Dynamic optical contrast imaging as a novel modality for rapidly distinguishing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma from surrounding normal tissue.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are debilitating diseases for which a patient's prognosis depends heavily on complete tumor resection. Currently, the surgeon's fingers determine the location of tissue margins. This study evaluated the diagnostic utility of a novel imaging modality, dynamic optical contrast imaging (DOCI), in the detection of HNSCC. This system generates contrast by illuminating the tissue with pulsed light and detecting variations in endogenous fluorophore lifetimes. METHODS: A total of 47 fresh ex vivo samples from 15 patients were imaged with the DOCI system immediately after surgical resection. DOCI maps were analyzed to determine the statistical significance of contrast between tumors and adjacent nonmalignant tissue. Pilot intraoperative clinical data were also acquired. RESULTS: Statistical significance (P < .05) between muscle and tumor was established for 10 of 10 emission wavelengths, between collagen and tumor for 8 of 10 emission wavelengths, and between fat and tumor for 2 of 10 wavelengths. The system extracted relative fluorescence decay information in a surgically relevant field of view in <2 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the feasibility of using DOCI to rapidly and accurately distinguish HNSCC from surrounding normal tissue. An analysis of DOCI images revealed microscopic characterization sufficient for tissue-type identification consistent with histology. Such an intraoperative tool would be transformative by allowing the rapid delineation of tumor tissue from nontumor tissue and thus maximizing the efficacy of resection and improving patient outcomes. Cancer 2017;123:879-86. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Bilateral Otorrhagia after Robotically Assisted Gynecologic Surgery in the Setting of a Reduced Trendelenburg Position and Low-Pressure Pneumoperitoneum: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Perioperative otorrhagia in association with nonotolaryngologic surgery is rare. The cause is typically attributed to the physiologic derangements associated with the Trendelenburg position and pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic surgery. The most well-accepted etiology is an increase in arterial and venous pressures causing the rupture of subcutaneous capillaries, although the exact etiology remains unclear. We present the first reported case of bilateral spontaneous otorrhagia associated with robotically assisted laparoscopic surgery involving a reduced Trendelenburg position and low-pressure pneumoperitoneum. Perioperative hypertension, female gender, advanced age, and increased bleeding risk may contribute to the development of this rare complication.

Photodocumentation of the development of type I posterior glottic stenosis after intubation injury.

Bilateral vocal fold immobility may result from bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis or physiologic insults to the airway such as glottic scars. The progression of mucosal injury to granulation tissue, and then posterior glottis stenosis, is an accepted theory but has not been photodocumented. This paper presents serial images from common postintubation injury to less common posterior glottic stenosis with interarytenoid synechia.

Parotidectomy and neck dissection in the management of conjunctival melanoma: are they necessary?

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The objectives of this study were to review traditional techniques for the management of conjunctival melanoma and assess the need for parotidectomy and neck dissection in the management of conjunctival melanoma. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. METHODS: This study was a retrospective review conducted in a tertiary academic medical center of patients diagnosed with conjunctival melanoma over a 20-year period RESULTS: There were 39 patients diagnosed with conjunctival melanoma identified from January 1990 to December 2010. Follow-up varied from 2 to 201 months (median, 25 months). Of the patients, 16 (41%) had local recurrences at the primary site, two (13%) of whom later presented with parotid disease. One patient with parotid recurrence had a subsequent neck dissection for confirmed metastatic spread. No patient in this series had metastatic cervical disease without initial spread to the parotid. The probability of disease-free survival at 1, 2, and 5 years was 77%, 68%, and 50%, respectively. The probability of parotid free progression at 1, 2, and 5 years was 100%, 96%, and 90%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Conjunctival melanoma is a rare malignancy traditionally managed with aggressive treatment to optimize local control. The role for staging parotidectomy with or without neck dissection has been heavily debated. Based on our review, parotidectomy only needs to be undertaken when high suspicion for metastatic spread is present, such as a palpable or radiographically evident mass. In addition, without documented parotid disease, neck dissection is not required.

Deliberation to enhance awareness of and prioritize socioeconomic interventions for health.

Health disparities are, to a large extent, the result of socio-economic factors that cannot be entirely mitigated through the health care system. While an array of social services are thought to be necessary to address the social determinants of health, budget constraints, particularly in difficult economic times, limit the availability of such services. It is therefore necessary to prioritize interventions through some fair process. While it might be appropriate to engage in public deliberation to set priorities, doing so requires that the public accept such a deliberative process and appreciate the social determinants of health. We therefore analyzed the results of a study in which groups deliberated to prioritize socio-economic interventions to examine whether these two requirements can possibly be met and to explore the basis for their priorities. A total of 431 residents of Washington, D.C. with incomes under 200% of the federal poverty threshold participated in 43 groups to engage in a hypothetical exercise to prioritize interventions designed to ameliorate the social determinants of health within the constraints of a limited budget. Findings from pre- and post-exercise questionnaires demonstrate that the priority setting exercise was perceived as a fair deliberative process, and that following the deliberation, participants became more likely to agree that a broad number of determinants contribute to their health. Qualitative analysis of the group discussions indicate that participants prioritized interventions that would provide for basic necessities and improve community conditions, while at the same time addressing more macro-structural factors such as homelessness and unemployment. We conclude that engaging small groups in deliberation about ways to address the social determinants of health can both change participant attitudes and yield informed priorities that might guide public policy aimed at most affordably reducing health disparities.