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OBJECTIVES: A subset of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) patients undergoing larynx preserving treatment ultimately require total laryngectomy (TL) for oncologic or functional reasons. This study aims to identify TL risk factors in these patients. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study using Veterans Affairs (VA) database. T1-T4 LSCC cases treated with primary radiotherapy (XRT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) were assessed for TL and recurrence. Binary logistic and Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses were implemented. RESULTS: Of 5390 cases, 863 (16.0%) underwent TL. On multivariable analysis, age (adjusted odds ratio: 0.97 [0.96-0.98]; p T1 disease (T2, 1.76 [1.44-2.17]; p

ObjectivesWe characterize occult lesion diagnosis rates after initial Bell's palsy diagnoses.MethodsA de-identified database of all facial palsy patients who presented to an extensive health care system across 22 years was created using Epic SlicerDicer. Among patients with Bell's palsy diagnoses, we extracted demographic and any subsequent occult lesion diagnosis data across various clinical sites. Descriptive and multivariable regression analyses comparing patients with occult lesion diagnoses made at different time points were included.ResultsAmong the total 3912 facial palsy patients, 2240 had Bell's palsy diagnoses, of which 217 (9.7%) had subsequent lesion diagnoses at a median (IQR) of 12.3 (4.2, 23.8) months, consisting of cranial nerve neoplasms (62.2%), parotid gland neoplasms (34.1%), and cholesteatomas (3.7%). Although a large proportion of total lesions were diagnosed within the first 3 months (19.8%), 69.5% were diagnosed after 6 months. There were no demographic differences among patients diagnosed with different lesion types, but Asian patients were more likely to be diagnosed with occult lesions after 12 months after Bell's palsy diagnosis compared with white patients (odds ratio = 6.2, p = 0.001).ConclusionsIn one of the largest Bell's palsy cohorts to date, we identified a 9.7% occult lesion diagnosis rate at a median of 12.3 months after Bell's palsy diagnosis. These data underscore the importance of timely workup for occult lesions in cases of facial palsy with no signs of recovery after 3-4 months.Level of evidence4 Laryngoscope, 134:911-918, 2024.

ObjectivesWe characterize functional outcomes in head and neck cancer of unknown primary (CUP) based on primary site identification.MethodsIn this retrospective study, CUP cases were categorized as known primaries (KP) if a tumor was localized after diagnostic workup or persisting unknown primaries (UP). Age, sex, HPV status, diagnostic methods, and treatments regimens were collected. Pretreatment and short-term posttreatment (3-6 months after completion of treatment) weights, PHQ-9, Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10), and Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10) scores were compared between UP and KP.ResultsAmong 67 CUP patients, 35 (52.2%) had identified primaries (91.4% oropharyngeal and 8.6% nasopharyngeal). KP patients were younger (58 vs. 64, p = 0.04) and more likely to be HPV-positive (88.6% vs. 50%, p = 0.002). Overall detection rates were 16.7% for PET/CT, 34.7% for direct laryngoscopy, and 46.6% for transoral robotic oropharyngectomy. Diagnostic workup was not significantly different between groups. Patients with KP received smaller intermediate radiation dose volumes (436.5 vs. 278.9 cc, p = 0.03) and lower doses to the cricopharyngeal muscle (41.6 vs. 24.6 Gy, p = 0.03).Pretreatment weights, PHQ-9, EAT-10, and VHI-10 scores did not differ between groups. However, posttreatment, UP had greater relative weight loss (-14.1% vs. -7.6%, p = 0.032), higher EAT-10 scores (12.5 vs. 3, p = 0.004), and higher PHQ-9 scores (6 vs. 1.4, p = 0.017). Specifically, UP reported more stressful swallowing, difficulty swallowing solids and pills, and swallowing affecting public eating.ConclusionKP patients experienced less weight loss, depression, and reduced swallowing dysfunction, highlighting an early functional benefit of primary tumor identification likely driven by reduced radiation treatment volumes.Level of evidence4 Laryngoscope, 134:701-707, 2024.

