Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery最新文献

Purpose of review: To review the pros and cons of treating supraglottic laryngeal cancer with transoral laser microsurgery (TOLM) or transoral robotic surgery (TORS).

Recent findings: The use of TORS is limited by the cost and the availability of the robots despite a faster learning curve than TOLM. The laryngeal exposure difficulty, the use of long instruments, and the restricted view of the surgical field consist of the primary limitations of TOLM, which are addressed in TORS technology through a 30° view of surgical fields, and the 180° amplitude of the instruments. The indications of TOLM and TORS are similar and include cT1-T2 and some selected cT3 with moderate invasion of the preepiglottic space. The rates of positive margins in TORS-SGL are lower than those of TOLM-supraglottic laryngectomy (SGL), while both approaches report similar duration of hospital stays. Patients treated with TORS report higher rates of percutaneous gastrostomy and temporary tracheotomy compared to TOLM. The feeding tube and oral diet re-start appear comparable between both groups. The overall survival, disease-free survival, local, regional, and relapse-free survival rates of TORS are reported to be higher than those found for TOLM SGL.

Summary: TORS and TOLM SGL are well tolerated and effective approaches for cT1, cT2, and some selected cT3 LSCC. The functional and surgical outcomes appear comparable. TORS could have superior survival and loco-regional outcomes than TOLM, which could be attributed to the fastest TORS learning curve, and its superiority in terms of tumor/operating field visualization, and instrument movements.

Purpose of review: Carotid body tumors (CBTs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors with an annual incidence of 1 : 30 000. Bilateral carotid body tumors (BCBTs) account for 3-5% of all CBTs and are more frequently linked to familial syndromes and potential malignancy. BCBT management is still not universally standardized and depends on multiple factors, including patient's age, risk of malignancy, location, growth rate, size, and related Shamblin and Mehanna classifications.

Recent findings: Options of treatment include active surveillance, external beam radiation, and surgery. Surgery is the first-choice treatment, but it may not always be performed especially in elderly patients. Simultaneous BCBT resection is not suggested due to high intra-operative and postoperative risks. The decision to operate on the larger or smaller tumor first is still debated. Whenever feasible, treatment of the larger tumor first to reduce the tumor burden should be preferred but with higher risks of neurovascular injury. Conversely, starting with the smaller tumor first offers a lower risk at initial surgery but may complicate the management of the larger tumor later.

Summary: Surgery for BCBTs, whenever feasible, remains the most indicated treatment but poses a significant risk of neurovascular complications. Resection of the larger, often more symptomatic, and potentially problematic or malignant tumor, reduces the overall disease burden and mitigates risks of rapid progression but involves a higher immediate complication hazard. Multidisciplinary evaluation is essential for balancing surgical risks and long-term outcomes, prioritizing neurovascular preservation and reducing morbidity.

Purpose of review: The rate of distant metastases in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) ranges between 4 and 26%. Their appearance marks a critical stage in disease progression, significantly reducing survival rates. Treatment options require a multidisciplinary approach and differ based on the number and extension of distant metastases. The aim of this narrative review is to provide a comprehensive and updated overview of the current state of the art in management of such a clinical scenario.

Recent findings: Accurate detection and staging of distant metastases are essential to determine prognosis and guide therapeutic strategies. Oligometastatic condition refers to patients with only a few distant metastases (up to 5). Surgery or stereotactic body radiotherapy are the best curative treatment options for oligometastatic. However, the majority of HNSCC has a polymetastatic disease, not amenable to curative approach. Therefore, systemic therapies, including chemotherapy (CHT) or target molecular therapy and/or best supportive care, are usually reserved to these patients. Rarely, head and neck region, in particular supraclavicular cervical lymph nodes, may be a site of distant metastases from non-head and neck cancer, particularly from the genitourinary and gastrointestinal tracts.

Summary: The occurrence of distant metastases in HNSCC represents a pivotal point in the disease progression, lowering survival rates. Pattern of distant metastases has been related to survival outcomes. Patients with distant metastases from an HNSCC always require a multidisciplinary approach and an accurate selection is necessary to individualize the best treatment strategy.

