Impact Of PET/CT On Treatment In Patients With Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

<b><br>Introduction:</b> Although PET/CT is effective for staging HNSCC, its impact on patient management is somewhat controversial. For this reason, we considered it necessary to carry out a study in order to verify whether PET/CT helps to improve the prognosis and treatment in patients. This study was designed to address the impact of PET-FDG imaging when used alongside CT in the staging and therapeutic management of patients with HNSCC.</br> <b><br>Material and methods:</b> Data was collected from 169 patients diagnosed with HNSCC with both CT and PET/CT (performed within a maximum of 30 days of each other). It was evaluated whether discrepancies in the diagnosis of the two imaging tests had impacted the treatment.</br> <b><br>Results:</b> The combined use of CT and PET/CT led to a change in the treatment of 67 patients, who represented 39.7% of the sample. In 27.2% of cases, it entailed a change in the type of treatment which the patient received. In 3.0% of the cases, using both diagnostic tests led to modifications of the therapeutic intention of our patients.</br> <b><br>Conclusions:</b> Using PET/CT in addition to the conventional imaging method in staging resulted in more successful staging and more appropriate therapeutic decision-making.</br>.

Correlation between PET-CT and ct in the staging after the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to find out if a single imaging test is enough to follow-up on an oncological post-treatment patient. In such a case, we would know which was more valuable after comparing the two, by CT or PET-CT.

METHODS

Between January 2012 and July 2018, we collected data from all patients with previous medical history who were treated with a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in our hospital, through surgery or by using an organ preservation protocol which we had done. Patients were required to have a CT and a PET-CT performed in a maximum period of 30 days between techniques. We compared the post post-treatment stage given to each case by using only the physical examination (only the CT and the PET-CT), with the ones given by the Tumor Board. After treatment, we analysed the similarity through Cramer's V statistic test.

RESULTS

We performed a comparative analysis, obtaining a correlation of 0.426 between the stages given by the Tumor Board and the one assigned based on physical examination, without imaging techniques. By only using the computed tomography as an imaging method the correlation was 0.565, whereas with only the use of positron emission computed technology, it was estimated at 0.858. When we compared the statistical association between stages using exclusively one of the two imaging techniques, the correlation was 0.451.

CONCLUSION

Independent of the modality, we have demonstrated that in patients who have received previous treatment, there was a higher correlation in the stages with respect to the diagnostic method conducted by the Tumor Board using PET-CT as the sole image.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 1.

Radiotherapy versus laser microsurgery in the treatment of early glottic cancer

BACKGROUND

Glottic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in stages I or II can be treated by transoral CO₂ laser microsurgery (TLM) or exclusive radiotherapy (RT).

OBJECTIVES

To compare the oncological results of patients treated with TLM, to those treated with RT, in a tertiary hospital.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data from patients diagnosed with glottic SCC in stages I and II between 2004 and 2018 were analyzed. Response to treatment was studied in terms of recurrence, local control and laryngeal preservation.

RESULTS

Of 164 patients, 63.41% received treatment with TLM and 36.58% with RT. 26.21% presented a recurrence or progression of the tumor. Both treatments obtained good local control rates (84.15% in the case of TLM and 89.6% in the case of RT) and no significant association was found between tumor recurrence and type of treatment, nor with the involvement of the anterior commissure. However, treatment with RT obtained worse laryngeal preservation rate compared to TLM (81.6% and 100% respectively) (p < .001LR). Conclusions and significance: Both treatments obtained good oncological results. There were no significant differences regarding local control. However, TLM obtained a better laryngeal preservation rate. The involvement of the anterior commissure was not a poor prognosis factor for tumor recurrence.

Correlation between PET/CT and CT in the staging prior to the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Introduction

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is the seventh most common malignant tumor. The advances in treatment have improved the global survival rates in the past years, although the prognosis is still grave.

Objective

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the correlation between positron emission computed tomography and computed tomography at the time of staging a previously untreated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and to determine which of the two imaging techniques gives us more information at the time of initial diagnosis.

Methods

Data from all patients diagnosed in our hospital of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by a biopsy of any location or unknown primary tumor was collected, between January 2012 and July 2017. In all cases, computed tomography and positron emission computed tomography were performed with a maximum of 30 days difference between them and patients had not received any prior treatment to staging. The stage given to each case was compared based solely on the physical examination, only on the computed tomography/positron emission computed tomography, with respect to the stage given by the tumor board, observing the concordance obtained through Cramer's V statistical test.

Results

We performed a comparative analysis obtaining a correlation of 0.729 between the stage given by the tumor board and the one assigned based on the physical examination without imaging techniques. When only using computed tomography as an imaging method, the correlation was 0.848, whereas with only the use of positron emission computed tomography it was estimated at 0.957. When comparing the statistical association between staging using exclusively one of the two imaging techniques, correlation was 0.855.

Conclusion

Positron emission computed tomography is useful for the diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, improving the patient's staging especially when detecting cervical and distant metastases. Therefore, we consider that the use of positron emission computed tomography for the staging of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is a diagnostic test to be considered.

[IgG4 related disease with exclusive sinonasal involvement: A case report and literature review]

IgG4 related disease (igG4-RD) is a pathological process which integrates a large number of diseases of unknown pathogenesis, considered as being exclusive to many different organs. Diagnosis is established through histological, radiological and serological criteria. Treatment is based on long term corticosteroids; rituximab being used only in refractory cases. It is unusual for this entity to be found exclusively in the head and neck, without systemic involvement; there are only a few reported cases to date. We present a case of a nasosinusal IgG4-RD orbital tumor with paranasal sinus involvement. The accurate diagnosis made early onset corticosteroid treatment possible and the patient is currently asymptomatic.

Use of Alexis retractor in thyroid and parathyroid surgery

In thyroid and parathyroid surgical procedures, good visibility of the thyroid gland is essential. This is traditionally achieved by means of traction sutures of the dermo-plastysmal flaps to the drapes of the operative field, producing tension and even damage to the skin. The Alexis^® retractor ring improves exposure and facilitates stable access to the thyroid, protecting the skin from injury during the intervention.

[Laryngeal dystonia: novel forms of therapeutic administration of botulinum toxin by direct routes]

AIM

To describe our experience in the treatment of laryngeal dystonia (in abduction and adduction), with special emphasis given to the technical aspects (approach procedure, dosage and type of botulinum toxin type A used), as well as treatment response and possible side effects.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study of a sample of patients with laryngeal dystonia treated by means of transoral administration of onabotulinumtoxinA or incobotulinumtoxinA over a period of 10 years (2007-2017). Data collected include demographic and clinical variables, treatment response (based on a self-rating scale), the duration of treatment and the appearance of side effects.

SAMPLE SIZE

15 patients (11 women; mean age: 44.06 years) with laryngeal dystonia (mean time since onset of 40 months; 12 patients with dystonia in adduction) and 174 administrations (92% incobotulinumtoxinA; average dosage of 5 U in each vocal cord). The procedure took an average of 11.7 minutes to perform. Response was good in 31% of the procedures and very good in 57.5%. Side effects were recorded in 14.4% of the procedures, although always mild and transitory, with a predominance of dysphagia and dysphonia.

CONCLUSION

In our experience, transoral administration of botulinum toxin type A to treat laryngeal dystonia has proved to be a simple, quick, effective and safe technique.