Margin status, adjuvant treatment and recurrence in buccal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prognostic importance of margin in resected buccal cancer within a framework of risk factor-driven postoperative adjuvant treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive, treatment naïve patients undergoing primary surgical treatment for buccal cancer. Margin was defined as clear (≥5 mm), close (1-4 mm) and involved (<1 mm). Main outcome was association of margin with local recurrence free survival (LRFS). Subgroup analysis of close margin was performed according to receipt or no receipt of adjuvant treatment. A numerical margin cut-off in mm that could independently predict LRFS was sought to be identified. RESULTS: Of the 167 patients included, the frequency of clear, close and involved margins was 50 (30 %), 78 (47 %) and 39 (23 %) respectively, among whom 52 %, 44 % and 98 % received postoperative adjuvant treatment respectively. Clear and close margins had similar 3-year LRFS (89 % and 96 % respectively), while involved margin had worse 3-year LRFS at 65 %. Involved margin was confirmed to be strongly and independently associated with worse LRFS. Within close margin, receipt and no receipt of adjuvant treatment had similar 3-year LRFS (92 % and 100 % respectively). A margin cut-off of 2 mm was identified at or above which LRFS approximated that of clear margin. CONCLUSIONS: This single center cohort study of patients with resected buccal cancer suggests that close margin is distinct from and has a better LRFS than involved margin. A subset of close margin, with margin size ≥ 2 mm and no other adverse features, might be spared adjuvant treatment without compromising outcomes.

Baseline findings of a multicentric ambispective cohort study (2021-2022) among hospitalised mucormycosis patients in India.

In India, the incidence of mucormycosis reached high levels during 2021-2022, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this, we established a multicentric ambispective cohort of patients hospitalised with mucormycosis across India. In this paper, we report their baseline profile, clinical characteristics and outcomes at discharge. Patients hospitalized for mucormycosis during March-July 2021 were included. Mucormycosis was diagnosed based on mycological confirmation on direct microscopy (KOH/Calcofluor white stain), culture, histopathology, or supportive evidence from endoscopy or imaging. After consent, trained data collectors used medical records and telephonic interviews to capture data in a pre-tested structured questionnaire. At baseline, we recruited 686 patients from 26 study hospitals, of whom 72.3% were males, 78% had a prior history of diabetes, 53.2% had a history of corticosteroid treatment, and 80% were associated with COVID-19. Pain, numbness or swelling of the face were the commonest symptoms (73.3%). Liposomal Amphotericin B was the commonest drug formulation used (67.1%), and endoscopic sinus surgery was the most common surgical procedure (73.6%). At discharge, the disease was stable in 43.3%, in regression for 29.9% but 9.6% died during hospitalization. Among survivors, commonly reported disabilities included facial disfigurement (18.4%) and difficulties in chewing/swallowing (17.8%). Though the risk of mortality was only 1 in 10, the disability due to the disease was very high. This cohort study could enhance our understanding of the disease's clinical progression and help frame standard treatment guidelines.

Distal positioning of the skin paddle of pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in head and neck reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: To assess outcomes of pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (PMF) wherein the skin paddle (SP) was positioned with its distal portion extending beyond the lower border of pectoralis major by ≥2 cm (PMF-d). METHODS: Consecutive head and neck reconstructions with PMF-d (n = 110). SP dimensions l2 (distal extent below the lower border of pectoralis major), l1 (proximal extent above lower border of pectoralis major), and b (breadth) were recorded. Endpoints were SP necrosis, recipient dehiscence, early fistula, and persistent fistula. RESULTS: Median values of l2 , l1 , and b were 3.0, 6.0, and 6.0 cm, respectively. When l2 = 2.0-3.0 cm, SP necrosis occurred in only one (1%) subject (with obesity). When l2 was ≥3.5 cm, necrosis occurred in four (16%) subjects, three of whom also had l1 /l2 < 2.0 (proximal SP < 67% of entire SP). Statistically, increased l2 was the only risk factor for necrosis (p = 0.001). Overall, incidence of recipient dehiscence, early fistula, and persistent fistula were 32 (29%), 20 (20%), and 3 (3%), respectively. Persistent fistula occurred only in the setting of SP necrosis and/or re-irradiation. CONCLUSION: Careful patient selection, adequate proximal SP, and l2 = 2.0-3.0 cm is associated with a negligible risk of necrosis. The enhanced reach and laxity and additional skin surface area and soft tissue volume conferred with PMF-d facilitate recipient wound healing.

