Keigo Honda

Transmaxillary and transmandibular approach to a C1 chordoma.

Study Design. Case report. Objectives. To demonstrate the efficacy of a transmaxillary and transmandibular approach in achieving a wide view and the aggressive resection of a retropharyngeal chordoma originating from C1. Summary of Background Data. Although aggressive surgical resection has been recommended for the treatment of chordomas, wide exposure of the tumors in the upper cervical region is a challenge. Methods. A 19-year-old man presented with a large ossified retropharyngeal chordoma (6 cm in diameter) originating from the right side of the anterior arch of C1, and extending from the clivus to the C2/3 intervertebral disc level in the sagittal plane. A posterior occipitocervical (O–C3) fusion with an iliac bone graft was first performed. Ten days after the fusion, the tumor was resected using a mandible and tongue midsplitting approach combined with a Le Fort I (transmaxillary) osteotomy, which allowed us to expose the entire tumor. The tumor was hard and immovable because of ossification. The main part of the tumor was resected from the anterior arch of C1, and then the C1 anterior arch was resected en bloc. The retropharyngeal wall was reconstructed using a vascularized radial forearm flap. Radiation therapy (60 Gy) was performed after surgery. Results. No local recurrence or metastasis was observed 3 years after the operation. The patient had no complaints and has returned to his previous job as a manual laborer. Conclusions. A transmaxillary and transmandibular approach allowed us to obtain a complete view of a large immovable chordoma located ventral to the upper cervical spine. This enabled us to resect totally the tumor into 2 pieces without major complications or sequelae. This approach is useful for the resection of large tumors located in the median upper cervical spine.

VIDIAN NERVE SCHWANNOMA WITH MIDDLE CRANIAL FOSSA EXTENSION RESECTED VIA A MAXILLARY SWING APPROACH

Vidian nerve schwannoma is an extremely rare type of facial nerve schwannoma. To the best of our knowledge, only 1 case has been reported.

Pyogenic spondylodiscitis after transoral surgery for oropharyngeal cancer

We report the case of a patient with pyogenic spondylodiscitis after transoral surgery for oropharyngeal cancer. The patient was a 66-year-old man with a history of hepatic cell carcinoma, alcoholic cirrhosis, and chronic pancreatitis. The tumor was resected via a transoral approach with concurrent bilateral elective neck dissections. Although the initial postoperative course was uneventful, the patient experienced severe cervical pain because of which he revisited the hospital. The patient was diagnosed with pyogenic spondylodiscitis, according to the results of magnetic resonance imaging. Continuous treatment with parenteral antibiotics and a cervical brace was required for 2 months before all his symptoms and signs diminished. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pyogenic spondylodiscitis as a complication of transoral resection for head and neck cancer.

Functional Results of Reinke's Edema Surgery Using a Microdebrider

Objectives: We evaluated the functional results of Reinkes edema surgery using a microdebrider. Methods: In this prospective nonrandomized study from 2004 through 2008, functional surgery using a microdebrider was performed on patients with severe Reinkes edema. Comparisons were conducted for preoperative and postoperative phonatory function using both subjective grade (G), roughness (R), breathiness (B), asthenia (A), and strain (S) scoring and objective Multi-Dimensional Voice Program parameters. Statistical analysis was done by paired t-test, and a p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Seventeen patients were enrolled in this study, with a median age of 56 years and a median observation period of 129 days. The male-to-female ratio was 1 to 2.4. No major complications were observed in the perioperative period. Significant improvement was observed in the subjective values of G, R, B, and S. Improvement was also observed in the fundamental frequency, pitch perturbation quotient, and amplitude perturbation quotient calculated by the Multi-Dimensional Voice Program. Conclusions: The microdebrider is a useful tool in functional surgery for severe Reinkes edema and gives good functional outcomes. Surgeons can swiftly complete the key steps of removing pathological submucosal tissue and preserving the normal epithelium with an excellent surgical view.

Granular cell tumor of hypopharynx : report of a rare case

Granular cell tumor is a rare tumor, probably of Schwann cell origin. The head and neck are most frequently affected, but hypopharyngeal lesion is extremely rare. We report the seventh case of hypopharyngeal granular cell tumor. Immunohistochemical staining for S100 protein is helpful for the correct diagnosis. There is some possibility of malignancy despite absence of histological evidence, thus the treatment is exclusively surgical resection. The microlaryngoscopic approach is feasible for hypopharyngeal lesions in most cases. Recurrence can occur even after appropriate resection.

