Search

Background Tumor thickness has been shown in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) to be a predictor of cervical metastasis. The postoperative histological measurement is certainly the most accurate, but it would be of clinical interest to gain this information prior to treatment planning. This retrospective study aimed to compare the tumor thickness measurement between preoperative, CT scan, and surgical specimens . Methods We retrospectively included 116 OTSCC patients between 2001 and 2013. Thickness was measured on computer tomography imaging and again surgical specimens. Results The median age was 66 years. 62.8 % of patients were smokers with a mean of 31.4 pack-years. Positive nodal disease was reported in 41.2 %. Mean follow-up time was 33.1 months. The correlation between CT scan-based tumor thickness and surgical specimens based thickness was significant (Spearman rho = 0.755, P

Objectives Accurate pre-operative imaging of parathyroid adenomas (PAs) is essential for successful minimally invasive surgery; however, rates of non-localizing PAs can be as high as 18 %. Multiphasic dual-energy CT (DECT) has the potential to increase accuracy of PA detection by enabling creation of paired material maps and spectral tissue characterization. This study prospectively evaluated the utility of 3-phase DECT for PA identification in patients with failed localizatio n via standard imaging. Methods Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and non-localizing PAs underwent a 3 phase post-contrast DECT scan acquired at 25, 55, and 85 s. The scans were prospectively evaluated by two head and neck radiologists. Pre-operative localization was compared to intraoperative localization and final histopathology. A post-hoc DECT spectral density characterization was performed on pathologically-proven PAs. Results Out of 29 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and non-localized PAs, DECT identified candidates in 26. Of the 23 patients who underwent parathyroidectomy, DECT provided precise anatomic localization in 20 patients (PPV = 87.0 %), one with multi-gland disease. The virtual unenhanced images were not found to be useful for diagnosis but successful diagnosis was made without an unenhanced phase regardless. Spectral analysis demonstrated a distinct spectral Hounsfield attenuation curve for PAs compared to lymph nodes on arterial phase images. Conclusion 3-phase DECT without an unenhanced phase is a feasible salvage imaging modality for previously non-localizing parathyroid adenomas. Optimal interpretation is achieved based on a combination of perfusion characteristics and other morphologic features. Advanced spectral DECT analysis has the potential for further increasing accuracy of PA identification in the future.

Objective The goal of this study is to determine whether preoperative TSH and Tg levels can be used as predictors of thyroid cancer. Study design Retrospective chart review. Methods Charts of patients who had undergone thyroid surgery between 2006 and 2012 were subjected to review. Demographic data, preoperative TSH and Tg levels, and final histopathological results were recorded. Patients were divided depending on preoperative TSH and Tg levels. Group 1 consisted of patients with elevated TSH and Tg, Group 2 had elevated TSH only, Group 3 - elevated Tg only, and in Group 4 neither TSH nor Tg were elevated. Results 653 patient charts were reviewed and 386 patients were excluded due to incomplete information. 212 patients were female. Mean age was 50 years. Group 1 included 52 patients, 25 of them (48%) had well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC). Relative risk was 1.59 and the odds ratio amounted to 1.79. Group 2 included 80 patients, 36 (45%) of whom had WDTC. Group 3 consisted of 58 patients, 23 (39.6%) of them with WDTC. Group 4 comprised 77 patients, where WDTC was present in 16 (20.8%) cases. Conclusion TSH and Tg levels can aid in preoperative assessment of a thyroid nodule.

Previous studies have established the efficacy of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia monitoring using parathyroid hormone (PTH) and corrected calcium levels at 1 and 6 hours. The goal of this study was to measure the impact of managing patients based on the above findings with respect to: duration of hospital stays, rates of transient hypocalcemia, number of blood tests, cost savings, and discharge from the hospital as early as 8 hours post-thyroidectomy without compromising safety.This is a prospective study involving 95 total thyroidectomy patients using historical data as controls. The previous protocol was modified in that all blood tests ceased for patients meeting the 6-hour critical level of PTHor = 28 ng/L and simultaneous corrected calciumor = 2.14 mmol/L (8.56 mg/dL). Furthermore, patients with 1-hour PTH levelsor = 8 ng/L were prophylactically treated with calcium and vitamin D supplementation.This study demonstrates lower rates of transient hypocalcemia from 28% to 9% (OR = 4.13, P = 0.016), a 10-hour reduction in mean hospital stay, and fewer blood tests (23 vs 15) for patients undergoing total thyroidectomy since the implementation of the new protocol. Furthermore, the experimental protocol resulted in an average cost savings of 766 Canadian dollars per patient.The new algorithm resulting from PTH and corrected calcium monitoring at 1 and 6 hours post-thyroidectomy has led to significant cost savings for our institution. It has also translated into greater patient satisfaction as a result of fewer blood tests, a lower incidence of transient hypocalcemia, and significantly shorter hospital stays.

With survival rates for people with head and neck (HN) cancers static during the past 30 years and the enormous burden of psychosocial impacts they suffer well documented, the testing of psychosocial interventions in this group is a priority.To test the feasibility of providing a psycho-educational intervention for people with HN cancer.A prospective non-randomised design was used. Subjects were patients with HN cancer. They were offered the Nucare coping strategies program in one of three formats: small group and one-to-one formats with therapists; and a home format, with material for home use, without a therapist. Outcomes measures (quality of life (QOL) and anxiety and depression) were collected at baseline and following the intervention. Analyses were performed using non-parametric statistics.Of 128 people invited to participate, 66 agreed, 59 completed the intervention and 50 had outcomes data. Following the intervention, there were significant improvements in physical and social functioning and global QOL, and reduced fatigue, sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms.These data suggest that the intervention is desired by the target group, feasible to deliver after cancer therapy and may have some beneficial effects, although an appropriately designed study is required to confirm this.

