Luke O. Buchmann

Endoscopic techniques in resection of anterior skull base/paranasal sinus malignancies.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the role of endoscopic approaches to the resection of anterior skull base and paranasal sinus malignancies at one tertiary care medical center.

Psychosocial distress is prevalent in head and neck cancer patients

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the levels of psychological distress in head and neck cancer patients using a validated screening tool. We aim to characterize distress in this cancer population and understand the factors driving distress levels.

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.

Using fixed anatomical landmarks in endoscopic skull base surgery

Background The identification of anatomic landmarks in endoscopic skull base or revision sinus surgery can be challenging. Normal anatomy is significantly altered with many paranasal tumors. Traditional endoscopic surgical landmarks extrapolated from inflammatory disease, such as the superior turbinate, may have been previously removed or involved in pathology. A frequently used rule to enter the sphenoid, “stay below or at the level of the orbital floor as dissection proceeds posteriorly and one will avoid the skull base,” is assessed anatomically. Methods The maxillary sinus roof height, relative to the nasal floor, was assessed as an operative landmark. Computed tomography (CT) performed on paranasal sinuses was studied. The relative height, ratio, and proportions of the maxillary sinus, ethmoid roof, cribriform fossa, and sphenoid planum were measured using computerized assessments. Results Three hundred paranasal sinus systems were evaluated. The roof of the maxillary sinus was below the level of the skull base in 100% relative to the cribriform and 100% relative to the sphenoid planum. The mean distance of the maxillary roof below the skull base was 10.1 ± 2.7 mm for the cribriform and 11.0 ± 2.9 mm for the sphenoid. Conclusion The maxillary sinus roof can be used as a robust landmark to allow safe dissection and debulking of pathology. Pathology removal can proceed posterior with this landmark to enable a safe entry to the sphenoid sinus, and thus the true skull base, when normal structures such as the superior turbinate and ostium are not available.

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.

PET/CT in the assessment of previously treated skull base malignancies.

Altered anatomy, radiotherapy, hardware, and reconstructive materials distort the posttreatment ventral skull base. The diagnostic characteristics of positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT) studies in those with suspected recurrent malignancy were assessed.

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.

Psychosocial Distress in Patients with Thyroid Cancer

Objective The purpose of this study is to evaluate levels of psychosocial distress in thyroid cancer patients. An analysis of factors contributing to levels of distress is included. Study Design Individual retrospective cohort study. Setting Head and neck cancer clinic at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. Subjects and Methods A total of 118 newly diagnosed thyroid cancer patients were included in the study. Univariate and multivariate analyses evaluated levels of and factors contributing to distress. Results Almost half (43.3%) of patients had significant distress. Those with self-reported psychiatric history, use of antidepressant medication, and history of radiation treatment had higher levels of distress. On multivariate analysis, patient endorsement of emotional issues predicted a higher distress level. Conclusions Thyroid cancer patients have high distress levels. Identification of thyroid cancer patients with high distress levels is important to offer additional support during cancer therapy.

Clinical outcomes associated with evolving treatment modalities and radiation techniques for base-of-tongue carcinoma: Thirty years of institutional experience

Curative treatment for base‐of‐tongue squamous cell carcinoma (BOT SCC) has evolved over time; however, comparative outcomes analysis for various treatment strategies is lacking. The authors reviewed the evolution of treatment modality and radiotherapy (RT) technique for 231 consecutive BOT SCC patients at our institution between 1981 and 2011. Treatment modalities included definitive chemoradiotherapy (chemoRT) (42%), definitive RT (33%), surgery followed by RT (20%), and surgery alone (5%). RT techniques included external beam plus interstitial brachytherapy (EBRT + IB) (37%), conventional EBRT (29%), intensity‐modulated radiation therapy ± simultaneous integrated boost (IMRT ± SIB) (34%). Clinical characteristics and outcomes were stratified by modality or RT technique. Treatment modality evolved from definitive RT (1980s–1990s) to definitive chemoRT (1990s–2000s). RT technique evolved from EBRT + IB (1980s–1990s) to conventional EBRT (1990s–2000s) to IMRT + SIB (2000s). With median alive follow‐up of 6 years (0.3–28 years), the 5‐year LC, LRC, and OS rates were 80%, 73%, and 51%. There was no difference in distribution of gender, age, stage among treatment modalities. Definitive chemoRT had improved LRC (HR 1.6) and OS (HR 1.7) compared to definitive RT. IMRT + SIB had improved LRC (HR 3.2), DFS (HR 3.4), and OS (HR 3.0) compared to conventional EBRT. Over the past 30 years, BOT SCC treatment has undergone major paradigm shifts that incorporate nonsurgical functional preservation, concurrent chemotherapy, and advanced RT techniques. Excellent locoregional control and survival outcomes are associated with accelerated IMRT with chemotherapy.