Donald J. Annino

Three Patients with Full Facial Transplantation

Unlike conventional reconstruction, facial transplantation seeks to correct severe deformities in a single operation. We report on three patients who received full-face transplants at our institution in 2011 in operations that aimed for functional restoration by coaptation of all main available motor and sensory nerves. We enumerate the technical challenges and postoperative complications and their management, including single episodes of acute rejection in two patients. At 6 months of follow-up, all facial allografts were surviving, facial appearance and function were improved, and glucocorticoids were successfully withdrawn in all patients.

Restoration of Facial Form and Function After Severe Disfigurement from Burn Injury by a Composite Facial Allograft

Composite facial allotransplantation is emerging as a treatment option for severe facial disfigurements. The technical feasibility of facial transplantation has been demonstrated, and the initial clinical outcomes have been encouraging. We report an excellent functional and anatomical restoration 1 year after face transplantation. A 59‐year‐old male with severe disfigurement from electrical burn injury was treated with a facial allograft composed of bone and soft tissues to restore midfacial form and function. An initial potent antirejection treatment was tapered to minimal dose of immunosuppression. There were no surgical complications. The patient demonstrated facial redness during the initial postoperative months. One acute rejection episode was reversed with a brief methylprednisolone bolus treatment. Pathological analysis and the donors medical history suggested that rosacea transferred from the donor caused the erythema, successfully treated with topical metronidazol. Significant restoration of nasal breathing, speech, feeding, sensation and animation was achieved. The patient was highly satisfied with the esthetic result, and regained much of his capacity for normal social life. Composite facial allotransplantation, along with minimal and well‐tolerated immunosuppression, was successfully utilized to restore facial form and function in a patient with severe disfigurement of the midface.

Dysphagia after sequential chemoradiation therapy for advanced head and neck cancer

OBJECTIVES: Assess impact of sequential chemoradiation therapy (SCRT) for advanced head and neck cancer (HNCA) on swallowing, nutrition, and quality of life. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study of 59 patients undergoing SCRT for advanced head and neck cancer. Follow-up median was 47.5 months. SETTING: Regional Cancer Center. RESULTS: Median time to gastrostomy tube removal was 21 weeks. Eighteen of 23 patients who underwent modified barium swallow demonstrated aspiration; none developed pneumonia. Six of 7 with pharyngoesophageal stricture underwent successful dilatation. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Head and Neck Scale questionnaires at median 6 months after treatment revealed “somewhat” satisfaction with swallowing. At the time of analysis, 97% have the gastronomy tube removed and take soft/regular diet. CONCLUSION: Early after treatment dysphagia adversely affected weight, modified barium swallow results, and quality of life. Diligent swallow therapy, and dilation as needed, allowed nearly all patients to have their gastronomy tubes removed and return to a soft/regular diet. SIGNIFICANCE: Dysphagia is significant after SCRT but generally slowly recovers 6 to 12 months after SCRT.

Treatment of adductor laryngeal breathing dystonia with botulinum toxin type a

Adductor laryngeal breathing dystonia (ALBD) is a rare disorder in which patients have persistent inspiratory stridor, usually normal voice, and cough. Physical exam is characterized by paradoxical movement of the vocal cords on inspiration. These patients have involuntary action‐induced spasms of the adductor laryngeal muscles on inspiration. There has been no uniformly satisfactory treatment for the disease. Speech therapy, psychotherapy, and pharmacotherapy have all had limited success.

Silent sinus syndrome : A case presentation and comprehensive review of all 84 reported cases

Objectives: The term silent sinus syndrome has been used to describe the constellation of progressive enophthalmos and hypoglobus due to gradual collapse of the orbital floor with opacification of the maxillary sinus, in the presence of subclinical chronic maxillary sinusitis. Currently, it is believed to occur as a result of the sequence of events following maxillary sinus hypoventilation due to the obstruction of the ostiomeatal complex. Methods: In this study, we present a case of true silent sinus syndrome. In addition, we highlight the previously published cases of silent sinus syndrome, as well as provide a review of the etiology, pathophysiology, radiologic diagnosis, surgical treatment, and pitfalls to avoid in the management of patients with silent sinus syndrome. Results: Eighty-three previously published cases of silent sinus syndrome were reported in the literature and are summarized in this review. Conclusions: A well-defined set of criteria is needed to classify a patient under the diagnosis of silent sinus syndrome, which include enophthalmos and/or hypoglobus in the absence of clinically evident sinonasal inflammatory disease.

Efficacy and Toxicity of Reirradiation Using Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy for Recurrent or Second Primary Head and Neck Cancer

Patients with locally recurrent squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN) are reported to have a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Optimal management is selectively applied and morbid. Both surgical resection and chemoradiotherapy are reported to result in median survivals of approximately 12 months. Intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is a highly conformal approach for delivering RT. This study reported the experience of the Dana‐Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) with IMRT‐based chemoradiotherapy with or without surgery for locally recurrent SCCHN.

