Very Rapid Improvement in Extended Nitric Oxide Parameters Is Associated With Clinical and Functional Improvement in Patients With Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps Treated With Dupilumab

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Dupilumab, an anti-IL-4 receptor a monoclonal antibody, was recently approved for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and moderate-to-severe asthma. Onset of its clinical effects is rapid. CRSwNP is characterized by extended type 2 inflammatory involvement that can be assessed using extended nitric oxide analysis. We investigated whether dupilumab was associated with a rapid improvement in extended nitric oxide parameters, lung function, and clinical outcomes in patients with CRSwNP.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with CRSwNP and an indication for dupilumab were evaluated for extended nitric oxide analysis (exhaled, FeNO; bronchial, JawNO; alveolar, CalvNO; nasal, nNO) and lung function 15 and 30 days after initiation of treatment and for clinical outcomes (nasal polyps score [NPS], quality of life questionnaires, visual analog scale [VAS] for the main symptoms, and the Asthma Control Test [ACT]) 30 days after initiation of treatment.

RESULTS

We enrolled 33 patients. All extended nitric oxide and lung function parameters improved significantly after 15 days of treatment, remaining stable at 30 days. Scores on the NPS, VAS for the main RSwNP symptoms, quality of life questionnaires, and the ACT improved significantly 30 days after initiation of treatment.

CONCLUSION

Dupilumab is associated with very rapid improvement in type 2 inflammation in all airway areas. This is associated with improved lung function and clinical parameters in patients with CRSwNP.

Elective neck irradiation in the management of esthesioneuroblastoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

There is no consensus about the optimal management of the neck in clinically node negative esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB). The aim of this study is to assess the impact of elective neck irradiation (ENI) in terms of regional disease control and survival.

METHODS

The study was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines searching on Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases. The primary outcome was the regional recurrence rate (RRR), that was reported as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Secondary outcomes were the overall survival (OS), and the distant-metastases free survival (DMFS), that were reported as logarithm of the hazard ratios (logHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

A total of 489 clinically node negative patients were included from 9 retrospective studies. ENI significantly reduced the risk of regional recurrence compared to no treatment. No difference was measured between ENI and observation, according to both OS and DMFS. No stratified analysis could be performed based on Kadish stage and Hyams grade.

CONCLUSIONS

ENI should be recommended to improve the regional disease control. No advantage was measured in terms of survival or distant metastases with a low quality of evidence. Further prospective studies should be designed to understand if ENI could be avoided in early stage and low-grade tumors.

Metastasis-directed stereotactic body radiation therapy in the management of oligometastatic head and neck cancer

INTRODUCTION

Recently major efforts have been made to define the oligometastatic setting, but for head and neck cancer (HNC) limited data are available. We aimed to evaluate outcome of oligometastatic HNC treated with Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) as metastasis-directed therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed patients treated with SBRT on a maximum of five oligometastases from HNC, in up to two organs. Concomitant treatment was allowed. End points were toxicity, local control of treated metastases (LC), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

48 consecutive patients and 71 lesions were treated. With a follow-up of 20.2 months, most common primary tumors were larynx (29.2%) and salivary glands (29.2%), while common site of metastases was lung (59.1%). Median dose was 48 Gy (21-75) in 3-8 fractions. Treatment was well tolerated, with two patients reporting mild pain and nausea. LC rates at 1 and 2 years were 83.1% and 70.2%. Previous local therapy (HR 4.97; p = 0.002), oligoprogression (HR 4.07; p = 0.031) and untreated metastases (HR 4.19; p = 0.027) were associated with worse LC. PFS at 1 and 2 years were 42.2% and 20.0%. Increasing age (HR 1.03; p = 0.010), non-adenoid cystic carcinoma (HR 2.57; p = 0.034) and non-lung metastases (HR 2.20; p = 0.025) were associated with worse PFS. One- and 2-years OS were 81.0% and 67.1%. Worse performance status (HR 2.91; p = 0.049), non-salivary primary (HR 19.9; p = 0.005), non-lung metastases (HR 2.96; p = 0.040) were correlated with inferior OS.

