09-0.72; p = 0.04), while the 2-year OS in the consolidation immunotherapy group was not significantly longer than that in the ENPG alone group (90.0% vs. 75.0%; HR = 0.482; 95% CI: 0.08-3.00; p = 0.50). The incidence of surgical-related complications in the consolidation immunotherapy group and ENPG alone group was 70.0 and 60.0%, respectively. Immune-related AEs were similar between the toripalimab arm (75.0%) and the camrelizumab arm (66.7%). Surgical-related complications depend on symptomatic treatments. Immune-related AEs were mild and tolerable. CONCLUSIONS: Consolidation immunotherapy regimen for patients with advanced rNPC after ENPG compared to ENPG alone provides a superior PFS rate with a manageable safety profile.

Analysis of clinicopathologic features and expression of NR4A3 in sinonasal acinic cell carcinoma.

Acinic cell carcinoma (AiCC) in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses has rarely been reported in literature. A recent study demonstrated that recurrent genomic rearrangement [t(4;9) (q13;q31)] is a driver event in AiCC of the salivary glands that could promote the upregulation of transcription factor nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 3 (NR4A3). In the current study, we evaluated the clinicopathological characteristics and expression of NR4A3 in four new cases of sinonasal AiCC. All four patients were men (range, 27-70 years). The tumor involved only the nasal cavity in two patients, while the other two patients showed involvement of both the nasal cavity and ethmoid sinus. Histologically, the tumor displayed a predominantly solid growth pattern and was composed of hematoxyphilic serous-like cells and scattered intercalated duct-like cells. Immunohistochemically, all cases expressed DOG-1. However, staining for mammaglobin, S-100, CA9, and P63 was absent in all patients. All four cases showed positive nuclear staining for NR4A3. In contrast, none of the other 39 sinonasal tumors, including secretory carcinomas, pleomorphic adenomas, mucoepidermoid carcinomas, adenoid cystic carcinomas, renal cell-like adenocarcinomas, intestinal-type adenocarcinomas, non-intestinal-type adenocarcinomas, extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma, and carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenomas, presented with any positive NR4A3 nuclear staining. Additionally, NR4A3 rearrangements were observed in three cases with sinonasal AiCC by fluorescence in situ hybridization, and the expression level of NR4A3 mRNA was significantly increased in sinonasal AiCC compared with that in normal parotid tissue. Our study demonstrated that sinonasal AiCCs are characterized by an indolent nature and histopathological similarity to parotid AiCCs. Moreover, NR4A3 is a reliable biomarker for distinguishing sinonasal AiCCs from other sinonasal carcinomas.

The postoperative outcomes of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps by sustained released steroid from hyaluronic acid gel.

PURPOSE: The self-crosslinked hyaluronic acid (scHA) and steroids are considered as efficient factors for postoperative management after chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) nasal surgery. This randomized clinical trial is designed to investigate the efficacy and potential of scHA gel as a topical drug sustained release carrier for steroid of budesonide. METHODS: The study is performed with 30 patients of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) who underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). The single application of scHA was assessed in the control patient group for postoperative recovery. In the treatment patient group, the combination of scHA/budesonide was applied for postoperative management. The patients are followed up in 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 12 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: The combination of scHA/budesonide results in better endoscopic scoring and mucus evaluation than the single scHA application. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the combination of scHA/budesonide is a valuable treatment for the FESS postoperative management and implies the potential of scHA gel as a topical drug sustained release scaffold.

Assessment of Internal Carotid Artery Invasion With the Endoscopic Endonasal Approach: Implications of a New Grading System and Security Strategy.

BACKGROUND: Internal carotid artery (ICA) injury during the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) for ventral cranial base tumors is rare but fatal. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between ventral cranial base tumors and corresponding ICA using quantitative means to improve the safety of surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, a total of 46 patients with ventral cranial base tumors undergoing surgery with the EEA were enrolled. Preoperative imaging features and clinical data were recorded. The influencing factors of the gross total resection (GTR) rate were analyzed. A new grading system and security strategy were developed. RESULTS: Postoperative enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed a GTR of 61.7%. There was a significant correlation between the GTR rate and tumors surrounding the ICA, the tumor site, the involved ICA segment, and the blood supply (P < 0.05). We included preoperative radiotherapy as supplementary data in the grading system. Each variable involved the letter "S"; (surround, site, segment, blood supply, supplementary data); hence, the system was named the 5S ICA grading scale. CONCLUSION: We recommend a safety assessment through the 5S ICA grading scale and the ICA grading strategy to obtain the maximum total resection rate while ensuring patient safety.

