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Objective: We aimed to evaluate the pattern of neck metastasis in patients with primary tonsillar carcinoma treated by primary surgery and neck dissection. Impact of the extent of neck dissection and level of metastatic nodes on survival were also evaluated., Methods: We evaluated 163 consecutive patients with tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma submitted for neck dissection and staged as cN0-1. Selective neck dissection was performed using a template encompassing levels I-III, whereas radical neck dissection led to the removal at levels I-V. For each patient, number of metastatic nodes, their distribution, and data regarding postoperative treatment and oncologic outcomes were analyzed., Results: Occult neck metastasis at levels I, IV, and V were rare with two cases each. In the clinically negative (cN0) patients, there were no cases of metastasis at level V and two cases at level I or IV. The extent of neck dissection and level of metastatic nodes had no impact on disease-specific survival or neck recurrence., Conclusion: We conclude that in cN0 patients, removal at levels II and III is mandatory but levels I, IV, and V may be spared., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Unlabelled: Unilateral or bilateral neck dissection must be considered in the treatment of laryngeal cancer, Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of contralateral metastases in larynx cancer and distribution of these metastases according to lymph node levels in the neck., Method: Retrospective longitudinal study of 272 charts from patients with squamous cell cancer of the larynx treated between 1996 and 2004; and we selected 104 surgical cases submitted to neck dissection. We evaluated the incidence of bilateral or contralateral metastases, according to the location and extension of the primary tumor, considering the anatomical sub-sites and the midline., Results: Contralateral metastases in lateral tumors were observed in 3.5% of glottic lesions and in 26% of supraglottic lesions. Contralateral metastases were uncommon in N0 patients. Lymph nodes levels IIa and III were the most commonly involved in the neck., Conclusion: In lateral glottic tumors there is no need for elective contralateral neck dissection. In supraglottic lesions without ipsilateral metastases, the incidence of hidden metastasis does not justify elective contralateral dissection. The midline is not a reliable indicator of the risk of contralateral laryngeal tumors.

Objective: To evaluate the disease-free survival in hypopharyngeal tumors submitted to postoperative radiotherapy., Methods: we retrospectively studied 174 patients with the following distribution: two cases of stage I, four stage II, 46 stage III and 122 stage IV. Regarding gender, 163 were male and 11 female; mean age was 56 years. All patients underwent pharyngolaryngectomy; neck dissections were radical in 206 and selective in 16. One hundred six patients underwent postoperative radiotherapy, with a mean dose of 58.2 Gy., Results: Histological examination showed two cases of stage pT1, 15 stage pT2, 100 stage pT3 and 57 stage pT4. As for lymph nodes, 25 patients had no involvement (pN0); 149 presented with lymph node invasion (pN +). Five-year disease-free survival was 40% and the overall survival was 28%. According to the results of histological examination, five-year disease-free survival was 75% in clinical stage III versus 28% in IV., Conclusion: The initial manifestation of squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx happens in advanced stages (III and IV), with superior five-year disease-free survival in clinical stage III.

Unlabelled: Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma is very often diagnosed at advanced stages. The time interval between the specialist consultation and the start of treatment may contribute to better outcomes., Aim: the interval assessment between the first specialist evaluation and the treatment of patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma., Study Design: longitudinal historical cohort., Materials and Methods: 272 consecutive patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma seen between January, 1996 and December of 2004. Clinical and epidemiological data were evaluated, as well as their association with the time interval between the first specialist visit and the start of treatment., Result: the median time between first evaluation and treatment was 49 days. There was no relationship with gender, age, birth place, disease stage or education., Conclusion: the treatment median delay was 49 days, similar to what has been reported in other studies.

Background: The development and progression of cancer depend on its genetic characteristics as well as on the interactions with its microenvironment. Understanding these interactions may contribute to diagnostic and prognostic evaluations and to the development of new cancer therapies. Aiming to investigate potential mechanisms by which the tumor microenvironment might contribute to a cancer phenotype, we evaluated soluble paracrine factors produced by stromal and neoplastic cells which may influence proliferation and gene and protein expression., Methods: The study was carried out on the epithelial cancer cell line (Hep-2) and fibroblasts isolated from a primary oral cancer. We combined a conditioned-medium technique with subtraction hybridization approach, quantitative PCR and proteomics, in order to evaluate gene and protein expression influenced by soluble paracrine factors produced by stromal and neoplastic cells., Results: We observed that conditioned medium from fibroblast cultures (FCM) inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in Hep-2 cells. In neoplastic cells, 41 genes and 5 proteins exhibited changes in expression levels in response to FCM and, in fibroblasts, 17 genes and 2 proteins showed down-regulation in response to conditioned medium from Hep-2 cells (HCM). Nine genes were selected and the expression results of 6 down-regulated genes (ARID4A, CALR, GNB2L1, RNF10, SQSTM1, USP9X) were validated by real time PCR., Conclusions: A significant and common denominator in the results was the potential induction of signaling changes associated with immune or inflammatory response in the absence of a specific protein.