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules (THYCOVID): a retrospective, international, multicentre, cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Since its outbreak in early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has diverted resources from non-urgent and elective procedures, leading to diagnosis and treatment delays, with an increased number of neoplasms at advanced stages worldwide. The aims of this study were to quantify the reduction in surgical activity for indeterminate thyroid nodules during the COVID-19 pandemic; and to evaluate whether delays in surgery led to an increased occurrence of aggressive tumours. METHODS: In this retrospective, international, cross-sectional study, centres were invited to participate in June 22, 2022; each centre joining the study was asked to provide data from medical records on all surgical thyroidectomies consecutively performed from Jan 1, 2019, to Dec 31, 2021. Patients with indeterminate thyroid nodules were divided into three groups according to when they underwent surgery: from Jan 1, 2019, to Feb 29, 2020 (global prepandemic phase), from March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2021 (pandemic escalation phase), and from June 1 to Dec 31, 2021 (pandemic decrease phase). The main outcomes were, for each phase, the number of surgeries for indeterminate thyroid nodules, and in patients with a postoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancers, the occurrence of tumours larger than 10 mm, extrathyroidal extension, lymph node metastases, vascular invasion, distant metastases, and tumours at high risk of structural disease recurrence. Univariate analysis was used to compare the probability of aggressive thyroid features between the first and third study phases. The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05178186. FINDINGS: Data from 157 centres (n=49 countries) on 87 467 patients who underwent surgery for benign and malignant thyroid disease were collected, of whom 22 974 patients (18 052 [78·6%] female patients and 4922 [21·4%] male patients) received surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules. We observed a significant reduction in surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules during the pandemic escalation phase (median monthly surgeries per centre, 1·4 [IQR 0·6-3·4]) compared with the prepandemic phase (2·0 [0·9-3·7]; p<0·0001) and pandemic decrease phase (2·3 [1·0-5·0]; p<0·0001). Compared with the prepandemic phase, in the pandemic decrease phase we observed an increased occurrence of thyroid tumours larger than 10 mm (2554 [69·0%] of 3704 vs 1515 [71·5%] of 2119; OR 1·1 [95% CI 1·0-1·3]; p=0·042), lymph node metastases (343 [9·3%] vs 264 [12·5%]; OR 1·4 [1·2-1·7]; p=0·0001), and tumours at high risk of structural disease recurrence (203 [5·7%] of 3584 vs 155 [7·7%] of 2006; OR 1·4 [1·1-1·7]; p=0·0039). INTERPRETATION: Our study suggests that the reduction in surgical activity for indeterminate thyroid nodules during the COVID-19 pandemic period could have led to an increased occurrence of aggressive thyroid tumours. However, other compelling hypotheses, including increased selection of patients with aggressive malignancies during this period, should be considered. We suggest that surgery for indeterminate thyroid nodules should no longer be postponed even in future instances of pandemic escalation. FUNDING: None.

Predictors of surgical site infection and pneumonia following oral cavity tumor surgery.

BACKGROUND: To identify risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) and pneumonia following oral cavity tumor surgery. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of a consecutive series of patients undergoing oral cavity resection. Several clinicopathologic variables were tested for their association with SSI and pneumonia. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-four cases in 330 patients were included. Incidence of SSI and pneumonia was 67 (19.5%) and 38 (11%), respectively. On multivariate analysis, marginal mandibulectomy and segmental mandibulectomy were independent risk factors for SSI, whereas time under anesthesia (TUA) was an independent risk factor for pneumonia. Receiver operating characteristic curve identified 390 min as the cutoff above which pneumonia was predicted with a high degree of accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: In oral cavity resections, mandibulectomy predisposes to SSI. Further, prolonged TUA (>390 min) is a powerful predictor for pneumonia. As it is a modifiable risk factor, reduction in TUA might correspondingly lower the incidence of postoperative pneumonia.

Outcomes of parathyroid gland identification and autotransplantation during total thyroidectomy.