Background. The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients who undergo total thyroidectomy will have postoperative hypocalcemia develop when they reach the critical 6-hour serum levels defined as parathyroid hormone (PTH) ≥28 ng/L and simultaneous corrected calcium ≥2.14 mmol/L. Methods. This was a prospective study involving 70 consecutive total thyroidectomy patients. There were 51 women and 19 men involved in the study. The mean age was 49.3 years (range, 21–76 years). Patients who had completion thyroidectomy or neck dissections were excluded. Patients undergoing parathyroidectomy at the time of thyroidectomy were also excluded. PTH and corrected calcium levels were measured postoperatively at 6, 12, and 20 hours. Results. Hypocalcemia developed in 24% (17 of 70) of the patients. Of the 53 patients who remained normocalcemic, 68% (36 of 53) reached the 6-hour critical level. None of the hypocalcemic patients (0 of 17) attained the 6-hour critical level (chi-square test p < .0001). This translates into a specificity of 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 80.5% to 100%) and a positive predictive value of 100% (95% CI, 90.1% to 100%). Conclusions. The simultaneous evaluation of PTH and corrected calcium levels 6 hours after thyroidectomy allows for an accurate prediction of the trend of serum calcium. This study enables us to confidently consider same-day discharge for most of our thyroidectomy patients. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck27: 1–7, 2005

Objective: The study goals were to predict postoperative normocalcemia and hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy using calcium levels and to assess the value of a standardized protocol in managing the total thyroidectomy patient. Study Design: We conducted a prospective study encompassing 68 patients undergoing a total thyroidectomy using a standardized protocol. Blood to measure postoperative calcium levels was drawn at 6, 12, and 20 hours and then twice daily thereafter. Calcium slope was calculated from the 6- and 12-hour serum corrected calcium levels. Results: Logistic regression analysis allowed the comparison of the 6- and 12-hour calcium slope versus proportion of normocalcemic patients postoperatively. A slope of +0.02 had a 97% chance of remaining normocalcemic (p = 0.0007). Conclusion: Successful prediction of calcium status post total thyroidectomy can be achieved using the slope of the 6- and 12-hour calcium levels. The risk of developing severe hypocalcemia can also be predicted with these slope values. Implementation of the protocol resulted in a significant reduction in the duration of hospital stay for patients who remain normocalcemic. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002;127:289-93.)

Objective:Papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid has been described as either a normal variant or a serious malignancy. We describe our experience with papillary microcarcinoma and lymph node metastases.Method:A total of 685 consecutive total thyroidectomies with central compartment neck dissection were reviewed for papillary microcarcinoma. Association of central compartment lymph node metastases with age, gender, tumour multifocality, bilaterality and extrathyroidal extension was analysed.Results:Out of 170 papillary microcarcinoma cases, multifocality was found in 72 (42.4 per cent), bilaterality in 49 (28.8 per cent) and extrathyroidal extension in 16 (9.4 per cent). In all, 23 patients (13.5 per cent) had lymph node metastases. There was a significant association (p Conclusion:In all, 13.5 per cent of papillary microcarcinomas in our series showed lymph node metastases. Lymph node metastases were associated with extrathyroidal invasion of the papillary microcarcinoma.

Objectives:Study hypocalcemia incidence and trends over time following completion thyroidectomy (CT) versus total thyroidectomy (TT).Methods:A retrospective study comparing hypocalcemia and hypoparathyroidism incidence rates in all patients who underwent CT and in a random control group of TT at the McGill University Thyroid Cancer Centre, during the period of 2007 through 2012. Data were collected for demographic, clinical, and pathological characteristics.Results:There were 68 CT patients and 146 TT patients. Transient hypocalcemia occurred in 1 out of 68 (2%) and 18 out of 146 (12%) inpatients in the CT and TT groups, respectively. The rate of hypocalcemia was significantly lower in the CT group when compared with the TT group (P = .02). In both groups, there were no cases of permanent hypocalcemia. In the CT group there were 12 (18%) patients with parathyroid gland or parathyroid tissue found in the surgical specimen, compared with 47 (32%) of patients in the TT group. There were no correlations betwe...

Objectives:Evaluate whether the presence of preoperative thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) levels can help predict the final pathology of thyroid nodules. Assess whether higher levels of preoperative TgAb increase the likelihood that a thyroid nodule is malignant.Methods:A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent thyroidectomy in 3 McGill University-affiliated hospitals between January 2012 and 2014 was conducted. Demographic data, TgAb levels, and final histopathology were recorded. Patients were divided into 2 groups: TgAb positive (defined as TgAb ≥30 IU/mL) and TgAb low/negative (defined as TgAb

Objectives:(1) Examine the added value of galectin-3 to HBME-1 staining on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules. (2) Correlate galectin-3 on FNA with pathology results both on FNA and final surgical pathology.Methods:A retrospective review of the charts of 53 patients undergoing FNA at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, Canada, in 2013 for the investigation of thyroid nodules whose FNA samples underwent HBME-1 and galectin-3 staining in addition to pathological examination.Results:Of 53 FNABs, 20 (37%) were galectin-3 positive, 24 (45%) were galectin-3 negative, and 9 (17%) were equivocal. With regard to HBME-1, 15 (28%) samples were positive, 32 (60%) were negative, and 6 (11%) were equivocal. Both stains correlated strongly with each other (P < .001) as well as with pathologist examinations of the FNA samples (P < .001 for both galectin-3 and HBME-1). Eleven patients underwent total or partial thyroidectomy. In correlation with surgical pathology, galectin-3 was correctly positive in 5 ...

Objectives:(1) Examine and meta-analyze the literature on galectin-3 staining on fine-needle aspiration (FNA) samples of thyroid nodules. (2) Summarize the diagnostic test accuracy of galectin-3 staining on FNA for well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC).Methods:A systematic review of studies from 1990 to 2014 examining the diagnostic test properties of galectin-3 on thyroid nodule samples obtained by FNA with regard to WDTC. Data were meta-analyzed using DerSimonian-Laird random effect models for data pooling. Studies were weighted by inverse variance, and between-study variance was estimated using the Empirical Bayes method. Study heterogeneity and threshold effects were analyzed using the Cochrane Q and Spearman correlation coefficient, respectively.Results:Sixteen studies with 2076 cases were identified. The pooled sensitivity of galectin-3 for WDTC was 89.4% [confidence interval (CI): 87.2-91.4], and specificity was 91.9% (CI: 90.2-93.4). The positive likelihood ratio was 10.05 (CI: 8.24-12.26), an...

