Analysis of disability resulting from treatment including radical neck dissection or modified neck dissection.

A multiinstitutional study to define the impact of total treatment programs involving radical neck dissection (RND) and modified neck dissection (MND) on patients' permanent disability was undertaken. A total of 243 patient responses were included in the study. Comparative analyses between the treatment groups show no advantage of one surgical operation over the other in returning patients to their pretreatment employment status. Radiation therapy was identified as adding significantly to the patient's permanent disability.

Irradiation autogenous mandibular grafts in primary reconstructions.

The procedure, irradiated mandibular autografts, for primary reconstruction, is presented with an immediate success rate of 88%. Eight cases have undergone primary mandibular reconstruction with the tumorous mandible irradiated to 10,000 rads in a single dose. The longest follow-up is 2 3/4 years. The autograft has proven to be an ideal implant. Major resections of the mandible in conjunction with large myocutaneous flaps have been reconstructed utilizing this implant.

Surgical treatment of hypopharyngeal stenosis in children.

Five cases are presented of severe scarring, in the hypopharynx in children, which did not respond to conservative measures. These patients were treated by excision of the scar tissue and reconstitution of the area by Z-plasty, local mucosal flaps, regional chest flaps and colon transfer depending upon the severity of the problem. All had rehabilitation undertaken of the structural integrity of deglutive, respiratory, and vocal mechanisms. It is recommended that in this type of problem early rehabilitation is warranted rather than subjecting the child to prolonged gastrostomy and tracheotomy into puberty. When extended, the morbidity has a physical and psychological affect on these children.

Melanoma of the head and neck.

A retrospective review from 1935 to 1962 of 772 melanomas involving the head and neck seen at the Pack Medical Foundation (PMF) is presented with the main emphasis of 660 cutaneous and mucosal melanomas. Clark's levels for pathologic invasion are presented and correlated to 289 cases with 19 percent in Level II and 81 percent deeply invasive at Level III, IV, and V. The face was the most commom location with the cheek alone accounting for 22.3 percent of all the cases. The male to female ratio was 1.5 to 1 with 76 percent of the cases being equally distributed among the fourth through the seventh decades. 55.9 percent were local disease, Stage I, with 33.5 percent, Stage II, and 10.6 percent, Stage III or distal disease. The five-year or greater absolute cure rate in positive nodal disease was 12.6 percent. Elective versus no elective neck dissection in Stage IA disease demonstrated a five-year or greater absolute cure rate of 55 percent as compared to 38.5 percent. Distal metastases occurred in 30 percent of cases with elective neck dissection but in 70 percent of those cases with therapeutic neck dissection. The absolute five-year or greater cure rate was able to be analyzed in 556 cases. The rate was 25.6 percent for the mucosal and cutaneous lesions combined; an 8 percent rate for mucosal alone and 27.8 percent for cutaneous melanoma. The five-year or greater absolute cure rate for those cases treated totally at PMF was 35.4 percent.

Fine-needle biopsy techniques of aspiration versus capillary in head and neck masses.

Fine-needle aspiration and fine-needle capillary biopsy techniques were compared, and the number of samples necessary to assure a diagnostic specimen was determined. In this study, each mass served as its own control, since both aspiration and capillary fine-needle biopsy were performed randomly on each mass. The study found the number of "superior" slides to be evenly distributed between the two biopsy techniques, but a different preference, based on tumor type, was noted for one or the other technique. The "best" slides were obtained from one of the first four samples 92% of the time. The authors concluded that both fine-needle aspiration and capillary biopsy should be used and that three to four samples should be obtained to increase the likelihood of a diagnostic biopsy.

Functional outcome after surgery for prevention of pharyngospasms in tracheoesophageal speakers. Part I: Speech characteristics.