PURPOSE: To report the outcomes of parathyroid gland (PG) identification and autotransplantation (autoT) during thyroidectomy. METHODS: Consecutive total thyroidectomy cases performed by a single surgeon using extracapsular dissection technique were considered. PGs were not intentionally sought during dissection. PG location, number identified and autoT were prospectively recorded and correlated to postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: In all, 265 cases were included. The mean number of PGs identified per case was 2.7. The number of PGs identified had no correlation to postoperative hypocalcemia. However, independent risk factors for hypocalcemia were female sex, bilateral central compartment neck dissection (CND) and autoT > 1 PG; and for permanent hypoparathyroidism were female sex and bilateral CND. AutoT did not protect against permanent hypoparathyroidism. CONCLUSION: The number of PGs identified during the course of a standard extracapsular dissection technique had no correlation to postoperative hypocalcemia. Whenever possible, avoiding bilateral CND and careful techniques to preserve PGs in an in situ and viable state, to obviate the necessity for autoT, are recommended.

Surgical repair of mechanical ventilation induced tracheoesophageal fistula.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of surgery to repair tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) caused by mechanical ventilation. METHOD: Case series and review of all cases reported in English literature. Only reports of TEF following mechanical ventilation and containing description of surgical repair and outcomes were included. RESULTS: A total of 41 studies comprising 143 patients met the inclusion criteria. Most studies had incomplete information on important variables such as co-morbidity and fistula size. Tracheal resection anastomosis (TRA) was the most common approach, performed in 91 (63.6%) patients (including three newly reported here). Lateral approach repair (LA) was done in 45 (31.5%) patients. The former had a higher incidence of pre-existing tracheal stenosis [53 (89.8%) vs. 7 (35%) cases; p < 0.001]. Flap interposition to augment the repair was done in 49 (53.9%) and 40 (88.9%) cases, respectively (p < 0.001). Successful and durable healing of the fistula were achieved in 90 (98.9%) cases in TRA and 39 (88.6%) cases in LA. CONCLUSION: In carefully selected cases of TEF caused by mechanical ventilation, TRA is the most preferred approach, delivering successful healing in almost all cases. Where TRA is not indicated or preferred, LA appears to be a good alternative. Future studies should explicitly report all of the known co-variables, so that the exact indications for choosing a particular surgical approach could be better elucidated.

Occult invasion of sternothyroid muscle by differentiated thyroid cancer.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of occult invasion of sternothyroid by differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and identify clinico-pathological features associated with the same. METHODS: Retrospective study of a consecutive series of DTC patients undergoing surgery, with preoperative ultrasound showing no evidence of strap muscle invasion. All had en bloc excision of sternothyroid muscle along with thyroidectomy. Incidence of microscopic invasion of sternothyroid and clinicopathologic features associated with the same, were studied. RESULTS: A total of 76 patients with DTC (2010-2014) were identified, of whom 62 met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study. Of these, 22 (36%) had no extrathyroidal extension (ETE), 30 (48%) had minimal ETE without sternothyroid invasion and 10 (16%) had minimal ETE with microscopic sternothyroid invasion. The mean tumor sizes of the three sub-groups were 1.9, 3.1 and 4.9 cm, respectively, with a significant difference between no ETE and sternothyroid invaded sub-groups (p = 0.03). Out of the 40 cases with minimal ETE, 3 (7.5%) had positive tumor microscopic margin. Retaining sternothyroid in situ would have theoretically increased this proportion to 27.5%. Over a median follow-up of 52 months, 58 (94%) patients remained structurally disease free, with only 1 local recurrence. CONCLUSION: Occult invasion of sternothyroid muscle occurred in 16% of DTC in this series. Excision of the muscle en bloc with thyroidectomy, particularly in larger tumors, may confer benefit in accurately staging the disease, encompassing occult ETE and achieving clear microscopic margins.

Sacrificing the buccal branch of the facial nerve during parotidectomy.

BACKGROUND: The need for and consequence of sacrificing the buccal branch of the facial nerve during parotidectomy is unknown. We sought to determine the indication, frequency, and functional outcome of buccal branch sacrifice. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of all cases of parotidectomy at a tertiary referral center. RESULTS: Of 100 consecutive cases of parotidectomy, the buccal branch was sacrificed in 23 cases. This subgroup was more likely to have anterior or deep lesions (p < .001), retrograde facial nerve dissection (p = .037), and immediate postoperative upper and lower facial weakness (p = .051 and .002, respectively). However, if the temporozygomatic and cervicomandibular branches were anatomically preserved, full facial (including buccal) function was restored. CONCLUSION: Deep or anterior lesions may warrant sacrifice of the buccal branch for adequate access and excision. However, this does not result in long-term impairment of facial function. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 1821-1825, 2016.

