ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has inevitably caused those involved in cancer care to change clinical practice in order to minimize the risk of infection while maintaining cancer treatment as a priority. General advice during the pandemic suggests that most patients continue with ongoing therapies or planned surgeries, while follow-up visits may instead be delayed until the resolution of the outbreak. We conducted a literature search using PubMed to identify articles published in English language that reported on care recommendations for cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic from its inception up to 1st June 2020, using the terms "(cancer or tumor) AND (COVID 19)". Articles were selected for relevance and split into five categories: (1) personal recommendations of single or multiple authors, (2) recommendations of single authoritative centers, (3) recommendations of panels of experts or of multiple regional comprehensive centers, (4) recommendations of multicenter cooperative groups, (5) official guidelines or recommendations of health authorities. Of the 97 included studies, 10 were personal recommendations of single or multiple independent authors, 16 were practice recommendations of single authoritative cancer centers, 35 were recommendations provided by panel of experts or of multiple regional comprehensive centers, 19 were cooperative group position papers, and finally, 17 were official guidelines statements. The COVID-19 pandemic is a global emergency, and has rapidly modified our clinical practice. Delaying unnecessary treatment, minimizing toxicity, and identifying care priorities for surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic therapies must be viewed as basic priorities in the COVID-19 era.
Subject(s)
Fistula/etiology , Foreign Bodies/etiology , Foreign Bodies/surgery , Hypopharynx , Prosthesis Failure/adverse effects , Respiratory Tract Fistula/etiology , Spinal Diseases/etiology , Cervical Vertebrae , Dyspnea/etiology , Foreign Bodies/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Laryngoscopy , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Middle Aged , Vertebroplasty/instrumentationABSTRACT
Periorbital swelling is frequently encountered in ear, nose, and throat practices and, as it may be secondary to acute sinusitis, delayed diagnosis may lead to significant morbidity. We describe the case of a 24-year-old man with acute ethmoid-maxillary sinusitis and ipsilateral facial swelling particularly involving the periorbital area. We also discuss the workup that led to the formulation of an unusual diagnosis.
Subject(s)
Edema/etiology , Ethmoid Sinusitis/complications , Face/pathology , Maxillary Sinusitis/complications , Self-Injurious Behavior/complications , Subcutaneous Emphysema/complications , Acute Disease , Ethmoid Sinusitis/diagnosis , Ethmoid Sinusitis/etiology , Humans , Male , Maxillary Sinusitis/diagnosis , Maxillary Sinusitis/etiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) is an endogenous gas involved in airway pathophysiology and is determined in orally exhaled air by various techniques. However, traditional single-breath technique (eNO(SB)) requires active cooperation and is not always easily practicable (especially in young children); simpler techniques including tidal breathing measurements (eNO(TB)) are not standardized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible correlation and correspondence between eNO(SB) and eNO(TB) and the impact of potential confounders in children with chronic adenotonsillar disease. METHODS: Eighty-six children (mean age 8.7 ± 3.2 y) underwent eNO assessment by means of eNO(SB) and eNO(TB). The correlation among eNO(TB), eNO(SB), and other potential confounders (i.e., gender, age, weight, height, BMI, and passive smoking exposure) were studied. RESULTS: The analyses showed a poor correspondence between eNO(SB) and eNO(TB), with the latter underestimating (P < 0.001) mean eNO values: 6.4 parts per billion (ppb) (95% confidence interval (CI): 8.4-11.4 ppb) vs. 9.8 ppb (95% CI: 5.6-7.3 ppb). A greater correlation was found between eNO(SB) and eNO(TB) in children younger than 6 y. Only eNO(SB) and age predicted eNO(TB) (R2 = 43.6%). CONCLUSION: eNO(TB) is not a good predictor of eNO(SB) in children. Constant-flow eNO(SB) is the technique of choice for eNO assessment in young children.
Subject(s)
Breath Tests/methods , Exhalation , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Pharyngeal Diseases/diagnosis , Respiratory Rate , Adolescent , Age Factors , Biomarkers/metabolism , Child , Child, Preschool , Chronic Disease , Female , Humans , Linear Models , Male , Multivariate Analysis , Pharyngeal Diseases/metabolism , Pharyngeal Diseases/physiopathology , Predictive Value of TestsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Frey syndrome (profuse sweating and cutaneous flushing in the area innervated by the auriculotemporal nerve) is a frequent and unpleasant complication of parotidectomy. Fat injections may be useful in preventing the abnormal nerve neo-anastomoses sprouting to the sweat glands that are responsible for gustatory sweating, but have never been used before. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We describe the use of fat injections into the parotid gland of four patients with post-parotidectomy Frey syndrome. RESULTS: All of the patients experienced a clinical and subjective improvement, although slight sweating persisted. There were no untoward effects during the procedure and, in particular, no facial nerve impairment. CONCLUSION: On the basis of our experience minimally invasive fat injections can be considered in the case of post-parotidectomy Frey syndrome, but patients should be informed that subsequent procedures may be needed to achieve a definitive result.
