Oncologic and functional outcomes following laryngectomy for locally advanced thyroid cancer

The role of surgery for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma in the era of targeted therapeutics: A scoping review

Background

Questions exist regarding patient selection for surgery in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), particularly with the advent of neoadjuvant-targeted therapeutics. The present scoping review sought to evaluate what extent of surgical resection should be performed in ATC.

Methods

A scoping review was carried out in accordance with Joanna Briggs Institute and the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) protocols. Included studies were required to provide clear description of the surgery performed for ATC.

Results

The final search identified 6901 articles. Ultimately only 15 articles including 1484 patients met inclusion criteria. A total of 765 patients (51.5%) underwent attempted curative intent surgery. The approach to resection of adjacent tissues varied between studies. Eight studies considered laryngeal ± pharyngeal resection (8/15, 53.3%), eight studies (53.3%) considered tracheal resection and again eight studies (53.3%) considered esophageal resection. More extensive resections increased morbidity without improving overall survival (OS) (<9 months in the 12 studies using a combination of surgery and chemoradiotherapy). In the three studies utilizing targeted therapy in addition to surgery, OS was notably improved while surgical resection following neoadjuvant therapy was less extensive.

Conclusions

There is no clear agreement in the literature regarding the limits of surgical resection in locoregionally advanced ATC. A definition of surgically resectable disease will be required to guide surgical decision making in ATC, particularly with the potential to reduce tumor burden using neoadjuvant targeted treatment in suitable patients.

Level of evidence

III.

Neoadjuvant dabrafenib and trametinib for functional organ preservation in recurrent BRAF V600E-mutated papillary thyroid cancer

OBJECTIVES

To describe the first reported use of neoadjuvant dabrafenib and trametinib specifically to permit organ conservation surgery in locally advanced recurrent differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A patient presented with locally recurrent, radioiodide-resistant DTC with a BRAF V600E mutation invading the laryngotrachea. Definitive treatment would require a total laryngectomy. She was offered neoadjuvant dabrafenib and trametinib prior to surgery.

RESULTS

A significant radiographic response permitted partial laryngectomy, enabling preservation of voice, early resumption of oral feeding, and avoidance of permanent tracheostomy. At 9 months, she remained free of disease.

CONCLUSION

Neoadjuvant tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment prior to definitive surgery for locally-invasive recurrent DTC is a potential approach that may limit the degree of surgery and associated morbidity.

Cervical exenteration and its variants for locally advanced thyroid cancer: when, why, and how?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To describe the modern surgical approach for management of advanced thyroid cancers infiltrating the cervicovisceral axis with special attention to well differentiated tumors not amenable to organ-sparing techniques. In particular, cervical exenteration, herein defined as the sum of total thyroidectomy, central compartment and lateral neck dissections, variously associated with total laryngectomy and possible partial or total pharyngoesophagectomy, represents an extreme surgical procedure that, in properly selected cases, allows for reasonable palliation of central compartment life-threatening signs/symptoms if not cure for an advanced oncologic condition.

RECENT FINDINGS

Cervical exenteration is not contraindicated by the presence of limited distant metastases at presentation. Even though it requires that the patient is in general good health as it can be associated with a number of complications and long in-hospital stay, when appropriately planned and performed according to the most recent reconstructive nuances, it allows good oncologic outcomes that are not inferior to those described for similarly advanced primaries of the upper aerodigestive tract. In addition, quality of life and functional results are not significantly different from those described after total laryngectomy for primary laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas.

SUMMARY

Cervical exenteration requires a tertiary, expert, multidisciplinary effort in terms of diagnosis, surgical performance, and postoperative care. A patient-centered decision process is strongly warranted taking into consideration alternative therapeutic and symptom-based palliative strategies.