The speech characteristics of 29 patients with primary tracheoesophageal puncture who received either a pharyngeal constrictor myotomy, a unilateral pharyngeal plexus neurectomy, or a unilateral pharyngeal plexus neurectomy with drainage myotomy limited to the cricopharyngeus were studied. All patients used a Blom-Singer low-pressure voice prosthesis. Audio recordings of each patient speaking with both the Blom-Singer tracheostoma valve and manual occlusion of the tracheostoma were recorded at 3 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery. The three surgical variations were equally effective at preventing pharyngospasms; only 1 patient (10%) in each group had some loss of fluency during the 12-month study period. Neurectomized patients produced significantly higher fundamental frequencies during reading than did patients in the other groups. Residual resting tone in the neurectomized pharyngoesophageal segment may contribute to more favorable speaking frequencies in this group.

Restoration of the airway following bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis.

Bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis has been treated by a number of ingenious techniques that include arytenoidectomies, vocal cord lateralizations, cordectomies, and, recently, reinnervation procedures and laser arytenoidectomies. An arytenoidectomy is recommended by a thyrotomy approach without lateralization of the vocal cord. The resulting airway is adequate for decannulation by expansion of the posterior glottic aperture, with preservation of the anterior glottis for phonation.

Pharyngeal plexus neurectomy for alaryngeal speech rehabilitation.

Pharyngeal constrictor and cricopharyngeal spasm have been implicated as deterrants to esophageal speech acquisition as well as tracheoesophageal phonation. Recent efforts to reduce the resultant hypertonicity include pharyngeal constrictor myotomies and modifications of pharyngeal reconstruction during laryngectomy. Investigation of the innervation of the muscular wall of the pharynx led to the development of a pharyngeal plexus neurectomy technique to alter the tonicity of the pharynx without myotomy. The resultant alaryngeal speech is fluent, and acoustic parameters compare favorably to esophageal speech.

Sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flap.

The sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flap has several applications for reconstruction of defects about the head and neck. It is used for augmentation of facial defects, carotid artery protection, and repair of oral cavity defects. Additional reconstructive efforts suggest the sternocleidomastoid myocutaneous flap can be used for facial reanimation and as an osteomyocutaneous flap incorporating the clavicle for mandibular reconstruction. Reports of unreliable viability and resection of the sternocleidomastoid muscle during neck dissection decreases the applicability of the flap. Twenty-seven sternocleidomastoid flaps were used in 26 patients for head and neck reconstruction. In contrast to the reported 40% to 50% incidence of superficial slough or total flap necrosis, three (11%) flaps developed superficial (cutaneous) slough while two patients developed inclusion cysts. The technique includes elevation of the sternocleidomastoid muscle with the overlying platysma and skin originally described by Owens. The procedure is modified by removing the epithelium on the tunneled portion of the flap. This allows the flap to be used as a one-stage method of reconstruction without sacrificing the additional blood supply from the platysma and overlying dermis.

Intraoperative radiotherapy of skull base cancer.

As the head and neck surgeon expands the boundaries of resectability into the skull base, the margin of tumor clearance diminishes. Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) can be used as an adjunct to skull base surgery and external beam radiation to enhance local control in areas with close margins or remaining microscopic disease. During the period from May 1982 to May 1988, 25 patients underwent IORT of the skull base following resection and prior to closure to treat microscopic disease in 9 patients, sterilize close margins in 14 patients, and attempt to eliminate remaining gross disease in 2 patients. The types of tumors treated were 13 squamous cell carcinomas, 4 adenoid cystic carcinomas, 3 high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinomas, 3 sarcomas, 1 malignant mixed tumor, and an oncocytic adenocarcinoma. The majority of the tumors either originated in the sinuses or were skull base extensions of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancers. In 22 patients with 1-year follow-up, IORT prevented local recurrence in 14 (64%) patients. This may represent improved control of local disease in patients who historically have a very dismal prognosis. The indications, techniques, and complications of this exciting therapeutic modality are also reviewed.

An efficiency comparison of four heat and moisture exchangers used in the laryngectomized patient.

