Search

Oral cancer surgery has a negative influence on the quality of life (QOL). As a result of the complex physiology involved in oral functions, estimation of surgical effects on functionality remains difficult. We present a user-friendly biomechanical simulation of tongue surgery, including closure with suturing and scar formation, followed by an automated adaptation of a finite element (FE) model to the shape of the tongue. Different configurations of our FE model were evaluated and compared to a well-established FE model. We showed that the post-operative impairment as predicted by our model was qualitatively comparable to a patient case for five different tongue maneuvers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To determine the hearing status of survivors treated for head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma (HNRMS) at long-term follow-up. Design Cross-sectional long-term follow-up study. Setting Tertiary comprehensive cancer centre. Participants Survivors treated for HNRMS during childhood in two concurrent cohorts; survivors in London had been treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT-based local therapy); survivors in Amsterdam were treated with AMORE (Ablative surgery, MOuld technique afterloading brachytherapy and surgical REconstruction) if feasible, otherwise EBRT (AMORE-based local therapy). Main outcome measures We assessed hearing status of HNRMS survivors at long-term follow-up. Hearing thresholds were obtained by pure-tone audiometry. Methods We assessed the hearing thresholds, the number of patients with clinically relevant hearing loss and hearing impairment graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0 (CTCAEv4) and Boston criteria. Furthermore, we compared hearing loss between survivors treated with EBRT-based local therapy (London) and AMORE-based local therapy (Amsterdam). Results Seventy-three survivors were included (median follow-up 11 years). We found clinically relevant hearing loss at speech frequencies in 19% of survivors. Multivariable analysis showed that survivors treated with EBRT-based treatment and those with parameningeal tumours had significantly more hearing impairment, compared to survivors treated with AMORE-based treatment and non-parameningeal tumours. Conclusions One in five survivors of HNRMS developed clinically relevant hearing loss. AMORE-based treatment resulted in less hearing loss compared to EBRT-based treatment. As hearing loss was highly prevalent and also occurred in survivors with orbital primaries, we recommend systematic audiological follow-up in all HNRMS survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Española de Medicina Nuclear e Imagen Molecular is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) development has been recognized only in the last decade. Although younger patients develop HNSCC associated with HPV, the incidence in young patients has not been studied. Forty-five young HNSCC patients (<40 years) were tested for HPV and the expression of p16ink4a and p53 in tumor biopsies. The presence of HPV was correlated with the absence and presence of alcohol and tobacco exposure. Paraffin-embedded, archival biopsy materials from HNSCC of 45 patients younger than 40 years were analyzed. HPV subtypes were identified by PCR followed by genotyping. Expression of p16ink4a and p53 were determined by immunohistochemistry. Fourteen (31%) of the HNSCC specimens from 45 patients unequivocally exhibited HPV16 positivity. Sixty percentage of the oropharyngeal tumors and 5% of the oral cavity tumors were HPV16 positive. P16ink4a overexpression was detected in 93% of the HPV16-positive tumors. None of the HPV16 tumors showed p53 overexpression. There was no association of HPV positivity with (lack of) exposure to alcohol and smoking. HPV association was not exclusively detected in nonsmoking, nondrinking young HNSCC patients. The presence of p16ink4a accumulation and the absence of p53 overexpression are good surrogate markers for HPV-associated HNSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with a study which determined the accuracy of thallium 201 single-photon emission computed tomography and computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging in the detection of occult primary tumors of the head and neck. Description of patients and research methodology; Results; Conclusions.