Objectives:Despite the rising prevalence of malignant papillary thyroid carcinoma, locoregional recurrence remains low. Clinico-pathological features associated with recurrence are not well defined. The objective of this study is to describe and evaluate the various pathological features found in patients with recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma.Methods:A retrospective review was conducted identifying patients who were found to have recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma between July 2006 and May 2013 at the McGill University Thyroid Cancer Centre.Results:There was a total of 552 patients with malignant papillary thyroid carcinoma. Over the study period, recurrent disease occurred in 2.0% of patients (n = 11), of whom 10 were pT3N1b and 1 was a pT4aN1. When these patients were compared with the 541 patients who did not have recurrence of their disease, there were significant differences for sex (P = .0271), size of primary tumor (P = .0355), positive margins ( =0 0002), lymphovascular invasion (P < .0001...

Objectives:Assess the rate of hypothyroidism following hemithyroidectomy.Methods:A retrospective study in adult patients undergoing hemithyroidectomy at the McGill University Thyroid Cancer Centre, during the years 2007 through 2012. Patients with preoperative hypothyroidism were excluded. Patients were followed 12 to 60 months after the primary surgery, and preoperative thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free T4 levels were compared before and after the surgery. Hypothyroidism was defined as TSH levels >4.5 mU/L.Results:Of the 181 eligible patients in this study, 137 (75%) were females, with a mean age of 49.1 ± 14.3 years.The most common indication for surgery was follicular lesion. Hypothyroidism occurred in 65 (35%) of the patients, and was diagnosed at 1 to 36 months after surgery. Age and sex were not found to be risk factors for post-hemithyroidectomy hypothyroidism.Conclusions:In this study 35% of patients undergoing hemithyroidectomy develop postoperative hypothyroidism. Upon preoperative pati...

Many predictive models for risk of malignancy in well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) have been proposed, and many scoring systems for thyroid cancer prognosis have been established. Age is taken in consideration in all. Our main goal is to establish whether patients' age has a correlation with the rate of malignancy, size, and aggressiveness of the tumor.Case series with chart review.McGill University Thyroid Teaching Hospitals.A retrospective analysis of 1022 patients undergoing consecutive thyroidectomy was performed. The patients were divided based on age (45 and ≥ 45 years). Data were gathered for the size of thyroid nodules, the presence of lymph node (LN) metastasis, and the final thyroid pathology, including the presence of extrathyroidal extension.There were 396 patients younger than 45 years and 626 patients 45 years or older. The rates of malignancy were 67.2% in the first group and 68.7% in the second group (P = .111). When patients were stratified according to different age cutoffs, WDTC and LN metastasis occurred more often in patients younger than 50 years (50.2% vs 43.2%, P = .031 and 18.9% vs 14.1%, P = .0496, respectively). Micropapillary carcinoma occurred more often in patients 50 years or older (23.6% vs 16.1%, P = .0035).Tumor behavior and rates of WDTC were similar in patients aged45 and ≥ 45 years. Well-differentiated thyroid cancer occurred more often in patients younger than 50 years, whereas the rate of micropapillary carcinoma occurred more often in patients 50 years or older.

Multiple primary tumors can occur in up to 35 % of the patients with head and neck cancer, however its clinicopathological features remain controversial. Deregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling has been associated with aggressive malignancies and tumor progression to metastasis in several cancer types. This study is the first to explore EMT process in multiple primary oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC). Immunohistochemical analysis of E-cadherin, catenin (α, β, and γ), APC, collagen IV, Ki-67, cyclin D1, and CD44 were performed in a tissue microarray containing multiple representative areas from 102 OSCC patients followed-up by at least 10 years. Results were analysed in relation to clinicopathological characteristics and survival rates in patients presenting multiple primary tumors versus patients without second primary tumors or metastatic disease. Significant association was observed among multiple OSCCs and protein expression of E-cadherin (P = 0.002), β-catenin (P = 0.047), APC (P = 0.017), and cyclin D1 (P = 0.001) as well as between lymph nodes metastasis and Ki-67 staining (P = 0.021). OSCCs presenting vascular embolization were associated with negative β-catenin membrane expression (P = 0.050). There was a significantly lower survival probability for patients with multiple OSCC (log-rank test, P < 0.0001), for tumors showing negative protein expression for E-cadherin (log-rank test, P = 0.003) and β-catenin (log-rank test, P = 0.031). Stratified multivariate survival analysis revealed a prognostic interdependence of E-cadherin and β-catenin co-downexpression in predicting the worst overall survival (log-rank test, P = 0.007). EMT markers have a predicted value for invasiveness related to multiple primary tumors in OSCC and co-downregulation of E-cadherin and β-catenin has a significant prognostic impact in these cases.

As the locoregional control rates in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have increased, these patients may suffer distant metastasis in a higher proportion of cases. Clinicopathological characteristics allowing prediction of high-risk profile would allow adapting posttreatment surveillance to individual risk.A retrospective review of all patients with HNSCC treated at the Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, between 1999 and 2008 was conducted for this study.The study included 428 patients with a mean follow-up of 65 months (±SEM 1.7). Eighty patients (18.6%) developed pulmonary malignancy during follow-up. In multivariate Cox-regression analysis, locoregional failure and current smoking were associated with higher risk of pulmonary malignancy (p.001 and p = .008, respectively).Locoregional failure and smoking persistence are predictors of pulmonary malignancy in patients with HNSCC. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1277-E1280, 2016.

Background Thyroidectomy is one of the common neck surgeries. Well recognized complications include postoperative bleeding, hypocalcaemia and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Chyle leak post-thyroidectomy is extremely rare. Most of the reported cases have had a complete central compartment neck dissection. Methods and results This is a case report of a patient who suffered from chyle leak after a left hemithyroidectomy without a complete central compartment neck dissection. The patient was managed conservatively with low fat diet and observation. A protocol for approaching thyroid patients with chyle leak is proposed based on a comprehensive literature review. Conclusion Chyle leak post-thyroidectomy for a benign disease is a very rare complication. Nevertheless, head and neck surgeons should consider it in the differential diagnosis of neck swelling post-thyroidectomy.

