Acta Otorhinolaryngologica Italica最新文献

Objective: For frontal sinus inverted papilloma (FSIP) management, an endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) can be combined (or not) with an external approach by an osteoplastic flap (OPF) or with a more conservative open approach. The present study aims to describe our experience in the management of FSIP, focusing on disease-related and anatomical features influencing outcomes and recurrence.

Methods: This case series of FSIP investigated anatomical and disease-related predictors of recurrence associated with EEA or a combined EEA-OPF approach. A systematic review was also performed, selecting publications on IP with the insertion point in the frontal sinus or frontal recess.

Results: Among 30 patients included, 18 underwent EEA, while 12 received a combined EEA-OPF approach. During a median follow-up of 37 months, the frontal sinus was cleared of IP in all cases except 2 in the EEA group, who presented a complex posterior wall shape of the frontal sinus. From the systematic review, a combined EEA-OPF approach was associated with a lower risk of recurrence.

Conclusions: A correct indication for a combined EEA-OPF approach is paramount and should integrate all disease-related and anatomical features, including posterior wall shape.

Objective: The study aimed to identify factors affecting the management and prognosis of iatrogenic cervical oesophageal and hypopharyngeal perforations (iCEHPs).

Methods: We retrospectively analysed 24 patients treated for iCEHP between 2004 and 2021 at a tertiary university medical centre. Data on demographics, clinical features, imaging, management and outcomes were collected. Factors associated with primary management and patient outcome were assessed.

Results: The most common management approach was surgical neck exploration (15 patients, 62.5%). Surgical management was used in 93% of uncontained perforations compared to 11% of contained perforations (p < 0.001). Surgically-treated patients had higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) than conservatively-treated patients (median, 18.3 vs 4.8 mg/dL; p = 0.001). Delayed diagnosis (≥ 24 hours) was associated with increased mortality (100 vs 5%; p = 0.011). The mortality rate was significantly higher in patients who had a history of neck irradiation than in patients who did not (67 vs 5%; p = 0.032).

Conclusions: Early diagnosis of iCEHP improves outcomes. The appropriate management should be carefully selected on the basis of CRP level and imaging findings. Prior neck radiation is a poor prognostic factor.

Objective: Skull base anatomy around the internal carotid artery (ICA) is extremely complex. Among anatomical landmarks studied, the vidian canal has been thoroughly evaluated, unlike the vidian nerve (VN). Our aim is to evaluate the VN-ICA relationships, and understand their role in terms of surgical planning.

Methods: Fifty MRI examinations of 100 healthy petro-spheno-clival regions were reviewed in order to evaluate the relationship between the vidian nerve axis (VNA) and the petrous ICA. Twenty-seven cases of expanded endonasal approaches to petrous apex region were evaluated to check the VN-ICA relationship intraoperatively.

Results: MRI evaluations showed that, in 23% of cases, the VNA was below the edge of the ICA, in 45% it was at the edge of the ICA and in 32% it ended up above the edge of the ICA. Surgically speaking, in 9 of 28 petrous apex approaches, the VN ended above the inferior edge of the petrous carotid.

Conclusions: MRI evaluation adds useful information in planning the surgical approach to petro-spheno-clival regions, even if the identification of VNA, in these cases, may not be radiologically possible. Surgical experience confirms the importance of VN identification in guiding the surgeon in complex cases, and also outline the possible risks of relying only on this landmark.

Objective: Parapharyngeal space (PPS) is a rare and unusual site of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) metastases. Treatment strategy for PPS metastases is still not well defined. This research aims to investigate the clinical implications and oncological outcomes of SCC metastases in PPS.

Material and methods: A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA criteria. The authors considered only articles reporting the history and treatment of patients with PPS SCC metastases. A retrospective chart review was conducted in two tertiary referral academic centers collecting data of patients with diagnosis of PPS SCC metastases between 2010 and 2023 to study their outcome based on clinical presentation and treatment strategy.

Results: The retrospective chart review showed that the oropharynx was the most frequent primary tumour site. The advanced stage at the time of diagnosis was related to poorer survival and higher recurrence rates. A significant difference in 2-year overall survival in the subgroup of patients who experienced PPS metastases within the primary treatment and those who experienced PPS metastases as regional recurrence (66.7 vs 30.8%) was observed. Similar low survival rates were reported in the literature review with a mean overall and disease-free survival of 19.8 and 8.6 months, respectively.

Conclusions: PPS metastases are associated with a dismal prognosis, especially when diagnosed as regional recurrence after primary treatment, due to patients' poor general conditions and difficulty of treatment.

Introduction: Intraorbital foreign bodies (IOFBs) represent a clinical challenge: surgical management can be controversial and different strategies have been proposed. When removal is recommended, depending on the location and nature of the IOFB both external and endoscopic approaches have been proposed, with significantly different surgical corridors to the orbit and different morbidities.

