John Pang

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma of the head and neck: Case report, literature review, and pooled analysis of 97 cases.

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) is a rare lymphoid neoplasm presenting in the head and neck. There are no pooled analyses of head and neck FDCS cases in the English language literature.

Chronic Opioid Use Following Surgery for Oral Cavity Cancer

Importance Opioid misuse and overuse has become an epidemic. Chronic opioid use among oral cavity cancer patients after surgery has not been described. Objectives To assess the prevalence of chronic opioid use in patients undergoing surgery for oral cavity cancer, and evaluate possible associated clinical factors; and the association between opioid use and survival. Design, Setting, and Participants For this retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing surgery for oral cavity cancer a consecutive sample of 99 patients between January 1, 2011, and September 30, 2016, were identified through the institutional cancer registry from a single academic center. Exposures Surgery for oral cavity cancer. Main Outcomes and Measures Chronic opioid use, defined as more than 90 days from surgery. Factors associated with chronic opioid use were investigated by univariable and multivariable logistic regression. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model were used to assess overall survival and disease-free survival. Results The mean (SD) patient age was 62.6 (14.3) years; 60 patients (60%) were male. Chronic opioid use was observed in 41 patients (41%). On multivariable logistic regression, preoperative opioid use (odds ratio [OR], 5.6; 95% CI, 2.2-14.3), tobacco use (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.0-8.0), and development of persistence, recurrence, or a second primary tumor (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.0-7.4) were associated with chronic opioid use. Among preoperative opioid users, estimated overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 3.2; 95% CI, 1.4-7.1) was decreased, and chronic opioid use was associated with decreased disease-free survival (HR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.1-6.6). Conclusions and Relevance In patients undergoing surgery for oral cavity tumors, the prevalence of chronic opioid use was considerable. Preoperative opioid use, tobacco use, and development of persistence, recurrence, or a second primary tumor were associated with chronic opioid use after surgery, and both preoperative and chronic opioid use were associated with decreased survival.

Short-Term Morbidity after the Endoscopic Modified Lothrop (Draf-III) Procedure Compared with Draf-IIa

Background The endoscopic modified Lothrop (Draf-III) surgery has improved treatment of recalcitrant frontal sinus disease, with favorable safety and long-term results. However, the short-term clinical and quality-of-life morbidity after Draf-III relative to less-extensive procedures has yet to be investigated. Objective To evaluate the surgical and quality-of-life outcomes, including the burden of follow-up care, in patients who underwent endoscopic modified Lothrop (Draf-III), and compared these results with a less-extensive intervention, the endoscopic frontal sinusotomy (Draf-IIa). Methods A retrospective review of early (<8 weeks) postoperative recovery of patients who underwent Draf-III (2014 to 2016) for chronic rhinosinusitis was conducted and compared with age and radiographically matched Draf-IIa controls. Primary outcomes included perioperative complications, the number of postoperative clinic visits, debridements, and steroid and antibiotic therapy days. Secondary outcomes included the change in the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) scores and/or subscores (domains). Results Thirty-eight patients (19 Draf-III, 19 Draf-IIa) were included. Patients who underwent Draf-III versus Draf-IIa required more postoperative clinic visits (4.9 ±1.7 versus 3.3 ± 0.8; p < 0.05), debridements (4.2 ± 2.0 versus 2.3 ± 0.8; p < 0.05), and antibiotic therapy days (24.4 ± 11.8 versus 15.6 ± 6.3; p < 0.05). The mean (SD) SNOT-22 scores improved for both groups (−12.7 ± 34.5 versus -9.5 ± 20.4; p = 0.74) over the follow-up period, and subscore (domain) analysis demonstrated worsening extranasal symptoms (2.5 ± 3.0 versus -1.5 ± 4.7; p < 0.05) at the first postoperative visit, and less improvement in ear/facial symptoms at the second (−0.5 ± 2.6 versus -3.9 ± 4.7; p = 0.03) and third postoperative visits (−1.1 ± 1.6 versus 3.5 ± 3.3; p = 0.01). Conclusion Draf-III is associated with more postoperative clinic visits, debridements, and antibiotic therapy days. The patients who underwent Draf-III demonstrated worsening of extranasal symptoms at the first postoperative visit and less improvement in the ear/facial score at the second and third visits. Informed consent and counseling patients who may require Draf-III should include a detailed discussion of the burden of postoperative care and recovery.

Esophageal dilation in head and neck cancer patients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

To characterize the safety profile and effectiveness of esophageal dilation in head and neck cancer patients.

