Rare presentation of solitary fibrous tumour in the floor of the mouth

A male in his 20s, a tobacco chewer, presented to the outpatient department with a history of painless, slowly progressive swelling in the floor of the mouth. After a thorough history and clinical examination, MRI was done and the tumour was completely excised. Histopathological examination revealed the mass to be a solitary fibrous tumour, confirmed with immunohistochemical markers. On subsequent follow-ups, the patient was found to be asymptomatic with no clinical signs of recurrence.

Low-molecular-weight heparin salvage in pedicled flap reconstruction in head and neck: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To determine if systemic administration of low-molecular-weight heparin impacts venous compromise in loco-regional flap reconstruction for head and neck subsites.

METHODS

This prospective study was conducted on patients who had developed features of venous compromise of the flap. The case group received low-molecular-weight heparin (dalteparin).

RESULTS

Of the 73 patients who developed venous congestion, low-molecular-weight heparin was administered in 47 patients. In the low-molecular-weight heparin subset, 23 patients had either reversal or non-progression of venous compromise (48.9 per cent). Of the patients who had no response to low-molecular-weight heparin rescue, complete necrosis was seen in 4 and partial flap necrosis was observed in 19. The corresponding numbers in the control group were 13 and 12, respectively (odds ratio 23.9, p = 0.002). Additionally, the low-molecular-weight heparin arm had a lower incidence of partial or complete flap necrosis (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Low-molecular-weight heparin salvage, when instituted early, is likely to result in a significant reduction in flap-related morbidity.

Airway management, procedural data, and in-hospital mortality records of patients undergoing surgery for mucormycosis associated with coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

Purpose

Although unexpected airway difficulties are reported in patients with mucormycosis, the literature on airway management in patients with mucormycosis associated with Coronavirus disease is sparse.

Methods

In this retrospective case record review of 57 patients who underwent surgery for mucormycosis associated with coronavirus disease, we aimed to evaluate the demographics, airway management, procedural data, and in-hospital mortality records.

Results

Forty-one (71.9%) patients had a diagnosis of sino-nasal mucormycosis, fourteen (24.6%) patients had a diagnosis of rhino-orbital mucormycosis, and 2 (3.5%) patients had a diagnosis of palatal mucormycosis. A total of 44 (77.2%) patients had co-morbidities. The most common co-morbidities were diabetes mellitus in 42 (73.6%) patients, followed by hypertension in 21 (36.8%) patients, and acute kidney injury in 14 (28.1%) patients. We used the intubation difficulty scale score to assess intubating conditions. Intubation was easy to slightly difficult in 53 (92.9%) patients. In our study, mortality occurred in 7 (12.3%) patients. The median (range) mortality time was 60 (27–74) days. The median (range) time to hospital discharge was 53.5 (10–85) days. The median [interquartile range] age of discharged versus expired patients was 47.5 [41,57.5] versus 64 [47,70] years (P = 0.04), and median (interquartile range) D-dimer levels in discharged versus expired patients was 364 [213, 638] versus 2448 [408,3301] ng/mL (P = 0.03).

Conclusion

In patients undergoing surgery for mucormycosis associated with the coronavirus disease, airway management was easy to slightly difficult in most patients. Perioperative complications can be minimized by taking timely and precautionary measures.

Head and Neck Surgery During COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience from a Tertiary Care in India

Head and neck pathologies requiring surgical intervention are considered a high-risk subsite in the context of COVID-19 pandemic by virtue of its close proximity to the mucosa of the upper aerodigestive tract. Retrospective review of all head and neck surgical procedures is undertaken during the pandemic from 23rd April 2020 to 30th September 2020. One hundred procedures were performed on 98 patients. COVID-19 status determined by SARS-Cov-2 RT-PCR at baseline was negative for 81, positive in 8 and unknown in 11. The RT-PCR negative subgroup included 40 diagnostic procedures and 41 ablative and or reconstructive procedures for head and neck neoplasms. None of the patients or health-care workers converted to COVID-19-positive status during the duration of the hospital stay. There were no cases with 30-day mortality. Clavien-Dindo grading for postoperative complications was as follows: 1–4, 2–12, 3a-2, 3b-1. Eleven patients with unknown COVID-19 status at baseline underwent emergency tracheostomy in a COVID-19 designated operating room for upper airway obstruction secondary to head and neck cancer. Of the 8 procedures conducted on known cases of COVID-19, 6 were tracheostomies performed for COVID-19 ARDS. The rest were maxillectomy for acute invasive mucormycosis and incision and drainage for parotid abscess. A matched-pair analysis was performed with similarly staged historical cohort operated during January to December 2016 to compare peri-operative complication rates (Clavien-Dindo Score). Incidence of complication with higher Clavien Dindo Score (>/=3a) was found to be lower in those patients operated during the pandemic (p=0.007). By meticulous preoperative COVID-19 screening and isolation, head and neck surgical procedures can be continued to avoid delay in diagnosis and treatment without jeopardising the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to the patients or health-care workers.

