Suren Krishnan

DISSECTION OF THE SUBMUSCULAR RECESS (SUBLEVEL IIB) IN SQUAMOUS CELL CANCER OF THE UPPER AERODIGESTIVE TRACT: PROSPECTIVE STUDY AND SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Selective neck dissection is commonly used to clear occult neck metastases in the N0 neck. The aim of this study was to identify the incidence of occult metastases in lymph nodes of sublevel IIb (submuscular recess; SMR) in upper aerodigestive tract squamous cell carcinoma in the setting of clinically and radiologically staged N0 necks and to perform a systematic review of the literature on the incidence of metastases in this setting.

Treatment of metastatic sialoblastoma with chemotherapy and surgery

Tumors of the salivary gland are very uncommon in children. Sialoblastoma is a rare, aggressive, blastomatous, and potentially malignant congenital tumor. Distant metastases are rare. We present a case of sialoblastoma with lung metastases that developed in a 4‐year‐old girl adjacent to a congenital nevus in the left cheek. The tumor was inoperable at diagnosis but the largest of the pulmonary metastases was removed surgically. The patient responded well to chemotherapy and underwent surgical excision of the primary tumor, followed by three more courses of chemotherapy. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:134–137.

Radiofrequency coblation for the resection of head and neck malignancies

Objective To review the safety and efficacy of the use of radiofrequency coblation for endoscopic resection of upper aero-digestive tract malignancies and to compare length of procedures using coblation with CO2 laser surgery. Study Design and Setting A retrospective case-note review of 40 adult patients with endoscopically treated mucosal squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, 20 having undergone resection using radiofrequency coblation and being case-matched to 20 treated with CO2 laser. Results Coblation proved to be an effective method for resection of selected head and neck malignancies. It allows for much faster resection times than the CO2 laser (P = 0.017) especially in the oropharynx (P = 0.007), but the large probes currently available can cause problems in assessment of adequate resection margins. Conclusions Although current probe design limits the potential for resection of some tumors, radiofrequency coblation appears to be an attractive evolving technique for the endoscopic resection of selected upper aerodigestive tract malignancies.

Orbitofrontal cholesterol granuloma: percutaneous endoscopic-assisted curettage.

This paper describes the use of endoscopic visualization in curettage of orbital cholesterol granuloma (OCG). Two males aged 54 and 50 years presented with orbitofrontal cholesterol granulomas arising in the superolateral frontal bone and abutting the dura. The granulomas were approached via a superior eyelid crease incision and a 70 degree rigid endoscope was used to visualize curettage of the granuloma from the inner surface of the frontal bone and the dura. Both patients made an uncomplicated recovery and there was no recurrence at eight months and two years follow up. Percutaneous endoscopic curettage is an alternative to blind curettage, lateral orbitotomy or frontal craniotomy for OCG.

Transoral robotic surgery base of tongue mucosectomy for head and neck cancer of unknown primary

Head and neck cancer of unknown primary (HNCUP) is a source of diagnostic uncertainty. Patients presenting with cytologically positive neck lumps without a clinically identifiable primary, require extensive investigation including imaging, tonsillectomy, panendoscopy and tissue biopsy. Treatment typically involves neck dissection, wide field radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has emerged as an expanding surgical technique for resecting tumours of the oropharynx. Its role in base of tongue (BOT) mucosectomy for HNCUP can alleviate diagnostic uncertainty and provide an adjunct treatment modality with few complications.

Unusual mass in the parapharyngeal space: a Warthin's tumour.

Parapharyngeal space (PPS) tumours are uncommon and can be a diagnostic challenge as the presenting symptoms are often vague and non‐specific. Most of the PPS tumours are salivary tumours (pleomorphic adenoma being the most frequent diagnosis), and are thought to originate from minor salivary glands or the deep lobe of the parotid gland. Warthins tumour, another benign salivary tumour involving the PPS has been rarely reported. A case of bilateral, metachronous Warthins tumour involving the PPS is reported here. PPS Warthins tumour is a very rare condition that if undiagnosed may result in considerable morbidity.

Transoral Robotic Surgery Total Laryngectomy: Evaluation of Functional and Survival Outcomes in a Retrospective Case Series at a Single Institution

Background: Transoral robotic surgery total laryngectomy (TORS-TL) is a minimally invasive endoscopic surgical approach which can theoretically minimise the morbidity of large external incisions and limit dissection of tissue planes so as to reduce the risk of pharyngocutaneous fistulae related to poor tissue healing secondary to radiation soft tissue injury or malnutrition. The purpose of this paper was to report our experience with this uncommon surgical approach. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted at a single institution to evaluate the functional and survival outcomes of a series of patients who underwent TORS-TL. Results: TORS-TL was performed on 5 patients. Two patients had total laryngectomy for recurrent aspiration secondary to neurological disorders, 1 patient had an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the subglottis, 1 patient had a low-grade subglottic chondrosarcoma, and 1 patient had a T2 local recurrence of glottic squamous cell carcinoma following treatment with primary chemoradiotherapy. Conclusions: TORS-TL is a feasible and safe treatment option with possible advantages for carefully selected patients in experienced hands.

The current status of human laryngeal transplantation in 2017: A state of the field review

Human laryngeal allotransplantation has long been contemplated as a surgical option following laryngectomy, but there is a paucity of information regarding the indications, surgical procedure, and patient outcomes. Our objectives were to identify all human laryngeal allotransplants that have been undertaken and reported in the English literature and to evaluate the success of the procedure.

A comparison of oncological outcomes between transoral surgical and non-surgical treatment protocols in the management of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in the Western world is increasing, with the human papillomavirus epidemic implicated in this observed trend. The optimal treatment modality is yet undetermined regarding oncological outcomes. METHODS This study comprised 98 patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, treated with either primary transoral surgery with adjuvant therapy or primary chemoradiotherapy with curative intent, between 2008 and 2012. Clinicopathological characteristics including tumour-node-metastasis stage, human papillomavirus status, treatment modality, recurrence and overall survival were collated. RESULTS Five per cent of primary surgical patients had locoregional recurrences compared with 25 per cent of primary chemoradiotherapy patients. A lower rate of locoregional recurrence was observed in the human papillomavirus positive group. CONCLUSION This paper reports higher rates of overall survival and local control for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated with primary surgery compared with primary chemoradiotherapy. This reflects overall lower tumour stage and higher human papillomavirus status in this group.

Transoral robotic excision of a lingual thyroglossal duct cyst

Lingual thyroglossal duct cysts are a rare and potentially difficult to manage tongue base lesion. We report a case of transoral robotic surgical excision of a lingual thyroglossal duct cyst, in an adult patient. A 68-year-old man presented with a large base of tongue mass, with appearance on ultrasound and computed tomography consistent with a lingual thyroglossal duct cyst. We describe the surgical technique for transoral robotic excision of the cyst. The cyst was completely excised, and the patient had a smooth recovery. There has been no recurrence of the cyst. Transoral robotic surgery has several advantages over the conventional surgical approaches in the treatment of lingual thyroglossal duct cysts, including superior visualisation, and the ability of the robotic surgical system to manoeuvre instruments in a confined space. This enables complete excision, preventing recurrence of the cyst whilst also avoiding a neck scar.