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Background Coronavirus has serially overtaken our metropolitan hospitals. At peak, patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome may outnumber mechanical ventilators. In our Miami Hospital System, COVID‐19 cases have multiplied for 4 weeks and elective surgery has been suspended. Methods An Otolaryngologic Triage Committee was created to appropriately allocate resources to patients. Hospital ethicists provided support. Our tumor conference screened patients for nonsurgical options. Patients were tested twice for coronavirus before performing urgent contaminated operations. N95 masks and protective equipment were conserved when possible. Patients with low‐grade cancers were advised to delay surgery, and other difficult decisions were made. Results Hundreds of surgeries were canceled. Sixty‐five cases screened over 3 weeks are tabulated. Physicians and patients expressed discomfort regarding perceived deviations from standards, but risk of COVID‐19 exposure tempered these discussions. Conclusions We describe the use of actively managed surgical triage to fairly balance our patient's health with public health concerns.

PURPOSE Definitive or postoperative chemoradiation (CRT) is curative for human papillomavirus–associated (HPV+) oropharynx cancer (OPC) but induces significant toxicity. As a deintensification strategy, we studied primary transoral surgery (TOS) and reduced postoperative radiation therapy (RT) in intermediate-risk HPV+ OPC. METHODS E3311 is a phase II randomized trial of reduced- or standard-dose postoperative RT for resected stage III-IVa (American Joint Committee on Cancer-seventh edition) HPV+ OPC, determined by pathologic parameters. Primary goals were feasibility of prospective multi-institutional study of TOS for HPV+ OPC, and oncologic efficacy (2-year progression-free survival) of TOS and adjuvant therapy in intermediate-risk patients after resection. TOS plus 50 Gy was considered promising if the lower limit of the exact 90% binomial confidence intervals exceeded 85%. Quality of life and swallowing were measured by functional assessment of cancer therapy-head and neck and MD Anderson Dysphagia Index. RESULTS Credentialed surgeons performed TOS for 495 patients. Eligible and treated patients were assigned as follows: arm A (low risk, n = 38) enrolled 11%, intermediate risk arms B (50 Gy, n = 100) or C (60 Gy, n = 108) randomly allocated 58%, and arm D (high risk, n = 113) enrolled 31%. With a median 35.2-month follow-up for 359 evaluable (eligible and treated) patients, 2-year progression-free survival Kaplan-Meier estimate is 96.9% (90% CI, 91.9 to 100) for arm A (observation), 94.9% (90% CI, 91.3 to 98.6]) for arm B (50 Gy), 96.0% (90% CI, 92.8 to 99.3) for arm C (60 Gy), and 90.7% (90% CI, 86.2 to 95.4) for arm D (66 Gy plus weekly cisplatin). Treatment arm distribution and oncologic outcome for ineligible or step 2 untreated patients (n = 136) mirrored the 359 evaluable patients. Exploratory comparison of functional assessment of cancer therapy-head and neck total scores between arms B and C is presented. CONCLUSION Primary TOS and reduced postoperative RT result in outstanding oncologic outcome and favorable functional outcomes in intermediate-risk HPV+ OPC.

Background Schwann cells (SC) may play an important role in perineural invasion (PNI) by promoting cancer cell dispersion. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may contribute to these cellular events by activating tropomyosine receptor kinase B (TrkB). This study examines the effect of TrkB inhibition on SC migration and oral cancer cell dispersion in vitro. Methods Human tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC-9) and human SCs were cocultured in three different conditioned mediums: control, BDNF, and TrkB inhibitor. Cell migration, cancer cell dispersion, and SC dedifferentiation were measured on time-lapse and immunofluorescence images. Results Cancer cell migration exceeded SC migration in all conditions. TrkB inhibition promoted SC dedifferentiation and significantly increased SC migration, when compared to BDNF conditions. TrkB inhibition also reduced cancer cell dispersion, when compared to control and BDNF-treated cultures. Conclusion SCs may have importance in the pathophysiology of PNI. TrkB inhibition may be a potential avenue for therapeutic intervention.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is a key risk factor and etiology for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). HPV-induced OPSCC is rapidly increasing in incidence, with men experiencing increased mortality. When identified at an early stage, HPV-induced OPSCC can be successfully treated. Diagnosis of HPV-related OPSCC relies on an expert physical examination and invasive biopsy. Since saliva bathes the oropharyngeal mucosa and can be collected noninvasively, saliva obtained via salivary risings is an attractive body fluid for early detection of HPV-induced OPSCC. A plethora of DNA, RNA, and protein salivary biomarkers have been explored. This review discusses these markers and their robustness for detecting oncogenic HPV in OPSCC saliva samples. Methods detecting HPV DNA were more reliable than those detecting RNA, albeit both require time-consuming analyses. Salivary HPV proteomics are a new, promising focus of HPV detection research, and while more practical, lag behind nucleic acid detection methods in their development.

