Primary Mucinous Carcinoma of the Thyroid: A Case Report, Literature Review, and Immunohistochemistry Summary.

Introduction: Primary mucinous carcinoma of the thyroid is an exceedingly rare malignancy that is histologically similar to mucinous carcinoma of other sites. Accurate diagnosis is a challenging yet crucial component of clinical management for both patients and our understanding of this rare disease. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 69-year-old male patient with primary mucinous carcinoma of the thyroid. Microscopic examination of a biopsy specimen showed fibrous tissue, which was extensively and irregularly infiltrated by a cytologically malignant epithelial neoplasm showing glandular differentiation with mucin production. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that tumor cells were positive for TTF1, thyroglobulin, CK7, and PAX8. Co-expression of TTF1 and PAX8 is most commonly seen in thyroid tumors. These findings support our diagnosis of mucinous carcinoma of thyroid origin, which is rare and highly aggressive. Conclusion: In this report, we present the only documented case of primary mucinous carcinoma of the thyroid reported in the United States in the last decade. The diagnosis of primary mucinous carcinoma of the thyroid can be challenging. Therefore, we discuss and detail the clinicopathologic tumor profile and provide more current, detailed histological criteria to assist in the diagnosis of this rare disease.

Breathiness and Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) in Patients Undergoing Medialization Laryngoplasty With or Without Arytenoid Adduction.

OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that, in patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP), the auditory-perception of breathiness measured with Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) would be higher preoperatively in patients who undergo medialization laryngoplasty (ML) with arytenoid adduction (AA) compared to ML alone. We further hypothesized that increased breathiness would correlate with increased glottal area at maximum glottal closure. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: CAPE-V recordings were rated by expert judges in 105 subjects with UVFP (47 ML+AA and 58 ML). Component scores of the CAPE-V prior to laryngeal framework surgery and those at 3 and/or 12 months postoperatively were compared. Assessment of glottal area width during maximum glottal closure was attempted. RESULTS: Breathiness scores prior to laryngeal framework surgery were significantly greater in UVFP patients having ML+AA compared to ML only (P < 0.001). Roughness was greater for ML only (P = 0.003). At 3 months, adjusted for age and previous injection laryngoplasty, the ML+AA group showed greater improvement for breathiness (P <0.001), loudness (P < 0.001), strain (P = 0.037), and pitch (P = 0.039), while the ML only group showed greater improvement in roughness (P = 0.009). Results were similar at 12 months. Only 26% of glottal area widths were ratable using methods previously described; therefore, no further analysis was attempted. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with UVFP baseline perception of breathiness is greater in those clinically selected for ML+AA compared to ML only. Glottal area measurements were not representative of the UVFP cohort and more stringent criteria are needed for valid and reliable glottal area assessment when using clinical flexible stroboscopic exams. Findings support the idea that surgeons may be making decisions about AA based, to at least some degree, on auditory perceptual evaluation of voice.

Timing of Postoperative CSF Leak after Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Background There is little data regarding postoperative outcomes of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) undergoing skull base surgery. The purpose of this study is to determine an association between risk factors and proximity of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak to surgery in patients with OSA undergoing endoscopic skull base surgery. Methods A retrospective review of neurosurgical inpatients, with and without OSA, at a tertiary care institution from 2002 to 2015 that experienced a postoperative CSF leak after undergoing endoscopic skull base surgery. Results Forty patients met inclusion criteria, 12 (30%) with OSA. OSA patients had significantly higher body mass index (BMI; median 39.4 vs. 31.7, p < 0.01) and were more likely to have diabetes (41.7 vs. 10.7%, p = 0.04) than non-OSA patients; otherwise there were no significant differences in clinical comorbidities. No patients restarted positive pressure ventilation (PPV) in the inpatient setting. The type of repair was not a significant predictor of the time from surgery to leak. Patients with OSA experienced postoperative CSF leak 49% sooner than non-OSA patients (Hazard Ratio 1.49, median 2 vs. 6 days, log-rank p = 0.20). Conclusion Patients with OSA trended toward leaking earlier than those without OSA, and no OSA patients repaired with a nasoseptal flap (NSF) had a leak after postoperative day 5. Due to a small sample size this trend did not reach significance. Future studies will help to determine the appropriate timing for restarting PPV in this high risk population. This is important given PPV's significant benefit to the patient's overall health and its ability to lower intracranial pressure.

Voice outcomes following medialization laryngoplasty with and without arytenoid adduction.

