L. Santini

Fine-needle aspiration cytology in the management of parotid masses: Evaluation of 249 patients

INTRODUCTION The role of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the management of parotid tumours is still the subject of controversy. The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of FNAC in our institution in order to define its place in the diagnostic strategy. PATIENTS AND METHODS This retrospective study was based on 249 patients who had undergone preoperative FNAC before being operated in our institution between 2001 and 2008. All examinations were performed and interpreted by the same experienced pathologist. RESULTS Among the 249 patients included in this study, 187 (75%) had a benign tumour and 62 (25%) had a malignant tumour. No complications of FNAC were observed. Cytological findings were non-contributory in 47 patients (18%). The sensitivity of FNAC for the diagnosis of malignancy was 80% with a specificity of 89.5%. Among the 11 false-negative results, lymphomas and low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinomas were the most common histological types. Among the 16 false-positive results, Warthins tumours, pleomorphic adenomas and lymphoepithelial lesions were the most common histological types. Accurate histological classification of the tumour was reported in 79.5% of cases (86% for benign tumours and 44% for malignant tumours). CONCLUSION FNAC is a reliable examination providing important information to the surgeon in the preoperative diagnostic assessment.

Fine needle aspiration cytology and frozen section in the diagnosis of malignant parotid tumours.

The aim of this study was to determine the value of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and frozen section (FS) in the diagnosis of malignant parotid tumours. One hundred and thirty-eight patients who underwent FNAC and FS of a parotid tumour between 2006 and 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of FNAC and FS were determined using final histological diagnosis as the gold standard. Of the 138 tumours assessed in our study, 30 were malignant and 108 benign. For FNAC, the sensitivity was 73%, specificity 87%, positive predictive value 61%, and negative predictive value 90%. For FS, the sensitivity was 80%, specificity 98%, positive predictive value 92%, and negative predictive value 94%. Four false-negative results by FNAC were corrected by FS, and surgery was completed. Two false-positive results were identified by both FNAC and FS. FNAC is an important examination that provides valuable information for the preoperative diagnostic work-up and alerts the surgeon to the possible presence of malignancy. However, FNAC cannot be used alone, and FS has a very important place in the intraoperative management of parotid tumours.

Salvage Circular Laryngopharyngectomy and Radial Forearm Free Flap for Recurrent Hypopharyngeal Cancer

To evaluate surgical and long‐term oncologic outcomes in a series of patients who underwent circular total laryngopharyngectomy with tubed radial forearm free flap as salvage surgery.

Sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinomas: clinical outcomes and predictive factors

This is a retrospective study of 11 patients treated for sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACCs) between 1989 and 2008. The authors statistically analysed the epidemiological, clinical, histological and therapeutic aspects of this series of patients with sinonasal ACCs and their impact in terms of overall and disease-free survival established using the Kaplan-Meier method. A search for prognostic factors was made using a log-rank test. There were 5 women (45.4%) and 6 men (54.6%). Average age at diagnosis was 52.2 years (24-75 years). Mean follow-up of patients was 63 months (11-142 months). Tumours were classified as T1 in 9%, T2 in 45.4% and T4 in 45.4% of cases. Disease-free survival rates at 1, 5 and 10 years were 83%, 41% and 18%, respectively, and overall survival rates were 100%, 64% and 35%, respectively. Surgery followed or not by radiotherapy resulted in better survival than other treatment, regardless of tumour stage. Better disease-free survival with postoperative radiotherapy was not found. These tumours should be treated by surgical resection with clear margins followed by adjuvant radiotherapy.

Nasal and paranasal esthesioneuroblastomas: Clinical outcomes

UNLABELLED Esthesioneuroblastomas (ENB) are rare tumours derived from the olfactory epithelium. Based on their experience and a review of the literature, the authors tried to identify the epidemiological, clinical, histological and therapeutic factors that influence overall and disease-free survival in their series of ENB. METHODS This retrospective study concerned eleven patients treated in a single institution for ENB of the nasal cavity and sinuses between 1978 and 2006. The data collected were submitted to statistical analysis using R 2.0(®) software. Overall survival and disease-free survival were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and prognostic factors were identified by Log-Rank test. RESULTS This series comprised three women (27.2%) and eight men (72.8%) (sex ratio: 2.6). The mean age at diagnosis was 56 years (range: 37-69 years). No risk factors were identified in this cohort. The mean follow-up was 110.2 months (range: 7-348 months). This series included three T1 (27.3%), one T2 (9.1%), four T3 (36.3%) and three T4 (27.3%) tumours. The 1-year, 5-year and 10-year disease-free survival rates were 81.8%, 54.5% and 18.2%, and the corresponding overall survival rates were 100%, 90% and 60%, respectively. The main prognostic factors reported in the literature are tumour stage at diagnosis, adjuvant radiotherapy and radiation dose. CONCLUSION ENB are characterized by a high recurrence rate and recurrences can occur a very long time after the diagnosis, indicating the need for prolonged follow-up of these patients. The 5-year and 10-year overall survival rates are about 90% and 60%, respectively.