The McGill Thyroid Nodule Score (MTNS) is a scoring system devised to help physicians to assess the preoperative risk that a thyroid nodule is malignant. It uses 22 different known risk factors for thyroid cancer (radiation exposure, microcalcifications on ultrasound, positive HBME-1 stain on biopsy, etc.) and attributes a percentage risk that the nodule is malignant. Recently, preoperative thyroglobulin (Tg) levels have been shown to correlate with the risk of malignancy. The aim of this study was to incorporate Tg levels into the already established MTNS.This is a retrospective analysis of 184 thyroidectomy patients at the McGill University Thyroid Cancer Center. Patients with preoperative Tg levels were included in the study, and patients with incidental papillary microcarcinoma without extrathyroidal extent on final pathology were excluded. MTNS scores were calculated for all patients. Preoperative Tg levels of 75 ng/mL added one point to the MTNS, and levels of 187.5 ng/mL added two points. The new system is named MTNS+.Malignancy rates were calculated for each MTNS+ score. Patients with a score of 0-1 were5% at risk of malignancy. The malignancy rate for scores of 2-3 was 14.29%, followed by 28.95% for scores of 4-6, 32.65% for scores of 7-8, 64.86% for scores of 9-11, 71.43% for scores of 12-14, 78.57% for scores of 15-18, and 92.31% for scores of 19-22. All patients (five of five) with an MTNS+ score of 23 or more had a malignant final pathology result. Patients with scores greater than eight had a relative risk of 2.5 [CI 1.79-3.49] of malignancy compared to patients with lower scores. MTNS+ showed good specificity at higher scores, with 89%, 96%, and 100% at scores above 11, 14, and 20 respectively. Compared to MTNS, adding Tg levels did not improve positive predictive values (PPV) or specificity, but improved sensitivity by 7.89% for scores greater than eight, and by up to 10.48% for scores greater than seven.This study shows that adding Tg to the MTNS increases the sensitivity of this scoring system. Moreover, it suggests that a combined scoring system such as the MTNS+ can accurately stratify the risk of well-differentiated malignancy in patients with thyroid nodules.

Background The aim of this study is to prospectively review the role of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in the management of well differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC), and to determine the efficacy of intraoperative frozen section analysis at detecting SLN metastasis and central compartment involvement. Methods The SLN biopsy protocol using 1% methylene blue was performed in 300 patients undergoing thyroidectomy for WDTC. A limited pretracheal central compartment neck dissection (CCND) was performed on all patients. Lymph nodes staining blue were considered as SLN’s. Both frozen and permanent section analyses were performed. Results SLN’s with metastasis were found in 14.3% (43/300) of cases. Of this, 11% (33/300) were positive on intraoperative frozen section analysis. Frozen section results failed in predicting central compartment involvement in 15 cases (5%) whereas central neck compartment involvement was missed in 5 cases (1.7%) when based on permanent section results. On frozen section analysis, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value (95% CI) of our SLN biopsy technique aiming to remove all disease from the central compartment was 68.8% (53.6-80.9), 100% (98.1-100), 100% (87.0-100) and 94.4% (90.7-96.7) respectively with P Conclusion This data series demonstrates that patients with WDTC have positive SLN’s in 14.3% of cases. Moreover, when the SLN’s are negative for metastasis on frozen section, the central compartment was disease-free in 94.4% of cases. Finally, this study shows that 23.3% of positive SLN’s were false negatives on intraoperative frozen section. According to this data, SLN involvement is an accurate predictor of central compartment metastasis, however surgeons should use caution when relying on intraoperative frozen section to determine whether to perform a CCND.

Overexpression of members of the ErbB receptor family is common in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC); however, their prognostic value for aggressive OSCC has been debated. Extranodal spread to cervical lymph nodes is the most significant prognostic indicator in OSCC. In the present study, we investigated the clinical significance of single versus paired overexpression of members of the ErbB receptor family in 82 OSCC patients with lymph nodes metastasis, with or without capsular rupture (CR) followed by at least 10 years. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed a common overexpression of ErbB1 (P = 0.021), ErbB2 (P = 0.001), ErbB4 (P = 0.048), as well as MMP-2 (P = 0.043) in OSCC cases with CR+. Increased expression of ErbB1 was associated with MMP-2 in tumors with advanced clinical stages, including poorly differentiated (grade III) tumors (P < 0.050). Vascular embolization was associated with MMP-2 (P = 0.021) and MMP-13 (P = 0.010) overexpression. Survival analysis revealed a lower survival probability in tumors overexpressing ErbB1 (P = 0.038), ErbB4 (P = 0.043), and MMP-12 (P = 0.050). As well a strong association was observed in cases with high risk of recurrence and strong immunostaining for ErbB1 (P = 0.017), ErbB4 (P = 0.008), MMP-1 (P = 0.003), MMP-2 (P = 0.016), MMP-10 (P = 0.041), and MMP-13 (P = 0.005). Stratified multivariate survival analysis revealed a strong prognostic interdependence of ErbB1 and ErbB4 cooverexpression in predicting the worst overall and disease-free survivals (P = 0.0013 and P = 0.0004, respectively). Taken together, these results support a cooperation of ErbB1, ErbB4, and members of the MMP family in predicting OSCC invasion and poor clinical outcomes.

A murine model for the immunotherapy of head and neck cancer was established. The AT-84 tumor, a spontaneously arising oral squamous cell tumor of C3H mice, was evaluated for susceptibility to lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. In vitro chromium-release assays demonstrated that AT-84 is sensitive to LAK-cell-mediated killing. Furthermore, in vivo experiments employing a lung metastasis model demonstrated a 50% reduction in the number of metastases in LAK-cell-treated mice as compared with untreated controls (P2 = .001). These experiments showed that AT-84 is an appropriate model for the immunotherapy of head and neck cancer. This model should be invaluable for further study of the mechanisms involved in immune-mediated therapy of head and neck cancer.

Objective: 1) Familiarize the audience with the new McGill Thyroid Nodule Score (MTNS) scoring system for thyroid nodules. 2) Present the statistics on the MTNS and why we feel this is a great adjunct in the management of thyroid nodules. 3) Describe a new tool at the clinician’s disposal that will help better manage patients with thyroid nodules.Method: This is a prospective study. A total of 245 consecutive patients were enrolled between July 2009 and March 2011. McGill Thyroid Nodule Score (MTNS), age, gender, and extent of surgery were recorded preoperatively. Final pathology was recorded postthyroidectomy. The percentage of malignancy was calculated for each MTNS score. Using Fisher exact test, the risk of malignancy for each group was compared to that anticipated based on the MTNS. We then used linear regression to plot a best fit curve for both the retrospective and prospective data and compared the 2.Results: We found no statistically significant difference when comparing the risk of malignancy be...

