Patient Selection for Surgery vs Radiotherapy for Early Stage Oropharyngeal Cancer.

Surgery and radiation therapy are both commonly used in the treatment of early stage (AJCC stages T1-T2 N0-M0) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) have been reported to result in similar survival and disease control outcomes. However, their side effect profiles widely differ. Nevertheless, patients who experience the worst side effects and quality of life are the ones who receive the combination of TORS and adjuvant radiation or chemoradiation therapy. Thus, appropriate patient selection for surgery to minimize the need for multimodality therapy is key. We propose, in this paper, the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy in the node negative (N0) neck as a means that is worth exploring for selecting patients to either radiation therapy or surgery. Patients with a positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) would be better directed to upfront radiation. On the contrary, patients with a negative SLN biopsy would be more confidently directed towards TORS and neck dissection alone.

A Patient With a Protuberant Fibro-Osseous Lesion of the Temporal Bone.

Protuberant fibro-osseous lesion of the temporal bone, otherwise known as "Bullough's lesion", is a rare, benign exophytic fibro-osseous tumor. In this brief report, we present a case of a 61-year-old woman with a history of a right-sided skull mass that had been increasing in size for approximately 6 years before presentation. Clinical, radiological and histological features are examined and discussed. We achieved excellent results with surgical resection, with no evidence of recurrence.

Old World Leishmaniasis: an ancient disease with nonstandardized microscopic and clinical classifications.

BACKGROUND: Microscopic and clinical classifications of cutaneous leishmania have been set in the 1980s. Since then, they have been used invariably. Lebanon, a nonendemic country, is suffering from a leishmaniasis epidemic because of the massive population influx from endemic Syria. DESIGN: Patients diagnosed and speciated with leishmania (n = 169) using molecular and microscopic analysis were studied. General demographic data, microscopic data [Ridley's pattern (RP), microscopic pattern, Parasitic Index (PI)] and clinical stage were documented. Clinical score was scored as: 1: inflammatory; 2: proliferative/reorganization; 3: healed phases. The three patterns were studied in comparison to the lesion age and PI. RESULTS: At low PI, the clinical score and microscopic pattern showed healing scores (scores 3 and 4, respectively). In contrast, RP showed variable distribution at low PI. The same pattern is noted when correlating the different patterns with high PI. In comparison to lesion age, none of the three patterns showed the predicted linear correlation with lesion progression. CONCLUSION: In the studied population, the previously adopted classifications did not correlate with the disease progression. Such findings may raise the possibility of evolving disease. The proposed clinical and microscopic patterns showed better correlation with the disease progression.

Head and neck cutaneous leishmania: clinical characteristics, microscopic features and molecular analysis in a cohort of 168 cases.

Lebanon, an underendemic area for cutaneous leishmania (CL), is suffering from a CL outbreak brought by the massive population influx from endemic Syria. CL affects mainly exposed areas; therefore, the head and neck (HN) region is highly susceptible. Individuals diagnosed and speciated with CL (n = 168) using molecular and microscopic analysis on punch biopsy/scrapings were studied. Clinical data, parasitic index (PI) and Ridley's Pattern (RP) were recorded. The HN was divided into 11 anatomic locations. Of 168 patients, 96 patients (57.1 %) had HN involvement and 72 (42.9 %) had no HN involvement. Lesions from the HN were significantly more common in younger patients and were more prone for ulceration, had larger size, higher PI and more advanced RP (p < 0.05). There was no difference in the anatomic distribution of lesions among age groups and genders in the HN group. The cheek area was the most HN involved location. Lesions were less commonly encountered in the veiled area in women. In the community we studied, HN is commonly involved by CL. Lesions with HN involvement were encountered more in pediatric age group and showed more extensive features.

