Current treatment paradigms in the management of lymphatic malformations

Lymphatic malformations (LMs) are benign abnormalities of the lymphatic system that can be significantly infiltrative and intimately involve critical structures of the head and neck, making their management difficult. Historically, LMs have been managed by surgical excision, but this treatment approach results in significant morbidity and a high recurrence rate secondary to subtotal resection. As an alternative to surgery a variety of drugs have been used as intralesional sclerosants and immunotherapeutics. These agents offer improved outcomes with lower morbidity as compared to surgery when targeted to macrocystic LMs. However intralesional therapy is not effective in the treatment of microcystic LMs. The development of treatments that are effective for all types of LMs will require further understanding of lymphangiogenesis and the pathogenesis of LMs.     

Efficacy and safety of oral sildenafil in treatment of pediatric head and neck lymphatic malformations

Conclusions: Low dose oral sildenafil citrate tablets are safe and effective to decrease the lesions volume in some LMs children, especially with macrocystic lesion or mixed type.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral sildenafil in treatment of pediatric head and neck lymphatic malformations (LMs).

Subjects and methods: In this open-label study, 21 children diagnosed with LMs were given oral sildenafil and stopped at week 24. Volume change of lesions compared with baseline was used to evaluate therapeutic outcome. The improvement of various symptoms and the adverse effects of sildenafil were recorded during the follow-up period.

Results: Eight patients (38.0%) showed excellent improvement (>75–100%), one patient (4.8%) had good (>50–75%), two patients (9.6%) had fair (>25–50%), three patients (14.3%) had minimal (0–25%), and seven patients (33.3%) had no improvement. The snoring or stridor completely disappeared in two subjects, although there was no apparent decrease in LMs size. Moreover, all three patients with macrocystic lesions displayed a positive response to sildenafil treatment, followed by mixed type (9/12, 75%). Only two out of six patients with microcystic lesions had minimal clearance. Only four patients showed transient mild diarrhea, there was no other adverse effect in this series.     

Lymphatische Malformationen im Kopf-Hals-Bereich

Lymphatic malformations are congenital malformations of the lymphatic system. They are mainly located in the head and neck area, and grow proportional to the patients’ body growth. Depending on the morphology, it can be distinguished between macrocystic, microcystic and mixed lymphatic malformations. Due to their infiltrative growth, microcystic lymphatic malformations are particularly difficult to treat. Therapeutic approaches include conventional surgical resection, laser therapy, sclerotherapy and systemic drug therapies.     

Low-phase angle in body composition measurements correlates with prolonged hospital stay in head and neck cancer patients

Background: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a method for estimating body composition. Clinically the most important parameter is the phase angle (PA), which decreases with progressing malnutrition and is highly predictive for impaired survival and mortality.

Aim: To evaluate the association of low PA with the complication rate and length of hospital stay.

Material and methods: A cohort of 61 head and neck cancer (HNC) patients underwent BIA prior to surgical treatment. Information on patient and tumour characteristics, treatment, and surgical complications were gathered from hospital records and correlated with BIA results.

Results: The median PA was 4.5 (range, 2.7–6.5), and, in 67% of the patients, it was lower than reference values. Low PA was associated with longer hospital stay (p?=?.002) in the whole cohort and in the patient group with radical neck dissections it correlated with a higher surgical complication rate (p?=?.014), but not with Clavien–Dindo scoring for surgical complications.

Conclusions and significance: BIA is a feasible instrument for analysing body composition that reflects nutritional status in cancer patients. Our results show that HNC patients have a low PA at diagnosis. Low PA is associated with a long hospital stay and an increase in the complication rate. BIA can be of clinical value in preoperative risk evaluation.     

Management of the N0 neck in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Neck lymph node status is the chief prognostic index in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), yet the management of a clinically negative neck in this setting is still controversial, especially in patients with laryngeal SCC (LSCC).

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of selective neck dissection (SND) to control occult disease in patients with LSCC and clinically negative (cN0) necks.