Bypassing the upper airway places the burden of humidification on the lower airway. For this reason passive heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) are used in the laryngectomized patient in an attempt to minimize the effect of lost upper airway function. We measured efficiency and airflow resistance and calculated the costs of four HMEs used in the laryngectomized patient. The HMEs were measured according a modified International Standards Organization (ISO) 9360 standard. The airflow resistance was measured at flow rates of 15, 30, and 60 L/min. The measurements were repeated three times. Costs were calculated with two realistic scenarios. The study found that there are significant differences in moisture output and airflow resistance between the HMEs tested. There are major daily cost differences between these devices. This study shows that filter material and size influence the HME's moisture output efficiency and airflow resistance considerably. The construction differences and filter and housing type have great influence on the HME's daily costs. We believe that knowledge of the efficiency in combination with the average daily costs of the HMEs allows the clinician to make a balanced choice of which filter to use.

Functional outcome after surgery for prevention of pharyngospasms in tracheoesophageal speakers. Part II: Swallow characteristics.

The swallowing function of 29 patients with primary tracheoesophageal puncture who received either a pharyngeal constrictor myotomy, a unilateral pharyngeal plexus neurectomy, or a unilateral pharyngeal plexus neurectomy with a small drainage myotomy limited to the cricopharyngeus was studied. Swallowing function data were collected on each patient at 3 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after surgery using videofluoroscopy. Differences in swallowing function among the treatment groups were primarily the amounts and loci of oral and pharyngeal residues. The differing patterns of bolus residue may reflect the different mechanisms that were affected by the various procedures. Despite significant changes in some swallow measures, the patients did not complain of dysphagia. Oropharyngoesophageal swallow efficiency--a clinical measure that weighs the amount of bolus swallowed by total transit time--fell within normal limits for each patient group at each evaluation. This measure may be a better index of the patients' perceived normal swallow than the component variables of residue and transit times would suggest.

Surgical salvage for stomal recurrence: a multi-institutional experience.

Recurrence of squamous cell cancer following total laryngectomy constitutes an extremely difficult therapeutic problem. Satisfactory management is elusive and frustrating to the head and neck oncologist. Various recommended therapeutic regimens include symptomatic treatment, palliation with chemotherapy and radiation, and aggressive surgical salvage. While surgery offers the only realistic chance at cure, this procedure is fraught with significant morbidity and a poor success rate. In an attempt to clarify the role of surgical salvage in these patients, experience with 57 patients with stomal recurrence presenting to three head and neck surgical groups will be presented. Forty-one of these patients subsequently underwent definitive surgery. The overall 2-year survival for operated patients was 16% with a 24% determinate survival. Further analysis revealed a 45% 5-year survival with type 1 and 2 lesions and 9% survival with types 3 and 4. Recommendations regarding indications for surgery are made based on this experience.

Utility of preoperative radionuclide scanning for primary hyperparathyroidism.

This study retrospectively reviews 60 cases of primary hyperparathyroidism, 21 of whom underwent technetium 99 sestamibi scanning and 10 of whom underwent thallium 201/technetium 99 pertechnetate scanning preoperatively. The sestamibi and thallium scans demonstrated an 89.5% and a 62.5% sensitivity rate for adenoma, respectively. Neither scan demonstrated hyperplastic glands well. Although the scans localized adenomatous glands to the correct side well, the ability to localize them more discretely was 68.4% and 62.5%, respectively. In cases of solitary adenoma the effect of an accurate preoperative scan on operative time for bilateral exploration was not significant, whereas the experience of the attending surgeon was significant. Also, the cost of the scans at our institution was greater than the cost of the time saved in performing even unilateral neck exploration. Thus preoperative radionuclide scanning is not cost-effective for the initial exploration of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and is insufficiently sensitive to make routine unilateral neck exploration for adenoma consistently effective.

Management of advanced cervical metastasis using intraoperative radiotherapy.

Seventy-five patients who had advanced cervical metastasis with possible invasion of the deep muscles or carotid artery were approached with aggressive resection and intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT). All metastatic nodes were greater than 3 cm, 65% were fixed on clinical examination, and 35% involved the carotid artery. Forty-six (61%) of the patients had previously received irradiation. Fifteen of the patients required extended neck dissections with carotid resections and grafting. After the resection an average single dose of 2000 cGy of electron beam IORT was delivered. At 2 years, the local control rate within the IORT port was 68% and the absolute survival rate was 45%. Local control rates for close and microscopic margins (76% and 73%, respectively) were significantly better than the control rate for gross residual disease (25%, P < .05). The combination of extended neck dissection, including carotid artery resection if necessary, and IORT appears to offer improved control.

