Estimating the direct costs of oral cancer in Spain: a retrospective hospital data analysis.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the costs incurred from cancer in Spain are scarce and have focused on the most prevalent types such as colorectal, breast, and lung cancer. The aim of this study was to calculate the direct costs associated with the diagnostic, treatment and follow-up procedures for oral cancer in Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Applying a bottom-up approach, we retrospectively analyzed the medical records of a cohort of 200 patients with oral cancer (C00-C10), diagnosed and treated in Spain between 2015 and 2017. For each patient, we collected their age, sex, degree of medical impairment (American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] classification), tumor extent (TNM classification), relapses and survival during the first 2 years of follow-up. The final calculation of the costs is expressed in absolute values in euros as the percentage of the gross domestic product per capita and in international dollars (I$). RESULTS: The total cost per patient rose to €16,620 (IQR, €13,726; I$11,634), and the total direct cost at the national level was €136,084,560 (I$95,259,192). The mean cost for oral cancer represented 65.1% of the gross domestic product per capita. The costs for the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were determined by the ASA grade, tumor size, lymph node infiltration and presence of metastases. CONCLUSIONS: The direct costs for oral cancer are considerable compared with other types of cancer. In terms of gross domestic product, the costs were similar to those of countries neighboring Spain, such as Italy and Greece. The main determinants of this economic burden were the patient's degree of medical impairment and tumor extent.

Shorter specialist time intervals are associated with advanced stage on symptomatic oral cancer.

OBJECTIVES: As longer times from the first symptom to diagnosis and treatment of oral cancers have been linked to poorer outcomes, this study investigates the contribution of the specialist to this time (STI). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A series of 228 oral/oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients were retrospectively studied to determine the STI and its related factors. RESULTS: Patients were mostly males (n = 170; 74.5%), (50.7% stages I-II), mean age = 61.4 ± 12.5 years. The STI median was 6 days (X±SD:6.8 ± 5.6 days). Time first symptom to diagnosis was 64 days (X±SD:91.0 ± 84.6 days). Univariate regression unveiled a significant association between STI and TNM stage, which was confirmed by multivariate regression. CONCLUSIONS: Specialist time interval is a short time interval in oral cancer diagnosis, imposing a limited time burden in the context of the whole interval until diagnosis. However, there seems to be room for improvement and a possible target for future interventions to shorten STI particularly for patients at early stages after their disease has been disclosed.

The length of patient and primary care time interval in the pathways to treatment in symptomatic oral cancer. A quantitative systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relative length of the patient and primary care intervals in symptomatic oral cancer. DESIGN: Quantitative systematic review. SEARCH STRATEGY: Oral cancer OR oral squamous cell carcinoma OR oropharyngeal cancer AND time interval OR diagnostic delay. SETTING: Primary and secondary care. PARTICIPANTS: Oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We computed five measures (patient, primary care, diagnosis, total diagnosis and total treatment intervals). Most studies did not provide any dispersion measure. We then used the sample size of each study to compute a weighted average of the mean intervals. When the median was provided, we assumed normality of the distribution of the means and used the median as a proxy of the mean. RESULTS: A total of 1089 articles were identified, and 22 met the inclusion criteria, reporting on 2710 patients from Europe, USA, India, Australia, Japan, Argentina and Iran. The weighted average of patient interval was 80.3 days. Primary care interval was five times shorter: 15.8 days. The diagnostic interval was appreciably shorter (47.9 days) when compared with the patient interval during symptomatic period. CONCLUSIONS: Patient interval represents the major component of waiting times since the detection of the first signs/symptoms to the definitive diagnosis of oral cancer. Thus, strategies focused on high-risk patients should be prioritised. Interventions aimed at optimising the health systems should be implemented by monitoring and facilitating diagnostic and treatment pathways of patients with oral cancer.

Assessment of time intervals in the pathway to oral cancer diagnosis in north-westerm Spain. Relative contribution of patient interval.