Unlabelled: In early stage (I and II) laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, both surgery and radiotherapy results in significant local and regional control. In advanced tumors (III and IV), radiotherapy alone has local-regional control rates of 32-43%., Aim: To assess disease-free survival in SCC laryngeal carcinoma patients submitted to radiotherapy alone and/or associated with chemotherapy., Materials and Methods: Retrospective study involving 84 cases of laryngeal SCC treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy together with radiotherapy. Fifty-three cases were treated with intension to cure and 31 because of impossibility to resect the disease. As to clinical stage (CS), 12 were CS I, 15 II, 21 III and 5 IV. In the second group, 11 cases were EC III and 20 IV., Results: Mean age was 60 years, 84.5% were men. Fifty-eight (69.1%) cases had complete response and 26 (30.9%) had persistent or residual disease. Five-year disease-free survival was of 42.5%; 62.5% of the patients with organ preservation indication and 9.75 in the group of irressecable disease., Conclusion: Disease-free survival of those patients submitted to radiotherapy because of laryngeal SCC was of 62.5%.

Unlabelled: The nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a rare cancer with a high incidence in Southern Asia., Aim: To study the demographic, clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic factors of nasopharyngeal undifferentiated carcinoma in a reference service., Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was made of 46 patients from January 1998 to August 2000. The patients had no previous treatment and did not present any evidence of synchronous tumors or distance metastases., Results: The age ranged from 14 to 78 years (mean = 46 years); 35 (76%) patients were male. All patients were Caucasian or African-Brazilian. The onset of initial symptoms ranged from 1 to 48 months (mean = 7 months); 47% of the subjects smoked tobacco and 33% consumed alcoholic beverages. A lump in the neck was the most frequent symptom (34 patients). Twenty-two patients were clinically staged as T1/T2 and 24 patients as T3/T4; 24 patients were classified as N2, and 16 patients were staged as N3. Curative treatment consisted of radiotherapy and simultaneous chemotherapy in clinical stages III and IV. Of 27 patients that were monitored, 52% were alive with no evidence of disease after three years., Conclusion: All patients were in advanced clinical stages of the disease. The three-year disease-free survival rate was 52%.

Unlabelled: The usual management of upper aero digestive tract squamous cell carcinoma is surgery associated or not to post surgical radiotherapy. Loco-regional relapses constitute the main failure of the initial treatment and early diagnosis justifies the indication of salvage surgery., Aim: Descriptive analysis of demographic data and staging for salvage surgery of oropharynx tumors., Materials and Methods: We studied retrospectively 78 patients submitted to surgery in all cases; however, just 37 patients received post surgical radiotherapy., Results: There was a predominance of males in 70 cases, with mean age of 54.2 years, and 54 patients were Caucasian. The patients were classified as T3 and T4 in 38 cases and 40 patients were classified as N0 neck. 35 patients developed loco-regional distant relapses. 17 patients were submitted to salvage surgery and 12 patients were reclassified as T1; 2 patients T2 and in relation to the clinical stage N, 2 patients were N2a and 2 patients N2b. The average age of the patients submitted to salvage surgery was 52.8 years, with predominance of male Caucasians., Conclusion: Clinical stage I and II were accorded salvage surgery.

Objective: Salvage surgery is the first therapeutic option for recurrent tumors of the mouth and oropharynx, mainly in early stage tumors. This study intends to evaluate the disease free survival interval after salvage treatment for recurrent tumors of the mouth and oropharynx., Methods: Retrospective analysis of 276 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and oropharynx treated with surgery. One hundred and twenty seven patients developed loco-regional recurrence. Ninety-seven were staged as early tumors and 178 as advanced ones. The tumor site was the lip in 25 cases, oral cavity in 173 and oropharynx in 78. Postoperative radiotherapy was indicated in 121 cases with a mean dose of 60.8Gy., Results: Eighty-nine patients underwent salvage treatment (surgery in 76 patients). Loco-regional recurrences were treated with salvage surgery in 65% of cases. Disease free survival after salvage surgery was 13% in cases with recurrences diagnosed up to 6 months and 48% in those who recurred after 12 months of follow-up (p=0.0009). Modality of salvage treatment and the disease free interval were independent variables of survival in the multivariate analysis., Conclusion: In cases clinically staged as I and II, the disease free survival in five years after salvage treatment was 70%.