Survival in patients with parotid gland carcinoma – Results of a multi-center study

BACKGROUND Parotid gland carcinoma is a rare malignancy, comprising only 1-4% of head and neck carcinomas; therefore, it is difficult for a single institution to perform meaningful analysis on its clinical characteristics. The aim of this study was to update the clinical knowledge of this rare disease by a multi-center approach. METHODS The study was conducted by the Kyoto University Hospital and Affiliated Facilities Head and Neck Clinical Oncology Group (Kyoto-HNOG). A total of 195 patients with parotid gland carcinoma who had been surgically treated with curative intent between 2006 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical results including overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), local control rate (LCR), regional control rate (RCR), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) were estimated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors. RESULTS The median patient age was 63years old (range 9-93years), and the median observation period was 39months. The OS, DFS, DSS, LCR, RCR, and DMFS at 3years were 85%, 74%, 89%, 92%, 88%, and 87%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed age over 74, T4, N+, preoperative facial palsy, high grade histology, perineural invasion, and vascular invasion were associated with poor OS. N+ and high grade histology were independent factors in multivariate analysis. In subgroup analysis, postoperative radiotherapy was associated with better OS in high risk patients. CONCLUSION Nodal metastases and high grade histology are important negative prognostic factors for OS. Postoperative radiotherapy is recommended in patients with advanced high grade carcinoma.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck: a retrospective multicenter study

Abstract Background: Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck (ACCHN) is rare and difficult to study effective treatment at one institute. Our aim is to identify prognostic factors for this disease by conducting a multicenter study at 11 institutions in Japan. Methods: A retrospective multicenter study of ACCHN was performed. One hundred and three patients were identified between 2006 and 2015. The overall survival (OS) rate for all patients was calculated, and OS, locoregional control (LRC) rate, or no distant metastasis (NDM) rate was calculated for patients in that the surgery was performed without distant metastasis (DM). Statistical analyses were performed. Results: A significant difference with multivariate analysis was observed in patients in sublingual glands, stage IV and the use of radiation therapy ≥60Gy (sufficient RT) in OS for all patients. A significant difference was observed in the use of sufficient postoperative RT in the OS and the LRC rate, and in pathological surgical margins in the NDM rate. Conclusion: Sublingual glands or stage IV was a poorer, and sufficient RT was a better prognostic factor for ACCHN. Sufficient RT was effective to prevent local recurrence after surgical resection. Positive surgical margins caused an increase in DM.

Oncologic safety of cervical nerve preservation in neck dissection for head and neck cancer

Although the functional merits of preserving cervical nerves in neck dissection for head and neck cancer have been reported, the oncologic safety has not yet been determined. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of cervical nerve preservation.

Survival in patients with submandibular gland carcinoma — Results of a multi-institutional retrospective study

OBJECTIVE Clinical studies demonstrating the prognostic factors in submandibular gland carcinoma are limited because the tumor is relatively rare. The aim of this study was to identify clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in submandibular gland carcinoma. METHODS The study included 65 patients with submandibular gland carcinoma who underwent initial surgical treatment at the Kyoto University and its affiliated hospitals. RESULTS The 3-year overall survival (OS), disease specific survival, locoregional control (LRC), and no distant metastasis (NDM) rates were 74.2%, 74.2%, 90.0%, and 64.8%, respectively. In the current follow-up study, 16 patients died of the disease, 5 patients were alive with recurrence, 43 patients were alive without disease, and 1 patient died of unrelated disease without recurrence. All patients who died of the disease had developed distant metastasis. Based on univariate analysis, tumor grade (high grade) and lymph node metastases (≥N2) were significant prognostic factors for OS and LRC. It also revealed tumor grade (high grade), T classification (≥T3), and lymph node metastases (≥N2) were significant for distant metastasis. Multivariate analysis showed the following significant prognostic factors: lymph node metastases (≥N2) for OS, LRC, and NDM, and high tumor grade for NDM. CONCLUSION Our study suggested death of submandibular gland carcinoma occurred mainly due to distant metastasis. The significant predictors of distant metastasis were lymph node metastases (≥N2) and tumor grade (high grade).

Combined transoral–transhyoid endoscopic approach for hypopharyngeal cancer

Endoscopic transoral surgery for hypopharyngeal cancer is an effective treatment option to avoid invasive open surgery or chemoradiation. Here we describe the case of a 66-year-old patient with cT2N0M0 pyriform sinus cancer whom we treated using a transoral-transhyoid endoscopic approach. Using this approach, a transhyoid route was created in addition to the transoral route and used to extirpate the tumor. En bloc resection of the tumor was completed without difficulty. A combined transoral-transhyoid approach is a useful surgical option for treatment of selected patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. This technique is straightforward to perform and can be used as a backup technique in endoscopic transoral surgery. Also, more complicated lesions can be resected by this approach than by a single-route transoral approach.