Reconstruction of Segmental Mandibular Defects with Double-Barrel Fibula Flap and Osseo-Integrated Implants: A Systematic Review.

Background: Mandibular defects resulting from oncological treatment pose significant aesthetic and functional challenges due to the involvement of bone and soft tissues. Immediate reconstruction is crucial to address complications such as malocclusion, mandibular deviation, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) changes, and soft tissue retraction. These issues can lead to functional impairments, including difficulties in chewing, swallowing, and speech. The fibula flap is widely used for mandibular reconstruction due to its long bone segment and robust vascular supply, though it may not always provide adequate bone height for optimal dental rehabilitation. This systematic review aims to determine if the double-barreled fibula flap (DBFF) configuration is a viable alternative for mandibular reconstruction and to evaluate the outcomes of dental implants placed in this type of flap. Materials and Methods: This study adhered to the Cochrane Collaboration criteria and PRISMA guidelines and was registered on the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols Database (INPLASY2023120026). We included clinical studies published in English, Spanish, or French that focused on adult patients undergoing segmental mandibulectomy followed by DBFF reconstruction and dental rehabilitation. Data sources included Medline/PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Scopus, and manual searches. Two reviewers independently screened and selected studies, with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer. Data extraction captured variables such as publication year, patient demographics, number of implants, follow-up duration, flap survival, implant failure, and aesthetic outcomes. The risk of bias was assessed using the JBI appraisal tool, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE approach. Results: A total of 17 clinical studies were included, evaluating 245 patients and 402 dental implants. The average patient age was 43.7 years, with a mean follow-up period of 34.3 months. Flap survival was high, with a 98.3% success rate and only four flap losses. The implant failure rate was low at 1.74%. Esthetic outcomes were varied, with only three studies using standardized protocols for evaluation. The overall certainty of evidence for flap survival was moderate, low for implant failure, and very low for aesthetics due to the subjective nature of assessments and variability in reporting. Conclusions: The primary limitations of the evidence included in this review are the observational design of the studies, leading to an inherent risk of bias, inconsistency in reporting methods, and imprecision in outcome measures. Additionally, the subjective nature of aesthetic evaluations and the variability in assessment tools further limit the reliability of the findings. The DBFF technique demonstrates excellent outcomes for mandibular reconstruction, with high flap survival and low implant failure rates, making it a viable option for dental rehabilitation. However, the evidence for aesthetic outcomes is less certain, highlighting the need for more rigorous and standardized research. This review supports the DBFF as a good alternative for mandibular reconstruction with successful dental implant integration, although further studies are needed to enhance the reliability of aesthetic evaluations.

Aggressive Late Recurrence of a Calcifying Epithelial Odontogenic Tumor: Surgical Refinements Based on New Technologies.

A calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor is a rare, benign odontogenic neoplasm. Surgical treatment is the option, and late recurrence is very rare. Radiologically, the lesions are commonly present scattered calcifications. This case report details a 64-year-old female patient with a recurrence of a right mandibular calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor 2 decades after successful initial surgical removal. A segmental mandibulectomy and immediate reconstruction were performed using a planned vascularized free fibula flap with virtual surgery, custom reconstruction plate, and intraoperative computed tomography. Modifications were made to the design of the reconstruction plate to improve the cervicofacial profile and subsequent rehabilitation with dental implants. Fully guided implant surgery with point-of-care manufacturing protocol was done to improve prosthetically driven implant planning. The case presented highlights the usefulness of new technologies for mandibular reconstruction with the free fibula flap and the concept of point-of-care with technical notes that increase precision and reduce morbidity in implant-supported rehabilitation.

Microcystic Adnexal Carcinoma. A Rare Entity.

