Supracricoid Partial Laryngectomy: Oncological and Functional Outcomes.

Introduction In the present study, we have reviewed the outcomes of patients with supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL) in our institution. Our results show that SCPL is a well-tolerated procedure with generally good functional outcomes for patients with advanced laryngeal cancer. Objective We analyzed the oncological and functional results of a cohort of 35 patients who had undergone SCPL, and we highlighted the complications, identified the overall and disease-free survivals, demonstrating that the reconstructive laryngectomy guarantees the oncological safety and reproducibility of the oncological results, preserving the laryngeal functions and promoting an improvement in the patient's quality of life, favoring communication and interpersonal relationships. Methods Between 2010 and 2018, 35 patients underwent SCPL for primary and recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas, and they were divided into two subgroups: in 16 cases, the cricohyoidoepiglottopexy according to the Mayer-Piquet technique was performed, while the remaining 19 cases were submitted to the cricohyoidopexy according to the Labayle technique. In addition to evaluating the oncological results of patients undergoing reconstructive laryngectomy, the present study also aimed to evaluate the functionality of the residual larynx and the quality of life. Results The overall and disease-free survivals were of 83% and 76.3% respectively. All patients were able to swallow. The nasogastric tube was removed after a mean period of 21.8 days (range: 14 to 28 days). The mean decannulation time was of 23.4 days after surgery (range: 15 to 36 days). Conclusion The curves for the overall and disease-free survivals show that SCPL can guarantee oncological safety comparable to that of total laryngectomies in diseases in the intermediate stage and in carefully-selected advanced stages.

Poorly Differentiated Neuroendocrine Larynx Carcinoma: Clinical Features and miRNAs Signature-A New Goal for Early Diagnosis and Therapy?

Laryngeal neuroendocrine carcinomas (LNECs) are rare and highly heterogeneous malignancies presenting a wide range of pathological and clinical manifestations. Herein, we retrospectively characterize ten patients diagnosticated with LNEC, five of which were defined as well-moderately differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas, and five that were defined as poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas, according to the latest WHO classification. Clinical features were analyzed and compared between the two subgroups together with a microRNA study which evidenced a peculiar signature likely related to poorly differentiated larynx neuroendocrine carcinomas. These findings may offer new useful insights for clinicians to improve diagnosis efficiency, therapy response, and patients' outcome for this aggressive neoplasm.

Sarcomatoid larynx carcinoma differential clinical evolution, on field statistical considerations.

Spindle cell larynx carcinoma (SpCC) represents around 3% of laryngeal cancers. It is originated by a single cancer stem cell undergoing epithelial to mesenchymal transition. This explains the aggressiveness, the peculiar resistance to conventional therapy and the frequent relapses. We focused on this particular cancer subset characteristics in patients, in early and advanced stages primarily aiming to define and highlight the differences with Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LSCC) focusing on clinical features, treatments, follow-up and survival in a patient's cohort composed by comparable cases from two subgroups.

Clinical management of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue: patients not eligible for free flaps, a systematic review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: The management of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue represents the most demanding treatment planning in head and neck surgery. Ablation followed by free flap reconstruction is considered the gold standard, but not all patients are suitable for this strategy. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive view of surgical reconstruction possibilities in patients not eligible for free flaps. METHODS: Following PRISMA recommendations, a systematic literature review was conducted searching for original papers that investigated outcomes of patients treated by surgical ablation for tongue SCC followed by reconstruction with local or pedicled flaps. Selected papers were read and data extracted for qualitative analysis. RESULTS: Twenty articles met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The study design was case series in sixteen papers, cohort study in the remaining four. Four different local flaps (BMM, FAMM, NLIF, SMIF) and four regional flaps have been discussed in included studies (IHF, SFIF, SCM, PMMC). CONCLUSION: The improved anatomical knowledge makes local flaps a reliable alternative to free tissue transfer in cases requiring small-/medium-sized defects. Regional flaps still represent cornerstones in reconstruction of the tongue. Ease of execution, costs-to-benefit ratio, low-rate complications, minimal donor site morbidity represent the best advantages choosing local/regional flaps.

