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The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures accompanying it have been accused of having a negative influence on the frequency and methods of treatment of various diseases including head and neck cancer (HNSCC). To go further into this assumption, the diagnoses made, and treatments performed at one of Germany's largest head and neck cancer centres were evaluated.This study consisted of one single centre and involved a retrospective review of all patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent HNSCC. The diagnosis and treatment methods used in the pre-COVID-19 time period between March 1st, 2019, and March 1st, 2020, were analysed and compared with the COVID-19 time period from April 1st, 2020, until April 1st, 2021. The primary objective was defined as the number of malignant diagnoses and the secondary objectives as the disease stage and the time to therapy.A total of 612 patients (160♀; mean 63 yrs.) were included. 319 patients (52%) were treated in the pre-COVID-19 time. The two groups did not differ in terms of age (p=0.304), gender (p=0.941), presence of recurrent disease (p=0.866), tumour subsite (p=0.194) or the duration from presentation to the multidisciplinary tumour board until start of therapy (p=0.202). There were no significant differences in the T stage (p=0.777), N stage (p=0.067) or UICC stage (p=0.922). During the pre-COVID-19 period more patients presented with distant metastases (n= 23 vs. n=8; p=0.011).This study shows that there was no significant change in either the number and severity of HNSCC diagnoses or the time until start of therapy at this large head and neck cancer centre as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Surgical closure of persistent tracheoesophageal fistulas (TEFs) is complex. Most patients present with multiple risk factors, which may negatively impact the outcome and influence the treatment strategies.This retrospective study included 22 patients presenting with persistent TEFs. Preoperative RT, comorbidities, tissue conditions of the TEFs and neck skin, and surgical techniques were evaluated regarding a possible impact on success rates and outcome.21 patients were operated, 95.45% with final success. However, in 52.39% repeated surgery was needed. Final closure of TEFs was achieved in 91.47% only after more invasive surgery was performed. The surgical technique applied had the most significant impact on success rates and outcome compared to all other risk factors analyzed. Our own data and that of the literature point out that the surgical strategy should be adapted to the patients' individual risk factors.According to the literature, surgical closure of persistent TEFss is demanding. Our data suggest that, considering that the majority of patients with persistent TEFs exhibit multiple risk factors, early performance of more invasive surgery seems associated with a better outcome.

Aim In the CheckRad-CD8 trial patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer are treated with a single cycle of induction chemo-immunotherapy (ICIT). Patients with pathological complete response (pCR) in the re-biopsy enter radioimmunotherapy. Our goal was to study the value of F-18-FDG PET/CT in the prediction of pCR after induction therapy. Methods Patients treated within the CheckRad-CD8 trial that additionally received FDG- PET/CT imaging at the following two time points were included: 3–14 days before (pre-ICIT) and 21–28 days after (post-ICIT) receiving ICIT. Tracer uptake in primary tumors (PT) and suspicious cervical lymph nodes (LN +) was measured using different quantitative parameters on EANM Research Ltd (EARL) accredited PET reconstructions. In addition, mean FDG uptake levels in lymphatic and hematopoietic organs were examined. Percent decrease (Δ) in FDG uptake was calculated for all parameters. Biopsy of the PT post-ICIT acquired after FDG-PET/CT served as reference. The cohort was divided in patients with pCR and residual tumor (ReTu). Results Thirty-one patients were included. In ROC analysis, ΔSUVmax PT performed best (AUC = 0.89) in predicting pCR (n = 17), with a decline of at least 60% (sensitivity, 0.77; specificity, 0.93). Residual SUVmax PT post-ICIT performed best in predicting ReTu (n = 14), at a cutpoint of 6.0 (AUC = 0.91; sensitivity, 0.86; specificity, 0.88). Combining two quantitative parameters (ΔSUVmax ≥ 50% and SUVmax PT post-ICIT ≤ 6.0) conferred a sensitivity of 0.81 and a specificity of 0.93 for determining pCR. Background activity in lymphatic organs or uptake in suspected cervical lymph node metastases lacked significant predictive value. Conclusion FDG-PET/CT can identify patients with pCR after ICIT via residual FDG uptake levels in primary tumors and the related changes compared to baseline. FDG-uptake in LN + had no predictive value. Trial registry ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03426657.