Background: Microcystic adnexal carcinoma is a rare malignant tumour derived from sweat glands, locally aggressive, but with low rate of lymphatic or metastatic spread. Tends to affect the deep dermis, without affection of epidermis. Surgery remains as the first line treatment. Case Report: We present a case of a 46-year-old woman with a slow growing lesion of the upper lip, with biopsy diagnosis of microcystic adnexal carcinoma. She underwent a resection and reconstruction with local advancement flaps. The final anatomopathological study showed an adnexal epithelial neoplasm with imprecise borders, poorly delimited, non-encapsulated, growing in plaque-like formation from the superficial dermis into the adipose tissue, perineural invasion, without epidermal infiltration. Discussion: It is an extremely rare malignant tumour, appearing as a solitary papule or plaque affecting the central face, that often affect middle-aged caucasic, female patients. Usual local aggressive nature, characterized by small nests and strands of cells in deep dermis and perineural-invasion images, absent in superficial tissue. An incisional biopsy is need to make a correct diagnosis. Due to its rarity there is no consensus on the best management and follow-up. The microcystic adnexal carcinoma should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis. Key words:Microcystic adnexal carcinoma, lip, histopathology.

Dynamic Trends in Surgical Oromaxillofacial Trauma Epidemiology: A Comparative Study of Pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 Periods in Tertiary Referral Hospitals in Madrid.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has induced profound societal and healthcare transformations globally. Material and methods: This multicenter retrospective study aimed to assess potential shifts in the epidemiology and management of oromaxillofacial trauma requiring surgical intervention over a 1-year period encompassing the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, in comparison to the preceding year. The parameters investigated included age, sex, injury mechanisms, fractured bones, and treatment modalities. The statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: A notable 39.36% reduction in oromaxillofacial fractures was identified (p < 0.001), with no significant alterations in sex distribution, types of fractured bones, or treatment modalities. An appreciable increase in mean age was observed (35.92 vs. 40.26) (p = 0.006). Analysis of the causes of oromaxillofacial trauma revealed diminished incidents of interpersonal violence (41% vs. 35%) and sports-related injuries (14% vs. 8%), alongside an escalation in cases attributed to falls (27% vs. 35%), precipitation events (2% vs. 5%), and traffic accidents (12% vs. 13%). The mandible emerged as the most frequently fractured bone. Conclusion: In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has decreased the number of maxillofacial fractures treated surgically and has changed the epidemiology and the etiology of facial traumas.

In-House 3D Printed Positioning and Cutting Guide System for Mandibular Reconstruction. Protocol and case report.

Maxillofacial surgery planning has been improved by technological advances in 3D printing. The use of customized cutting and positioning guides allows intraoperative reproduction of pre-planned osteotomy cuts, resulting in increased surgical accuracy, reduced surgical time and improved esthetic and functional outcomes. Our paper presents a new method for creating and printing in-house cutting and positioning guides. A computer program (Brainlab iPlan) was used to segment the mandible for three-dimensional planning from imported conventional computed tomography (CT) scans. The virtual model of the mandible was printed on a stereolithography (SLA) 3D printer and a reconstruction plate was adapted to the printed model. The surface of the model and the screw-retained plate was scanned using a structured light surface 3D scanner (Artec Eva). The obtained scan of the jaw and plate in position was processed and transformed into an STL file. Free software (Autodesk Meshmixer) superimposes the initial jaw on the scanned jaw with the plate, designing a customized hybrid cutting guide that allows accurate intraoperative positioning, knowing the exact position of the reconstruction plate screws in the jaw. The total design, fabrication and 3D printing time for the in-house hybrid guide was 595 min. The average total printing cost was EUR 16. We found the technique to be simple and repeatable. We present and describe here a novel and simple technique for in-house 3D printed positioning and cutting guide system which can be applied to overall maxillofacial area. In cases of mandibular reconstruction, this protocol guarantees an adequate esthetic and functional result. Key words:Oral cancer, 3D surgery, CAD/CAM, personalized medicine, surgical guides, in house.

