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6072 Background: Although PD-1 blockade has improved survival in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC, safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant immunotherapy with PD-L1 inhibitor with or without CTLA-4 inhibitor has not been investigated. Here, we report the updated results of the safety and efficacy of a preoperative D with or without T (D+/-T) in patients with resectable HNSCC, accompanied with high dimensional profiling of circulating immune cells. Methods: Patients with locally advanced but resectable HNSCC were eligible. Enrolled patients were randomized into D or D+T, stratified by primary site and human papilloma virus (HPV) infection status. A single dose of preoperative D (1500mg) or D+T (1500mg+75mg) was administered, with surgery planned 2 to 8 weeks later for curative resection. Postoperative (chemo) radiation was prescribed based on standard guidelines, followed by maintenance with D every 4 weeks for 1 year. Dynamic changes in circulating immune cells were tracked with mass cytometry. The primary objective was to determine the local recurrence rate. Secondary endpoints included pathologic response, safety, survival outcome, and exploration of immune dynamics. Results: As of January 25th 2022 for the interim analysis, a total of 45 patients were completely enrolled and received surgical resection (D: 21 patients, D+T: 24 patients). Oropharyngeal cancer was most common (n = 23; 51.1%) and HPV-mediated cancer was observed in 20 patients (44.4%). Neoadjuvant D+/-T had acceptable safety profiles and was not associated with delays in surgery or unexpected adverse events. Tumor shrinkage was observed in 31 patients (68.9%), with 15.6% of average tumor shrinkage (range; 100.0% to -80.0%). Major pathologic response (no more than 10% of viable tumor cells) was achieved in 3 patients (6.7%), including 2 cases with pathologic complete response (4.4%). During median follow-up duration of 407 days after surgery, local recurrence and systemic recurrence were documented in 9 patients (20.0%) and 7 patients (15.6%), respectively. Median disease-free survival and overall survival was 910 days and not reached, respectively. High dimensional immune profiling with mass cytometry revealed that D+T disproportionally increased the frequency of regulatory T cells accompanied with the upregulation of their functional markers, which was absent in patients treated with D monotherapy. Conclusions: These updated data suggested that preoperative D+/-T was safe and feasible and had the potential to provide clinical benefits for patients with resectable HNSCC. Distinct immunologic changes in circulating immune cells were induced by each treatment regimen, warranting further investigation. The trial is ongoing and the updated outcomes with immune correlates will be presented in this ASCO. Clinical trial information: NCT03737968.

Background To propose a classification of transoral base of tongue (BOT) procedures able to provide uniform terminology in order to better define postoperative results. Methods The classification resulted from the consensus of the different authors and is based on anatomical and surgical principles. Results The classification comprises three types of BOT resections: type 1 is the resection of the entire lingual tonsil to the muscular plane; type 2 is performed by removing the entire lingual tonsil and part of BOT muscles; type 3 is performed by removing the entire lingual tonsil and the entire BOT muscles. Based on the extension of the dissection, we can use the suffix A (contralateral BOT), B (supraglottic larynx), C (lateral oropharynx), and/or D (oral tongue). Conclusion The proposed classification could allow us to easily compare data from different centers.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of TORS and transoral robotic retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) dissection in tonsillar cancer patients with suspicious RPLN metastasis. METHODS From April 2008 to March 2014, 71 patients with tonsillar cancer underwent transoral robotic surgery and standard neck dissection at the Yonsei Head and Neck Cancer Center. RESULTS Three patients underwent transoral robotic ropharyngectomy with transoral robotic RPLN dissection because of suspicious RPLN metastasis. The mean age of the patients was 42 years (range, 31-50 years). There were no cases of wound infection or serious complications related to wound healing. Mild nasal regurgitation was observed during an oral diet immediately after surgery, but all patients spontaneously resolved without surgical treatment. There was no significant bleeding due to great vessel injury during surgery or swallowing difficulty due to cranial nerve IX injury. CONCLUSION Although the oncologic stability and usefulness of this technique should be confirmed based on large-scale research, RPLN can be easily accessed and resected through our approach with less morbidity compared to the conventional surgical approach. In addition, because RPLN metastasis can be performed pathologically based on obtained specimens, it will be helpful to explore whether to perform adjuvant radiation.

Purpose The indication of elective neck treatment (ENT) for clinically N0 (cN0) paranasal sinus (PNS) carcinoma remains unclear. We aimed to investigate different treatment outcomes regarding ENT and propose optimal recommendations for ENT. Materials and methods We identified patients with cN0 PNS carcinoma who underwent curative-intent treatment between 1992 and 2015. Survival outcomes and pattern of failure were compared between patients who received ENT and those who did not. We sought to identify significant patient or pathologic factors regarding treatment outcomes. Results Among 124 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, 40 (32%) received ENT ('ENT (+) group') and 84 (68%) did not ('ENT (-) group'). With a median follow-up of 54 months, the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 67%, and the 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 45%. There was no significant difference between the ENT (+) and ENT (-) groups regarding OS (p = 0.67) and PFS (p = 0.50). Neither group showed a significantly different pattern of failure, including regional failure (p = 0.91). There was no specific benefit, even in the subgroups analysis by tumor site, histologic type, and T stage. Nevertheless, patients who ever had regional and/ or distant failure showed significantly worse prognosis. Conclusion ENT did not significantly affect the survival outcome or pattern of failure in patients with cN0 PNS carcinomas, showing that ENT should not be generalized in this group. However, further discussion on the optimal strategy for ENT should continue because of the non-negligible regional failure rates and significantly worse prognosis after regional failure events.

Supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCL) can have a positive impact on patients' quality of life by circumventing dysphagia and voice problems resulting from creation of a permanent stoma after conventional total laryngectomy (TL) surgery.The aim of this study was to investigate the oncologic and functional outcomes of salvage SCL for recurrent laryngeal carcinoma.Forty-five patients that underwent salvage surgery for recurrent laryngeal carcinoma between January 2004 and May 2015 after initial treatment failure were included in this retrospective study.Overall survival and disease free survival were non-significantly higher in the salvage SCL group (n = 14) than in the salvage TL group (n = 31) (87.5 versus 56.5%, 53.4 versus 41.9%). Multivariate analyses showed only positive resection margin to be significantly associated with survival and recurrence (HR 9.974, p = .007, and HR 9.196, p = .002, respectively). In the salvage SCL group, 92.8% achieved successful decannulation and all patients returned to an oral diet. All patients in the salvage TL group sustained a permanent stoma and conversation was possible only through esophageal voice or a voice prosthesis. 74.2% of patients in the group were able to tolerate an oral diet.Salvage SCL showed comparable oncologic outcomes and favorable functional outcomes relative to the classic salvage TL. This study could provide a sufficient basis of SCL as salvage treatment for recurrent laryngeal carcinoma in selected patients.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and functional outcomes in patients with primary base of tongue (BOT) cancer who received definitive radiotherapy (RT) or surgery followed by radiotherapy (SRT). Materials and Methods Between January 2002 and December 2016, 102 patients with stage I-IVB primary BOT cancer underwent either definitive RT (n=46) or SRT (n=56), and treatment outcomes were compared between two groups. The expression of p16 was also analyzed. Results The RT group had more patients with advanced T stage (T3-4) disease (58.7% vs. 35.7%, p=0.021) and who received chemotherapy (91.3% vs. 37.5%, p < 0.001) than the SRT group. At a median follow up of 36.9 months (range, 3.3 to 181.5 months), the 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were 75.5% and 68.7%, respectively. With respect to treatment group, the 5-year OS and DFS in the RT and SRT groups did not differ significantly (OS, 68.7% vs. 80.5%, p=0.601; DFS, 63.1% vs. 73.1%, p=0.653). In multivariate analysis, OS differed significantly according to p16 expression (p16-negative vs. p16-positive; hazard ratio [HR], 0.145; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.025 to 0.853; p=0.033). Regarding DFS, p16 expression (p16-negative vs. p16-positive; HR, 0.164; 95% CI, 0.045 to 0.598; p=0.006) showed a significant effect in multivariate analysis. Functional defects (late grade ≥ 3 dysphagia or voice alteration) were more frequently reported in the SRT than in the RT group (16.1% vs. 2.2%, p=0.021). Conclusion Despite advanced disease, patients in the RT group showed comparable survival outcomes and better functional preservation than those in the SRT group.

As a solution to enhance the air quality for public health while reducing energy consumption, introduction of high efficiency motors with inverters enabling variable speed operation of subway station ventilation systems has been proposed. However, as the initial costs for these alternative systems are around eight times more than those for conventional fixed speed systems, a comprehensive feasibility analysis should be conducted. Previous analyses focused on economic benefits based on predetermined loads for ventilation. As such, the various social benefits that are dynamically determined according to energy saving resulting from variable speed operation could not be determined. This research presents a probabilistic social cost-benefit analysis model. The ventilation systems’ operational loads are mainly affected by particulate matter concentrations; these can be predicted through probabilistic simulation of previous weather data. The probabilistically analyzed energy saving influences the social benefits i.e. fuel reduction, carbon dioxide reduction, and air pollutant reduction. The proposed analysis model is validated with real world data obtained from the operation of underground subway station ventilation systems in which synchronous reluctance motors (SynRM), a type of high efficiency variable speed motor, and inverters are installed by the authors.

Purpose Distant failure is a major concern in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. We evaluated whether the metabolic features on F-FDG PET/CT can predict distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 51 patients stage III, IVA, and IVB nasopharyngeal carcinoma who underwent F-FDG PET/CT at staging. The SUVmax for the primary site and the lymph nodes with the highest uptake as well as at the farthest station were divided by the SUVmean of the background liver (TLR, NLR-H, and NLR-F, respectively). The prognostic value of clinicopathologic factors and SUV parameters for predicting DMFS were assessed using a Cox proportional hazards model. Differences in DMFS were examined by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results In the median follow-up period of 50.4 ± 39.3 months (median ± interquartile range; range, 3.8-130.9), distant metastasis developed in 11 patients (21.6%). In univariate analyses, N stage (N3b) (P = 0.003) and NLR-H >5.70 (P = 0.02) were significant prognostic factors for DMFS, and remained significant in multivariate analysis, whereas TLR (P = 0.18) and NLR-F (P = 0.76) did not. The Kaplan-Meier curves showed significantly poorer DMFS in patients with NLR-H >5.70 than in those with lower NLR-H (≤5.70) (1-year DMFS rate, 84.2% vs 93.5%; P = 0.01). Conclusions In addition to anatomical N stage, higher NLR-H on pretreatment F-FDG PET/CT is an independent prognostic factor for worse DMFS in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

To report outcomes with regard to clinical aspects and medical costs of adenotonsillectomy and tonsillectomy at a single institution before and after implementation of the Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRG) payment system in Korea.We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients treated with adenotonsillectomy or tonsillectomy between July 2012 and June 2014. The Korean DRG payment system was applied to seven groups of specific diseases and surgeries including adenotonsillectomy and tonsillectomy from July 2013 at all hospitals in Korea. We divided patients into four groups according whether the fee-for-service (FFS) or DRG payment system was implemented and operation type (FFS-adenotonsillectomy (AT), DRG-AT, FFS-tonsillectomy (T), and DRG-T).A total of 1402 patients were included (485 FFS-AT, 490 DRG-AT, 203 FFS-T, and 223 DRG-T). The total medical cost of the DRG-AT group was significantly lower than that of the FFS-AT group (1191±404 vs. 1110±279 USD, P0.05). There were no significant differences in length of hospital stay or postoperative complications among groups.The Korean DRG system for adenotonsillectomy and tonsillectomy reduced medical costs and clinical outcomes were not significantly altered by the adoption of the DRG system.4.

Robotic head and neck surgery is widespread nowadays. However, in the reconstruction field, the use of robotic operations is not. This article aimed to examine methodologies for conventional head and neck reconstruction after robotic tumor surgery in an effort to obtain further options for future reconstruction manipulations.A retrospective review of all patients who received head and neck robot surgery and conventional reconstructive surgery between October 2016 and September 2021.In total, 53 cases were performed. 67.9% of the tumors were greater than 4 cm. Regarding defect size, 47.2% of the lesions were greater than 8 cm. In terms of TNM stage, stage 3 disease was recorded in 26.4% and stage 4 in 52.8%. To make a deep and narrow field wider, we changed the patient's posture in pre-op field, additional dissection was done. We used radial forearm flap mostly (62.2%).Conventional head and neck reconstruction after robotic ENT cancer surgery is possible. One key step is to secure additional space in the deep and narrow space left after robotic surgery. For this, we opted for a radial forearm flap mostly. This can be performed as a bridgehead to perform robotic head and neck reconstruction.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare the treatment outcomes of definitive radiotherapy (RT) with cordectomy in patients with early glottic cancer. Materials and methods A total of 165 patients who were diagnosedwith T1/2 squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx between January 2006 and December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 112 patients received RT and 53 patients received cordectomy. Local control (LC), disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and larynx preservation rates after RT and cordectomy were investigated. Results The median follow-up period was 77.7 months (range, 10.7 to 127.0 months). The 3- and 5-year LC rates were 91.9% and 89.9%, respectively, for the RT group, and 82.8% and 73.2%, respectively, for the cordectomy group (p=0.006). The 3- and 5-year DFS rates were 87.5% and 83.7%, respectively, for the RT group and 79.2% and 68.0%, respectively, for the cordectomy group (p=0.046). No significant differences were identified in the 5-year OS (92.8% vs. 90.6%, p=0.713) or larynx preservation rates (98.2% vs. 97.2%, p=0.831) between groups. The major failure pattern was local failure (n=26), followed by regional (n=3) and distant failure (n=2). Multivariate analysis of LC showed that T2 stage (p=0.012) and receiving cordectomy as initial treatment (p=0.001) were significantly associated with poorer LC. Conclusion RT resulted in higher rates of LC and DFS compared to cordectomy for early glottic cancer. Treatment with radiotherapy is feasible and should be encouraged for both T1 and T2 glottic cancer.

