A comparison between sniffing and blowing for olfactory testing before and after laryngectomy.

PURPOSE: Olfactory dysfunction occurs after laryngectomy due to the loss of nasal airflow and inability to sniff. However, the reason for the loss of olfactory function after laryngectomy is unclear on evaluation with sniffing type tests performed individually. It is expected that the sensorineural olfaction remains, and the results of the sniffing test would be negative, while that of the odour-blowing test would be positive. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate both tests and prove normal olfaction in the patients. METHODS: Patients who had undergone laryngectomy were evaluated using the T&T olfactometer for odour-sniffing tests, Jet Stream Olfactometer (JSO) for odour-blowing tests, and visual analogue scale (VAS). Evaluations were performed pre-operatively, and 1 month, 6 months, and 1-year post-laryngectomy. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were included in the study. The median recognition thresholds using the T&T and JSO were 1.4 and 2.2 before surgery, 5.8 and 5.4 at 1 month, 5.8 and 5.2 at 6 months, and 5.8 and 5.0 at 1 year after surgery, respectively. Results of the olfactory threshold test in both T&T and JSO and VAS score were significantly worse after surgery compared to that before laryngectomy (p < 0.05). The degree of increase was significantly smaller with JSO than with T&T (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: While we could not prove normal olfaction in patients after laryngectomy, the odour-blowing test was superior to the odour-sniffing test in detecting patients with residual olfaction. Simply blowing a scent is insufficient to obtain good olfaction; active airflow is crucial for recognizing odours.

Radiological differences in computed tomography findings and texture analysis between cystic lymph node metastases of human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer and second branchial cysts.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to analyse radiological differences in computed tomography (CT) findings and texture analysis between cystic lymph node metastases (CNM) in human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) and second branchial cleft cysts (2nd BC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with pathological evidence of CNM-HPV-OPC and 2nd BC, who underwent contrast-enhanced CT, were retrospectively evaluated. The evaluated characteristics include age, sex, and CT findings. CT findings included the maximum and minimum transverse diameters, maximum caudal diameter, thickness of the peripheral wall, presence of internal septation, presence of surrounding fat stranding, location, and 40 texture parameters. RESULTS: A total of 13 patients had CNM-HPV-OPC (19 lesions), while 20 patients had 2nd BC (20 lesions). Patients with 2nd BC were significantly younger than those with CNM-HPV-OPC (p < 0.001). In terms of diameter, 2nd BC lesions were significantly larger than the CNM-HPV-OPC lesions (p < 0.001). CNM-HPV OPC lesions had significantly thicker walls than 2nd BC lesions (p < 0.001). CNM-HPV-OPC lesions had significantly higher association with internal septations than 2nd BC lesions (p < 0.001). Second BC lesions were significantly less common at level III than CNM-HPV-OPC lesions (p = 0.047). Among the 40 texture parameters measured, 8 had significant differences (p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There were significant differences in CT findings and textural parameters between CNM-HPV-OPC and 2nd BC lesions. These results may help in differentiating one from the other.

The Presence of HPV DNA in Neck Lymph Node Metastasis Correlates with Improved Overall Survival of Patients with Oropharyngeal Cancer Undergoing Surgical Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have addressed how human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) affects the outcome of surgical therapy; furthermore, the relationship between the presence of HPV DNA and neck lymph node (LN) metastasis has not been well established. METHODS: A total of 65 patients who underwent surgery as a first-line therapy for OPSCC were enrolled in this study. In HPV-positive patients, the presence of HPV DNA in metastatic neck LN lesions was evaluated. RESULTS: The HPV-positive patients had significantly better overall survival than the HPV-negative patients (log-rank test, p = 0.04), whereas HPV infection status did not significantly affect disease-free survival (log-rank test, p = 0.65). In all of the HPV-positive OPSCC patients who developed cervical LN metastasis, the same HPV DNA type was found in both the primary tumour and the metastases. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that HPV infection is a determining factor for good prognosis in patients undergoing first-line surgical therapy for OPSCC.

