Jason P. Hunt

Comparison of Whole-Body PET/CT, Dedicated High-Resolution Head and Neck PET/CT, and Contrast-Enhanced CT in Preoperative Staging of Clinically M0 Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

The purpose of this study was to compare optimized whole-body (WB) and dedicated high-resolution contrast-enhanced PET/CT protocols and contrast enhanced CT in the preoperative staging of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Methods: A total of 44 patients with clinically M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck underwent primary tumor resection and neck dissection within 6 wk of diagnostic imaging. Imaging consisted of a standard WB PET/CT protocol without intravenous contrast enhancement, followed by a high-resolution dedicated head and neck (HN) PET/CT protocol, which included diagnostic-quality contrast-enhanced CT (CECT). Imaging results were compared with histopathology. A 5-point scale was used to designate primary tumor localization and the presence of lymph node metastasis on a per-patient and per-level basis. For cervical nodes, receiver-operating-characteristic curves were generated to determine the differences in performance between the WB and HN PET/CT protocols and CECT. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy were calculated for primary tumor and cervical nodes. Results: No statistical difference was observed between WB and HN PET/CT protocols, both of which significantly outperformed CECT, in the evaluation of the primary tumor. The performance of the HN PET/CT protocol was superior to that of the WB PET/CT in the detection of cervical node metastases, achieving statistical significance on a per-level basis and approaching significance on a per-patient basis, with the greatest advantage in the detection of small positive lymph nodes (<15 mm). No significant difference was observed between the WB PET/CT protocol and CECT in nodal staging, either on a per-patient or on a per-level basis. Conclusion: The primary advantage of the dedicated HN PET/CT protocol over the WB protocol or CECT in the staging of head and neck cancer is in the detection of small lymph node metastases.

Robotic Surgery of the Infratemporal Fossa Utilizing Novel Suprahyoid Port

To develop a minimally invasive technique for robotic access to the infratemporal fossa and describe use of a novel suprahyoid port placement.

Tobacco, alcohol, body mass index, physical activity, and the risk of head and neck cancer in the prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian (PLCO) cohort

Estimation of attributable fractions for tobacco and alcohol, and investigation of the association between body mass index (BMI) and head and neck cancer risk have largely been in case‐control studies. These aspects and physical activity need to be assessed as possible head and neck cancer risk/protective factors in a cohort study.

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Diagnostic Accuracy of Frozen Section for Parotid Gland Lesions

We conducted a systematic literature review using MEDLINE and Embase to identify articles on diagnostic accuracy of frozen section (FS) for salivary gland lesions published between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 2010. We also reviewed the reference lists of all identified articles and conducted a forward search using Scopus to identify all articles citing the reference set. Meta-analysis was used to produce a summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve from which summary estimates of sensitivity and specificity were obtained. Study quality was assessed using the Quality of Diagnostic Accuracy Study (QUADAS) survey. The accuracy of FS was compared with that of fine-needle aspiration cytology using results from an earlier review. A set of 13 studies (1,880 cases) with extractable data met our inclusion criteria. The summary estimates for the area under the SROC curve, FS sensitivity, and FS specificity are 0.99 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98-1.00), 0.90 (95% CI, 0.81-0.94), and 0.99 (95% CI, 0.98-1.00), respectively. FS has acceptable accuracy (90% sensitivity, 99% specificity) and is consistently accurate across study centers.

IMRT With Simultaneous Integrated Boost and Concurrent Chemotherapy for Locoregionally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

