The survival rate of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients with secondary primary malignancy (SPM) showed no significant improvement for decades, however, the impact of advances in ...diagnostic tools is rarely mentioned. This study investigated the clinical characteristic of HNSCC with SPM over a 27-year period especially from the perspective of diagnostic tools.
This study evaluated 157 HNSCC patients with SPM. The patients were divided into two groups according to the time of SPM diagnosis (Group A:1992-2003; Group B: 2004-2014). Age, gender, stage of first primary malignancy (FPM), SPM interval, overall survival, and disease-free survival were compared between groups.
Group B had significantly more SPM developed rate (p = 0.002), more SPM patients with advanced stage of FPM (p = 0.001), synchronous SPM (p = 0.006), and shorter SPM interval (p<0.001) compared to Group A. The survival rate in Group B was not significantly better than Group A.
Among patients diagnosed with HNSCC recently, more SPMs are diagnosed in a shorter time interval and in a more advanced stage. The overall advances in diagnostic tools cannot significantly improve SPM survival, however, it enables more patients to receive corresponding treatment.
Global reports estimate 600 million betel quid (BQ) chewers. BQ chewing has been demonstrated not only to be a risk factor for cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx and oral potentially malignant ...disorders (OPMD) but also to cause other cancers and adverse health effects. Herein, we summarized the international comparison data to aid in the understanding of the close relationship between the prevalence of BQ chewing, the occurrence of oral and pharyngeal cancers, and adverse health effects. Potential biomarkers of BQ carcinogens, such as areca nut, alkaloids, and 3-methylnitrosaminopropionitrile (MNPN), are closely associated with human health toxicology. Molecular mechanisms or pathways involving autophagy, hypoxia, COX-2, NF-κB activity, and stemness are known to be induced by BQ ingredients and are very closely related to the carcinogenesis of cancers of oral and pharynx. BQ abuse-related monoamine oxidase (MAO) gene was associated with the occurrence and progress of oral and pharyngeal cancers. In summary, our review article provides important insights into the potential roles of environmental BQ (specific alkaloid biomarkers and nitrosamine products MNPN) and genetic factors (MAO) and offers a basis for studies aiming to reduce or eliminate BQ-related OPMD and oral/pharyngeal cancer incidences in the future.
Background
The lack of standardized procedures of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) during thyroid operations may lead to highly variable results, and many of these results can cause misleading ...information and, conversely, increase the risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury. Therefore, standardization of IONM procedures is necessary.
Methods
A total of 289 patients (435 nerves at risk) who underwent thyroidectomy by the same surgeon were enrolled in this study. Each patient was intubated with EMG endotracheal tube by the same anesthesiologist. Standardized IONM procedures were applied in each patient. The procedures include preoperative and postoperative video-recording of vocal cord movement, ensuring the correct position of electrodes after the neck was placed at full extension, vagal stimulation and registration of EMG signals before and after RLN dissection, and photographic documentation of the exposed RLN.
Results
Five patients encountered dysfunction of IONM, which was caused by malposition of electrodes and the problem was detected at once. One patient with non-RLN was detected at the earlier stage of operation. Eighteen nerves experienced loss of EMG signals during thyroid dissection, and the causes of nerve injuries were well elucidated with the application of our standardized IONM procedures.
Conclusions
The standardized IONM procedures are useful and helpful not only to eliminate false IONM results, but also to elucidate the mechanism of RLN injury. After ascertaining the surgical pitfalls and improving the surgical techniques, the palsy rate was significantly reduced in this study.
Background Identification of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) has decreased the rates of permanent RLN palsy during thyroid operations; however, unexpected RLN palsy still occurs, even though the ...visual integrity was assured and most nerve injuries were not recognized intraoperatively. The aim of this study is to determine the causes of RLN palsy and to identify potentially reversible causes of RLN injury during the operation with the application of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM). Methods One hundred and thirteen patients with 173 nerves at risk were enrolled in this study. All operations were performed by the same surgeon. The 4-step procedure of IONM was designed to obtain electromagnetic (EMG) signals from the vagus nerve and RLN before and after resection of thyroid lobe. Results Sixteen nerves had loss of EMG signals after thyroid dissection, and the causes of nerve injuries were well elucidated with the application of IONM. One nerve injury was caused by inadvertent transection, which led to permanent RLN palsy. Among the remaining 15 nerves, 1 injury was caused by a constricting band of connective tissue, which was detected precisely and released intraoperatively, 2 by inadvertent clamping of the nerve, and 12 by apparent overstretching at the region of Berry's ligament. (Five nerves regained signals before closing the wound, but 1 showed impaired cord movement. Another 7 nerves did not regain signals before closing the wound, and all developed temporary RLN palsy.) Conclusions Our 4-step procedure of IONM is useful and helpful in elucidating the potential operative pitfalls during dissection near the RLN. Although the rates of RLN palsy were not decreased in this study, the use of neuromonitoring provided instructive information for future operations by ascertaining where and how the RLN has been injured.