CONCLUSIONS

SBRT can be considered a safe metastasis-directed therapy in oligometastatic HNC. Efficacy of the treatment seems to be higher when administered upfront in the management of metastatic disease; however, selection of patients need to be improved due to the relevant risk of appearance of new metastatic site after SBRT.

Lateral conservative approach for recurrent/persistent hypopharyngeal carcinoma: a case series

PURPOSE

Early persistent/recurrent hypopharyngeal tumours represent a challenge for surgeons who have to balance the need for oncological radicality and the desire to maintain a functioning larynx with preservation of the patient's quality of life. The aim of this study was primarily to understand the technical feasibility, functional outcomes, and the possibility of obtaining oncological radicality using lateral hypopharyngectomy with laryngeal preservation in early recurrent post-radio/(chemo)therapy hypopharyngeal tumours.

METHODS

Patients with recurrent T1 hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were retrospectively selected from our institutional database. The external lateral approach according to Spriano and a modified lateral hypopharyngectomy with laryngeal preservation were used to resect tumours of the lateral pyriform sinus wall. Reconstruction was obtained by direct approximation of the posterior border of the sectioned thyroid cartilage to the posterior hypopharyngeal wall, and this was reinforced with a second layer of vascularised and non-irradiated tissue that was provided by a microvascular fascial anterobrachial flap. Swallowing was assessed 3 weeks after surgery using videoendoscopic evaluation.

RESULTS

The surgical procedure was technically feasible, and complete resection was obtained in all patients. None of the patients experienced major post-operative complications (salivary fistula, bleeding, aspiration pneumonia). Mild dysphagia was observed in one patient who underwent swallowing rehabilitation. Tracheostomy was closed in all patients. No recurrence was recorded after a median follow-up of 20 months.

CONCLUSION

The reported experience shows that, in selected cases, it is possible to radically remove lateral hypopharyngeal cancer with acceptable functional results.

Free flap microvascular anastomosis in head and neck reconstruction using a 4K three-dimensional exoscope system (VITOM 3D)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of microvascular anastomosis using a 4K three-dimensional exoscope system (VITOM 3D) in 10 consecutive cases of free flap head and neck reconstructive surgery. This was a clinical human study of free flap microvascular anastomosis using a VITOM 3D exoscope in 10 consecutive patients undergoing reconstruction after ablative surgery for head and neck carcinoma. Microvascular anastomoses were performed successfully using the exoscope in all patients, without any need for the conventional microscope. Arterial anastomoses were all end-to-end. Venous anastomoses were end-to-end in eight cases and end-to-side with the internal jugular vein in two cases. This study demonstrates the technical feasibility of microvascular anastomosis using a 4K three-dimensional exoscope system (VITOM 3D) in a series of 10 cases.

A new lateral cervical approach for salvage total laryngo-pharyngectomy

Total laryngectomy with subtotal pharyngectomy is the standard treatment of persistent/recurrent laryngeal and/or pharyngeal cancer. Salvage surgery can be complicated by pharyngo-cutaneous fistula because of previous treatment. The aim of this paper was to verify the feasibility of salvage total laryngectomy with subtotal pharyngectomy with a minimally invasive technique through a lateral cervical approach using the same skin incision used for resection of primary, synchronous neck dissection and pharyngeal flap reconstruction. This approach allowed harvesting of the anterior-myocutaneous flap including skin, subcutaneous tissue, platysma, anterior jugular veins, sterno- and homohyoid muscle in order to preserve as much tissue not involved by the tumour as possible. This technique is feasible and safe; further studies should confirm its advantages in terms of reduction of complications.

