Gian Carlo Tirelli

Narrow band imaging in the intra-operative definition of resection margins in oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer

OBJECTIVESnIn oncological surgery, a three-dimensional resection 1.5-2 cm from the gross tumour edge is currently considered appropriate, and the status of resection margins is the most reliable indicator of radicality. Awareness of field cancerization calls for a re-evaluation of the benchmarks of tumour resection; however, its identification is not simple because the dysplastic areas may be far from the main lesion and difficult to recognize macroscopically. New technologies such as narrow band imaging (NBI) could improve the detection of neoplastic and pre-neoplastic areas, ensuring more precise resections. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the value of NBI in detecting pre-cancerous areas and/or cancer around the tumour bulk intra-operatively, to achieve adequate resection of the tumour.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnThe resection margins of 8 oral cavity and 8 oropharyngeal cancers were first drawn by macroscopic evaluation and then re-defined using NBI. Resections were performed following the NBI-drawing if extemporaneous histological examinations of the NBI-defined enlargements were positive for dysplasia or cancer. The number of clear margins was evaluated.nnnRESULTSnResections margins were free of tumour or dysplasia at extemporaneous examination; on definitive histology, two patients had a margin positive for cancer and dysplasia, respectively. Among the NBI-defined enlargements, 25% were positive for dysplasia and 75% for cancer. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 100%, 88.9%, 100% and 87.5%, respectively.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe method we propose could be useful for obtaining free surgical margins and reducing the potential development of tumour foci resulting from incomplete resection.

External osteotomy in rhinoplasty: Piezosurgery vs osteotome ☆

PURPOSEnTo achieve the desired outcome in rhinoplasty depends on many factors. Osteotomy and surgical reshaping of nasal bones are important steps that require careful planning and execution. The availability of different tools raises the question of which one provides significant advantages for both technique and surgical outcome. Our prospective randomized pilot study compared the outcome of post-traumatic rhinoplasty performed with two different external techniques: ultrasound osteotomic cut using the Piezosurgery Medical Device (Mectron, Carasco, Italy) and traditional external osteotomy.nnnMATERIAL AND METHODSnForty-four lateral osteotomies of the nasal wall were performed in twenty-two patients. In twelve patients the osteotomies were conducted with a 2-mm traditional osteotome (control group), while in the remaining ten patients these were done with the Piezosurgery Medical Device (experimental group).nnnRESULTSnAt the postoperative evaluation, significantly lower pain, edema and ecchymosis were noticed in the experimental group (p<0.05). Moreover, the endoscopic evaluation showed fewer mucosal injuries in the experimental group (p<0.05), whereas bleeding, symmetry of the pyramid and presence of external scars, were similar in the two groups.nnnCONCLUSIONSnIn the present study, Piezosurgery Medical Device allowed for safe lateral osteotomies in rhinoplasty preliminarily demonstrating the potential to reduce some of the most frequent complications of rhinoplasty.

Open questions and novel concepts in oral cancer surgery

The persistence of cancerous cells after surgery in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) represents a major challenge, as it often leads to local recurrences and secondary primary tumors, which are eventually responsible for a large proportion of deaths. This persistence is currently evaluated by histological analyses. In this review we discuss some important pitfalls of the histopathological analysis, such as margin evaluation, specimen shrinkage and T staging. In addition, we critically analyze the appropriateness of current surgical techniques in relation to the concept of field cancerization. Finally, we describe some novel imaging and molecular approaches, which might be useful in tailoring surgical resections and encourage the use of OSCC animal models to explore and provide proof of concept of the feasibility and potential clinical utility of innovative surgical protocols.

Cancrum oris in developed countries

Cancrum oris (or noma) is a rapidly progressive disease characterized by destructive necrosis of oral tissues and underlying bone. It is part of a multistage condition and may represent the outcome of untreated necrotizing stomatitis. Necrotising stomatitis and cancrum oris predominantly affect children in developing countries, especially in Africa. Only few cases have been reported in developed countries, and were associated with debilitating diseases and disorders of the immune system. We report a case of noma in an elderly immunosuppressed Italian patient in whom necrosis caused an external buccal communication. This case stresses the importance of an early identification and prompt management of the necrotic condition, in order to avoid diffusion of the destructive process within the oro-facial tissues.