Materials and methods: Medical records of 1476 patients with cN0 LSCC were analyzed. In conjunction with primary treatment, 126 (8.5%) underwent at least unilateral elective neck dissection, whereas most 1350 (91.5%) followed a wait-and-see protocol. Prognostic significance was indicated by the Kaplan–Meier survival estimates.

Results: The rate of occult neck disease was 15%. Five-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 74.4% and 66.7%, respectively. Prognosis was closely related to T stage, preoperative tracheotomy, and postoperative recurrence. There was no significant correlation with age, sex, or preoperative neck dissection; but in patients with supraglottic LSCC, the relation between prognosis and preoperative neck dissection was significant, with fewer neck and local recurrences than the wait-and-see group (p?<?.05).

Conclusions and significance: Selective neck dissection is serving as an accurate prognostic tool in patients with supraglottic laryngeal cancers.     

Safety of the “incidental” neck dissection or exploration during free tissue transfer after head and neck irradiation

ImportancePatients with either local recurrence of head and neck cancer or osteoradionecrosis after prior radiation treatment often require free tissue transfer for optimal reconstruction. In this setting, neck exploration for vessels is necessary, and an “incidental” neck dissection is often accomplished despite clinically negative cervical lymph nodes. While neck surgery in the post-radiated setting is technically challenging, the safety of post-radiated elective neck dissection or neck exploration for vessels is not well-studied, especially for patients undergoing non-laryngectomy salvage resections.ObjectiveTo define intraoperative and postoperative surgical complications for patients undergoing elective neck dissection or exploration with free tissue transfer reconstruction in the post-radiated setting, with attention to complications from neck surgery.DesignRetrospective cohort study. Patient charts from May 2005 to April 2020 were reviewed.SettingTertiary care referral center.ParticipantsPatients underwent free tissue transfer after prior head and neck irradiation for non-laryngeal local cancer recurrence or second primary, osteoradionecrosis, or for sole reconstructive purposes. Patients with clinically positive neck disease were excluded.Main outcomes and measuresIntraoperative and postoperative complications including unplanned vessel or nerve injury, hematoma, chyle leak, wound dehiscence, wound infection, fistula formation, flap failure, and perioperative medical complications. Neck exploration and neck dissection patient outcomes were compared by Fisher exact test.ResultsSeventy-two patients (56 men and 16 women) of average age sixty-one (range 34–89) were identified with average follow-up 25.7 months. Most patients (78%) underwent salvage neck dissection, and the rest underwent neck exploration for vessels only. There were five intraoperative neck complications: three vessel injuries and two nerve injuries. There were twenty-six postoperative surgical complications among eighteen patients. There was no difference in surgical complications whether patients underwent neck dissection or exploration only. Two partial and two complete flap failures occurred. There were nine perioperative medical complications among six patients.Conclusions and relevanceElective neck dissection or exploration among patients undergoing free tissue transfer in the post-radiated setting carries a risk of both intraoperative and postoperative surgical complications. The present study defines risk of complications and helps to inform patient discussions for risk of complications in the post-radiated setting.     

Trismus in patients with head and neck cancer and 5-year overall survival

Abstract

Background: Trismus is a common complication of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer but its impact on survival is unknown.

Aims/Objectives: This prospective study evaluates the incidence of trismus in patients with head and neck cancer receiving radiotherapy and the impact of trismus on 5-year overall survival.

Material and methods: Two hundred forty-four patients with head and neck cancer were included. All patients received instructions on jaw exercises and were evaluated before initiation of radiotherapy and at 2, 6, and 12 months after termination of radiotherapy.

Results: One year after treatment 25% had a reduced maximum interincisal opening (MIO) of 13?mm or more as compared to the pretreatment MIO. Trismus was most prevalent in patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer. A trend towards worse 5-year overall survival was seen among patients with trismus.

Conclusions: The trismus rate was approximately 30% at 12 months. Jaw exercises should primarily be offered to patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer who are most likely to benefit. Further studies are required to investigate the effect of trismus on survival.

Significance: This study identifies patients likely to benefit from jaw exercises and provides basis for further research on trismus and survival.     