PURPOSE To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of accelerated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy in advanced head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS Between April 2003 and May 2008, 43 consecutive patients with advanced head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma received accelerated chemoradiation with concurrent cisplatin or cetuximab. The doses for intensity-modulated radiotherapy with simultaneous integrated boost were 67.5, 60.0, and 54 Gy in 30 daily fractions of 2.25, 2.0, and 1.8 Gy to the planning target volumes for gross disease, high-risk nodes, and low-risk nodes, respectively. RESULTS Of the patients, 90.7% completed chemoradiotherapy as prescribed. The median treatment duration was 43 days (range, 38-55 days). The complete response rate was 74.4%. With median follow-up of 36.7 months (range, 16.8-78.1 months) in living patients, the estimated 1-, 2-, and 5-year locoregional control, overall survival, and disease-free survival rates were 82%, 82%, and 82%; 73%, 65%, and 61%; and 73%, 73%, and 70%, respectively. One treatment-related death occurred from renal failure. Grade 3 mucositis and dermatitis occurred in 13 patients (30.2%) and 3 patients (6.9%), respectively. Grade 2 xerostomia occurred in 12 patients (27.9%). In patients with adequate follow-up, 82% were feeding tube free by 6 months after therapy; 13% remained feeding tube dependent at 1 year. Grade 3 soft-tissue fibrosis, esophageal stricture, osteoradionecrosis, and trismus occurred in 3 patients (6.9%), 5 patients (11.6%), 1 patient (2.3%), and 3 patients (6.9%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that intensity-modulated radiotherapy with simultaneous integrated boost with concurrent chemotherapy improved local and regional control. Acute and late toxicities were tolerable and acceptable. A prospective trial of this fractionation regimen is necessary for further assessment of its efficacy and toxicity compared with other approaches.

BRAF V600E does not predict aggressive features of pediatric papillary thyroid carcinoma.

This study aimed to review the prevalence of the BRAF V600E mutation in pediatric papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and any possible association with aggressive tumor behavior.

Detection of Human Papillomavirus Using Hybrid Capture 2 in Oral Brushings From Patients With Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Detection of high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has important prognostic implications; patients exhibit improved survival compared with patients with HPV- SCC. Oral brushing and rinsing samples were obtained from patients with oropharyngeal, oral cavity, or hypopharyngeal SCC and tested for HR-HPV using Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2; QIAGEN, Valencia, CA). HR-HPV in situ hybridization (ISH) was performed on biopsy tissue samples from the same patients. Oral cytologic samples from 16 SCCs were tested by HC2. Biopsy tissue samples were available for ISH in 11 cases. Five oropharyngeal SCCs were HR-HPV+ by ISH and HC2 (oral brushing). Of the oropharyngeal SCCs, 2 were positive by HC2 (oral brushing) and negative or equivocal by ISH. We found that 2 oral cavity carcinomas and 2 hypopharyngeal carcinomas were negative by HC2. One hypopharyngeal cancer was positive by ISH. All oral rinsing samples were negative by HC2. HC2 may be an effective method of determining HR-HPV status in patients with oropharyngeal SCC.

Anticonvulsant activity of the γ-aminobutyric acid uptake inhibitor N-4,4-diphenyl-3-butenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[4,5-c]pyridin-3-ol

The N-4,4-diphenyl-3-butenyl derivative of the glial selective gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) uptake inhibitor 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo [4,5-c]pyridin-3-ol (N-DPB-THPO), was tested for its ability to block sound-induced seizures in the audiogenic seizure-susceptible Frings mouse model of epilepsy. Following intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration, N-DPB-THPO blocked tonic hindlimb extension in a dose- and time-dependent manner. At the doses tested no gross behavioral effects were noted.

The Supraclavicular Artery Flap for Lateral Skull and Scalp Defects: Effective and Efficient Alternative to Free Tissue Transfer

Objectives Describe the use of the supraclavicular artery flap for reconstruction of lateral skull and scalp defects. Discuss advantages and potential limitations of the supraclavicular artery flap. Design Case series. Setting Tertiary care academic medical center. Participants Patients undergoing lateral scalp and skull base resections. Main Outcome Measures Effectiveness in reconstructing lateral skull base defects and complications. Results All three patients reconstructed with the supraclavicular artery flap had excellent reconstructive outcomes. There were no flap losses, either complete or partial. There were no major complications, but one patient had a significant donor site dehiscence requiring local wound care. Referred sensation to the shoulder was alleviated by division of the sensory innervations into the flap. Conclusions The supraclavicular artery flap is an excellent option for lateral skull and scalp defects, and donor site morbidity is limited. It should be considered as an alternative to free tissue transfer.

Treatment-related determinants of survival in early-stage (T1-2N0M0) oral cavity cancer: A population-based study

National guidelines support both surgical and radiotherapy (RT) as initial treatment options for early‐stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). There remains limited data evaluating the survival outcomes of RT and the current practice patterns for these lesions.