Background No reports describe falsepositive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) for novel coronavirus in preoperative screening. Methods Preoperative patients had one or two nasopharyngeal swabs, depending on low or high risk of viral transmission. Positive tests were repeated. Results Forty‐three of 52 patients required two or more preoperative tests. Four (9.3%) had discrepant results (positive/negative). One of these left the coronavirus disease (COVID) unit against medical advice despite an orbital abscess, with unknown true disease status. The remaining 3 of 42 (7.1%) had negative repeat RT‐PCR. Although ultimately considered falsepositives, one was sent to a COVID unit postoperatively and two had urgent surgery delayed. Assuming negative repeat RT‐PCR, clear chest imaging, and lack of subsequent symptoms represent the “gold standard,” RT‐PCR specificity was 0.97. Conclusions If false positives are suspected, we recommend computed tomography (CT) of the chest and repeat RT‐PCR. Validated serum immunoglobulin testing may ultimately prove useful.

Background/aim Perineural invasion (PNI) is a significant pathological feature in head and neck cancer. The molecular mechanisms of PNI are poorly understood. Contrary to the previous belief that cancer cells invade nerves, recent studies have shown that Schwann cells (SC) can dedifferentiate, intercalate between cancer cells, and promote cancer dispersion. Communication between cells through brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) activation of its receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TRKB) may contribute to these cellular events. We aimed to determine the effect of TRKB inhibitor ANA-12 on the direction of cell migration and degree of SC-induced oral cancer cell dispersion. Materials and methods Cell migration and dispersion assays were performed in vitro using murine SC and oral carcinoma cell lines. Assays were performed with and without ANA-12. Results Although SCs preferentially migrated towards cancer cells in control medium, there was minimal SC-associated cancer cell dispersion. In contrast, treatment with ANA-12 reduced migration of SCs and cancer cells towards each other and initiated more SC-associated cancer cell dispersion. Conclusion This pilot study shows that BDNF-TRKB signaling may have a role in regulating interactions between SC and oral cancer cells that affect cell migration, intercalation, and cancer cell dispersion. Further research into these interactions may provide important clues about the molecular and cellular mechanisms of PNI.

Objectives/Hypothesis Determine disparities in survival outcome and clinical presentation between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients with human papillomavirus–positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Study Design Retrospective clinical research. Methods Clinical data on Hispanics and non-Hispanic white patients with diagnosis of human papillomavirus/p16–positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were drawn from a tumor registry from the University of Miami Hospitals and Clinics from 2008 to 2014. Of 436 patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, 237 patents met inclusion criteria. Patient's age, gender, smoking history, alcohol history, race/ethnicity, tumor T stage, nodal N stage, and composite TNM stage were included in the analysis. Associations between race and other categorical variables were explored with χ2 test or Fisher exact test where appropriate. Survival curves were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Significant differences in clinical presentation was detected between Hispanic (N = 70) and non-Hispanic white (N = 167) patients. Hispanic human papillomavirus–positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients showed a higher proportion of women with disease, a higher proportion of patients presenting with tonsil rather than tongue base primary subsite cancer, and a higher proportion of patients who do not consume alcohol compared to non-Hispanic white human papillomavirus–positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients. A statistically significant survival difference between these two ethnic groups was not detected in the current dataset. Conclusions Unique differences in clinical presentations between Hispanic patients and non-Hispanic whites with human papillomavirus–positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were detected. This may be the first study to report novel clinical presentation in Hispanic human papillomavirus–positive patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma living in the United States. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 2016