Vastus lateralis myofascial free flap in tongue reconstruction

In the last decade, the antero-lateral thigh free flap (ALT) has become the most popular free flap for tongue reconstruction because of less donor site morbidity and better cosmetic outcomes. However, fascio-cutaneous ALT may be insufficient to reconstruct major tongue defects, while its muscular-cutaneous variant (using the vastus lateralis muscle) may be too bulky. The present study describes our preliminary experience of tongue reconstruction with vastus lateralis myofascial flap, which could potentially offer unique advantages in head and neck reconstruction including adequate bulk when needed, optimal functional results and obliteration of dead space thus preventing fistulas and infections with minimal morbidity.

Intraoperative radiation therapy as adjuvant treatment in locally advanced stage tumours involving the middle ear: a hypothesis-generating retrospective study

The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety, effectiveness and functional outcomes of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) followed by intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in locally advanced stage tumours involving the middle ear. Data on 13 consecutive patients treated for malignant tumor of external auditory canal involving the middle ear were retrospectively reviewed. Median follow-up was 33 months (range 6-133). Five (38%) patients were stage III and 8 (62%) were Stage IV according to the University of Pittsburgh staging system. Lateral temporal bone resection (LTBR) was performed in all cases. LTBR was associated with parotidectomy in 5 (38%) cases, and with neck dissection and parotidectomy in 6 (46%) cases. No patients had gross residual tumour. Surgical treatment was followed by IORT (12 Gy) and IMRT (50 Gy). Adjuvant chemotherapy was used in 4 (30%) cases. Preoperative and postoperative audiometric tests were performed to assess hearing loss. 5-year local-control (LC), 5-year distant-metastasis (DM), 5-year disease-free-survival (DFS) and 5-year overall-survival (OS) were calculated with Kaplan-Meyer method. Significant changes in bone conduction were reported after treatment. Partial flap necrosis was the only early complication observed in three (23%) cases, while meningeal fistula was seen in one (7.6%) case as a late complication. The 5-year LC-rate was 68%. The 5-year DM-rate was 90%. The 5-year DFS-rate was 61%. The 5-year OS-rate was 69%. IORT followed by IMRT for the treatment of advanced external auditory canal and middle ear tumours seems to be safe. No intraoperative death was reported. IORT may reduce the postoperative irradiation of remnant tissue obtaining the same full dose on the tumour bed. No complications of the residual external ear were observed. Detriment of neurosensory hearing may be expected. Future studies are required to confirm the benefit of this procedure in the ear.

Step-by-step mandibular reconstruction with free fibula flap modelling

The functional and aesthetic outcomes after segmental mandibular resection are closely related to the technique used during mandibular reconstruction with bone graft. The fibula free flap approach allows the possibility of using bone with/without skin for restoring the defect. Here, we aimed to establish the preplating technique for oromandibular reconstruction in a step-by-step fashion, based on 41 patients. The surgical technique is expounded in 8-10 steps. Preplating, plate removal, resection, replating, template modelling, contouring and fixation of the fibula represent the key points of the procedure. In this report, we show that the preplating and template modelling method is easy, does not incur extra costs and can be successfully used for mandibular reconstruction with bone graft. Functional and aesthetic results confirm the feasibility and reproducibility of the technique.

Effects of gastroesophageal reflux disease in laryngeal carcinoma

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is associated with various otolaryngological disorders. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the role of gastroesophageal reflux disease in the development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in non-smoking and non-drinking patients. The study population consisted of 36 consecutive non-smoking and non-drinking patients with histologically confirmed SCC of the larynx. As a control, a group of 125 lifetime non-smoking and non-drinking cancer-free subjects were selected. Patients with laryngeal cancer had a higher prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease than the control subjects (P < 0.0001). Our results confirm the fact that gastroesophageal reflux disease in itself is associated with an increased risk of laryngeal cancer.

Effects of gastroesophageal reflux disease in laryngeal carcinoma

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is associated with various otolaryngological disorders. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the role of gastroesophageal reflux disease in the development of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in non-smoking and non-drinking patients. The study population consisted of 36 consecutive non-smoking and non-drinking patients with histologically confirmed SCC of the larynx. As a control, a group of 125 lifetime non-smoking and non-drinking cancer-free subjects were selected. Patients with laryngeal cancer had a higher prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease than the control subjects (P < 0.0001). Our results confirm the fact that gastroesophageal reflux disease in itself is associated with an increased risk of laryngeal cancer.

