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Chondrosarcoma ofthe nasal septum is a rarely encountered malignancy. When it does occur, early diagnosis is difficult because patients generally present with common, nonspecific sinonasal complaints. We describe a case of chondrosarcoma of the nasal septum in a 38-year-old Hispanic man. The lesion was discovered on computed tomography during a workup for symptoms of chronic sinus disease. The tumor was removed in its entirety and identified as a low-grade lesion that required no further treatment. The patient remained disease-free 4 years postoperatively. We review the diagnosis of this neoplasm and its treatment and follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laryngeal transplant (LT) is a promising option to restore quality of life in patients with severe laryngeal dysfunction or a laryngectomy. These patients may be tracheostomy tube dependent or gastrostomy tube dependent and may lose their ability to verbally communicate. The loss of these important functions frequently results in social isolation and a severe decrease in quality of life. Laryngeal transplant has the potential to restore all of these important laryngeal functions. Herein, we report the first known documented LT performed in the setting of laryngeal chondrosarcoma., (Copyright © 2024 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Canalicular-like pleomorphic adenomas are a relatively recently described entity, that possess features of both canalicular adenomas and pleomorphic adenomas. The presence of unusual HMGA2 -fusion partners (most commonly HMGA2::WIF1 gene fusions) has established canalicular-like pleomorphic adenoma as a distinct entity. The use of intraoperative frozen section analysis and surrogate HMGA2 IHC are 2 tools that can provide the surgical team with valuable insight into intraoperative decision making and final classification of rare tumors of the parotid gland, respectively. We present a case of canalicular-like pleomorphic adenoma and characterize its appearance on frozen section analysis. HMGA2 IHC staining was retroactively performed, assisting in the confirmation of the tumor subtype., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: First bite syndrome (FBS) is a rare complication of transoral surgery (TOS) for oropharyngeal cancer (oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma [OPSCC]). Risk factors for developing this complication are not well described. In this study, we attempt to identify risks for developing FBS in TOS., Study Design: Retrospective chart review., Setting: Tertiary care medical center., Methods: This study was exempted by the Mayo Clinic institutional review board. We performed a review from January 2017 to November 2022 of all patients who underwent TOS for OPSCC by a single provider. Exclusion criteria included less than 6 months follow up, prior treatment of head and neck cancer, or incomplete records. Demographic data, comorbidities, tumor characteristics, surgical details, adjuvant treatment details, functional outcomes, and oncologic outcomes were assessed. Fisher's Exact test and Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test were used to identify significant variables, and multivariable logistic regression was used to address confounding., Results: One hundred and one patients were identified. Eighty-nine met the inclusion criteria. The mean follow-up was 34 months (median 33). Seven patients (7.9%) developed FBS. Palatine tumor primary (P = .041), resection of styloglossus/stylopharyngeus (P = .039), and parapharyngeal fat manipulation (P = .015) were associated with the presence of FBS. After adjusting for tumor location, manipulation of parapharyngeal fat maintained significance (P = .025). T and N staging, tumor volume, adjuvant radiation, and ligation of lingual/facial arteries were not associated with the development of FBS. Eighty-six percent (6/7) of patients had a resolution of FBS at an average of 11.3 months., Conclusion: Manipulation of the parapharyngeal space is independently associated with developing FBS in TOS in our cohort. Further confirmatory studies are warranted., (© 2024 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation.)

Background: Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is a known complication of transoral surgery (TOS) for oropharyngeal HPV-mediated squamous cell carcinoma. Controversy exists regarding adequate resection margins for balancing functional and oncologic outcomes., Methods: This retrospective study was exempted by the IRB. Patients who underwent TOS from January 2017 to October 2022 were included. Patient characteristics, treatment details, and oncologic and functional outcomes were evaluated., Results: Fifty-five patients were included. Mean and median follow-up was 34 months. 98% of patients were AJCC stage I/II. Recurrence-free survival was 96% with no local recurrences. Univariate analysis demonstrated an association between VPI and pT stage (p = 0.035), medial pterygoid resection (p = 0.049), and palatal attachment sacrifice (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed sacrifice of the palatal attachments remained a significant risk for VPI (p = 0.009)., Conclusion: Loss of soft palate pharyngeal attachments is an independent risk factor for VPI. When oncologically appropriate, the palatal attachments to the pharynx may be preserved., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Importance: Postoperative radiation therapy for close surgical margins in low- to intermediate-grade salivary carcinomas lacks multi-institutional supportive evidence., Objective: To evaluate the oncologic outcomes for low- and intermediate-grade salivary carcinomas with close and positive margins., Design, Setting, and Participants: The American Head and Neck Society Salivary Gland Section conducted a retrospective cohort study from 2010 to 2019 at 41 centers. Margins were classified as R0 (negative), R1 (microscopically positive), or R2 (macroscopically positive). R0 margins were subclassified into clear (>1 mm) or close (≤1 mm). Data analysis was performed from June to October 2023., Main Outcomes and Measures: Main outcomes were risk factors for local recurrence., Results: A total of 865 patients (median [IQR] age at surgery, 56 [43-66] years; 553 female individuals [64%] and 312 male individuals [36%]) were included. Of these, 801 (93%) had parotid carcinoma and 64 (7%) had submandibular gland carcinoma, and 748 (86%) had low-grade tumors and 117 (14%) had intermediate-grade tumors, with the following surgical margins: R0 in 673 (78%), R1 in 168 (19%), and R2 in 24 (3%). Close margins were found in 395 of 499 patients with R0 margins (79%), for whom margin distances were measured. A total of 305 patients (35%) underwent postoperative radiation therapy. Of all 865 patients, 35 (4%) had local recurrence with a median (IQR) follow-up of 35.3 (13.9-59.1) months. In patients with close margins as the sole risk factor for recurrence, the local recurrence rates were similar between those who underwent postoperative radiation therapy (0 of 46) or observation (4 of 165 [2%]). Patients with clear margins (n = 104) had no recurrences. The local recurrence rate in patients with R1 or R2 margins was better in those irradiated (2 of 128 [2%]) compared to observed (13 of 64 [20%]) (hazard ratio [HR], 0.05; 95% CI, 0.01-0.24). Multivariable analysis for local recurrence found the following independent factors: age at diagnosis (HR for a 10-year increase in age, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.06-1.67), R1 vs R0 (HR, 5.21; 95% CI, 2.58-10.54), lymphovascular invasion (HR, 4.47; 95% CI, 1.43-13.99), and postoperative radiation therapy (HR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.04-0.29). The 3-year local recurrence-free survivals for the study population were 96% vs 97% in the close margin group., Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of patients with low- and intermediate-grade major salivary gland carcinoma, postoperative radiation therapy for positive margins was associated with decreased risk of local recurrence. In isolation from other risk factors for local recurrence, select patients with close surgical margins (≤1 mm) may safely be considered for observation.