Aim: The aim of this article is to present a case of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in order to emphasize the importance of the clinical exam since the anamnesis leads to a diagnostic hypothesis of ITP., Background: Acute ITP is considered an autoimmune disease characterized by the production of antibodies against platelets, antigens produced by a viral infection, or a platelet sparing drug combination. These antibodies adhere to platelets and are recognized and destroyed by the reticulo-endothelial system. Consequently, the platelet count gradually diminishes and is insufficient for the maintenance of primary hemostasis., Report: A 77-year-old woman presented with post-extraction intermittent bleeding. The physical examination revealed discoloration of the skin, multiple petechiae, hematomas, ecchymosis of the upper lip, bruises all over the body, gingiva that bled spontaneously, and a malformed blood clot at the extraction site of tooth #44. The hematological exams confirmed the hypothesis of ITP. The patient was immediately hospitalized in the Hematology Department of a local hospital and received platelet replacement, hydration, medication, and general care. After the spontaneous bleeding stopped, the malformed clot was removed using alveolar curettage along with a thorough cleaning of the extraction site with a 0.9% saline solution before suturing the wound and prescribing medication. After the sixth day of hospitalization, the patient presented with the following results: Hb: 12.3 mg/dL, Ht: 36.1%, and PC: 87,000 mm3. The patient was then discharged and was placed under outpatient follow-up care., Summary: The importance of the clinical exam must be emphasized since the anamnesis leads to a diagnostic hypothesis of ITP and provides the dental surgeon with an opportunity to make important systemic alterations to improve the prognosis of a patient with ITP.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the prognosis of patients with tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma with different stages of lymph node involvement and to determine the best elective neck dissection for those cases., Study Design: Case series., Material and Method: 51 patients with tonsillar tumors were treated between 1992 and 2001. The incidence of different tumor-node-metastasis stages was evaluated according to primary tumor extension., Results: cN0 patients had metastases in stages I and II only. Among pN+ subjects with stage I metastases, 6/7 had primary tumor extending to oral cavity., Conclusion: Supraomohyoid neck dissection (stages I, II and III) is the elective treatment of choice when tonsillar primary tumor extends to oral cavity. When primary tumors are limited to the oropharynx, selective neck dissection of stages II and III proved to be more adequate.

Context: Local and regional recurrences are frequent in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract and early diagnosis is important for salvage treatment., Objective: To identify the period of highest risk for the development of recurrences after surgical treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract, in spite of radical therapy, in order to plan the follow-up for these patients., Type of Study: Cross-sectional, descriptive., Setting: Department of Head and Neck Surgery/Otorhinolaryngology, Heliópolis Hospital (Hosphel), São Paulo, Brazil., Participants: A review was made of the hospital records of 889 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract surgically treated between October 1977 and December 1996: 364 had oral cavity tumors, 107 had tumors of the oropharynx, 152 of the hypopharynx and 266, larynx tumors. The disease was stage I in 14 patients, stage II in 117, stage III in 352, stage IV in 397 and 9 patients were not staged., Main Measurements: The interval between treatment and recurrence of disease was evaluated. The results were expressed as medians, quartiles (25% to 75%) and percentiles (10% to 90%). The annual incidence of recurrences and second tumors was calculated., Results: Seventy-four percent of the recurrences were diagnosed within 18 months post-treatment. The local and regional recurrences and distant metastases showed medians of 270, 210 and 435 postoperative days respectively. The incidence of a second primary tumor varied from 2 to 3.1% a year., Conclusion: The majority of recurrences occurred within 18 months after the initial surgical treatment. The incidence of a second tumor remained stable after the first post-treatment year.

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity occurs mainly in the male population. The objective of the study is to identify the main clinical and epidemiological differences of the oral SCC between men and women., Methods: Retrospective analysis of the charts of 228 cases of SCC of the oral cavity in women treated at the Head & Neck Surgery Service, Heliopolis Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil from 1977 to 1996. The clinical and epidemiological characteristics of these cases were compared with those of 849 male patients., Results: The mean age of women was 60.7 years (ranging 2 to 100 years) and in the male group was 55.6 years (p<0.00001). In cases where the alcohol intake and tobacco use were absent, the tumors ocurred in older patients. The isolated tobacco use didn't affect the distribuction by age but for the alcohol intake (alone or combined with tobacco) the patients were younger. On the alcohol intake, 71% of the women and 8% of the man used no alcohol. The most common sites of tumors were tongue and floor of the mouth but in the women group the incidence of tumors in these sites were 43% compared with 61% in the men., Conclusions: The highest incidence of SCC the of oral cavity occurs later in women, than in men. This could be explained by a lesser exposure to alcohol and tobacco in women. Other factors seem to be involved in this issue.

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck region is rare in young patients and even less frequent in children 15 years or younger children. The patients reported in the literature are isolated cases and their management is always difficult because there is no large experience or a convincing theory to support treatment decisions for every child., Procedures and Results: Four patients aged 15 years or younger were treated for SCC of head and neck between 1977 and 1995 at the Head and Neck Service of Heliópolis Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil, and with this paper we are reporting our experience with their treatment, including a genetic investigation in two cases (immunohistochemical analysis using monoclonal antibodies against p53 and c-erbB-2 oncogenes). These patients had no history of tobacco or ethanol abuse and no history of cancer in their families. Many authors attribute an unusual aggressiveness to SCC in childhood, with propensity to locoregional recurrence and high death rates and therefore, propose aggressive multidisciplinary therapy. Our cases, with the exception of one, had an early diagnosis and were treated using the same method we use for adults; the results were very good., Conclusions: We recommend for these cases the same protocol as for older patients. In these cases, however, the primary lesion is resected with a safety margin which is usually 2 to 3 mm larger than usual safety margins and selective neck dissection is routinely indicated. This management is adopted in an attempt to avoid postoperative irradiation which may prove to be dangerous in the future for young patients. On the other hand, we recognize that due to a small number de patients, definitive treatment recommendations cannot be made at this time.