Salvage surgery after radiation failure in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx

AIM AND BACKGROUND

To investigate patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in order to estimate the recurrence rate and treatment used as salvage surgery. The survival rate in the group of patients treated with salvage surgery was compared to that of patients who had chemotherapy rather than surgery or who refused any treatment.

METHODS

From 1989 to 1999, 185 patients came to our institution for laryngeal SCC. All of them underwent RT as primary treatment. Only patients with a minimum of three years follow-up (n = 143) were included in the study group.

RESULTS

The 143 cases included 22 loco-regional recurrences (15.3%) during the minimum three years of follow-up. Recurrence was observed in the larynx in eighteen cases (81.8%), in cervical nodes in one case (4.55%) and in both the larynx and cervical nodes in one case (4.55%). There was peristomal recurrence in two cases (9.1%). Recurrence was observed after an average of 16.3 months. Fourteen patients (63.6%) out of the twenty-two cases of recurrence underwent salvage surgery. Surgery was not performed on the remaining eight patients (36.4%). The global survival rate was 92.3% after three years and 66.6% after five years in the group of patients treated with surgery. The actuarial survival rate was 100% after three years and 83.3% after five years. The global and actuarial survival rate was 20% after three years and 0% after five years in the group of patients who received chemotherapy rather than surgery or who refused any kind of treatment.

CONCLUSION

The RT seems to play an important role in the loco-regional control of laryngeal SCC (especially in glottic T1). Salvage surgery for recurrence results in a good survival rate.

Gastroesophageal reflux as a possible co-promoting factor in the development of the squamous-cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, of the larynx and of the pharynx

According to recent advances it is assumed that the gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is a possible co-promoting factor of the squamous-cell carcinoma development in the upper parts of the gastro-intestinal and respiratory systems, considering the higher frequency of lesions due to acid in the studied population interested by GER. The aim of this study is to investigate 274 patients with malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity, of the pharynx and of the larynx, by esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD) and to compare the incidence of GER in this group with a control group of healthy patients from their hospital. Acid exposure in the upper level of the esophagus often remains unknown using traditional pH-monitoring, especially if no pharyngeal probe is used. When necessary a good diagnostic test is EGD with mucosa biopsy; it allows to directly examine the lesion. We retrospectively studied the data of 274 patients suffering from a cancer of the upper aero-digestive tracts by EGD in order to diagnose lesions caused by GER. We compared non-smoking patients affected by GER and tumours a control group of healthy patients. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between the two groups using the z-Test (p = 0.0001). In our study, based on endoscopic data, we observed a high percentage of non-smoking patients affected by GER and squamous-cell carcinoma of the upper parts of the airways and the gastrointestinal system. For this reason we consider GER as a possible co-promoting factor of cancer in some patients.

[Recurrent benign tumors of parotid gland: the role of the surgery]