Mandibular melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy: a role for neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Melanotic Neuroectodermal Tumor of Infancy (MNTI) is a rare, locally aggressive neoplasm with a predilection for the head and neck area, most commonly occurring in the maxilla. The vast majority of treatment modalities for all cases of MNTI to date have involved surgical intervention only, with just 9.6 % involving some sort of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or a combination of the prior mentioned modalities. There is very limited information available regarding the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, due to its rare nature. In this report, a 4 month old girl presented to our clinic with a chief complaint of a large oral mass of about 2.5 months in duration. Intraoral examination showed an oral mass arising from the lingual aspect of inferior alveolar ridge with extensive mandibular invasion. The patient received three cycles of vincristine, Adriamycin, and cyclophosphamide as neodajuvant therapy. Upon completion, the tumor had decreased significantly in size. The patient was then scheduled for surgery and underwent surgical resection of the tumor. We were able to obtain adequate shrinkage of the tumor to allow better resectability, easier surgical access and a more minimally invasive approach with no lip split and a smaller neck incision. In conclusion, we have reported an extremely rare case of MNTI of the mandible that was successfully treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgical resection. This approach was advantageous to minimize the chance of recurrence and improve resectability in particularly large tumors, while maximizing functional outcomes and minimizing deformity.

Transglottic basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

OBJECTIVE: To report a rare case of Transglottic Basaloid Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and review the pathologic features of these lesions. CASE REPORT: A 64 year old male, heavy smoker and alcohol abuser, presented with a 6 month history of hoarseness. Laryngoscopy revealed a right transglottic lesion involving the epiglottis, aryepiglottic fold, ventricle and true vocal fold. Microscopically, the tumor was characterized by infiltrating solid sheets of basaloid cells showing palisading pattern along the edges. In areas of solid growth, tumor cells displayed scant cytoplasm, and hyperchromatic nuclei. A portion of the tumor abutting the thyroid cartilage showed squamous differentiation. An island of tumor cells with comedonecrosis was also noted. Immunohistochemical staining for a number of markers was performed. CONCLUSION: Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma displays a biphasic histology. The stage of the disease at presentation is invariably advanced with metastatic lymphadenopathy in two thirds of the patients.

Angiofibroma of the nasal septum.

Angiofibromas originate predominantly in the nasopharynx. Extranasopharyngeal sites such as the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity are less frequent. Angiofibroma of the nasal septum is extremely rare and the site of origin is either anterior, at the bony cartilaginous junction or posterior. Clinically, patients present with recurrent epistaxis and nasal obstruction secondary to a fleshy or polypoidal nasal mass. Computerized tomography of the nasal cavity and bilateral carotid angiography are useful in the pre-operative work-up. The main stay of treatment is surgical resection. A rare case of nasal septal angiofibroma is hereby presented.

Tracheal schwannoma: a misleading entity.

Primary tracheal tumors are rare with the majority being malignant. Benign lesions are less frequent with primary tracheal schwannomas accounting for less than 0.5% of tracheal tumors. They are more common in females and their clinical presentation is non-specific. Chronic cough, progressive respiratory distress and even asthma-like conditions prevail as presenting symptoms and signs. Laryngotracheal endoscopy reveals a solitary, well encapsulated mass arising most often from the posterior tracheal wall. The diagnosis of tracheal schwannomas is primarily pathological. Endoscopic excision, sleeve excision or tracheal resection, are all commonly accepted treatment modalities. Proper awareness of these lesions is crucial in the pre-operative work-up of patients presenting with stridor.

HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer prevalence in a middle eastern population using E6/E7 PCR.