NBI utility in the pre-operative and intra-operative assessment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal carcinoma ☆ ☆☆

PURPOSEnDespite advances in the surgical management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, the identification of synchronous lesions, precancerous lesions around the main tumor, or the unknown primary in the case of neck metastasis remains a problem, as these lesions may be invisible to the naked eye or with standard white light (WL) endoscopy. However, the advent of tools such as narrow-band imaging (NBI) could help the clinician. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of NBI during the pre-operative and intra-operative stages of management of oral and oropharyngeal cancers.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnNBI was used pre-operatively in 47 patients with oral or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma to identify the involvement of adjacent subsites, multifocality, synchronous lesions or an unknown primary. NBI was used intra-operatively in 30 patients to better define the tumor limits and guide the resection. The advantage of NBI versus WL endoscopy was analyzed by calculating the true and false positive rate pre-operatively, and the need for resection enlargements, histology of the enlargement, and the rate of clear margins at definitive histology, intra-operatively.nnnRESULTSnPre-operatively, the diagnostic gain of NBI was 8.5%, allowing identification of three synchronous tumors and one unknown primary. Intra-operatively, NBI improved the definition of tumor limits in 67.7% of cases, with resection enlargements showing dysplasia and carcinoma in 8 and 12 patients, respectively; we obtained 74.2% negative margins at histology.nnnCONCLUSIONSnNBI could represent an added value in the pre-operative and intra-operative assessment of oral cavity and oropharyngeal carcinoma.

Sudden hearing loss and Crohn disease: when Cogan syndrome must be suspected

Cogans syndrome is a rare systemic vasculitis of unknown origin. It is characterized by the presence of worsening audiovestibular and ocular symptoms that may manifest simultaneously or sequentially. No specific diagnostic laboratory tests or imaging studies exist. The diagnosis is clinical and should be established as early as possible so as to initiate prompt treatment with steroids and prevent rapid progression to deafness or blindness and potentially fatal systemic involvement. We report a case of association between Cogans syndrome and ileal Crohns disease which we believe deserves attention since, after an accurate review of the literature, we have found approximately 250 reports of patients with Cogans syndrome, only 13 of whom with concurrent chronic inflammatory bowel disease; of these 13 cases, none experienced improvement after therapy. In the light of the good outcome obtained in our case, we proposed a valid treatment option with boluses of steroids, combined with early systemic immunosuppression and intra-tympanic steroid injections.

Follow-up of oral and oropharyngeal cancer using narrow-band imaging and high-definition television with rigid endoscope to obtain an early diagnosis of second primary tumors: a prospective study

Narrow-band imaging (NBI) is an optical technique enhancing mucosal vasculature. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of rigid NBI endoscopy in the early detection of second primaries or local recurrences after treatment for oral (OSCC) and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), its advantage over standard white-light (WL) endoscopy, and the influence of previous radiotherapy, the learning curve, and lesion site. Between January 2013 and June 2015, 195 patients treated for OSCC or OPSCC with surgery alone (group A) or radiotherapy with or without surgery and/or chemotherapy (group B) underwent additional follow-up assessments using NBI. Sensitivity, specificity, positive/negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), and accuracy for detecting second primaries or local recurrences were calculated for patients with at least two NBI assessments. The effect of previous radiotherapy was determined by test of proportions and that of the learning curve and lesion site with Fisher’s exact test. 138/195 patients were included in the analysis. NBI sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy for groups A and B were 89.5 vs 100%, 85.2 vs 81.5%, 65.4 vs 69.7%, 96.3 vs 100%, and 86.3 vs 87%, respectively. The diagnostic gain of NBI was 88.2% in group A and 69.6% in group B. The learning curve was the main source of false positives (pu2009=u20090.025), whereas radiotherapy and lesion site were uninfluential (pu2009=u2009NS). NBI appears useful for follow-up after treatment for OSCC or OPSCC, its performance being affected only by the learning curve and not by previous treatment or lesion site.

