Nodal Metastases in Stage 3 Head and Neck Melanoma: Patterns of Metastases and Patterns of Failure.

OBJECTIVE: Stage 3 patients with clinically positive nodal metastasis are treated with therapeutic neck dissection and adjuvant systemic therapy. The aim of our study was to examined the predictability of pre-operative CT as a nodal drainage assessment tool. METHODS: Retrospective review of all patients with clinically positive head and neck cutaneous melanoma between 2010 and 2019. Clinical disease was diagnosed as radiological suspicious, biopsy-proven node. A pre-operative CT evaluation for nodal metastasis was compared to pathology report. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients were included. Forty patients (75.5%) were males with a mean age of 59 (SD 15.52). The majority of patients (26.4%) had an unknown primary site. The most common sites for primary were the cheek in eight patients (15.1%) followed by forehead (9.4%) and lateral neck (9.4%). Preoperative CT predicted nodal disease in 84.6% of cases. The primary region that mainly failed from the previously described clinical prediction was the upper anterior neck with 83.3% parotid involvement. A total of 10 patients (18.9%) were diagnosis with non-clinical nodes on pathology with a median non-clinical node of 1 (range 1-2). Of them, 9 (90%) were in the same clinical levels detected by CT. Pre-operative CT was associated with a neck level accuracy of 98.1%. CONCLUSION: Stage 3 head and neck melanoma with clinically positive nodal metastasis that are eligible for an adjuvant systemic treatment, may benefit from a highly selective neck dissection according to their pre-operative imaging studies. This should be further evaluated in a large-scale clinical trial. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 2024.

Post-radiation middle ear effusion in NPC patients: Analysis of patient, tumour, and radiation factors.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether patient, tumour and radiation therapy factors are associated with development of middle ear effusion (MEE) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. DEIGN, SETTINGS, AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective review of NPC patients treated between January 2000 and June 2018 at Rabin Medical Center. Patient factors, tumour factors, radiation doses, and radiation fields were collected and outlined if needed (middle ear, eustachian tube [ET], tensor veli palatini [TVP], and levator palatini [LVP] muscles), then analysed and compared between patients with MEE and those without and between sides in patients with unilateral MEE. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS: Seventy-three patients were enrolled. Most were males (71.2%) with advanced-stage diseases (78%). At the time of diagnosis 14 patients (19.2%) presented with MEE. Following radiation, 18 patients, with no evidence of MEE at presentation, developed MEE. Tumour stage, histology, and laterality were not associated with development of MEE. Comparison of mean radiation field dosages including-gross target volume, clinical target volume, and patient target volume showed no association with post-radiation MEE. In addition, no difference was found in the radiation doses to the middle ear, ET or the LVP nor the TVP between ears with and without MEE. CONCLUSIONS: Post-irradiation MEE remains a common adverse effect in NPC patients. Surprisingly, tumour stage, tumour laterality, and histology were not associated with MEE. Similar findings were observed for total radiation doses and specific doses to the middle ear, ET, and ET muscles.

Initial surgical management of sporadic medullary thyroid cancer: Guidelines based optimal care - A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor from parafollicular cells that produce calcitonin (Ct). Despite several existing guidelines for the surgical management of sporadic MTC (sMTC), optimal initial surgical management of the thyroid, the central and the lateral neck remains a matter of debate. METHODS: A systematic review in PubMed and Scopus for current guidelines addressing the surgical management of sMTC and its referenced citations was conducted as per the PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: Two-hundred and one articles were identified, of which 7 met the inclusion criteria. Overall, guidelines vary significantly in their recommendations for the surgical management of sMTC. Only one guideline recommended partial thyroidectomy for limited disease, but the possibility to avoid completion thyroidectomy in selected cases is acknowledged in 42% (3/7) of the remaining guidelines. The majority of guidelines (71.4%; 5/7) recommended prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) for all patients while the remaining two guidelines recommended CND based on Ct level and tumor size. The role of prophylactic lateral neck dissection based on preoperative Ct levels was recommended by 42% (3/7) of guidelines. Overall, these guidelines are based on low-quality evidence, mostly single-center retrospective series, some of which are over 20 years old. CONCLUSION: Current surgical management guidelines of sMTC should be revised, and ought to be based on updated data challenging current recommendations, which are based on historic, low-quality evidence. Partial thyroidectomy may become a viable option for small, limited tumors. Prospective, multi-center studies may be useful to conclude whether prophylactic ND is necessary in all sMTC patients.

