African American race as a risk factor associated with a second primary lung cancer after initial primary head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND: Initial primary head and neck cancer (IPHNC) is associated with second primary lung cancer (SPLC). We studied this association in a population with a high proportion of African American (AA) patients. METHODS: Patients with IPHNC and SPLC treated between 2000 and 2017 were reviewed for demographic, disease, and treatment-related characteristics and compared to age-and-stage-matched controls without SPLC. Logistic and Cox regression models were used to analyze the relationship of these characteristics with the development of SPLC and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients and controls were compared respectively. AA race was associated with a significantly higher risk of developing SPLC (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.35-6.66). After correcting for immortal time bias, patients with SPLC had a significantly lower OS when compared with controls (HR 0.248, 95% CI 0.170-0.362). CONCLUSIONS: We show that AA race is associated with an increased risk of SPLC after IPHNC; reasons of this increased risk warrant further investigation.

Disparities in impact of nasopharyngeal cancer: An analysis of global health burden.

OBJECTIVES: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma has a unique worldwide racial and geographic distribution. Our objective was to evaluate socioeconomic disparities in the burden of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) between endemic and nonendemic regions. METHODS: To demonstrate trends regarding societal burden of NPC and socioeconomic development, national disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates and human development indices (HDI) between 1990 and 2015 were evaluated. Countries were divided based on the endemic versus nonendemic presence of NPC and further analyzed by HDI status as specified by the United Nations Development Program. Gini coefficients and concentration index were used to evaluate global equality in NPC burden over this period. RESULTS: Age-standardized DALYs dropped from 36.1 in 1990 to 26.5 in 2015 (26.6% decline) (r = -0.991, P < 0.001). Lower socioeconomic countries harbored greater NPC burden upon controlling by endemic and nonendemic regions, as demonstrated by progressively negative concentration indexes. Health inequality was greater in nonendemic countries than in endemic countries (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate socioeconomic-related changes in NPC burden using statistical tools such as the Gini coefficient and concentration index. Although the burden of NPC has steadily decreased, there remain persistent inequalities associated with socioeconomic disparities. Nasopharyngeal cancer burden is more pronounced in countries with lower HDI. Our results reinforce the importance of increasing resources for developing countries and continuing inquiry into the screening, diagnosis, and management of NPC. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 129:2482-2486, 2019.

An investigation of operative outcomes: Pediatric invasive fungal sinusitis.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Invasive fungal sinusitis is an uncommon entity among children. Early recognition is crucial for facilitating successful treatment with minimal morbidity. The goal of this analysis was to identify patient characteristics associated with high-risk surgical disease through a population-based examination into this rare and deadly disease process. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of the 2009 and 2012 Kids' Inpatient Database (KID) was conducted. A series of queries (Fungal infection→immunocompromised diagnosis→sinus procedure) identified 102 patients with likely invasive fungal sinusitis. Outcomes included: species, invasive extension, death, and other clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Patients with leukemia/lymphoma constituted 90.2% of individuals evaluated in this analysis. Nearly a quarter of pediatric patients receiving surgical treatment for invasive fungal sinusitis died during their hospital stay -24.9%. Aspergillus was the most commonly recorded mycotic species. Average hospital stay was 59.3 days, and associated hospital costs averaged $746,299 per stay. Patients 0-5 years old were more likely to have orbital involvement -56.3%. Brain extension was noted in 33.7% of this cohort as well. Mucormycosis was an independent predictor of death (p = 0.03), with an odds ratio of 3.835. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest pediatric cohort with invasive fungal sinusitis in the literature. Patient demographics, cytology, and disease extension offer predictive information regarding patient outcomes for invasive fungal sinusitis. A high clinical suspicion and early treatment may decrease the lengthy and costly hospitalizations in this population.

Sialendoscopy in the Management of Radioiodine Induced Sialadenitis: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: Salivary gland dysfunction as a consequence of radioiodide ablation is present in as many as two-thirds of patients, and unfortunately, many of these individuals do not respond to conservative measures. Sialendoscopy as a minimally invasive therapeutic modality may have utility in the treatment of radioiodide induced sialadenitis (RAIS). Our aim was to explore whether sialendoscopy resulted in clinical improvement in patients with RAIS. METHODS: A systematic review of studies on sialendoscopy for RAIS was conducted using MEDLINE database, Embase, and Cochrane Library. The outcomes of interest included the proportion of patients demonstrating clinical improvement after intervention, patient demographics, radiation dose, specific procedural variations, specific salivary gland, failure rate, and recurrence. RESULTS: Eight studies met inclusion criteria. Data reviewed showed an increased predilection of parotid sialadenitis relative to submandibular gland sialadenitis. All but 2 studies employed sialendoscopy only after failure of conservative measures. An overall rate of clinical improvement ranging from 75% to 100% was reported. CONCLUSION: This systematic review encompassing 122 patients represents the largest pooled sample to date of patients undergoing sialendoscopy for RAIS. Sialendoscopy represents an invaluable minimally invasive modality that may obviate the need for more invasive surgery as intervention was associated with a high success rate.