PURPOSE: Understanding the role of transoral surgery in oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) requires prospective, randomized multi-institutional data. Meticulous evaluation of surgeon expertise and surgical quality assurance (QA) will be critical to the validity of such trials. We describe a novel surgeon credentialing and QA process developed to support the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group E3311 (E3311) and report outcomes related to QA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: E3311 was a phase II randomized clinical trial of transoral surgery followed by low- or standard-dose, risk-adjusted post-operative therapy with stage III-IVa (AJCC 7(th) edition) HPV-associated OPC. In order to be credentialed to accrue to this trial, surgeons were required to demonstrate active hospital credentials and technique-specific surgical expertise with ≥20 cases of transoral resection for OPC. In addition,10 paired operative and surgical pathology reports from the preceding 24 months were reviewed by an expert panel. Ongoing QA required

Objectives Oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OOPSCC) is a debilitating disease. Salivary rinses contain soluble tumor markers including CD44 (solCD44) and total protein (TP) that may aid detection and prognosis of these aggressive tumors. Here we aim to examine the relationship between these salivary biomarkers and tissue markers p16 and CD44 and determine whether these markers can predict progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Materials and methods Prospective study to update biomarkers using oral rinses and tissues from OOPSC patients enrolled between 2007 and 2012 at an academic tertiary referral center. 64 cases from a 300-subject case-control study with archived tissue for immunohistochemistry were included. Results 82.8% were male, 84.4% were ever smokers, 70.3% had disease stage T3-T4, and 57.8% presented with nodal disease. Nineteen patients (25%) were p16 positive. The group with strong tissue CD44 expression in membrane and cytoplasm had higher levels of solCD44 (mean 10.73 ng/ml) than other groups (5.47 ng/ml) (p = 0.033). TP levels were significantly reduced in oral rinses from subjects with p16 universal gross tumor tissue staining (mean 0.80 vs. 1.08 mg/ml; p = 0.039). On multivariate analysis, universal CD44 gross tissue staining and TP levels ≥ 1 mg/ml demonstrated poorer PFS, with the latter also affecting OS. Poorer survival was associated with soluble CD44 ≥ 5.33 ng/ml and TP ≥ 1 mg/ml. Conclusions Direct associations were found between high solCD44 levels and strong membrane and cytoplasmic CD44 expression, and between high TP levels and peripheral/mixed p16 gross staining. Poorer PFS and OS are significantly associated with higher levels of solCD44 and protein in oral rinses.

Objective Two cases of laryngeal lipomatous tumors are presented. Their diagnoses and management are discussed and contrasted. Methods Case report and literature review. Results Patient 1 is a 58 year old male presenting with five years of progressive shortness of breath, dysphagia, and globus sensation. Clinical exam and imaging study showed a 3.5 cm hypodense laryngeal mass, and he underwent transoral robotic-assisted surgery for complete excision. Final pathology revealed a well-differentiated liposarcoma. Patient 2 is a 79 year old female presenting with one year of non-progressive hoarseness and globus sensation. Clinical examination and imaging study revealed a 1.8 cm hypodense laryngeal mass. Transoral endoscopic complete excision of the submucosal mass was performed. Final pathology revealed benign spindle-cell lipoma. Conclusion Liposarcoma and lipoma may present with similar symptomatology, clinical, and imaging findings. Pathology evaluation is of utmost importance for definitive diagnosis. Therefore, diagnosis and treatment of laryngeal lipomatous lesions are best accomplished with complete excision of the mass.

BACKGROUND Optimal transoral surgical modality for oropharyneal carcinoma is currently unclear. Transoral laser surgery (TLS), transoral robotic surgery (TORS), and conventional direct transoral (DT) oropharyngectomy are the main current transoral surgical modalities for oropharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS MEDLINE was systematically searched through PubMed. Reference lists were reviewed. Random-effects models were used to combine studies within each group. Tests for heterogeneity were used to explore difference in effect size between groups in subgroup analysis. RESULTS Nine studies (404 patients) in TORS arm, five studies (498 patients) in TLS arm, and three studies (335 patients) in DT arm were included. Early T classification (T1-T2) for TORS and DT were higher compared to TLS group (P

Understanding the complex histological, genetic and molecular changes that lead to malignant transformation of squamous epithelia of the head and neck will likely guide the development of methods for improved diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The development and use of animal models that closely mimic the histopathology and molecular pathogenesis of HNSCC in humans would greatly expand the research possibilities and provide a means of testing potential therapeutic agents. However, many available animal models of HNSCC fall short of this objective. In order for investigators to select the appropriate model to answer scientific questions, it is important to understand the benefits and limitations of available animal models for the study of HNSCC. The purpose of this work is to give an overview of the most pertinent animal models of HNSCC, and to discuss future directions of research in this field.