Zenker's diverticulum: analysis of surgical complications from diverticulectomy and cricopharyngeal myotomy.

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for postoperative complications in patients undergoing diverticulectomy and cricopharyngeal (CP) myotomy for Zenker's diverticulum. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A chart review was conducted of all patients with a Zenker's diverticulum who were treated with diverticulectomy and cricopharyngeal myotomy at three tertiary care centers in central Indiana between 1988 and 1998. RESULTS: Of the 24 patients identified, 9 developed postoperative complications (2 medical and 7 surgical). Statistical analysis of multiple potential risk factors revealed that only diverticulum size greater than 10 cm2 at surgery placed the patient at increased risk for postoperative surgical complications. To our knowledge, this is the first report that has specifically addressed diverticulum size as an independent risk factor for postoperative surgical complications following diverticulectomy and CP myotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Given our findings, we recommend considering diverticulopexy rather than diverticulectomy in a patient with a Zenker's diverticulum greater than 10 cm2 in size if a cervical approach is the selected treatment.

Irradiated mandibular autografts update.

Nineteen patients underwent primary mandibular reconstruction with irradiated mandibular autografts. Ten were successful, with the longest follow-up being 7 1/2 years; nine failed within six months. Although an excellent graft for size and contour, a 53% success rate is no better than any other primary grafting technique. We have abandoned this technique in most situations and presently are evaluating split-rib grafts and intraoperative radiation to in situ mandibles.

A prospective study of tracheoesophageal speech.

Gates et al suggested that commonly accepted statistics on esophageal speech acquisition may be inflated because they are compiled from retrospective observations that tend to exclude high-risk or poor-outcome patients who are unavailable or unwilling to be assessed. Using a multi-institution prospective study design, they demonstrated that at six months following laryngectomy only 12 (26%) of their 47 patients used esophageal speech. We prospectively assessed a group of 47 laryngectomees' pretracheoesophageal puncture and posttracheoesophageal puncture to determine the efficacy of this speech-rehabilitation method. Forty-four patients (94%) achieved good to superior tracheoesophageal speech, and, at one year, 39 patients (83%) continued to use their voice prosthesis. Results of this study reveal (1) preoperative speech intelligibility and acceptability, (2) predictive value of the preoperative esophageal insufflation test, (3) speech intelligibility and acceptability four days following initial voice prosthesis placement, (4) cost profiles, and (5) results and experiences at one year.

Intraoperative radiotherapy of head and neck cancer.

Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) was developed as an adjuvant to surgery and external beam radiation for aggressive, extensive, or recurrent cancers of the head and neck. This report reviews the indications, technique, response, and complications of IORT. From May 1982 to May 1988, 104 patients received 15 to 20 Gy of radiation delivered through a Lucite cone to areas of high risk of recurrence following resection and prior to closure. The indications for treatment were (1) aggressive primary or recurrent cancer; (2) disease fixed to deep muscle, carotid, or bone; or (3) close margins in an effort to preserve vital structures or function. The IORT was effective in preventing local recurrence in 14 (40%) of 35 patients with 2-year follow-up of squamous cell carcinoma. The complication rate was acceptable. Intraoperative radiotherapy appears to be a safe and beneficial adjunctive therapy for cancers that historically have extremely dismal prognoses.

Tracheostoma valve for postlaryngectomy voice rehabilitation.

Newer surgical techniques for postlaryngectomy voice rehabilitation provide a simple, effective method of communication but require manual occlusion of the tracheostoma during speech. We report the development of a unique tracheostoma valve that avoids the necessity for covering the stoma. This airflow-sensitive valve closes during speech and remains open with normal respiration. Results of a clinical trial with 50 patients over a ten-month period are encouraging. Our experience suggests that excessive vocal tract resistance to airflow is the principal limitation to effective valve use. Approaches to decreasing airflow resistance through the vocal tract to improve both voice production and tracheostoma valve use are discussed.