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Objective: Management of recurrent laryngeal cancer presents a major challenge, and salvage laryngectomy is complicated by previous oncologic treatments. Thyroidectomy as part of salvage laryngectomy adds a nonnegligible degree of morbidity. The purpose of this study is to assess the rate of thyroid gland invasion in patients undergoing salvage laryngectomy to determine relevant predictive factors., Study Design: Case series with chart review., Setting: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom., Methods: A retrospective review of patients undergoing salvage laryngectomy between 2009 and 2019 was undertaken. Preoperative cross-sectional imaging and histopathological analysis were performed to define evidence and predictors of thyroid gland invasion (TGI)., Results: Fifty-one patients had salvage laryngectomy. Histological evidence of TGI was found in 4 patients (7.8%). No significant relationship was found between histological TGI and subsite of primary carcinoma, degree of differentiation, T staging, or radiological TGI. Preoperative computed tomography had a high negative predictive value for TGI., Conclusion: Thyroidectomy should be carefully considered in patients undergoing salvage laryngectomy, and its extent should be defined on an individual basis. Total thyroidectomy should not routinely be performed in salvage laryngectomy or pharyngolaryngectomy in patients with no preoperative radiological evidence of TGI on cross-sectional imaging, unless there is intraoperative evidence of TGI.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a well-established causative factor in a subset of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC). Although HPV can be detected in various anatomical subsites, HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is the most common HPV-related malignancy of the head and neck, and its worldwide incidence is constantly rising. Patients with OPSCC are generally younger, have less co-morbidities and generally have better prognosis due to different biological mechanisms of carcinogenesis. These facts have generated hypotheses on potential treatment modifications, aiming to minimize treatment-related toxicities without compromising therapy efficacy. Numerous randomized clinical trials have been designed to verify this strategy and increasingly real-world evidence data from retrospective, observational studies is becoming available. Until now, the data do not support any modification in contemporary treatment protocols. In this narrative review, we outline recent data provided by both randomized controlled trials and real-world evidence of HPV-positive OPSCC in terms of clinical value. We critically analyze the potential value and drawbacks of the available data and highlight future research directions. This article was written by members and invitees of the International Head and Neck Scientific Group.(www.IHNSG.com)., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To analyse survival and toxicity outcomes in patients treated with primary intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) in the era of routine human papilloma virus (HPV) testing., Design: Single-institution case series., Setting: Tertiary Head and Neck Cancer Unit., Participants: A total of 186 patients received IMRT (+/- chemotherapy) for radical primary treatment of OPSCC between March 2010 and December 2013. HPV status was available for 88% of cases. Median radiation dose was 65 Gy in 30 daily fractions. 90% of stage III/IV patients received concurrent chemotherapy or cetuximab., Main Outcome Measures: Overall, disease-free and disease-specific survival; rates of late xerostomia and dysphagia., Results: A total of 177 patients completed treatment (Stage I/II: 23; Stage III/IV: 154), with median follow-up of 26 months. Estimated 3-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 77.2% (70.5-83.9), 72.3% (65.4-79.2) and 80.2% (74.1-86.3). Estimated 3-year OS, DFS and DSS for HPV-positive patients were 90.9% (85.2-96.6), 87.9% (81.4-94.4) and 91.8% (86.3-97.3). A previously identified risk stratification method was validated, showing improved OS for low-risk over high-risk patients (HR 0.09, P < 0.001). The 2-year feeding tube retention rate was 6%, and 2-year grade ≥2 xerostomia rate was 38% (23% if mean contralateral parotid dose <24 Gy)., Conclusions: Outcomes with IMRT are favourable, particularly in the HPV-positive patient group. This data further supports the use of a previously described prognostication model that can be used to select patients for escalation/de-escalation clinical trials., (© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: To evaluate the use of (18)F-FDG PET/CT as the principal investigation to assess tumour response, to determine the need for further surgery and to guide follow-up following radical chemoradiotherapy for stage III/IV oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC)., Methods: A retrospective analysis was undertaken in 146 patients treated at our centre with radical chemoradiotherapy for OPSCC and who had a PET/CT scan to assess response. According to the PET/CT findings, patients were divided into four groups and recommendations: (1) complete metabolic response (enter clinical follow-up); (2) low-level uptake only (follow-up PET/CT scan in 12 weeks); (3) residual uptake suspicious for residual disease (further investigation with or without neck dissection); and (4) new diagnosis of distant metastatic disease (palliative treatment options)., Results: The initial PET/CT scan was performed at a median of 12.4 weeks (range 4.3 - 21.7 weeks) following treatment. Overall sensitivity and specificity rates were 92.0 % (74.0 - 99.0 %) and 85 % (77.5 - 90.9 %). Of the 146 patients, 90 (62 %) had a complete response and had estimated 3-year overall and disease-free survival rates of 91.9 % (85.6 - 98.2 %) and 85.6 % (78.0 - 93.2 %), respectively, 17 (12 %) had residual low-level uptake only (with two having confirmed residual disease on subsequent PET/CT, both surgically salvaged), 30 (21 %) had suspicious residual uptake (12 proceeded to neck dissection; true positive rate at surgery 33 %). HPV-positive patients with reassuring PET/CT findings had an estimated 3-year progression-free survival rate of 91.7 % (85.2 - 98.2 %), compared with 66.2 % (41.5 - 90.9 %) of HPV-negative patients., Conclusion: A strategy of using PET/CT results alongside clinical examination to help select patients for salvage surgery appears successful. Despite a complete response on the 12-week PET/CT scan, HPV-negative patients have a significant risk of disease relapse in the following 2 years and further studies to assess whether surveillance imaging in this group could improve outcomes are warranted.

