Erkan Kiyak

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx

Abstract Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSC) is regarded as a variant of squamous cell carcinoma, but displays distinct morphological and biological features as well as a different clinical course. The tumor is frequently seen in the head and neck and is preferentially located in the larynx, especially in supraglottic sites. Ten patients with BSC of the supraglottic larynx were treated from 1991 to 1995 at the Medical Faculty of the University of Istanbul. Results of treatment were compared retrospectively with a control group consisting of 44 patients with well-differentiated squamous cell carcinomas. Ages, ¶localizations, stages and treatment procedures were similar. In both groups mean survival, nodal involvement and distant metastases were comparable although the local ¶(laryngeal) recurrence rate in patients with early supraglottic (T2) disease in the BSC group after conservative partial surgery was distinct compared to the control group (P < 0.05). These results indicate that conservative surgery should be assessed with caution in patients with BSC, and postoperative irradiation be taken into consideration.

Polymorphisms of the XRCC1 DNA repair gene in head and neck cancer.

Inherited polymorphisms in the genes controlling the cell cycle or functioning in the DNA repair mechanisms may impair their function and contribute to genetic susceptibility. Abnormalities in the DNA repair have been reported in head and neck cancer. The XRCC1 gene functions in singlestrand break and base excision repair processes. In this study, two polymorphisms of the XRCC1 gene, Arg194Trp and Arg399G1n were investigated in 95 patients with head and neck carcinoma. The polymorphic regions were amplified by PCR followed by digestion with methylation-specific restriction enzymes, and analyzed electrophoretically. Genotype and allele frequencies were calculated, and association with cancer risk or clinical parameters was investigated. No association was observed between the genotypes and head and neck cancer for either polymorphism. Distribution of the alleles did not significantly differ between the patients and the control group. A significant association was only found for the Trp194 allele among the smoking individuals. Our data indicate that the Arg194Trp and Arg399G1n polymorphisms do not confer a significant risk for head and neck carcinogenesis.

Management of Carotid Artery Invasion in Advanced Malignancies of Head and Neck Comparison of Techniques

The objective of this study was to retrospectively investigate a single institutions experience with carotid artery resection performed as part of an oncological procedure and to determine acute and convalescent complication and survival rates. We performed a record review of 28 patients with head and neck malignancy invading the carotid artery. Immediate carotid artery resection and ligation on an emergent basis was performed on 12 patients (group 1), elective resection and ligation was performed on 8 patients (group 2), and elective resection and revascularization was performed on 8 patients (group 3). In group 1, although 1 patient survived for 1 year and 1 patient survived for 2 years, 1 patient died of severe neurologic deficit, 2 patients experienced neurologic deficit with good recovery, and 1 patient was moderately disabled. In group 2, 2 patients survived without disease for 5 years, and 2 patients experienced neurologic deficit, 1 with good recovery and the other with complete recovery. In group 3, only 1 patient survived for 5 years, and within this group, 1 patient died of severe neurologic deficit, 1 patient had neurologic deficit with moderate recovery, and 1 patient had neurologic deficit with complete recovery. No significant difference in mortality and morbidity rate was observed between the “resection and ligation” group and the “resection and revascularization” group (p = .52, χ2 = 0.79). We conclude that the surgical treatment of patients with an invaded carotid artery, including carotid resection, provides a small but real chance of 5-year survival. The methods of carotid resection and repair should be guided by clinical presentation and by preoperative and intraoperative investigations.

Autologous Fat Augmentation for Voice and Swallow Improvement after Cordectomy

Surgery for the treatment of early-stage glottic carcinoma still remains a valid option. In most patients, newly formed neocord tissue preserves glottic functions, but in some patients an important glottic gap leading to glottic insufficiency may occur. In our study, 11 patients who had serious glottic insufficiency after endoscopic laser and laryngofissure cordectomy were treated with autologous fat injection (AFI) into the neocord tissue for voice and swallowing rehabilitation. One patient did not attend the first control visit and was excluded from the study. The remaining 10 patients were evaluated in the preoperative and postoperative periods for phonatory functions and efficacy of AFI by videolaryngostroboscopy and computerized acoustic analysis. Phonatory functions showed statistically significant improvement in the shimmer, noise-to-harmonic ratio, maximum phonation time and fundamental frequency. Perceptual ratings (GRBAS scale) also showed statistically significant improvement in all 5 parameters. Despite improvement in glottic closure, the mucosal wave deteriorated. Due to recurrence of symptoms of glottic insufficiency, AFI was repeated in 2 patients at the third and fifth months, respectively. One year later, the AFI resulted in successful rehabilitation of swallowing in all patients. The probability of resorption of autologous fat and the deterioration of the mucosal wave after AFI remain a problem, but re-injection can be done easily. As AFI is an easy, safe and cheap method, we concluded that it is a promising alternative procedure for managing voice problems after laser or laryngofissure cordectomy defects.

Expression of the the cyclin-kinase inhibitors p21(WAF1) and p27(Kip1) and the p53 tumor suppressor genes in adult-onset laryngeal papillomas

Abstract. Different types of human papilloma virus are known to be closely associated with laryngeal papillomas. On the other hand, the proliferation of epithelial cells is associated with various abnormalities in the mechanisms of cellular regulation. In this study, we detected the expressions of p53, p21 and p27 proteins in adult-onset laryngeal papillomas by immunohistochemical techniques. The objective of this study is to evaluate the expression of these factors in adult-onset laryngeal papillomas and to determine whether such expression is correlated with the existence of dysplastic epithelium covering the papillomas. Eighteen patients with adult-onset papillomas who were surgically treated at the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Istanbul between January 1994 and December 1999 were included in this study. Anti-p21, -p27 and -p53 antibodies were used to perform immunostaining. Positive nuclear staining for p21 was detected in 14 of the 18 (78%) cases, especially in the parabasal layer. Also, in 78% of the cases, weak to strong immunoreactivity was observed for p27. In all cases, negative immunoreactivity was observed for p53 throughout the epithelium except for the basal and parabasal cells. A negative correlation was observed between the existence of dysplastic epithelium and p21 expression (P=0.02). In conclusion, variable p21 and p27 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry in our series of 18 cases of adult-onset laryngeal papillomatosis, and a statistically significant inverse correlation was detected between p21 expression and the existence of dysplastic epithelium covering the papillomas. Further prospective studies are warranted to determine the prognostic values of these variables and to evaluate their role in the pathogenesis of adult-onset laryngeal papillomas.