Nanoparticle-mediated Photodynamic Therapy as a Method to Ablate Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Preclinical Models.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a tissue ablation technique able to selectively target tumor cells by activating the cytotoxicity of photosensitizer dyes with light. PDT is nonsurgical and tissue sparing, two advantages for treatments in anatomically complex disease sites such as the oral cavity. We have previously developed PORPHYSOME (PS) nanoparticles assembled from chlorin photosensitizer-containing building blocks (∼94,000 photosensitizers per particle) and capable of potent PDT. In this study, we demonstrate the selective uptake and curative tumor ablation of PS-enabled PDT in three preclinical models of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC): biologically relevant subcutaneous Cal-33 (cell line) and MOC22 (syngeneic) mouse models, and an anatomically relevant orthotopic VX-2 rabbit model. Tumors selectively uptake PS (10 mg/kg, i.v.) with 6-to 40-fold greater concentration versus muscle 24 hours post-injection. Single PS nanoparticle-mediated PDT (PS-PDT) treatment (100 J/cm2, 100 mW/cm2) of Cal-33 tumors yielded significant apoptosis in 65.7% of tumor cells. Survival studies following PS-PDT treatments demonstrated 90% (36/40) overall response rate across all three tumor models. Complete tumor response was achieved in 65% of Cal-33 and 91% of MOC22 tumor mouse models 14 days after PS-PDT, and partial responses obtained in 25% and 9% of Cal-33 and MOC22 tumors, respectively. In buccal VX-2 rabbit tumors, combined surface and interstitial PS-PDT (200 J total) yielded complete responses in only 60% of rabbits 6 weeks after a single treatment whereas three repeated weekly treatments with PS-PDT (200 J/week) achieved complete ablation in 100% of tumors. PS-PDT treatments were well tolerated by animals with no treatment-associated toxicities and excellent cosmetic outcomes. SIGNIFICANCE: PS-PDT is a safe and repeatable treatment modality for OCSCC ablation. PS demonstrated tumor selective uptake and PS-PDT treatments achieved reproducible efficacy and effectiveness in multiple tumor models superior to other clinically tested photosensitizer drugs. Cosmetic and functional outcomes were excellent, and no clinically significant treatment-associated toxicities were detected. These results are enabling of window of opportunity trials for fluorescence-guided PS-PDT in patients with early-stage OCSCC scheduled for surgery.

Prognostic Significance of Regional Disease in Young Patients with Oral Cancer: A Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: Regional metastases are considered the most important prognostic factor in OSCC patients. We aimed to investigate the impact of regional disease among different age groups with OSCC. METHODS: A retrospective comparison between patients 40 years old or younger, 41-69 years old, and 70 years or older treated for OSCC between 2000 and 2020 in a tertiary-care center. RESULTS: 279 patients were included. The mean age was 65 ± 17.7 and 133 were male (47.7%). Thirty-six (12.9%) were 40 years old or younger, 101 (36.2%) were 41-69 years and 142 (50.9%) were 70 years or older. Five-year overall survival and disease-specific survival (DSS) were significantly better among patients younger than 40 compared to the mid-age group and patients 70 years or older (76.7% vs. 69.4% vs.48.2%, Log-rank p < 0.001, and 76.7% vs. 75.3% vs. 46.5%, Log-rank p < 0.001, respectively). While an association between regional spread and overall survival and DSS was demonstrated among all age groups, the odds ratio (OR) for death of any cause and death of disease regarding cervical metastasis was much higher among patients younger than 40 compared with the 41-69 and 70+ age groups (death of any cause-OR = 23, p-value = 0.008, OR = 2.6, p-value = 0.026, OR = 2.4, p-value = 0.13, respectively. Death of disease-OR = 23, p-value = 0.008, OR = 2.3, p-value = 0.082, OR = 4.1, p-value = 0.001, respectively). In univariate  analysis, regional metastasis was associated with disease-free survival only among patients younger than 40 (p-value = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Regional metastases correspond with worse prognosis in young patients compared to older patients. These patients may benefit from a comprehensive treatment approach with close post-treatment follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:2212-2220, 2024.

Post-radiotherapy osteomyelitis of the cervical spine in head and neck cancer patients.