BACKGROUND: Despite continuous advances in diagnosis and therapy, oral cancers are mostly diagnosed at advanced stages with minor survival improvements in the last two decades. Both phenomena have been attributed to delays in the diagnosis. This study aims at quantifying the time elapsed until definitive diagnosis in these patients and the patient interval's contribution. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A hospital-based, ambispective, observational study was undertaken on incident cases with a pathological diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma recruited during 2015 at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery services of CHUAC (A Coruña) and POVISA (Vigo) hospitals. RESULTS: 74 consecutive oral cancer patients (59.5% males; median age: 65.0 years (IQ:57-74)) were studied. Most cases (52.7%; n=39) were at advanced stages (TNM III-IV) at diagnosis. The period since first sign/symptom until the patient seeks health care was the longest interval in the pathway to diagnosis and treatment (median: 31.5 days; IQR= 7.0 - 61.0) and represents >60% of the interval since symptom onset until referral to specialised care (pre-referral interval). The average interval assigned to the patient resulted to be relatively larger than the time elapsed since the patient is seen at primary care until a definitive diagnosis is reached (diagnostic interval). Median of the referral interval for primary care professionals: 6.5 days (IQR= 0.0 - 49.2) and accounts for 35% (19% - 51%) of the diagnostic interval. CONCLUSIONS: The patient interval is the main component of the pathway to treatment since the detection of a bodily change until the definitive diagnosis. Therefore, strategies focused on risk groups to shorten this interval should be implemented in order to ease an early diagnosis of symptomatic oral cancer.

Key points and time intervals for early diagnosis in symptomatic oral cancer: a systematic review.

The aim of this study was to identify key points and time intervals in the patient pathway to the diagnosis of oral cancer, from the detection of a bodily change to the start of treatment. A systematic search of three databases was performed by two researchers independently. Articles reporting original data on patients with symptomatic primary oral or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma that was pathologically confirmed were included. These articles had to include an outcome variable of 'diagnostic delay', 'time interval', or 'waiting time to diagnosis', or report time intervals from first symptom to treatment. Furthermore, the outcome variable had to have a clearly defined start point and end point, with the time measurement presented as a continuous or categorical variable. A total of 1175 reports were identified; 28 articles on oral cancer studies and 13 on oral and oropharyngeal cancer studies were finally included. These papers showed poor quality in terms of questionnaire validation, acknowledgement of biases influencing time-point measurements, and strategies for verification of patient self-reported data. They also showed great heterogeneity. The review findings allowed the definition of key points and time intervals within the Aarhus framework that may better suit the features of the diagnostic process of this neoplasm, particularly when assessing the impact of waiting time to diagnosis.

[Platelet-rich plasma (platelet gel) in secondary alveoloplasty in cleft patients]. / Plasma enriquecido en plaquetas en la alveoloplastia de pacientes fisurados.

INTRODUCTION: The use of Platelet-rich plasma (platelet gel--PRP--) was introduced in the oral and maxilofacial surgery 10 years ago. Its good results are due to the quickly generation of new bone and the acceleration of the period of surgical scar formation. Its employment in the alveolar reconstruction of the cleft patient is not still consistent and the works published in the literature are infrequent. The objective of this preliminary study is presenting our experience with the use of PRP in the reconstruction of the alveolar congenital defects of cleft patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between July 2002 and January 2004 were operated 14 patients with congenital alveolar cleft carrying out an standard secondary alveoloplasty. In 12 cases was employed cancellous bone of iliac crest and in two cases the donor area was tibial. The laboratory of Hematology of our Hospital prepared the plasma gel rich in platelets by means of a double centrifuge of autologous serum of the patient. After adding calcium a rich gel in platelets in approximate quantities of 1-2 ml was obtained. In this preliminary report we have studied the aspect of the surgical injury the 3er postoperative day, and the first and second weeks after intervention. These results were compared carried out previously with the Standard alveoloplasty without use of the PRP. Likewise we evaluated the bony density by means of intraoral Rx at 3 and 6 months postoperative. RESULTS: The injury of the alveoloplasty healed more quickly in the patients in which plasma enriched gel was employed. The patients referred less pain and edema in the first days of the postoperative period. The alveolar bony regeneration was faster to the 3 months, though the result was similar in the intraoral Rx to the 6 months. The necessary quantities of cancellous bone were smaller in all cases in which the plasma enriched gel was used (30% less). CONCLUSIONS: The use of Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a valid protocol for the reconstruction in patients with congenital alveolar clefts. Its low price and morbidity do it recommendable for its employment in cleft patients.

[Nostril retainers in the primary cleft rhinoplasty]. / Conformadores nasales en la rinoplastia primaria del paciente fisurado.