The risk factors for residual juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma and the usual residual sites.

OBJECTIVE: Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is non-metastasizing but potentially locally destructive tumor of the nasopharynx. It can destroy the skull base and invade into the cerebrum. Surgical management is the primary standard but residual disease is always a risk factor. We aimed to determine the risk factors for residual disease and usual sites for these residual tumors. METHODS: The medical records of 131 patients (mean age 17.6 ±â€¯6.8, range 9-71 years) with histologically proven JNA were retrospectively analyzed. The surgeries were all nasal endoscopic approaches, with or without assistant incision. RESULTS: The prevalence of residual disease was 16.8%. Risk factors associated with JNA recurrence included tumor stage, intraoperative bleeding, and the year in which the operation was performed. The pterygoid canal, pterygoid process, and pterygopalatine foramen were the most frequent locations for residual tumor. CONCLUSION: Surgical management should take particular care for the pterygoid canal, petrygoid process, and pterygopalatine foramen. Contrast-enhanced CT and MRI are effective tools to evaluate complete JNA excision in the first two days after primary surgery. Careful exploration of these areas may be the key to avoid residual JNA.

Endoscopic endonasal approach for trigeminal schwannomas: our experience of 39 patients in 10 years.

BACKGROUND: The anatomical locations involved in trigeminal schwannomas (TSs) are quite complex. The endoscopic endonasal approach provides a minimal damage access corridor to both anterior and middle skull base for surgery. Given the nerve function recovery and postoperative neurological deterioration varied in different reports, the author demonstrates his surgery tips and the functional outcomes under endoscopic surgery in one single institution. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients with TSs was undertaken to assess the outcome of endoscopic surgery from 2006 to 2016. Clinical features, imaging findings, preoperative/postoperative neurological deficits, surgical approaches and followed up data were collected. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients with TSs were included in this study. Surgical approaches include endoscopic medial maxillectomy approach (n = 8), endoscopic endonasal-assisted sublabial transmaxillary approach (n = 27) and endoscopic endonasal-assisted sublabial transmaxillary combined with septectomy (n = 4). Gross total resection and sub-total resection were achieved in 27 and 10 patients, respectively. The most common chief complaint was facial numbness, accounting for 41%, with a resolved rate of 62.5% after treatment. Fifteen patients developed new neurologic symptoms, including facial numbness/pain (n = 9 and 2, respectively), dry eye (n = 3) and mastication weakness (n = 1). Eight of these patients had partial improvement except for patients with dry eye. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic endonasal approach represents a safe and effective surgical procedure for TSs in pterygopalatine fossa, infratemporal fossa and even Meckel cave. Tumor resection can be achieved by endoscope with few neurologic deficits and complications.

Endoscopic Repairs of Sinonasal Cerebrospinal Leaks: Outcome and Prognostic Factors.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review the management of sinonasal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks and outcome of endoscopic repairs and to provide experience regarding leaks at the lateral wall of sphenoid sinus and the posterior wall of frontal sinus. METHODS: Patients who underwent endoscopic repairs of CSF leaks were reviewed. Characteristics of different etiologies were compared, and prognostic factors were analyzed. RESULTS: The study included 144 patients with 150 CSF leaks, in which spontaneous leaks account for 55%. Patients with traumatic leaks were significantly younger than those with spontaneous leaks (P = 0.012), and most traumatic leaks occurred in men (P < 0.001). The computed tomography scan showed an overall accuracy of 86.7%. For 17 leaks at the lateral wall of sphenoid sinus, transnasal (29%), transethmoid (24%), and transpterygoid (47%) approaches were used, with a success rate of 75%. For 11 defects at the posterior wall of the frontal sinus, 2 were managed by draf III surgery, and 3 by trephination-assisted procedure successfully. Success rate for primary repair was 95.6%, reaching 100% after a second repairing. Six leaks failed to be repaired included 4 spontaneous leaks, and 3 occurred at the lateral wall of the sphenoid sinus, 4 occurred in patients with elevated body mass index (BMI), 4 had evidence of raised intracranial pressure (ICP). CONCLUSION: Repair of leaks at lateral sphenoid sinus and posterior frontal sinus could achieve favorable results via selected endoscopic approaches. The failure of repair was associated with inaccessible leak sites, spontaneous leaks, raised ICP, and elevated BMI.