Outcomes of septorhinoplasty: a new approach comparing functional and aesthetic results

The aim of this study was to compare objective and subjective functional results of septorhinoplasty with subjective aesthetic results. A prospective study was performed including global and subgroup analyses (primary versus secondary septorhinoplasty). Three instruments were used to evaluate pre- and postoperative results: rhinomanometry for the objective functional analysis, the Nasal Symptom Obstruction Evaluation (NOSE) scale for the subjective functional analysis, and the Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE) scale for the subjective aesthetic analysis. A septorhinoplasty was performed in all cases. Thirty-five patients were included (22 female), of whom 74% underwent primary septorhinoplasty. The correlation between rhinomanometry, NOSE and ROE scores was analysed. Mean resistance of the two nasal cavities was 4.9 (standard deviation (SD) 8.35) sPa/ml before surgery and 0.8 (SD 0.7) sPa/ml after surgery. NOSE and ROE scores were, respectively, 72.5/100 (SD 21.7) and 7.5/24 (SD 11.3) before surgery and 22/100 (SD 20.6) and 18/24 (SD 17.3) after surgery. Patients complaining of postoperative nasal obstruction had a worse aesthetic evaluation. Correction of the functional disease appears to be as important as aesthetic correction. This study comparing functional and aesthetic results after septorhinoplasty could provide a basis for future studies.

The MiRa scale, a new standardised scale for evaluating nasal deformities before and after septorhinoplasty: A prospective study comparing patient satisfaction and the surgeon's assessment

The objective was to assess the reliability of a new standardised scale for evaluating nasal anomalies in order to compare the surgeons assessment and patient satisfaction.

A videofluoroscopic study comparing severe swallowing disorders in patients treated surgically or with radiation for oropharyngeal cancer

The aim of this study was to analyze the causal mechanisms of severe swallowing disorders after the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer. Twenty-six patients with severe swallowing disorders at ≥12 months after treatment for oropharyngeal cancer were analyzed retrospectively using videofluoroscopy. Fourteen patients (54%) had been treated with surgery (±postoperative radiotherapy), while 12 patients (46%) had been treated with (chemo)radiotherapy. Videofluoroscopy analysis showed a localized alteration in the surgical excision area resulting in impaired tongue root retraction in the surgical group (P=0.012), while general impairment of the pharyngeal, laryngeal, and upper oesophagus sphincter was found in the non-surgical group. Aspirations in the surgical group most often occurred after swallowing, while in the non-surgical group, they occurred during and after swallowing (P=0.039). This analysis by videofluoroscopy provides important insights into the mechanisms giving rise to swallowing disorders after the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer.

Clinical and oncological outcomes after surgical excision of parotid gland tumours in patients aged over 80 years

The objective of this study was to evaluate the surgical and long-term outcomes of a series of patients aged over 80 years, operated on for parotid neoplasms. Among 614 parotidectomies for neoplasms performed between 1998 and 2008, 34 patients (5.5%) aged over 80 years were identified retrospectively. Pathological examination showed a malignant tumour in 24 and a benign tumour in 10 cases. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis. A search for parameters that could influence the postoperative complication rate and long-term outcomes was carried out by univariate analysis. There was no postoperative death. Eight patients (24%) had postoperative complications. Malignant histopathology (P=0.05) and radical resection (P=0.033) were found to have a significant negative impact on the postoperative course. Focusing on malignant tumours, only histopathological type (metastasis vs primary tumour) was found to have a negative impact on OS. The 2- and 5-year OS rates were 86% and 86%, respectively, for primary tumours, and 67% and 29%, respectively, for metastasis (P=0.05). Malignant or benign histopathology had no impact on OS. Our results showed acceptable clinical and long-term oncological outcomes in very elderly patients operated on for parotid tumours, including malignant tumours.

Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome following oropharyngeal cancer treatment: A prospective cohort study

To evaluate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) in a population of patients treated for an advanced oropharyngeal cancer (AJCC Stage III or IV), depending on treatment strategy, and to evaluate its impact on quality of life.