BACKGROUND: Given the paucity of data and widely variable rates that have been reported, the main objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of HPV-positivity in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) in Middle Eastern patients presenting to one of the region's largest tertiary care centers using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the HPV E6/E7 oncogenes, a highly sensitive and specific method of detection. METHODS: Medical charts and archived pathological specimens were obtained for patients diagnosed with biopsy proven oropharyngeal cancer who presented to the American University of Beirut Medical Center between 1972 and 2017. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded specimens and tested for 30 high-risk and low-risk papilloma viruses using the PCR-based EUROarray HPV kit (EuroImmun). RESULTS: A total of 57 patients with oropharyngeal cancer were initially identified; only 34 met inclusion/exclusion criteria and were included in the present study. Most patients were males (73.5%) from Lebanon (79.4%). The most common primary tumor site was in the base of tongue (50%), followed by the tonsil (41.2%). The majority of patients (85.3%) tested positive for HPV DNA. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HPV-positivity amongst Middle Eastern OPSCC patients, specifically those from Lebanon, may be far greater than previously thought. The Lebanese population and other neighboring Middle Eastern countries may require a more vigilant approach towards HPV detection and awareness. On an international level, further research is required to better elucidate non-classical mechanisms of HPV exposure and transmission.

The glottis and subglottis: an otolaryngologist's perspective.

The complexity of the glottic and subglottic region in terms of anatomy and function make this region challenging in evaluation and treatment. A thorough understanding of the complex anatomy is necessary for the management of patients who have dysphonia, vocal fold paralysis, glottic or subglottic stenosis, or complications, which may present after prolonged intubation or surgical interventions in the upper airway and the thorax.

Nasal Basal Cell Carcinoma with Matrical Differentiation: Risk of Metastasis and Impact on Management.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer. Microscopically, BCC can be classified into indolent-growth and aggressive-growth subtypes. Additionally, uncommon variants have been described in the literature including adamantinoid, granular, clear cell, and BCC with matrical differentiation (BCCMD). If left untreated, BCC can invade locally causing significant tissue destruction while metastatic BCC is extremely rare. There have only been rare cases of BCCMD previously reported in the literature with none exhibiting metastasis. In this report, a 76 year old male patient presented to our center with a recurrent nasal lesion. He had been diagnosed with BCC at another institution about 8 years prior. He underwent a completion rhinectomy procedure, and on microscopic examination the tumor was diagnosed as BCCMD. In view of the uncommon pathology, a PET scan was ordered, which showed a left submandibular hypermetabolic lymph node with central areas of necrosis. A fine needle aspirate from the node confirmed metastasis, and the patient underwent subsequent neck dissection. In conclusion, we have presented a very rare case of a nasal BCCMD with regional metastasis. To the best of our knowledge, this constitutes the first reported case in the English literature. This might raise the possibility of a probable metastatic potential for this lesion and subsequently a more aggressive behavior. However, it is to be noted that this is a single case report and the affirmation of any metastatic potential would still need to be confirmed through additional future reports.

Laryngeal biomechanics in Middle Eastern singing.

UNLABELLED: We would like to describe the muscle tension patterns observed in Middle Eastern singing and correlate these findings with demographic data. MATERIAL: A total of 42 candidates were included in this study. The medical charts and video records of their fiberoptic nasopharyngeal laryngoscopy were reviewed. Demographic information included age, sex, history of smoking, history of reflux, history of voice overuse/abuse, status in singing (professional vs. amateur), and style of singing (classical vs pop). Each frame was analyzed for each of the four muscle tension patterns (MTPs): MTP I, MTP II, MTP III, and MTP IV. STATISTICAL METHOD: Nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test was conducted. RESULTS: Twenty-six subjects were professional singers and half sang classical singing. The mean MTP total score for all subjects was 35.58 +/- 21.98% (+/- standard deviation). The highest muscle tension score was obtained for type III pattern followed by type II. There were no statistical differences in the mean MTP total, MTP II, and MTP III scores among the professional singers versus the amateurs. Similar results were obtained when MTP scores were compared by style of singing. CONCLUSION: The vocal technique and status of singing did not seem to affect the muscle tension score.

Paradoxical vocal cord motion: an alarming stridor for a benign condition--case reports.