A combined modality of carboplatin and photodynamic therapy suppresses epithelial-mesenchymal transition and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2)/MMP-9 expression in HEp-2 human laryngeal cancer cells via ROS-mediated inhibition of MEK/ERK signalling pathway.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been developed as a promising treatment modality for laryngeal cancer. 9-Hydroxypheophorbide α (9-HPbD), a novel chlorophyll-derived photosensitizer, has a longer absorption wavelength, which increases the penetration of light to malignant tissues. Carboplatin (CBDCA), a second-generation platinum derivative, also has gained more popularity for the treatment of laryngeal cancer. Our previous studies have elucidated that 9-HPbD-PDT could inhibit the migration and invasion of HEp-2 cells. The objective of this study is to investigate the change of migration and invasion of HEp-2 cells induced by a combined modality of CBDCA and 9-HPbD-PDT in vitro. A wound healing assay, cell migration assay and Matrigel invasion assay were used to evaluate the cellular migration and invasion. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Western blots for epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (E-cadherin, N-cadherin and vimentin), MMPs (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and MEK/ERK signalling pathway were performed to investigate the possible mechanisms that may be involved. We observed that CBDCA and 9-HPbD-PDT administration synergistically inhibited the migration and invasion of HEp-2 cells. Moreover, the combined modality cooperatively repressed the EMT process and down-regulated expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 via ROS-mediated inhibition of phosphorylation in the MEK/ERK signalling pathway. Our results suggested that the combination of CBDCA and 9-HPbD-PDT might be a promising therapeutic strategy for laryngeal cancer metastasis.

Endoscopic Repair of the Injured Internal Carotid Artery Utilizing Oxidized Regenerated Cellulose and a Free Fascia Lata Graft.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce appropriate surgical procedures for the endoscopic repair of the internal carotid artery (ICA) injury. METHODS: Two patients with ICA injury during the endoscopic endonasal approach surgery were reviewed. RESULTS: Internal carotid artery injury during the endonasal skull-base approach was a rare complication. Once ICA injury occurred, 2 large bore suctions were placed immediately for drainage and the bleeding point was located. Then, an oxidized regenerated cellulose was quickly pressed onto the bleeding point and was held there to stop the bleeding. Afterward, a free graft of fascia lata was inserted and the free fat graft was compressed for repair. Absorbable packing materials were used for nasal packing. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic repair utilizing oxidized regenerated cellulose and a free fascia lata graft is a safe and feasible surgical option for ICA injury.

Endonasal Endoscopic Resection and Radiotherapy in Skull Base Chordomas.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the impact combined endonasal endoscopic resection and radiotherapy for skull base chordomas. METHODS: Thirty-two patients with skull base chordomas between July 2006 and June 2015 were divided into 2 groups: the surgery alone group and the surgery with radiation therapy group. RESULTS: Gross total resection was achieved in 9 (28.1%) patients with skull base chordoma, subtotal resection was achieved in 16 (50.0%) patients, and partial resection was achieved in 7 (21.9%) patients. The progression-free survival (PFS) rate at 3 and 5 years was 44.0% and 16.5%, respectively. The overall survival (OS) rate at 3 and 5 years was 79.4% and 69.5%, respectively. Kadish staging predicted PFS and OS with statistical significance when the extent of resection was categorized into gross total resection, subtotal resection, and partial resection (P = 0.035 and P = 0.003, respectively). There was a significant OS advantage for the surgery plus radiation group compared with the surgery alone group (P = 0.035). CONCLUSION: Gross total resection can achieve very good results for the treatment of skull base chordomas. Postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy is recommended for all skull base chordomas, as it offered a higher OS rate.