Drain removal and aspiration to treat low output chylous fistula.

Chylous fistula following neck dissection is difficult to treat. We hypothesized that timely removal of the suction drain followed by daily aspiration might aid in resolution of the condition. The study model is prospective cohort study. Out of 170 consecutive neck dissections, 7 (4 %) developed chylous fistula postoperatively. Retaining the suction drain was associated with resolution of the fistula in only one case. The remaining six had peak 24 h outputs between 85 and 675 ml that showed no significant fall despite maximal conservative treatment. Suction drain removal followed by daily needle aspiration however led to cessation of the fistula in all six cases. No patient required surgical re-exploration. Drain removal was associated with a significant fall in the volume of chylous output (p = 0.002). In selected cases of low output chylous fistula, suction drain removal and daily needle aspiration is an effective treatment option.

A phase II study of intra-arterial cisplatin with concurrent radiation and erlotinib for locally advanced head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: Based on the convenient oral dosing of erlotinib and the promising results of biologic therapy, we undertook a phase II study with 21 patients with locally advanced (T3-4) lesions combining radiation with intra-arterial (IA) cisplatin and oral daily erlotinib for a 7-week therapy. METHODS: Treatment for the primary tumor and upper neck was given to a total dose of 70 Gy. Chemotherapy with IA cisplatin (150 mg/m(2)) was given on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 concurrently with radiotherapy. During the 7-week treatment period, patients were given erlotinib 150 mg/day. RESULTS: Overall survival is 63 %, and the relapse/persistent disease rate stands at 36.8 %. A total of 15.2 % of serious adverse event was considered related to erlotinib. CONCLUSION: Our study and several others now demonstrate the feasibility of combining anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapy with chemoradiation, hint at improved survival outcomes with reduced distant metastatic rates, and suggest that maintenance therapy with anti-EGFR agent may be beneficial.

Mediastinal goiter presenting with ventricular tachycardia.

BACKGROUND: We report a rare case of a mediastinal goiter confined to the thoracic inlet and cavity presenting with ventricular tachycardia as the sole clinical manifestation. METHODS AND RESULTS: The patient did not have any of the typical features of a mediastinal goiter such as neck swelling, dysphagia, or respiratory difficulty, but instead had spontaneous onset of wide-complex tachycardia requiring emergency treatment. This atypical presentation led to initial misinterpretation of imaging studies and delayed diagnosis of the mediastinal mass. The large, completely intrathoracic thyroid goiter abutted the cardiac muscle and required a combined transcervical and median sternotomy approach for removal. The arrhythmia resolved postoperatively. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this case represents the first documented presentation of ventricular tachycardia as a unique and sole feature of mediastinal goiter.

Antibiotics to reduce post-tonsillectomy morbidity.

BACKGROUND: This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in The Cochrane Library in Issue 2, 2008 and previously updated in 2010.Tonsillectomy continues to be one of the most common surgical procedures performed in children and adults. Despite improvements in surgical and anaesthetic techniques, postoperative morbidity, mainly in the form of pain, remains a significant clinical problem. Postoperative bacterial infection of the tonsillar fossa has been proposed as an important factor causing pain and associated morbidity, and some studies have found a reduction in morbid outcomes following the administration of perioperative antibiotics. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether perioperative antibiotics reduce pain and other morbid outcomes following tonsillectomy. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); PubMed; EMBASE; CINAHL; Web of Science; BIOSIS Previews; Cambridge Scientific Abstracts; ICTRP and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The date of the most recent search was 20 March 2012. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised controlled trials examining the impact of perioperative administration of systemic antibiotics on post-tonsillectomy morbidity in children or adults. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently collected data. Primary outcomes were pain, consumption of analgesia and secondary haemorrhage (defined as significant if patient re-admitted, transfused blood products or returned to theatre, and total (any documented) haemorrhage). Secondary outcomes were fever, time taken to resume normal diet and activities and adverse events. Where possible, we generated summary measures using random-effects models. MAIN RESULTS: Ten trials, comprising a pooled total of 1035 participants, met the eligibility criteria. Most did not find a significant reduction in pain with antibiotics. Similarly, antibiotics were mostly not shown to be effective in reducing the need for analgesics. Antibiotics were not associated with a reduction in significant secondary haemorrhage rates (risk ratio (RR) 0.49, 95% CI 0.08 to 3.11, P = 0.45) or total secondary haemorrhage rates (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.44, P = 0.66). With regard to secondary outcomes, antibiotics reduced the proportion of patients with fever (RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.85, P = 0.002). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The present systematic review, including meta-analyses for select outcomes, suggests that although individual studies vary in their findings, there is no evidence to support a consistent, clinically important impact of antibiotics in reducing the main morbid outcomes following tonsillectomy (i.e. pain, need for analgesia and secondary haemorrhage rates). The limited benefit apparent with antibiotics may be a result of positive bias introduced by several important methodological shortcomings in the included trials. Based on existing evidence, therefore, we would advocate against the routine prescription of antibiotics to patients undergoing tonsillectomy. Whether a subgroup of patients who might benefit from selective administration of antibiotics exists is unknown and needs to be explored in future trials.