PURPOSE: To determine the feasibility of an organ preservation regimen consisting of infusional paclitaxel administered concurrently with radiotherapy to patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-three previously untreated patients with stage III or IV tumors were enrolled onto the study. Paclitaxel was administered as a 120-hour continuous infusion every 3 weeks during the course of radiation therapy. Sixteen patients received a paclitaxel dose of 105 mg/m2, and 17 patients received 120 mg/m2. Radiation was delivered in a standard format at 1.8 Gy/d to a total dose of 70.2 to 72 Gy. RESULTS: Three months after therapy, a 76% complete response (CR) at the primary site and a 70% overall CR was achieved. At 36 months, locoregional control was 55.7%, overall survival was 57.8%, and disease-free survival was 51.1%. The median survival duration for all 33 patients was greater than 50 months at the time of this report. Local toxicities including mucositis, dysphagia, and skin reactions were severe but tolerable. All patients retained functional speech, and all but four patients were swallowing food 3 months after treatment. Steady-state plasma concentrations for paclitaxel were not achieved during a 120-hour infusion, suggesting a nonlinear process. Tumor volume quantified by pretreatment computerized tomography imaging was associated with likelihood of response and survival. CONCLUSION: Paclitaxel administered as a 120-hour continuous infusion in combination with radiotherapy is a feasible and promising treatment for patients with advanced HNSCC.

Objective: Patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who develop respiratory failure and require mechanical ventilation have mortality rates of 85%. Tracheotomies are performed in this patient population for prolonged intubation. However, to date, objective data on tracheotomy in patients with AIDS are lacking. Tracheotomy in ventilator-dependent patients with AIDS presents risks to patients and exposes surgeons, nurses, and operating room personnel to human immunodeficiency virus–infected blood. Design: Given these considerations, we retrospectively reviewed our experience with tracheotomy in 10 intubated and ventilator-dependent patients with AIDS. Conclusions: Our study shows a mortality rate of 100%. We identify predictive factors and a prognosis that may aid in the treatment of these patients. (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1994;120:1126-1129)

Treatment for head-and-neck cancer (HNC) can lead to severe decrements in disease-specific quality of life (DSQOL) due to disfigurement and disability in speech, eating, and/or breathing. Psychosocial factors such as social support may explain individual variance in DSQOL outcomes.The researchers sought to evaluate changes in perceived availability of social support from pretreatment to posttreatment and to determine whether decreases in perceived social support predicted poorer posttreatment DSQOL among HNC patients, controlling for disease- and treatment-related factors.Participants (n = 32) were newly diagnosed with HNC and were awaiting surgery and/or radiation treatment. Measures included the ENRICHD Social Support instrument (ESSI) to assess perceived social support and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-HeadNeck (FACT-HN) to assess DSQOL. Paired-samples t-tests and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to determine relationships between pretreatment and posttreatment perceived social support and DSQOL.Perceived social support decreased significantly from pre- to posttreatment (F[31] = -2.71, P.01). After adjusting for relevant covariates and pretreatment DSQOL, change in perceived social support remained a significant predictor of posttreatment DSQOL (β = .47, P.01).This study included a relatively small sample of HNC patients, which limited power to evaluate mechanisms of observed relationships.Increased social isolation may be a risk factor for poorer physical recovery from, or adjustment to, treatment-related side effects. Social support may be an important target for psychosocial interventions for patients who face challenging treatment side effects.

Primary pleomorphic adenoma of the trachea is rare, as only 33 cases have been previously reported worldwide since 1922. We describe a new case of primary tracheal pleomorphic adenoma that was discovered incidentally in a 78-year-old man. The tumor was excised, and the patient recovered without complication. Salivary gland tumors of the trachea should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tracheal lesions; the diagnosis is confirmed by pathologic evaluation. Patients are adequately treated with sleeve resection and primary anastomosis whenever possible.