The increasing use of primary chemoradiation (CRT) for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) means that historical surgical data sets are not representative of the modern laryngectomy patient. We analyse a contemporary total laryngectomy (TL) cohort to identify factors predictive of outcome. This is a retrospective consecutive case note review in a UK tertiary referral centre. Demographic, staging, treatment and outcome data were collected. Oncological outcomes are expressed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test was used for univariate analysis and cox regression for multivariate analysis. Sixty consecutive patients between 2003 and 2010 underwent primary TL, 28 including partial pharyngectomy. Median age was 61 years and mean follow-up was 24 months (1-78 months). Thirty six patients died during the study period, 24 of their disease. Of the disease-specific deaths, two occurred peri-operatively, four from local, two from regional and 18 from distant disease [two patients had simultaneous local and distant recurrence (DR)]. Five-year overall survival, disease-specific survival, loco-regional recurrence-free survival and distant recurrence-free survival (DRFS) were 36, 51, 87, 62 %, respectively. Of 17 parameters analysed, pN-stage, extra-capsular spread, a non-cohesive tumour front, thyroid infiltration and involvement of level 6 were significant predictors of disease-specific survival (DSS) on univariate analysis. pN > 1 and the presence of adverse histological features were found to be independent predictors of DSS and DRFS on multivariate analysis. Neither was significantly associated with loco-regional recurrence-free survival. Around half of patients who undergo TL for stage IV SCC will die of disease within 5 years, with most deaths attributable to DR. Surgery provides excellent loco-regional control but patients, especially those with advanced nodal disease and/or adverse histological features, should be thoroughly screened for occult distant disease. Level of evidence 4.

Carcinoma of unknown primary of the neck (CUP) is a metastasis presenting in one or more cervical lymph nodes, with no primary mucosal site identified. Retrospective case notes review of 25 consecutive patients (median age 55, 72% males) diagnosed as CUP who underwent neck dissection in a UK tertiary referral comprehensive cancer centre between 2000 and 2011. Median follow-up was 33 months. Nineteen patients underwent comprehensive neck dissections (six extended), six patients had selective neck dissection. Five year disease specific survival and regional recurrence free survival were 76 and 80% respectively. The overall rate of occult disease (disease not identified on preoperative evaluation, but found on histopathologic examination) was 8%, with rates of 0% in level I and 6% in level V. Our study suggests that in patients without preoperative evidence of disease in levels I or V selective neck dissection might be considered as an option, to facilitate preservation of the submandibular gland and accessory nerve without compromising oncological outcome. Larger studies should be performed before a change in practice can be advised.