Patients with cutaneous head and neck melanoma,particularly elderly with more advanced primary tumors,seem to benefit from initial CT staging before considering a sentinel lymph node biopsy

Abstract

Background: The role of CT scanning at the time of diagnosis for patients with primary cutaneous head and neck melanoma (cHNM) clinically asymptomatic for metastatic disease remains unclear.

Aim: To determine the positive yield of initial CT scanning before considering sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) staging.

Materials and methods: A retrospective review was performed on 170 consecutive patients with cHNM referred to a tertiary head and neck academic center for SLNBs from 2014 through 2018.

Results: Initial CTs identified occult melanoma metastases in 7.1% and other advanced malignancies in 4.7%. The overall CT yield for patients >65 years (n?=?115) was 13.9%, and 5.5% for patients <65 (only occult melanoma metastases). The SLNB yield did not differ between older (11.5%) and younger patients (10.2%). Patients with more advanced primary tumors were upstaged more often by both staging procedures. Multivariate analysis indicated a true-positive CT finding as the strongest prognostic factor for OS (p<.001).

Conclusions and significance: The CT yield was >11% and higher for older than for younger patients. The findings suggest that CT imaging may be considered before SLNB staging, potentially identifying metastatic melanoma disease as well as other occult malignancies, enabling especially older patients to bypass the SLNB procedure.     

关颈部恶性肿瘤患者术后并发症与营养关系初探

目的 了解营养因素与头颈部恶性肿瘤患者术后发生并发症的关系。方法 调查９６例经手术治疗的头颈部恶性肿瘤患者术后并发症发生情况，比较并发症组（２７例）与无并发症组（６９例）在营养因素上的不同。结果（１）并发症组术前营养不良发生率（５６％）显著高于无并发症组（２０％）（Ｐ〈０．００１）；（２）并发症组术后１周时体重、三头肌皮脂厚度、上臂肌围和肌酐－身高指数的下降值明显高于无并发症组，同时有更为严重的负     

头颈部淋巴管畸形的CT诊断价值

目的 探讨儿童头颈部淋巴管畸形(lymphatic malformation, LM)的CT表现及诊断价值。方法 回顾性分析2016—2021年收治的57例经手术及病理证实的头颈部LM患者的CT资料。结果 2岁以内41例,病灶位于左侧26例,右侧26例,双侧5例;位于颈部、咽旁26例,头面部8例,跨越头面、颈或纵隔23例。临床表现无痛性肿块53例,面容改变25例,喉喘鸣、呼吸困难或吞咽困难7例,上述临床表现可单独或者同时出现。单房型25例,多房型32例;瘤内合并出血者30例;55例CT诊断LM,阳性率96.5%(55/57)。CT可表现单房或多房,呈圆形、不规则形及分叶状低密度或等密度影,沿着组织间隙呈现爬行性生长,边界清楚或不清,部分患者可见分隔影,增强后囊内容物不强化,纤维状分隔及囊壁呈点状、条状、条索状及网格状强化。合并感染或出血时CT值升高,部分患者可见液-液平面。结论 CT检查能清晰显示头颈部LM的位置、大小和累及范围,且具有一定的特征性表现,对LM的诊断和制定治疗方案具有重要价值。     

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck: a retrospective multicenter study

Background: Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck (ACCHN) is rare and difficult to study effective treatment at one institute. Our aim is to identify prognostic factors for this disease by conducting a multicenter study at 11 institutions in Japan.

Methods: A retrospective multicenter study of ACCHN was performed. One hundred and three patients were identified between 2006 and 2015. The overall survival (OS) rate for all patients was calculated, and OS, locoregional control (LRC) rate, or no distant metastasis (NDM) rate was calculated for patients in that the surgery was performed without distant metastasis (DM). Statistical analyses were performed.

Results: A significant difference with multivariate analysis was observed in patients in sublingual glands, stage IV and the use of radiation therapy ≥60Gy (sufficient RT) in OS for all patients. A significant difference was observed in the use of sufficient postoperative RT in the OS and the LRC rate, and in pathological surgical margins in the NDM rate.

Conclusion: Sublingual glands or stage IV was a poorer, and sufficient RT was a better prognostic factor for ACCHN. Sufficient RT was effective to prevent local recurrence after surgical resection. Positive surgical margins caused an increase in DM.     