INTRODUCTION: The nasal cleft cartilage tends to depression after primary rhinoplasty. Nasal stents are probe to be useful in the management of these patients in order to maintain the new morphology. AIM: The purpose of this paper is to present our experience with the use of postoperative nasal splinting in the management of cleft lip nasal deformity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A nostril retainer was placed in 18 cleft patients (4 bilateral, 14 unilateral) during primary repair of the cleft lip nasal deformity from 2001 to 2004. The nasal morphology in the postoperative period was compared with that of 10 control patients who were operated on without nasal stenting in a previous period. Nostril retainers were left in place after the rhinoplasty using 4/0 poliglecaprone absorbable. Those sutures fixed the stent in place during three weeks after surgery. Results. Average follow-up was 18.5 months. Retention of the splint was 3.5 months mean time (range 4 weeks to 6 months). The methods employed for retention were multiple based upon parental preferences. Photogrammetric analysis showed relevant asymmetry of the nostrils in 10% of the splinted group as compared with 48% for controls (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The use of nasal stents has been found effective postoperatively after cleft primary rhinoplasty, avoiding relapse of the nasal reconstruction and drop of the nasal ala. Retainers also allows airway patent and avoid surgical adhesions due to nasal secretions and scarring. Parental collaboration is needed.

Management of obstructive salivary disorders by sialendoscopy: a systematic review.

Our aim was to assess the effectiveness and safety of sialendoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic technique in the management of obstructive salivary disorders. We searched the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, ISI Web of Knowledge, The Cochrane Library, and the National Health Service Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (up to April 2014). References from the studies included and from review articles were scanned. A study was eligible for inclusion if it was a fully published peer-reviewed report with original data, if participants included adult patients with obstructive disease of the major salivary glands, if the outcome variables gave information about the success rates of the procedure in terms of freedom from symptoms and absence of residual obstruction, and if the paper was published in English, French, Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish. The data were extracted and summarised in tables of evidence. We report weighted pooled proportions, 95% CI, and test results for heterogeneity. The weighted pooled proportion of success rates of the obstruction's resolution was 76% (95% CI 71 to 82) for 40 studies involving 2654 patients undergoing sialendoscopy alone, and 91% (95% CI 88 to 94) for the 23 studies and 1480 procedures made with sialendoscopy and a combined surgical approach. In general, few complications were reported and the rate of sialadenectomy was low (4.6%). This systematic review suggests that sialendoscopy is effective and safe for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with obstructive salivary gland disease.

Pneumosinus dilatans of the frontal and ethmoidal sinuses: case report.

Enlargement of paranasal sinuses with air is rare with less than 50 cases reported in the medical literature. This craniofacial malformation was first described by Meyes in 1898 and its aetiology still remains unknown. Local pain, ocular alterations, anosmia, headache and cosmetic disturbances are the most common symptoms. We present a case of pneumosinus dilatans diagnosed in a male, 8 years of age. He presented with left fronto-orbital bossing that enlarged slowly until he was 12 years old, at which point its growth appeared to increase dramatically. Computerized tomography revealed an enlargement of the frontal and ethmoidal sinuses, with marked deformation of the anterior wall and of the roof of the left frontal sinus, as well as the roof of the ethmoid and upper sinus medial orbital wall. The sinus walls were of normal thickness. Access was via a bicoronal incision and osteotomy of the deformed fronto-orbital bossing. Reconstruction was undertaken with a periosteal flap and hydroxyapatite bone cement (Norian) following sinus mucosal stripping and obliteration of the sinus with fat. Six months postoperatively, the patient was without recurrence and had a good cosmetic result.

Pleomorphic adenoma of the palate in children: report of a case.

Salivary gland tumors are rare in infancy, and almost all of them are found in the parotid gland. Minor salivary gland tumors are even more rare, pleomorphic adenoma being the most frequently involved tumor. Only six well-described cases of pleomorphic adenoma arising in the palate have been reported in children. A case occurring in a 16-year-old boy is presented.

[Integrated treatment of cleft lip and palate. Organization of a treatment team]. / Tratamiento integral de las fisuras labio palatinas. Organización de un equipo de tratamiento.