Background: The prevalence of occult neck metastasis in patients undergoing salvage total laryngectomy remains unclear, and there is controversy regarding whether elective neck dissection should routinely be performed., Method: A retrospective case note review of 32 consecutive patients undergoing salvage total laryngectomy in a tertiary centre was performed, in order to correlate pre-operative radiological staging with histopathological staging., Results: The median patient age was 61 years (range, 43-84 years). With regard to lymph node metastasis, 28 patients were pre-operatively clinically staged (following primary radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) as node-negative, 1 patient was staged as N1, two patients as N2c and one patient as N3. Fifty-two elective and seven therapeutic neck dissections were performed. Pathological analysis up-staged two patients from clinically node-negative (following primary radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy) to pathologically node-positive (post-surgery). No clinically node-positive patients were down-staged. More than half of the patients suffered a post-operative fistula., Conclusion: Pre-operative neck staging had a negative predictive value of 96 per cent. Given the increased complications associated with neck dissection in the salvage setting, consideration should be given to conservative management of the neck in clinically node-negative patients (staged following primary radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy).

Pre-operative tracheostomy (POT) to secure a critical airway up to several weeks before definitive laryngectomy in patients with laryngeal cancer has been proposed as a risk factor for poor oncologic outcome. Few modern papers, however, examine this question. The aim of this study is therefore to determine whether POT affects oncologic outcome with an emphasis on stomal/peristomal recurrence. This is a retrospective case note review of 60 consecutive patients undergoing curative primary total laryngectomy (TL) for advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Demographic, staging, treatment and outcome data were collected. 27/60 (45 %) patients had POT and 33/60 did not. No patient underwent laser debulking. Median age was 62 years (39-90 years) and median follow-up of survivors was 31 months. 5-year overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) of patients undergoing POT versus no POT was 28 versus 39 % (p = 0.947), 55 versus 46 % (p = 0.201) and 96 versus 88 % (p = 0.324) respectively. No statistically significant difference in OS, DSS and LRFS was found between patients undergoing POT and those not. Despite the relatively small case series, this evidence should reassure surgeons without the ability to perform trans-oral debulking that they should not hesitate to perform tracheostomy on a patient with airway obstruction due to laryngeal cancer. Appropriate definitive treatment meant that POT was not a risk factor for poor oncological outcome in our series.

Introduction: Direct skin involvement of nodal metastasis from mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma has traditionally been considered a poor prognostic indicator., Methods: This retrospective review identified eight patients (five with mucosal upper aerodigestive and three with occult primary squamous cell carcinoma) who presented between 2000 and 2007 with direct skin involvement of nodal metastasis., Results: Five patients were treated with extended radical and three with extended modified radical neck dissection. Closure was achieved directly (four cases), with local (two) or pedicled (two) flaps. Surgery was always followed by radiotherapy (pan-mucosal or to the primary site). The five-year recurrence-free and disease-specific survival rates were 100 per cent., Conclusion: It is exceptionally rare to encounter direct skin involvement of metastatic lymph nodes from mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma without evidence of involvement of other anatomical structures. Surgical intervention is possible and combined modality treatment with curative intent is essential, as most patients can have a favourable outcome.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is an established technique in breast and melanoma surgery and is gaining acceptance in the management of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. We report a single institution's experience of SLNB between 2006 and 2010., Methods: Prospective consecutive cohort study of 59 patients recruited between 2006 and 2010. All patients underwent SLNB with preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, intraoperative blue dye, and handheld gamma probe. Sentinel nodes were evaluated with step-serial sectioning and immunohistochemistry. Endpoints included: overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and regional recurrence-free survival (RRFS)., Results: A total of 59 patients (36 male and 23 female) were operated on. Of these, 42 patients (71%) were pT1 and 17 patients (29%) were pT2. In two patients the sentinel node was not identified and proceeded to elective neck dissection. A total of 150 nodes were harvested from the remaining 57 patients of which 21 nodes were positive in 17 patients; three patients had positive contralateral nodes. The 2-year OS, DSS, LRFS, and RRFS for the SLNB negative patients were 97.5, 100, 95.8, and 95.8% and for the SLNB positive patients 68.2, 81.8, 83.9, and 100% respectively. Only OS and DSS approached statistical significance with P values of 0.07 and 0.06., Conclusions: SLNB is a safe and accurate diagnostic technique for staging the neck with a negative predictive value in our series of 97.5%. Furthermore, in our series three patients (5%) had positive contralateral neck drainage that would have been missed by conventional ipsilateral neck dissection.