Intramuscular degloving injuries (IDIs) are a rare and unique type of muscle injury where there is a dissociation between the inner and outer components of a particular muscle. This type of injury is seen exclusively within the rectus femoris (RF) muscle due to its unique muscle-within-a-muscle anatomy and represents 9% of RF injuries. Despite the significance of this injury, limited knowledge exists regarding the mechanism, management, and prognosis of IDIs, and IDIs are not currently included among the various muscle injury classifications. We present a 38-year-old active male with a one-week history of acute onset right anterior mid-thigh pain and palpable lump after playing kickball. Right thigh MRI revealed an IDI of the RF muscle, edema within the inner and outer muscular portions of the muscle, and a retraction of the torn inner indirect myotendinous complex of the RF. He was managed with physical therapy while being advised to avoid aggressive quadriceps contractions, high-intensity, or high-impact exercise. This is the first reported case of an IDI that occurred in an older recreational athlete (versus young competitive athletes), and the first case of an IDI in a kicking sport other than soccer (kickball). This case emphasizes the importance of a broader awareness of this injury, and a heightened index of suspicion is advised in assessing potential IDIs to improve patient prognosis and rehabilitation. Given the limited understanding and rarity of this injury, we also provide a comprehensive review describing the IDI to the RF.

Subclavian artery occlusion (SAO) is a rare form of peripheral artery disease, sometimes associated with arterial thoracic outlet syndrome (ATOS). Subclavian arterial and venous occlusions are often misdiagnosed initially, and their clinical presentation can be confusing in bodybuilding athletes with increased vascularity in combination with anabolic steroid use. We present a 63-year-old male weightlifter with a history of hypertensive cardiomyopathy, renal transplant with left upper extremity arteriovenous fistula and subsequent takedown, cervical spinal stenosis, left rotator cuff surgery, and decades of testosterone injections who presented with years of left shoulder and neck pain. After having seen multiple providers and being diagnosed with various common disorders, CT angiography and conventional angiography were eventually performed and confirmed the presence of chronic SAO. The chronic occlusion was not deemed amenable to surgery or endovascular intervention and was treated medically with anticoagulation. Although anabolic steroid use is associated with arterial thrombosis, to our knowledge, this is the first reported case of SAO in a weightlifter. Initial misdiagnosis resulted in a long and costly workup. Although the patient's symptoms were consistent with occlusion (and his increased vascularity could potentially suggest chronic thrombosis of any kind), these key signs were masked given his weightlifting history, anabolic steroid use, and concurrent degenerative musculoskeletal conditions common to the weightlifting population. A thorough history, comprehensive physical examination, appropriate imaging studies, and a high index of suspicion for vascular occlusion in athletes who use steroids are critical for the timely diagnosis and treatment of SAO.

Brain metastasis (BrM) is the most common form of brain cancer, characterized by neurologic disability and an abysmal prognosis. Unfortunately, our understanding of the biology underlying human BrMs remains rudimentary. Here, we present an integrative analysis of >100,000 malignant and non-malignant cells from 15 human parenchymal BrMs, generated by single-cell transcriptomics, mass cytometry, and complemented with mouse model- and in silico approaches. We interrogated the composition of BrM niches, molecularly defined the blood-tumor interface, and revealed stromal immunosuppressive states enriched with infiltrated T cells and macrophages. Specific single-cell interrogation of metastatic tumor cells provides a framework of 8 functional cell programs that coexist or anticorrelate. Collectively, these programs delineate two functional BrM archetypes, one proliferative and the other inflammatory, that are evidently shaped through tumor-immune interactions. Our resource provides a foundation to understand the molecular basis of BrM in patients with tumor cell-intrinsic and host environmental traits.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) from an unknown primary tumor (SCCUP) accounts for 2.0%-5.0% of all head and neck cancers. SCCUP presents as enlarged cervical lymph nodes without evidence of a primary tumor upon physical examination. Primary site detection is important to target treatment and avoid treatment-related morbidity. In this review, we discuss updates in SCCUP management. Diagnostic workup should focus on localization of the primary tumor in SCCUP. Initial workup centers on neck biopsy to confirm the presence of SCC. Given the increasing incidence of HPV-related SCC in the oropharynx, HPV testing is crucial. An HPV-positive status can localize the tumor to the oropharynx, a common site for occult tumors. Imaging includes neck CT and/or MRI, and PET/CT. After imaging, panendoscopy, palatine tonsillectomy or diagnostic transoral robotic surgery can facilitate high rates of primary tumor localization. Primary tumor localization influences treatments administered. SCCUP has traditionally been treated aggressively with large treatment fields to all potential disease sites, which can induce weight loss and swallowing dysfunction. As a result, primary localization can reduce radiation fields and provide possible de-escalation to primary surgical management. Advances in intensity-modulated radiation therapy and dose management also have the potential to improve functional outcomes in SCCUP patients. Given the improved prognosis associated with HPV-positive SCCs, HPV tumor status may also inform future treatment de-intensification to reduce treatment-related toxicity.

