Chondroradionecrosis of the larynx in patients treated with organ preservation therapy

Objectives: In recent years, there is increasing emphasis on organ-sparing treatment paradigms for advanced head and neck cancer patients for whom the surgical treatment option would otherwise include total laryngectomy. However, there may be increased complications of therapy such as loss of voice, airway, and aspiration control due to chondroradionecrosis. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of chondroradionecrosis in a population of patients treated with organ-sparing intent and to analyze the risk factors and management issues.Methods: A total of 129 patients with Stage III and IV squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx or hypopharynx were treated with concurrent radiotherapy and targeted with intra-arterial infusion of cisplatin for definitive curative treatment and larynx preservation over a 9-year period. The research database pertaining to these patients and their hospital and outpatient charts was reviewed.Results: Twelve of 129 patients (9.3%) developed Chandler Grade III or IV chondroradionecrosis of the larynx in the posttreatment period; 3/12 (25%) required total laryngectomy for resolution of the necrosis and 1/12 (8.3%) underwent a surgical procedure for aspiration control. This represents an overall need for nonmalignant laryngectomy in this treatment population of 2.3%.Conclusions: The percentage of chemoradiotherapy patients with chondroradionecrosis appears increased as compared to previous patients treated with radiotherapy alone. However, the risk (2.3%) of total laryngectomy for chondroradionecrosis may be acceptable to many or most individuals with advanced head and neck cancer. It is imperative that this issue be discussed in advance to allow patients to make informed treatment decisions.     

CO2-laser treatment of recurrent glottic carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of the results of CO2 laser treatment of recurrent glottic carcinoma after radiotherapy. METHODS: Records of all patients treated in the University Hospital Rotterdam and the Dr. Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center between 1980 and 1996 by CO2 laser for recurrent glottic carcinoma were studied. RESULTS: Forty patients were treated by laser surgery. Average follow-up was 77 months. Twenty-three patients (58%) had another recurrence develop after laser surgery. Three were cured by a second laser procedure. Therefore, 20 patients (50%) were successfully treated with laser surgery. In 23 patients the recurrence did not extend into the anterior commissure; in 57% a total laryngectomy could be avoided. In 17 patients the recurrence did extend into the anterior commissure; in 41% a total laryngectomy was avoided. CONCLUSION: Most patients with recurrent carcinoma of the larynx after radiotherapy can be cured by laser surgery if the tumor does not extend into the anterior commissure.     

Abnormal selective cytology results predict recurrence of upper-tract transitional-cell carcinoma treated with ureteroscopic laser ablation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endoscopic management of transitional-cell carcinoma (TCC) of the upper urinary tract remains associated with a significant rate of recurrence. We evaluated the impact of selective upper-tract cytology findings on tumor recurrence and renal salvage rate after ureteroscopic laser tumor ablation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1993 though 2003, 38 patients with upper-tract TCC underwent ureteroscopic laser tumor ablation. Cytology specimens were collected from the upper urinary tract prior to ablation. "Abnormal cytology" was defined as the presence of malignant or atypical cells. Patients with abnormal cytology results were compared with patients with those having negative findings for tumor recurrence and renal salvage rates using the X (2) test. RESULTS: Of the 38 patients, 26 (68.4%) experienced at least one recurrence at a mean follow-up of 37.2 months. Pretreatment upper-tract cytology results were available in 34 of these patients: 17 (50%) were negative, and 17 were abnormal. Sixteen of the patients (94.1%) with abnormal cytology results had tumor recurrence after ablation, compared with 8 of the 17 (47.1%) with negative cytology findings (P = 0.0026). Twelve patients (31.5%) underwent nephroureterectomy during follow-up: 8 of the 17 (47.1%) with abnormal cytology, and 4 of the 17 (23.5%) with negative cytology (P = 0.15). CONCLUSION: Abnormal selective cytology results were associated with a significantly higher rate of tumor recurrence and a trend toward increased renal loss in patients with upper-tract TCC treated with ureteroscopic ablation. These findings suggest a prognostic value for upper-tract cytology analysis in patients undergoing endoscopic therapy.     

