ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the ultrasound (US) characteristics of metastatic malignancies (MM) in the major salivary glands and to assess the diagnostic value of the close relationship with the glandular capsule in identifying MM. METHODS: From January 2016 and April 2022, 122 patients with major salivary gland malignancies, including 20 patients with MM and 102 patients with primary malignancies (PM) confirmed by histopathological examination, were enrolled in this study. Their clinicopathologic and US data were recorded and analyzed. The diagnostic performance of the close relationship with the glandular capsule for differentiating MM from PM was analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of MM were older than that of PM (59.50 ± 14.57 vs. 49.96 ± 15.73, p = 0.013). Compared with PM patients, MM were associated with a higher prevalence of local pain symptoms (p = 0.007) and abnormal facial nerve function (p < 0.001). MM were also more frequently characterized by unclear borders, rough margins, irregular shapes, heterogeneous internal echos, absence of cystic areas, presence of calcifications, close relationship with the glandular capsule, and US-reported positive cervical lymph nodes (all p < 0.05). The close relationship with the glandular capsule showed to be a good indicator in distinguishing between MM and PM, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.863, a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 72.5%, and an accuracy of 92.2%. Positive and negative predictive were calculated at 41.7% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The US finding of a close relationship with the glandular capsule is a highly sensitive diagnostic indicator for MM. Following this finding, US-guided needle biopsy should be recommended to further confirm the diagnosis.
ABSTRACT
Methods: Eighty-eight patients undergoing THA were randomized to receive 0.33% ropivacaine (Group QLB, n = 44) or saline (Group Con, n = 44) for QL3 block. Spinal anesthesia was then performed. Pain intensity was assessed using the visual analog scale (0: no pain to 10: worst possible pain). The primary outcome was pain scores recorded at rest at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h and on standing and walking at 24, 36, and 48 h postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were analgesic consumption, side effects, the 10-meter walking speed on day 6, and patient satisfaction after surgery. Results: Postoperative pain intensity was significantly lower in Group QLB compared to Group Con at rest after 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h (p < 0.001) and during mobilization after 24, 36, and 48 h (p < 0.001). Morphine use was significantly lower in Group QLB compared to Group Con during 0-24 h (16.0 ± 7.1 vs. 34.1 ± 7.1 mg, p < 0.001) and during 24-48 h (13.0 ± 4.0 vs. 17.4 ± 4.6 mg, p < 0.001) postoperatively. The 10-meter walking speed was higher in Group QLB compared to Group Con, both at comfortable (0.79 ± 0.13 vs. 0.70 ± 0.14 m/s, p=0.012) and at maximum speeds (1.18 ± 0.26 vs. 1.06 ± 0.22 m/s, p < 0.001). Incidences of nausea (7.3% vs. 31%, p=0.006), vomiting (7.3% vs. 26.2%, p = 0.022), and urinary retention (9.8% vs. 28.6%, p=0.030) were lower in Group QLB than in Group Con. Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided QL3 block is an effective pain management technique after THA.
