Andrei P. Timoshenko

Randomized phase III trial comparing induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy to concomitant chemoradiotherapy for laryngeal preservation in T3M0 pyriform sinus carcinoma.

Conclusions. Conventional radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin is significantly superior to induction cisplatin fluorouracil chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy in terms of laryngeal preservation in patients with T3 hypopharyngeal carcinoma. Despite a high rate of laryngeal preservation no survival benefit was recorded in this selected population. Objectives. To compare conventional radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin to induction chemotherapy with cisplatin fluorouracil followed by conventional radiotherapy. The primary end point was the preservation of the larynx. The secondary end points included toxicity, causes of death, and survival rates. Patients and methods. Seventy-one adult patients with previously untreated resectable T3 pyriform sinus squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled in the multicenter prospective randomized phase III trial. They were evaluated for organ preservation, survival rates, and toxic reactions. Results. The rates of laryngeal preservation at 2 years were 68% for the induction chemotherapy (IC) group and 92% for the chemoradiotherapy (CR) group (p = 0.016). At 2 years, the event-free survival rates were 36% and 41% for the IC group and CR group, respectively.

Sphenopalatine and anterior ethmoidal artery ligation for severe epistaxis.

Objectives: We describe the surgical treatment of severe epistaxis and evaluate the recurrence of bleeding in a nonrandomized retrospective trial. Methods: We performed a retrospective study comparing bilateral endoscopic ligation of the sphenopalatine artery alone (ELSPA) and bilateral endoscopic ligation of the sphenopalatine artery with concomitant bilateral external ligation of the anterior ethmoidal artery (ELSPEA) in the management of persistent epistaxis. Clinical and hematologic information, preoperative and surgical care, and short- and long-term outcomes were analyzed. The main outcome measure was recurrence of epistaxis in the short- and long-term follow-up periods. Results: Forty-five patients were enrolled in the study. There were 20 patients in group A (ELSPA) and 25 in group B (ELSPEA). Three patients in group A and no patients in group B had long-term (more than 2 weeks after surgery) re-bleeding. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: We conclude that ELSPA and ELSPEA are effective, well-tolerated, reliable procedures if performed by an experienced surgeon. Their failure can be explained by anatomic lateral nasal wall variations and perioperative technical difficulties. They can be appropriate methods to treat severe recurrent epistaxis refractory to repeated nasal packing.

Combined horizontal and posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in three patients with head trauma.

We report 3 patients who complained of positional vertigo shortly after head trauma. Positional maneuvers performed in the plane of the posterior canal (PC; Dix-Hallpike maneuver) and the horizontal canal (HC; patients were rolled to either side in a supine position with the head raised 30°) revealed a complex positional nystagmus that could only be interpreted as the result of combined PC and HC benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Two patients had a right PC BPPV and an ageotropic HC BPPV, and 1 patient had a bilateral PC BPPV and a left geotropic HC BPPV. All 3 patients were rapidly free of vertigo after the PC BPPV was cured by the Epley maneuver and the geotropic HC BPPV was cured by the Vannucchi method. The ageotropic HC BPPV resolved spontaneously. Neuroimaging (brain computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging scans) findings were normal in all 3 patients. From a physiopathological viewpoint, it is easy to conceive that head trauma could throw otoconial debris into different canals of each labyrinth and be responsible for these combined forms of BPPV. Consequently, in trauma patients with vertigo, it is mandatory to perform the Dix-Hallpike maneuver, as well as supine lateral head turns, in order to diagnose PC BPPV, HC BPPV, or the association of both. Early diagnosis and treatment of BPPV may help to reduce the postconcussion syndrome.

Extended and standard supraglottic laryngectomies: a review of 110 patients

The purpose of this study was to compare functional and oncological results of extended and standard supraglottic laryngectomies. One hundred ten patients with supraglottic carcinoma were treated. A standard supraglottic laryngectomy (SSL), a laterally extended supraglottic laryngectomy (LESL) and an anteriorly extended supraglottic laryngectomy (AESL) were performed on 32, 47 and 31 patients, respectively. Indications for postoperative radiotherapy included positive surgical margins (23% of patients) and/or node metastasis (63% of patients). Local recurrence occurred in 13% of SSL, 15% of LESL and 17% of AESL patients. Pulmonary complications due to aspiration were observed in 6% of SSL, 15% of LESL and 19% of AESL. The overall 5-year cure rates were 63% for SSL, 45% for LESL and 47% for the AESL procedures. Extended supraglottic laryngectomies provided as good a local tumor control as SSL. Extension to the hypopharynx (LESL) and to the vallecula (AESL) showed more frequent pulmonary complications and reduced cure rates.

Preoperative combined 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography imaging in head and neck cancer: does it really improve initial N staging?

Abstract Conclusion: In our experience PET-CT cannot yet reliably predict the need for surgical neck dissection in patients with N0 neck. According to the results of PET-CT the neck dissection should be extended towards unusual lymph node areas. Objective: To analyze the value of PET-CT for the initial N staging, comparing PET-CT data with histopathological results of the modified radical neck dissection. Methods: Fifty patients with previously untreated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were eligible for inclusion in this study. Modified radical unilateral or bilateral neck dissection was performed in all patients. PET-CT findings and histological findings were compared to determine their diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Results: In all, 105 levels had pathologically diagnosed metastases: PET-CT was positive in 87 levels and negative in 18 levels. Also, 399 levels had negative postoperative histology findings: PET-CT was positive in 24 levels and negative in 375 levels. The false-positive over-staged and the false-negative under-staged rates were 27% and 12%, respectively.