Purpose of Review: The term salvage surgery denotes oncological surgery after failed radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Salvage surgery is a high-risk endeavour as it carries a significant risk of complications. The purpose of this review is to assess the ways in which complications from salvage surgery can be prevented and minimized. This is a complex subject and complications are often multifactorial and interrelated. There are many aspects that can be discussed; however, to address each of them individually would be impossible and beyond the scope of this article. We will, therefore, focus this review on the most relevant aspects to current practice for head and neck surgeons., Recent Findings: Salvage surgery after failure of radiotherapy and CRT remains controversial and many aspects still lack evidence. Many patients with recurrent cancer are not suitable for salvage surgery due to severe co-morbidities or disease progression. Salvage surgery is best carried out in tertiary centres by experienced multidisciplinary teams. Preoperative assessment and evaluation is critical to success and to minimize complications. Surgical principles include single incisions, delicate tissue handling, use of frozen sections, adopting a critical approach to neck dissections and the use of flaps, secondary surgical voice restoration for laryngectomies and appropriate postoperative care., Summary: This review emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach by experienced teams, the centralization of resources and teams, a structured and thorough patient assessment, surgical planning and a systematic attention to detail when addressing patients undergoing salvage surgery.

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tonsil is the most common malignant tumour of the oropharynx. Paediatric tonsillectomy is one of the most commonly performed procedures in Otorhinolaryngology. SCC of the tonsil remnant (SCCTR) in a previously tonsillectomised patient is rare., Methods: Retrospective review of patients with SCCTR presenting to the Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Unit January 2000 to December 2007., Results: Two hundred and fifty patients with tonsil SCC were identified. Ten (4%) of these had previously undergone tonsillectomy in childhood. Nine patients underwent radical treatment including surgery, radiotherapy and in four cases concomitant chemotherapy. Eight patients are alive with no signs of recurrence with follow-up of a minimum of 24 months. One has been lost from follow-up., Conclusions: Clinicians should be aware that SCC can arise from a tonsillar remnant. SCCTR has similar oncological outcomes as tonsillar tumours.

Introduction: Metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma to the neck with an occult primary is a recognised clinical and pathological entity. Despite well established diagnostic protocols, this condition still represents a management challenge., Case Report: We report the case of a 46-year-old man who presented with metastatic cervical lymphadenopathy of unknown origin. He had undergone tonsillectomy as a child. The only abnormal finding was the presence of a tonsillar remnant, which harboured the primary carcinoma., Conclusion: According to our literature search, this is the only recorded case in which the index tumour was found in a tonsillar remnant. This case illustrates the importance of thorough clinical examination in patients with potential unknown primaries, and of the need, in previously tonsillectomised patients, to perform excisional biopsy of the tonsillar remnant.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus usually presents in the late-middle-aged and elderly. When diagnosed in young adults, the disease process is often thought to be more aggressive and have a worse long-term outcome. Four hundred ninety patients presented to the Christie Hospital and Manchester Royal Infirmary between 1981 and 1990 with squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus. Of this group, 24 patients (5%) received their diagnosis before the age of 45. A comparison is made with a control group of 156 (32%) patients who presented between the ages of 60 and 69 years. Analysis of tumor and nodal staging at presentation demonstrates no statistically significant difference between the 2 age groups. There is a higher incidence of a combination of smoking and alcohol abuse in the older age group, but it is of no statistical significance. There is no difference in 5-year survival results between the 2 groups. We conclude that patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus who receive their diagnosis under the age of 45 show no difference in tumor stage or long-term outcome when compared with a control group encompassing the mean age of presentation.