Significance of pre-epiglottic space invasion in supracricoid partial laryngectomy with cricohyoidopexy.

Cancerous involvement of the pre-epiglottic space has been known for many years to be an important prognostic factor. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of pre-epiglottic space invasion, according to the degree of invasion (i.e. absence, minimal or gross), and to assess the oncological suitability for supracricoid partial laryngectomy in patients with supraglottic laryngeal carcinomas. This study included 52 patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the supraglottic and glotto-supraglottic larynx, treated with supracricoid partial laryngectomy-cricohyoidopexy, between 1992 and 2001. Clinical and histopathological parameters were evaluated. Pre-epiglottic space invasion was seen in 35 patients (67.3 per cent); there was gross invasion in seven patients and minimal invasion in 28. Neoplastic invasion of the anterior commissure was seen in 18 patients (34.6 per cent) and thyroid cartilage involvement in eight (15.4 per cent). Neoplastic spread through the extralaryngeal tissues was not seen in any patient. The five-year overall survival was 71.5 per cent for patients with gross pre-epiglottic space invasion, 82.2 per cent for those with minimal pre-epiglottic space invasion, and 76.4 per cent for those without pre-epiglottic space invasion. It was observed that gross or minimal pre-epiglottic space invasion did not have a statistically significant effect on survival. Univariate analysis showed that nodal positivity was associated with a poor prognosis. None of the other parameters analysed showed a statistically significant relationship with survival. Four (7.6 per cent) patients had local laryngeal recurrence. Distant metastasis and a second primary tumour were detected in three (5.8 per cent) and four (7.6 per cent) patients, respectively. The five-year overall survival and cause-specific survival were 78.8 and 82 per cent, respectively. Supracricoid partial laryngectomy with cricohyoidopexy can safely be performed in supraglottic and glotto-supraglottic carcinomas with minimal or gross invasion of the pre-epiglottic space which have no extralaryngeal spread. Nodal status is an important predictor affecting survival.

Comprehensive analysis of parotid mass: A retrospective study of 369 cases

OBJECTIVE To present the results of patients who underwent superficial or total parotidectomy because of parotid gland tumors in our tertiary care clinic. METHODS The data of 362 patients who underwent parotid surgery from January 2008 to November 2015 were collected and analyzed in demographic, histopathological features, and complications. RESULTS Three hundred sixty-nine cases (performed in 359 patients) were analyzed and we assessed complications of parotid surgery such as transient or permanent facial paralysis and Freys syndrome. Pleomorphic adenomas and Warthins tumors consisted 74% of all parotid gland tumors. These tumors were generally located in the superficial lobe and tail of the parotid gland (81%). Also, tumor size in the positive surgical margin group was larger than in the negative surgical margin group (p=0.012). CONCLUSIONS Most of parotid gland tumors are benign. However, the frequency of malignancy increases in deep lobe of parotid gland. High grade malignant tumors have more tendency to have positive surgical margin during surgery, and facial paresis preoperatively.

Comparison of long-term functional results between standard supracricoid laryngectomy and modified technique with sternohyoid muscle

INTRODUCTION Laryngeal cancer is the most common cancer of the upper respiratory tract. The main methods of treatment included surgery (partial laryngectomy and total laryngectomy) and radiation therapy. Laryngeal dysfunction is seen after both treatment modalities. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study is to compare postoperative functional results of the standard supracricoid partial laryngectomy technique and a modified supracricoid partial laryngectomy technique using the sternohyoid muscle. METHODS In total, 29 male patients (average years 58.20±9.00 years; range 41-79 years) with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent supra cricoid partial laryngectomy were included. The patients were divided into two groups in terms of the surgical techniques. In Group A, all patients underwent standard supracricoid partial laryngectomy technique between January 2007 and November 2011. In Group B, all patients underwent modified supracricoid partial laryngectomy between August 2010 and November 2011. Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing test, short version of the voice handicap index scores, and the MD Anderson dysphagia inventory, the time of oral feeding and the decanulation of the patients after surgery of each groups were compared. RESULTS The mean maximum phonation time was 8.68±4.21s in Group A and 15.24±6.16s in Group B (p>0.05). The S/Z (s/s) ratio was 1.23±0.35 in Group A and 1.08±0.26 in Group B (p>0.05); the voice handicap index averages were 9.86±4.77 in Group A and 12.42±12.54 in Group B (p>0.05); the fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing test averages were calculated as 12.73±3.08 in Group A and 13.64±1.49 in Group B (p>0.05). In the MD Anderson dysphagia inventory, evaluation of swallowing, the emotional, physical, and functional scores were 29.21±4.11, 32.21±6.85, and 20.14±2.17 in the Group B, and 29.20±2.54, 32.4±4.79, and 19±1.92 in Group A, respectively. CONCLUSION Although there is no statistical difference in functional outcome comparisons, if rules are adhered to in preoperative patient selection, modified supracricoid partial laryngectomy can be applied safely and meaningful gains can be achieved in functional outcomes.