Hyaluronate effect on bacterial biofilm in ENT district infections: a review

Bacterial resistance is a growing phenomenon which led the scientific community to search for new therapeutic targets, such as biofilm. A bacterial biofilm is a surface‐associated agglomerate of microorganisms embedded in a self‐produced extracellular polymeric matrix made of polysaccharides, nucleic acids, and proteins. Scientific literature offers several reports on a biofilms role in infections regarding various body districts. The presence of a bacterial biofilm is responsible for poor efficacy of antibiotic therapies along with bacterial infections in ear, nose, and throat (ENT) districts such as the oral cavity, ear, nasal cavities, and nasal sinuses. In particular, bacterial biofilms are associated with recalcitrant and symptomatically more severe forms of chronic rhinosinusitis. As of today, there are no therapeutic options for the eradication of bacterial biofilm in ENT districts. Hyaluronic acid is a glycosaminoglycan composed of glucuronic acid and N‐acetylglucosamine disaccharide units. Its efficacy in treating rhinosinusitis, whether or not associated with polyposis, is well documented, as well as results from its effects on mucociliary clearance, free radical production and mucosal repair. This reviews aim is to evaluate the role of bacterial biofilms and the action exerted on it by hyaluronic acid in ENT pathology, with particular attention to the rhinosinusal district. In conclusion, this paper underlines how the efficacy of hyaluronate as an anti‐bacterial biofilm agent is well demonstrated by in vitro studies; it is, however, only preliminarily demonstrated by clinical studies.

Multicenter research into the quality of life of patients with advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma with long‑term survival associated with human papilloma virus

The treatment of advanced-stage oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma may utilize various modes, including combining surgery with chemoradiotherapy (CTRT), or primary CTRT followed by rescue surgery. In previous literature it has been revealed how patients treated with combined modes report a low quality of life (QoL) and severe consequences following surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, in the short and in the long-term. The decrease in the QoL of patients treated with high-intensity multi-modal strategies highlights the necessity of modifying treatments, particularly for young HPV-positive patients, where an increased survival rate has already been reported. The modified treatment for HPV-positive tumors in the tonsils and at the base of the tongue is based on the deintensification of therapies aiming to reduce toxicity and thereby improve QoL in the long term, whilst still maintaining therapeutic effectiveness. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the QoL in patients with a long-term survival, who were treated with combined therapy for squamous cell tumors in the tonsils and at the base of the tongue, and to compare the results observed in HPV-positive and HPV-negative patients. According to statistical analysis, differences in the general QoL and in the single scales of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaires were not correlated with the type of therapy selected for the particular patient. QoL considered the presence of HPV, the type of treatment, the subregion of the tonsils vs. the base of the tongue and the disease stage at the time of diagnosis, and was determined to be non-influential with regard to these specific variables.

Salivary bypass tube placement in esophageal stricture: A technical note and report of three cases

Hypopharyngeal and cervical esophageal strictures can be caused by advanced malignancies, ingestion of caustic materials, or can follow surgery or radiation therapy. They cause marked dysphagia and consequently patients need nasogastric or gastrostomy tube feeding, with a remarkable impact on quality of life. To restore oral feeding, the stenosis can be progressively dilated by using rubber bougies of increasing diameter, and a Montgomery® Salivary Bypass Tube can then be inserted to maintain the obtained calibre. However, while its flexibility makes it easy to tolerate, it has the drawback of making insertion difficult because the tube tends to bend. The aim of this paper is to present a possible solution to this problem. A Montgomery® Salivary Bypass Tube was distally sutured to a Cook Airway Exchange Catheter® to simplify its initial insertion through a laryngoscope and following replacements. The catheter was then easily removed leaving the bypass tube in the correct position. In our experience, this innovative approach proved effective in facilitating Montgomery® Salivary Bypass Tube insertion in three patients, without risks for the patient, additional operative time or increase in costs.