OBJECTIVE: Voice outcomes following medialization laryngoplasty (ML) for unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) were compared to those who underwent ML plus arytenoid adduction (AA) (ML+AA). METHODS: Single institution retrospective review of patients with UVFP undergoing ML and ML+AA (2009-2017). Demographic information and history of laryngeal procedures were collected. Preoperative and postoperative Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) and Consensus Perceptual Auditory Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) were assessed. RESULTS: Of 236 patients, 119 met study criteria. Of those, 70 (59%) underwent ML and 49 (41%) underwent ML+AA. Significant differences between groups at baseline were found for age at time of thyroplasty (P = 0.046), VHI-10 scores (P < 0.001), and CAPE-V scores (P = 0.007). Baseline VHI-10 scores for ML+AA (28 ± 7) were greater than those for ML alone (24 ± 7). At 12 months, overall VHI-10 scores improved compared to baseline for both groups (ML+AA = 9 ± 7, ML = 16 ± 9); however, there was greater improvement for the ML+AA group compared to ML group (P = 0.001). CAPE-V scores at 3 or 12 months improved, but differences between the groups were not statistically significant once controlled for covariates. CONCLUSION: Based on current findings, patients who undergo ML+AA likely have greater voice handicap at baseline compared to those undergoing ML alone. Patients selected for ML+AA improve as much or more than those who underwent ML alone. This highlights the importance of appropriate selection of candidates for AA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 129:1876-1881, 2019.

Nasal Myiasis in Hinduism and Contemporary Otorhinolaryngology.

Various case reports on nasal myiasis written during the 1990s and 2000s state that nasal myiasis, which is known as peenash among South Asian natives, is a form of divine punishment in Hindu mythology, but do not provide citations from Hindu scriptures that would suggest this interpretation. This paper aims to discuss the phenomenon of peenash in a historical context by examining medical literature written during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, to identify Hindu texts contributing to the belief of some Hindus that nasal myiasis is a form of divine punishment, and to provide an overview of contemporary treatment for and management of nasal myiasis.

Evaluation of tyrosine receptor kinases in the interactions of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells and fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVE: Despite treatment advancements, disease-free survival of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has not significantly improved. This may be a result of tumor-fibroblasts interactions providing protective pathways for oncogenic cells to resist therapy. Further understanding of these relationships in HNSCC may improve effectiveness of targeted therapies. In this article, we investigated the role of several receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) in the interactions between HNSCC cells and supporting cells (fibroblasts). MATERIALS AND METHODS: HNSCC cell lines and human tumor samples were evaluated for FGFR1/2/3, and PDGF-beta expression levels. Cell lines (FADU, SCC1, OSC19, Cal27, SCC22A) were treated with a range of physiological concentrations of dovitinib and assessed for proliferation, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis. Mice bearing HNSCC xenografts were treated with dovitinib (20 mg/kg). RESULTS: Evaluation of HNSCC tumor specimens, cell lines and fibroblasts found variable expression of multiple RTKs (fibroblasts growth factor receptor, platelet derived growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor) and their ligands, supporting previous theories of paracrine and autocrine signaling within the microenvironment. In a dose-dependent fashion, RTK inhibition reduced proliferation of HNSCC cell lines and fibroblast in vitro. When HNSCC cells were cocultured with fibroblasts, RTK inhibition resulted in a smaller reduction in the proliferation relative to untreated conditions. In vivo, RTK inhibition resulted in significant tumor regression and growth inhibition (p<0.05) and reduced the incidence of regional lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSION: Effective treatment of HNSCC, therefore, may require inhibition of multiple RTKs in order to adequately inhibit the microenvironment's various signaling pathways.

Assessment of donor site morbidity for free radial forearm osteocutaneous flaps.

PURPOSE: Assessment of donor site morbidity and recipient site complications following free radial forearm osteocutaneous flap (FRFOCF) harvest and evaluation of patient perceived upper limb disability for free radial forearm osteocutaneous versus fasciocutaneous flaps (FRFF). METHODS: First a case series was undertaken of 218 patients who underwent an FRFOCF at two tertiary referral centers between February 1998 and November 2010. Outcomes included forearm donor site morbidity and recipient site complications. Second, the disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) questionnaire assessing patient perceived arm disability was administered by phone to 60 consecutive patients who underwent an FRFOCF or FRFF. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 63 years with male predominance (62.8%). Median bone length harvested was 8 cm (range, 3-12 cm) with prophylactic plating of the radius following harvest. Donor site morbidity included fracture (1 patient, 0.5%) and sensory neuropathy (5 patients, 2.3%). Mean DASH scores were comparative between groups and to established normative values. Mandibular malunion rate was 3.2% and hardware extrusion at the recipient site occurred in 15.6%. CONCLUSION: Reluctance to perform FRFOCF by surgeons usually centers on concerns regarding potential donor site morbidity and adequacy of available bone stock; however, we identified minimal objective or patient perceived donor site morbidity or recipient site complications following harvest of FRFOCFs. Mild wrist weakness and stiffness are common but do not impede ability to perform activities of daily living. Data from this and other reports suggest this flap is particularly useful for midfacial and short segment mandibular reconstruction.