Intraoperative Parathyroid Hormone Monitoring In Normohormonal Primary Hyperparathyroidism: How Low Do You Go?

OBJECTIVE: The primary goal of this study was to determine in patients with normohormonal primary hyperparathyroidism (NHHPT) what percent reduction in post-excision intraoperative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) from baseline would yield a rate of cure comparable to that in patients with classical primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent parathyroidectomy between July 2013 and February 2020. Demographic data, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative metrics were collected. Patients with NHHPT were compared to those with classical PHPT. Subgroup analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of the 496 patients included in the study, 66 (13.3%) were of the normohormonal variant based on preoperative intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and 28 (5.6%) based on baseline IOPTH levels. The cure rates in the two normohormonal groups were not significantly different from their classical counterparts (98.4% and 100.0% vs. 97.1%, p = 1.000). The median percent decline in post-excision IOPTH from baseline that achieved cure in the normohormonal groups were 82.6% and 80.4% compared to their respective controls at 87.3%, p = 0.011 and p = 0.001. Although the rate of multiglandular disease was higher in one of the normohormonal variant groups, this difference was due to a higher rate of double adenomas, not four-gland hyperplasia. CONCLUSION: Patients with NHHPT undergoing parathyroidectomy can expect cure rates similar to that in patients with classical PHPT. The results of this study indicate that achieving an 80% drop or more in IOPTH levels predicts a high likelihood of cure. This is true irrespective of whether the patient is deemed normohormonal based on preoperative or intraoperative testing. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:2480-2484, 2024.

Cognitive Function and Postoperative Outcomes in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the relationship between cognitive function and postoperative outcomes. METHODS: This IRB-approved retrospective cohort study included all patients treated between August 2015 and March 2020 undergoing major surgery for aerodigestive cancer or cutaneous/thyroid cancer that required free-flap reconstruction at Henry Ford Hospital. Routine administration of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was completed as part of preoperative psychosocial evaluation. Outcomes included postoperative diagnosis of delirium, discharge disposition, return to the emergency department within 30 days of surgery, and readmission within 30 days of surgery. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine the associations between preoperative MoCA score and each outcome measure. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-five patients with HNC were included in the study (mean [SD] age, 60.7 [±10.8] years; 70.4% [n = 95] male; 83.0% [n = 112] White, 16.3% [n = 22] Black). The average preoperative MoCA score was 23.4 (SD ± 4.5). Based on the MoCA score, 35% (n = 47) scored ≥26 (i.e., normal cognitive status), 55.6% (n = 75) scored between 18 and 25 (i.e., mild impairment), 8.1% (n = 11) scored between 10 and 17 (i.e., moderate impairment), and 1.5% (n = 2) scored <10 (i.e., severe impairment). After adjusting for other variables, a lower MoCA score was associated with discharge disposition to a location other than home and prolonged length of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative cognitive function in patients undergoing major head and neck surgery for head and neck cancer was associated with discharge destination and length of stay. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 133:2999-3005, 2023.

Parathyroid Gland Autofluorescence Characteristics in Patients With Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: Near-infrared imaging for intraoperative parathyroid gland (PG) detection has recently commanded significant attention. The PTeye (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) is a probe-based system for near-infrared autofluorescent evaluation of PGs. This study was designed to evaluate the capabilities of the PTeye in the setting of surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, Cohort study. METHODS: This single-institution, prospective cohort study included all patients undergoing parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism with presumed single gland disease from June 2020 to December 2020. Absolute intensity and intensity ratios, with the thyroid as the control tissue, were obtained for the adenoma, ipsilateral normal PG, and adjacent tissue. The ability of the PTeye to function when not in direct contact with tissue was measured. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were included. The median intensity ratio for the in situ adenomas was 4.38 (interquartile range [IQR]: 2.03-5.87), ipsilateral normal PGs 6.17 (IQR: 3.83-7.67), strap muscle 0.47 (IQR: 0.30-0.60), and fat 0.20 (IQR: 0.17-0.47). All normal PGs and 21/22 adenomas demonstrated autofluorescence above the detection threshold. The PTeye functioned at a maximum distance of separation of 10 mm through saline medium and 6 mm through clear solid medium. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the PTeye's ability to recognize PGs with a high degree of precision. The device was found to function properly even with the probe not in direct contact with the tissue. Although adenomatous PGs appear to demonstrate altered autofluorescent properties from normal PGs, additional research is required to determine if these differences are clinically useful. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 132:715-721, 2022.

Midface Including Le Fort Level Injuries.

Le Fort fractures occur at uniform weak areas in the midface often due to blunt impact to the face. Sporting injuries are a common cause of facial trauma; however, use of protective equipment has reduced the number of sports-related injuries. All patients with traumatic injuries should be evaluated using Advanced Trauma Life Support protocol. Le Fort fractures can contribute to airway obstruction, and urgent intubation may be indicated. Surgery is indicated for most displaced Le Fort fractures to restore function and facial harmony. To facilitate reduction, the original occlusive relationship should be restored by placing the patient in MMF.