Objective: 1) To retrospectively assess the usefulness of preoperative thyroglobulin (Tg) levels in predicting sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy (SLNB) status. 2) To evaluate the correlation between preoperative Tg levels and the overall number of positive SLNs. 3) To compare primary tumor (T) classification in patients according to SLNB outcome.Method: Data from patients operated for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC) at the McGill University Thyroid Cancer Center were collected from January 2007 to January 2012. Statistical analyses were performed using a Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test, a Pearson correlation coefficient and a Pearson χ2 test.Results: Preoperative Tg levels and SLNB results were available in 74 patients (51 negative and 23 positive SLNBs). Mean preoperative Tg levels for negative and positive SLNB groups were 105.2 and 85.9 ng/mL, respectively, yielding no statistically significant difference (P = .143). Moreover, no statistically significant correlation was found between Tg levels ...

Oral cancer cavity (OCC) is associated with high incidence of loco-regional recurrences, which account for the majority of treatment failures post-surgery and radiotherapy. The time-course of relapse manifestation and metastasis are unpredictable. Relapsed OCC represents a major clinical challenge in part due to their aggressive and invasive behaviors. Chemotherapy remains the only option for advanced OCC whenever salvage surgery or re-irradiation is not feasible, but its efficacy is limited as a result of the drug resistance development. Alternatives to use of different permutations of standard cytotoxic drugs or combinations with modulators of drug resistance have led to incremental therapeutic benefits. The introduction of targeted agents and biologics against selective targets that drive cancer progression has opened-up optimism to achieve superior therapeutic activity and overcome drug resistance because, unlike the non-selective cytotoxic, the target can be monitored at molecular levels to identify patients who can benefit from the drug. This review discusses the multifactorial aspects of clinical drug resistance and emerging therapeutic approaches in recurrent OCC, emphasizing recent advances in targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and potential relevance of new concepts such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cell hypothesis to drug resistance.

Vitamin D, classically involved in calcium homeostasis, has garnered recent interest for its potential role in cancer prevention and therapy. Although few risk factors have been established in the development of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, some would argue that no clear modifiable risk factor exists. Our study is one of the first to explore the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and thyroid cancer.This retrospective cohort study was done at a university-affiliated thyroid cancer centre. In 2010, 212 patients undergoing thyroidectomy had their preoperative 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) levels recorded in addition to the final pathologies of their resected thyroid nodule. The patients were stratified based on vitamin D status; vitamin D deficiency (VDD), reflecting levels under the established threshold of 37.5 nmol/L; and vitamin D sufficiency (VDS), reflecting levels above it. The primary outcome of malignancy rate was used to compare the proportion of malignant nodules in the VDD versus the VDS groups.The malignancy rate rises when comparing the VDS and VDD groups, from 37.5 (33 of 88) to 75% (9 of 12), respectively, corresponding to a relative risk of 2.0 (p = .03, 95% CI 1.07-2.66).This is the first study to demonstrate the inverse relationship between VDD and well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Larger prospective studies are needed to replicate these results. Should this happen, VDD may be the first modifiable risk factor for thyroid cancer.

Incidental head and neck abnormalities are increasingly detected with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). Incidental thyroid lesions on PET are described in many studies; however, no reports have definitively identified incidental findings in multiple head and neck sites. The aim of this study was to (1) review the related literature, (2) identify the incidence and significance of head and neck incidentalomas on PET/computed tomography (CT) scanning, and (3) attempt to establish management recommendations for head and neck PET incidentalomas.Retrospective study.Tertiary care centre.Head and neck incidentaloma cases from whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT scans were reviewed based on specific inclusion criteria from January 2009 to January 2010 at the Jewish General Hospital. The patients had been scanned for known or suspected malignant lesions in non-head and neck sites. Patients with incidental head and neck abnormalities were identified.The scans of 38 of 1565 (2.43%) subjects who underwent FDG-PET scanning for known or suspected cancer demonstrated head and neck incidentalomas. In 8 of 38 cases (21.05%), malignancies were discovered in the incidentaloma lesion (5 thyroid, 2 parotid, and 1 cervical lymph node), and all were new primary malignancies. Five of the 8 (62.5%) demonstrated significantly high standard uptake value (SUV).Head and neck PET/CT incidentalomas are quite common. A significantly high SUV strongly suggests the presence of malignancy. Head and neck incidentalomas merit consultation and further evaluation.

To better appreciate perioperative concerns affecting patients considering thyroidectomy and to understand how they may vary according to patient characteristics.Cross-sectional analysis.Tertiary referral center.The authors recruited patients scheduled for thyroid surgery at the McGill University Thyroid Cancer Center. A total of 148 patients completed the 18-item Western Surgical Concern Inventory-Thyroid (WSCI-T) questionnaire. Psychometrics of the WSCI-T were assessed through a principal component analysis with varimax rotation and reliability analyses. Independent-samples t tests and 2-tailed Pearson correlations were ran, identifying areas of elevated concerns and their relationship to gender, age, and surgical procedure (total vs hemithyroidectomy).The principal component analysis revealed the presence of 3 domains of presurgical concerns on the WSCI-T:Surgery-Related Concerns, Psychosocial Concerns, and Daily-Living Concerns. Reliability coefficients for the WSCI-T Total and subscales were satisfactory. Responses on the WSCI-T indicated on average a moderate overall level of concerns before thyroidectomy. Surgery-Related Concerns was the highest domain of concerns, followed by Daily-Living and Psychosocial Concerns, respectively. Patients were mainly worried about the nodule being cancerous, experiencing a change in voice, and surgical complications. Areas of minor concern included being judged or treated differently, becoming depressed, and feeling embarrassed. Women had higher overall levels of concern than men did. Although there were no significant differences in overall levels of concern according to age and surgical procedure, differences were noted at a subscale and item level.This study establishes a mean that will permit adequate physician counseling and a better management of patients' perioperative worries.