The occurrence of trauma is associated with various factors, including weather. We aimed to elucidate the relationship between local weather factors and the incidence of trauma to effectively manage and treat patients in a community setting. A retrospective study was conducted at a single center from January 2016 to December 2019. The study participants were trauma patients in the Cheongju area where the regional trauma center is located. Weather data including average daily temperature (°C), rainfall duration (hours), amount of rainfall (mm), average relative humidity (%), wind speed (m/s), and total sunlight hours per day were collected. One-way analysis of variance, correlation analysis, and linear regression analysis were performed. The average age of the participants (n = 3352) was 52.69 years. As regards seasonal difference in the incidence of trauma, there were more patients in spring than in winter (2.42/day vs 2.06/day, P = .05). The highest number of average daily trauma incidents occurred from April to June, and the difference between this value and that from January to February was significant (F = 2.20, P = .01). According to the distributed lag nonlinear model (DLnM), the relative risk is greater than 1 when the mean temperature is high (>15°C) compared to when the temperature is low (Ref. 8 hours), the trauma patient prevalence was relatively higher than the median value (lag = 0). DLnM analysis results showed that the relative risk of trauma patients increased as the amount of precipitation increased, and the incidence of trauma increased when the relative humidity was 40% to 50%. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that high average daily temperatures and long average daily total sunlight hours resulted in an increased incidence of trauma (F = 6.605, P

Eagle's syndrome is characterised by focal pain in the tonsillar fossa on wide mouth opening or head rotation and various accompanying symptoms. While the syndrome is difficult to diagnose, shortening the styloid process via a transoral or transcervical surgical approach has been shown to be the most effective treatment. The aim of this article was to document our experience with a transoral robotic approach to treat Eagle's syndrome and to present the outcomes of four patients. We reviewed the cases of four patients with Eagle's syndrome who underwent transoral robotic surgery (TORS). The average age of patients was 53.75 years, and there were equal numbers of males and females. The styloid processes were reconstructed in 3D from the preoperative CT scans and were measured as an average of 4.18 cm (range 3.3-5.1). The mean set-up time and operation times were less than 10 minutes and 30 minutes, respectively. All patients were completely relieved of symptoms, and were able to restart an oral diet on post-operative day 1. No patient suffered intraoperative or postoperative complication, including cranial nerve injury, haemorrhage, or deep neck infection. In our experience, transoral excision of the styloid process via a robotic approach can be considered as a feasible treatment option for Eagle's syndrome.La sindrome di Eagle è caratterizzata da dolore a livello della loggia tonsillare all’apertura della bocca o alla rotazione della testa, e da vari altri sintomi associati. Nonostante la sindrome sia difficile da diagnosticare, è stato osservato che l’accorciamento del processo stiloideo per via transorale o trancervicale è il trattamento più efficace. L’obiettivo di questo studio è stato quello di portare la nostra esperienza con la chirurgia robotica transorale nel trattamento della sindrome di Eagle, presentando i risultati di quattro pazienti. Abbiamo dunque revisionato i casi di quattro pazienti con Sindrome di Eagle sottoposti a chirurgia robotica transorale (TORS). L’età media dei pazienti era 53.75, e i due sessi erano rappresentati in ugual misura. I processi stiloidei sono stati ricostruiti in 3D a partire dalle scansioni TC preoperatorie e sono stati misurati: la media è risultata pari a 4.18 cm (range 3.3-5.1 cm). I tempi medi di preparazione e di intervento sono risultati pari a 10 e 30 minuti rispettivamente. Tutti i pazienti hanno avuto una completa risoluzione dei sintomi e tutti hanno ripreso la dieta orale in prima giornata postoperatoria. Non c’è stata nessuna complicanza intraoperaatoria o postoperatoria, come emorragie, infezioni o lesioni di nervi cranici. Dalla nostra esperienza si evince che l’accorciamento del processo stiloideo con chirurgia robotica transorale può essere una valida opzione per il trattamento della sindrome di Eagle.

Objective TORS-based therapy including chemotherapy or RTx was administered to patients with stage III-IV OPSCC. We analyzed the oncological and functional outcomes of stage III-IV OPSCC patients who underwent TORS-based therapy. Materials and methods Between May 2008 and May 2016, 80 patients participated in this clinical trial. Results A negative margin was identified in 66 patients (82.5%) and a positive margin in 14 (17.5%). TNM stages were III in 13 patients (16.3%) and IV in 67 patients (83.8%). Of the patients, 13 received surgery alone, 28 had adjuvant RTx and 39 had adjuvant CCRTx. At last follow-up, 67 patients had no evidence of disease, seven were alive with disease, and six had died. Local recurrence developed in 2 patients and regional recurrence in 10. Five-year overall survival was 88.8%, disease-specific survival was 89.9%, and recurrence-free survival was 78.3%. The 5-year disease-specific survival of OPSCC patients with p16+ disease was 93.2%, which was higher than 89.0% of patients with p16− disease, but the difference was not statically significant. On multivariate analysis, only extranodal extension showed a significant relationship with recurrence-free survival on Cox regression analysis. Conclusion TORS-based therapy showed excellent oncological and functional outcomes for treatment of stage III-IV OPSCC. For advanced T stage OPSCC, clear margins were obtained using TORS-based therapy and patients with clear margins showed good local control. Risk stratification of patients based on pathological information obtained after surgery and decision about additional treatment based on the information helped improve OS and DSS of OPSCC patients.