Although autophagy is being pursued as a therapeutic target in clinical oncology trials, its effects on metastasis, the principal cause of cancer mortality, remain unclear. Here, we utilize mammary cancer models to temporally delete essential autophagy regulators during carcinoma progression. Though genetic ablation of autophagy strongly attenuates primary mammary tumor growth, impaired autophagy promotes spontaneous metastasis and enables the outgrowth of disseminated tumor cells into overt macro-metastases. Transcriptomic analysis reveals that autophagy deficiency elicits a subpopulation of otherwise luminal tumor cells exhibiting basal differentiation traits, which is reversed upon preventing accumulation of the autophagy cargo receptor, Neighbor to BRCA1 (NBR1). Furthermore, pharmacological and genetic induction of autophagy suppresses pro-metastatic differentiation and metastatic outgrowth. Analysis of human breast cancer data reveal that autophagy gene expression inversely correlates with pro-metastatic differentiation signatures and predicts overall and distant metastasis-free survival. Overall, these findings highlight autophagy-dependent control of NBR1 as a key determinant of metastatic progression.

Objective: We assessed patterns in the national incidence of pediatric acute sinusitis and associated complications surrounding the initial COVID‐19 lockdown. Study Design: Retrospective National Database review. Setting: The Pediatric Health Information System. Methods: Acute sinusitis and associated complication incidence data from 2015 to 2022 were queried. Three time periods of T1, T2, and T3 were defined as: pre‐COVID‐19 baseline, initial pandemic, and postpandemic. Statistical analysis included Wilcoxon rank sum tests, multivariable logistic regressions, and autoregressive integrated moving averages (ARIMA) to assess differences between the observed complication rates in T2 and T3 and the expected incidence rates in these time periods as estimated from T1 data. Results: We identified 2535 acute sinusitis admissions across 42 centers. The incidence differed between T1 (31.5 cases/month), T2 (15.8 cases/month), and T3 (29 cases/month). Children aged 10 to 14 years had the highest acute sinusitis incidence rate (32.5%) compared to other ages in T2. At T1, acute sinusitis and associated complication rates followed parallel seasonal patterns. Although sinusitis incidence decreased during T2, complications increased significantly during T2 and T3 compared to T1 (37.4% and 39% vs 27.5%, P <.001). In the ARIMA model, the ratio of the observed to expected incidence (95% confidence interval) of complications was 1.09 (0.69, 2.60) in T2 and 1.14 (0.73, 2.62) in T3. Conclusion: We report the simultaneous decrease in acute sinusitis incidence and an increase in associated complications during and after the initial COVID‐19 pandemic compared to the prepandemic baseline, reflecting changing patterns in viral infection due to the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 2018 US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines recommend individualizing prostate cancer screening in 55‐ to 69‐year‐old men. Given the higher incidence of prostate cancer in African American (AA) compared to non‐Hispanic White (NHW) men, this study compared reported rates of prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) screening hypothesizing that it would not be commensurate with the relative risk between these two groups. Methods: Using the 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we identified 43,685 men (40,301 NHW and 3384 AA) interviewed about PSA screening. Results: AA men had an odds ratio (OR) of 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69–0.93; p =.004) of reporting PSA screening; sequentially correcting for access to care, smoking, and age had minimal effect on this finding, but when correcting for income significantly attenuated this difference (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.81–1.12). Further adding education level eliminated the effect size of AA race entirely with OR, 0.99 (95% CI, 0.84–1.17; p =.91). Further analysis found significant interaction between education and race, with college‐educated AA men having 1.42 OR of receiving screening compared to college‐educated NHW men. Conclusions: Despite prostate cancer being more common and having higher population‐level mortality in AA than NHW men, PSA screening and education patterns do not reflect this increased risk even when adjusting for health access disparities. The authors' findings of significant effect from both income and education suggest that systemic racism is an important factor in the observed difference in PSA screening between AA men and NHW men. Lay summary: In the United States, prostate cancer is more common in African American menNew guidelines from 2018 encourage physicians to consider risk factors in deciding whether or not to recommend screening, but overall African American men continue to be screened at a lower rate than non‐Hispanic White menThis effect disappears when correcting for income and education level, suggesting that several factors including