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The main aims of the oncologic surgeon should be an early tumor diagnosis, complete surgical resection, and a careful post-treatment follow-up to ensure a prompt diagnosis of recurrence. Radiologic and endoscopic methods have been traditionally used for these purposes, but their accuracy might sometimes be suboptimal. Technological improvements could help the clinician during the diagnostic and therapeutic management of tumors. Narrow band imaging (NBI) belongs to optical image techniques, and uses light characteristics to enhance tissue vascularization. Because neoangiogenesis is a fundamental step during carcinogenesis, NBI could be useful in the diagnostic and therapeutic workup of tumors. Since its introduction in 2001, NBI use has rapidly spread in different oncologic specialties with clear advantages. There is an active interest in this topic as demonstrated by the thriving literature. It is unavoidable for clinicians to gain in-depth knowledge about the application of NBI to their specific field, losing the overall view on the topic. However, by looking at other fields of application, clinicians could find ideas to improve NBI use in their own specialty. The aim of this review is to summarize the existing literature on NBI use in oncology, with the aim of providing the state of the art: we present an overview on NBI fields of application, results, and possible future improvements in the different specialties.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has made wearing face masks a common habit in public places. Several reports have underlined the increased difficulties encountered by deaf people in speech comprehension, resulting in a higher risk of social isolation and psychological distress. Purpose To address the detrimental effect of different types of face masks on speech perception, according to the listener hearing level and background noise. Research Design Quasi-experimental cross-sectional study. Study Sample Thirty patients were assessed: 16 with normal hearing [NH], and 14 hearing-impaired [HI] with moderate hearing loss. Data Collection and Analysis A speech perception test (TAUV) was administered by an operator trained to speak at 65 dB, without a face mask, with a surgical mask, and with a KN95/FFP2 face mask, in a quiet and in a noisy environment (cocktail party noise, 55 dB). The Hearing Handicap Index for Adults (HHI-A) was administered twice, asking subjects to complete it for the period before and after the pandemic outburst. A 2-way repeated-measure analysis of variance was performed. Results The NH group showed a significant difference between the no-mask and the KN95/FFP2-mask condition in noise (p = 0.01). The HI group showed significant differences for surgical or KN95/FFP2 mask compared with no-mask, and for KN95/FFP2 compared with surgical mask, in quiet and in noise (p Conclusion Face masks have a detrimental effect on speech perception especially for HI patients, potentially worsening their hearing-related quality of life.

The Neck Dissection Impairment Index (NDII) questionnaire is a useful and validated Quality of Life (QoL) evaluation instrument in patients undergoing major head-neck surgery. Its English version has been used in several studies in the last years. The aim of this work is to validate the NDII in Italian for both patient assessment and future studies.Cross-cultural adaptation of the NDII was performed using standard techniques. Items of the original NDII were translated into Italian by a professional translator and two bilingual investigators. A final consensus version was obtained and given to two professional translators to produce a literal translation into English. The two translators and an expert committee synthesised the results of the translations in an English back-translated version that was compared with the original to check that they had the same semantic value.Finally, a total of 42 patients completed both copies of the translated questionnaires. Internal consistency proved to be excellent, with Cronbach's alpha = 0.95.The NDII was successfully translated into Italian and its use was easy for patients. The translation of the NDII can represent a useful tool for individual patient assessment and future research.Validazione in italiano del questionario Neck Dissection Impairment Index.Lo scopo del lavoro è convalidare il questionario Neck Dissection Impairment Index (NDII) in italiano, unico questionario specifico per valutare in maniera specifica la qualità di vita dei pazienti sottoposti a svuotamento laterocervicale.L’adattamento interculturale dell’NDII è stato eseguito utilizzando tecniche standard. Gli elementi dell’NDII originale sono stati tradotti in italiano da un traduttore professionista e due investigatori bilingue. Una versione finale di consenso è stata ottenuta e data a due traduttori professionisti per produrre una traduzione letterale in inglese. I due traduttori e un comitato di esperti hanno sintetizzato i risultati delle traduzioni in una versione retrotradotta in inglese che è stata confrontata con l’originale per verificare che avessero lo stesso valore semantico. Infine, un totale di 42 pazienti ha completato entrambe le copie dei questionari tradotti.La consistenza interna si è rivelata ottima, con alfa di Cronbach = 0,95. L’NDII è stato tradotto con successo in italiano e il suo utilizzo è stato facile per i pazienti.La traduzione dell’NDII potrebbe rappresentare uno strumento molto utile per la valutazione del singolo paziente e la ricerca futura.

Sinonasal adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare malignant epithelial tumor characterized by slow growth, multiple local recurrences, and perineural invasion; surgery followed by radiotherapy provides the best overall survival by means of an endoscopic, craniofacial, or combined approach. We present a previously undescribed case of frontal sinus adenoid cystic carcinoma involving the subcutaneous tissue and the dura mater treated with an open technique, free flap reconstruction, and hadron therapy together with a summary of the state of the art.

Interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and pharyngeal associated lymphoid tissue are thought to influence the manifestations of COVID-19. We aimed to determine whether a previous history of tonsillectomy, as a surrogate indicator of a dysfunctional pharyngeal associated lymphoid tissue, could predict the presentation and course of COVID-19.Multicentric cross-sectional observational study involving seven hospitals in Northern and Central Italy. Data on the clinical course and signs and symptoms of the infection were collected from 779 adults who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and analysed in relation to previous tonsillectomy, together with demographic and anamnestic data.Patients with previous tonsillectomy showed a greater risk of fever, temperature higher than 39°C, chills and malaise. No significant differences in hospital admissions were found.A previous history of tonsillectomy, as a surrogate indicator of immunological dysfunction of the pharyngeal associated lymphoid tissue, could predict a more intense systemic manifestation of COVID-19. These results could provide a simple clinical marker to discriminate suspected carriers and to delineate more precise prognostic models.COVID-19 nella popolazione tonsillectomizzata.Si ritiene che le manifestazioni dell’infezione da SARS-CoV-2 siano influenzate dalle interazioni tra il virus e il tessuto linfatico associato alla faringe. Obiettivo di questo studio è determinare se una pregressa tonsillectomia, come indicatore surrogato di disfunzione immunologica faringea, possa predire la presentazione e il decorso della COVID-19.Studio multicentrico trasversale osservazionale coinvolgente 7 centri italiani. Sono stati raccolti i dati su decorso, segni e sintomi dell’infezione da 779 adulti positivi al SARS-CoV-2, e analizzati in relazione a pregressa tonsillectomia, dati demografici e anamnestici.I pazienti con pregressa tonsillectomia hanno un maggior rischio di sviluppare febbre, raggiungere temperature oltre i 39°C, brividi e malessere generalizzato. Non si riscontrano differenze nel tasso di ospedalizzazione.Il dato anamnestico di pregressa tonsillectomia, come indicatore di disfunzione immunologica faringea, può predire una manifestazione sistemica più intensa nei pazienti affetti da COVID-19. Questi risultati possono fornire un marker clinico semplice per discriminare sospetti portatori del virus e delineare modelli prognostici più accurati.