We conducted a prospective clinical trial of combination neoadjuvant chemotherapy, transoral robotic surgery (TORS), and customized adjuvant therapy in patients with locally advanced laryngo-hypopharyngeal cancer. Between September 2008 and August 2016, 35 patients were enrolled in this clinical trial. Twenty patients had hypopharyngeal cancer and 15 had laryngeal cancer. Twenty-nine patients (82.9%) had T3 disease and six patients (17.1%) had T4 disease, while 12 patients (34.3%) had stage III disease and 23 patients (65.7%) had stage IV disease. The 3-year disease-specific survival rate was 82.4% and the 3-year disease-free survival rate was 69.48%. Decannulation was successful in 31 of 34 patients at an average of 18 days postoperatively. Among all patients, 83% exhibited a favorable subjective swallowing status, while five patients (14.4%) became dependent on feeding tubes. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with TORS and customized adjuvant therapy, based on detailed pathological information, afforded favorable oncological outcomes and preserved organ functionalities in T3–T4 laryngo-hypopharyngeal cancer.

Objective Previously, we have reported the feasibility of retroauricular (RA) robotic thyroidectomy. Despite its promising surgical outcomes, there were certain intrinsic mechanical limitations inherent to the da Vinci Si System (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, California, U.S.A.). Since the advent of an upgraded model, the Xi System (Intuitive Surgical), we have actively incorporated the new model into performing RA thyroidectomy. Here, we intend to verify the feasibility of RA robotic thyroidectomy using the new da Vinci Xi System (Intuitive Surgical) with comparison of the former Si-applied surgery (Intuitive Surgical). Study Design Comparative analysis. Methods There were total 165 consecutive patients who received RA robotic thyroidectomy from January 2013 to February 2016. The patients were divided into two groups: Si group (n = 125) and Xi group (n = 40). Perioperative and treatment outcomes were compared and analyzed. Results Compared with the previous system, new da Vinci Xi system (Intuitive Surgical) enabled insertion of an extra third robotic instrumental arm. Unlike the previous robotic surgical technique, the robotic dissection could be initiated immediately after the establishment of working space and the resulting total operation time could be significantly decreased. There was no difference in the surgical completeness, as confirmed by postoperative thyroglobulin levels. Additionally, flexed EndoWrist (Intuitive Surgical) instruments equipped with the Erbe (Erbe USA Inc., Marietta, Georgia, U.S.A.) system could be mounted, which further facilitated the operation. There were no significant differences in postoperative complications between the two groups. Conclusion The RA robotic thyroidectomy with the new Xi System (Intuitive Surgical) can greatly facilitate the robotic surgery with comparable or improved surgical outcomes. Its application is expected to open up a new era of robotic neck surgery. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 2017

Although there are various methods for tracheal reconstruction, such as a simple approximation with suturing and coverage with adjacent soft tissue or muscle, large defects >50% of the tracheal length still present a clinical challenge. Tissue engineering, a recent promising way to possibly resolve this problem, requires a long preparatory period for stem cell seeding on a scaffold and relatively invasive procedures for stem cell harvesting. As an alternative, we used a vascularized myofascial flap for tracheal reconstruction. In four porcine models, the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) was used in two and the superior epigastric artery perforator (SEAP) in two. Transformation of the surface of the transplanted myofascial flap was analyzed in the airway environment. The flaps failed in the DIEP group due to venous congestion. At 12 weeks postoperatively, none of SEAP group showed any signs of respiratory distress; the inner surface of the implant exhibited stratified squamous epithelium with sparse cilia. In the clinical setting, a patient who underwent a tracheal reconstruction with a vascularized myofascial flap and 2-year follow-up was in good health with no respiratory distress symptoms.

Objective We conducted a prospective clinical trial of transoral robotic surgery in patients with hypopharyngeal cancer and herein report the long-term oncological and functional outcomes. Materials and methods Between April 2008 and March 2014, 45 patients diagnosed with hypopharyngeal cancer participated in this prospective study. Results All patients were male with a mean age of 66.7 years. The median follow-up period was 60 months. Patients were classified using the staging system of the American Joint Commission on Cancer, as follows: Stage I, 7.9%; Stage II, 5.3%; Stage III, 15.8%; Stage IV, 71.1. Of all 38 patients, 17 (44.7%) were alive with no evidence of disease at the last follow-up. Seven patients (18.4%) died of TNM-related disease and fourteen (36.8%) from other causes. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate of stage I and II patients was 100.0%, and that of stage III and IV patients was 74.0%. The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 100.0% for stage I and II patients and 68.6% for stage III and IV patients. Conclusions Patients who underwent TORS exhibited oncological outcomes comparable to those of conventional therapies and rapid functional recovery with low surgical morbidity. TORS and simultaneous neck dissection, with or without adjuvant therapy, may be effective alternatives to existing treatment methods.

Purpose: The elderly are more likely to be on anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications, which increase bleeding. We aimed to determine the effect of preinjury anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications on required blood transfusions and the trauma outcomes of elderly patients.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all elderly trauma patients admitted to Chungbuk National University Hospital from January 2016 to June 2019. We compared the required number of blood transfusion units, complications, and mortality rate between those on anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications and those that were not, using the chi-squared test, independent t-test, liner regression analysis, and logistic regression analysis.Results: Out of 466 patients, 142 were on anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications while 324 were not. There was a significant statistical difference in the unit amount of red blood cells transfused within 4 hours of arriving at the hospital between the medicated and non-medicated groups (0.89 vs 1.43 units, respectively, p = 0.02); however, multivariate analysis showed no statistical difference (p = 0.28). The medication group showed a higher rate of complications compared to the non-medicated group (47.9% vs. 29.6%, respectively, p = 0.001), bleeding (17.6% vs 2.8%, respectively, p = 0.001), and pneumonia (24.4% vs 14.2%, respectively, p =0.01). There was no statistical difference in the mortality rate (16.9% vs. 22.2%, respectively, p = 0.21). Conclusion: Preinjury anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications in elderly trauma patients increased bleeding and complications such as pneumonia but did not affect transfusion requirement, or mortality rate.

Reinke’s edema is a benign laryngeal condition characterized by swelling of the superficial layer of the lamina propria of the vocal fold. The aim of this work is to propose a new classification of Reinke’s edema based on its morphological characteristics. Our classification is a synthesis of the classifications available in the literature and is based on morphological characteristics such as the involvement of one or two vocal folds and the presence or absence of polypoid lesions regardless of the observation method. We indicate four types of Reinke’s edema: type 1: Reinke’s edema of one vocal fold; type 2: Reinke’s edema of both vocal folds; type 3: Reinke’s edema of one vocal fold with associated polypoid lesion, not necessarily the same fold of the edema; type 4: Reinke’s edema of both vocal folds with associated polypoid lesion on one or both folds. Our proposed classification for Reinke’s edema represents a synthesis of the classifications available in the literature and is characterized by a simple categorization based on morphological characteristics commonly visible through laryngoscopy.

