A multicenter validation of the revised version of the Milan system for reporting salivary gland cytology (MSRSGC).

INTRODUCTION: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a basic step in the diagnosis of salivary gland tumors that have a wide variety of histological types. The recent Milan system for reporting salivary gland cytopathology (MSRSGC) can correlate the risk of malignancy with precise cytological features. A revised version was recently proposed to improve the surgical relevance and facilitate uniform management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multicenter study retrospectively used the original and revised MSRSGC criteria to classify a series of patients who received surgery after FNAC. RESULTS: We enrolled 503 patients from three tertiary centers. The risk of malignancy for the MSRSGC resulted 19.5% in cat. I, 14.3% in cat. II, 17.6% in cat. III, 3.6% in cat. IVa, 24.6% in cat. IVb, 66.7% in cat. V, and 96.8% in cat. VI. The results from the revised MSRSGC were consistent with the original values. CONCLUSION: The MSRSGC is a promising classification system. In our opinion, the revised version of the MSRSGC supplements FNAC with some crucial clinical information and can better identify the appropriate treatment in each category.

Lateral conservative approach for recurrent/persistent hypopharyngeal carcinoma: a case series.

PURPOSE: Early persistent/recurrent hypopharyngeal tumours represent a challenge for surgeons who have to balance the need for oncological radicality and the desire to maintain a functioning larynx with preservation of the patient's quality of life. The aim of this study was primarily to understand the technical feasibility, functional outcomes, and the possibility of obtaining oncological radicality using lateral hypopharyngectomy with laryngeal preservation in early recurrent post-radio/(chemo)therapy hypopharyngeal tumours. METHODS: Patients with recurrent T1 hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were retrospectively selected from our institutional database. The external lateral approach according to Spriano and a modified lateral hypopharyngectomy with laryngeal preservation were used to resect tumours of the lateral pyriform sinus wall. Reconstruction was obtained by direct approximation of the posterior border of the sectioned thyroid cartilage to the posterior hypopharyngeal wall, and this was reinforced with a second layer of vascularised and non-irradiated tissue that was provided by a microvascular fascial anterobrachial flap. Swallowing was assessed 3 weeks after surgery using videoendoscopic evaluation. RESULTS: The surgical procedure was technically feasible, and complete resection was obtained in all patients. None of the patients experienced major post-operative complications (salivary fistula, bleeding, aspiration pneumonia). Mild dysphagia was observed in one patient who underwent swallowing rehabilitation. Tracheostomy was closed in all patients. No recurrence was recorded after a median follow-up of 20 months. CONCLUSION: The reported experience shows that, in selected cases, it is possible to radically remove lateral hypopharyngeal cancer with acceptable functional results.

Free flap microvascular anastomosis in head and neck reconstruction using a 4K three-dimensional exoscope system (VITOM 3D).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of microvascular anastomosis using a 4K three-dimensional exoscope system (VITOM 3D) in 10 consecutive cases of free flap head and neck reconstructive surgery. This was a clinical human study of free flap microvascular anastomosis using a VITOM 3D exoscope in 10 consecutive patients undergoing reconstruction after ablative surgery for head and neck carcinoma. Microvascular anastomoses were performed successfully using the exoscope in all patients, without any need for the conventional microscope. Arterial anastomoses were all end-to-end. Venous anastomoses were end-to-end in eight cases and end-to-side with the internal jugular vein in two cases. This study demonstrates the technical feasibility of microvascular anastomosis using a 4K three-dimensional exoscope system (VITOM 3D) in a series of 10 cases.

Electrochemotherapy: a well-accepted palliative treatment by patients with head and neck tumours.

SUMMARY: Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a well established treatment strategy for skin tumuors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of electrochemotherapy in the palliative setting in patients with head and neck malignancies, in terms of improvement of quality of life and in control of pain and bleeding. Twenty-four patients with a loco-regional M0/M1 relapse not suitable for cure with radical intent by surgery or radiotherapy (RT) and not suitable for systemic therapy and/or already treated with it, were admitted to ECT protocol treatment. Clinical features, treatment response, and adverse effects were evaluated. An overall response of 100% was observed. Overall survival probability at 24 months was 46.5% (median OS: 9 months). The multiple application of ECT was associated with improved survival (p = 0.02). Pain, need for medical assistance or dressing and bleeding events was significantly reduced at 1 month after ECT (p #x003C; 0.001). ECT is effective as palliative treatment of non-resectable head and neck malignancies. Its main advantages are improved quality of life, local tumour control and limited side effects.

Cytology and direct human papillomavirus testing on fine needle aspirates from cervical lymph node metastases of patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma or occult primary.