Virtual Surgical Planning for Temporomandibular Joint Reconstruction with Stock TMJ Prostheses: Pilot Study.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most complex joints in the human anatomy. In advanced degenerative stages, conservative or minimally invasive surgical therapies have failed to restore joint function, and joint replacement with prostheses has been required. Stock prostheses, compared to custom-made prostheses, are much less expensive and require less pre-operative preparation time. Four patients followed for years for temporomandibular dysfunction and previously operated on by arthroscopy or open joint surgery that have been reconstructed with stock TMJ prostheses (STMJP) through virtual surgical planning (VSP) and an STL model with surgical and positioning guides were included. The median follow-up was 15 months; the median number of previous TMJ surgeries was 2. The mean preoperative MIO was 24.6 mm and at longest follow-up was 36.4 mm. The median preoperative TMJ pain score was 8, and the median postoperative TMJ pain was 3. All patients have improved their mandibular function with a clear improvement of their initial situation. In conclusion, we believe that stock TMJ prostheses with virtual surgical planning and surgical guides are a good alternative for TMJ reconstruction at the present time. Nonetheless, prospective and randomized trials are required with long-term follow up to assess their performance and safety.

Guided Genioplasty: Comparison between Conventional Technique and Customized Guided Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Genioplasty as an isolated surgical technique is a highly demanded procedure in the maxillofacial surgery area. Advances in facial reconstructive surgery have been associated with less morbidity and more predictable results. In this paper, "conventional" genioplasty and genioplasty by means of virtual surgical planning (VSP), CAD-CAM cutting guides, and patient custom-made plates are compared. METHODS: A descriptive observational study was designed and implemented, and 43 patients were treated, differentiating two groups according to the technique: 18 patients were treated by conventional surgery, and 25 patients were treated through virtual surgical planning (VSP), CAD-CAM cutting guides, STL models, and titanium patient-specific plates. RESULTS: The operation time ranged from 35 to 107 min. The mean operative time in the conventional group was 60.06 + 3.74 min.; in the custom treatment group it was 42.24 + 1.29 min (p < 0.001). The difference between planned and obtained chin changes in cases of advancement or retrusion was not statistically significant (p = 0.125; p = 0.216). In cases of chin rotation due to asymmetry, guided and personalized surgery was superior to conventional surgery (p < 0.01). The mean hospital stay was equal in both groups. A decrease in surgical complications was observed in the group undergoing VSP and customized treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Multi-stage implementation of VSP with CAD-CAM cutting guides, STL models, and patient-specific plates increased the accuracy of the genioplasty surgery, particularly in cases of chin asymmetry, reducing operation time and potential complications.

Depth of Invasion: Influence of the Latest TNM Classification on the Prognosis of Clinical Early Stages of Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Its Association with Other Histological Risk Factors.

BACKGROUND: The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), in its 8th edition, introduces modifications to the previous TNM classification, incorporating tumour depth of invasion (DOI). The aim of this research is to analyse the prognosis (in terms of disease-free survival and overall survival) of clinical early stage (I and II) squamous cell carcinomas of the oral tongue according to the DOI levels established by the AJCC in its latest TNM classification to assess changes to the T category and global staging system and to evaluate the association between DOI and other histological risk factors. METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal observational study of a series of cases was designed. All patients were treated with upfront surgery at our institution between 2010 and 2019. The variables of interest were defined and classified into four groups: demographic, clinical, histological and evolutive control. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out and survival functions were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Statistical significance was established for p values below 0.05. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients were included. The average follow-up time was 47.42 months. Fifteen patients presented a loco-regional relapse (24.59%) and five developed distant disease (8.19%). Twelve patients died (19.67%). Statistically significant differences were observed, with respect to disease-free survival (p = 0.043), but not with respect to overall survival (p = 0.139). A total of 49.1% of the sample upstaged their T category and 29.5% underwent modifications of their global stage. The analysis of the relationship between DOI with other histological variables showed a significant association with the presence of pathological cervical nodes (p = 0.012), perineural invasion (p = 0.004) and tumour differentiation grade (p = 0.034). Multivariate analysis showed association between depth of invasion and perineural invasion. CONCLUSIONS: Depth of invasion is a histological risk factor in early clinical stages of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Depth of invasion impacts negatively on patient prognosis, is capable per se of modifying the T category and the global tumour staging, and is associated with the presence of cervical metastatic disease, perineural invasion and tumoural differentiation grade.

Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Tongue in Adults.

(1) Background: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in the first two decades of life. One third of cases appear in the head and neck, with 60% of these being embryonal type. RMS is extremely rare in adults, comprising only 1% of adult malignancies, and of those, only 3.3% are rhabdomyosarcomas. (2) Case report: A 46 y.o. male presented with a 1 cm exophytic pediculated painless lesion on the dorsum of his tongue, with progressive growth for 3 months. An excisional biopsy revealed an "embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma with fusocellular areas, with negative rearrangement for gen FOXO1A, negative MDM2 (only focal positivity), and positive INI-1". Subsequent contrast-enhanced MRI concluded the presence of a lesion with imprecise margins in the right half-tongue, 15 × 8 × 7 mm (longitudinal × transverse × craniocaudal), compatible with a sarcoma. The patient underwent a partial centrolingual glossectomy followed by reconstruction with a buccinator muscle local flap. After surgery, he received chemotherapy with eight cycles of VAC (vincristine, actinomycin, and cyclophosphamide) protocol. The patient is now disease free after 42 months, with good tongue function. (3) Discussion and conclusions: Embryonal RMS is an extremely rare sarcoma in adults, and the location in the tongue is even more exceptional (only two more similar cases are reported in the literature). The prognosis in adults is significantly poorer than in children. A complete margin-free resection with an adequate chemotherapy protocol is the treatment of choice in cases such as these.

M-shaped Genioplasty: New Findings after 10 Years of Experience.

This study aimed to evaluate changes of the M-shaped genioplasty in sagittal and vertical planes in a group of 34 patients and describe other indications, such as the increase of the mentolabial angle, decrease in the depth of the mentolabial fold, and the centering of the chin. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 34 patients between 2010 and 2019. All studies were conducted at T0 (preoperative), T1 (a month after surgery), and T2 (1 year after surgery). The position of the bone pogonion (Pg) was measured vertically and horizontally at T0, T1, and T2; the mentolabial angle and the depth of the mentolabial fold were measured at T0 and T2. Results: The average sagittal advancement at T1 was 6.6 mm and at T2 was 6.4 mm. The inferior movement was an average of 5.6 mm at T1 and T2, showing both movements excellent stability. The mentolabial angle increased at T2 an average of 28.2 degrees (5 degrees per each millimeter of inferior movement), whereas the depth of the mentolabial fold decreased an average of 2.8 mm (decreased 49% from the initial depth and decreased 0.56 mm per each mm of inferior movement). The average increase of the lower third of the face was 5 mm. No complications were observed in any patient. Conclusions: M-shaped genioplasty is an anterior osteotomy of the mandible, which allows the chin to move forward and downward. Additionally, it allows an increase of the mentolabial angle and decreases the mentolabial fold.

Survival rate of odontogenic descending necrotizing mediastinitis. Our experience in last 5 years

Background: Descending necrotising mediastinitis is one of the most lethal and least frequent forms of mediastinitis. It is a life-threatening infection most frequently originating from an oropharyngeal or odontogenic infection.Material and methods: A retrospective study of 6 patients diagnosed and treated for descending necrotising mediastinitis between 2015 and 2020 is reported.Results: All patients were male, mean age of 34.83 years; 66% were smokers. 83% had an orocervical infection and 34% had initial mediastinal spread. All patients were treated initially with empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics and surgical drainage, with subsequent admission to the Intensive Care Unit; only one of them required tracheostomy. The mean hospital stay was 27.37 days. After a mean follow-up of 6 months, 100% of the cases had a complete recovery.Conclusions: Early diagnosis and surgical treatment combined with improved life-support treatment in intensive care units and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy leads to a decrease in associated mortality. (AU)

