Differential expression profiling of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the fifth most common cancer in men with an incidence of about 780000 new cases per year worldwide and a poor rate of survival. There is a need for a better understanding of HNSCC, for the development of rational targeted interventions and to define new prognostic or diagnostic markers. To address these needs, we performed a large-scale differential display comparison of hypopharyngeal HNSCCs against histologically normal tissue from the same patients. We have identified 70 genes that exhibit a striking difference in expression between tumours and normal tissues. There is only a limited overlap with other HNSCC gene expression studies that have used other techniques and more heterogeneous tumour samples. Our results provide new insights into the understanding of HNSCC. At the genome level, a series of differentially expressed genes cluster at 12p12-13 and 1q21, two hotspots of genome disruption. The known genes share functional relationships in keratinocyte differentiation, angiogenesis, immunology, detoxification, and cell surface receptors. Of particular interest are the 13 'unknown' genes that exist only in EST, theoretical cDNA and protein databases, or as chromosomal locations. The differentially expressed genes that we have identified are potential new markers and therapeutic targets.     

Rare living hypopharyngeal foreign body

BACKGROUND: This is a case report about a rare hypopharyngeal foreign body causing dysphagia, dyspnea, and hemoptysis as well as melena: an ingested leech. The patient was in this condition for more than 1 week. METHODS: The ingested leech, attached to the right piriform fossa partially obstructing the larynx, had to be removed under general anesthesia. RESULTS: After removal, no further symptoms occurred. The leech was identified as the species Theromyzon tessulatum. CONCLUSIONS: Human infestation of a leech in the upper aerodigestive tract is a very rare condition in urban areas. The current literature is reviewed and the diagnostic approach as well as therapeutic options are discussed.     

Malignant tumours of the cervical oesophagus

Forty-seven patients with malignancy of the cervical oesophagus are described and compared with a group of 647 patients with hypopharyngeal malignancy. There was a higher proportion of non-squamous malignancy in cervical oesophageal cancer compared with hypopharyngeal cancer. Cervical oesophageal malignancy tended to present earlier with significantly lower T stage and neck node metastases were relatively unusual at presentation. Patients with cervical oesophageal malignancy were frequently incurable at the time they are first seen and 21 had palliative treatment only, 26 patients had curative treatment, 12 underwent radical radiotherapy and 14 had surgery. Cervical oesophageal malignancy had a significantly worse prognosis than hypopharyngeal malignancy with an 18% 3 year survival compared with a 33% 3 year survival (χ²₁=7.1089, P <0.01). Those patients with oesophageal malignancy who were treated fared considerably better than the whole group with 30% being alive at 3 years (χ²₁=10.5185, P <0.01).     

The Distended Fetal Hypopharynx: A Sensitive and Novel Sign for the Prenatal Diagnosis of Esophageal Atresia

Background/Purpose

Although advances have been made in the prenatal diagnosis of esophageal atresia (EA), most neonates are not identified until after birth. The distended hypopharynx (DHP) has been suggested as a novel prenatal sign for EA. We assess its diagnostic accuracy and predictive value on ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), both alone and in combination with the esophageal pouch (EP) and secondary signs of EA (polyhydramnios and a small or absent fetal stomach).

纤维喉镜在隐蔽性下咽部异物诊治中的应用

目的探讨纤维喉镜在隐蔽性下咽部异物诊治中的应用。方法自2001年3月～2006年8月对112例有明确下咽部异物史,但常规间接喉镜检查未发现异物的患者,采用电视纤维喉镜检查。结果发现111例有异物,并全部用纤维喉镜活检钳成功取出异物,1例发现梨状窝有肉芽组织,后经颈部CT扫描发现右侧声门旁间隙异物,行颈前径路切开取出鱼刺。结论纤维喉镜具有检查全面、观察清晰、定位准确、钳取方便的优点,可以有效地减少隐蔽性下咽部异物的漏诊。     

Nutrition and laryngeal cancer

The main etiologic factors of cancers of the larynx and hypopharynx are alcohol and tobaeco, and their prevalence in different populations explains, to a large extent, the wide variations in incidence observed around the world. Besides these two main risk factors, however, diet also seems to play a role in determining the risk of these cancers. There is consistent evidence that low consumption of fruit and vegetables is associated with higher risk, after statistical adjustment for alcohol and tobacco. Consumption of vegetable oils and fish and a moderately high polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio (P/S ratio) were reported to be associated with reduced risk. Low intake of vitamin C, -carotene and vitamin E were reported consistently to be associated with higher laryngeal cancer risk, but there was no clear evidence that these micronutrients are better predictors of cancer risk than the principal food groups from which their intake levels were estimated, i.e., fruits, vegetables, vegetable oils, and fish. Given the overwhelming role of tobacco and alcohol in the etiology of these cancers and the extremely low incidence among nonsmokers/nondrinkers, the available studies provide no estimate of the role of diet in subjects not exposed to these factors. The evidence indicates, however, that, in the presence of tobacco and/or alcohol, low intake of fruit and vegetables may account for 25 to 50 percent of the cases among men.