Objective: To evaluate patient characteristics, risk factors, disease course, and management of cervical vertebral osteomyelitis in patients who had radiation for head and neck cancers. Methods: A retrospective cohort study (case series) of patients diagnosed with post-radiation osteomyelitis of the cervical spine between 2012 and 2021. Data were collected from the patient's medical files. Results: Seven patients (71% male) with post-radiation cervical osteomyelitis were reviewed. The median patient age was 64 years. The mean interval between diagnosis of osteomyelitis and the first and last radiotherapy course was 8.3 and 4.0 years, respectively. A medical or surgical event preceded the diagnosis in four patients (57%) by a mean of 46.25 days. Common imaging findings were free air within the cervical structures and fluid collection. Four patients recovered from osteomyelitis during the follow-up within an average of 65 days. Conclusion: Post-radiation osteomyelitis is characterized by a subtle presentation, challenging diagnosis, prolonged treatment, and poor outcome. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for the long-term after radiotherapy. Multidisciplinary evaluation and management are warranted. Advances in knowledge: The study describes post-radiotherapy osteomyelitis of the cervical spine, a rare and devastating complication. Literature data regarding this complication are sparse.

The impact of surgical resection margins on outcomes for adults with head and neck osteosarcomas: A Canadian sarcoma research and Clinical Collaboration (CanSaRCC) study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to describe the factors that influence outcome in adults with head and neck osteosarcoma (HNO) with a specific focus on the margin status. METHODS: Patients with a diagnosis of HNO between the years 1996-2021 were reviewed from the Canadian Sarcoma Research and Clinical Collaboration (CanSaRCC) Database. Baseline characteristics, pathology, treatment, and outcomes were analyzed. Univariable (UVA) and multivariable (MVA) Cox regression models were performed. 5-year locoregional control rate and overall survival (OS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method and Log-Rank test. RESULTS: Of 50 patients with a median age of 40 years (range 16-80), 27 (54%) were male. HNO commonly involved the mandible (n = 21, 42%) followed by maxilla (n = 15, 30%). Thirteen (33.3%) had low-intermediate grade and 26 (66.6%) had high grade tumors. Three patients (6%) had negative resection margins (>5 mm), 24 (48%) had close margins (1-5 mm), 15 (30%) had positive margins (<1mm) and 7 (16%) had unknown margin status. In total, 39 (78%) received chemotherapy - 22 (44%) received neoadjuvant chemotherapy while 17 (34%) received adjuvant chemotherapy. A total of 12 (24%) patients received radiotherapy, of whom 8 (16%) had adjuvant and 3 (6%) had neo-adjuvant. Median follow-up time was 6.3 years (range 0.26-24.9). Disease recurred in 21 patients (42%), of whom 15 (30%) had local recurrence only, 4 (8%) had distant metastasis, and 2 (4%) had both local and distant recurrence. 5-year locoregional control rate and OS was 62% and 79.2% respectively. Resection margins <3 mm was associated with lower 5 years OS and locoregional control rate (Log-Rank p = 0.02, p = 0.01 respectively). CONCLUSION: Osteosarcomas of the head and neck are rare and local recurrence remains a concern. Surgical resection with negative resection margins may improve survival, and a 3 mm resection margin threshold may optimize survival. Radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy should be considered in a multidisciplinary setting based on risk-features.

Long-term complications associated with the management of sinonasal malignancies: a single center experience.

Objective: The aim of this study was to review the long-term complications associated with treatment of patients with sinonasal malignancies (SNMs) and risk factors for these complications. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all patients treated for SNMs at a tertiary care center between 2001 and 2018. A total of 77 patients were included. The primary outcome measure was post-treatment long-term complications. Results: Overall, long-term complications were identified in 41 patients (53%), and the most common were sinonasal (22 patients, 29%) and orbital/ocular-related (18 patients, 23%). In a multivariate regression analysis, irradiation was the only significant predictor of long-term complications (p = 0.001, OR = 18.86, CI = 3.31-107.6). No association was observed between long-term complications and tumour stage, surgical modality, or radiation dose/modality. Mean radiation dose ≥ 50 Gy to the optic nerve was associated with grade ≥ 3 visual acuity impairment (100% vs 3%; p = 0.006). Radiation therapy for disease recurrence was associated with additional long-term complications (56% vs 11%; p = 0.04). Conclusions: Treatment of SNMs has substantial long-term complications, which are significantly associated with radiation therapy.

