The role of frozen section biopsy for submandibular gland tumors.

BACKGROUND: Although there have been several reports of the diagnostic accuracy of frozen section biopsy (FSB) for parotid gland tumors, few studies have focused on its diagnostic accuracy for submandibular gland tumors. AIM/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the necessity of FSB with regard to its diagnostic accuracy for submandibular gland tumors (SGTs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: About 42 SGT patients underwent both fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and FSB between 2005 and 2020. The results of FNAC and FSB were analyzed and compared with the final histological diagnoses. RESULTS: The respective sensitivity and specificity in detecting malignant tumors in 38 cases, excluding the four indeterminate FNAC cases, they were 0 and 97% for FNAC, and 100 and 97% for FSB. Considering the four indeterminate FNAC cases to be malignant, the respective sensitivity and specificity in detecting malignant tumors in the 42 cases were 50 and 92% for FNAC, and 100 and 95% for FSB. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: FSB may be useful for malignancy detection as a final histological diagnosis in cases that are diagnosed as benign or indeterminate by FNAC in SGTs.

Indications for partial superficial parotidectomy for benign parotid gland tumors using the retrograde approach.

A recent systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that retrograde parotidectomy is a safe procedure with no significant difference in facial nerve paralysis rates when compared to anterograde parotidectomy. The aim of the current study was to establish indications for partial superficial parotidectomy using the retrograde approach. To this end, the two surgical techniques were compared in terms of postoperative facial nerve paralysis, tumor size, location of the tumor, and surgical time. For tumor diameters of 30 mm or less, mean surgical time in the retrograde parotidectomy group was significantly shorter than in the anterograde parotidectomy group (p < 0.05). Our study indicates that retrograde parotidectomy may be more effective than anterograde parotidectomy for partial superficial parotidectomy for benign parotid tumors of 30 mm or less.

Multifocal human papillomavirus detection in palatine and pharyngeal tonsils.

BACKGROUND: Multifocal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection into the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils, which might be linked to a second primary tumor of HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), was investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and five patients with various head and neck diseases including 14 patients with OPC were enrolled in this study. Swabs from the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils were collected in each individual, and auto-nested GP5+/GP6+ PCR for HPV DNA was performed. RESULTS: HPV DNA was detected in the palatine tonsil or the pharyngeal tonsil in a small subset of upper respiratory tract cancer other than OPC (URTC) and non-cancer diseases. Furthermore, HPV DNA was detected in both the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils in the same individual in 2 of 48 (4%) URTC cases, and 1 of 43 (2%) non-cancer cases. On the other hand, p16-positive OPC cases demonstrated a higher HPV DNA detection rate (4 of 9, 44.4%) compared with other disease groups. CONCLUSION: HPV DNA detection in both the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils in the same individual, especially in HPV-OPC, suggested the ability of HPV to infect tonsillar tissues of Waldeyer's ring multifocally.

Spontaneous regression of chemotherapy-resistant metastases from a scalp angiosarcoma.

Angiosarcomas are rare malignant tumors derived from endothelial cells and occur most commonly in the scalp and the face. The prognosis is poor. Therefore, spontaneous regression of angiosarcoma is a rare phenomenon.We describe a case of a 73-year-old man with multiple metastatic angiosarcoma.In the present case, weekly paclitaxel therapy had an effect, but could not be continued because of interstitial pneumonia (IP). Weekly docetaxel therapy did not have an effect, but further chemotherapy was not carried out because aggravation of the IP was a concern.The primary lesion and other metastatic lesions were inconspicuous on the positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan performed in one year and two months after best supportive care.We reported an extremely rare case of spontaneous regression of therapy-resistant metastases of angiosarcoma that has remained controlled for 40 months since the initial diagnosis.

Combination of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Improves Gait Ability in a Patient in Chronic Stage of Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Walking ability is important in stroke patients to maintain daily life. Nevertheless, its improvement is limited with conventional physical therapy in chronic stage. We report the case of a chronic stroke patient showing a remarkable improvement in gait function after a new neurorehabilitation protocol using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). CASE PRESENTATION: A 62-year-old male with left putaminal hemorrhage suffered from severe right hemiparesis. He could move by himself with a wheelchair 1 year after the ictus. Anodal tDCS at the vertex (2 mA, 20 min) with NMES at the anterior tibialis muscle had been applied for 3 weeks. The Timed Up and Go test and 10-meter walk test improved after the intervention, which had been maintained for at least 1 month. CONCLUSION: This single case suggests the possibility that tDCS with NMES could be a new rehabilitation approach to improve the gait ability in chronic stroke patients.