Prevalence of hearing loss in India

Background Despite abundant literature, a clear and coherent understanding of hearing loss (HL) in India is limited by the wide disparity in studies. Methods We did a review of published peer-reviewed journal articles. Studies reporting the prevalence and degree of HL in India from 1980 to 2020 were included. Information was gathered on the population characteristics, methodology applied and the prevalence of hearing impairment. The data were analysed to identify trends and at-risk sections of population in various categories. Results Four hundred and forty studies were identified after a database search; 29 full-length articles were selected for final analysis. Using a 3-step screening protocol, hearing impairment (abnormal auditory brainstem response/auditory steady state response) in neonates ranged between 1.59 and 8.8 per 1000 births. Among 'at risk' neonates, it ranged from 7 to 49.18 per 1000 births. In children the prevalence of HL was 6.6% to 16.47%. Otitis media was the most common cause of HL in children. Community-based studies (all ages) reported prevalence of HL between 6% and 26.9% and prevalence of disabling HL between 4.5% and 18.3%. Rural areas and elderly showed a higher prevalence of hearing impairment. Conclusion Despite India's improving health indices, hearing disability remains persistently high. It is a major contributor to the loss of personal potential and a financial strain for the individual and the country. A large-scale multicentric study to identify the degree and type of HL, social awareness campaigns, widespread neonatal screening, strengthening treatment facilities and well-funded rehabilitation programmes can counter the rising prevalence of hearing impairment.

Head and Neck Cylindroma Masquerading as Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report

Cylindroma is an uncommon skin appendageal tumor encountered by otorhinolaryngologists in the head and neck. We present a case of a 70-year-old lady who presented with an ulcerative lesion in the pre auricular region. These appendageal tumours can mimic more sinister lesions like squamous cell carcinoma which might warrant overtreatment. This report highlights the importance of harbouring knowledge of these benign tumours in order to provide appropriate management.

Rationale behind thyroidectomy in total laryngectomy: analysis of endocrine insufficiency and oncological outcomes

Thyroidectomy conventionally accompanies total laryngectomy. This study intends to analyze the incidence and factors leading to thyroid gland involvement in carcinoma larynx and hypopharynx. Retrospective chart review from March 2011 to December 2016 of all patients who had undergone total laryngectomy at our institute. A total of 125 patients entered into the analysis. Subsites involved were glottis (n = 32), supraglottis (n = 28), transglottis (n = 52), pyriform sinus (n = 12), and subglottis (n = 1). TNM distribution according to AJCC 7th edition is as follows: T2 (n = 1), T3 (n = 34), T4 (n = 90); N0 (n = 97), N1 (n = 13), N2a (n = 5), N2b (n = 5), N2c (n = 4), and N3 (n = 1). Total thyroidectomy was performed in 16 patients, near total thyroidectomy in 5, and hemithyroidectomy in 104. Histopathologically thyroid gland involvement was seen in 11/125 (8.8%). The overall incidence of hypothyroidism was 48% (hemithyroidectomy, 43/104; total thyroidectomy, 16/16; near total thyroidectomy, 1/5). The incidence of permanent hypoparathyroidism was 12.8% (total thyroidectomy, 11; hemithyroidectomy, 5). On multivariate analysis (Cox proportional hazards model), extralaryngeal spread into level 6 (HR = 5.5, p = .006, C.I = 1-18.8) and extracapsular extension (HR = 9.3, p = 0.02, C.I = 1.29-67.5) were statistically significant predictors for thyroid gland involvement. Survival analysis of patients with thyroid gland involvement (n = 11) revealed 5-year overall survival (OS) of 100% and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) of 59.3% compared with patients without thyroid gland involvement, 71% and 51.7%, respectively (median follow-up, 30 months). Thyroid gland involvement did not show a statistically significant effect on OS/DFS on multivariate analysis. In view of the endocrine abnormalities and lack of survival benefit seen, thyroidectomy should be performed judiciously during total laryngectomy.