Paradoxical vocal cord motion presents a challenge to medical practitioners in various specialties. Physicians in general and anesthesiologists should suspect this condition in a patient presenting with stridor or a history of choking or asthma not responding to medical treatment. Women are usually more affected than men and more often there is history of anxiety and/or a precipitating factor such as cough or hyperventilation. Accurate diagnosis relies on visualizing adduction of the vocal cords during inspiration or throughout the respiratory cycle using fiberoptic nasopharyngeal laryngoscopy or telescopic examination. The etiology varies from organic causes such as brainstem compression or lower motor neuron injury to non-organic causes such as malingering or conversion disorders. The pathophysiology is believed to be accentuation of the glottic closure reflex. Many modalities of treatment are available ranging from sedation, voice therapy and breathing exercises to Heliox administration, Botulinum toxin type A injection, intubation and at times tracheostomy.

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: An Overlooked Etiology of Midfacial Destructive Lesions.

BACKGROUND: Midline destructive lesions of the face (MDL) have a wide range of etiologies. Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is rarely reported as a possible cause. METHODS: Fifteen patients with solitary nasal lesions caused by CL were studied. The clinical data, biopsies/scrapings and PCR were collected/performed. Ridley's Pattern (RP) and Parasitic Index (PI) were documented. RESULTS: Patients' age ranged from 1 to 60 years including 7 males and 8 females. The duration of the observed lesions ranged from 1 to 18 months. Clinically, the lesions showed 6 patterns varying from dermal erythematous papulonodular with no epidermal changes to destructive erythematous plaque with massive central hemorrhagic crust. The clinical impression ranged from neoplastic to inflammatory processes. RP varied among the cases [RP 3 (n = 6), RP 4 (n = 3), RP 5 (n = 6)]. All cases show low PI [PI 0 (n = 7), PI 1 (n = 6), PI 2 (n = 1), and PI 3 (n = 1)]. Higher PI was noted in the pediatric group [average age 24 years for PI 0-1 vs. 6.5 years for PI 2-3]. Molecular speciation showed Leishmania tropica (n = 13) and Leishmania major (n = 2). All the patients received Meglumine Antimoniate (Glucantine) injections and had initial cure defined as complete scarring and disappearance of inflammatory signs within 3 months. CONCLUSION: Leishmaniasis may cause MDL especially in endemic areas. PCR is instrumental in confirming the diagnosis. MDL caused by CL showed wide spectrum of clinical and microscopic presentation.

Current management of head and neck schwannomas.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to discuss the contemporary management of head and neck schwannomas by reviewing the literature and presenting the authors' experience. RECENT FINDINGS: Molecular studies are attempting to link genetic factors to the development of nerve sheath tumors. Many studies emphasize the importance of preserving the nerve of origin, but structural preservation may not necessarily lead to the preservation of its functional integrity. The importance of neural reconstruction and postoperative rehabilitation is also emphasized. SUMMARY: Head and neck schwannomas are uncommon tumors that may affect any peripheral, cranial, or autonomic nerve. This explains their variation in terms of location, clinical presentation, and outcome after surgical resection. History, physical examination, fine needle aspiration, and magnetic resonance imaging are used as diagnostic modalities. Cure entails a complete resection, all attempts being made to preserve the nerve of origin. Otherwise, immediate reconstruction and postoperative rehabilitation should be undertaken in the context of a multidisciplinary management team.

Management of congenital subglottic hemangioma: trends and success over the past 17 years.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the success and complications of various treatment options of congenital subglottic hemangioma. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTINGS: Reported cases were grouped by treatment modalities and corresponding outcome evaluated. RESULTS: From 1986 through 2002, 372 patients were reported in 28 series. Carbon dioxide laser had 88.9% success rate yet 5.5 % significant subglottic stenosis. It shortened the tracheotomy duration by 13.7 months. Corticosteroids were not that beneficial (useful in only 24.5%) with 12.9% side effects. Intralesional corticosteroids were successful in 86.4% with 5.6% complication rate. Surgical excision (as young as 2.5 months), was useful in 98% with 10% complication rate, using cartilage grafts in 34%. Other modalities were less popular. CONCLUSION: Treatment should be individualized. Guidelines are suggested. Priority is given to secure the airways. The CO 2 laser is useful when used cautiously. Steroids may be beneficial. Excision is for stubborn cases.