OBJECTIVE: Collect the team experience in the treatment of children with cleft lip and palate, indicating the evolution of the team composition, advantages and improvement aspects, trying to transmit the need of team treatment. METHOD: The Bilbao cleft palate team was created in 1983, since then a cleft palate clinic, a parents group and a unit of velopharyngeal function has been developed. At present the team is composed by: pediatric reconstructor surgeon, speech therapist, orthodontist, dentist, pediatrician, ENT, maxillofacial surgeon, dismorphologyst, geneticist, nursing. RESULTS: One of the achievements has been the data unification, obtaining speech cephalometrics, photographic dental casts and video images with prospective view. At this time 403 cleft lip and palate children have been intervened, being essential the transdisciplinar team approach between surgeon, speech therapist and orthodontist. The importance of the team coordinator is pointed. The results of an audit of the two stage cleft palate closure in complete unilateral cleft lip and palate have obligated us to vary our surgical policy. The unresolved aspects are the lack of multidisciplinary team recognition at official level and the non existence of orthodontist in staff, without cost coverage of this treatment by public health system. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience the team treatment of cleft lip and palate has resulted in improvement of the clinic results, treatment protocols and training.

[Results of a questionnaire on the treatment of cleft lip and palate in Spain]. / Resultado de la encuesta sobre el tratamiento del fisurado labio-palatino en España.

OBJECTIVE: To present the results of a questionnaire done to evaluate the status of the multidisciplinary team treatment of cleft lip and palate in Spain, directed to know the experience and organization of each center. METHOD: A questionnaire was sent to 34 hospitals asking about the following: existence of multidisciplinary team, number of primary surgical cleft operation in 1997, specialty of the primary surgeon/s, the presence in the hospital staff of: ENT, speech therapist, orthodontist, maxillofacial surgeon; if evaluation of the velopharyngeal function is done, if orthodontist meets with other members of the team, where the speech therapy is performed, how the financial burden of these treatments are covered and if there is a parent group. RESULTS: Nineteen centers (55.8%) have responded. Only seven centers admit to have a multidisciplinary team, primary surgery is done by pediatric, plastic and maxillofacial surgeons, 36% of the surgeons operate less then 10 cases/year, the absence of a speech therapist and orthodontist in staff was 42% and 84% respectively, instrumental diagnosis of VPI is not performed in 60% of teams, scanty and not uniform cost coverage of these treatments, only 12% of centers admit to have a parent group. CONCLUSIONS: Deficiencies of organization and staff are present in many centers, there is not a team culture. Centralization of primary surgery is needed. The need of a Spanish Cleft Palate Association is pointed. Eurocleft treatment guidelines are presented.

[Section of the sublingual frenulum. Are the indications correct?]. / Sección del frenillo sublingual. Son las indicaciones correctas?

OBJECTIVE: To see the relationship of the lingual frenum with speech and other oral functions, evaluating the surgical indications and the results of frenectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 1997 we operated 72 children with sublingual frenulum, a telephone questionnaire to the mothers of these patients was done, obtaining data about: age at surgery, professional reasons for referral, preoperative findings, pre-post operative speech therapy, place of surgery and type of anesthesia and mother's impression about the final result. RESULTS: Fifty valid questionnaires were obtained, the mean age at frenectomy was 3.03 years, 38% of children were sent due to speech problems, 60% due to some degree of tongue-tie and 2% due to dentofacial developmental anomalies. In 70% the patients were sent by a pediatrician and in 14% by a speech therapist. In 20% preoperative speech therapy was done and postoperatively in 30%. In 48% of cases, aged less than 2 years, speech was not possible to be evaluated. In the 11 cases with questionable results, a multidisciplinary reevaluation showed 7 cases with lingual dysfunction and poor tongue control, 4 cases with deglutitory anomalies and 3 cases with orofacial occlusal problems secondary to lingual dysfunction or altered oral habits. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a nondisturbing lingual frenulum does not justify its surgical section, the frenectomy is indicated only in presence of altered oro-lingual functions caused by the tongue-tie such as: speech problems, errors of bite and deglutition, lingual dysfunction and anomalous oral habits.

Oral bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws in dental implant patients: a case series.