OBJECTIVE: Cervical lymph node fine needle aspirates (FNAs) may represent the only specimens available for an initial characterisation of patients with lymphadenopathy. Morphology and human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA presence were evaluated in FNAs collected from patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) or cancer of unknown primary (CUP). FNA HPV results were compared with those of the respective formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) primary cancer. METHODS: Liquid-based cytology was performed on FNAs collected in PreservCyt. HPV-DNA was analysed by the INNO-LiPA HPV genotyping Extra II on both cytological and FFPE samples. The CINtec® Histology Kit was used to assess p16 expression in cancer tissues. RESULTS: Forty-seven FNAs were collected from OPSCC and 16 from CUP patients. Cancer cells were found in 35/47 cases (74.5%), while 11 (23.4%) showed only necrosis and one (2.1%) was negative for malignancy. HPV-DNA was detected in 30/47 FNAs (63.8%), mostly harbouring HPV16 (90.0%). An excellent agreement was observed between the FNA and corresponding FFPE HPV status (raw agreement: 97.5%; Cohen κ: 0.94). The HPV test result on the necrotic FNAs completely matched that of the respective primary cancer. FNA HPV testing correctly identified 26/27 HPV-driven OPSCCs (96.3%). HPV was detected in nine of 16 FNAs (56.2%) from CUP patients. CONCLUSIONS: HPV status of metastatic cervical lymph node FNAs reflects that of the corresponding primary OPSCCs even when cell integrity in the FNA is not preserved and only necrotic debris are present. In patients with initial CUP, HPV-positivity on the FNA may guide the diagnostic workup and therapeutic management, since it suggests an oropharyngeal origin.

Vastus lateralis myofascial free flap in tongue reconstruction.

In the last decade, the antero-lateral thigh free flap (ALT) has become the most popular free flap for tongue reconstruction because of less donor site morbidity and better cosmetic outcomes. However, fascio-cutaneous ALT may be insufficient to reconstruct major tongue defects, while its muscular-cutaneous variant (using the vastus lateralis muscle) may be too bulky. The present study describes our preliminary experience of tongue reconstruction with vastus lateralis myofascial flap, which could potentially offer unique advantages in head and neck reconstruction including adequate bulk when needed, optimal functional results and obliteration of dead space thus preventing fistulas and infections with minimal morbidity.

Ectopic lingual goiter treated by transoral robotic surgery.

Multinodular goiter in lingual thyroid is quite rare. Surgical removal is indicated in symptomatic patients and when cancer is suspected. An external approach is most often used, but is associated with morbidity and sequelae. In this study, we present for the first time the technique of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for removal of a massive lingual goiter. Prospective patient data were collected, including demographics, medical history, symptoms, comorbidities and drugs prescribed. The da Vinci Surgical System was used for a transoral approach to the oropharynx. The technique was validated in a 31-year-old woman with signs and symptoms of multinodular goiter presenting since childhood. The procedure required 115 min, with intervals as follows: tracheotomy, 25 min; robot setting time, 20 min; and console time, 70 min. TOR S is feasible in cases of multinodular goiter in a lingual thyroid. The procedure appears to be safe, with quick recovery of swallowing and speech.

Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for tongue base tumours.

In recent years, transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has been used for the removal of pharyngeal and laryngeal cancers with the objective to improve functional and aesthetic outcomes without worsening the survival. This prospective single-centre cohort study described TORS in selected tumours of the tongue base in order to assess safety, efficacy and functional outcome of the procedure. From October 2010 to February 2012, TORS was performed in 13 consecutive patients affected by T1-T2 tumours of the base of the tongue. This procedure was applicable in all cases. The clinical stage demonstrated 8 T1 tumours and 5 T2 tumours. Neck node metastases were clinically evident in 6 cases (7 N0, 1 N1, 4 N2b and 1 N2c). The final pathology report confirmed malignancy in all cases (11 squamous cell carcinoma and 2 mucoepidermoid carcinoma). Negative-margin resections were obtained in all cases but one with close margins. Synchronous lymph node neck dissections were performed in 7 cases (6 monolateral, 1 bilateral). Patients underwent temporary tracheostomies for a mean time of 6 days. A naso-gastric feeding tube was positioned in 10/13 (76.9%) patients for a mean time of 7.5 days. The average time to carry out the TORS procedure was 95 min (set-up time 25 min; TORS 70 min). No deaths occurred. Surgical complications were observed in 4 cases (postoperative bleedings in 3 cases and intraoperative anaphylactic shock in 1 case). Median hospital stay was 9 days. All patients had good functional outcomes. Adjuvant treatment was indicated in 5/13 cases (35.4%). TORS represents a good tool for staging and treating neoplasm of the base of the tongue. The transoral removal is safe and can radically remove limited oropharyngeal tumours of the tongue base with good functional outcomes. The operating costs can be relatively high but they are related to the number of procedures per year, although the advantages to patients seem to justify the procedure. TORS can represent the definitive treatment in selected T1-T2 cases of base of the tongue tumours without adverse features and allow the possibility for the deintensification of adjuvant treatments.