systemic racism, medical mistrust, and self‐advocacy may impact this observed difference African American men continue to report lower rates of PSA screening compared to non‐Hispanic White men in a nationwide survey. This effect appears to be mediated by income and education, suggesting that systemic racism as well as self‐advocacy and medical mistrust may be responsible for this observed difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Although facial feminizing rhinoplasty can reduce gender dysphoria, there is limited evidence on approaches to maximize transgender patient satisfaction. In a retrospective cohort of transfeminine patients who underwent feminizing rhinoplasty, we compare pre- and postoperative nasal metrics and postoperative satisfaction. Methods. Records were retrospectively reviewed to identify transfeminine patients who had feminizing rhinoplasty and cisgender females who had aesthetic rhinoplasty at least 8 weeks post-rhinoplasty. Transgender patients were contacted to rate their aesthetic and functional rhinoplasty satisfaction. Patients with 75% or greater of the total survey score were "very satisfied," those between 50% and 75% were "satisfied," and those below 50% were "less satisfied." The Vectra 3D imaging software was utilized to measure each patient's pre- and post-rhinoplasty dorsal lengths; tip projection ratios; and nasolabial, nasofrontal, and nasofacial angles. Relative percent changes for each patient between pre- and post-rhinoplasty measurements were compared between transgender and cisgender females using descriptive statistics. Results. Twenty-five transgender patients met the inclusion criteria; 19 answered the survey with 12 very satisfied, 7 satisfied, and 0 less satisfied patients. The median age of surveyed patients was 35, and 42.1% identified as Hispanic. Between very satisfied and satisfied patients, median relative percent changes in dorsal length (-1.2% vs 5.7%, P = .043), tip projection ratio (2.4% vs 8.1%, P = .038), and nasolabial angle (-2.5% vs 9.7%, P = .026) significantly differed; median relative changes in nasofrontal angles (4.2% vs -0.6%, P = .071) and nasofacial angles (-0.7% vs -3.6%, P = .703) were insignificantly different. Satisfied transgender patients and cisgender patients (n = 5) had significant differences in median relative changes in dorsal length (5.7% vs 0.7%, P = .047), tip projection ratio (8.1% vs -3.5%, P = .033), and nasolabial angles (9.7% vs -5.4%, P = .042). Very satisfied transgender and cisgender females had no significant differences in relative metric changes. Conclusions. Very satisfied transgender patients had decreases in dorsal length, smaller increases in tip projection ratio, and decreases in the nasolabial angle compared with satisfied patients. These data can help focus feminizing rhinoplasty approaches to maximize satisfaction. Further, very satisfied transgender patients had similar changes as cisgender females, reaffirming the utility of applying cisgender female rhinoplasty considerations to feminizing rhinoplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gender-affirming mastectomy can improve mental health and gender expression. However, there is no consensus on routine drain usage in gender-affirming surgeries. The purpose of this study is to compare gender-affirming mastectomies with and without drains and review complications., Methods: An institutional review board-approved, retrospective review was performed to identify patients between 2017-2021 who had double-incision mastectomy, with or without nipple graft, and separated into drain and no-drain cohorts. Patient demographics, outcomes, and postoperative complications were analyzed, including unplanned return to the operating room, seromas, hematomas, postoperative infection, and postoperative antibiotic use. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed., Results: There were 359 patients that had a gender-affirming mastectomy surgery between 2017 and 2021. The mean age was 26.1 years old, and mean body mass index was 27.4. There were 144 patients (40.1%) who had a drain, and 215 patients (59.9%) without a drain. For postoperative complications of all patients, there were 12 (3.3%) unplanned returns to the operating room, 18 seromas (5.0%), 26 hematomas (7.2%), 50 (13.9%) postoperative antibiotic use, and 4 postoperative infections (1.1%). There were no significant differences found between drain use for all postoperative complications, but no-drain use was significantly associated with less prescribed postoperative antibiotics compared to drain use (3.7% and 29.0%, respectively; P < 0.001)., Conclusions: Gender-affirming mastectomy surgeries are safe and effective treatment options. No-drain placement was not associated with increased postoperative complications. Surgeons may consider not prescribing routine postoperative antibiotics if using drains, and avoiding drains for gender-affirming mastectomies may be considered in selected individuals based on clinical judgment., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest and sources of funding: None., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)