There are presently a great number of publications pertaining to the clinical risk factors associated with thyroid cancer. These studies deal mostly with a single feature from either patient demographics, physical examination, laboratory values, imaging, or cytology. We sought to create a novel scoring system that integrates the diagnostic indices of each of these clinical features for carcinoma.A retrospective analysis of 1047 consecutive thyroidectomy patients was performed. Each patient was assigned a cancer risk score according to a newly devised 22-variable scoring scheme termed the McGill Thyroid Nodule Score (MTNS). The MTNS was developed by a multidisciplinary team of endocrinologists, thyroid surgeons, and pathologists using already established evidence-based risk factors for thyroid cancer.The exact incidence of malignancy was calculated for each MTNS score based on final pathology. The incidence for scores of 1 to 3 was 27%, of 4 to 7 was 32%, of 8 was 39%, of 9 to 11 was 63%, of 12 to 13 was 88%, and of 14 to 18 was 93%. All (130 of 130) patients with a score ≥ 19 had carcinoma. A score ≤ 8 correlated with a 32% (115 of 357) risk of thyroid cancer, whereas a score8 implied an 86% (417 of 487) risk.Our data suggest that a combined scoring system, the MTNS, can serve as an accurate predictor of the risk for thyroid cancer in a specific thyroid nodule. This will help physicians better formulate management decisions accordingly.

our group has previously demonstrated that serum calcium levels measured in conjunction with parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels early in the postoperative period can help identify and prophylactically treat patients at significant risk for postthyroidectomy hypocalcemia. This study evaluated whether preoperative serum calcium levels can similarly be used as a reliable indicator of a patient's risk for developing postoperative hypocalcemia.this was a retrospective review of 1000 consecutive total thyroidectomy patients (2004-2008), with multiple exclusion criteria considered. Postoperative hypocalcemia was defined as total serum calcium of ≤ 1.90 mmol/L up to 1 month following surgery, a PTH ≤ 8 ng/L, or signs and symptoms of hypocalcemia. Laboratory values were drawn at various intervals according to our institution's protocol.the pertinent data were analyzed for 247 of 1000 patients and indicated that patients with a preoperative corrected calcium level below 2.27 mmol/L had a postthyroidectomy hypocalcemia rate of 63%, whereas those with a calcium level above 2.27 mmol/L experienced hypocalcemia 24% of the time (p.0001*). This threshold calcium value yielded a specificity of 93% and a likelihood ratio of 4.2.our data suggest that preoperative serum calcium levels may correlate with the development of postoperative hypocalcemia. A serum calcium level of 2.27 mmol/L is an important threshold separating patients with an elevated risk of hypocalcemia from those who will likely remain normocalcemic. These data are relevant and useful clinically in identifying patients at risk for hypocalcemia. Current studies are investigating whether patients below our critical threshold of 2.27 mmol/L would benefit from early prophylactic supplementation.

when fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of a thyroid nodule yields indeterminate pathology, management decisions become complex, and other preoperative predictors of thyroid cancer must be employed to assess the risk of malignancy. Although thyroglobulin (Tg) is currently accepted as the serum marker of choice in the detection of well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) recurrence, its preoperative role in the workup of a thyroid nodule remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential role for Tg as a preoperative indicator of primary WDTC, specifically in patients with indeterminate FNAB.this was a retrospective review of 861 consecutive thyroidectomy patients; 297 patients had indeterminate FNAB, of which 68 had serum levels of Tg measured prior to surgery. The predictive value of various threshold levels of preoperative Tg for WDTC was evaluated. Patients with nonindeterminate FNAB or final pathology containing medullary carcinoma, anaplastic carcinoma, or lymphoma were excluded.eighty-one percent (25 of 31) of patients with both indeterminate FNAB and preoperative Tg ≥ 75 microg/L had well-differentiated cancer on final pathology compared to 58% (172 of 297) of patients with indeterminate cytology alone (p = .014, RR = 1.4). In addition, mean preoperative Tg levels were found to be significantly higher in patients with WDTC compared to those with benign pathology (223 vs 53 microg/L, p = .007).our results imply that elevated preoperative serum Tg levels may be predictive of WDTC. This marker may be useful as an aid when making management decisions in patients with indeterminate cytology.

To determine the most common location of parathyroid adenomas.Data from 147 patients who underwent parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism in Montreal at a McGill University teaching hospital between January 2001 and January 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with histopathologic confirmation of parathyroid hyperplasia were excluded from the study (n = 26). The 121 patients with confirmed adenomas were grouped according to the locations of the tumour into right superior, right inferior, left superior, left inferior, and ectopic.The left inferior parathyroid glands were the most common site of adenomas. This was the case for 50 patients (41.32% [mean 0.41; 95% CI 0.324-0.506]). The right inferior parathyroid glands were the site in 40 patients (33.06% [mean 0.33; 95% CI 0.248-0.422]). The remainder of the adenomas were distributed as follows: the left superior in 19 patients (15.7% [mean 0.157; 95% CI 0.097-0.234]), the right superior in 10 patients (8.26% [mean 0.0826; 95% CI 0.040-0.147]), and the ectopic in 2 patients (1.65% [mean 0.0165; 95% CI 0.002-0.058]).In this study, the most common site of adenoma was the left inferior parathyroid gland. This information provides parathyroid surgeons with a starting point when imaging fails to localize the site of the adenoma, which allows for the possibility of minimally invasive surgery especially if used in conjunction with intraoperative parathyroid hormone.

To determine the incidence of bilateral papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) at total thyroidectomy (TT) and compare demographic risk factors (gender and age) and histopathologic findings (tumour size, extrathyroidal extension [ETE], T staging, and multifocality) between patients with PTC in both thyroid lobes and those with PTC limited to the ipsilateral lobe and/or isthmus.Retrospective study.University teaching hospital.The pathology results of 1047 consecutive patients who underwent TT between 2002 and 2008 were reviewed. Statistical significance was obtained using the chi-square test.Incidence of bilateral PTC and its association with demographic risk factors and histopathologic findings.Among 592 patients with PTC, 13.2% had bilateral PTC and 86.8% had unilateral and/or isthmian PTC. Bilaterality was present in 12.4% of women and 16.7% of men (p = .24) and in 12.9% of patients agedor = 45 years and 13.5%45 years (p = .83). Bilateral PTC was found in 12.6% of patients with a primary tumouror = 2 cm and 13.5%2 cm (p = .75); 23.6% of tumours with ETE demonstrated bilaterality compared to 9.7% without (p.0001), and 8.7% of pT1 (p = .08), 9.2% of pT2 (p = .02), 23.0% of pT3 (p.0001), and 12.5% of pT4 (p = .87) tumours were bilateral, respectively. Among bilateral PTC patients, 43.2% had multifoci in at least one lobe compared to 6.4% when nonbilateral (p.0001).After TT, 13.2% of patients had bilateral PTC. No significant correlation was established between bilaterality and gender, age, and tumour size. Bilaterality was more commonly found in patients with ETE, advanced T stage, and at least one multifocal lobe.