Methods: We performed a literature review of cases of IOFBs that received exclusive endoscopic transnasal surgical treatment to evaluate the role of this surgery in these occurrences. We also present a case of an intraorbital intraconal bullet that was successfully removed using an endoscopic transnasal approach with good outcomes in terms of ocular motility and visual acuity.

Results: A limited number of cases of IOFBs have been treated with an exclusive endoscopic transnasal approach. When in the medial compartment, this approach appears to be safe and effective. In our case, two months after surgery the patient showed complete recovery with no significant long-term sequelae.

Conclusions: When feasible, an endoscopic transnasal approach for intraorbital foreign bodies represents a valid surgical technique with optimal outcomes and satisfactory recovery.

Objective: If excellent response (ER) occurs after radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), the recurrence rate is low. Our study aims to predict ER at 6-24 months after RAI by using machine learning (ML) methods in which clinicopathological parameters are included in patients with DTC without distant metastasis.

Methods: Treatment response of 151 patients with DTC without distant metastasis and who received RAI treatment was determined (ER/nonER). Thyroidectomy ± neck dissection pathology data, laboratory, and imaging findings before and after RAI treatment were introduced to ML models.

Results: After RAI treatment, 118 patients had ER and 33 had nonER. Before RAI treatment, TgAb was positive in 29% of patients with ER and 55% of patients with nonER (p = 0.007). Eight of the ML models predicted ER with high area under the ROC curve (AUC) values (> 0.700). The model with the highest AUC value was extreme gradient boosting (AUC = 0.871), the highest accuracy shown by gradient boosting (81%).

Conclusions: ML models may be used to predict ER in patients with DTC without distant metastasis.

Objective: Detection of laryngeal cartilage invasion is of great importance in staging of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). The role of prognosticators in locally advanced laryngeal cancer are still widely debated. This study aimed to assess the impact of volume of thyroid cartilage infiltration, as well as other histopathologic variables, on patient survival.

Materials and methods: We retrospectively analysed 74 patients affected by pT4 LSCC and treated with total laryngectomy between 2005 and 2021 at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery of the University of Brescia, Italy. We considered as potential prognosticators histological grade, perineural (PNI) and lympho-vascular invasion (LVI), thyroid cartilage infiltration, and pTN staging. Pre-operative CT or MRI were analysed to quantify the volume of cartilage infiltration using 3D Slicer software.

Results: The 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease free survivals (DFS) were 76%, 66%, and 64%, respectively. Using machine learning models, we found that the volume of thyroid cartilage infiltration had high correlation with DFS. Patients with a higher volume (>670 mm³) of infiltration had a worse prognosis compared to those with a lower volume.

Conclusions: Our study confirms the essential role of LVI as prognosticator in advanced LSCC and, more innovatively, highlights the volume of thyroid cartilage infiltration as another promising prognostic factor.

Objective: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) represents a frequent complaint in general population and especially in patients with chronic sinonasal diseases. The aim of this study was the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Self-reported Mini Olfactory Questionnaire (Self-MOQ) into Italian.

Methods: One hundred fifty patients affected by chronic sinonasal diseases and reporting hyposmia were enrolled. Other 150 normosmic subjects without inflammatory or neoplastic sinonasal disorders were used as a control group. The Short-form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire was used for clinical validity.

Results: Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.825. The test-retest reliability was excellent. The good correlation between the Self-MOQ and the Visual Analogue Scale scores (p < 0.05) demonstrated the construct validity of the questionnaire. The Self-MOQ was able to distinguish between subjects with or without OD (p < 0.05). Higher Self-MOQ score was found in case of nasal obstruction and posterior rhinorrhoea (p < 0.05). Self-MOQ showed significant correlation with SF-36 general health, SF-36 role functioning/physical, and SF-36 pain (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The Italian version of the Self-MOQ showed good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct, and clinical validity.

Objective: To perform a dosimetric comparison between intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and 3D conformal radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced (stage III and IV) tumours of the supraglottic region treated with conservative surgery and post-operative radiotherapy.

Methods: An in-silico plan using a 3D conformal shrinking field technique was retrospectively produced for 20 patients and compared with actually delivered IMRT plans. Eighteen structures (arytenoids, constrictor muscles, base of tongue, floor of mouth, pharyngeal axis, oral cavity, submandibular glands and muscles of the swallowing functional units [SFU]) were considered.

Results: IMRT allowed a reduction of maximum and mean doses to 9 and 14 structures, respectively (p < .05).

Conclusions: IMRT achieved a reduction of unnecessary dose to the remnant larynx and the majority of surrounding SFUs. Further prospective analyses and correlations with functional clinical outcomes are required to confirm these dosimetric findings.