Objective: This study describes the prevalence of pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) in head and neck cancer patients, the incremental yield compared to a guideline-based approach to genetic evaluation, and the uptake of family variant testing., Study Design: Prospective cohort study., Setting: Three tertiary academic medical centers., Methods: Germline sequencing using an 84-gene screening platform among unselected head and neck cancer patients who received care at Mayo Clinic Cancer Centers between April 2018 and March 2020., Results: Amongst 200 patients, the median age was 62.0 years (Q1, Q3: 55, 71), 23.0% were female, 89.0% white/non-Hispanic, 5.0% Hispanic/Latinx, 6% of another race, and 42.0% had prognostic stage IV disease. The most common subsites were the oropharyngeal (45.0%) and salivary glands (12.0%). The most common histology was squamous cell carcinoma (74.5%). Twenty-one patients (10.5%) had a total of 22 PGVs; 20 of the 21 patients (95.2%) did not meet criteria for testing by current guidelines. Regarding penetrance of the 22 PGVs, 11 were high or moderate (most common PMS2 or HOXB13), and 11 were low or recessive (most common MUTYH, WNR, or RECQL4). One patient had a change in care based on an identified PGV. Family variant testing was completed at a rate of 4.8%., Conclusions: Universal gene panel testing identified a PGV in 10.5% of head and neck cancer patients; almost all would have been missed by current guideline-based testing. One of 21 patients had a treatment change due to their PGV, indicating that head and neck cancer treatment decisions are not yet widely informed by germline alterations., Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 133:3378-3388, 2023., (© 2023 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Objectives: To investigate and describe the patterns of regional metastases and recurrences after surgical treatment of oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPSCC)., Materials and Methods: Retrospective study of patients diagnosed with OPSCC from 2006 to 2021 at a tertiary referral center. Only patients treated with surgery including a neck dissection were included. Patients with unknown human papillomavirus (HPV) status, prior head and neck cancer, distant metastases, or synchronous head and neck cancer were excluded., Results: A total of 928 patients were included. 89% were males, the average age was 58.6 years (range: 25.2-87.5), 874 (94%) were HPV(+), and 513 (55.3%) had a tonsil cancer. Among cN + patients, the most commonly involved levels at presentation were level II (85.2%), level III (33.3%), and level IV (9.4%). In cN0 patients, metastases were only observed in level II (16.2%) and level III (9.2%). Nodal recurrence occurred in 48 (5.2%) patients after a median time of 1.0 years (interquartile range: 0.6-2.0). Nodal recurrence incidence was similar in HPV(+) and HPV(-) patients (5.0% vs. 7.4%, p = 0.44). The most common levels for regional recurrence were ipsilateral level II (45.8%), contralateral level II (43.8%), and ipsilateral level V (25.0%). Multivariable analysis revealed that pN was a significant predictor for regional recurrence (p = 0.02)., Conclusion: There is no difference in the distribution of regional metastases and recurrences in HPV(+) and HPV(-) OPSCC patients. Our findings align with the established understanding that regional metastases predominantly manifest in the ipsilateral level II-IV at presentation. Moreover, the data support the clinical recommendation to restrict elective neck dissection in cN0 patients to ipsilateral levels IIa and III, excluding level IIb. Regional recurrence is significantly associated with pN status., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Purpose: This series reports long-term clinical outcomes of patients with salivary duct carcinoma (SDC), which is associated with a poor prognosis., Methods and Materials: Eighty-nine patients with SDC were treated with curative intent from February 5, 1971, through September 15, 2018. Kaplan-Meier and competing risk analyses were used to estimate locoregional control, distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), progression-free survival, and overall survival (OS). Cox regression analyses of disease and treatment characteristics were performed to discover predictors of locoregional control, DMFS, and OS., Results: Median follow-up was 44.1 months (range, 0.23-356.67). The median age at diagnosis was 66 years (interquartile range, 57-75). Curative surgery followed by adjuvant radiation therapy was performed in 73 patients (82%). Chemotherapy was delivered in 26 patients (29.2%). The 5-year local recurrence and distant metastasis rates were 27% and 44%, respectively, with death as a competing risk. Distant metastasis was associated with lymph node-positive disease (hazard ratio [HR], 3.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.38-7.23; P  = .006), stage IV disease (HR, 4.78; 95% CI, 1.14-20.11; P  = .033), perineural invasion (HR, 4.56; 95% CI, 1.74-11.97; P  = .002), and positive margins (HR, 9.06; 95% CI, 3.88-21.14; P < .001). Median OS was 4.84 years (95% CI, 3.54-7.02). The 5-year OS was 42%. Reduced OS was associated with lymphovascular space invasion (HR, 3.49; 95% CI, 1.2-10.1; P  = .022), perineural invasion (HR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.06-3.97; P  = .033), positive margins (HR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.3-5.6; P  = .011), N2 disease (HR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.03-3.43; P  = .04), and N3 disease (HR, 11.76; 95% CI, 3.19-43.3; P < .001)., Conclusions: In this single-institution, multicenter retrospective study, the 5-year survival was 42% in patients with SDC. Lymphovascular space invasion, lymph node involvement, and higher staging at diagnosis were associated with lower DMFS and OS., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Objective: Dose de-escalation of adjuvant therapy (DART) in patients with HPV(+)OPSCC was investigated in two prospective Phase II and III clinical trials (MC1273 and MC1675). We report the 30-day morbidity and mortality associated with primary TORS resection in patients enrolled in these trials., Materials and Methods: Patients with HPV(+)OPSCC, who underwent TORS resection between 2013 and 2020 were considered in this analysis. The severity of postoperative transoral bleeding was graded using both the Hinni Grade (HG) transoral surgery bleeding scale and the Common Terminology for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0. Post-surgical complications within 30 days of surgery, as well as rates of tracheostomy, PEG and nasogastric tube placement., Results: 219 patients were included. A total of 7 (3.2 %) patients had a tracheostomy placed at the time of surgery, and all were decannulated within 26 days (median: 5, range: 2-26). There were 33 (15.1 %) returns to the emergency department (ED) with 10 (4.6 %) patients requiring readmission. Using the HG scale, 10 (4.6 %) patients experienced ≥ Grade 3 bleeding with no Grade 5 or 6 bleeds. In contrast, using the CTCAE scale, 15 patients (6.8 %) experienced ≥ Grade 3 bleeding with no Grade 5 bleeds. There was one post-operative death in a patient withdrawn from the trial, and no deaths related to hemorrhage., Conclusion and Relevance: TORS for HPV(+)OPSCC in carefully selected patients at a high volume center was associated with low morbidity and mortality., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Our objective was to report the prospective results of mucosal sparing radiation therapy in human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma., Methods and Materials: From March 2016 through May 2019, patients were enrolled in this institutional review board-approved prospective cohort study at a multisite institution. Inclusion criteria included p16+ American Joint Committee on Cancer seventh edition pathologic T1 or T2, N1 to N3, and M0 oropharyngeal cancers. Proton therapy (PT) was delivered to at-risk nodal regions, excluding the primary mucosal site. Secondary to insurance denial for PT, intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) was allowed. European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck Module and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System surveys (quality of life [QOL]) and modified barium swallowing impairment profiles (MBSImP) were obtained at baseline before radiation therapy, then 3 and 12 months after radiation therapy. Kaplan-Meier estimates were calculated for time-to-event clinical outcomes, and repeated measures mixed models were used to explore changes in QOL over time. A comparison of QOL and swallowing outcomes with standard-of-care treatment was analyzed., Results: There were 61 evaluable patients with a median follow-up of 38 months (range, 10-64); 44 (72%) were treated with PT and 17 (28%) were treated with IMRT. The 2-year local control, locoregional control, distant metastasis-free survival, and overall survival were 98%, 97%, 98%, and 100%, respectively. There were 6 grade ≥3 events related to treatment. Two IMRT patients required percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement during treatment secondary to significant nausea due to dysgeusia. Patients noted significant QOL improvement over time in the pain, swallowing, speech, social eating, social contact, mouth opening, and use of pain medication domains (all P < .02). The MBSImP overall severity score as well as oral and pharyngeal impairment scores showed stability with no significant change over time. For the 44 patients treated with PT, the mean D95 to the primary target was 10.7 Gy (standard deviation = 12.5 Gy)., Conclusions: Mucosal sparing radiation is well tolerated in select resected human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with a low risk of recurrence at the mucosal primary site, a low rate of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement, and few radiation-related grade ≥3 adverse events., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Patients with human papillomavirus oropharyngeal cancer are highly curable but risk significant long-term toxic effects with standard therapy. This study investigated a de-escalation strategy of decreased adjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy after transoral robotic surgery, and reports on long-term functional and quality of life (QOL) outcomes., Methods and Materials: Eligible patients had a p16-positive oropharyngeal cancer and ≤10 pack-year smoking history and underwent surgery followed by treatment with either 30 Gy delivered in 1.5-Gy fractions twice per day over 2 weeks with weekly docetaxel (15 mg/m 2 ) if they had intermediate pathologic risk factors or 36 Gy in 1.8-Gy fractions twice per day over 2 weeks with the same chemotherapy if they had extranodal extension. Toxic effects, swallow function, and QOL were measured longitudinally., Results: Seventy-nine patients (89.9% male) were treated and eligible for toxic effect and functional evaluation. Dry mouth was the most common grade 1 toxic effect at 1 year (55.6%), 2 years (53.3%), and 3 years (49.2%). The cumulative rates of grade 2 toxic effects at 1, 2, and 3 years were 1.4%, 6.7%, and 6.8%, respectively. There were only 2 grade 3 toxic effects at ≥1 year, including a grade 3 fatigue at 2.5 years, and a grade 3 superficial soft tissue fibrosis at 4 years. There were no grade 4 to 5 toxic effects. No patients were percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy-dependent. Swallow function improved by 12 months posttreatment. QOL improved over time by all measurement tools and most patients returned to baseline level of function and QOL., Conclusions: De-escalated adjuvant therapy for select patients with human papillomavirus oropharyngeal cancer resulted in low rates of long-term toxic effects, excellent swallow outcomes, and preservation of global and xerostomia-related QOL., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx is a malignancy of increasing prevalence. The oncologic community is currently evaluating the safety and efficacy of de-intensifying treatment without compromising oncologic outcomes. Paramount to these treatment algorithms is primary surgery through transoral approaches. This article reviews the literature and concepts pertaining to transoral surgery and describes the two most common techniques, transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) and transoral robotic surgery (TORS)., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Determine rates of intra-parotid and neck nodal metastasis, identify risk factors for recurrence, and report outcomes in patients with primary high-grade parotid malignancy who undergo total parotidectomy and neck dissection., Materials & Methods: Retrospective review of patients undergoing total parotidectomy and neck dissection for high-grade parotid malignancy between 2005 and 2015. The presence and number of parotid lymph nodes, superficial and deep, as well as cervical lymph nodes involved with metastatic disease were assessed. Risk factors associated with metastatic spread to the parotid deep lobe were identified and recurrence rates reported., Results: 75 patients with median follow-up time of 47 months. 