Objectives/Hypothesis: To review all reported cases of sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) osteomyelitis following head and neck surgery. Study Design: Retrospective case review. Methods: PubMed search and one additional case from our institution. Results: Twelve cases were reviewed, and the following recommendations are suggested: risk factors for SCJ osteomyelitis should be identified; early and prompt diagnosis of SCJ osteomyelitis is warranted; tracheostoma care and careful examination of the skin should not be neglected; meticulous screening for cancer recurrence is imperative; if SCJ infection is suspected, cancer recurrence must be ruled out with biopsies; and surgical debridement is considered the gold standard of treatment. Administration of newer-generation antibiotics is a reasonable choice when the infection is detected early, as is maintaining a low threshold for surgical treatment if disease persists or progresses. Conclusions: Osteomyelitis of the SCJ following head and neck surgery is uncommon and must be distinguished from malignancy with biopsies. Early diagnosis and treatment are imperative. Laryngoscope, 2010

To determine whether preoperative variables can be used to predict malignancy for thyroid nodules with follicular, Hürthle, or nondiagnostic cytology on fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB).Retrospective analysis of 77 consecutive patients selected for total or subtotal thyroidectomy for follicular, Hürthle, or nondiagnostic lesions of the thyroid in two university hospitals. Eleven clinical variables, as well as nodule size, multiplicity, and ultrasound calcifications, were correlated with final histopathologic diagnosis of benign or malignant disease. Analysis was preformed using the Pearson chi-square test.The overall rate of malignancy in our series was 61% (n = 47). FNABs classified as follicular or Hürthle lesions without cellular atypia had a significantly lower risk of malignancy (49% vs 71%; p = .05). Patients who presented with a solitary nodule and FNAB cellular atypia displayed an increased risk of malignancy (92% vs 55%; p = .011). The rate of malignancy was higher for patients with a positive family history (100% vs 59%), a solitary nodule (73% vs 53%), cellular atypia (76% vs 54%), or intrathyroidal calcifications on ultrasonography (71% vs 57%), although none were found to be statistically significant (p.05). Male gender, age45 years, nodule size3 cm, mass effect symptoms, and radiation exposure to the neck were not associated with malignancy in our series.When presented with follicular, Hürthle, or nondiagnostic biopsies for thyroid nodules, thyroid surgeons should rely systematically on sonographic findings and cytopathologic features to guide their management approach.

Obesity has been linked to numerous diseases including thyroid cancer, but the exact nature of the relationship, especially with respect to patients with thyroid nodules, remains unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on thyroid cancer risk in a population of patients with indeterminate cytology on fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB).A total of 253 consecutive patients with indeterminate thyroid nodule FNABs who underwent total thyroidectomy in a tertiary care teaching hospital between 2002 and 2007 were reviewed. Height and weight reported on the anesthesia summary were recorded for each patient. Malignancy rates were calculated for the underweight, normal, overweight, and obese groups stratified according to their BMI. Subanalyses according to age and sex were also performed.The risk of malignancy tended to be lower in obese patients compared to patients with BMIs in the underweight, normal, and overweight ranges (52% vs. 61%, p = 0.195). In men, a BMI classified as obese was associated with a significantly lower rate of malignancy (36% vs. 72%, p = 0.003). Women older than 45 years were a subgroup in which higher malignancy rates were associated with obesity (65% vs. 54%, p = 0.293). Conversely, in men over the age of 45 years and women under 45 years, a BMI in the obesity range was linked to a lower incidence of malignancy (20% vs. 68% p = 0.009 and 36% vs. 68% p = 0.043, respectively). When older women were excluded from the population studied, the rate of malignancy in obese patients was 36% versus 70% in nonobese patients (p = 0.002) with an associated reduction of 5% in the risk of malignancy per increased unit of BMI.For patients with FNAB results of indeterminate significance, a higher BMI correlates with lower rates of thyroid malignancy for all patients except women over the age of 45 years.

The lack of serum biomarkers for head and neck carcinoma limits early diagnosis, monitoring of advanced disease, and prediction of relapses in patients. We conducted a comprehensive proteomics study on serum from mice bearing orthotopic human oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) with distinct invasive phenotypes. Matched established cell lines were transplanted orthotopically into tongues of RAG-2/gamma(c) mice and mouse serum was analyzed by 2-dimensional-differential gel electrophoresis(2D-DIGE)/liquid chromatography (LC)-MS/MS and by online 2D-LC-MS/MS of iTRAQ labeled samples. We identified several serum proteins as being differentially expressed between control and cancer-bearing mice and between noninvasive and invasive cancer (p

To determine the most effective preoperative localization techniques for patients with primary hyperparathyroidism to facilitate the surgical procedure, decrease patient morbidity, and decrease the number of repeat surgeries owing to inability to locate the abnormal parathyroid gland.This was a retrospective study in which 53 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism underwent preoperative sestamibi scanning and ultrasonography. If the two tests failed to agree on the precise location of the abnormal gland, a third imaging technique, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), was used to confirm the precise location of the gland. Patients with secondary, tertiary, and recurrent hyperparathyroidism and patients with thyroid carcinoma were excluded from this study. Twenty males and 33 females were involved in the study. The mean age was 59.8 years (range 34-84 years). The preoperative results were compared with findings in surgery. A successful surgery was defined as parathyroid hormone and corrected calcium values in the normal range following the operative procedure.There was concurrence between ultrasound and sestamibi scanning in 70% (37 of 53) of the patients. When both agreed, the identified location of the abnormal parathyroid gland was correct 97% (36 of 37) of the time. The ultrasound and sestamibi scanning did not coincide in 30% of the patients (16 of 53). In this scenario, MRI was performed. When the MRI agreed with either of the two previous imaging techniques, the abnormal gland was accurately localized 100% of the time. In six cases (11%), there was no definitive agreement between all three tests that were performed.The combination of preoperative ultrasonography and sestamibi scanning is effective in predicting the location of parathyroid adenomas in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. When both tests conflict, MRI is an effective tool to localize the abnormal glands. This study describes an algorithm for the preoperative localization of parathyroid gland abnormalities, in particular parathyroid adenomas. Second, it allows patients to undergo unilateral neck exploration, as opposed to bilateral neck exploration, where operative times, duration of hospitalization, and patient morbidity are potentially decreased.