[Overview and prospects of endoscopic skull base surgery].

Endoscopic skull base surgery presents significant technical challenges and high surgical risks, requiring collaboration among multiple disciplines such as otolaryngology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, and oral maxillofacial surgery. In recent years, there has been rapid development in endoscopic skull base surgery, characterized by flourishing anatomical research and an expanding range of surgical indications. The future brings both opportunities and challenges, and endoscopic skull base surgery must grasp new directions in medical development, actively providing patients with safer and more effective treatment options.

[Research progress in the anatomy and surgical approach of the parapharyngeal space].

The parapharyngeal space, a complex fascial compartment within the head and neck region, encompasses crucial anatomical structures including blood vessels and nerves. Tumors occurring within this space are rare, with the majority being benign in nature. Surgical intervention remains the primary treatment modality; however, managing parapharyngeal space tumors poses significant challenges due to their intricate anatomical configuration. Conventional open surgical approaches have been associated with significant tissue damage and a high prevalence of postoperative complications. Recently, advancements in anatomical studies and surgical techniques have led to significant progress in understanding parapharyngeal space anatomy and improving surgical management. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of these developments.

Anatomical studies and early results on endoscopic transoral medial pterygomandibular fold approach to salvage retropharyngeal lymphadenectomy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Retropharyngeal lymphadenectomy is challenging. This study investigated a minimally invasive approach to salvage retropharyngeal lymphadenectomy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS: An anatomical study of four fresh cadaveric heads was conducted to demonstrate the relevant details of retropharyngeal lymphadenectomy using the endoscopic transoral medial pterygomandibular fold approach. Six patients with nasopharyngeal cancer with retropharyngeal lymph node recurrence, who underwent retropharyngeal lymphadenectomy with the endoscopic transoral medial pterygomandibular fold technique at the Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University from July to December 2021, were included in this study. RESULTS: The anatomical study demonstrated that the endoscopic transoral medial pterygomandibular fold approach offers a short path and minimally invasive approach to the retropharyngeal space. The surgical procedure was well tolerated by all patients, with no significant post-operative complications. CONCLUSION: The endoscopic transoral medial pterygomandibular fold approach is safe and efficient for retropharyngeal lymphadenectomy.

Nasal Presentations of Rosai-Dorfman Disease: Clinical Manifestation and Treatment Outcomes.

PURPOSE: There has been a lack of evidence-based management strategies on the nasal presentations of Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD). We aim to investigate the clinical manifestation, treatment, and outcomes in patients with nasal RDD. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed available medical records of patients diagnosed with nasal RDD from 2014 to 2021 at our department. RESULTS: A total of 26 patients were included with a marked female preponderance (2.25:1). The most common symptom and affected sites were nasal congestion (31%) and nasal cavity (73%), respectively. The average times of biopsies was 1.5 times (range: 1-3). The histiocytes were positive about S100 and CD68 and negative for CD1a with common emperipolesis. The mean duration of follow-up was 34 months (range, 3-87). One patient with concomitant nasal small B-cell lymphoma achieved complete remission after chemoradiotherapy. Recommended treatments were endoscopic resection (92%) and oral corticosteroids (21%). Surgery was performed to remove the resectable lesion as completely as possible. Corticosteroids induced almost 100% overall remission. Of the relapses, two patients achieved an overall response and one remained in progressive stage after subsequent excision. Two patients only received dissection biopsy that responded to oral corticosteroid administration and combined therapies of lenalidomide and dexamethasone, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Diffuse lesions in nasal cavity and sinuses, and even widely affected nasal skull base, laryngopharynx, orbit, and cavernous sinus, should be considered the possibility of Rosai-Dorfman disease. Characteristic immunohistochemical staining is helpful for the diagnosis. Endoscopic surgical therapy remains the mainstream treatment for patients enduring an unbearable course. Oral corticosteroid administration serves as an adjuvant therapy for first-line treatments.

The Impact of Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery on Quality of Life in Patients with Malignant Tumors of the Anterior Skull Base: A Prospective Study.