A number of genetic variants were suggested to be associated with oral malignancy, few variants can be replicated. The aim of this study was to identify significant variants that enhanced personal ...risk prediction for oral malignancy. A total of 360 patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma, 486 controls and 17 newly diagnosed patients with OPMD including leukoplakia or oral submucous fibrosis were recruited. Fifteen tagSNPs which were derived from somatic mutations were genotyped and examined in associations with the occurrence of oral malignancy. Environmental variables along with the SNPs data were used to developed risk predictive models for oral malignancy occurrence. The stepwise model analysis was conducted to fit the best model in an economically efficient way. Two tagSNPs, rs28647489 in FAT1 gene and rs550675 in COL9A1 gene, were significantly associated with the risk of oral malignancy. The sensitivity and specificity were 85.7% and 85.5%, respectively (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.91) for predicting oral squamous cell carcinoma occurrence with the combined genetic variants, betel-quid, alcohol and age. The AUC for OPMD was only 0.69. The predictive probability of squamous cell carcinoma occurrence for genetic risk score without substance use increased from 10% up to 43%; with substance use increased from 73% up to 92%. Genetic variants with or without substance use may enhance risk prediction for oral malignancy occurrence in male population. The prediction model may be useful as a clinical index for oral malignancy occurrence and its risk assessments.
Head and neck surgeries can perturb normal structures of neck muscles and nerve innervations, which are supposed to function in harmony to allow complicated process like swallowing. It is still ...likely that cricopharyngal dysfunction emerges years after the head and neck surgeries.
We report a case with history of left unilateral vocal cord immobility and development of dysphagia and aspiration 2 years after radical thyroidectomy with neck lymph nodes dissection and medialization thyroplasty. Cricopharyngeal dysfunction was impressed and was confirmed with visualization of cricopharyngeal narrowing segment in radiographic contrast swallow examination. The patient was treated successfully by cricopharyngeal myotomy, achieving long-term relief in our 4 years of follow up.
Our case of delayed cricopharyngal dysfunction after radical thyroidectomy and medialization thyroplasty shows that it is important to follow up swallowing functions after patients with UVCI undergo medialization thyroplasty. In the event of delayed manifestation of cricopharyngeal function, it can still be treated successfully by cricoharyngeal myotomy, achieving long term relief of dysphagia.
Esophageal squamous‐cell neoplasia (ESCN) is a common second primary neoplasia found in patients with head‐and‐neck squamous‐cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study sought to identify the risk factors for ...synchronous ESCN and how they influence survival in HNSCC patient. Eight hundred and fifteen incident HNSCC patients were prospectively recruited for endoscopy screening for ESCN using white‐light imaging, narrow‐band imaging, Lugol chromoendoscopy, and pathological confirmation. Associated lifestyle and clinicopathological data were collected. The interquartile follow‐up period cutoffs were 11.3, 20.5 and 34.9 months. 124 patients (15.2%) were diagnosed as having synchronous ESCN (66 low‐grade dysplasia, 29 high‐grade dysplasia, and 29 esophageal squamous‐cell carcinoma). Consumption of alcohol, but not betel nut or cigarette, was significantly associated with the presence of synchronous ESCN (adjusted odds ratio aOR = 7.1 and 10.9 for former and current drinkers, respectively). There was an interaction between cumulative dose of alcohol consumption and alcohol flushing response on the development of ESCN. High‐dose drinkers with flush response were 16.9 times more likely to have esophageal high‐grade dysplasia/SCC than non‐drinkers. Compared with oral cavity cancer patients, those with hypopharyngeal, laryngeal and oropharyngeal cancer were 6.8, 4.6 and 2.8 times more likely to have esophageal high‐grade dysplasia/SCC. HNSCC patients with synchronous ESCN had lower overall survival than those without (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, surveillance of ESCN is strongly recommended for the high‐risk subpopulation of HNSCC patients, especially drinkers who have a flush response to alcohol, and those with distant metastasis of index cancer and cancers in hypopharynx, oropharynx and larynx.
What's new?