Background. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels up to 6 hours postthyroidectomy have been shown to have excellent predictive power in determining hypocalcemia. In this study, we investigate the usefulness of combining calcium and PTH to increase the predictive power. Methods. Individual patient data were obtained from 3 studies (152 patients) that fulfilled our criteria (using PTH assay within hours postthyroidectomy to predict symptomatic hypocalcemia). Results. Changes in combined PTH and calcium threshold levels checked 1 to 6 hours after thyroidectomy were excellent in predicting postoperative hypocalcemia. A decrease in PTH of 60%, coupled with a simultaneous decrease in calcium of 10%, 5 to 6 hours postoperatively resulted in a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. However, combined PTH and calcium threshold changes were not significantly better than using PTH threshold changes alone. Conclusions. Threshold changes in serum calcium and PTH, checked hours after surgery, can be used together to accurately predict whether a patient will become hypocalcemic after thyroidectomy. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2010

ObjectiveAn increase in papillary thyroid carcinoma in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis has been described. We have yet to find literature discussing a relationship with micropapillary thyroid carcinoma(MPC). Our objective is (1) to assess the relationship between Papillary Microcarcinoma and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis in thyroids without malignant disease, (2) compare effect of the presence of Hashimoto's on prognostic factors in patients.MethodsPathology reports were reviewed for consecutive patients undergoing total thyroidectomy over a 6-year period from 2002 to 2007. Patients with benign pathologies were included. Patients with MPC and no other malignancy were also included. This lead to a cohort of 314 patients. Statistical significance was calculated using Fisher's exact test and a chi-squared analysis.ResultsOut of the 314 patients, 98 were positive for Hashimoto's thyroiditis on biopsy of the removed thyroid. 58% of the patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis had an incidental MPC, as compared to...

ObjectiveTo clearly define what constitutes successful parathyroidectomy in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and to review our institution's results.MethodsA retrospective chart review was conducted for consecutive patients who underwent parathyroidectomy at a university-affiliated tertiary care center between January 1998 and February 2006. Intraoperative pre- and post-excision PTH levels were recorded. PTH and calcium levels were recorded at 3 – 6 month intervals in the first 2 years and then yearly.Results84 patients were analyzed. 50 (60%) had normal calcium and normal PTH levels following surgery, 28 (33%) had normal calcium and elevated PTH following surgery, and 6 (7%) had both elevated calcium and PTH. The mean follow-up time was 2.23 years, with a range of 0.25 to 5 years.ConclusionsSurgery was successful, as indicated by normocalcemia, in 78 patients (93%). Of these 78 patients, 28 (33%) developed persistent PTH elevation without developing hypercalcemia. Other studies have studied this...

ObjectiveDetermine the value of fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB), and stratify the risk of malignancy within the indeterminate FNAB diagnostic category at our institution.MethodsThe preoperative FNABs of 115 consecutive patients who underwent thyroidectomy at a teaching hospital between 2005 and 2007 were reviewed and categorized into 4 groups: negative for malignancy, positive or suspicious for malignancy, indeterminate, and nondiagnostic. The final histopathological diagnosis was then compared with the FNAB result. FNABs reported as follicular or Hurthle cell lesions were considered indeterminate diagnoses, and malignancy rates were calculated within this category.ResultsThe FNAB results were as follows: 17% negative for malignancy, 35% positive or suspicious for malignancy, 40% indeterminate, and 8% nondiagnostic. The sensitivity of FNAB in detecting thyroid malignancy was 83%, specificity 92% and accuracy 85%. There were 9 discrepant cases giving a false negative rate of 17% and a false positive...

Objective(1) Compare prognostic factors in thyroid micropapillary carcinoma (MPC) =5 mm. (2) To compare MPC characteristics in patients with pre-existing thyroid carcinoma to patients...

Objective1. Review the incidence of thyroid gland invasion by squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma in the literature. 2. Correlate thyroid gland invasion with anatomical characteristics of the laryngeal tumor. Do laryngeal tumors which invade the thyroid gland share certain characteristics which can aid in determing the management of the thyroid gland during total laryngectomy?MethodsSystematic review of MEDLINE (1967–2007) and EMBASE (1980–2007) for all total laryngectomy series which commented on thyroid gland invasion according to tumor subsite and pathological characteristics. These results were supplemented with 61 patients from our centers who underwent total laryngectomy with hemi- or total thyroidectomy. Eleven series in total (n = 535) were included in the meta-analysis (fixed effects model).ResultsThyroid gland invasion was present in 47 laryngectomy specimens (9%); the main method of invasion of the gland was by direct extralaryngeal extension. Subglottic extension > 10mm (OR 6.27 [2.16 to 18.19];...

This review was performed to evaluate the existing literature on sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for early-stage oral and oropharyngeal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in clinically negative (N0) necks.A Medline search identified 43 pertinent published trials and reviews in the English-language literature from 1990 to 2005.Recent studies consistently show high sensitivities93% for T1 and T2 HNSCC. SLNB has the potential to replace neck dissection in those patients. Data on T3 and T4 tumours are not as promising, although research is currently under way to determine the true metastasis detection rate. Appropriate technique is crucial for the complete detection of the sentinel nodes. For HNSCC sentinel lymphadenectomy, many studies have advocated the use of a colloid tracer and gamma probe detector, as well as the harvesting of a total of three nodes as a good standard technique.American multicentre trials are currently under way gathering crucial data on this technique. It is very likely that SLNB will become indicated for T1 and T2 oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma with N0 necks, and it is possible that the indication will extend to all early-stage HNSCCs. However, more research will be necessary for advanced head and neck cancers.