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OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS To examine the clinical features of benign intratracheal thyroid (ITT) and their management strategies and outcomes. STUDY DESIGN Case series study. METHODS This systemic review was conducted in two international academic centers. This review includes 43 patients: one new case from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, four new cases from Beijing Tongren Hospital, and 38 previously published cases. We analyzed these 43 cases and summarized the patients' epidemiological data, clinical features, and treatment regimens. RESULTS ITTs were less common in men than in women (male:female ratio of 3:10). ITT was observed in patients as young as neonates and as old as 85 years. Orthotopic thyroid nodules were present in 55.8% of the patients with ITT. Malignancy was incidentally found in 4.6% of all ITTs. Imaging examinations showed that the ITTs were typically attached to the posterolateral/lateral tracheal wall of the first, second, or third tracheal rings. Tissue attachment between the ITT and normal thyroid lobes was seen in 59.5% of the patients. Thirty-seven patients underwent surgery: 30 underwent open surgery, and seven underwent endoscopic debulking resections. One neonate received thyroid suppression therapy. One patient with ITT and papillary thyroid cancer was treated with radiotherapy and ultimately died after recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Surgical resection is an effective treatment for benign ITT. We hypothesized that abnormalities during the embryonic development of Berry's ligament might play a role in ITT pathogenesis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE NA Laryngoscope, 131:E2609-E2617, 2021.

Primary laryngeal carcinosarcoma is a rare type of malignancies, and the standard therapeutic protocol for its treatment has yet to be established. This retrospective study analyzed the clinical and pathological characteristics, risk factors, treatment options, and prognosis of 13 patients with primary laryngeal carcinosarcomas. This case series included 11 males and 2 females with an age range from 32 to 78 years at diagnosis. The initial clinical symptoms included hoarseness, dyspnea, and foreign body sensation in the throat. The primary tumor sites were at the glottis, supraglottis, and larynx. All these patients were active or passive smokers, and more than half of them were alcohol addictive. The surgical treatment for laryngeal carcinosarcomas included CO2 laser surgery in seven cases, partial laryngectomy and neck dissection in three cases, and total laryngectomy and neck dissection in three cases. Among them, seven cases received postoperative radiotherapy. After follow-up with a mean of 31.15-month, four cases died. Primary laryngeal carcinosarcoma is a rare but more aggressive malignancy. Contralateral lymph node metastasis can occur at the early stage of this disease. A treatment combining surgery and postoperative radiotherapy is strongly recommended.

Background The prognostic factors and survival difference between inverted papilloma (IP)-associated sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and de novo SCC are unclear. Objective This study aimed to compare the clinical features and oncologic outcomes in patients with IP-associated SCC and de novo SCC; and additionally, to analyze the prognostic factors of the two types of SCCs. Methods Data from 173 SCC patients treated for IP-associated SCC (n = 89) and de novo SCC (n = 84), were reviewed retrospectively for demographic features, tumor characteristics, treatment modality, and clinical outcomes. 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze factors influencing prognosis. Results A higher proportion of IP-associated SCC occurred in frontal and sphenoid sinus compared to de novo SCC. The two groups demonstrated similar 5-year OS and DFS (5-year OS: 63.3% and 55.4%, DFS: 45.4% and 50.1%, respectively). The metachronous tumor had a relatively better prognosis outcome than synchronous tumor and de novo SCC (5-year OS: 73.1%, 54.5% and 55.4%, respectively). Both groups showed similar loco-regional recurrence rates ( p > 0.05); however, de novo SCC tumors demonstrated an increased incidence of distant metastasis. Multivariate analysis indicated that age >70 years, advanced tumor stage and surgical margin were independent predictive factors for the risk of mortality (HR 2.047, 1.581 and 1.931, respectively). Conclusion IP-associated SCCs have an aggressive loco-regional tendency, whereas de novo SCCs have a higher aggressive distant metastatic propensity. Age, tumor stage and surgical positive margin are key factors for poor prognosis and should be routinely taken into consideration during treatment planning and subsequent surveillance.

Background This study aimed to evaluate the potential of induction chemotherapy as an indicator of the management of advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma with cervical oesophageal invasion. Methods Sixty-eight patients admitted to our hospital between February 2003 and November 2016 with stage IVB hypopharyngeal carcinoma with cervical oesophageal invasion were retrospectively analysed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the treatment they selected following an explanation of the different treatments available. Patients in group A received induction chemotherapy and had (1) complete/partial remission following chemotherapy and radiotherapy/concurrent chemoradiotherapy or (2) stable disease following chemotherapy and surgery. Patients in group B underwent surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy/concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Survival analyses were performed using the Kaplan–Meier method, and differences between the groups were evaluated using the log-rank test. Laryngeal and oesophageal retention rates were compared using the cross-tabulation test. Results The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 22.86% and 11.43% in group A and 24.25% and 6.06% in group B, respectively (all P > 0.05). The laryngeal and oesophageal retention rates were 40.0% and 74.3% in group A and 0.0% and 27.3% in group B, respectively (all P < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of post-operative complications between the two groups (group A 8.6%, group B 12.1%; P > 0.05). Conclusions Induction chemotherapy may be an appropriate first choice to ensure laryngeal and oesophageal preservation in the individualised treatment of advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma with cervical oesophageal invasion.