Objective: To investigate the effects of endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) on longitudinal quality of life (QoL) in patients with malignant tumors of the anterior skull base. Methods: Eligible patients prospectively completed the Anterior Skull Base Surgery Questionnaire (ASBQ) and the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) questionnaires in referring to 3 different periods throughout their treatment and recovery. Results: Forty patients were included. The median volume coronal maximum length of the tumor was 3.6 cm (95% CI 2.7-4.1cm). Overall QoL significantly worsened at 1 month postoperatively but returned to baseline after 1 year. Unrelieved symptoms in specific domains prompted further evaluation of individual items. Transient worsening of taste (p=0.011) and olfaction (p=0.004) lasted for 1 month but gradually relieved within the first postoperative year, but vision consistently worsened over the course of the treatment (p=0.126). Age>50 years (p<0.001), comorbidities (p<0.001), tumor necrosis (p<0.001) and recurrence (p=0.001) were associated with worse preoperative QoL. Poor long-term QoL was noted in those undergoing adjuvant therapy (p=0.032). Overall ASBQ scores (p=0.024), subdomain scores in specific symptoms (p=0.016), and vision scores (p=0.009) were worse only in patients with the greater coronal maximum diameter at 1-month postoperatively. Greater coronal maximum diameter was related to worse preoperative subdomain scores regarding specific symptoms (p=0.030) and decreased postoperative long-term decreased vision scores (p=0.014). Conclusion: Long-term site-specific and sinonasal QoL eventually stabilized after EES. Greater coronal maximum diameter was significantly associated with worsened vision function. Temporarily worse olfactory, vision, and taste function may be tied to decreased short-term QoL.

Sinonasal intestinal- and non-intestinal-type adenocarcinoma in China: a retrospective study of 14 cases.

BACKGROUND: In China, reports on the epidemiology of adenocarcinomas of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses are limited. AIM: This study aimed to describe the experience of a single institution in China in treating these malignant tumours. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with adenocarcinoma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses admitted between January 2019 and December 2021. Tumour staging was based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer, 8th edition, for sinonasal malignancies. RESULTS: The series included 10 men and 4 women (mean age, 54.5 [range, 14-80] years). Epistaxis and nasal obstruction were the most common clinical manifestations in 10 (71.4%) patients. Ten (71.4%) had stage T4 disease at diagnosis, but no patient had lymph node or distant metastasis. The posterosuperior septum (100.0%) and middle turbinate (92.8%) were the two sites most vulnerable to tumour invasion. All patients underwent endoscopic resection as the initial treatment; one patient died. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: In China, these malignancies are related to exposure to certain substances; however, diagnosis can be delayed. Endoscopic resection is a suitable treatment option for adenocarcinomas of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.

Expression and Prognostic Value of Lgr5 in Patients with Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Background: As a cancer stem cells (CSCs) surface marker, Lgr5 plays an important role in the signal transduction of cancer cells and is a potential biomarker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. However, the expression and prognostic value of Lgr5 in recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (rNPC) remains ambiguous. Materials: We used RNA sequencing to screen differentially expressed mRNAs in eleven specimens of rNPC tissues and five fresh adjacent normal tissue samples and the CSC marker, Lgr5, was identified. The expression level of Lgr5 in rNPC samples was also detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot assay. The chi-square test was used to analyze the relationship between the clinicopathological variables and the immunostaining of Lgr5. The Log-rank method was used for prognosis analysis. The Cox regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Significantly elevated expression of Lgr5 in the rNPC tissues was observed compared to the normal tissues using RNA sequencing, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The expression of Lgr5 was significantly correlated with the T stage (P=0.014). High Lgr5 expression (P=0.007), tumor necrosis (P=0.013) and WHO type II (P=0.043) in rNPC patients exhibited worse overall survival (OS). Lgr5 expression was proved to be an independent risk factor for OS (P=0.035) in multivariate analyses, and had promising predictive value for survival and recurrence in rNPC patients (area under the ROC curve: 0.711 and 0.665, P=0.017 and 0.028, respectively). Conclusion: Lgr5 as a CSC marker is a promising therapeutic target and could be employed to predict the survival prognosis of rNPC patients.