Proliferative potential of malignant glioma cells before and after interstitial brachytherapy.

The viability of tumor cells in radionecrotic tissue after interstitial brachytherapy (BRTX) was evaluated using immunohistochemical markers of proliferative potential in primary and recurrent tumors. Tumor specimens from 30 patients with malignant gliomas (14 anaplastic astrocytomas, 16 glioblastomas) taken before and after BRTX were examined using MIB-1 monoclonal antibody. Histological examination of specimens obtained by craniotomy or stereotactic biopsy after BRTX revealed tumor recurrence in 18 patients and radionecrosis in 12 patients including two with pure radionecrosis and 10 with a mixture of both tumor and radionecrosis. The MIB-1 index of the tumors with radionecrosis was 7.6 +/- 5.5%, and that of the primary tumors was 17.0 +/- 11.2%, showing a significant difference (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the MIB-1 index of the primary tumors with local recurrence after BRTX and the primary tumors which underwent radionecrosis. Although morphologically viable tumor cells were found in the radionecrotic tissue, BRTX causes a reduction in the proliferative potential of these tumor cells.     

Videofiberoptic examination of the pharyngoesophageal segment and esophagus in patients after total laryngectomy

BACKGROUND: Posttreatment follow-up in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is critical because of the high risk of recurrence or a new primary tumor. However, in patients who have undergone total laryngectomy, evaluation of the pharyngoesophageal segment (PES) and esophagus is difficult. METHODS: Sixty patients who had undergone total laryngectomy received a videofiberoptic examination of the PES and esophagus at the OPD office during follow-up. RESULTS: Satisfactory examination was achieved in 56 (93%) of the patients. Each procedure was completed within 15 minutes. Although only 11 (18%) of the patients were symptomatic at follow-up, 19 patients (34%) had significant findings, including one local recurrence and two secondary esophageal cancers. Patients were asymptomatic in all three cases. CONCLUSIONS: Videofiberoptic examination is a simple, effective, and relatively noninvasive method that can be performed in the OPD office to evaluate the PES and esophagus in patients after total laryngectomy.     

Histologic evaluation and treatment outcome after sequential radiofrequency ablation and hepatic resection for primary and metastatic tumors

Operative manipulation during hepatic resection (HR) causes tumor cell shedding which is a factor in disease recurrence. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) causes coagulative necrosis and was used to destroy the tumor before HR. We evaluated tumor necrosis and recurrence of hepatic malignancies treated by sequential RFA/HR. A retrospective review of patients treated with sequential RFA/HR from April 1999 to January 2002 was performed. A Radionics 500-kW RF generator was used to ablate lesions via H2O-cooled electrodes under ultrasound guidance. Segmental HR was performed after RFA. Resected specimens were reviewed with hematoxylin and eosin staining and for apoptosis. Patient follow-up ranged from 10 to 33 months with evaluation of salient clinical, radiologic, and laboratory parameters. Seven patients (four male and three female) ages 62.1 +/- 10.3 years had sequential RFA/HR. Four patients had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and three had colorectal metastases (CRm). The tumors were unifocal right-lobe lesions measuring 4.1 +/- 0.9 cm with a resection margin of 0.4 to 2.5 cm. Extensive necrosis was noted but intact nests of tumor cells occurred in all specimens with minimal apoptosis. Three of seven patients (two HCC and one CRm) developed pulmonary metastases at 3 to 20 months with one HCC patient developing concurrent liver metastases. Two deaths occurred in the HCC group. Sequential RFA/HR may minimize local recurrence; however, the high incidence of pulmonary metastases raises concern of transvenous migration. The histologic findings demonstrate foci of intact tumor cells after RFA. Controlled study of additional patients with long-term follow-up is necessary to better understand these findings.     