Fibroblastic and myofibroblastic tumors of the head and neck: comprehensive imaging-based review with pathologic correlation.

Fibroblastic and myofibroblastic tumors of the head and neck are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by the proliferation of fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, or both. These tumors may be further subclassified on the basis of their behavior as benign, intermediate with malignant potential, or malignant. There are different types of fibroblastic and myofibroblastic tumors that can involve the head and neck including desmoid-type fibromatosis, solitary fibrous tumor, myofibroma/myofibromatosis, nodular fasciitis, nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, fibrosarcoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, fibromatosis coli, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, ossifying fibroma, fibrous histiocytoma, nodular fasciitis, fibromyxoma, hyaline fibromatosis and fibrous hamartoma. Although the imaging characteristics of fibroblastic and myofibroblastic tumors of the head and neck are nonspecific, imaging plays a pivotal role in the noninvasive diagnosis and characterization of these tumors, providing information about the constitution of tumors, their extension and invasion of adjacent structures. Correlation with the clinical history may help limit the differential diagnosis and radiologists should be familiar with the imaging appearance of these tumors to reach an accurate diagnosis.

Vocal cord paralysis after open-heart surgery.

Vocal cord paralysis is a known entity often described as a complication of neck surgery. A less frequent site of injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve is the chest. The left side is usually more affected than the right side in view of its long intrathoracic segment. Only few cases of right vocal cord paralysis following open-heart surgery are reported in the literature. The purpose of this article is to review the common possible mechanisms of injury to the right recurrent laryngeal nerve following open-heart surgery in order to draw the attention of the caring physician to the clinical significance of such a complication. In fact, transient hoarseness following open-heart surgery may be an ominous sign of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. It should not be assumed to be secondary to intralaryngeal edema. Several mechanisms of injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve have been suggested: (1) through central venous catheterization; (2) by traction on the esophagus; (3) by direct vocal cord damage or palsy from a traumatic endotracheal intubation; (4) trauma by compression of the recurrent laryngeal nerve or its anterior branch at the tracheoesophageal groove by an inappropriately sized endotracheal tube cuff; (5) by a faulty insertion of a nasogastric tube; (6) median sternotomy and/or sternal traction pulling laterally on both subclavian arteries; (7) direct manipulation and retraction of the heart during open-heart procedures; (8) hypothermic injury with ice/slush. If vocal cord paralysis was overlooked as a possible complication of open-heart surgery, the patient may suffer from dysphonia in addition to problems of paramount importance such as inefficient cough and aspiration. Although it is true that the incidence of vocal cord paralysis remains very low, yet its presence is alarming and necessitates close follow up on the patient for the possible need of surgical intervention if recovery fails.

A novel tool for the objective measurement of neck fibrosis: validation in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy is commonly used to treat neoplasms of the head and neck, and fibrosis is a known side effect. The Cutometer is a device that quantifies properties of the skin. The goal of the study was to validate the Cutometer in normal neck tissues and then quantify fibrosis in radiated necks. METHODS: We performed a prospective study of 251 patients. The elasticity and stiffness parameters were recorded. Control patients were compared to determine the correlation between their left and right sides. Next, the treatment groups were compared using a nonparametric test (Kruskal-Wallis). RESULTS: We found a significant correlation between the left and right sides of the control patients' necks, supporting the view that the Cutometer provides reproducible measurements in the normal neck. Furthermore, the Cutometer demonstrated reduced elasticity in necks treated with radiation, surgery-radiation, and chemoradiation. No significant difference in stiffness was seen. CONCLUSION: The Cutometer may serve as a valuable and valid tool for the measurement of neck skin elasticity. Radiated patients have a quantifiable decrease in their skin elasticity.