Weekly Cisplatin Plus Radiation for Postoperative Head and Neck Cancer (JCOG1008): A Multicenter, Noninferiority, Phase II/III Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: The standard treatment for postoperative high-risk locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA-SCCHN) is chemoradiotherapy with 3-weekly cisplatin (100 mg/m2). However, whether chemoradiotherapy with weekly cisplatin (40 mg/m2) yields comparable efficacy with 3-weekly cisplatin in postoperative high-risk LA-SCCHN is unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this multi-institutional open-label phase II/III trial, patients with postoperative high-risk LA-SCCHN were randomly assigned to receive either chemoradiotherapy with 3-weekly cisplatin (100 mg/m2) or with weekly cisplatin (40 mg/m2) to confirm the noninferiority of weekly cisplatin. The primary end point of phase II was the proportion of treatment completion, and that of phase III was overall survival. A noninferiority margin of hazard ratio was set at 1.32. RESULTS: Between October 2012 and December 2018, a total of 261 patients were enrolled (3-weekly cisplatin, 132 patients; weekly cisplatin, 129 patients). At the planned third interim analysis in the phase III part, after a median follow-up of 2.2 (interquartile range 1.19-3.56) years, chemoradiotherapy with weekly cisplatin was noninferior to 3-weekly cisplatin in terms of overall survival, with a hazard ratio of 0.69 (99.1% CI, 0.374 to 1.273 [< 1.32], one-sided P for noninferiority = .0027 < .0043). Grade 3 or more neutropenia and infection were less frequent in the weekly arm (3-weekly v weekly, 49% v 35% and 12% v 7%, respectively), as were renal impairment and hearing impairment. No treatment-related death was reported in the 3-weekly arm, and two (1.6%) in the weekly arm. CONCLUSION: Chemoradiotherapy with weekly cisplatin is noninferior to 3-weekly cisplatin for patients with postoperative high-risk LA-SCCHN. These findings suggest that chemoradiotherapy with weekly cisplatin can be a possible treatment option for these patients.

Imaging predictor of ophthalmic involvement in maxillary sinus cancer during super selective intra-arterial cisplatin infusion and concomitant radiotherapy (RADPLAT).

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the predictability of ophthalmic artery involvement in maxillary sinus cancer using preprocedural contrast enhanced CT and MRI. METHODS: We analyzed advanced (T3, T4a, and T4b) primary maxillary sinus squamous cell carcinoma treated with super-selective intra-arterial cisplatin infusion and concomitant radiotherapy (RADPLAT) from Oct 2016 to Mar 2020. Two diagnostic radiologists evaluated the tumor invasion site around the maxillary sinus using preprocedural imaging. These results were compared with the angiographic involvement of the ophthalmic artery using statistical analyses. We also evaluated our RADPLAT quality using complication rate, response to treatment, local progressive free survival (LPFS), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Twenty patients were included in this study. There were ten cases of ophthalmic artery tumor stain and there was a correlation between ophthalmic artery involvement and invasion for ethmoid sinus with statistically significant differences. Other imaging findings were not associated with ophthalmic artery involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Ethmoid sinus invasion on preprocedural imaging could suggest ophthalmic artery involvement in maxillary sinus cancer. It may be useful in predicting prognosis and treatment selection.

Pre-treatment MRI predictor of high-grade malignant parotid gland cancer.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate pre-treatment MRI predictors of high-grade malignant parotid gland cancer by comparing MRI findings and texture parameters between high-grade and intermediate/low-grade parotid gland cancers. METHODS: Patients underwent a pre-treatment MRI and had a parotid gland cancer resection with pathological evaluation. Evaluation objectives included attributive factors such as age and gender, several MRI findings of T1- and T2-weighted images, post-contrast fat suppression T1-weighted images, ADC value and 40 texture parameters calculated from T2-weighted axial images. Such objects were compared between high-grade and intermediate/low-grade lesions. RESULTS: Of the parotid gland cancers surveyed, 39 were included for analysis. Of these, 18 were high-grade lesions, 2 were intermediate-grade lesions, and 19 were low-grade lesions. The high-grade group was significantly older than the low- and intermediate-grade groups (p = 0.01). There were more males in the high-grade group than in the low- and intermediate-grade groups (p = 0.01). There were also significantly more MRI findings of neck lymph node metastases in the high-grade group than in the low- and intermediate-grade groups (p < 0.001). Other MRI findings and texture parameters did not show significant differences between the two groups (p = 0.07-1.00). CONCLUSIONS: Morphological assessment on MRI and texture parameters alone is not sufficient to estimate the grade of parotid cancer. MRI findings of neck lymph node metastases, as well as patient characteristics such as age (older patients) and gender (male) can be suggestive of high-grade parotid gland cancer in pre-treatment evaluation.

Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the nasolacrimal duct treated with proton beam therapy.

Primary malignant tumors of the lacrimal passage, particularly of the nasolacrimal duct, are rare. We describe a 72-year-old woman who presented with lacrimation 5 years previously. She had pain and bloody and purulent lacrimation, and a mass was identified in the inferior meatus. Accordingly, she was diagnosed with primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the nasolacrimal duct. She was treated with proton beam therapy and showed a favorable response. Owing to the long-term risks of recurrence and distant metastasis, adenoid cystic carcinoma requires sufficient follow-up.