Purpose of review: The aim of this review is to investigate the most suitable surgical approach to managing parapharyngeal space (PPS) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) metastasis.

Recent findings: SCC metastasis in PPS are extremely rare. The PPS itself is a complex anatomical area, requiring extensive surgical experience and various surgical approaches for effective management. Several authors have attempted to systematize the surgical approaches to the PPS based on the anatomical location and histological nature of the lesions. However, there are currently few studies in the literature on the specific management of SCC metastases in the PPS, as these lesions are extremely rare.

Summary: The treatment of SCC metastases in the PPS must be determined based on the individual patient. If the patient is a candidate for surgery, the surgical approach should be chosen based on the location of the metastases and must ensure a sufficiently wide surgical corridor to allow for as complete a resection as possible. To date, the surgical approach that best meets these requirements is the transcervical transparotid approach. With new technologies, including the use of robotics and endoscopy, surgery can become increasingly less invasive while maintaining the wide exposure provided by open surgical procedures.

Purpose of review: This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of skull base osteoradionecrosis (ORN), a severe and rare complication of radiotherapy for head and neck malignancies. It explores pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic strategies, and management approaches, emphasizing the importance of multidisciplinary care in addressing this challenging condition.

Recent findings: Skull base ORN results from radiotherapy-induced tissue damage, characterized by hypovascularity, hypoxia, and necrosis, often compounded by secondary infections. Advances in radiotherapy techniques, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy and heavy particles, have reduced ORN incidence, though cases persist, particularly in high-dose radiotherapy fields. Emerging treatments, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy and the pentoxifylline-tocopherol protocol, show promise but lack robust evidence for standardized use. Surgical interventions, especially those incorporating vascularized tissue reconstruction, have demonstrated favorable outcomes in refractory cases. Recent studies underscore the utility of multimodal imaging techniques, including MRI and PET/CT, for distinguishing ORN from tumor recurrence.

Summary: Skull base ORN represents a complex and potentially life-threatening condition requiring tailored, multidisciplinary management. Although advancements in diagnostics and therapeutics have improved outcomes, significant challenges remain, particularly in developing standardized protocols. Further research is needed to refine treatment strategies and improve evidence-based practices for this entity.

Purpose of review: The evidence for a standardized approach to the management of cervical metastasis from a distant primary tumour is limited. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the current status of research in this field and to present the latest diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Recent findings: Although infraclavicular tumours are typically observed to metastasise to levels IV and V of the neck, all levels may potentially be affected. In conjunction with imaging and immunohistochemical analyses, next-generation sequencing and artificial intelligence-based tools are emerging as potential methods for identifying the primary tumour. Cervical metastasis can be classified as N3 or M1 in accordance with the histology and site of the primary tumour. A neck dissection + adjuvant chemoradiotherapy may prove beneficial in selected patients with breast, nonsmall cell lung, renal cell, oesophageal and testicular cancers, resulting in improved survival rates.

Summary: The diagnosis and subsequent treatment of such cases requires the input of a multidisciplinary team, as the condition is often complex and requires a multifaceted approach. Isolated supraclavicular metastases should prompt the clinician to investigate a distant primary. In select patients with some types of primary tumours, surgical treatment of the neck may improve the prognosis. It is, therefore, essential to control the primary tumour in order to optimize the success of the overall treatment plan.

Purpose of review: To summarize current evidence regarding the indication of adjuvant treatment after transoral laser microsurgery (TOLMS).

Recent findings: Apart from well known risk factors, margins represent the key point in the decision-making. If margins are affected, additional treatment is mandatory. One exception could be the presence of one superficial margin in early tumors that can be strictly followed up by fiberendoscopy. As a general rule, the best option is margin-revision surgery by repeating TOLMS or switching to open partial surgery. (Chemo)radiotherapy can be also considered, being total laryngectomy the last alternative. In locally advanced tumors with uncertain margins (e.g. posterior paraglottic space invasion, vertical anterior commissure reaching the cartilage during primary resection), adjuvant treatment may improve local control with laser but with little impact on disease-specific or overall survival. In this scenario, QoL may be in part reduced after radiotherapy, although recent studies suggest that functional outcomes are favorable. Therefore, decision should be discussed individually with the patient, especially if a total laryngectomy is the only alternative after a possible relapse.