Association of tooth agenesis with dental anomalies in young subjects.

AIM: The aim of the current study is to correlate the presence of tooth agenesis with other dental anomalies in 7- to 15-year-old patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After evaluating 4000 panoramic radiographs of young subjects, 430 revealed the presence of tooth agenesis, except for the third molar, and are retrospectively observed and compared with a non-agenesis control group of 500 subjects, in order to investigate the existence of other associated dental anomalies in both groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of tooth agenesis was approximately 9.30% (430/4000); no significant gender differences were found. A significantly higher prevalence of microdontia of the maxillary lateral incisors (p < 0.001) and delayed tooth development (p = 0.0001) was observed in the agenesis group (group A), while delayed development of permanent teeth (p < 0.0001) and hypo-occlusion of the primary molars (p = 0.0130) were found in the control group (group B). CONCLUSIONS: Agenesis patients presented a significantly higher prevalence of microdontia of the maxillary lateral incisors. Instead, non-agenesis patients presented a high prevalence of delayed permanent tooth development and hypo-occlusion of the primary molars. Moreover, further researches are needed to elucidate the role of genetics and environmental factors in the current sample group.

Malignant extrapleural solitary fibrous tumor arising in the sublingual gland: A case report and review of literature.

Solitary fibrous tumor is an uncommon neoplasm with unpredictable clinical behavior. Malignant solitary fibrous tumor is a rare morphological variant with more aggressive behavior and higher rates of local recurrences and distant metastasis, exceeding rare in oral cavity; our case occurred in the floor of the mouth in the sublingual gland.

Simultaneous PET/MRI in assessing the response to chemo/radiotherapy in head and neck carcinoma: initial experience.

The purpose of the study was to assess by simultaneous positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) the response to chemotherapy (CHT) and/or radiotherapy (RT) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Five patients with HNSCC underwent simultaneous PET/MRI examination before and after CHT and/or RT. Standard uptake volume (SUV), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), Ktrans, Kep, Ve, and iAUC pre- and post-treatment values were extracted and compared. The response to treatment was assessed according to RECIST criteria and classified as complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), and progression disease (PD). In patient 1, PR was observed with increased ADC, Ktrans, and Ve values and reduction of SUV, iAUC, and Kep values; during clinical and instrumental follow-up, the patient experienced disease progression. Patient 2, classified as PR, showed increased ADC values and reduction of SUV and all perfusion parameters; follow-up demonstrated disease stability. Patient 3, considered as SD, showed increase of ADC and all perfusion values with a mild decrease of SUV; PD was observed during clinical and instrumental follow-up. Patients 4 and 5 showed a CR with no detectable tumor lesions at post-treatment PET/MRI examination, confirmed by 1-year follow-up. Multiparametric evaluation with simultaneous PET/MRI could be a useful tool to assess and predict the response to CHT and/or RT in patients with HNSCC.

Aggressiveness pattern and second primary tumor risk associated with basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a rare, aggressive and distinct variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the upper respiratory and digestive tract. We have evaluated disease specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) through Kaplan-Meier method and mortality risk through univariate statistical analysis of Cox in 42 cases of BSCC and other 42 of laryngeal SCC (LSCC) matched for both age and sex. We demonstrated that laryngeal BSCC is a more aggressive tumor than LSCC as is associated to higher nodal recurrence of pathology (5 vs 2 patients, overall risk, OR 2.7), a reduced survival (median survival 34 vs 40 months, OR 3.2 for mortality); in addition, basaloid patients have a higher risk to be affected by second primary tumors (13 vs 3 patients, OR 5.8) and a higher probability to die for this second tumor (Hazard Risk, HR 4.4). The analysis of survival shows an increased mortality risk concurrent with the parameters assessed by univariate analyses that assume a predictive and statistical significance in second tumor and grading in basaloid LSSC.

Chemoprevention using folic acid for dysplastic lesions of the larynx.