[The outcome of transnasal endoscopic total maxillectomy in the treatment of sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma].

Objective:To assess the prognosis of sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma with hard palatine invasion treated by transnasal endoscopic total maxillectomy. Methods:Clinical data of twenty-six patients with sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma invading hard palatine treated by transnasal endoscopic total maxillectomy between May 2014 and December 2020 was analyzed retrospectively. Survival rate, local recurrence and distant metastasis were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression was used to investigate the prognosis factors. Masticatory function after maxillectomy has also been assessed using the questionnaire of patients' satisfaction about masticatory function. Results:Margins in 8 patients（30%） were positive. The median time of follow-up was 38 months（6 to 85 months）. Twenty-five patients recurred. Four patients died of distant metastasis. The 5-year overall survival rate and relapse-free survival rate was 79.5% and 89.1%, respectively. Independent predictors of outcome on multivariate analysis were positive margin（P=0.018）, recurrence（P=0.006） and distant metastasis（P=0.04）. Conclusion:Transnasal endoscopic total maxillectomy could be performed for the treatment of the sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma with hard palatine invasion. Positive margin, local recurrence and distant metastasis were important predictors for patients' prognosis.

Endoscopic surgery is superior to intensity-modulated radiotherapy in the treatment of advanced recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The choice between endoscopic surgery and re-radiotherapy as the main treatment modality in patients with advanced recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (rNPC) remains controversial. Therefore, in this study, we compared the efficacies of endoscopic surgery and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in patients with rNPC. METHODS: All patients with advanced rNPC (T3 and T4) who underwent salvage treatment were enrolled from January 2009 to December 2020. Overall survival (OS) was analyzed using a log-rank analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses of OS were performed using a Cox regression model. Common treatment-related complications of endoscopic surgery were compared with those of IMRT. RESULTS: The numbers of patients with T3 and T4 tumors were 163 (64.2%) and 91 (35.8%), respectively; 192 patients underwent endoscopic surgery, 51 received IMRT, and 11 received three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT). The 3-year OS of patients treated with endoscopic surgery was 59.3%, which was significantly higher than that of patients treated with IMRT (34.7%, p < 0.001) or 3D-CRT (43.6%, p = 0.012). Multivariate analyses showed that IMRT was an independent risk factor for OS compared with endoscopic surgery (hazard ratio, 2.068; 95% confidence interval, 1.395-3.069, p < 0.001). Complications of aural fullness (p = 0.001), nasopharyngeal necrosis (p = 0.004), nasopharyngeal hemorrhage (p = 0.004), dysphagia (p < 0.001), and cerebral infarction (p = 0.030) were significantly lower in the endoscopic surgery group than in the IMRT group. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic surgery may be a more promising salvage treatment than IMRT to maximize survival and minimize treatment-related complications in advanced rNPC. These results will be significant in deciding the optimal treatment for patients with advanced rNPC.

Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery for Dermoid Cysts Arising From the Middle Cranial Fossa Floor: A Rare Case Series.

OBJECTIVE: Dermoid cysts (DCs) are congenital, slowly growing, and may cause nervous system symptoms. Related literature is limited and mainly includes case reports. We report a case series of DCs originating from the middle cranial fossa floor (MCFF) and investigate their demographic information, clinical characteristics, imaging findings, surgical procedures, and prognostic outcomes. METHODS: We reviewed the patients with DCs arising from the MCFF undergoing endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) in our center between 2012 and 2022. RESULTS: A total of 5 patients with DCs were enrolled (2 males and 3 females), with a mean age of 46.2 years at the onset. All DCs originated from the MCFF with 1 case involving the middle cranial fossa bone and another 1 case affecting the dura mater. One (20.0%) patient had neurological involvement. After admission, all patients received EES with a total resection rate of 100.0% (5 of 5). After a median follow-up of 73.2 months, all patients achieved complete clinical and radiological improvements. No surgical-related complications or relapses were observed during the long-term follow-up. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic endonasal surgery is considered a safe and effective approach for the treatment of DCs in the MCFF. A larger sample size and longer follow-up time are needed.