35 patients (46.7%) had parotid lymph node metastasis. Seven patients (9.3%) had deep lobe nodal metastasis without metastasis to the superficial lobe nodes. Nine patients (12%) had positive intra-parotid nodes without positive cervical nodes. Cervical nodal disease was identified in 49.3% patients (37/75). Local, parotid-bed recurrence rate was 5.3% (4/75). Regional lymph node recurrence rate was also 5.3% (4/75). Rate of distant metastasis was 30.6% (23/75). The overall disease free survival rate for all patients at 2 and 5 years were 71% and 60% respectively., Conclusion: Parotid lymph node metastasis occurred at a similar rate to cervical lymph node metastasis (46.7% and 49.3%, respectively). Deep lobe parotid nodal metastasis occurred in nearly a quarter of patients and can occur without superficial parotid nodal metastasis. Rate of recurrence in the parotid bed, which may represent local or regional recurrence, was similar to regional cervical lymph node recurrence. Total parotidectomy and neck dissection should be considered high-grade parotid malignancy regardless of clinical nodal status., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Margins in transoral surgery for tonsil cancer can be limited by oropharyngeal wall thickness (OWT), but the normal range is not well established., Methods: In 240 noncancer subjects, OWT was measured bilaterally in the vicinity of the tonsils with MRI. Statistical analysis was performed to assess for interaction of age, sex, location, and obesity., Results: Mean(SD) OWT measured 3.4(0.6) mm posteriorly, 3.7(2.0) mm between the styloglossus and stylopharyngeus, and 5.3(0.8) mm laterally. OWT was greater in men, correlated with obesity, decreased posteriorly and laterally in the 60-80 versus 40-59 year age groups, and increased when styloglossus/stylopharyngeus were closer. OWT was <5 mm in 36.7%-97.9% of locations, with the largest percentage below this threshold located posteriorly., Conclusions: OWT is frequently <5 mm, particularly in the posterior and intermuscular areas, suggesting that a smaller surgical margin may need to be accepted in transoral tonsil cancer surgery for anatomic reasons., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The tumor immune microenvironment of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma may be accountable for differences in clinical behavior, particularly between different age groups. We performed RNA expression profiling and evaluated tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and their T-cell subsets in order to assess the functional status of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma tumor microenvironment and detect potentially clinically useful associations. Archival surgical pathology material from sixteen oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma patients was microscopically evaluated for TIL densities. RNA was extracted from macrodissected whole tumor sections and normal controls and RNA expression profiling was performed by the NanoString PanCancer IO 360 Gene Expression Panel. Immunostains for CD4, CD8 and FOXP3 were evaluated manually and by digital image analysis. Oral tongue squamous cell carcinomas had increased TIL densities, numerically dominated by CD4 + T cells, followed by CD8 + and FOXP3 + T cells. RNA expression profiling of tumors versus normal controls showed tumor signature upregulation in inhibitory immune signaling (CTLA4, TIGIT and PD-L2), followed by inhibitory tumor mechanisms (IDO1, TGF-β, B7-H3 and PD-L1). Patients older than 44 years showed a tumor microenvironment with increased Tregs and CTLA4 expression. Immunohistochemically assessed CD8% correlated well with molecular signatures related to CD8 + cytotoxic T-cell functions. FOXP3% correlated significantly with CTLA4 upregulation. CTLA4 molecular signature could be predicted by FOXP3% assessed by immunohistochemistry (R 2  = 0.619, p = 0.026). Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma hosts a complex inhibitory immune microenvironment, partially reflected in immunohistochemically quantified CD8 + and FOXP3 + T-cell subsets. Immunohistochemistry can be a useful screening tool for detecting tumors with upregulated expression of the targetable molecule CTLA4.

Purpose: De-escalated treatment for human papillomavirus (HPV)+ oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has shown promising initial results. Health-care policy is increasingly focusing on high-value care. This analysis compares the cost of care for HPV+ OPSCC treated with definitive chemoradiation (CRT), surgery and adjuvant radiation (RT), and surgery and de-escalated CRT on MC1273., Methods and Materials: MC1273 is a prospective, phase 2 study evaluating adjuvant CRT to 30 to 36 Gy plus docetaxel for HPV+ OPSCC after surgery for high-risk patients. Matched standard-of-care control groups were retrospectively identified for patients treated with definitive CRT or adjuvant RT. Standardized costs were evaluated before radiation, during treatment (during RT), and at short-term (6 month) and long-term (7-24 month) follow-up periods., Results: A total of 56 definitive CRT, 101 adjuvant RT, and 66 MC1273 patients were included. The CRT arm had more T3-4 disease (63% vs 17-21%) and higher N2c-N3 disease (52% vs 20-24%) vs both other groups. The total treatment costs in the CRT, adjuvant RT, and MC1273 groups were $47,763 (standard deviation [SD], $19,060], $57,845 (SD, $17,480), and $46,007 (SD, $9019), respectively, and the chemotherapy and/or RT costs were $39,936 (SD, $18,480), $26,603 (SD, $12,542), and $17,864 (SD, $3288), respectively. The per-patient, per-month, average short-term follow-up costs were $3860 (SD, $10,525), $1072 (SD, $996), and $972 (SD, $833), respectively, and the long-term costs were $978 (SD, $2294), $485 (SD, $1156), and $653 (SD, $1107), respectively. After adjustment for age, T-stage, and N-stage, treatment costs remained lower for CRT and MC1273 versus adjuvant RT ($45,450 and $47,114 vs $58,590, respectively; P < .001), whereas the total per-patient, per-month follow-up costs were lower in the MC1273 study group and adjuvant RT versus CRT ($853 and $866 vs $2030, respectively; P = .03)., Conclusions: MC1273 resulted in 10% and 20% reductions in global costs compared with standard-of-care adjuvant RT and definitive CRT treatments. Substantial cost savings may be an added benefit to the already noted low toxicity and maintained quality of life of treatment per MC1273., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Aggressive dose de-escalated adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) in patients with human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV(+)OPSCC)., Methods: Patients with HPV(+)OPSCC on a phase II clinical trial of primary surgery and neck dissection followed by dose de-escalated RT (N = 79) were compared with a cohort of patients who received standard adjuvant therapy (N = 115). Local recurrence-free, regional recurrence-free, distant metastases-free survival, and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed., Results: Of 194 patients, 23 experienced progression at a median of 1.1 years following surgery (interquartile range [IQR] 0.7-2.0; range 0.3-5.4); 10 patients in the de-escalated cohort and 13 patients in the standard cohort. The 3-year PFS rate for the de-escalated cohort was 87%, and in the standard cohort was 90% (hazard