Black Americans are adversely affected by many types of malignancies.We reviewed data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program to evaluate racial disparities in head and neck cancer incidence, mortality, and survival.Head and neck cancer incidence is greater in the black population and peaks at a younger age. The incidence disparity is decreasing over time and is less for cancers of the oral cavity/pharynx (OCP) than for cancers of the larynx. The disparity in survival after diagnosis is substantial for both sites and is increasing over time because of improvement in survival for the white population, but not for the black population. Some, but not all, of the survival disparity is due to more advanced stage at the time of diagnosis within the black population. The age-adjusted mortality rate for black men is approximately twice the rate for white men.Black Americans clearly bear a greater burden from head and neck cancer. The underlying causes are largely unknown, but are most likely due to a complex interplay of differences in access to health care, quality of medical care, biologic/genetic factors, incidence of comorbid conditions, exposure to carcinogens, diet, and cultural beliefs. Prospective studies are needed to define the relative importance of these factors and to inform intervention strategies.

Complete esophageal stenosis secondary to peptic stricture in the upper esophagus is rare. It is, however a serious medical problem that may require otolaryngologic intervention because of life-threatening dysphagia and weight loss. We report the case of an elderly patient who presented with an upper esophageal stricture, without the typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, that progressed to complete esophageal obstruction despite use of proton pump inhibitors and esophageal dilatation. Definitive management of this difficult problem required esophagectomy and gastric pull-up. We discuss the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and multidisciplinary management of peptic esophageal strictures. This case illustrates the difficulty in managing high peptic strictures.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) involves the upper aerodigestive tract and can destroy the structure and function of organs involved in voice, speech, taste, smell and hearing, as well as vital structures necessary for survival. HNSCC has long been a treatment challenge because of the high rate of recurrences and of advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. Molecular identification of tissue biomarkers in diagnostic biopsy specimens may not only identify patients at risk for developing HNSCC but may also select patients that may benefit from more aggressive treatment modalities. Several biomarkers studied to date such as the proteins p53, cyclin D1, p16, Cox-2 enzyme, epidermal growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, matrix metalloproteinases and the Fhit marker for genomic instability could be manipulated for the therapeutic benefit of these patients. This review presents the most updated information on molecular biomarkers with the greatest prognostic potential in HNSCC and discusses some factors that contribute to the controversy concerning their prognostic importance.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) were previously shown to express a repertoire of cytokines and angiogenesis factors that contribute to malignant pathogenesis and are detectable in serum. Pretreatment and posttreatment serum levels of cytokines and angiogenesis factors were evaluated as markers for outcome in patients with HNSCC.Baseline cytokine and factor levels of 29 patients with HNSCC were compared with those of 15 age-matched and sex-matched controls, and pretreatment and posttreatment levels of 22 of the patients eligible for treatment and followed for a median of 37 months were compared.Mean serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and growth regulated oncogene 1 (GRO-1) were increased in patients with HNSCC, but elevation of these factors was not associated with clinical outcome. However, changes in first posttreatment serum cytokine levels were observed for many of the patients consistent with response, progression, and survival. Later increases in IL-6 or HGF were observed in patients who had a relapse and inflammatory or infectious complications. A relationship between the change in the pretreatment and first posttreatment cytokine measurement with survival was detected for HGF, IL-8, IL-6, and VEGF using a Cox-proportional hazards model (p = .004, p = .06, p = .10, and p = .11). The association between longitudinal decreases in IL-6, IL-8, VEGF, and HGF throughout the follow-up with survival was detected with a time-dependent Cox model (p = .01, .07, .08, and .05, respectively).Longitudinal changes in serum HGF, IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF were detected with treatment response, relapse, or complications in individual patients and were associated with survival, with HGF showing the strongest relationship with survival. HGF, IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF merit investigation as markers of response, survival, and recurrence in larger prospective studies.

