Open partial horizontal laryngectomy for T2-T3-T4a laryngeal cancer: oncological outcomes and prognostic factors of two Italian hospitals

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to analyse the oncologic results of open partial horizontal laryngectomy (OPHL) and to assess the prognostic factors that could affect the survival of patients affected by T2, T3 and T4a laryngeal cancer. Using this data, we aim to identify clinical criteria to select patients amenable to conservative surgery, and to facilitate a more targeted approach in the management of advanced laryngeal cancer.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed in patients who underwent OPHL type II for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma from January 2005 to December 2018. We analysed a total of 170 patients; 21(12.36%) cases were staged as pT2, 116 (68.23%) as pT3 and 33 (19.41%) as pT4a.

RESULTS

Five-year overall survival (OS) was 80.9%, 79.3%, 70.4% for T2, T3 and T4 respectively. Disease-specific survival (DSS) was 90.4%, 85.3% and 77.4%. Posterior tumour extension, perineural invasion and N status showed to considerably influence survival in both uni- and multivariate analyses.

CONCLUSION

The oncological outcomes from our study show that OPHL for advanced laryngeal cancer can guarantee a high percentage of success. Accurate patient selection is of utmost importance to differentiate advanced disease amenable to conservative surgery, and treatment options should consider selected criteria based on tumour and patient features.

Surgical multidisciplinary approach in the management of odontogenic or non-odontogenic neck infections

In recent years, in our university hospital, the number of odontogenic and non-odontogenic abscesses has been rapidly increasing. We included 70 patients from January 4^th 2018 to February 19^th 2020 affected by the odontogenic ones. Deep neck infection can spread to the chest and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this mini-review is to demonstrate that, in case of complications, a multidisciplinary approach is needed to treat these infections, so that all practitioners should work together to achieve the patient’s rapid recovery.

Otolaryngology activity in two hospitals in northern and central Italy differently affected by COVID-19 pandemic

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic had a significant impact on the Italian healthcare system, although geographical differences were present; regions in northern Italy have been the most severely affected while regions in the south of the country were relatively spared. Otolaryngologists were actively involved in the management of the pandemic. In this work, we analyzed and compared the otolaryngology surgical activity performed during the pandemic in two large public hospitals located in different Italian regions. In northern Italy, otolaryngologists were mainly involved in performing surgical tracheotomies in COVID-19 positive patients and contributed to the management of these patients in intensive care units. In central Italy, where the burden of the infection was significantly lower, otolaryngologists focused on diagnosis and treatment of emergency and oncology patients. This analysis confirms the important role of the otolaryngology specialists during the pandemic, but also highlights specific differences between two large hospitals in different Italian regions.

Interpretation of the mucous plug through sialendoscopy

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this manuscript is to highlight the behaviour of mucus inside the ducts of the major salivary glands, in presence of typical pathologies, through images obtained with sialendoscopy.

SUBJECT

The authors present and comment on some sialendoscopies that show mucous plug in the ducts of the major salivary glands.

RESULTS

In primary Sjogren's syndrome, mucous plugs confirm the qualitative anomaly of the mucins and acidification saliva. Instead, salivary calculations behave like foreign bodies that generate mechanical pressure and friction on the duct walls of major salivary glands, so mucus deposits in the duct in its defence; in case of infected stone, mucous plugs are formed also with the function of protecting the ducts from the aggression of germs. During sialadenitis, there is a conflict between mucus and bacteria which explains sialendoscopic evidence such as white duct walls and mucous plugs.

CONCLUSIONS

The study of the salivary ducts through sialendoscopy often confirms the clinical diagnosis or hypothesize it. During its execution, it is necessary not only to liberate the ducts of the major salivary glands but also analyse the appearance of the mucous plugs and the ductal walls as they are useful to guide the physician towards diagnosis.

Lessons learned from COVID-19 pandemic in Italy - A commentary

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Italy has been one of the most affected countries in Europe and the second for number of deaths. In this commentary, we discuss some lessons that we learned as health-care providers working in a large public hospital during the pandemic, with a special focus on the importance of infection containment and early diagnosis, the role of swab, serological tests, home isolation and individual protection  devices, and the available therapies and management indications to better face a possible new outbreak in the near future. These comments should stimulate a more diffused, efficient, and efficacious management of COVID-19 patients, also reducing the number of admissions to hospital emergency departments and the related spread of the infection.

Qualitative mucin disorders in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome: a literature review

Background

It is a common opinion that Primary Sjögren Syndrome (pSS) damages the exocrine glands and determines the reduction of secreted saliva, some studies show that there are qualitative anomalies of the mucins produced in saliva, including MUC7, MUC5B, MUC1. The purpose of this study is to trace all the information useful to establish whether there is a qualitative or quantitative defect of the mucins in the pSS.