Definitive re-irradiation using intensity-modulated radiation therapy in cancers of the head and neck,focusing on rare tumors

Purpose: To analyze the outcomes following re-irradiation for local recurrence of rare head and neck tumors.

Material and methods: We retrospectively analyzed 11 patients who had received intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for recurrent tumors in the head and neck except for laryngopharynx.

Results: Primary tumor sites included the maxillary sinus, nasal cavity, and external ear canal in six, three, and two patients, respectively. The median follow-up times were 13 (range, 3–54) months. The median survival time was 17 months with 1- and 2-year survival rates of 63.64 and 39.77%, respectively. Among 11 patients, five experienced local failure in the follow-up period. The 1- and 2-year local control rates were 58 and 47%, respectively. Patients who had received a radiation dose of ≥3?Gy per fraction showed significantly better local control than those receiving less (p?=?.0419). One patient experienced Grade 3 facial pain as acute toxicity. Late toxicities included radiographic findings of partial central nervous system necrosis in three patients and Grade 3 osteonecrosis and Grade 3 facial nerve disorder in one patient.

Conclusions: Re-irradiation of rare head and neck tumors using IMRT for loco-regional recurrence may be an acceptable treatment option.     

Endoscope-assisted excision of macrocystic lymphangioma in neck via anterior chest approach in infants and children

Objectives

Macrocystic lymphangioma of the neck is traditionally removed via an overlying incision near the mass. The resultant scar can be aesthetically displeasing, and endoscope-assistant surgery is still rarely used in pediatric subjects. So we report the endoscope-assisted excision of the macrocystic lymphangioma via anterior chest, and explore its feasibility, validity and security.

Methods

From June 2005 to December 2008, 6 infants and children with macrocystic lymphangioma accepted endoscope-assisted excision via anterior chest approach.

Results

All procedures were successfully performed using the endoscope-assisted approach. There were no conversions of the operations or postoperative complications. All patients and their parents were satisfied with the cosmetic results.

Conclusions

Endoscope-assisted excision of the macrocystic lymphangioma via anterior chest approach in children can be applied effectively, safely and feasibly, allowing adequate exposure for dissection, and resulting in a good cosmetic result, and it would be considered as a new surgical approach for these patients.     

Post-operative complications of salvage total laryngectomy forpost-radiotherapy recurrent laryngeal cancer using pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps

Background: Salvage surgery for laryngeal cancer recurring after radiotherapy is difficult and complications readily occur. Our institution has adopted the pharyngeal interposition graft (PIG) using a pectoralis major myocutaneous (PMMC) flap, which has copious blood flow, for preventing post-irradiation pharyngocutaneous fistula.

Aims/objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of post-operative complications of salvage total laryngectomy (STL) using the PMMC flap for post-radiotherapy recurrent laryngeal cancer at our institution.

Material and methods: From among 162 patients with laryngeal cancer who had been treated at Tokyo Medical University Hospital between January 2014 and March 2018, we enrolled 11 patients who had undergone STL applying a PMMC flap. We examined patient backgrounds (age, gender, subtype, stage), initial therapy (radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy), radiation dose, irradiation area, surgery type (with/without neck dissection) and postoperative complications.

Results: No severe systemic complications were encountered. Pharyngocutaneous fistula occurred as a severe local complication in one patient (8.3%) and wound infection as a mild local complication in one patient (8.3%).

Conclusions: Rates of post-operative complications following STL tended to be lower at our institution than those reported for other institutions.

Significance: PIG may be a useful surgical procedure in STL.     