Assessment of Quality of Life in Head-and-Neck Oncologic Patients with Intraoral Soft-Tissue Defects Reconstructed with Buccinator Myomucosal Flap.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the functional outcomes and quality of life (QoL) in oncologic patients with intraoral defects reconstructed with the buccinator myomucosal flap. A retrospective study was performed involving 39 patients with intraoral soft-tissue defects, reconstructed with a buccinator myomucosal flap during a six-year period. Patients completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaires, the standard questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and the head-and-neck specific module (QLQ-H&N35). Thirty-nine patients with a mean age of 61.23 ± 15.80 years were included in the study. Thirty-three patients were diagnosed with an oncological condition (84.61%). Six patients (15.38%) developed orosinusal communication and underwent extensive debridement. The median global-health-status score was 79.27 and emotional performance was the lowest scoring, with a mean score of 76.93. As for the symptom items, the most outstanding were dental problems (33.33), oral opening (31.62) and dry mouth (37.61), followed by sticky saliva (24.79), problems with social eating (21.15) and pain (19.87). The most significant symptoms were radiotherapy-related adverse effects such as pain, fatigue, dental problems and dry mouth. Patients reconstructed with the buccinator myomucosal flap develop a good quality of life for all types of activities, and a correct function and aesthetics. Postoperative radiotherapy is associated with a poorer quality of life, and can lead to impairment of several symptoms such as swallowing, oral opening and dry mouth.

Analysis of Prior Aspirin Treatment on in-Hospital Outcome of Geriatric COVID-19 Infected Patients.

Background and Objectives: Aspirin (ASA) is a commonly used antithrombotic drug that has been demonstrated to reduce venous thromboembolism. The aim was to analyze if geriatric COVID-19 patients undergoing a 100 mg/day Aspirin (ASA) treatment prior to hospitalization differ in hospital outcome compared to patients without previous ASA therapy. Materials and Methods: An observational retrospective study was carried out using an anonymized database including geriatric COVID-19 patients (March to April 2020) admitted to Madrid Hospitals Group. A group of COVID-19 patients were treated with low ASA (100 mg/day) prior to COVID-19 infection. Results: Geriatric ASA-treated patients were older (mean age over 70 years; n = 41), had higher frequency of hypertension and hyperlipidemia, and upon admission had higher D-dimer levels than non-ASA-treated patients (mean age over 73 years; n = 160). However, patients under ASA treatment did not show more frequent pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) than non-ASA-treated patients. ASA-treated geriatric COVID-19-infected patients in-hospital < 30 days all-cause mortality was more frequent than in non-ASA-treated COVID-19 patients. In ASA-treated COVID-19-infected geriatric patients, anticoagulant therapy with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) significantly reduced need of ICU care, but tended to increase in-hospital < 30 days all-cause mortality. Conclusions: Prior treatment with a low dose of ASA in COVID-19-infected geriatric patients increased frequency of in-hospital < 30 days all-cause mortality, although it seemed to not increase PE frequency despite D-dimer levels upon admission being higher than in non-ASA users. In ASA-treated geriatric COVID-19-infected patients, addition of LMWH therapy reduced frequency of ICU care, but tended to increase in-hospital < 30 days all-cause mortality.

Mitochondrial mitophagy protection combining rivaroxaban and aspirin in high glucose-exposed human coronary artery endothelial cell. An in vitro study.