Material and Methods

We reviewed the literature by looking for publications relevant to the topic in electronic databases. Sixteen articles met the search criteria. The studies were divided into two categories, those that studied the rheological characteristics of the saliva and those that studied the structural and / or metabolism modifications of the muciparous cells in the salivary glands.

Results

in Patients with pSS, xerostomia and the reduction of salivary spinnbarkeit are only partially related to the reduction of the unstimulated salivary flow. In pSS, pathological alterations of mucins’ chemical-physical properties prevail as a cause of the clinical characteristics. Moreover, in pSS there are structural and metabolism changes in salivary glands’ muciparous cells.

Conclusions

There is much evidence that supports the presence of qualitative alterations in the saliva’s rheological properties in Patients with pSS, and these are the main cause, more than the reduction of the unstimulated salivary flow, of the disease clinical characteristics - dry mouth and complications in the oral cavity. Therefore we propose to add to the classification criteria of pSS also a qualitative test of salivary glycoproteins.

Key words:Primary Sjögren's syndrome, mucin, MUC7, MUC5B, MUC1, sulphate oligosaccharides.

Spider Angioma of the Nasal Mucosa

Spider angioma is a benign vascular lesion reminiscent of a spider's body characterized by peculiar dilatation of end vasculature. The lesion is characterized by a central spot and extensions which radiate outward like a spider's body. Spider angiomas may appear as a solitary or multiple lesion that arises on the skin surface of the face, neck, chest, and arms; these lesions have been rarely observed in the sublingual mucosa and in the gut, and to date, they have never been reported in the nasal mucosa. In this article, we report a spider angioma of the nasal cavity found as an occasional finding during a narrow band imaging nasopharyngeal endoscopy in a 70-year-old male patient with hepatitis C virus-related liver cirrhosis and a history of total laryngectomy in 2013 due to laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The lesion was located in the mucosa of the pavement of the posterior portion of the left nostril; it was painless and asymptomatic.

Chronic maxillary sinusitis of dental origin and oroantral fistula: The results of combined surgical approach in an Italian university hospital

Unilateral chronic maxillary sinusitis is a possible complication of odontogenic disease or dental treatment and is mainly due to the development of an oroantral fistula (OAF). The management of chronic maxillary sinusitis of dental origin (CMSDO) requires a combined treatment via endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and intraoral surgical treatment of the odontogenic source. The aim of this study is to present the results of our university hospital unit in the treatment and follow-up of a case series of 34 patients treated with a combined surgical approach for CMSDO due to OAF. All patients were treated with ESS combined with an intraoral approach. No intraoperative or immediate postoperative complications were observed; nasal synechia was found in 3 patients (8.82%). The overall success rate after the primary intervention was 94.12%; recurrence was observed in 2 cases (5.88%), both were suffering from diabetes mellitus and were tobacco smokers. Our results confirm that simultaneous surgery with a combination of an intraoral and endoscopic approach can be considered the best strategy for the long-term restoration of normal sinonasal homeostasis in selected patients with chronic odontogenic sinusitis and OAF, guaranteeing an effective treatment with minimal complications in the short and long term.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on otolaryngology, ophthalmology and dental clinical activity and future perspectives

OBJECTIVE

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, otolaryngologists, ophthalmologists and dentists have been severely affected, both for the transmission routes and for the diagnostical and therapeutic procedures typical of these disciplines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this article, we discuss the transmission routes, the potential risk of contagion for patients and healthcare providers during procedures, and comment on the changes that will affect head and neck clinical practice in the future of outpatient and surgical activities.

RESULTS

Otolaryngologists, ophthalmologists and dentists are at high risk for infection contagion and spread because they perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that generate aerosol and droplets thus facilitating virus transmission. Furthermore, examination involves close doctor-patient contact and otolaryngologists and dentists have to remove patient's protective devices during the visit.

CONCLUSIONS

Special attention to prevention protocols for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and the use of protective equipment is of utmost importance to limit contagion and prevent a new virus spread in the near future.

Montgomery Salivary Bypass Tube in Head and Neck Cancer: The Experience of Our Otolaryngology Clinic

INTRODUCTION

One of the most common complications in the immediate and late postoperative period following total laryngectomy or pharyngolaryngectomy is pharyngocutaneous fistulae (PCF) formation and pharyngoesophageal stenosis (PES), causing significant mortality and morbidity. Since 1978, Montgomery salivary bypass tube (MSBT) has been used to reduce the incidence of PCF and PES. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the outcomes of using MSBT both as a tool to prevent PCF and PES and to treat these complications in the postoperative period.