Predictive factors for postoperative wound complications after neck dissection.

The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate risk factors for wound complications after neck dissection. One hundred and nineteen patients were treated with neck dissection for squamous-cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract at the National Cancer Institute in Rome between 2006 and 2009. Postoperative wound complications were divided into major or minor and were related to different variables to identify risk factors. Postoperative wound complications were found in 20.2% of patients with an individual patient probability for different risk factors ranging from 2% to 34.1%. Preoperative chemoradiation therapy (CRT) and the type of neck dissection were associated with a higher risk of major complications (p ≤ 0.05). Previous CRT and radical neck dissection/modified radical neck dissection are risk factors for major wound complications in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma undergoing neck dissection. Patients requiring neck dissection after CRT should be informed about the increased risk of the procedure, and selective neck dissection, if oncologically appropriate, should be considered to reduce complications.

Italian cross-cultural adaptation and validation of three different scales for the evaluation of shoulder pain and dysfunction after neck dissection: University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA) Shoulder Scale, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) and Simple Shoulder Test (SST).

Shoulder syndrome after neck dissection is a well known entity, but its incidence and prognostic factors influencing recovery have not been clearly assessed due to the heterogeneity of possible evaluations. The University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA) Shoulder Scale, the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) and the Simple Shoulder Test (SST) are three English-language questionnaires commonly used to test shoulder impairment. An Italian version of these scales is not available. The aim of the present study was to translate, culturally adapt and validate an Italian version of UCLA Shoulder Scale, SPADI and SST. Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the SPADI, the UCLA shoulder scale and the SST was performed according to the international guidelines. Sixty-six patients treated with neck dissection for head and neck cancer were called to draw up these scales. Forty patients completed the same questionnaires a second time one week after the first to test the reproducibility of the Italian versions. All the English-speaking Italian patients (n = 11) were asked to complete both the English and the Italian versions of the three questionnaires to validate the scales. No major problems regarding the content or the language were found during the translation of the 3 questionnaires. For all three scales, Cronbach's α was > 0.89. The Pearson correlation coefficient was r > 0.91. With respect to validity, there was a significant correlation between the Italian and the English versions of all three scales. This study shows that the Italian versions of UCLA Shoulder Scale, SPADI and SST are valid instruments for the evaluation of shoulder dysfunction after neck dissection in Italian patients.

Step-by-step mandibular reconstruction with free fibula flap modelling.

The functional and aesthetic outcomes after segmental mandibular resection are closely related to the technique used during mandibular reconstruction with bone graft. The fibula free flap approach allows the possibility of using bone with/without skin for restoring the defect. Here, we aimed to establish the preplating technique for oromandibular reconstruction in a step-by-step fashion, based on 41 patients. The surgical technique is expounded in 8-10 steps. Preplating, plate removal, resection, replating, template modelling, contouring and fixation of the fibula represent the key points of the procedure. In this report, we show that the preplating and template modelling method is easy, does not incur extra costs and can be successfully used for mandibular reconstruction with bone graft. Functional and aesthetic results confirm the feasibility and reproducibility of the technique.

Pattern of regional metastases and prognostic factors in differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