Skull-Base Surgery-A Narrative Review on Current Approaches and Future Developments in Surgical Navigation.

Surgical navigation technology combines patient imaging studies with intraoperative real-time data to improve surgical precision and patient outcomes. The navigation workflow can also include preoperative planning, which can reliably simulate the intended resection and reconstruction. The advantage of this approach in skull-base surgery is that it guides access into a complex three-dimensional area and orients tumors intraoperatively with regard to critical structures, such as the orbit, carotid artery and brain. This enhances a surgeon's capabilities to preserve normal anatomy while resecting tumors with adequate margins. The aim of this narrative review is to outline the state of the art and the future directions of surgical navigation in the skull base, focusing on the advantages and pitfalls of this technique. We will also present our group experience in this field, within the frame of the current research trends.

Tumor Satellites Are Associated With Poor Outcome in Patients With Oral Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Tumor satellites are defined as islands of tumor cells completely separated from the border of the main tumor. They are believed to be a sign of aggressive disease. Our goal was to investigate the association between tumor satellites and outcome in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all patients treated for oral squamous cell carcinoma at a university-affiliated tertiary care center between 2010 and 2018 was performed. Data collected included demographics, clinical and pathological features including tumor satellites, staging, treatment modalities, and outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 144 patients were included. The mean age of all patients was 63.5 and 50.7% were males. The mean follow-up time was 40.5 months. Seventeen patients (11.8%) had tumor satellites. These patients had a higher rate of involved margins, peri-neural invasion, lympho-vascular invasion, and extra-nodal extension. Tumor, nodal and overall classification were significantly more advanced in patients with satellites. Disease-specific and overall survival rates were significantly lower among satellites patients (28.7% vs. 59.7% and 28.7% vs. 54.9%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Tumor satellites are associated with several adverse features and advanced locoregional disease. Patients with satellites should be treated aggressively with a combination of surgery aimed at achieving free surgical margins and adjuvant treatment, as they have a worse prognosis compared with patients without satellites. Further prospective studies are mandatory to consolidate the importance of adjuvant treatment in these patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 133:336-343, 2023.

The protective effect of aspirin-induced temporary threshold shift in an animal model of cisplatin-related ototoxicity.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether induction of temporary threshold shift (TTS) with aspirin prior to cisplatin exposure can prevent or minimize cisplatin detrimental effects on hearing. METHODS: We randomly divided BALB mice into three groups: (1) cisplatin only, (2) aspirin only, and (3) combined aspirin/cisplatin. Cisplatin was administered as a single intraperitoneal injection of 14 mg/kg. Aspirin was administered for three weeks via intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg/kg sodium salicylate, twice daily. Air conduction thresholds were recorded using Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR). Cochleae were harvested and cochlear hair cells were counted using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). RESULTS: Aspirin-induced TTS have reached an average of 30.05±16.9 dB after 2 weeks. At 60 days, cisplatin-only treated mice experienced an average threshold shifts of 50.7 dB at 4 kHz, 35.16 dB at 8 kHz, 70 dB at 16 kHz, 53.1 dB at 32 kHz. All threshold shifts were significantly worse than for cisplatin/aspirin treated mice with TTS of 11.85 dB at 4 kHz, 3.58 dB at 8 kHz, 16.58  dB at 16 kHz, 20.41 dB at 32 kHz (p < 0.01). Cochlear cell count with SEM has shown reduction in the number of both inner and outer hair cells in the mid-turn in cisplatin treated mice. CONCLUSION: Aspirin induced TTS can protect from cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. This beneficial effect was demonstrated by auditory thresholds as well as SEM. Larger pre-clinical and clinical studies are still needed to confirm these findings.

Practice patterns for positive sentinel lymph node in head and neck melanoma.