METHODS

Between January 2013 and December 2019, we inserted 109 MSBT in 87 patients with laryngeal/hypopharyngeal cancer treated in the Unit of Otolaryngology of our University Hospital.

RESULTS

Sixty (86.9%) patients healed from complications with primary and secondary placement of MSBT. Seven patients presented a persistence of PCF and 2 presented a recurrence of PES. Secondary placement of MSBT allowed treating successfully 15 (83%) of 18 patients. Only 3 of them presented a PCF at the end of the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

According to our experience, the MSBT is an affordable, easy to apply and well-tolerated tool. Although it is generally used for PCF treatment, it can also be used intraoperatively for PCF and PES prevention.

Minimally Invasive Intraoral Approach to Submandibular Lodge

The purpose of this study is to describe the Minimally Invasive Intraoral Approach (MIIA) performed on selected cases of abscesses and neck phlegmons of odontogenic origin when the infection has not spread beyond the inferior mandibular margin. This technique allows us to avoid cervicotomy by a direct approach to the abscess, draining it through the oral cavity. If the limits have already been crossed, then cervicotomy is necessary. The aim of the study is to show the surgical outcomes that we have achieved during a time span of two years, and to show the effectiveness of the MIIA and its results. We selected 66 patients with abscesses and neck phlegmons, from January 2018 to June 2020. Among these cases, five patients were excluded as it was not possible to recover medical records from database. The MIIA technique has been performed on 16 patients (26.2%) when a successful dental extraction and drainage of the submandibular lodge were accomplished. The patients who underwent the MIIA surgery have all perfectly healed and did not suffer from relapses during the follow-up. The results show the achievement of excellent healing, underlining the lower impact required by MIIA when compared to a more traditional approach through cervicotomy.

Pleomorphic Adenoma of the Parotid Gland and Ipsilateral Thyroid Incidentaloma: Report of A Rare Case With Review of Literature

BACKGROUND

Pleomorphic adenomas are benign tumors of the salivary glands that mainly affect the lower pole of the superficial lobe of the parotid gland. The term "pleomorphic" refers to the epithelial and connective origin of the mass. The clinical presentation is typically that of asymptomatic swelling which increases in volume. Therapy consists in surgical removal of the tumor mass by parotidectomy with nerve preservation.

CASE DETAILS

This clinical case describes an interesting case of pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland in a 62-year-old patient. The patient presented with a long history of an asymptomatic mildly worsening swelling of the left parotid region. The peculiarity of the clinical case is the dimension of the adenoma (9x5x9 cm) and the presence of a thyroid incidentaloma (TI), consisting of a thyroid multinodular goiter composed of nodules, the largest of which measured 8 cm in diameter. This mass dislocated the laryngotracheal axis, compressed the larynx and caused the reduction of the respiratory space, making orotracheal intubation difficult and determining the need to perform a tracheotomy.

CONCLUSION

Benign pleomorphic adenomas can potentially reach large sizes if untreated. Socio-economic problems may be the reason for late diagnosis.

Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Otolaryngology Surgery in Italy: The Experience of Our University Hospital

Otolaryngology and head and neck surgery underwent drastic changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 10, the first day of the lockdown in Italy, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were limited to emergency and oncology cases, while outpatient procedures and clinical examinations were temporarily suspended to limit virus diffusion and to reallocate personnel into wards dedicated to COVID-19. In our otolaryngology unit, between March 10 and April 28, 2020, we performed 96 surgical procedures; they mainly consisted in diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors of the head and neck (77%), management of acute upper airway obstruction in adults and children (14.7%), drainage of abscesses of the head and neck (6.2%), and treatment of nasal bone fractures (2.1%). When comparing these data with those of the same period in 2019 for emergency and oncology procedures, we noticed a drastic reduction of head and neck abscesses and nasal bone fractures, while oncology surgery remained stable.

Endoscopic Resection of Sinonasal Inverted Papilloma: A Multivariate Retrospective Analysis of Factors Affecting Recurrence and Persistence

Sinonasal inverted papilloma (IP) is the most common benign epithelial tumor in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, with a worldwide incidence between 0.6 and 1.5/100 000 persons per year. However, only a few studies have investigated patient-dependent factors related to IP recurrence and persistence. According to available evidence, these factors are still debated, and results are contradictory. In this multicenter retrospective study, we analyzed the clinical records of 130 patients who were surgically treated for sinonasal IP to evaluate the factors affecting recurrence and persistence of IP and compared the curative rates of different surgical approaches. Our analysis showed that IP recurrence is strongly related to specific risk factors including incomplete surgical removal, stage of disease, site of the lesion, surgical technique, and malignancy rate. In conclusion, the recurrence of IP may be affected by several risk factors; these factors must be carefully considered during clinical evaluation and especially during the follow-up of patients with IP.