Benefits and drawbacks of robotic surgical approaches for parapharyngeal space (PPS) tumors remain undetermined. The purpose of this study is to compare surgical outcomes of PPS tumor patients who underwent robotic surgery with those of patients who received conventional surgical treatment. We retrospectively analyzed clinicopathologic data from 136 patients who underwent surgical removal of PPS tumors via conventional or robotic approaches. We identified PPS tumors in pre- and poststyloid regions in 87 (64%) and 49 (36%) patients, respectively. There were 48 (35.3%) pleomorphic adenomas, 36 (26.5%) schwannomas, and 24 (17.6%) paragangliomas. Conventional surgical techniques were performed in 83 patients, and robotic surgical approaches were administered to 53 patients. Transcervical-parotid and transcervical approaches were most commonly performed in conventional surgery, while transoral and retroauricular approaches were the preferred surgical methods in robotic surgery for pre- and poststyloid PPS tumors, respectively. Robotic surgery resulted in less estimated blood loss during poststyloid PPS tumor surgery. Postoperative cranial nerve complications were noted in 36 of 83 cases (43.4%) in the conventional surgery group and in 17 of 53 cases (32.1%) in the robotic surgery group. Intraoperative tumor spillage of pleomorphic adenoma showed no significant differences between the two groups (13.6% in conventional vs. 15.4% in robotic surgery). The mean follow-up time was 4.9 ± 3.4 years, and recurrences were observed in two patients during follow-up without a significant difference between the two groups (4.5% in conventional vs. 3.8% in robotic surgery). Robotic surgery in PPS tumors is feasible through transoral, retroauricular, or combined approaches and provides treatment outcomes comparable to those of conventional open surgery.

Due to the rarity of low-grade parotid gland cancer and the diversity of histologic subtype, its optimal treatment modalities and prognostic factors have not been established yet. In this study, we aimed to identify the prognostic factors and adequate treatment modalities for patients with low-grade parotid gland cancer.We retrospectively analyzed clinico-pathologic data from 287 patients with low-grade parotid gland cancer from 1999 to 2018.Recurrence-free survival, disease-specific survival, and overall survival rates at 10 years were 80.6%, 93.9%, and 84.4%, respectively. Among all patients, 56.1% received surgery alone, and the remaining 43.9% received surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy. Resection margin status and TNM stage were significant unfavorable prognostic factors. In patients with T1-2 tumor, surgical extent (total vs. less-than-total) did not show any significant effect on disease recurrence and patients' survival, and the disease was controlled well if a negative surgical margin was obtained after surgery, even with microscopic clear margin of1 mm. In patients with adverse pathologic features (positive margin, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, extracapsular nodal spread, T3-4, and N1-3), adjuvant radiotherapy significantly decreased loco-regional recurrence.Oncological outcomes were good in patients with low-grade parotid gland cancer with surgery and radiotherapy. In patients with T1-2 low-grade parotid gland cancer, surgery alone showed good local control rate regardless of the extent of surgery, if a negative surgical margin was obtained after surgery. Adjuvant radiotherapy played a significant role in controlling loco-regional recurrence in patients with adverse pathologic features.

Purpose The aim of the study is proposing a classification of different transoral lateral oropharyngectomy procedures in order to ensure better definitions of post-operative results. Methods The classification resulted from the consensus of the different authors and was based on anatomical-surgical principles. Results The classification comprises three types of lateral oropharyngectomy: type 1 is the resection of the palatine tonsil deep to the pharyngobasilar fascia; type 2 is performed by removing the entire palatine tonsil, the palatoglossus muscle, the palatopharyngeal muscle and the superior constrictor muscle; type 3 is performed by removing the entire palatine tonsil, the palatoglossus muscle, the palatopharyngeal muscle, the superior constrictor muscle, the buccopharyngeal fascia with extension to the pterygoid muscle and parapharyngeal space fat content. Based on the extension of the dissection we can use the suffix A (soft palate), B (posterior pharyngeal wall), C (base of tongue) and D (retromolar trigone). Conclusion The proposed classification introduces a simple and easy to use categorization of transoral lateral oropharyngectomies into three classes. Resection extensions are easily described using suffixes.

Background: We aimed to reduce the morbidity related to treatment and to preserve organ function in patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) by applying a new surgical t...

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the DaVinci SP system for performing transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in patients with head and neck cancer. From October 2018 to April 2019, the medical records of 41 patients who underwent TORS using the DaVinci SP system were retrospectively reviewed. During TORS, three robotic arms could be used to perform a geometric resection of the lesion in a narrow working space. The mean total operation time was 60 min, and the average time required to set up the robotic system was 10 min or less. All patients successfully underwent TORS. All robotic arms were inserted through a single port, which widened the working space around the patient’s head and allowed the operative assistant an easy approach to the patient during the operation. The joggle joint of the robotic arms aided easy manipulation within the confined working space. The joggle joints of the endoscopic arm were controlled through the navigation system, which was very helpful in securing superior visualization of the surgical site, especially in the area of the larynx and the hypopharynx. The study confirmed that the DaVinci SP system provided technical advantages above the Si and Xi systems for performing TORS. It was especially helpful in ensuring proper visualization of the surgical field and in performing precise surgery during surgery to the tongue base or the hypopharyngeal lesion.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of p16 expression as a surrogate marker of human papillomavirus status in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients underwent surgery followed by postoperative radiotherapy. METHODS We identified 126 consecutive patients with histologically confirmed, newly diagnosed oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who received surgery followed by radiotherapy and had p16 expression data available. All patients were treated between 2001 and 2011. Patients with high-risk factors (positive surgical margin and/or extracapsular extension) or other risk factors (multiple positive lymph nodes, perineural/lymphovascular invasion) were offered postoperative radiotherapy with or without concurrent chemotherapy. RESULTS One hundred and four (82.5%) patients were p16-positive (p16 (+)) and 22 (17.5%) were p16-negative (p16 (-)). With a median follow-up of 56 months, patients with p16 (+) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma exhibited a significantly better 5-year disease-free survival (80.7% vs. 57.6%, P