BACKGROUND: An international survey was conducted to investigate the preferences for completion lymph node dissection (CLND) in head and neck melanomas. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent through the American Society of Head & Neck Surgery (AHNS) and Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (CSO). RESULTS: Hundred and forty-nine surgeons completed the survey. Response rate was 6.3% and 9.7% from AHNS and CSO members, respectively. When presented the scenario of a 47-year-old male with a clinical T3bN0 cheek melanoma, with 1/1 positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) with nodal deposit <2 mm, 72 of respondents (48.3%) would perform a CLND. Reasons for CLND included multiples positive SLN (64.1%), size of nodal deposits (54.2%), and perceived lack of compliance to follow-up (54.2%). Surgeons with access to immunotherapy treatment were less likely to recommend CLND (p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Following SLN biopsy, nearly half of the surveyed head and neck surgeons would recommend CLND, which contrasts with the current melanoma practice patterns in other anatomic locations. However, compared with an earlier study in the literature it does seem that there has been a shift away from completion neck dissection. Further investigation into understanding practice variations is warranted.

Quality of Life Following Robotic Transaxillary Versus Conventional Hemithyroidectomy: A Comparative Analysis.

Background: Robotic technology has proven safe and effective for thyroidectomy procedures. Few studies have addressed the quality-of-life outcomes of robotic thyroidectomy compared with conventional thyroidectomy. Materials and Methods: The database of a tertiary medical center was retrospectively reviewed for all patients with thyroid disease who had undergone robotic hemithyroidectomy in 2012-2020. All patients treated by transaxillary robotic surgery and a similar number of randomly selected patients treated by conventional cervical surgery completed a standardized self-administered thyroid disease-specific quality-of-life (QOL) questionnaire (ThyPRO). Clinical data were derived from the medical files. The results were compared using mean comparison tests and multivariate logistic regression models. Results: The cohort consisted of 131 patients: 63 after robotic thyroidectomy and 68 after conventional thyroidectomy. The mean age was 38.87 ± 14.11 and 58.85 ± 14.1 years, respectively (P < .0001). The robotic hemithyroidectomy group reported better QOL outcomes in physical and mental health parameters, including decreased anxiety, depression, lower sex life impairment, and cognitive impairment scores (P < .0001). Furthermore, after adjusting for age, gender, malignancy status, and surgical approach, we found that patients undergoing robotic hemithyroidectomy had a lower probability of experiencing depressive symptoms than the conventional hemithyroidectomy group (odds ratio = 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.11-0.88). Of interest, no significant difference in cosmetic outcomes was found. Conclusions: Patients who underwent robotic thyroidectomy report better postoperative QOL after surgery than patients operated by the conventional approach in terms of anxiety, depression, cognitive and sex-life scores.

The Effect of Bariatric Surgery upon Diabetes Mellitus: A Proof of Concept by Using the Case of the Mid-Term Effect of Lap Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB) on Patients with Diabetes.

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic, with numbers on the rise in the world. Obesity is strongly correlated with increased morbidity and mortality. One of the major factors affecting this increase is comorbid diseases such as diabetes mellitus (DM), which is strongly associated with and dependent on the degree of obesity. Thus, it is not surprising that when efficient surgical treatments were found to battle obesity, researchers soon found them to be relevant and effective for battling DM as well. Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB) is a common surgical treatment for morbid obesity. LAGB has the potential to improve control of the comorbidities of morbid obesity, primarily diabetes mellitus (DM). Our hypothesis was that patients treated with LAGB would have a long-term improvement in the control of DM and that due to its unique mechanism of action, this can lend us a better understanding of how to battle diabetes in an efficient and effective way. This was a cohort study based on patients who underwent LAGB surgery in our institution 4 to 7 years previously and had DM type 2 at the time of surgery. Data were collected from patient's charts and a telephone interview-based questionnaire including demographics, health status, and quality-of-life assessment (Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System [BAROS]). Seventy patients participated in the current study. The average follow-up time was 5.1 ± 0.9 years post-surgery. The average weight prior to surgery was 122.0 ± 20.2 kg, and on the day of the interview it was 87.0 ± 17.6 kg (p < 0.001). The average body mass index before surgery was 43.8 ± 5.1, and on the day of the interview it was 31.2 ± 4.8 (p < 0.001). On the day of the interview, 47.1% of the participants were cured of DM (not receiving treatment, whether dietary or pharmacologic). The sum of ranks for diabetes was lower after the surgery (p < 0.001), as was HTN and its treatment (p < 0.001). We have shown in this study that LAGB is an effective treatment for morbid obesity, as well as two comorbidities that come with it­DM type 2 and Hypertension (HTN)­in a longer period than previously shown, and with a unique look at the underlying mechanism of action of this procedure. There is a need for further studies to consolidate our findings and characterize which patients are more prone to enjoy these remarkable surgical benefits.