ratio [HR] 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) [0.50-2.75])., Conclusion: Patients with HPV(+)OPSCC who undergo surgical resection and neck dissection and meet criteria for adjuvant therapy can undergo aggressive dose de-escalation of RT without increasing risk of progression locally, regionally or at distant sites., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: The aim of the study was to describe a novel technique for reinforcement of salvage laryngectomy closure using a bipedicled musculofascial submental flap., Methods: A retrospective cohort study design identified patients who underwent salvage laryngectomy reinforcement with a bipedicled submental hammock flap between January 2008 and December 2016 were compared to salvage laryngectomy patients treated with primary closure of the neopharynx during the same time period. Pharyngocutaneous fistula rates were compared between groups., Results: Pharyngocutaneous fistula rate in the submental hammock group (2/31, 6.5%) was significantly lower compared to the primary closure group (14/45, 31%, P < .05)., Conclusion: The bipedicled musculofascial submental hammock flap is a viable method for reinforcement of salvage laryngectomy defects. It has a favorable pharyngocutaneous fistula rate compared to primary closure alone and has unique advantages over conventional methods of reinforcement., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Purpose: Understanding the role of transoral surgery in oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) requires prospective, randomized multi-institutional data. Meticulous evaluation of surgeon expertise and surgical quality assurance (QA) will be critical to the validity of such trials. We describe a novel surgeon credentialing and QA process developed to support the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group E3311 (E3311) and report outcomes related to QA., Patients and Methods: E3311 was a phase II randomized clinical trial of transoral surgery followed by low- or standard-dose, risk-adjusted post-operative therapy with stage III-IVa (AJCC 7th edition) HPV-associated OPC. In order to be credentialed to accrue to this trial, surgeons were required to demonstrate active hospital credentials and technique-specific surgical expertise with ≥20 cases of transoral resection for OPC. In addition, 10 paired operative and surgical pathology reports from the preceding 24 months were reviewed by an expert panel. Ongoing QA required <10% rate of positive margins, low oropharyngeal bleeding rates, and accrual of at least one patient per 12 months. Otherwise surgeons were placed on hold and not permitted to accrue until re-credentialed using a new series of transoral resections., Results: 120 surgeons trained in transoral minimally invasive surgery applied for credentialing for E3311 and after peer-review, 87 (73%) were approved from 59 centers. During QA on E3311, positive final pathologic margins were reported in 19 (3.8%) patients. Grade III/IV and grade V oropharyngeal bleeding was reported in 29 (5.9%) and 1 (0.2%) of patients., Conclusions: We provide proof of concept that a comprehensive credentialing process can support multicenter transoral head and neck surgical oncology trials, with low incidence of positive margins and *grade III/V oropharyngeal bleeding., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Submandibular gland (SMG) biopsies detect pathological alpha-synuclein (aSyn) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The objectives of this study were to determine 1) the feasibility of performing a second SMG biopsy in previously biopsied patients, 2) the feasibility of doing bilateral SMG biopsies, 3) laterality of aSyn density, 4) whether aSyn density changes over time., Methods: Seven PD patients (6 males) previously having positive unilateral SMG biopsies underwent bilateral needle biopsies. Staining with a validated antibody to pathologic p-serine 129 aSyn was performed., Results: Mean age at time of second biopsy was 76 years and mean time between biopsies was 4.1 years. Five subjects had sufficient SMG tissue bilaterally and two only unilaterally for a total of 12/14 glands biopsied having sufficient tissue, all 7 subjects having sufficient tissue on at least one side, and all 12 glands being aSyn positive. There was a 4x increase in aSyn density on average in the repeat biopsy, with 5 subjects having an increase, one no change, and one a decrease in density. Side effects were similar to previous reports; mainly bruising, swelling, slight bleeding., Conclusions: This is the first published study of bilateral transcutaneous needle biopsies of the SMG in living patients with PD which showed better tissue acquisition and a change in aSyn density over time. While further study is needed, there is potential for SMG biopsies to serve as a tissue biomarker for PD disease progression and potentially as a peripheral outcome measure for anti-aSyn treatment., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The ability to treat more advanced laryngeal cancers by transoral approaches has expanded significantly in the past several decades. Transoral management of laryngeal cancers that require removal of the laryngeal framework is controversial. Resecting cartilage through endoscopic means carries inherent technical challenges and the question of oncologic safety., Methods: We describe a retrospective review of patients undergoing resection of the thyroid cartilage during transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) for laryngeal cancer over a 10-year period. Only patients with 5-year follow-up were included., Results: Fourteen patients were identified that underwent attempted endoscopic resection of the thyroid cartilage. Preoperative staging ranged from T1 to T4 laryngeal cancers. Most patients underwent resection of the thyroid cartilage either for close proximity of the tumor to cartilage or microscopic involvement of the inner perichondrium, although 6 patients had gross invasion of the cartilage. Twelve patients underwent successful endoscopic clearance. Two patients were converted to total laryngectomy either at the time of surgery or shortly after due to extent of disease that was deemed not amenable to endoscopic resection. Overall 5-year survival was 71%. Disease-free survival was 62% at 5 years. The majority of patients avoided gastrostomy and tracheostomy tube dependence. One patient underwent total laryngectomy following initial TLM for chronic aspiration., Conclusion: We conclude that TLM for laryngeal cancer performed with removal of thyroid cartilage is feasible. Both oncologic and functional outcomes are reasonable in a select group of patients. This paper describes that cartilage can be resected endoscopically in the appropriate setting and not necessarily that cartilage invasion should routinely be treated with TLM.