Folate deficiency may be directly associated with carcinogenesis. Folate supplementation may reduce the risk of progression in a mucosa that is already genetically altered. The aim of the present study was to determine the role of folic acid in the treatment of mild and moderate laryngeal dysplasia recurring after surgery. The data obtained by laryngoscopy, measurement of serum folate levels and functional vocal assessment with the GIRBAS scale and VHI questionnaire were compared in patients who had received folic acid with a homogeneous group of patients with dysplasia who had not undergone any therapy. A total of 24 patients suffering from recurrence of mild or moderate laryngeal dysplasia (n=12, group A) were treated with 400 mg folic acid per os, once daily for 6 months. The patients in group B (n=12) received no treatment and were used as the control group. In group A, 7 (58%) patients exhibited a complete response, with clinically evident regression of leukoplakia, 3 (25%) displayed a partial decrease in the lesions with reduced volume of the area involved, whereas 2 patients exhibited no change. As regards patients in control group B, 8 (67%) exhibited no change, in 1 case there was a spontaneous regression, and in 3 (25%) there was disease progression with suspected malignant transformation, leading to repeat surgery. Therefore, folate deficiency may be considered to be a factor predisposing to precancerous lesions, and dietary folate supplementation may prevent and reduce the emergence of cancer.

Multiparametric evaluation by simultaneous PET-MRI examination in patients with histologically proven laryngeal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between metabolic 18Fluoro-Deoxyglucose-Positron Emission Tomography (18FDG/PET) and morpho-functional parameters derived by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in patients with histologically proven laryngeal cancer. To assess the clinical impact of PET/MRI examination on patient's staging and treatment planning. METHODS: 16 patients with histologically proven laryngeal cancer were enrolled and underwent whole body PET/CT followed by a dedicated PET/MRI of the head/neck region. Data were separately evaluated by two blinded groups: metabolic (SUV and MTV), diffusion (ADC) and perfusion (Ktrans, Ve, kep and iAUC) maps were obtained by positioning regions of interest (ROIs). Tumoral local extension assessed on PET/MRI was compared to endoscopic findings. RESULTS: A good inter-observer agreement was found in anatomical location and local extension of PET/MRI lesions (Cohen's kappa 0.9). PET/CT SUV measures highly correlate with ones derived by PET/MRI (e.g., p=0.96 for measures on VOI). Significant correlations among metabolic, diffusion and perfusion parameters have been detected. PET/MRI had a relevant clinical impact, confirming endoscopic findings (6 cases), helping treatment planning (9 cases), and modifying endoscopic primary staging (1 case). CONCLUSIONS: PET/MRI is useful for primary staging of laryngeal cancer, allowing simultaneous collection of metabolic and functional data and conditioning the therapeutic strategies.

Role of perineural invasion as a prognostic factor in laryngeal cancer.

The diffusion of laryngeal cancer cells in the perineural space is a parameter associated with a negative prognosis, high loco-regional recurrence and low disease-free survival rates. The spread of tumor cells on the perineural sheath highlights the histopathological and clinically aggressive behavior of this type of tumor, which may extend proximally or distally in the nerve for >10 cm. Therefore, the surgical resection margin is generally insufficient to treat patients with laryngeal cancer presenting with perineural invasion (PNI) with surgery alone. In PNI, the minor laryngeal nerves are frequently involved, rather than the superior and inferior laryngeal nerves. The aim of the present study was: i) To evaluate the prognostic importance of PNI; ii) to correlate the rate of infiltration with factors associated with the tumor, including histotype, site and tumor-node-metastasis stage, and with the type of surgery (total or partial laryngectomy); and iii) to evaluate the rate of disease-free survival according to the outcome of combined surgery and radiotherapy (RT) treatment, by means of retrospective analysis. The results of the present study highlighted the importance of performing a closer clinical and instrumental follow-up in patients with laryngeal cancer whose histopathological examination is positive for PNI. In such cases, it is important to complement the surgical therapeutic treatment with adjuvant RT.