Alcohol consumption is the strongest risk factor for the development of esophageal squamous‐cell neoplasia (ESCN) as a second primary tumor in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In some individuals, particularly Asians, esophageal cancer risk is further associated with alcohol flush response. Here, among HNSCC patients in Taiwan, high‐dose alcohol consumers with flush response were found to be 16.9 times more likely have esophageal high‐grade dysplasia/squamous cell carcinoma. Risk of ESCN was also elevated in HNSCC patients with hypopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, oral cavity cancers or laryngeal cancer. Endoscopic surveillance could facilitate ESCN detection in these high‐risk HNSCC subpopulations.
Kirschner wire migration is one of the most common complications after internal fixation of fracture or dislocation in the shoulder region. However, cases of contralateral wire migration are rare. We ...present a case of contralateral loosened Kirschner wire migration from the right acromioclavicular joint to the left side of the neck without damage to any important structures or great vessels.
We report a case of a loosened Kirschner wire migrating from the right acromioclavicular joint to the left side of the neck in a 34-year-old Taiwanese man following a route of transversal, descendant, and then ascendant directions. The Kirschner wire was removed by exploratory neck dissection under C-arm fluoroscopy assistance without complication.
Wire migration may occur after surgical treatment with or without clinical complaint. Several hypotheses for the mechanism of wire migration have been postulated, including muscular activity, respiratory motion, gravity, and motion of upper extremity. Therefore, the importance of follow-up should be communicated to the patient. Once wire loosening or migration is noted, the implant should be removed immediately under intraoperative C-arm fluoroscopy or ultrasound assistance.
Intraoperative neuromonitoring can qualify and quantify RLN function during thyroid surgery. This study investigated how the severity and mechanism of RLN dysfunction during monitored thyroid surgery ...affected postoperative voice. This retrospective study analyzed 1021 patients that received standardized monitored thyroidectomy. Patients had post-dissection RLN(R2) signal <50%, 50–90% and >90% decrease from pre-dissection RLN(R1) signal were classified into Group A-no/mild, B-moderate, and C-severe RLN dysfunction, respectively. Demographic characteristics, RLN injury mechanisms(mechanical/thermal) and voice analysis parameters were recorded. More patients in the group with higher severity of RLN dysfunction had malignant pathology results (A/B/C = 35%/48%/55%, p = 0.017), received neck dissection (A/B/C = 17%/31%/55%, p < 0.001), had thermal injury (p = 0.006), and had asymmetric vocal fold motion in long-term postoperative periods (A/B/C = 0%/8%/62%, p < 0.001). In postoperative periods, Group C patients had significantly worse voice outcomes in several voice parameters in comparison to Group A/B. Thermal injury was associated with larger voice impairments compared to mechanical injury. This report is the first to discuss the severity and mechanism of RLN dysfunction and postoperative voice in patients who received monitored thyroidectomy. To optimize voice and swallowing outcomes after thyroidectomy, avoiding thermal injury is mandatory, and mechanical injury must be identified early to avoid a more severe dysfunction.
NOD1 (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 1) is overexpressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells, as is IL-8 in cancer cells. However, the mechanism of the IL-8-mediated ...overexpression of NOD in HNSCC not been identified. This study determines whether IL-8 promotes tumor progression via the NOD signaling pathway in HNSCC. Higher IL-8, NOD1 and receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIP2) expressions were observed in HNSCC tissue than in non-cancerous matched tissue (NCMT), whereas NOD2 was weakly expressed. Furthermore, IL-8 stimulated the proliferation of HNSCC cells (SCC4, SCC9 and SCC25) but not dysplastic oral mucosa DOK cells. Exposure to IL-8 increased the clonogenicity of HNSCC cells. IL-8 siRNA inhibited cell proliferation and cell colony formation, suggesting that IL-8 is involved in HNSCC cancer progression. The expressions of CXCR1 and CXCR2 were higher in HNSCC tissue than in NCMT. HNSCC cells that were exposed to IL-8 exhibited higher expression of CXCR1/2 than did controls. The blocking of IL-8 by siRNA reduced CXCR1/2 expression in HNSCC cells, suggesting that the cancer progression of HNSCC cells that is induced by IL-8 depends on CXCR1/2. Additionally, IL-8 is associated with increased NOD1 and RIP2 expression and reduced NOD2 expression in three types of HNSCC cells. The blocking of IL-8 by siRNA reduces IL-8, NOD1 and RIP2 expressions in HNSCC cells, but not the level of NOD2. These results suggest that IL-8 has an important role in HNSCC progression via a CXCR1/2-meidated NOD1/RIP2 signaling pathway.
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