Phase I Study of C-TPF in Patients With Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

PURPOSE Phase I study to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of fluorouracil (FU) in the docetaxel/cisplatin/FU (TPF) regimen when combined with cetuximab (C) for induction treatment of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with previously untreated SCCHN were enrolled. FU cohorts were 700, 850, and 1,000 mg/m(2)/d for 4 days via continuous infusion. TPF given every 3 weeks for three cycles and C was given weekly for a total of 9 weeks, starting on day 1 of TPF. All patients received chemoradiotherapy after C-TPF. RESULTS A total of 30 patients were enrolled and 28 were assessable. The median age was 57 years, 92% had stage 4 disease, 71% were oropharynx, and 100% had a performance status of 0. No dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was encountered on dose levels 1 and 2. At dose level 3 of 1000 mg/m(2), one DLT was encountered and three more patients were enrolled with no DLTs. In the expansion cohort at the MTD, three DLTs were encountered. The decision was made to decrease the FU from 1,000 mg/m(2) to dose level 2 of 850 mg/m(2). A total of 13 patients were enrolled at the MTD of 850 mg/m(2). The number of average weeks that C was delivered was seven of nine planned. CONCLUSION C-TPF appears to be safe and feasible as given in this study. GI toxicity (mucositis, enteritis, and diarrhea) appears to be the major combined DLT. Reducing the FU in TPF to 850 mg/m(2) reduces GI toxicity and is the recommended phase II dose.

Vincristine‐induced recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis

Vincristine‐sulfate‐related vocal cord paralysis has been reported infrequently in the literature. The neurotoxicity of the vinca alkaloids is well‐known; however, the potential for cranial nerve involvement is not widely recognized. Given the complexity of the typical patient receiving such a chemotherapeutic agent, the potential for misdiagnosis is high. Many patients have primary tumors or metastatic lesions in sites that could cause the clinician to overlook this reversible cause of neurologic dysfunction. This study describes the first three reported pediatric cases of vincristine‐induced vocal cord paralysis. Two patients developed increasing stridor secondary to bilateral vocal cord paralysis; the third developed a unilateral vocal cord paralysis. All resolved spontaneously upon withdrawal of the vincristine. Vinca‐alkaloid‐induced vocal cord paralysis is a potentially dangerous but reversible lesion. Otolaryngologists should be aware of the association between these agents and cranial nerve neuropathies.

Phase I dose-finding study of paclitaxel with panitumumab, carboplatin and intensity-modulated radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced squamous cell cancer of the head and neck

BACKGROUND Panitumumab has the potential to improve the therapeutic ratio of concurrent chemoradiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). PATIENTS AND METHODS This phase I dose-finding study investigated escalating doses of paclitaxel (Taxol) given concurrently with panitumumab, carboplatin and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for stage III-IVB SCCHN. Untreated patients with oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx or unknown primaries were eligible. Additional eligibility criteria included measurable disease, good performance status and no contraindication to therapy. Patients received weekly fixed doses of panitumumab and carboplatin plus escalating doses of paclitaxel with IMRT. RESULTS Nineteen patients were enrolled on to two dose levels (DLs): weekly paclitaxel 15 mg/m(2) (n = 3) and 30 mg/m(2) (n = 16). One dose-limiting toxicity occurred in DL 2, which was declared the maximum tolerated dose. All patients experienced mucositis, primarily grade 3 or more. Oral pain, xerostomia, dysphagia, weight loss, dermatitis, nausea and acneiform rash were frequent. All patients had partial response according to RECIST, whereas the overall complete clinical response rate was 95%. At median follow-up of 21 months, 18 of 19 patients (95%) remained disease free. CONCLUSIONS Panitumumab, carboplatin, paclitaxel and IMRT are well tolerated and appear highly active in the treatment of SCCHN. Further study of this regimen in SCCHN is warranted.

Cost-effectiveness of CT and PET-CT for determining the need for adjuvant neck dissection in locally advanced head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND Patients with node-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNC) have a significant risk of residual disease (RD) in the neck after treatment, despite optimal chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Adjuvant neck dissection (ND) after CRT has been considered standard treatment, but its morbidity has led investigators to consider using post-CRT imaging to determine the need for surgery. We analyzed the cost-effectiveness of computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) as predictors of the need for ND compared with ND for all patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS We developed a Markov model to describe health states in the 5 years after CRT for HNC in a 50-year-old man. We compared three strategies: dissect all patients, dissect patients with RD on CT, and dissect patients with RD on PET-CT. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses were carried out to model uncertainty in PET-CT performance, up-front and salvage dissection costs, and patient utilities. RESULTS ND only for patients with RD on PET-CT was the dominant strategy over a wide range of realistic and exaggerated assumptions. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses confirmed that the PET-CT strategy was almost certainly cost-effective at a societal willingness-to-pay threshold of