Importance of cerebral tomoscintigraphy using technetium-labeled sestamibi in the differential diagnosis of current tumor vs. radiation necrosis in subtentorial glial tumors in the adult]

CT scan and MR imaging are not always reliable in the differential diagnosis between radionecrosis and recurrence of brain tumor. We describe the results of a prospective study using 99mTc Sestamibi. 22 patients were included. The histology of the tumor was astrocytoma (grade 2-4) oligodendroglioma (grade 2-3) or mixed (grade 2-3). SPECT was performed using a Tomomatic 564, 1 h after the injection i.v. of 370 MBq of 99mTc Sestamibi. Ten slices parallel to the orbitomeatal plane were obtained. Two index were calculated i) CI: ratio of the mean counts in the lesion to the mean counts in the contralateral choroid plexus and ii) MI: ratio of the mean counts in the lesion to the contralateral mirror area. The results were compared to stereotactic biopsies or to clinical course at 6 months. Twelve patients out of 22 showed an increased uptake of the tracer and 11/12 presented with a recurrence. In 10 patients without fixation, 4 were false negative. The sensitivity for the detection of tumor recurrence was 73% and specificity was 85%. The positive predictive value was 91% and the negative predictive value was 60%. The use of a cut-off value superior to 2 for MI and superior to 0.5 for CI appears to be a good criterion for helping the diagnosis of relapse according to the analysis of Receiver Operating Characteristic curves (ROC). A positive SPECT was conclusive for the diagnosis of recurrence but a negative SPECT did not allow to assess the absence of recurrence. Limits of methods have to be stressed and searched for a better understanding of false negatives.     

Supracricoid laryngectomy with CHEP: functional results and outcome.

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohiodoepiglottopexy could successfully reach the cure and preserve the voice in glottic laryngeal cancer, we studied 27 patients with T2/T3 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx treated in our institution with cricohiodoepiglottopexy. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis has been carried out between 1995 through 1997. We classified 11 patients as T2N0M0 and 16 patients as T3N0M0. Nineteen patients had bilateral selective lateral neck dissection, 3 patients had unilateral lateral neck dissection, and 5 patients had undissected neck. Survival was analyzed under the Kaplan-Meyer method. RESULTS: Five patients had postoperative complications, 2 were treated with a total laryngectomy. The remaining 25 patients kept the normal airway, swallowing, and speech. None of the patients in the neck dissection group had neck metastasis. Two patients had recurrences, 1 with local recurrence was treated with a total laryngectomy and is alive without disease; the other patient had neck recurrence, was treated with radical neck dissection plus radiotherapy, and is dead of the disease. One patient had a second tumor in oropharynx treated with palliative radiotherapy and is dead of the disease. Three years disease-free survival was 75% for T2 and 79% for T3. CONCLUSIONS: This technique is useful in the treatment of selected cases of T3/T2 glottic cancer regarding the extent of disease. The incidence of complications in need of a complete laryngectomy does not compromise the functionality of this technique. The survival is comparable to patients who submitted to total laryngectomy and near-total laryngectomy, regarding the extent of the lesion.     

Prognosis of recurrent laryngeal carcinoma after laryngectomy

Background. Recurrence is common after total laryngectomy for advanced laryngeal carcinoma. The aim of the present study was to review the prognosis of recurrent laryngeal carcinoma after total laryngectomy. Methods. The records of 165 patients who developed recurrences after total laryngectomy for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma between January 1971 and December 1990 were reviewed. Results. Of the 165 patients who developed recurrences, 34 (21%) patients had surgical salvage. The sites of recurrence of these 34 operable patients included 11 pharyngeal, 3 tracheostomal, 15 nodal, 2 pharyngeal with nodal, and 3 pulmonary metastasis. Pharyngeal recurrence had the highest salvage rate, followed by nodal and pulmonary recurrence. All patients with tracheostomal had recurrence after salvage surgery. After the surgical salvage, the tumor recurrence rate was 44% and the 5-year actuarial survival rate was 42%. Of the other 131 patients who had palliative treatment without surgical salvage, the 5-year actuarial survival rate was 2%. Conclusions. The present study showed that patients who had surgical salvage for recurrent tumor after total laryngectomy had satisfactory prognosis. Close follow-up of patients after initial operation is essential to detect recurrence early, while surgical salvage is still feasible.     