Equal 3-Year Outcomes for Kidney Transplantation Alone in HCV-Positive Patients With Cirrhosis

Kidney transplantation alone in clinically compensated patients with cirrhosis is not well documented. Current guidelines list cirrhosis as a contraindication for kidney transplantation alone. This is an Institutional Review Board-approved retrospective study. We report our experience with a retrospective comparison between transplants in hepatitis C virus-positive (HCV(+)) patients without cirrhosis and HCV(+) patients with cirrhosis. All of the patients were followed for at least a full 3-year period. All of the deaths and graft losses were recorded and analyzed using Kaplan-Meier methodology. One- and three-year cumulative patient survival rates for noncirrhotic patients were 91% and 82%, respectively. For cirrhotic patients, one- and three-year cumulative patient survival rates were 100% and 83%, respectively (P = NS). One- and three-year cumulative graft survival rates censored for death were 94% and 81%, and 95% and 82% for the noncirrhosis and cirrhosis groups, respectively (P = NS). Comparable patient and allograft survival rates were observed when standard kidney allograft recipients were analyzed separately. This study is the longest follow-up document in the literature showing that HCV(+) clinically ompensated patients with cirrhosis may undergo kidney transplantation alone as a safe and viable practice.

Incidence and predictive factors for additional opioid prescription after endoscopic sinus surgery: Prescription opioids post-ESS

Excessive postoperative opioid prescription is a source of prescription diversion in the United States opioid crisis and may contribute to chronic opioid use. Efficient prescription by the surgeon can mitigate opioid abuse and improve postoperative pain control. In this study we sought to better characterize the incidence and predictive baseline characteristics associated with the need for additional opioid prescription after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis.

Congenital Platelet Disorder and Type I von Willebrand Disease Presenting as Prolonged Bleeding After Cleft Lip and Palate Repair

Cleft lip and palate can be associated with coagulopathy. Here, we report the first known case of congenital platelet disorder and von Willebrand disease presenting as prolonged bleeding after cleft lip and palate repair. After identifying the underlying pathology, platelet infusions and aminocaproic acid were given to decrease bleeding from a second surgical procedure. Whole exome sequencing identified a von Willebrand factor gene mutation, an adenine to guanine substitution at the c.475A location. A high index of suspicion should be had for coagulopathy in patients with syndromic cleft lip and palate.

Image‐guided surgery in cancer: A strategy to reduce incidence of positive surgical margins

Primary treatment for many solid cancers includes surgical excision or radiation therapy, with or without the use of adjuvant therapy. This can include the addition of radiation and chemotherapy after primary surgical therapy, or the addition of chemotherapy and salvage surgery to primary radiation therapy. Both primary therapies, surgery and radiation, require precise anatomic localization of tumor. If tumor is not targeted adequately with initial treatment, disease recurrence may ensue, and if targeting is too broad, unnecessary morbidity may occur to nearby structures or remaining normal tissue. Fluorescence imaging using intraoperative contrast agents is a rapidly growing field for improving visualization in cancer surgery to facilitate resection in order to obtain negative margins. There are multiple strategies for tumor visualization based on antibodies against surface markers or ligands for receptors preferentially expressed in cancer. In this article, we review the incidence and clinical implications of positive surgical margins for some of the most common solid tumors. Within this context, we present the ongoing clinical and preclinical studies focused on the use of intraoperative contrast agents to improve surgical margins.

Needle Biopsy of Routine Thyroid Nodules Should Be Performed Using a Capillary Action Technique with 24- to 27-Gauge Needles: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND Fine-needle biopsy is the international standard for diagnostic evaluation of thyroid nodules. There is a lack of consensus regarding the optimal needle biopsy technique. The implementation of capillary action versus aspiration and the optimal needle gauge remain topics of debate. METHODS A systematic review of the Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases was performed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Articles evaluating the effects of capillary action versus aspiration and needle gauge on success rates of fine-needle biopsy of the thyroid were assessed for inclusion. The primary outcome of interest was the rate of non-diagnostic cytopathology. RESULTS Twenty-four articles with a collective 4428 nodules were ultimately included in the review. Twenty articles evaluated capillary action versus aspiration, and six evaluated needle gauge. All but two studies were prospective, most of which were blinded trials with or without randomization. Using a random-effects model, capillary action was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the relative risk of non-diagnostic cytopathology (relative risk = 0.57 [confidence interval 0.34-0.92]; p = 0.02). There was a nonsignificant trend in favor of smaller needle gauges. CONCLUSION Given the statistically significant deceased rate of non-diagnostic cytopathology with capillary action and the potential for increased pain and complications with larger needles without a proven benefit, needle biopsy of routine thyroid nodules should be performed without aspiration and with smaller needle gauges (24-27G).

Positive Surgical Margins in the 10 Most Common Solid Cancers

A positive surgical margin (PSM) following cancer resection oftentimes necessitates adjuvant treatments and carries significant financial and prognostic implications. We sought to compare PSM rates for the ten most common solid cancers in the United States, and to assess trends over time. Over 10 million patients were identified in the National Cancer Data Base from 1998–2012, and 6.5 million had surgical margin data. PSM rates were compared between two time periods, 1998–2002 and 2008–2012. PSM was positively correlated with tumor category and grade. Ovarian and prostate cancers had the highest PSM prevalence in women and men, respectively. The highest PSM rates for cancers affecting both genders were seen for oral cavity tumors. PSM rates for breast cancer and lung and bronchus cancer in both men and women declined over the study period. PSM increases were seen for bladder, colon and rectum, and kidney and renal pelvis cancers. This large-scale analysis appraises the magnitude of PSM in the United States in order to focus future efforts on improving oncologic surgical care with the goal of optimizing value and improving patient outcomes.