PURPOSE: Combination of Rivaroxaban plus Aspirin improved cardiovascular outcome in patients with stable cardiovascular disease. The aim was to determine if Rivaroxaban and acetylsalicylic acid alone or in combination may protect mitochondrial mitophagy in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) exposed to D-glucose. METHODS: HCAEC were incubated under different conditions: 5 mmol/L glucose D-glucose (control), 30 mmol/L D-Glucose with and without 50 nmol/L Rivaroxaban (Rivaroxaban), 0.33 mmol/L ASA (ASA) or Rivaroxaban (12.5 nmol/L)+ASA (0.33 mmol/L; (Riva+ASA). RESULTS: HCAEC incubated with D-glucose showed an increased Factor Xa expression. The mitochondrial content of Pink-1 and Parkin were significantly reduced in high glucose-incubated HCAEC compared to control. Rivaroxaban+ASA significantly increased the mitochondrial content of Pink-1 and Parkin, and the mitochondrial membrane potential compared to D-Glucose group. Both ASA alone and Riva+ASA reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and tissue factor production induced by high glucose exposure. CONCLUSION: Under high glucose condition combining Rivaroxaban+ASA increased the mitochondrial content of Pink-1 and Parkin, restored mitochondria membrane potential and reduced ROS and tissue factor expression in HCAEC. It suggests potential effects induced by dual use of Rivaroxaban and ASA on the coronary endothelium subjected to high glucose condition.

Virtual Surgical Planning and Customized Subperiosteal Titanium Maxillary Implant (CSTMI) for Three Dimensional Reconstruction and Dental Implants of Maxillary Defects after Oncological Resection: Case Series.

Maxillectomies cause malocclusion, masticatory disorders, swallowing disorders and poor nasolabial projection, with consequent esthetic and functional sequelae. Reconstruction can be achieved with conventional approaches, such as closure of the maxillary defect by microvascular free flap surgery or prosthetic obturation. Four patients with segmental maxillary defects that had been reconstructed with customized subperiosteal titanium maxillary implants (CSTMI) through virtual surgical planning (VSP), STL models and CAD/CAM titanium mesh were included. The smallest maxillary defect was 4.1 cm and the largest defect was 9.6 cm, with an average of 7.1 cm. The reconstructed maxillary vertical dimension ranged from 9.3 mm to 17.4 mm, with a mean of 13.17 mm. The transverse dimension of the maxilla at the crestal level was attempted to be reconstructed based on the pre-excision CT scan, and these measurements ranged from 6.5 mm in the premaxilla area to 14.6 mm at the posterior level. All patients were rehabilitated with a fixed prosthesis on subperiosteal implants with good esthetic and functional results. In conclusion, we believe that customized subperiosteal titanium maxillary implants (CSTMI) are a safe alternative for maxillary defects reconstruction, allowing for simultaneous dental rehabilitation while restoring midface projection. Nonetheless, prospective and randomized trials are required with long-term follow-up, to assess its long-term performance and safety.

New Technologies for Personalized Medicine in Head and Neck Oncologic and Reconstructive Surgery.

The search for standardized protocols has been a constant concern in Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery [...].

Clinical Outcomes and Cost Analysis of Fibula Free Flaps: A Retrospective Comparison of CAD/CAM versus Conventional Technique.

(1) Background: A decrease in operative time can not only improve patient outcomes through a reduction in the risk of developing complications but can also result in cost savings. The aim of this study is to determine whether there an intraoperative time gain can be achieved by using the preoperative virtual planning of mandibular reconstruction using a free fibula flap compared with freehand plate bending and osteotomies. (2) Methods: A retrospective comparative study was carried out in the Oral and Maxillofacial Department of La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain. The study compared 18 patients in the CAD/CAM group with 19 patients in the conventional freehand group. A comparison was made between the total surgical time, the comorbidities, and the hospital stay. The resource consumption was estimated using a cost analysis. (3) Results: Although CAD/CAM was a statistically more expensive procedure in the perioperative phase, no significant differences were observed in total health care costs between the two groups. There was a non-significant trend towards an increase in complications with conventional reconstruction plates compared to patient-specific plates (PSI). (4) Conclusions: CAD/CAM technology and a 3D printed cutting guide offer a significantly shorter surgical time, which is associated with a reduction in hospital days, PACU days, and complications. The cost of CAD/CAM technology is comparable to that of the conventional freehand technique.