Long-term follow-up of cartilaginous tumors of the larynx.

BACKGROUND: Cartilaginous tumors of the larynx are uncommon. A literature review disclosed approximately 250 cases since 1816; the cricoid cartilage is the most common site. The rarity of these tumors has made for limited experience and, as a consequence, our knowledge is incomplete. OBJECTIVE: To report surgical results as well as long-term follow-up on 6 patients with cartilaginous tumors of the larynx. DESIGN: A 28-year retrospective study with the patients followed-up from 6 to 28 years (average, 17.8 years). METHODS: Six adult white male patients with cartilaginous tumors of the larynx: 4 low-grade chondrosarcoma (1 of the thyroid and 3 of the cricoid) and 2 chondroma of the cricoid. Surgical treatment included total laryngectomy of the thyroid and 1 of the cricoid chondrosarcoma, and conservation surgery of the other 4 cricoid tumors: the 2 patients with chondrosarcoma had total resection of the cricoid cartilage with thyrotracheal anastomosis, and the 2 patients with chondroma had local tumor resection using a laryngofissure approach. RESULTS: The margins of the specimen were negative for tumor in the 6 patients. On follow-up, none of the patients had regional or distant metastasis or tumor-related death. One of the patients with cricoid chondrosarcoma developed recurrence 8 years after conservation surgery, and required a total laryngectomy for salvage. Survival rate tumor-free at 5 years was 100% and at 10 years 67%, co-morbidity being responsible for the decrease in survival rate. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this small series of patients, the long-term follow-up of benign and low-grade malignant tumors suggests that the surgical approach and prognosis does not depend on histologic distinction and, importantly, underdiagnosed malignancy on tumor sampling and recurrent chondrosarcoma, managed with salvage surgery, have no adverse impact on patient survival. Total resection of the cricoid cartilage with thyrotracheal anastomosis over a stent proved an alternative surgical technique in chondrosarcoma who otherwise would have been treated by total laryngectomy.     

Local excision of rectal cancer without adjuvant therapy: a word of caution

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of local excision alone for the treatment of rectal cancer, applying strict selection criteria. BACKGROUND DATA: Several retrospective studies have demonstrated that tumor control in properly selected patients with rectal cancer treated locally is comparable to that observed after radical surgery. Although there is a consensus regarding the need for patient selection for local excision, the specific criteria vary among centers. METHODS: The authors reviewed 82 patients with T1 (n = 55) and T2 (n = 27) rectal cancer treated with transanal excision only during a 10-year period. At pathologic examination, all tumors were localized to the rectal wall, had negative excision margins, were well or moderately differentiated, and had no blood or lymphatic vessel invasion, nor a mucinous component. End points were local and distant tumor recurrence and patient survival. RESULTS: Ten of the 55 patients with T1 tumors (18%) and 10 of the 27 patients with T2 tumors (37%) had recurrence at 54 months of follow-up. Average time to recurrence was 18 months in both groups. Seventeen of the 20 patients with local recurrence underwent salvage surgery. The survival rate was 98% for patients with T1 tumors and 89% for patients with T2 tumors. Preoperative staging by endorectal ultrasound did not influence local recurrence or tumor-specific survival. CONCLUSION: Local excision of early rectal cancer, even in the ideal candidate, is followed by a much higher recurrence rate than previously reported. Although most patients in whom local recurrence develops can be salvaged by radical resection, the long-term outcome remains unknown.     