Treatment of lymphatic malformations of head and neck with OK-432 sclerotherapy induce systemic inflammatory response

Systemic immune responses after OK-432 (Picibanil) sclerotherapy in patients with head and neck lymphatic malformations (LM) were examined to achieve a better understanding of the mechanism of OK-432 sclerotherapy and to evaluate the long-term treatment outcome. Serum samples from 17 consecutive patients with head and neck LMs were collected during a total of 26 OK-432 treatment episodes. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukins (IL) 1β, 6, 8, 10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, RANTES, immune protein (IP)-10 and macrophage chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 as well as blood leukocyte counts were determined. Clinical outcome of the treatment was evaluated at the last visit and from patient files. Elevated serum levels of IP-10 (means at baseline 702 ng/L, after 1 day 1180 ng/L, after 4 weeks 691 ng/L) were seen on day one after OK-432 sclerotherapy (p < 0.05). C-reactive protein and leukocyte counts 1 day after treatment differed statistically significantly (p < 0.05) from the baseline. No significant differences with other cytokines investigated were observed. Patients with macrocystic LM responded better than patients with microcystic LM (p = 0.01). The elevated levels of IP-10, C-reactive protein and leukocyte levels indicate that OK-432 sclerotherapy induces systemic immune responses in patients with LM. The mechanisms of OK-432 sclerotherapy are still not precisely understood, but the IP-10 elevation may reflect local antiangiogenetic properties of immunoactivation induced by OK-432.     

Evolution of endoscopic surgery in the treatment of inverted papilloma

Inverted papilloma (IP) has several treatment avenues. The endoscopic approach in the last decade has proven to be a good option over the traditional approach.ObjectiveDescribe the epidemiological profile of patients with inverted Papilloma, describe our experience on managing this tumor and compare our data with the literature. Study Design: Cross-sectional, historical cohort.MethodRetrospective study of medical records of 17 patients treated for histopathologically-confirmed inverted papilloma between 2005 and 2011. We assessed patients age, gender, tumor side, symptoms, diagnosis, comorbidities and habits, Krouse staging, surgical approach, intraoperative and postoperative, and malignant postoperative recurrence and also the correlation between recurrence with preoperative staging, the surgical approach used, and the presence of malignancy.ResultsFive (29.41%) patients were classified as Krouse stage T2, 9 (52.94%) as T3 and 3 (17.65%) as T4. Three (17.65%) patients had malignancy and the recurrence rate was 23.5% (4 pacients). Eleven patients (64.70%) underwent endoscopic approach, 3 (17.6%) the combined aprroach (endoscopic assisted) and 3 (17.6%) external approach.ConclusionThe endoscopic approach is currently becoming a method not only effective but also safe for the treatment of more advanced stages of IP.     

Head and neck sarcomas: the first report addressing the duration of symptoms and diagnostic work up

Abstract

Background: Head and neck sarcomas are rare and difficult to diagnose and manage.

Aim: To describe a population of patients with head and neck sarcomas focusing on the effect of symptom duration and time to diagnosis on mortality and recurrence risk.

Materials and methods: Fifty-one patients treated in our department between 1998–2013 were retrospectively included. Patient and tumour characteristics as well as dates of interest were obtained from sarcoma registries, charts and pathology records. The effect of symptom duration and time to diagnosis on mortality and risk of recurrence was tested by multivariate analysis.

Results: There was a wide range in symptom duration (1–144?months, median 5) and time for diagnosis (0–234?days, median 14) without significant effect on overall mortality, disease-specific mortality or risk of recurrence. Chondrosarcomas in the larynx dominated among the patients with the longest diagnostic duration.

Conclusion and significance: The diagnostic process is challenging and in some cases of extremely long duration without effect on mortality. The symptom duration and time to diagnosis in relation to mortality and risk of recurrence has not previously been described. Early biopsy, better imaging and advanced pathological techniques can hopefully speed up the diagnostic process and reduce morbidity and mortality.     

Sensory preservation in neck dissection: outcomes of a sub-sternocleidomastoid approach

Objective: Cutaneous anesthesia in early postoperative period is common after neck dissection even if the cervical nerve (CN) rootlets are preserved. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the preservation of the terminal branches of CNs using sub-sternocleidomastoid (SCM) approach combined with medially placed skin incision can prevent early postoperative anesthesia.

Material and methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 129 neck dissections in 87 head and neck cancer patients.