An Uncommon Great Pretender in Oral Cavity Lesions: The Masson's Tumor.

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) is a rare benign non-neoplastic vascular lesion. A typical presentation consists of a subcutaneous nodule that may simulate other clinical entities. Presentation in the oral cavity is uncommon. It is thought to develop as an abnormal proliferative reaction of endothelial cells in a process of impaired thrombogenesis. When endothelial proliferation occurs, a differential diagnosis with a soft tissue sarcoma, in particular an angiosarcoma, should be performed. We report a case of a 68-year-old female patient who presented with a lesion on the upper lip of 3 months' duration. Surgical resection revealed an IPEH. 1 year later, the patient showed a local recurrence requiring excision with clear margins. Pathological and immunohistochemical features can help us distinguish these lesions from those requiring more aggressive treatment. The gold standard is surgical resection with clear margins. Accurate preoperative diagnosis is essential to avoid overtreatment. Emphasis should be placed on clinical, radiological and histological studies.

Albumin Binds COVID-19 Spike 1 Subunit and Predicts In-Hospital Survival of Infected Patients-Possible Alteration by Glucose.

(1) Background: This study aimed to analyze if the serum albumin levels of hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) patients on admission could predict <30 days in-hospital all-cause mortality, and if glucose levels on admission affected this predictive ability. (2) Methods: A multicenter retrospective cohort of 1555 COVID-19-infected adult patients from public hospitals of the Madrid community were analyzed. (3) Results: Logistic regression analysis showed increased mortality for ages higher than 49 y. After adjusting for age, comorbidities and on-admission glucose levels, it was found that on-admission serum albumin ≥3.5 g/dL was significantly associated with reduced mortality (OR 0.48; 95%CI:0.36-0.62). There was an inverse concentration-dependent association between on-admission albumin levels and <30 days in-hospital all-cause mortality. However, when on-admission glucose levels were above 125 mg/dL, higher levels of serum albumin were needed to reach an association with survival. In vitro experiments showed that the spike protein S1 subunit of SARS-CoV-2 binds to native albumin. The binding ability of native albumin to the spike protein S1 subunit was decreased in the presence of an increasing concentration of glycated albumin. (4) Conclusions: On-admission serum albumin levels were inversely associated with <30 days in-hospital all-cause mortality. Native albumin binds the spike protein S1 subunit, suggesting that native albumin may act as a scavenger of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Cervical Lymphadenopathies as Unusual Presentations of Erdheim-Chester Disease: The Need for Knowledge for Diagnosis and Treatment.

The appearance of cervical adenopathies can occur in many pathologies in a non-specific manner; Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is characterized by xanthogranulomatous and xanthomatous infiltration of different tissues with numerous foamy histiocytes. Bone lesions are frequent and radiological features are pathognomonic for diagnosis, but lymph node involvement is exceptional and is not a form of presentation reported in the literature. Recurrent BRAFV600E mutation and others have been discovered in recent years. Since then, several treatments targeting the BRAF and MEK pathways have been developed with high success rates; even so, interferon-α continues to be one of the most widely used treatments. The best imaging test for the study and monitoring of the disease is PET-CT. The prognosis of ECD is relatively poor, with a survival of 43% of patients after 32 months follow-up. Higher survival rates have been reported in patients treated with interferon. The authors present an exceptional case of ECD with cervical adenopathies as a debut, highlighting the need for the knowledge of the disease for differential diagnosis, early treatment, and the importance of communication between the clinician and the pathologist. The main features of the disease and a brief discussion of current diagnosis and treatment are reviewed.