Background: The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) eighth edition introduces a staging system specific for human papilloma virus positive oropharyngeal cancer with separate clinical (AJCC 8c) and pathological (AJCC 8p) criteria., Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, preoperative imaging and pathology reports were used to stage patients based on the AJCC 8c and AJCC 8p criteria, respectively. The primary endpoint was agreement between AJCC 8c and AJCC 8p., Results: A total of 213 patients met inclusion criteria. Kappa statistics showed poor agreement (κ = 0.3275) between AJCC 8c and AJCC 8p. In total, 30.3% of patient's preoperative AJCC 8c stage changed based on the postoperative pathologic staging (AJCC 8p) with 73.4% of those being upstaged., Conclusion: These data suggest that disagreement exists between AJCC 8c and AJCC 8p, in part due to the separate clinical and pathological staging criteria. This discrepancy should be considered as the new system is implemented., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if dose de-escalation from 60 to 66 Gy to 30 to 36 Gy of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for selected patients with human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma could maintain historical rates for disease control while reducing toxicity and preserving swallow function and quality of life (QOL)., Patients and Methods: MC1273 was a single-arm phase II trial testing an aggressive course of RT de-escalation after surgery. Eligibility criteria included patients with p16-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, smoking history of 10 pack-years or less, and negative margins. Cohort A (intermediate risk) received 30 Gy delivered in 1.5-Gy fractions twice per day over 2 weeks along with 15 mg/m 2 docetaxel once per week. Cohort B included patients with extranodal extension who received the same treatment plus a simultaneous integrated boost to nodal levels with extranodal extension to 36 Gy in 1.8-Gy fractions twice per day. The primary end point was locoregional tumor control at 2 years. Secondary end points included 2-year progression-free survival, overall survival, toxicity, swallow function, and patient-reported QOL., Results: Accrual was from September 2013 to June 2016 (N = 80; cohort A, n = 37; cohort B, n = 43). Median follow-up was 36 months, with a minimum follow-up of 25 months. The 2-year locoregional tumor control rate was 96.2%, with progression-free survival of 91.1% and overall survival of 98.7%. Rates of grade 3 or worse toxicity at pre-RT and 1 and 2 years post-RT were 2.5%, 0%, and 0%. Swallowing function improved slightly between pre-RT and 12 months post-RT, with one patient requiring temporary feeding tube placement., Conclusion: Aggressive RT de-escalation resulted in locoregional tumor control rates comparable to historical controls, low toxicity, and little decrement in swallowing function or QOL.

Objectives: Although the reliability of frozen sections for the intraoperative assessment of complete tumour excision has been established, the best location for collection and the impact of the type of sampling are still debated. We retrospectively investigated the reliability of frozen sections when collected from the surgical bed as tissue strips representative of the whole superficial margin and as a bowl of tissue underlying the resection site for deep margin, and the possibility of relying on frozen section negativity to consider resections complete., Materials and Methods: Frozen section reliability was calculated by comparing histology before and after formalin embedding and then categorised by sampling type, in 182 patients undergoing transoral resection of oral cancer., Results: Comparing frozen and permanent histology, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 69%, 98% and 96%, respectively; categorisation by sampling type failed to produce statistically significant differences. Based on frozen section negativity after formalin embedding, complete resections were obtained in 91.7% of patients with multiple-strip and bowl frozen sections., Conclusion: Frozen sections collected as tissue strips and bowl are as reliable as point sampling in the intraoperative guidance of surgical resections. They effectively provide for margin enlargement, thereby increasing the surgeon's confidence that negative margins are clear., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To provide a perspective on the significance of recent reports for optimizing cancer free surgical margins that have challenged standard practices., Methods: We conducted a review of the recent literature (2012-2018) using the keywords surgical margin analysis, frozen and paraffin section techniques, head and neck cancer, spectroscopy and molecular markers., Results: Of significance are the reports indicating superiority of tumor specimen directed sampling of margins compared to patient directed (tumor bed) sampling for frozen section control of oral cancers. With reference to optimal distance between tumor and the surgical margin, recent reports recommended cutoffs less than 5mm. Employment of new technologies such as light spectroscopy and molecular analysis of tissues, provide opportunities for a "real time" assessment of surgical margins., Conclusions: The commonly practiced method of patient directed margin sampling involving previous studies raises concern over conclusions made regarding the efficacy of frozen section margin control. The recent studies that challenge the optimal distance for clear surgical margins are retrospective and address patient cohorts with inherently confounding factors. The use of novel ancillary techniques require further refinements, clinical trial validation, and justification based on the additional resources., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The natural history of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity (OC) in young adults is unknown. We sought to provide an updated report on treatment outcomes of patients with OC SCC who were 40 years or