Backgroud: Induction chemotherapy, as a larynx preservation treatment, has been available for over 20 years. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy of this protocol with taxene, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil in Chinese patients with hypopharyngeal cancer that chose preservation strategy.170 patients with locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer were assigned to receive induction chemotherapy. 107 patients (63%) with complete response or partial response received larynx preservation treatment and 63 non-responders (37%) received radical surgery.Median survival time was 30 months (range: 3-59 months). 63 patients (37%) had local-regional failure and 15 (9%) had distant metastasis. Three-year LFS was 27.8% (95% CI: 23.6-32.0%). The estimated three-year overall survival rate was 44.5% (95% CI: 39.5-49.5%). There was no significant difference in the three-year survival rate between responders (44.8%) and non-responders (43.9%) (p = .237), however patients with a partial response had a significant decrease in survival (32.2%) (p .001).In patients with hypopharyngeal cancer, ICT with TPF regimen followed by RT, as a larynx preservation treatment, may be suitable for complete responders, but not partial responders.

Tumor resection causes damage in the head and neck which creates problems in swallowing, chewing, articulation, and vision, all of which seriously affect patients’ quality of life. In this work, we evaluated the application of a free medial tibial flap in reconstruction of head and neck defects after tumor resection. We discussed the anatomy, surgical technique, and the advantages and disadvantages of the flap. We found several benefits for the flap, such as, it is especially effective for the defects that require thin-layer epithelium to cover or the separated soft tissue defect; a two-team approach can be used because the donor site is far away from the head and neck; and the flap is easy to integrate because of the subcutaneous fat layer of the free medial tibial flap is thin and the flap is soft. Thus, the medial tibial flap could replace the forearm flap for certain applications.

Background Oncolytic viral efficacy may be limited by the penetration of the virus into tumors. This may be enhanced by intraoperative application of virus immediately after surgical resection. Methods Oncolytic vaccinia virus GLV-1h68 was delivered in silk-elastin-like protein polymer (SELP) in vitro and in vivo in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cell line 8505c in nude mice. Results GLV-1h68 in SELP infected and lysed anaplastic thyroid cancer cells in vitro equally as effectively as in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and at 1 week retains a thousand fold greater infectious plaque-forming units. In surgical resection models of residual tumor, GLV-1h68 in SELP improves tumor control and shows increased viral β-galactosidase expression as compared to PBS. Conclusion The use of SELP matrix for intraoperative oncolytic viral delivery protects infectious viral particles from degradation, facilitates sustained viral delivery and transgene expression, and improves tumor control. Such optimization of methods of oncolytic viral delivery may enhance therapeutic outcomes. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2015

Purpose This study was to investigate clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors in adenoid cystic carcinoma of head and neck minor salivary glands. Materials and methods We conducted a retrospective review of 130 patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of head and neck minor salivary glands that were evaluated between 2000 and 2013 in Beijng Tongren Hospital. Results Five-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 80.8% and 55.6%. Local recurrence rate was 40%, regional recurrence 3.8%, and distant metastasis was 28.5%. On univariate analysis, solid histological subtype, perineural invasion, positive surgical margins and advanced stages were found to be poor prognostic indicators. On multivariate analysis, solid histological subtype and positive surgical margins were significant prognostic factors of worse overall survival. Conclusions Solid histological subtype and positive surgical margins were the most important predictors of poor outcome in adenoid cystic carcinoma of minor salivary glands. Surgery with postoperative radiation were recommended treatment and offered durable local control.

RATIONALE Infantile desmoid fibromatosis of the postcricoid area is a rare disease and is characterized by a proliferation of fibrous tissue with non-metastasis, local infiltration, and a high rate of recurrence after surgical resection. Currently, ultrasound is scarcely used in the hypopharynx and larynx area. PATIENT CONCERNS A 4-year-old boy presented with hoarseness, deep voice and snoring for 2∼4 years without any surgical history. On sonography, the lesion was found in the postcricoid area, and the left larynx showed impaired mobility in real time observation. Complete excision with a negative margin in this pivotal anatomic area is impossible, and necessitates a long-time surveillance. DIAGNOSES Infantile desmoid fibromatosis of the postcricoid area was diagnosed according to surgery and histopathology. INTERVENTIONS Local excision was carried out to relieve the upper airway narrowing. OUTCOMES Relieved hoarseness and snoring were reported on the latest follow-up. A residual lesion was seen in the surgical bed and maintained a stable extent on ultrasound and MR imaging after a year. LESSONS Considering the non-radiation merit and diagnostic ability, ultrasonography is advocated as a valuable supplementary imaging method to CT, MR and laryngoscopy in the juvenile larynx and hypopharynx.