Background Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita is an acquired inflammatory and/or dermolytic subepidermal blistering disease characterized by IgG autoantibodies to type VII collagen. Four patients with documented epidermolysis bullosa acquisita were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team of care providers (4 dermatologists, an ophthalmologist, a radiologist, a voice and speech specialist, and an otolaryngologist) for 1 to 5 years to characterize mucosal involvement and its complications and response to treatment. Patients were evaluated clinically and by slitlamp examinations, endoscopies, computed tomographic scans, and videofluorographic swallowing studies. Spiral computed tomographic scans for virtual endoscopy were used for the nontraumatic evaluation of airways in 2 patients with respiratory tract compromise. Observations Involvement of 5 or more mucosal sites—mouth, nose, conjunctiva, pharynx, and larynx—was documented in all patients. Complications included ankyloglossia, periodontal disease, scarring and crusting of nasal mucosa, symblepharon formation, obstruction of nasolacrimal ducts, deformation of the epiglottis, impaired phonation, dysphagia, esophageal strictures, and supraglottic stenosis requiring emergency tracheostomy. Conclusions Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita may extensively (or predominantly) affect mucosal epithelia in a manner resembling cicatricial pemphigoid. Mucosal disease in these patients is often subclinical, can lead to serious complications, and is best managed using a multidisciplinary approach.

Optimal management of advanced neck metastases as part of an organ preservation treatment approach for head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSC) is unclear. Since 1989, our management paradigm for patients on organ preservation was modified to incorporate planned early neck dissection before radiation therapy for patients who did not achieve a complete response (CR) of neck nodes after induction chemotherapy (IC). The purpose of this study was to determine if planned early neck dissection is a safe and effective approach in the management of advanced nodal disease as part of organ preservation. Fifty-eight consecutive patients with advanced HNSC who were entered in organ preservation trials using induction chemotherapy and radiation with surgical salvage were studied. Median follow-up was 26 months. Of the 58 patients, 71% were stage IV. Patients were grouped by nodal response to chemotherapy and N class, and were analyzed with respect to patterns of recurrence, complications, and survival. Overall, the rate of CR of neck nodes was 49%. Fifty-one percent had less than a complete response of neck nodes after IC and required planned early neck dissection. There were no significant differences in patterns of recurrence, complications, interval time to start of radiation, recurrence, or survival rates between the CR and less than CR groups. These data suggest that planned early neck dissection for patients with less than CR in the neck after IC is not detrimental with respect to neck relapse or overall survival. We believe that planned early neck dissection can be safely incorporated into future organ preservation treatment protocols for patients with advanced head and neck carcinoma.

Objective: Growth factor overexpression has been shown to be an integral part of the growth promotion of a number of tumors, including breast carcinoma, colon carcinoma, and sarcomas. The role of peptide growth factors in the regulation of growth of head and neck cancers has not been extensively investigated, however. In this study, we present our preliminary results of the pattern of expression of four growth factors: insulinlike growth factor II, transforming growth factor–α, basic fibroblast growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor A chain in human head and neck tumors. Design: We examined eight benign and 27 malignant human head and neck surgical specimens for the expression of growth factor messenger RNAs using the polymerase chain reaction technique. Results: Our preliminary data demonstrate that growth factor messenger RNA is expressed by most of our malignant head and neck cancer specimens and by all eight benign head and neck tissue specimens. However, we were not able to show any distinction in the pattern of growth factor RNA expression among the malignant head and neck surgical specimens for the four growth factors studied to date. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that the expression of specific biologically active genes can be studied in routine surgical specimens using the polymerase chain reaction. The clinical prognostic significance of the overexpression of growth factors in head and neck malignancy as well as future therapeutic implications are discussed. (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1993;119:1247-1252)

Objectives To determine whether age differences are present in the human laryngeal thyroarytenoid muscle that would indicate that different normative values would be needed for identifying motor unit abnormalities. Study Design Twenty-six consecutively recruited healthy subjects between the ages of 21 and 72 years participated in a laryngeal electromyography study. Methods Bipolar needle electrodes were used to record motor unit action potentials from several locations in the right and left thyroarytenoid muscles of each subject. The duration of a motor unit was measured when at least 10 firings of the same motor unit could be identified. On the average, four units were measured per muscle. Results In the subjects less than 60 years of age, motor unit duration did not increase significantly with age. However, motor units from subjects greater than 60 years of age had longer durations than those from subjects less than 60 years of age (P < .00005), and 25% of the units measured in subjects greater than 60 years of age had longer durations than any of the units measured in subjects less than 60 years of age. Further, the older subjects differed from each other in their mean unit durations (P < .0001). In subjects less than 60 years of age, significantly longer durations were found for units innervated by the longer, left-side recurrent laryngeal nerve in comparison with the right-side nerve (P = .005). Conclusions Different mean and SD values should be used for patients less than and greater than 60 years of age and for the right and left sides, when evaluating motor units in the thyroarytenoid muscles.