Outcomes of Low-Intensity Treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence in Rwanda.

PURPOSE: Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in low-income countries have disproportionately lower cure rates than those in high-income countries. At Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence (BCCOE), physicians treated patients with ALL with the first arm of the Hunger Protocol, a graduated-intensity method tailored for resource-limited settings. This article provides the first published outcomes, to our knowledge, of patients with ALL treated with this protocol. METHODS: This is a retrospective descriptive study of patients with ALL enrolled at BCCOE from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2014; data were collected through December 31, 2015. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate patient demographics, disease characteristics, and outcomes; event-free survival was assessed at 2 years using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Forty-two consecutive patients with ALL were included. At the end of the study period, 19% (eight) were alive without evidence of relapse: three completed treatment and five were continuing treatment. Among the remaining patients, 71% (30) had died and 10% (four) were lost to follow-up. A total of 83% (25) of the deaths were disease related, 3% (one) treatment-related, and 13% (four) unclear. Event-free survival was 22% (95% CI, 11% to 36%), considering lost to follow-up as an event, and 26% (95% CI, 13% to 41%) if lost to follow-up is censored. CONCLUSION: As expected, relapse was the major cause of failure with this low-intensity regimen. However, toxicity was acceptably low, and BCCOE has decided to advance to intensity level 2. These results reflect the necessity of a data-driven approach and a continual improvement process to care for complex patients in resource-constrained settings.

Validation of International Classification of Diseases coding for bone metastases in electronic health records using technology-enabled abstraction.

OBJECTIVE: The accuracy of bone metastases diagnostic coding based on International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision (ICD-9) is unknown for most large databases used for epidemiologic research in the US. Electronic health records (EHR) are the preferred source of data, but often clinically relevant data occur only as unstructured free text. We examined the validity of bone metastases ICD-9 coding in structured EHR and administrative claims relative to the complete (structured and unstructured) patient chart obtained through technology-enabled chart abstraction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Female patients with breast cancer with ≥1 visit after November 2010 were identified from three community oncology practices in the US. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of bone metastases ICD-9 code 198.5. The technology-enabled abstraction displays portions of the chart to clinically trained abstractors for targeted review, thereby maximizing efficiency. We evaluated effects of misclassification of patients developing skeletal complications or treated with bone-targeting agents (BTAs), and timing of BTA. RESULTS: Among 8,796 patients with breast cancer, 524 had confirmed bone metastases using chart abstraction. Sensitivity was 0.67 (95% confidence interval [CI] =0.63-0.71) based on structured EHR, and specificity was high at 0.98 (95% CI =0.98-0.99) with corresponding PPV of 0.71 (95% CI =0.67-0.75) and NPV of 0.98 (95% CI =0.98-0.98). From claims, sensitivity was 0.78 (95% CI =0.74-0.81), and specificity was 0.98 (95% CI =0.98-0.98) with PPV of 0.72 (95% CI =0.68-0.76) and NPV of 0.99 (95% CI =0.98-0.99). Structured data and claims missed 17% of bone metastases (89 of 524). False negatives were associated with measurable overestimation of the proportion treated with BTA or with a skeletal complication. Median date of diagnosis was delayed in structured data (32 days) and claims (43 days) compared with technology-assisted EHR. CONCLUSION: Technology-enabled chart abstraction of unstructured EHR greatly improves data quality, minimizing false negatives when identifying patients with bone metastases that may lead to inaccurate conclusions that can affect delivery of care.

Phase II study of tivantinib (ARQ 197) in patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: MET expression and activation appear to be important for initiation and progression of triple-negative breast cancer. Tivantinib (ARQ 197) is an orally administered agent that targets MET, although recent preclinical data suggests the agent may have mechanisms of action that are independent of MET signaling. We conducted a phase 2 study of tivantinib monotherapy in patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. METHODS: Patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who had received 1 to 3 prior lines of chemotherapy in the metastatic setting were enrolled into this two-stage, single arm phase 2 study. Treatment consisted of twice daily oral dosing of tivantinib (360 mg po bid) during a 21-day cycle. Patients underwent restaging scans at 6 weeks, and then every 9 weeks. Tumor biomarkers that might predict response to tivantinib were explored. RESULTS: 22 patients were enrolled. The overall response rate was 5 % (95 % CI 0-25 %) and the 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) was 5 % (95 % CI 0-25 %), with one patient achieving a partial response (PR). Toxicity was minimal with only 5 grade ≥3 adverse events (one grade 3 anemia, one grade 3 fatigue, and 3 patients with grade 3/4 neutropenia). CONCLUSION: This study represents the first evaluation of tivantinib for the treatment of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. These results suggest that single agent tivantinib is well tolerated, but did not meet prespecified statistical targets for efficacy.