This study aimed to clarify the impact of delayed adjuvant therapy on the outcome of HPV associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-OPSCC).A total of 157 patients with HPV-OPSCC treated by surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiation therapy were analyzed retrospectively. We divided participants into two groups implementing adjuvant therapy within or after 50 days. Primary endpoints were the rates of locoregional recurrence and distant metastases, overall survival, and disease-specific survival.Adjuvant treatment began within 50 days (average: 38.8 days) in 79 cases compared to 78 cases after 50 days (average: 71.5 days). Five-year overall survival was 85.7% and 87.4% (p=0.588), the rates of local and regional recurrence were 3.8% and 6.4% (p=0.455) and of distant metastases 5.1% and 9% (p=0.369) implementing adjuvant treatment within or later than 50 days, respectively.These results suggest that adjuvant therapy initiated later than seven weeks after primary ablative surgery may still be effective HPV-OPSCC.

IF 2.323; International audience; Introduction: During liver transplantation, graft ischemia-reperfusion injury leads to a systemic inflammatory response producing postoperative organ dysfunctions. The aim of this observational and prospective study was to compare the impact of Solution deconservation des organeset tissus (SCOT) 15 and University of Wisconsin (UW) preservation solutions on early cytokine release, postreperfusion syndrome and postoperative organ dysfunctions.& para;& para;Methods: Thirty-seven liver transplantations were included: 21 in UW Group and 16 in SCOT 15 group. Five cytokines were measured in systemic blood after anesthetic induction, 30 minutes after unclamping portal vein and on postoperative day 1.& para;& para;Results: Following unclamping portal vein, cytokines were released in systemic circulation. Systemic cytokine concentrations were higher in UW than in SCOT 15 group: Interleukin-10, lnterleukine-6. In SCOT 15 group, significant reduction of postreperfusion syndrome incidence and acute kidney injury were observed. Alanine and aspartate aminotransferase peak concentrations were higher in SCOT 15 group than in UW group. However, from postoperative day 1 to day 10, aminotransferase returned to normal values and did not differ between groups.& para;& para;Conclusions: Compared to UW, SCOT 15 decreases systemic cytokine release resulting from graft ischemia-reperfusion injury and reduces incidence of postreperfusion syndrome and post operative renal failure. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

In carbon dioxide (CO2) laser surgery of the larynx, the potentially dangerous combination of laser-induced heat in an oxygen-enriched atmosphere typically occurs when jet ventilation is used or due to an insufficiently blocked endotracheal tube. Until now, no limitations for safe oxygen concentrations or laser intervals have been established. The aim of this study was to investigate and quantify the factors that may contribute to an airway fire in laryngeal laser surgery. Fat, muscle and cartilage were irradiated with a CO2 laser at 2, 4, 6 and 8 W in five different oxygen concentrations with and without smoke exhaustion. The time to ignition was recorded for each different experimental setup. Fat burnt fastest, followed by cartilage and muscle. The elevation of laser energy or oxygen concentration reduced the time to inflammation of any tissue. The elevation of oxygen by 10 % increases the risk of inflammation more than the elevation of laser power by 2 W. Under smoke exhaustion, inflammation and burning occurred delayed or were even inhibited at lower oxygen concentrations. Lasing in more than 50 % oxygen is comparatively dangerous and can cause airway fire in less than 5 s, especially when laser energies of more than 5 W are applied. In equal or lower than 50 % oxygen, an irradiation interval of 5 s can be considered a comparatively safe time limit to prevent inflammation in laryngeal laser surgery. Smoke exhaustion should always be applied.