Efficacy of super-selective neck dissection following chemoradiation for advanced head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: Hypothesizing that neck-level specific locations of residual lymph node metastases following chemoradiation for head and neck cancer are highly predictable, the efficacy of the more targeted lymphadenectomy procedure called super-selective neck dissection (SSND) was evaluated. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the databases from 2 institutions indicated that 35 SSND's were performed on 30 patients following chemoradiation as either a planned or early salvage intervention. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up of 33 (range: 8-72) months, 8 patients developed recurrent disease (3 primary, 5 distant) but there were no isolated recurrences in the neck. The projected 5 year disease specific survival rate for the group was 60%. CONCLUSIONS: SSND is an effective intervention for patients with advanced head and neck cancer treated with chemoradiation whose risk for residual nodal disease is confined to one level.

Selective neck dissection as an early salvage intervention for clinically persistent nodal disease following chemoradiation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of selective neck dissection (SND) performed for persistent nodal disease after chemoradiation. METHODS: Patients treated with definitive chemoradiation for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who subsequently underwent SND for early salvage of clinically persistent nodal disease were evaluated. The primary outcome measure was regional disease control. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients underwent 69 SND procedures. The median time interval between completion of chemoradiation and neck dissection was 10 weeks. There was evidence of residual tumor in 32 neck dissection specimens (46%). Forty patients (65%) remained free of disease, whereas the remaining 22 patients (35%) developed a recurrence, among which 4 were regional. Of these, 3 occurred in the contralateral neck and only 1 occurred in the targeted (ipsilateral) neck. CONCLUSIONS: SND is an effective early salvage intervention for persistent nodal disease in patients treated with chemoradiation.

Efficacy of selective neck dissection for nodal metastasis with involvement of nonlymphatic structures.

BACKGROUND: Our aim in carrying out this study was to determine the efficacy of selective neck dissection (SND) for cervical metastases with clinical involvement of adjacent nonlymphatic structures. METHODS: In all, 39 patients were retrospectively analyzed with respect to 43 extended selective neck dissection (ESND) procedures. RESULTS: Eighteen procedures were performed as part of the primary treatment and 25 for salvage following (chemo)radiation. Although most patients (84%) had nodal disease ≥N2, 91% had disease clinically confined to ≤2 neck levels. SND (levels II-IV) was most commonly performed and the internal jugular vein was the nonlymphatic structure most often sacrificed. Recurrence rate in the ipsilateral targeted neck was 0% and 13% in the primary surgery and postradiation groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SND that is extended to include adjacent nonlymphatic structures appears to be effective for advanced nodal metastasis confined to ≤2 nodal levels. We support the use of the term "extended selective neck dissection (ESND)" to describe this modification of neck dissection.

Feasibility of submandibular gland preservation in neck dissection: A prospective anatomic-pathologic study.

BACKGROUND: The submandibular gland is commonly removed during neck dissection involving sublevel IB. However, removal reduces basal salivary secretion and therapeutic options for minimizing xerostomia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether all lymph nodes in sublevel IB can be extirpated without removing the submandibular gland. METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients undergoing 33 neck dissections were prospectively enrolled. Sublevel IB dissection was performed by 3 sequential steps: (1) removal of targeted lymph node groups (preglandular and postglandular, prevascular and postvascular), (2) removal of submandibular gland, and (3) removal of residual lymphoadipose tissue in the surgical bed. RESULTS: Complete removal of lymph nodes in sublevel IB was achieved before excising the submandibular gland in all of the 30 eligible neck dissections. The submandibular gland and the surgical bed contained no residual lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: In suitable cases, it is technically feasible to remove all lymph nodes in sublevel IB and preserve the submandibular gland.