Outcome after partial frontolateral laryngectomy

The purpose of this study was to determine the recurrence rate and the long-term survival of patients treated with frontolateral laryngectomy for early glottic cancer. The study is a retrospective analysis of a cohort of patients who underwent frontolateral laryngectomy from 1995 to 2002 with a median follow-up of 48 months. This was a consecutive series of 30 patients with T1bN0 and T2N0 vocal fold carcinoma. Previously treated patients were excluded. Surgical treatment consisted of frontolateral partial vertical laryngectomy and reconstruction with bipedicle sternohyoid muscle flap. Twenty-five patients have been alive with no evidence of the disease. The median follow-up was 48 months (range, 6-85 months). Five patients experienced local recurrence. One of them underwent salvage partial hemilaryngectomy, and 4 underwent wide-field total laryngectomy with adjuvant postoperative radiation therapy. Four of five patients with retreatment were ultimately salvaged, with a median follow-up of 30 months. We had one death caused by the disease. Frontolateral laryngectomy is an efficient treatment for selected cases of early glottic carcinoma.     

Histologically negative specimens after induction therapy: frequency and impact on survival

BACKGROUND: Occasionally in head and neck cancer patients treated surgically after induction chemotherapy, the histologic analysis of the excised tissue does not show evidence of viable tumor cells, a situation that the authors named "negative specimen." The objective of this study was to quantify the frequency of negative specimens in surgery after induction chemotherapy and to analyze the repercussions of this situation. METHODS: A retrospective study of prospectively collected data on 245 patients treated surgically after induction chemotherapy was made to calculate the frequency of negative specimens. An individualized review of the patients with negative specimens was made. The actuarial survival was calculated in relation to the existence of residual tumor. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (10%) had negative specimens. Five-year adjusted survival for patients with negative specimens was 96%, significantly better than 62% survival in patients with residual tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Ten percent of patients treated surgically after induction chemotherapy had no residual tumor. These patients had a favorable prognosis.     

Surveillance of Small Rectal Carcinoid Tumors in the Absence of Metastatic Disease

Background

The incidence of rectal carcinoids is rapidly increasing, typically presenting as small (<1.0?cm), localized tumors. Although the evaluation of rectal carcinoids on presentation is well standardized, surveillance after resection has not been well established.

Methods

A prospective database documented patients with rectal carcinoids at our institution between January 1995 and September 2011. Information collected included patient and tumor characteristics, treatment method, surveillance schedule, recurrence, and survival.

Results

Twenty-eight patients with rectal carcinoid were identified. Ten patients were excluded for tumors >1?cm, known metastases at presentation, <6?months follow-up, or previous resections. The mean age of the remaining patients was 56?±?3?years, and 61?% of the patients were female. All patients were diagnosed at endoscopy, with 50?% diagnosed incidentally on screening endoscopy. Treatment methods included endoscopic therapy (n?=?13, 72?%), transanal excision (n?=?3, 17?%), and transanal endoscopic microsurgery (n?=?1, 5.5?%). One patient (5.5?%) received no additional invasive therapy after diagnostic endoscopy. The mean tumor diameter was 4.6?±?0.5?mm. The average length of follow-up was 5.4?±?0.9?years, with a median number of 2 follow-up endoscopies (range 0?C6). Two patients (11?%) died within the follow-up period from noncarcinoid causes. Importantly, no surviving patients developed local or distant recurrence with up to 12.3?years of follow-up.

Conclusions

On the basis of this experience, patients presenting with small (??1.0?cm), nonmetastatic rectal carcinoids are unlikely to develop local or distant recurrence after resection. Aggressive surveillance with repeat endoscopies or other imaging studies after resection may be unnecessary in this patient population.     