Bisphosphonates have been associated with a serious adverse reaction known as bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ). The aim of this study was to describe its clinical characteristics in patients with dental implants who were taking bisphosphonates orally. We made a retrospective multicentre study in 3 hospitals in Galicia, Spain. The medical records and clinical and radiological follow-up of the oral cavity were reviewed for those patients given bisphosphonates and diagnosed with BRONJ after the placement of dental implants within the previous 3 years. The series comprised 9 white patients (mean age 66 years). The bisphosphonates were alendronate (n=6), ibandronate (n=2), and risedronate (n=1), and the most common indication was osteoporosis (n=7). The mean interval between the initiation of treatment and the onset of BRONJ lesions was 60 months. Most of the lesions were located around the mandibular implants (n=8). The mean interval between placement of dental implants and the onset of BRONJ was 34 (range 1-96) months. After treatment 7/9 patients recovered completely. The prevalence of BRONJ secondary to treatment with bisphosphonates taken orally after placement of dental implants may be higher than expected in a particular geographical region, but to date specific risk factors have not been identified. Clinical characteristics and the outcomes of treatment of lesions are similar to those seen in patients with BRONJ that is unrelated to placement of dental implants.

Angiolipoma in head and neck: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Angiolipomas are either encapsulated or non-encapsulated fatty tumours. They are distinguished from other lipomas by the excessive degree of vascular proliferation and because they are mixed with mature adipocytes. They commonly occur in the trunk and extremities and are rare in the maxillofacial area. Only 36 cases in the head and neck have been reported in the literature. The authors report the first non-infiltrating intramasseterine angiolipoma, and a case of non-infiltrating angiolipoma of the cheek. These tumours appear as homogenous low-density areas on CT with no contrast enhancement. MRI gives better tumour delineation and clear definition of the location and longitudinal extent of the mass. Histopathology demonstrates mature adipose tissue and the proliferation of numerous small branching blood vessels. Management of angiolipomas requires complete surgical excision.

Mucocele del seno maxilar post-traumático / Post-traumatic mucocele of the maxillary sinus

Los mucoceles de los senos paranasales son lesiones benignaspero con un considerable potencial destructivo por la reabsorción ósea quepueden generar. La localización en el seno maxilar es muy poco frecuenteasí como el origen postraumático. Presentamos el caso de un mucocele deseno maxilar tras 28 años después de un traumatismo facial. Analizamos laetiopatogenia, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de este tipo de lesiones(AU)

Mucoceles of the paranasal sinuses are benign lesions butthey can be destructive because they cause bone resorption. Thelocation in a maxillary sinus and a traumatic origin are uncommon.We report a case of mucocele of the maxillary sinus 28 years afterfacial trauma. We analyzed the etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, andtreatment of this type of lesions(AU)

[Metastatic melanoma of the parotid gland. Apropos of 5 cases]. / Mélanome métastatique de la parotide. A propos de 5 cas.

The affectation of the parotid gland by a malignant melanotic tumor is rare. In this paper, 5 cases of malignant melanoma of the parotid gland are described. In 3 of these cases there were a previous report of a skin melanoma. In the other 2 cases it was not possible to discover the primary lesion. We discuss the lymphatic anatomy of the parotid region, the different etiopathogenic hypothesis and the most important clinical and therapeutic features.

[Oral lichenoid reaction secondary to gold salt therapy]. / Reacción liquenoide oral secundaria a terapia con sales de oro.

Lichenoid Eruptions due to gold salts therapy appear in some patients affected of active Rheumatoid Arthritis. This reaction completely disappear after the drug suppression and must be differenciated of the idiophatic lichen planus. In the case presented in this paper, the more interesting features of this yatrogenic disease are discussed.

[Metastatic hypernephroma in oral soft tissue]. / Hipernefroma metastásico en teijdos blandos orales.

Oral metastatic tumors are rare. A case of primary affection of oral soft tissues by metastatic hypernefroma, without radiologic evidence of bone involvement, is presented in this paper. Review of the literature reveals that the gingiva is the commonest location of metastatic hypernephroma in the oral soft tissues. The most important clinicopathology and therapeutic features are also reviewed.

[Malherbe's calcifying epithelioma (pilomatrixoma) of the head and neck]. / Epithélioma calcifié de Malherbe (pilomatrixoma) de la tête et du cou.

Calcifying Epitheliomas of Malherbe (Pilomatrixomas) are benign tumors that have their origin in the hair matrix and clinically resemble a hard subcutaneous swelling. Most of these tumors are placed in the head and neck region, in our sample the Pilomatrixomas of this location were 49.6% of the total. The middle age of presentation of this tumor were 32.2 years, with two main peaks of incidence below 20 years and under 50. The most frequent locations were the auricular, cervical, ciliar, frontal, and temporal regions, with one case of multiple location. The middle size of the tumor in our sample was 1.2 cm. In this paper we review the main pathologic, clinic and therapeutic features of this lesion in the head and neck region.