Objective Radioresistance is the main determinant of treatment outcome in head and neck cancer. The aim of this study was to establish radioresistant head and neck cancer cell lines and isolate cancer stem cells from them to investigate the role of cancer stem cells in radioresistant head and neck cancer. Methods To induce radioresistant cell lines, radiation was delivered to SCC15, SCC25, and QLL1 cells with an accumulated dosage of 60 Gy over 30 cycles of irradiation. After a total of 60 Gy of irradiation, the radioresistance of irradiated cancer cells was verified by MTT assay. The radioresistant cells were cultured in serum-free medium in ultra-low-attachment culture flasks to induce sphere-forming cells. Then, sphere-forming cells were analyzed using Western blotting to identify the expression of stem cell markers, such as Nanog and Sox-2. Results The MTT assay of cell viability showed more radioresistance in the irradiated cancer cell lines than in the non-irradiated cancer cell lines. Sphere-forming cells were identified in all three cancer cell lines 3–5 days after serum deprivation. All sphere-forming cells from the three cancer cell lines expressed stem cell markers. Sphere-forming cells showed more radioresistance than monolayer cells after irradiation by colony forming assay. Conclusion Cancer stem cells seem to play an important role in the radioresistance of head and neck cancer. Further research is required to find a precise mechanism of radioresistance related to cancer stem cells.

Electrochromism is a phenomenon involving change of colors under an externally applied voltages Because its importance is rising today, various fabrication processes have been used to manufacture electrochromic devices (ECDs). In this review, solution-, vapor-, and solid particle-based processes are introduced and compared in terms of process parameters. The seven representative fabrication processes discussed in this paper are electrodeposition, sol-gel, spray pyrolysis, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), thermal evaporation deposition, sputtering, and nanoparticle deposition systems (NPDS). Temperature and vacuum conditions for each process are compared. Electrodeposition and sol-gel processes can be performed under atmospheric pressure. Most sputtering and NPDS processes are conducted at room temperature. Although many fabrication processes are reviewed here, commercialization, environmental issues, cost, improvement of performance, and enhancement of product size will be studied for future ECDs.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) for a carcinoma of the external auditory canal (EAC) and middle ear. Materials and methods The records of 32 patients who received RT from 1990 to 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. The Pittsburgh classification was used to stage all the cancers (early stage, T1/T2 [n=12]; advanced stage, T3/T4 or N positive [n=20]). Twenty-one patients (65.6%) were treated with postoperative RT and 11 patients (34.4%) were treated with definitive RT. The median radiation doses for postoperative and definitive RT were 60 Gy and 64.8 Gy, respectively. Chemotherapy was administered to seven patients (21.9%). Results The 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates for all patients were 57% and 52%, respectively. The disease control rates for the patients with early stage versus advanced stage carcinomawere 55.6% (5/9) and 50% (6/12) in the postoperative RT group and 66.7% (2/3) and 37.5% (3/8) in the definitive RT group, respectively. Overall, 15 cases (14 patients, 46.7%) experienced treatment failure; these failures were classified as local in four cases, regional in one case, and distant in 10 cases. The median follow-up period after RT was 51 months (range, 7 to 286 months). Conclusion Patients with early stage carcinoma achieved better outcomes when definitive RT was used. Advanced stage carcinoma patients experienced better outcomes with postoperative RT. The high rate of distant failure after RT, with or without surgery, reflected the lack of a consensus regarding the best therapeutic approach for treating carcinoma of the EAC and middle ear.

Background The purpose of this study was to determine whether pretreatment 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) volumetric parameters add more prognostic information to p16-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods We retrospectively analyzed 86 patients with p16-positive oropharyngeal SCC who underwent surgery and postoperative radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) were measured. Results Higher total MTV (tMTV), nodal MTV (nMTV), and tumor TLG (tTLG) were significantly associated with lower disease-free survival (DFS) (all p < .05) and higher distant metastasis rates (all p < .05). Multivariate analysis of DFS revealed that tMTV (p = .032), nMTV (p = .004), and tTLG (p = .018) were independently significant prognosticators. Conclusion Patients with p16-positive disease with high metabolic tumor burden were associated with higher distant metastasis rates, translating into worse survival. These patients may not be optimal candidates for treatment deintensification. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2016