Summary: Considerable work needs to be done to identify those cases that may benefit from adjuvant treatment after TOLMS, including a detailed description of functional outcomes.

Purpose of review: Surgical treatment of parotid cancer presents challenges due to the rarity of the disease, the histologic heterogeneity, and the complex regional anatomy. Recently published international guidelines contain recommendations for surgical management of the primary tumor and the neck lymph nodes, but still allow both T and N to be managed in different ways. This review summarizes the remaining areas of discussion.

Recent findings: The reference treatment for parotid cancer is total parotidectomy; however, for low-grade, low-stage tumors a superficial parotidectomy may be sufficient. The cN+ neck requires a comprehensive neck dissection; for cN0 multiple valuable options remain. Frozen section analysis on level II nodes can guide the extent of neck dissection. The definition of 'clear margins' remains debated; close margins in low-grade tumors appear to be acceptable, positive margins always require additional treatment.

Summary: A thorough understanding of the guidelines, fine-tuned if needed based on accurate preoperative workup and intraoperative surgeon's decision-making will provide the best outcome for the patient with parotid cancer.

Purpose of review: Ewing's sarcoma is a small round-cell tumour typically arising in the bones, and only rarely affecting soft tissues. These are rarely seen in the head and neck comprising 1-9% of all cases, making management of these tumours a challenge. This review aims to review the current literature to update the current diagnostic and treatment options in head and neck Ewing's sarcoma.

Recent findings: The tumour is characterized in most cases by recurrent balanced translocations between the EWSR1 gene on chromosome 22 and genes belonging to the ETS family of transcription factors. Its main driver is the reciprocal translocation between the EWSR1 and FLI1 genes ( EWSR1 : FLI1 ). Molecular techniques for the detection of FET/ETS fusions are widely used to confirm the diagnosis. Newer entities like adamantinoma-like Ewing sarcoma have been recently described. The chemotherapy protocols also have changed following Euro Ewing 2012 study. Reclassification of margin status may help standardize treatment in these cases.

Summary: Head and neck Ewings sarcoma is an uncommon tumour, mainly affecting paediatric/adolescent male individuals. Histopathological diagnosis is often challenging and immunohistochemical markers and/or molecular tests are generally used. Several molecular techniques for the detection of FET/ETS fusions are widely used to confirm the diagnosis. Management of Ewing's consists of a multimodal treatment regimen, including surgical resection and/or local radiotherapy, as well as intensive multiagent chemotherapy. Increase in age and the presence of distant metastasis are associated with shorter survival times.

Purpose of review: Nasoseptal flaps are a frequently used and well characterized means of reconstruction following endoscopic endonasal approach surgery (EEA). However, there are alternative means of reconstruction, including the extracranial pericranial flap (ePCF), that while used infrequently fulfill a specialized need in larger or salvage reconstructions. This review aims to better characterize long-term outcomes using ePCF where there is currently a paucity of objective data on use and outcomes.

Recent findings: A traditional pericranial flap involves elevating and rotating the flap through a craniotomy defect to reconstruct defects of the ventral skull base. The ePCF is implemented without performing a craniotomy, and instead tunnels the flap through a bony opening created at the level of the nasion. This review presents outcomes in a large single-center cohort of patients with ePCFs to better characterize the short- and long-term success, risks, and complications of this reconstructive method.

Summary: Long-term follow-up demonstrates that obstruction of the frontal sinus outflow may occur but rarely requires surgical intervention. ePCF are a reasonable alternative to consider in cases where local tissue would be insufficient, is not available, or has already failed. There is a low risk of flap complications.