Parotid gland tumor recurrences can prove problematic both in terms of facial nerve trauma during surgery and for the possible transformation into malignancy. Between 1981 and 2001 a total of 40 patients (23 women, 17 men; average age 48; age range 20-79 years) underwent surgery for recurrent parotid gland tumors. The average time between the first and the second surgical procedures was approximately 10 years. Five subjects underwent surgery several times for the same pathology. The Authors feel that MRI imaging is an essential tool for the evaluation of infiltrations into the soft tissues. The following surgical procedures were performed: enucleation in 2 cases; exofacial partial parotidectomy (PP) in 1; lower polar PP with functional neck dissection in 1; total parotidectomy (TP) with preservation of the facial nerve in 31 cases; TP with functional neck dissection in 2; TP with sectioning of the facial nerve in 2 and TP with transmandibular buccopharyngectomy and myocutaneous gran dorsal muscle flap in 1 case. Histology proved positive for the following: pleomorphous adenoma in 21 cases, adenocarcinoma in 11, aggressive fibromatosis in 2, cystadenolymphoma in 1, parotiditis in 1, lipoma in 1, cystic lymphoid hyperplasia in 1, histiofibrosarcoma in 1 and neurofibrosarcoma in 1. The surgical technique used was retrograde dissection of the facial nerve starting from one of the peripheral branches. Post-operatively, whenever a facial paralysis was encountered it proved difficult to recover. Paralysis of the nerve was permanent only in the 2 subjects where sectioning proved necessary because of infiltration by carcinoma. In 6 subjects recovery of the paralysis took one year, in 4 it took 6 months and in 2 other cases 3 months. In 22 cases there was only a slight paralysis of some branches which recovered during the post-operative period. We do not have definitive data on 4 subjects either because the period of time since surgery is still too short or because they did not come in for subsequent check-ups. The results of our study show that total parotidectomy should be the treatment of choice in case of benign parotid gland tumors and in particular for pleomorphic adenoma.

[Acoustic neuroma: clinical-functional finding, results and surgical complication]

The present work provides clinical-functional findings, results and surgical complications observed in a consecutive series of 100 subjects with acoustic neuroma (AN). Analysis of the data has made it possible to draw some important conclusions. Compromised hearing is found in 90% of the ears affected by AN. Indeed the percentage of normal hearing in such cases does not exceed 5%. There is, however, no clear correlation between degree of hearing and tumor size. The symptoms of AN do not always present unilateral or asymmetrical hearing loss, unilateral tinnitus and/or dizziness. At times AN presents atypical symptoms and can even be asymptomatic. Sudden onset of unilateral hearing loss, acute vertigo, persistent monolateral tinnitus and even isolated symptoms of the V or VI cranial nerve should lead one to suspect AN. Only by applying the diagnosis of suspected AN in a large number of cases is it possible to lower the time gap between the onset of symptoms and the definitive diagnosis of AN, increasing the number of cases diagnosed while the AN is still small. Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) are still the means of choice for screening and following up subjects where AN is suspected. Reduced ABR sensitivity reported in the literature for intracanal ANs must induce further testing with magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium in all subjects where an AN is suspected, even when the ABR is normal. Recording of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in the presence and in the absence of contralateral white noise has proved to be a simple, inexpensive, non-invasive test for the diagnosis of suspected retrocochlear pathologies. A deficit in vestibular function is most frequently encountered when the AN is already quite large and an alteration in the smooth pursuit test is only found when the AN involves the brainstem. These data have led us to conclude that vestibular reflex studies do not play any role in early diagnosis of AN. Surgical exeresis is the treatment of choice in those cases where "watch and scan" (only hearing ear in the absence of neurological complications; AN < 0.5 cm in the ponto-cerebellar angle, particularly in elderly patients) is not indicated. The enlarged translabyrinthine approach is indicated in all cases of AN, no matter what the tumor size and extent of pre-operative hearing. Promptly and correctly treating intra and postoperative complications, most frequently encountered in patients with AN > 2 cm, reduces the mortality and morbidity to a minimum. Modern otological microsurgery and monitoring techniques make it possible to preserve the VIIth facial nerve in more than 90% of the ears, consequently preserving or nearly preserving normal VIIth nerve function 1 year after surgery in at least three out of four patients. No matter what approach is used, hearing can be preserved measurably in approximately 50% of the ears undergoing surgery and to a socially useful or nearly useful level in a significantly lower proportion of patients. In this regard the most satisfactory results are obtained when preoperative hearing is normal and the AN is < 2 cm.

[Epidermoid cyst of the spleen with a picture of acute abdomen]

A case of epidermoid cyst of the spleen in an 8-yr-old boy presented as acute abdomen secondary to rupture of the cyst. The lesion is classified and the relevant literature surveyed. Particular reference is made to the pathogenetic mechanism responsible for the picture of acute abdomen.