Background: Head and neck cancer patients often suffer from dysphagia after surgery and radiotherapy. A singing-enhanced swallowing protocol was established to improve their swallowing function. This study aimed to evaluate the beneficial effects of therapeutic singing on dysphagia in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Methods: Patients who participated in this study were allocated to the intervention group (15 patients) and the control group (13 patients). Patients assigned to the intervention group received therapeutic singing 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Each group was divided into 2 subgroups, including the oral cavity cancer group and the pharyngeal cancer group. The patients’ vocal functions were evaluated in maximum phonation time, pitch, intensity, jitter, shimmer, harmonics to noise ratio, and laryngeal diadochokinesis (L-DDK). To evaluate swallowing function, videofluoroscopic swallowing study was done, and the results were analyzed by videofluoroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS) and dynamic imaging grade of swallowing toxicity (DIGEST). Results: Among the voice parameters, L-DDK of the intervention group significantly increased compared to that of the control group. Swallowing functions of the intervention group were significantly improved in VDS and DIGEST after the intervention. Detailed items of VDS and DIGEST showed improvements especially in the pharyngeal phase score of VDS, such as laryngeal elevation, pharyngeal transit time, and aspiration. In addition, the pharyngeal cancer group showed significant improvements in VDS and DIGEST scores after the intervention. Conclusions: Our outcomes highlight the beneficial effects of singing for HNC patients with dysphagia. The notable improvements in the pharyngeal phase suggest that therapeutic singing would be more appropriate for HNC patients who need to improve their intrinsic muscle movements of vocal fold and laryngeal elevation.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes of patients with T1-2, high-grade parotid cancer, and to analyze the prognostic factors and treatment failure patterns. Materials and methods Of the 101 patients who were diagnosed with high-grade parotid cancer from March 2003 to December 2018, a total of 39 males and 23 females who had T1-2 tumor were enrolled in this study. Results The average follow-up period of patients in this study was 63.9 months. The 5-year overall survival rate was 73.0%, and the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 57.6%. Thirty-nine patients underwent less-than-total parotidectomies, and the remaining 23 patients underwent total parotidectomies. After surgery, 50 patients received adjuvant treatment. During the study, 25 recurrences were documented, including nine local recurrences and 16 distant metastases. The average time period between the end of initial treatment and disease relapse was 17.0 months. A total of 16 patients succumbed to disease progression. Multivariate Cox proportional regression analysis showed that lymphovascular invasion (LVI) was an independent prognostic factor affecting disease recurrence and patient deaths. Among various factors, LVI and lymph node (LN) metastasis showed statistically significant correlations with distant metastasis. Conclusion Although we achieved favorable therapeutic results using standard treatments in selected patients, T1-2 high-grade parotid cancers generally have poor prognosis. Distant metastases that occur during follow-up are a major factor in treatment failure and LVI and LN metastasis are significantly associated with distant metastasis.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Objective: Disulfiram (DSF), which is used to treat alcohol dependence, has been reported to have anticancer effects in various malignant tumors. However, the anticancer effects and mechanism of DSF in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have not yet been studied. In this study, we investigated the anticancer effects and mechanism of DSF in HNSCC. Materials and Methods: Head and neck squamous carcinoma cell lines (FaDu and Hep2) were used to analyze the anticancer effects of DSF. The anticancer effects of DSF were confirmed in vivo using a FaDu xenograft tumor model. Results: The anticancer effects of DSF in HNSCC were found to be copper (Cu) dependent. Specifically, DSF/Cu markedly inhibited HNSCC at a concentration of 1 μM, and their combined inhibitory effect was dose-dependent. After DSF/Cu administration, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was remarkable starting at 0.5 μM, suggesting that the inhibitory effects of DSF/Cu on HNSCC are mediated through the formation of ROS. In the HNSCC cell lines, levels of phospho-JNK, phospho-cJun and phospho-p38 were increased after DSF/Cu treatment while levels of phospho-Akt were decreased. These results suggested that the inhibitory effects of DSF/Cu on HNSCC cells involve ROS formation and downregulation of Akt-signaling. Through these molecular mechanisms, DSF ultimately induces the inhibitory effects on HNSCC cell lines mainly through autophagic cell death, not apoptotic cell death. Lastly, we investigated the clinical relevance of DSF/Cu using a HNSCC xenograft animal model, which showed that tumor growth was remarkably decreased by DSF (50 mg/kg injection). Conclusion: Treating patients with both HNSCC and alcohol dependence with DSF may contribute to improved patient survival. The anticancer effects of DSF on HNSCC may suggest new therapeutic potential for this medication in HNSCC patients. Citation Format: Young Min Park, Da Hee Kim, Min Seok Kang, Yoon Woo Koh, Eun Chang Choi, Se-Heon Kim. Anticancer effects of disulfiram in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma via autophagic cell death [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-AHNS Head and Neck Cancer Conference: Optimizing Survival and Quality of Life through Basic, Clinical, and Translational Research; 2019 Apr 29-30; Austin, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(12_Suppl_2):Abstract nr B25.

The external wall insulation method was introduced to enhance the energy efficiency of existing buildings. It does not cause a decrease of inner space and costs less in comparison to methods that insert insulation panels inside walls. However, it has been reported that external wall insulation boards are disconnecting from walls due to malfunctions of the adhesive. This causes not only repair costs, but also serious injury to pedestrians. Separation problems occur when the bonded positions are incorrect and/or the total area and thickness of the adhesive is smaller than the required amount. A challenge is that these faults can hardly be inspected after installing boards. For this reason, a real-time inspection system is necessary to detect potential failure during adhesive works. Position, area and thickness are major aspects to inspect, and thus a method to process image data of these seems efficient. This paper presents a real-time quality inspection system introducing image processing technology to detect potential errors during adhesive works of external wall insulation, and it is predicted to contribute to achieving sustainable remodeling construction by reducing squandered material and labor costs. The system consists of a graphic data creation module to capture the results of adhesive works and a quality inspection module to judge the pass or fail of works according to an algorithm. A prototype is developed and validated against 100 panels with 800 adhesive points.

This study aimed to identify prognostic clinicopathologic factors that could predict treatment failure and to analyze clinical data from p16+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) patients who underwent surgery. Data from p16+ OPSCC patients who underwent surgery at Severance Hospital of Yonsei University were retrospectively reviewed. The average smoking history was 14.6 pack-years (range 0–94 pack-years). Of the 188 patients, 73 (38.8%) underwent transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for surgical treatment of their primary lesions, and the remaining 115 patients (61.2%) underwent conventional surgery. Extracapsular nodal spread was detected in 87 patients (46.3%). At histologic examination, 67 patients (35.6%) showed positive surgical margins, and 121 patients (64.4%) had negative surgical margins. Postoperative adjuvant treatment was performed for 167 patients (88.8%). During the follow-up period, there were 18 recurrences including 2 local recurrences, 10 regional recurrences, and 6 distant metastases. During the study period, 17 deaths occurred. The univariate analysis showed that the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th-edition staging system, lymphovascular invasion, more than four metastatic lymph nodes, and a smoking history of more than 10 pack-years were significantly associated with treatment failure. In the multivariate analysis, only the AJCC 8th-edition staging system was significantly associated with the patient’s survival. Surgical treatment methods including TORS for p16+ OPSCC patients showed excellent oncologic results, and many previously known clinicopathologic factors did not show a significant relationship with patient prognosis. Only the newly revised AJCC 8th-edition staging system showed a significant relationship with patient survival, and this should be considered in the setting of p16+ OPSCC treatment guidelines in the future.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of histogram analysis of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) parameters for the differentiation of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and malignant lymphoma of the oropharynx.Pretreatment DCE-MRI was performed in 21 patients with pathologically confirmed oropharyngeal SCC and six patients with malignant lymphoma. DCE-MRI parameter maps including the volume transfer constant (K(trans)), flux rate constant (kep), and extravascular extracellular volume fraction (ve) based on the Tofts model were obtained. Enhancing tumors were manually segmented on each slice of the parameter maps, and the data were collected to obtain a histogram for the entire tumor volume. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare the histogram parameters of each DCE-MRI-derived variable of oropharyngeal SCC and lymphoma.Histogram analysis of K(trans) and ve maps revealed that the median and mode of K(trans) were significantly higher in SCC than in lymphoma (p = 0.039 and 0.032, respectively), and the mode, skewness, and kurtosis of ve were significantly different in SCC than in lymphoma (p = 0.046, 0.039, and 0.032, respectively). On ROC analysis, the kurtosis of ve had the best discriminative value for distinguishing between oropharyngeal SCC and lymphoma (AUC, 0.865; cutoff value, 2.60; sensitivity, 83.3%; specificity, 90.5%).Our preliminary evidence using histogram analysis of DCE-MRI parameters based on the whole tumor volume suggests that it might be useful for differentiating SCC from malignant lymphoma of the oropharynx.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to compare the treatment outcomes for locally advanced resectable hypopharyngeal cancer between organ-preserving chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and surgery followed by radiotherapy (SRT). Materials and Methods We reviewed 91 patients with stage III/IV hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated with radiotherapy (RT). In the CRT group (n=34), 18 patients were treated with concurrent CRT and 16 patients with induction chemotherapy plus concurrent CRT. In the SRT group (n=57), six patients were treated with total laryngopharyngectomy, 34 patients with total laryngectomy (TL) and partial pharyngectomy (PP), and 17 patients with PP, which were followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (n=41) or CRT (n=16). The median RT dose was 70 Gy for CRT and 59.4 Gy for SRT. Results Five-year local control (84.1% vs. 90.9%), and disease-free survival (DFS, 51.0% vs. 52.7%) and overall survival (OS, 58.6% vs. 56.6%) showed no significant difference between the CRT and SRT groups. The functional larynx-preservation rate was higher in the CRT group (88.2% vs. 29.8%). Treatment-related toxicity, requiring surgical intervention, occurred more frequently in the SRT group (37% vs. 12%). In the SRT group, TL resulted in a significantly higher DFS than larynx-sparing surgery (63.9% vs. 26.5%, p=0.027). Treatment outcome of the SRT group improved when only patients with TL were considered (n=40); however, 5-year OS (67.1% vs. 58.6%, p=0.830) and DFS (63.9% vs. 51.0%, p=0.490) did not improve significantly when compared to the CRT group. Conclusion Organ preserving CRT provided a treatment outcome that is comparable to SRT for locally advanced hypopharyngeal cancer, while offering an opportunity for functional larynx-preservation and reduced treatment-related toxicity.