Management of the unknown primary carcinoma: long-term follow-up on a negative PET scan and negative panendoscopy

BACKGROUND: The unknown primary carcinoma in the head and neck has been estimated to represent up to 7% of all head and neck carcinomas. In an attempt to identify the occult primary tumor the evaluation of this patient population has included a complete head and neck examination, flexible fiberoptic endoscopy, and imaging with CT/MRI. More recently, positron emission tomography (PET) has been advocated as a tool to detect primary tumors. METHODS: A cohort of 31 patients with fine-needle aspiration biopsy-confirmed squamous cell carcinoma were prospectively entered into a diagnostic protocol to identify the occult primary tumor. The diagnostic protocol included a comprehensive head and neck examination (including flexible endoscopy) and CT and/or MRI. If the initial diagnostic evaluation failed to identify a primary tumor, the patients then underwent whole body PET imaging followed by staging endoscopy with biopsy of the at-risk occult tumor sites. The outcome measures included the accuracy of the PET to predict the presence of occult tumor at staging endoscopy and the accuracy of the negative PET and negative panendoscopy in predicting the subsequent development of a primary tumor in the upper aerodigestive tract during follow-up. RESULTS: The PET detected 9 occult primary tumors in the 31 patients (detection rate, 29%). Five occult primary tumors (2 base of tongue and 3 palatine tonsil) were detected during panendoscopy despite a negative PET. The combination of PET and panendoscopy detected 45.2% of the unknown primary tumors. Seventeen patients (N1, n = 7; N2a, n = 4; N2b, n = 2; N3, n = 4) had no primary tumor detected and were treated as an unknown primary carcinoma with primary neck dissection +/- radiation therapy +/- chemotherapy. In this series of 17 patients, there were 3 neck recurrences (17.6%). In addition, only 1 patient (5.8%) developed a primary tumor of the upper aerodigestive tract with a mean follow-up of 31.1 months (range, 21-60 months). CONCLUSION: A negative PET study in patients with an occult primary head and neck carcinoma does not preclude the need for panendoscopy with biopsy to detect the occult primary tumor. The risk of subsequent primary tumor appears to be low in the patients with a negative PET and a negative panendoscopy (<6%).     

Simultaneous Use of Laparoscopy and Endoscopy for Minimally Invasive Resection of Gastric Subepithelial Masses — Analysis of 93 Interventions

BACKGROUND: Subepithelial gastric tumors are common findings during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Tumor resection is mostly done laparoscopically, but there is still discussion concerning the size of lesion for which the treatment may be minimally invasive; additionally there is very little data available concerning patient outcome after minor access surgery. METHODS: Clinicopathologic features and survival data of 93 consecutive patients undergoing a combined laparoscopic-endoscopic approach for gastric submucosal tumors were prospectively analyzed. Analysis included preoperative diagnostic work-up, perioperative data, and postoperative complications. Follow-up was carried out for patients with GIST to check for tumor recurrence. RESULTS: It was possible to resect 88 of 93 lesions by the laparoscopic-endoscopic approach, with tumor-free margins in all patients. Intraoperative endoscopy facilitated exact tumor localization in 92 patients. Most lesions were removed by endoscopic-laparoscopic wedge resection or, less frequently, by a combined transgastric approach. Mean operative time was 90.7 min; the postoperative hospitalization was 7.3 days. Adverse events appeared in 7.5%, and conversion to open surgery was required in 6.5%. For patients suffering from gastrointestinal stromal tumors, there was no tumor recurrence at a mean follow-up of 40 months. CONCLUSIONS: Combined laparoscopic-endoscopic "rendez-vous" procedures are easy to perform and offer a curative approach for almost all gastric submucosal lesions. The technique is associated with low morbidity and short hospitalization. Though even patients with large GISTs of intermediate and high risk were treated, no tumor recurrence has been observed to date.     

Dynamic radiographic imaging following total laryngectomy

Cinepharyngoesophograms of the pharynx were obtained in 51 patients after total laryngectomy for squamous cell carcinoma. The radiological findings were correlated with operative reports and follow-up findings in 47 patients. Postoperative anatomic changes were well-demonstrated radiographically. A spectrum of radiographic findings were observed and included narrowing at the superior surgical closure site in 52% and pseudodiverticula in 47% of all patients. Cricopharyngeal prominence was observed in 15%, fistulae in 10%, and pharyngeal pouches in 6% of all cases. Increased retropharyngeal soft tissue thickness was not found to be indicative of tumor recurrence. We conclude that cineradiography is a useful method for demonstrating both functional and structural changes following laryngectomy for carcinoma.     