Retrospective analysis of the role of intra-operative parathyroid hormone monitoring during parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism: a single center experience over 2 decades.

PURPOSE: Role of intra-operative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) monitoring during parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) has long been debated. Our main goal was to investigate the cure rates of parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism with and without IOPTH monitoring. Our secondary goal was to investigate if operating room time can be saved when IOPTH monitoring is not used. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent parathyroidectomy for PHPT due to a single adenoma between 2004 and 2019 was performed. Cure rates and operating room time were compared. RESULTS: 423 patients were included. IOPTH was used in 248 patients (59%). Four patients were not cured, two from each group, with no significant difference between the groups (98.8% vs. 99.1%, p = 0.725). Surgery time was significantly longer in the IOPTH group, p < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: There is no advantage for using IOPTH during parathyroidectomy in suitable clinical settings. The procedure may be safely performed without IOPTH while achieving non-inferior success rates and reducing operative time.

Post-operative MRI detection of residual cholesteatoma in pediatric patients - The yield of serial scans over a long follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: Non-echo-planar diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (Non-EPI DWI MRI) is commonly used for follow-up after cholesteatoma surgery. MRI has a critical role in the evaluation of residual disease, where physical examination will commonly demonstrate an intact tympanic membrane. The aim of our study was to assess the timing of residual cholesteatoma identification on serial MRI scans and the yield of MRI follow up after canal wall up tympano-mastoidectomy. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of children that underwent canal wall up tympano-mastoidectomy due to cholesteatoma in Schneider Children's Medical Center during 2004-2016, and were followed up both clinically and with MRI. RESULTS: Seventy-seven children (89 ears) were included, who altogether underwent 166 surgeries (77 revisions). Average follow-up was 66 ± 34.4 months. During follow up, 244 scans were performed; 19 cases of residual disease were diagnosed by MRI and confirmed in surgery. The mean time from surgery and an MRI positive for residual disease was 29.7 ± 16 months (range: 10-66). In 9/19 cases (47%), at least one negative MRI preceded the scan positive for residual disease, and in 4 cases at least two initial scans were negative. CONCLUSIONS: MRI plays an important role in the diagnosis of residual disease after cholesteatoma surgery. In our cohort. Almost half of the cases diagnosed with residual disease had at least one negative scan prior to the positive one, emphasizing the importance of close radiological follow-up with serial scans after surgery.

Automatic Registration and Error Color Maps to Improve Accuracy for Navigated Bone Tumor Surgery Using Intraoperative Cone-Beam CT.

Computer-assisted surgery (CAS) can improve surgical precision in orthopaedic oncology. Accurate alignment of the patient's imaging coordinates with the anatomy, known as registration, is one of the most challenging aspects of CAS and can be associated with substantial error. Using intraoperative, on-the-table, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), we performed a pilot clinical study to validate a method for automatic intraoperative registration. Methods: Patients who were ≥18 years of age, had benign bone tumors, and underwent resection were prospectively enrolled. In addition to inserting a navigation tracking tool into the exposed bone adjacent to the surgical field, 2 custom plastic ULTEM tracking tools (UTTs) were attached to each patient's skin adjacent to the tumor using an adhesive. These were automatically localized within the 3-dimensional CBCT volume to be used as image landmarks for registration, and the corresponding tracker landmarks were captured using an infrared camera. The main outcomes were the fiducial registration error (FRE) and the target registration error (TRE). The navigation time was recorded. Results: Thirteen patients with benign tumors in the femur (n = 10), tibia (n = 2), and humerus (n = 1) underwent navigation-assisted resections. The mean values were 0.67 ± 0.15 mm (range, 0.47 to 0.97 mm) for FRE and 0.83 ± 0.51 mm (range, 0.42 to 2.28 mm) for TRE. Registration was successful in all cases. The mean time for CBCT imaging and tracker registration was 7.5 minutes. Conclusions: We present a novel automatic registration method for CAS exploiting intraoperative CBCT capabilities, which provided improved accuracy and reduced operative times compared with more traditional methods. Clinical Relevance: This proof-of-principle study validated a novel process for automatic registration to improve the accuracy of resecting bone tumors using a surgical navigation system.