younger., Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 124 consecutive patients with primary OC SCC treated at Mayo Clinic (1980-2014). Patient and tumor characteristics and treatment approach were abstracted from patient charts., Results: Median patient age was 35 years (range, 19-40 years). The most common primary site was oral tongue (107 patients; 86.3%). Most patients (101; 81.5%) underwent wide local excision. Surgery alone was curative in 77 patients (62.1%); 47 (37.9%) received radiotherapy, and 26 (21%) received chemotherapy. Five-year overall survival (OS) was 78.1%; 10-year OS was 76.9%. Five-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 66.6%; 5-year local control was 87.6%; and 5-year locoregional control was 78.5%. On multivariable analysis, factors associated with worse OS and DFS were higher pathologic T stage (P = .008), lymph node positivity (P < .001), and disease recurrence (P < .001)., Conclusion: Young adults with primary OC SCC may be treated with a similar treatment approach as older adults., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives/hypothesis: Sarcomatoid carcinoma is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. No consensus exists on its management. Our aim was to present our outcomes., Study Design: Retrospective study. Median follow-up 45 months., Methods: There were 38 patients with pathologically confirmed sarcomatoid carcinoma of the larynx treated at the Mayo Clinic from 1990 to 2014. Statistical analysis of overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and local control (LC) were conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method., Results: The majority of patients were elderly males (92%) with a smoking history (74%) presenting with early-stage disease (71%). Surgery alone was the primary treatment in 27 patients (71%). Nine patients (25%) were treated with adjuvant radiation due to initial stage or high-risk pathologic features. Median radiation dose to the primary/surgical bed was 65 Gy (range, 60.3-75.0 Gy). A total of 15 patients (39%) had tumor recurrence, majority being local (n = 12). Sixty percent (n = 9) had multiple local recurrences. Five-year OS, PFS, and LC were 63%, 46%, and 72%, respectively. Subgroup analysis by stage I versus higher stages (II-IV) showed an OS of 80% versus 43% (P = .030), PFS of 65% versus 18% (P = .003), and LC of 84% versus 57% (P = .039)., Conclusions: Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the larynx is rare, and frequently presents at an early stage in older men with history of smoking. Based on our outcomes and patterns of failure, it appears early-stage tumors are treated appropriately with single-modality therapy, whereas more advanced tumors require multimodality therapy. Validation in a larger cohort is warranted., Level of Evidence: 4. Laryngoscope, 128:373-377, 2018., (© 2017 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)

Background: Endoscopic endonasal resection (EER) of sinonasal mucosal melanoma (SMM) is a newer surgical alternative to traditional external and/or open resection (OR). Studies on long-term outcomes are necessary to validate EER for this aggressive sinonasal malignancy., Objective: To compare outcomes of EER versus OR in SMM., Methods: A case series of patients who underwent surgical resection of SMM at a tertiary-care institution (2000-2015) was studied retrospectively. Demographics, tumor site and stage, surgical approach, surgical margin status, local control, and survival were compared between those who underwent EER and OR., Results: Twenty-two patients met inclusion criteria. Nine underwent EER and 13 underwent OR. The mean age in the EER and OR groups was similar, 78.7 and 72.3 years, respectively. Two-thirds of patients were women (EER, 66.7%; OR, 61.5%). The nasal cavity was the most common primary tumor site (EER, 77.8%; OR, 84.6%). The local tumor stage in both groups was similar, with the majority of cases being T4 (EER, 55.6%; OR, 61.5%; p = 0.99). Negative margins were achieved in all EERs and in 69.2% of ORs. Median follow-up was 25.0 months for the overall group (range, 1.7-172.9 months), 32.6 months (range, 3.4-58.7 months) for EER and 14.1 months (range, 1.7-172.9 months) for OR cohorts. The 5-year overall survival was statistically similar in both groups (EER, 53.3%; OR, 22.7%; p = 0.214) as was disease-free survival (EER, 55.6%; OR, 22.8%; p = 0.178). Local control, however, was significantly higher in the EER cohort (EER, 85.7%; OR, 37.6%; p = 0.026)., Conclusion: In carefully selected patients with sinonasal melanoma, endoscopic surgery with an experienced team may offer comparable survival and improved local control over open surgery. Prospective, multicentered studies with larger cohorts are needed to validate these results.

Purpose: To report the outcomes of patients with favorable risk oropharyngeal cancer that underwent adjuvant radiation therapy with omission of the primary site from the clinical target volume (CTV)., Material/methods: A retrospective study of 40 patients treated with transoral surgery (TOS) followed by neck only radiation using intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with exclusion of the primary site. For all patients, a CTV of the primary surgical bed was contoured to obtain the estimated incidental dose to the primary site., Results: Median follow-up was 51 months (range, 13-155 months). The median radiation therapy (RT) dose to the neck was 6000 cGy (range, 5400-6400 cGy). The mean incidental dose to the primary tonsillar site was 4320 cGy (SD ± 480 cGy) and to the primary base of tongue site was 4060 cGy (SD ± 420 cGy). There were no local failures and only 1 regional failure, resulting in 97.5% locoregional control rate at 4 years. Two patients developed distant metastases, without evidence of locoregional recurrence, for a 4-year overall survival rate of 97%., Conclusions: Our analysis suggests that mucosal sparing RT after TOS in favorable risk oropharyngeal cancer patients may provide comparable oncologic and improved functional outcomes compared to conventional treatment in selected patients.