Malleus Removal and Total Cartilage Reinforcement in Intact Canal Wall Tympanoplasty for Cholesteatoma

This study analyzes the morphological and hearing results obtained from intact canal wall cholesteatoma surgery by removing the malleus, reinforcing the whole tympanic membrane with cartilage, and performing an ossiculoplasty with a hydroxyapatite prosthesis. The results were compared to those obtained in intact canal wall cholesteatoma surgery by preserving the malleus manubrium, partially reinforcing the tympanic membrane with cartilage, and predominantly using an ossicle to perform the ossiculoplasty. One- or two-stage intact canal wall procedures were performed in 390 adult patients (416 ears) who had a nonoperated middle ear cholesteatoma. Recurrent and residual cholesteatoma rates were evaluated. Hearing results were analyzed according to the Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium Guidelines of the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery. There was a statistically significant decrease in the recurrence rate in patients who had total cartilage reinforcement of the tympanic membrane versus patients who had partial tympanic membrane cartilage reinforcement. This technique using a hydroxyapatite prosthesis for ossiculoplasty gave good hearing results.

Planned neck dissection before combined chemoradiation for pyriform sinus carcinoma.

Conclusions. A pretreatment neck dissection in a chemoradiation regimen for pyriform sinus carcinoma provides no delay for radiation, low complication rates, optimal radiation doses and a high nodal disease control. Objectives. The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical feasibility, therapeutic consequences and neck nodes control of a pretreatment neck dissection in a chemoradiation regimen for organ preservation strategy for pyriform sinus carcinoma. Patients and methods. Seventy-six patients with untreated stage III and IV squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus were included in this study. Eighty neck dissections were performed according to the N status. Dose of radiotherapy was delivered according to the pathologic finding of neck dissections. Results. The mean time between neck dissection and the chemoradiation was 24 days (±12 days). Only two patients (2.5%) experienced wound complications. A ‘boost’ radiation of 14 Gy was delivered after 49 neck dissections (61%) in patients with extracapsular spread. The rate of disease control within the regional nodes was 90%. The Kaplan–Meier 1- and 2- year overall survival rates were 78% and 43%, respectively, and specific survival rates were 88% and 67%, respectively.

Lamina propria of the human vocal fold: histomorphometric study of collagen fibers

BackgroundSince the seminal work of M. Hirano, which defined the three-layered lamina propria of the human vocal fold, there has been confusion in the labeling of each layer. Recent studies described the composition of fibers and interstitial molecules within the lamina propria leading to various biomechanical properties. However, collagen fibers appear as the most important structure component.MethodsWe used an optical analysis and the picrosirius-polarization method to describe collagen fibers from six adult and two fetal human larynges fixed in formalin and frontally sectioned in the middle part of the vocal fold.ResultsThe deep layer of the lamina propria is the most densely organized band of collagen fibers penetrating the superficial muscle bundles of the vocal muscle. The mean thickness of this layer is about 36% of the lamina propria and shows a network of strongly birefringent fibers (collagen type I and III). The superficial layer of the lamina propria is a narrow band of collagen fibers immediately below the basement membrane of the epithelium. The mean thickness of this layer is about 13% of the lamina propria and shows strong birefringent fibers. The intermediate layer is the less densely organized band between the deep and superficial layers. The mean thickness of this layer is about 51% of the lamina propria and shows clear, green weakly birefringent fibers characterized as collagen type III. The fetal lamina propria contains only a monolayer distribution of loose collagen fibers between the epithelium and the vocal muscle.ConclusionThese results help describe the distribution of collagen fibers within the lamina propria of the human vocal fold and have implications to understand the cover-body theory of voice production both in the adult and newborn.

Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: incidence and prognostic factors

The objective of this study was to define the prognostic factors of papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid (PMCT), and to analyse their epidemiologic and histopathologic characteristics. Our series included 57 patients diagnosed with PMCT between 1994 and 2003 among 944 patients who underwent thyroid surgery. All the surgical specimens were examined in the same department of pathology using the same technique. The prognostic factors were elaborated from the results of the histological examination. The epidemiological and histopathological characteristics were also evaluated. Two sub-groups were distinguished: patients with node disease and/or with metastasis (17 patients) and patients without node disease and metastasis (40 patients). The architecture of PMCT was papillary in 14% of cases, follicular in 35% of cases and mixed in 49% of cases, with no significant difference between any two groups. Histopathologic characteristics such as the vascular extension, infiltration into the adjacent parenchyma or in the thyroid capsule are all indicative of a poor prognosis. Two categories of PMCT, with and without the risk of metastatic spread, can be identified from these prognostic factors.

Malleus head fixation: histopathology revisited

Conclusions. Malleus head fixation is a rare but not exceptional pathology. It may be apparently congenital or acquired, and can be associated with stapes fixation. In the acquired secondary process two histological types of malleus head fixation were found: the first corresponded to non-tympanosclerotic bone remodeling and the second to localized tympanosclerosis. Objective. To describe the histopathologic features of malleus head fixation and to correlate them with its clinical appearance. Material and methods. Ten patients with surgically proven malleus head fixation were included in this series. A fixed malleus head was resected via a transcanal approach in six patients, and attic bony fragments fixing the malleus head were removed via a mastoidectomy without disruption of the ossicular chain in four. Histopathologic studies were performed for both types of malleus head fixation. Results. Three types of acquired malleus head fixation were defined in accordance with the surgical and histopathological findings. Histologically, the first type presented with normal bone tissue, the second was characterized by non-tympanosclerotic bone remodeling and the third presented with a localized tympanosclerotic focus in the tympanic cavity.