Recurrence Patterns and Efficacy of Surveillance Modalities for Sinonasal Malignancies.

OBJECTIVE: There is limited information regarding the recurrence patterns and efficacy of surveillance modalities in patients with sinonasal malignancies. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted between the years 2001-2018 at a tertiary care center. Included were all patients with sinonasal malignancies treated in our institution. Data regarding recurrence and survival were analyzed. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients were included. Multimodal treatment was administered to the majority of patients. 24 (35.3%) patients recurred with a median time of 17 months (range, 4-180). Although the majority of recurrences occurred within the first 5 years (83.3%), 4 (16.6%) recurred later on (5-15 years). Recurrences were local in 83.3%, regional in 20.8% and distant in 16.6%. All local recurrences occurred within the radiation treatment field and all patients with distant failure had mucosal melanoma. The majority of recurrences (70.6%) were diagnosed clinically or endoscopically, mainly in patients with SCC during the first 2 years of follow up. MRI or PET-CT were crucial in detecting extra-sinus and distant failures. Salvage surgery was feasible in the majority of patients (58.3%). Overall, 5 years survival (OS) rate was 60.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent clinic visits with nasal endoscopy combined with frequent imaging studies should be routinely practiced as part of a long-term surveillance plan. Longer follow up duration should be considered in these patients.

Projected cutting guides using an augmented reality system to improve surgical margins in maxillectomies: A preclinical study.

BACKGROUND: Positive margins have been reported up to 80% in advanced maxillary cancers. Intraoperative navigation (IN) aims to improve margins, but provides a two-dimensional view of a registered instrument without anticipating any cutting directions, and the information is displayed in monitors outside surgical field. Augmented Reality (AR) can delineate margins while addressing the gaze-toggling drawback of IN. In a preclinical setting, we implemented preoperative-planned osteotomies needed for maxillectomies and projected this information on the surgical field using AR. We aimed to improve negative margin rates while retaining the benefits of AR. METHODS: Five maxillary tumor models were built. Five fellowship-trained surgeons completed virtual unguided and AR-guided maxillectomies. Comparisons in terms of intratumoral cuts, close, adequate, and excessive distances from the tumor were performed. Differences between "ideal" cutting-plan and the AR-guided virtual osteotomies was obtained. Workload questionnaires to evaluate the technology were completed. RESULTS: 115 virtual osteotomies were analyzed. Intra-tumoral and "close" margins were lower for the AR-assisted osteotomies (0.0% vs 1.9% p < 0.0001 and 0.8% vs 7.9% p < 0.0001). Proportion of "adequate" margins were higher in the AR simulations (25.3% vs 18.6%, p = 0.018). The AR osteotomies had high similarity with the pre-planned with interclass correlation index close to 1 in "adequate" margins 0.893 (95% CI: 0.804-0.949). Workload scores were better for AR-guided simulations for the domains of mental demand, performance, effort and frustration. CONCLUSION: The projector-based AR method improved margin delineation, and preoperative planning was accurately translated to the simulations. Clinical translation will aim to consolidate our preclinical findings to improve outcomes.

Major head and neck surgeries in the elderly population, a match-control study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate complication rates in elderly cancer patients undergoing major head and neck surgeries. METHODS: A retrospective, matched-control, analysis. For each elderly (≥70 years) patient, a younger, (<70 years) patients were matched based on sex, tumor location, disease stage, and operation time. Post-operative complication and survival analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of 225 patients, 75 (33.3%) were elderly (mean age 76.2 (70-88) years) and compared with a match control group (53.2 (23-69) years). A higher rate of cardio-vascular comorbidity was noted in the elderly group (70.6% vs. 34%, respectively, P < 0.001). The majority (62.7%) of elderly patients required reconstruction with 24% receiving vascularized flap reconstruction. Total postoperative complication rate was 49.9% in the study versus 42.3% in the control group, with a major complication rate of 22.5% in the elderly versus 11.9% in the control group (P = 0.154). Mean follow-up was 41 (0-144) months. Five-year disease-specific (67.1% vs. 80.7%, P < 0.001) and overall survival rates (48.6% vs. 75.4%, P < 0.001) were significantly lower among elderly patients. CONCLUSIONS: Major head and neck surgery in the elderly population does not entail higher complication rate, compared with younger patients, and should be allowed when curative intent is feasible and patient's general condition allows.