Background: Carotid body tumors (CBTs) are rare. Management guidelines may include genetic testing for succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) mutations. We performed an institutional review of the surgical management of CBT., Methods: A retrospective analysis (1994-2015) of CBT excisions at our institution was performed. Data obtained included demographics, genetic testing (if performed), intraoperative details, postoperative morbidity, and long-term outcomes. Data from the first CBT excision were included in patients with bilateral tumors. Genetic testing was routinely offered in patients with a family history of CBT or multiple paragangliomas., Results: A total of 183 CBTs (124 female [67.7%]) were excised. A neck mass was present in 106 patients (57.9%), 24 patients (12.1%) presented with tenderness or neck pain, and 3 (1.6%) presented with cranial nerve dysfunction. Computed tomography (57.9%) or magnetic resonance imaging (51.3%) were the most commonly used imaging modalities. Preoperative angiography was performed in 73 patients (39.8%), and 62 of them (84.5%) underwent embolization or internal carotid balloon occlusion testing, or both. Mean tumor diameter was 3.2 cm (range, 0.6-7.2 cm). There were 71 (38.8%), 75 (41%), and 37 (20.2%) Shamblin type 1, 2, and 3 tumors, respectively. Average operating time was 224 minutes (range, 52-696 minutes). Average blood loss was 143.9 mL (range, 10-2000 mL). Arterial reconstruction with an interposition graft was required in 10, and patch angioplasty was performed in four. Cranial nerve injury was permanent in 10 (5.5%), and the rate of stroke was 1% (n = 2). A total of 382 lymph nodes were excised, and all were benign. There were no deaths ≤30 days. Only one patient presented with malignant disease 2 years after CBT excision, and this patient did not undergo genetic testing. Thirty-four (18.6%) had a family history of CBT. SDH testing was performed in 18 patients, and 17 tested positive. Positive genetic testing had a correlation with earlier age at operation (P < .0001). Mean age at diagnosis of patients with SDH mutations was 38.0 years, and patients without known SDH mutations presented at a mean age of 50.3 years. In patients with SDH mutations, tumor diameter, operating time, blood loss, and distribution of Shamblin type 1, 2, and 3 lesions were not significantly different compared with the control group., Conclusions: CBT can be treated with minimal morbidity and mortality; however, the subgroup of patients with positive SDH mutations may represent a variant group of younger patients. Vascular surgeons should be aware of genetic testing to identify patients and family members who should undergo additional preoperative testing and monitoring for other paragangliomas. Concomitant lymph node dissection does not appear to add value in absence of clinic suspicion for malignancy., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Introduction: Around 10% of patients with non-medullary thyroid cancer (NMTC) will have a positive family history for the disease. Although many will be sporadic, families where 3 first-degree relatives are affected can be considered to represent true familial non-medullary thyroid cancer (FNMTC). The genetic basis, impact on clinical and pathological features, and overall effect on prognosis are poorly understood., Methods: A literature review identified articles which report on genetic, clinical, therapeutic and screening aspects of FNMTC. The results are presented to allow an understanding of the genetic basis and the impact on clinical-pathological features and prognosis in order to inform clinical decision making., Results: The genetic basis of FNMTC is unknown. Despite this, significant progress has been made in identifying potential susceptibility genes. The lack of a test for FNMTC has led to a clinical definition requiring a minimum of 3 first-degree relatives to be diagnosed with NMTC. Although some have shown an association with multi-centric disease, younger age and increased rates of extra-thyroidal extension and nodal metastases, these findings are not supported by all. The impact of FNMTC is unclear with all groups reporting good outcome, and some finding an association with more aggressive disease. The role of screening remains controversial., Conclusion: FNMTC is rare but can be diagnosed clinically. Its impact on prognostic factors and the subsequent role in influencing management is debated. For those patients who present with otherwise low-risk differentiated thyroid cancer, FNMTC should be included in risk assessment when discussing therapeutic options., Competing Interests: No authors have a conflict of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd, BASO ~ The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Demonstrate the need for increased education regarding otolaryngology-related manifestations of human papillomavirus (HPV). Highlight a need to incorporate otolaryngology-related manifestations of HPV in vaccine counseling., Study Design: Survey., Setting: Tertiary care academic children's hospital., Subjects: Pediatric residents, fellows, and staff., Methods: An online survey was made available regarding HPV education and vaccination., Results: Participants (N = 348) initiated the survey representing 28.4%, 25.6%, and 19.0% postgraduate year 1, 2, and 3 residents, respectively, as well as 17.5% chief residents/fellows and 9.5% attendings. Participants rated their prior education as none or fair regarding recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (63.8%) and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (68.3%). In contrast, 60.6% and 70.9% rated their education on genital warts and cervical cancer correspondingly as good or excellent. When asked what was routinely discussed during HPV vaccine counseling, 63.3% reported "never" discussing recurrent respiratory papillomatosis and 52.9% "never" discussing oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. A range from 92.7% to 95.5% responded that there was a need for increased education regarding HPV and its role in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma., Conclusions: Increased education about HPV and its otolaryngology-related manifestations should be undertaken to increase provider, patient, and parent awareness of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. We propose that discussing the risks of otolaryngology-related disease be routinely included in HPV vaccination counseling., (© American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 2016.)

Objective: To report a single institutional series of high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the larynx (NCL), a very rare yet aggressive tumor. To review the management of NCL, including discussion of clinical behavior, treatment outcome, and prognosis., Method: A retrospective chart review of high-grade laryngeal neuroendocrine carcinomas at a single institution, including small- and large-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas. A total of 8 patients with high-grade NCL treated at our institution from 1992 to 2014 were identified., Results: The median age at diagnosis was 65.5 years (range, 43-80). Five patients were male. Two patients had a known smoking history. Primary tumor location was supraglottic in 7 patients and glottic in 1 patient. Primary treatment consisted of surgery alone (3 patients), radiotherapy alone (1 patient), combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy (1 patient), and surgery followed by postoperative chemoradiotherapy (3 patients). Locoregional recurrence followed by distant metastasis occurred in 6 patients. Median overall survival was 44.0 months (95% CI, 3-62.0)., Conclusion: High-grade NCL is a rare diagnosis. Compared to well- and moderately differentiated NCL, high-grade NCL has a far more aggressive clinical course and associated with a worse prognosis. To our knowledge, this is the largest series of patients with high-grade NCL treated at a single institution. Prompt diagnosis and multimodality therapy including elective neck dissection may improve survival., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

The objective is to describe an innovative laryngoscope developed to improve visualization, provide greater exposure, and enhance precision and success during transoral procedures. A retrospective review of 170 patients who underwent transoral surgery with a new distending laryngoscope was conducted. We compared and contrasted our exposure within the oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx using the laryngoscope with that of currently available instrumentation. Specific mechanical dimensions of the laryngoscope along with the provided working field were calculated. Experience with the new laryngoscope afforded improved exposure over currently available instrumentation. This laryngoscope was manufactured using design elements from the Steiner, Weerda, and Lindholm laryngoscopes, including an anteriorly curved distal tip, distending capability, and lateral wings to protect against tongue herniation. The panoramic view was increased allowing for wider exposure of the supraglottis and pharynx. This design provided enhanced transoral visibility and working room for improved bimanual instrumentation. Direct laryngoscopic technique and instrumentation have continued to evolve. Over the last two decades, there has been a significant movement towards minimally invasive transoral surgical techniques fueling innovative concepts and advancement in laryngoscopic design and application. We present our experience with an innovative laryngoscope allowing for improved visualization, greater exposure, and enhanced proficiency with transoral technique.