The meaning of nodal metastases in well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma is controversial. The Authors analyse the impact of lymphatic spread reviewing 1503 cases of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma treated at the National Cancer Institute of Rome between 1988 and 2005, in order to detect significant prognostic factors through multivariate analysis. Overall, 462 cases of locally advanced well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, were considered. A multivariate analysis of a subgroup, comprising 97 N+ consecutive cases of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, previously untreated, was performed to study prognostic factors for local (N+) and distant (M+) metastasis in well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Of the 97 cases, 88 were submitted to surgery for a large well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, 9 for occult differentiated thyroid carcinoma. After surgery, 12 patients were lost to follow-up, 8 resulted pathologically negative, therefore only 77 cases of pN1 well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma were studied. Considering all cases of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, 10-year-overall survival was 58.7% for locally advanced well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, compared to 94.8% in low stage cases. Neck dissection, margin infiltration and extra-capsular spread were significant prognostic factors. The Authors present a retrospective study of 77 patients with primary differentiated thyroid carcinoma, submitted to thyroidectomy and neck dissection aimed at analysing distribution of nodal metastases according to Robbins' levels classification and defining their prognostic value. All N1b cases, retrospectively reviewed (n. 77), presented clinical and histological evidence of neck nodes metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma; histological reports indicated tumour localisation and topographical distribution of metastases; papillary carcinoma was the most common type (72 cases), followed by follicular carcinoma (5 cases). Surgical treatment always comprised total thyroidectomy and 6(th) level dissection. Overall 52 cases were submitted to monolateral neck dissection, 25 to bilateral neck dissection. Treatment of the lateral neck was postero-lateral neck dissection (n. 53), selective lateral neck dissection (n. 20), modified radical and radical (n. 29). Cervical level IV was the most frequently involved (52%), extra-capsular spread of metastases was identified in 22% of the cases. Statistically significant prognostic factors for distant metastases and recurrence on the neck were follicular carcinoma (p < 0.01) and extra-capsular spread (p < 0.001). Age, pT, sex, number of positive nodal metastases, T-extension and the number of nodal positive levels were not significant. In the Authors' experience, histological grade of differentiation, wide tumour excision and neck dissection, in cases of N1b well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, without residual disease (R1, R2), in the central and lateral neck, are determinant prognostic factors. Extracapsular spread in particular, was found to be a highly predictive factor either of distant metastasis or regional recurrence.

Oral cavity and base of the tongue tumors. Correlation between clinical, MRI and pathological staging of primary tumor.

The diagnosis of oral cavity and oropharyngeal tumors can be obtained through clinical examination and biopsy. CT and MRI can then be used to define the extension of the disease. The aim of this study was to define the accuracy of clinical and MRI T staging of oral cavity and base of the tongue tumors and correlate the results with pathological data. Mandibular involvement, in a subgroup of patients, was determined and sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and positive and negative predictive values were evaluated. Fifty-nine patients affected by squamous cell carcinoma and 1 case of adenoido-cystic carcinoma were examined by means of a superconductive MR unit, using SE T1, and fat-suppressed T2 weighted sequences before contrast medium infusion. SE T1 and T1 fat-suppressed sequences after gadolinium-DTPA infusion were used. T stage accuracy of both clinical examination and MRI were found to be respectively 62% (k 0.459) and 82% (k 0.775). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRI in the detection of mandibular involvement were 94.1%, 60% and 81.5%, while the positive and negative predictive values were 80% and 85.7%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of clinical examination in the detection of mandibular involvement were 100%, 30% and 74.1%, while the positive and negative predictive values were 70.8% and 100%. In the present study, MRI was seen to be an adequate technique for the assessment of oral cavity malignancies, in the evaluation of depth invasion, presence and extension of mandibular involvement.

External monitor for buried free flaps in head and neck reconstructions.

Head and neck defects following oncological surgery must often be repaired with soft tissue and/or bone from other areas of the body. Significant loss of soft tissue requires flaps of sufficient bulk to adequately reconstruct the defect. Microvascular free tissue transfer is a good method for reconstructing even large defects following oncological surgery for head and neck cancer. Continuous post-operative monitoring of the perfusion of a free flap is vitally important to achieve not only a favourable outcome but also to decrease morbidity. Microvascular thrombosis occurs in 4% of the flaps and the best chance for flap salvage is offered by the earliest possible revision of the microanastomosis. Use of buried flaps in head and neck reconstruction makes monitoring particularly difficult and exteriorization of a segment of the flap permits a direct visualization. An original technique is presented for harvesting forearm free flaps with a secondary monitor skin paddle to externally check the status of the paddle and, when modified, can also be used for fibula and rectus abdominis flap.

Treatment of advanced neck metastases.

Despite the use of aggressive single or multimodality treatment protocols, patients with advanced cervical metastases, N2 and N3, have a poor prognosis because of their high risk of regional and distal failure. Moreover, N3 class does not allow resectability and curability to be defined. Numerous trials have been carried out in order to improve the oncological outcomes of patients with advanced metastases to the neck using a variety of multimodality therapy. At present, there is a trend toward the use of a definitive radiochemotherapy followed, or not, by neck dissection. In order to offer a panoramic view of the treatment protocols in use, data available in the literature, regarding the management of advanced neck disease using surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, in different associations, have been reviewed and our experience reported. The presence of advanced cervical metastases is a very poor prognostic factor. The combined treatment modality offers better chances of cure than single modality treatment. Surgery followed by radiotherapy or chemo-radiation therapy is an effective and well standardized approach. The use of planned neck dissection following chemoradiation is still debated.