Head and Neck cancers-major changes in the American Joint Committee on cancer eighth edition cancer staging manual.

Answer questions and earn CME/CNE The recently released eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Staging Manual, Head and Neck Section, introduces significant modifications from the prior seventh edition. This article details several of the most significant modifications, and the rationale for the revisions, to alert the reader to evolution of the field. The most significant update creates a separate staging algorithm for high-risk human papillomavirus-associated cancer of the oropharynx, distinguishing it from oropharyngeal cancer with other causes. Other modifications include: the reorganizing of skin cancer (other than melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma) from a general chapter for the entire body to a head and neck-specific cutaneous malignancies chapter; division of cancer of the pharynx into 3 separate chapters; changes to the tumor (T) categories for oral cavity, skin, and nasopharynx; and the addition of extranodal cancer extension to lymph node category (N) in all but the viral-related cancers and mucosal melanoma. The Head and Neck Task Force worked with colleagues around the world to derive a staging system that reflects ongoing changes in head and neck oncology; it remains user friendly and consistent with the traditional tumor, lymph node, metastasis (TNM) staging paradigm. CA Cancer J Clin 2017;67:122-137. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Prevalence of HPV Infection in Racial-Ethnic Subgroups of Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

The landscape of HPV infection in racial/ethnic subgroups of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients has not been evaluated carefully. In this study, a meta-analysis examined the prevalence of HPV in HNC patients of African ancestry. Additionally, a pooled analysis of subject-level data was also performed to investigate HPV prevalence and patterns of p16 (CDNK2A) expression amongst different racial groups. Eighteen publications (N = 798 Black HNC patients) were examined in the meta-analysis, and the pooled analysis included 29 datasets comprised of 3,129 HNC patients of diverse racial/ethnic background. The meta-analysis revealed that the prevalence of HPV16 was higher among Blacks with oropharyngeal cancer than Blacks with non-oropharyngeal cancer. However, there was great heterogeneity observed among studies (Q test P<0.0001). In the pooled analysis, after adjusting for each study, year of diagnosis, age, gender and smoking status, the prevalence of HPV16/18 in oropharyngeal cancer patients was highest in Whites (61.1%), followed by 58.0% in Blacks and 25.2% in Asians (P<0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in HPV16/18 prevalence in non-oropharyngeal cancer by race (P=0.682). With regard to the pattern of HPV16/18 status and p16 expression, White patients had the highest proportion of HPV16/18+/p16+ oropharyngeal cancer (52.3%), while Asians and Blacks had significantly lower proportions (23.0% and 22.6%, respectively) [P <0.0001]. Our findings suggest that the pattern of HPV16/18 status and p16 expression in oropharyngeal cancer appears to differ by race and this may contribute to survival disparities.

Follicular adenoma in a juxtathyroidal thyroglossal duct cyst with papillary carcinoma in the adjacent thyroid gland.

This patient presented with a neck mass diagnosed as a papillary thyroid carcinoma by fine-needle aspiration. Preoperative computed tomography revealed a papillary carcinoma within a juxtathyroidal thyroglossal duct cyst. After surgery, the initial diagnosis was papillary thyroid carcinoma. After correlation with the computed tomography, the diagnosis was revised to a papillary thyroid carcinoma plus a follicular adenoma in a juxtathyroidal thyroglossal duct cyst. This case demonstrates the need for close clinical and radiographic correlation in such a complex case.

Sinonasal papillomas: clinicopathologic review of 40 patients with inverted and oncocytic schneiderian papillomas.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pathological features and variations of sinonasal inverted and oncocytic papillomas and correlate the microscopic findings with the clinical behavior. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review and pathological assessment. METHODS: A retrospective review and pathological assessment were performed on 40 patients with a diagnosis of inverted papilloma treated by the senior author (w.l.) between 1994 and 2001. RESULTS: Forty cases were identified and reviewed. Seven patients developed recurrences (18%), and four underwent malignant transformations (10%). Pathological assessment revealed 34 (85%) inverted papillomas and 6 (15%) oncocytic schneiderian papillomas. Dysplasia was present in 26 cases (65%), including 9 cases (22%) of high-grade dysplasia (moderate to severe). Metaplasia of the sinonasal mucosa adjacent to inverted papillomas and oncocytic schneiderian papillomas was seen in 18 (45%) cases. Recurrence developed in two patients with oncocytic schneiderian papillomas (33%) and five patients with inverted papillomas (15%). Four cases (10%) of carcinoma ex papilloma were seen; one arose from oncocytic schneiderian papilloma (17%), and three arose from inverted papilloma (9%). Oncocytic schneiderian papilloma was more often mixed with typical inverted papilloma, rather than presenting in its pure form. CONCLUSIONS: Although oncocytic schneiderian papilloma is uncommon relative to inverted papilloma, the results suggest that they have higher rates of both recurrence and malignant transformation. The common admixture of oncocytic schneiderian papilloma with inverted papilloma speaks for a common etiological factor of these two lesions. A larger number of cases for analysis would be necessary to confirm the trend noted in our data. Nonetheless, pathological findings consistent with oncocytic schneiderian papilloma should be explicit in any classification system and justify aggressive treatment and careful postoperative surveillance.