Background Reconstruction of oropharyngeal defects after resection of oropharyngeal cancer is a significant challenge. The purpose of this study is to introduce reconstruction using a combination of a buccinator myomucosal flap and a buccal fat pad flap after cancer excision and to discuss the associated anatomy, surgical procedure, and clinical applications. Methods In our study, a combination of a buccinator myomucosal flap with a buccal fat pad flap was utilized for reconstruction after resection of oropharyngeal cancer, performed between 2013 and 2015. After oropharyngectomy, the defect with exposed vital structures was noted. A buccinator myomucosal flap was designed and elevated after an assessment of the flap pedicle. Without requiring an additional procedure, a buccal fat pad flap was easily harvested in the same field and gently pulled to obtain sufficient volume. The flaps were rotated and covered the defect. In addition, using cadaver dissections, we investigated the feasibility of transposing the flaps into the lateral oropharyngeal defect. Results The reconstruction was performed in patients with squamous cell carcinoma. The largest tumor size was 5 cm×2 cm (length×width). All donor sites were closed primarily. The flaps were completely epithelialized after four weeks, and the patients were followed up for at least six months. There were no flap failures or postoperative wound complications. All patients were without dietary restrictions, and no patient had problems related to mouth opening, swallowing, or speech. Conclusions A buccinator myomucosal flap with a buccal fat pad flap is a reliable and valuable option in the reconstruction of oropharyngeal defects after cancer resection for maintaining functionality.

Background Although previous studies have focused on determining prognostic and causative variables associated with fistula-related complications after head and neck reconstructive surgery, only a few studies have addressed preventive measures. Noting that pooled saliva complicates wound healing and precipitates fistula-related complications, we devised a continuous suction system to remove saliva during early postoperative recovery. Methods A continuous suction system was implemented in 20 patients after head and neck reconstructive surgery between January 2012 and October 2017. This group was compared to a control group of 16 patients at the same institution. The system was placed orally when the lesion was on the anterior side of the retromolar trigone area, and when glossectomy or resection of the mouth floor was performed. When the orohypopharynx and/or larynx were eradicated, the irrigation system was placed in the pharyngeal area. Results The mean follow-up period was 9.2±2.4 months. The Hemovac system was applied for an average of 7.5 days. On average, 6.5 days were needed for the net drain output to fall below 10 mL. Complications were analyzed according to their causes and rates. A fistula occurred in two cases in the suction group. Compared to the control group, a significant difference was noted in the surgical site infection rate (P Conclusions Clinical observations showed reduced saliva pooling and a reduction in the infection rate. This resulted in improved wound healing through the application of a continuous suction system.

A prospective clinical trial of combination neoadjuvant chemotherapy, transoral robotic surgery (TORS), and customized adjuvant therapy for patients with locally advanced oropharyngeal cancer was conducted. Between July 2009 and October 2016, 31 patients were enrolled in this clinical trial. The primary lesions were located in the tonsils of 27 patients and in the base of the tongue of 4 patients. Of the 31 patients, 16 (51.6%) were classified as T3 and 15 patients (48.4%) as T4a. Three patients (9.7%) had stage 3 disease, and 28 (90.3%) had stage 4 disease. The 5-year overall survival rate was 78.7%; the 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 85%; and the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 80.8%. At the final follow-up visit, 26 patients were alive with no evidence of disease, and 1 was alive with disease. Four patients died during the study: two of tumor-node-metastasis (TNM)-related disease and two of another condition. All the patients tolerated an oral diet at an average of 7.4 days postoperatively. At the subjective swallowing evaluation using the Functional Outcome Swallowing Scale score, 83.9% of the patients exhibited favorable outcomes. No patient was permanently dependent on a feeding tube. All the patients breathed and phonated in the absence of a permanent tracheotomy at the final follow-up evaluation. The treatment strategy in this study afforded good oncologic and functional outcomes for patients with locally advanced oropharyngeal cancer. Although future large-scale multicenter studies with longer follow-up periods are needed, this study showed that neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with TORS is useful for treating advanced oropharyngeal cancer.

Background We performed transoral robotic surgery (TORS) or conventional surgery via a transoral or mandibulotomy approach in patients with tonsillar cancer and prospectively analyzed the oncologic outcomes and functional recovery of the 3 groups. Methods Between May 2008 and October 2011, 57 patients were enrolled in this prospective study. Results Although there was no significant difference in the survival rate of the TORS group (100%) and the conventional surgery group (96.7%), a higher rate of margin negativity was observed in the TORS group, especially in cases in which the tumor extends inferiorly. Patients who received TORS or conventional transoral procedures showed more rapid recovery of swallowing, shorter hospitalization, and shorter operation time than the mandibulotomy group. Conclusion Despite the weakness of this nonrandomized trial and the differences in T classification, TORS seemed to have distinct advantages over conventional transoral surgery and other conventional open surgery, but further studies are needed. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 1138–1145, 2014