Results: The early postoperative sensory preservation rates for the ear tab, submandibular, lateral neck, and sub-clavicular areas of CN rootlet-preserved necks (n?=?86) were 75.6%, 20.9%, 74.4%, and 86.0%, respectively, compared with 37.2%, 2.3%, 2.3%, and 4.7%, respectively, in CN rootlet-resected necks (n?=?43). In CN rootlet-preserved necks, the sub-SCM approach (n?=?54) showed 81.5%, 27.8%, 92.6%, and 94.4% preservation rates, respectively, compared with 65.6%, 9.4%, 43.8%, and 71.9%, respectively, using the conventional subplatysmal approach (n?=?32). The rates were significantly better in the submandibular, lateral neck, and sub-clavicular areas after sub-SCM approach.

Conclusions: Preservation of CN rootlets is a required element for sensory preservation in neck dissection. The sub-SCM approach can effectively prevent early postoperative cutaneous anesthesia following CN-preserving neck dissection.     

Photodynamic therapy and the treatment of head and neck neoplasia

Objective: To present the theory, technique, and results of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of oral, laryngeal, and head and neck cancers. Study Design: Retrospective review of the literature of more than 500 patients with head and neck cancer treated with photodynamic therapy, as well as a retrospective review of the author's 107 patients treated with photodynamic therapy for head and neck neoplasia between 1990 and 1997. Methods: The literature was retrospectively reviewed, as were patient records, and tabulaled for age, sex, site, and staging of lesions, with special focus on post-photodynamic therapy treatment outcome, long-term disease-free survival, and complications. Results: Twenty-five patients with carcinoma in situ and T1 squamous cell carcinoma of the true vocal cord who underwent photodynamic therapy treatment for cure obtained a complete response after a single photodynamic therapy treatment. Only one patient has had recurrence to date, with a cure rate to 79-month follow-up of 95%. Twenty-nine patients with carcinoma in situ and T1 recurrent squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity and tongue were treated. All obtained a complete response after a single photodynamic therapy treatment; however, five patients developed local recurrence with follow-up to 70 months, for an 80% cure rate. A review of 217 patients with early squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck treated with photodynamic therapy in the literature demonstrated an 89.5% complete response rate. The most common complication in these patients was limited prolonged skin photosensitivity without any permanent sequelae. Conclusions: Photodynamic therapy is effective for treating carcinoma in situ and T1 squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and oral cavity and may be of benefit as an adjuvant intraoperative treatment of stages III and IV tumors of the head and neck in conjunction with surgery and radiation therapy to improve cure rates. Further controlled studies need to be performed to further demonstrate the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy and the treatment of head and neck cancers.     

Ethmoid sinus cancer: Results of treatment with surgery and combined therapy

Objective—Ethmoid sinus cancer is a rare paranasal sinus malignancy. Its characteristics include a low incidence rate, a great variety of histopathological types and multiple treatment modalities. Currently, there remains no definite consensus regarding its optimal management. The aim of this study was to examine the outcome of a population of Asian patients with advanced ethmoid sinus cancers that had been treated with surgery plus combined therapy.

Material and Methods—Between January 1989 and December 2002 inclusive, 19 newly diagnosed patients with ethmoid sinus cancers who had undergone surgical intervention were enrolled, T4 being the principal carcinoma stage (68.4%). All participating cases proved to be node-negative and no evidence of any distant metastasis was detected at the time of diagnosis. The major treatment modality was surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy. All but 2 of the 13 patients with T4 cancer underwent craniofacial resection with pericranial flap reconstruction.

Results—The estimated overall and disease-free survival rates 3 years post-treatment were 49.4% and 26.3%, respectively. Local tumor recurrence was more common than regional recurrence and/or distant metastasis. A total of 5/15 T3–T4 patients (33%) developed a neck metastasis, 3 of whom also suffered a distant metastasis. There was no postoperative mortality for the cases treated with craniofacial resection.

Conclusions—Ethmoid sinus cancer typically demonstrates a propensity for late diagnosis and poor prognosis. This study confirms that craniofacial resection plus combined associated therapy is the optimal approach for the effective management of extensive ethmoid sinus tumors and is associated with an acceptable morbidity rate. More aggressive disease management featuring prophylactic concurrent chemoradiotherapy including neck or elective neck dissection plus chemotherapy should be considered for T3–T4 patients as opposed to T1–T2 patients.