几个影响膀胱移行细胞癌复发因素的临床分析

目的:探讨几个临床病理因素在预测膀胱移行细胞癌复发中的价值。方法:回顾性分析252例膀胱移行细胞癌的临床资料,通过统计学评估肿瘤大小、数目、分级及对肿瘤复发的影响。结果:252例患者术后随访11～154个月,平均49.5个月。单个、2个、3个及以上肿瘤的复发率分别为20.9%、22.5%、44.4%,3个及以上肿瘤的复发率明显高于其他两组(P<0.01);肿瘤直径≤1cm、～≤2cm、～<3cm、≥3cm的复发率分别为18.6%、8.3%、15.8%、38.8%,≥3cm的肿瘤复发率明显高于其他三组(P<0.01);Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ级的复发率分别为14.8%、24.0%、35.7%,随着肿瘤级别升高,肿瘤复发率增加(P<0.05)。结论:膀胱移行细胞癌的多灶性、肿瘤大小和分级与其复发率正相关。了解膀胱移行细胞癌患者的肿瘤多灶性、大小和分级等临床病理特征,可以预测其预后复发情况,从而有针对地采取相应有效的治疗方法及监视随访措施。     

Cancer recurrence after total laryngectomy: treatment options, survival, and complications

BACKGROUND: A follow-up schedule to detect asymptomatic cancer recurrence is offered to all patients with laryngeal cancer. In this study, the therapeutic options, prognosis, and morbidity of patients with total laryngectomy, who were found to have cancer recurrence during this follow-up schedule were determined. METHODS: Patients who had undergone a total laryngectomy between January 1, 1990, and January 1, 2000, and had cancer recurrence were included. Data from this group were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The prognosis was poor after the development of cancer recurrence. Curative therapy could only be offered to 27.5% of these patients. Only 5% of the patients were disease free at the end of the study period. Many patients with cancer recurrence needed interventions. A large proportion of them had complications. CONCLUSIONS: The follow-up schedule offered to patients after total laryngectomy should put greater emphasis on care than on early detection of cancer recurrence.     

Granular cell tumor of the hypopharynx treated by endoscopic CO(2) laser excision: report of two cases

BACKGROUND: Granular cell tumor (GCT), or Abrikossoff's tumor, is an unusual lesion probably arising from Schwann cells. It is frequently found in the head and neck region, where the tongue is the most commonly affected site. Involvement of the hypopharynx is exceedingly rare because, to the best of our knowledge, only four cases have been reported in the literature. METHODS: We describe hypopharyngeal GCT in two women aged 29 and 52 years, respectively. RESULTS: In the first patient, preoperative diagnostic examination, including endoscopy, CT, and MRI scan, was suggestive of a benign lesion arising from the posterior wall of the hypopharynx. In the second patient, a previous biopsy of the postcricoid area performed elsewhere suggested a diagnosis of well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, and CT scan staged the lesion as T1 N0. In both cases, treatment included surgical excision under microlaryngoscopy with CO(2) laser. The histopathologic study of the specimens, supported by immunohistochemical techniques, determined the lesions to be a GCT. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patients were discharged 12 and 2 days after surgery, respectively. Both patients were asymptomatic without evidence of recurrence when last seen 2 years and 4 months after surgery, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: GCT should be included in the differential diagnosis of submucosal hypopharyngeal lesions. Endoscopy and radiologic imaging do not display any typical finding suggestive of the diagnosis, which can be based only on histologic findings. Resection of the tumor, when technically feasible, should be performed under microlaryngoscopy with the CO(2) laser, which makes it possible to work in a bloodless field with minimal thermal damage and reduction of scarring and postoperative edema.