Mucoepidermoid Carcinomas of the Larynx

Objectives: Discussions regarding the specific management and outcomes for laryngeal MEC are limited to very small, single-institution case series. To look further into the diagnosis and management of these uncommon non-squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx, we present 3 recent cases of laryngeal MEC treated at our institution. Methods: Patients at a tertiary hospital treated for MEC between October 2019 and December 2020 were retrospectively identified. Chart review, imaging analysis, and histologic slide creation were completed for all patients. Results: We identified and treated 2 patients with high-grade supraglottic and 1 patient with intermediate-grade glottic MEC. These patients presented to our clinic with a primary complaint of either gradual, worsening dysphonia, dysphagia, or both. All patients underwent laryngovideostroboscopy as well as panendoscopy with directed submucosal biopsy, which was consistent with MEC. MRI was performed in 2 of the cases further elucidating the extent of submucosal spread. PET-CT was performed in all 3 cases, and none demonstrated evidence of regional or distal metastases. Surgically, high-grade MEC lesions were treated with a total laryngectomy. The intermediate MEC lesion was managed with a supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL). Surgical margins were free of tumor in all cases with no nodal metastases by modified radical neck dissection. Radiation therapy was offered to both high-grade MEC patients and declined by one. Radiation was not recommended to the patient with intermediate-grade MEC as we believed that the risk of additional treatment outweighed the benefit. Conclusion: We believe that MEC of the larynx should be considered in patients with atypical submucosal laryngeal masses. Laryngovideostroboscopy, MRI, and PET imaging may be valuable in determining the extent of the lesions and planning appropriate surgery. Postoperative radiation therapy should be considered a per tumor grade in other more studied sites, as there is no data on efficacy in laryngeal MEC.

Indications and Parameters Around Postoperative Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer

Patients with locally advanced resected non–small-cell lung cancer present a high risk of relapse. Although adjuvant platinum–based chemotherapy has become the standard of care, the role of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) has been controversial for years. In patients with incomplete resection, PORT should be proposed, on the basis of a strong consensus, despite the absence of randomized evidence. In patients with completely resected (R0) non–small-cell lung cancer, a meta-analysis showed poorer outcomes after PORT in the absence of mediastinal involvement (pN0 and pN1). In patients with pN2, the role of PORT was less clear and required further research. The meta-analysis included trials using older radiation techniques and poorer quality of surgery according to today's standards, and selection of patients was not positron emission tomography–based. Newer retrospective and nonrandomized studies and subgroup analyses of randomized trials evaluating adjuvant chemotherapy suggested a survival benefit of PORT in patients with pN2 R0. Two recent randomized trials (Lung ART and PORT-C) evaluating conformal PORT versus no PORT retrieved no disease-free survival advantage for stage IIIA-N2 patients, even if mediastinal relapse was significantly decreased with PORT. PORT had no effect on survival, possibly given the high rate of distant relapse and risk of additional cardiopulmonary toxicity. Ongoing and future analyses are planned in Lung ART to identify patients for whom PORT could be recommended. Incorporation of newer systemic treatments (immune checkpoint inhibitors or targeted therapy in oncogene-addicted patients) is underway in the neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant setting. Better identification of patients at a high risk of disease recurrence, with analysis of circulating tumor DNA, on the basis of the detection of postsurgical minimal (or molecular) residual disease is warranted in future studies.

Treatment strategy for multisegmental cervicomedullary ependymoma: illustrative case

BACKGROUND Сervicomedullary ependymoma (CME) is a rare tumor of the central nervous system. The CME treatment strategy is insufficiently represented in the literature and is a complex task for neurosurgeons. OBSERVATIONS The authors describe an infrequent case of a large multisegmental CME that extended from the medulla oblongata to the cervical spinal cord at the level of the sixth cervical vertebra in a 21-year-old female. Neurological disorders presented with headache, dysphagia, hypophonia, and weakness in the limbs. Subtotal removal of the tumor was performed according to intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) results. A wait-and-see approach with patient follow-up was chosen. LESSONS Total tumor removal of the CME is the most important favorable prognostic factor. Subtotal resection can be considered if the borders of the tumor are unclear and the result of IONM is unfavorable. The role of postoperative radiation therapy in the case of subtotal removal of the tumor remains controversial.

360-surgery for a giant cervical chordoma with involvement of the right vertebral artery

Background: Chordomas are malignant tumors that arise from the remnants of the notochord. Complete en bloc radical resection with postoperative radiation therapy is currently considered the gold standard. Here, we performed a 360-staged approach to manage a C3-C4 chordoma that involved the right vertebral artery. Case Description: A 40-year-old woman presented with a C3-C4 chordoma that invaded the right vertebral artery. She responded well to a circumferential approach including resection and stabilization. Conclusion: A 40-year-old woman with a C3-C4 spinal chordoma was optimally managed with a combined anterior/posterior surgical approach including decompression/fusion.

Risk factors for wound-related complications after surgical stabilization of spinal metastases with a special focus on the effect of postoperative radiation therapy

Background Advancements in the field of oncological therapies during the last decades have led to a significantly prolonged survival of cancer patients. This has led to an increase in the incidence of spinal metastases. The purpose of this study was to assess risk factors for wound-related complications after surgical stabilization of spinal metastases with a special focus on the effect of postoperative RT and its timing. Methods Patients who had been treated for metastatic spine disease by surgical stabilization followed by radiotherapy between 01/2012 and 03/2019 were included and a retrospective chart review was performed. Results Of 604 patients who underwent stabilizing surgery for spinal metastases, 237 patients (mean age 66 years, SD 11) with a mean follow-up of 11 months (SD 7) were eligible for further analysis. Forty-one patients (17.3%) had wound-related complications, 32 of them before and 9 after beginning of the RT. Revision surgery was necessary in 26 patients (11.0%). Body weight (p = 0.021), obesity (p = 0.018), ASA > 2 (p = 0.001), and start of radiation therapy within 21 days after surgery (p = 0.047) were associated with an increased risk for wound complications. Patients with chemotherapy within 3 weeks of surgery (12%) were more likely to have a wound-related surgical revision (p = 0.031). Conclusion Body weight, obesity and ASA > 2 were associated with an increased risk for wound complications. Patients with chemotherapy within 3 weeks of the surgery were more likely to have a wound-related revision surgery. Patients who had begun radiation therapy within 21 days after surgery were more likely to have a wound complication compared to patients who waited longer.

Sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma, A rare neoplasm; Case report and literature review

Introduction/Objective Sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma (SNTCS) is an unusual neoplasm with high malignant potential. Histologically it consists of epithelial and mesenchymal constituents, with a combination of teratoma and carcinosarcoma. It primarily occurs in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. This aggressive neoplasm has a high recurrence rate with a five-year survival of 30-50 percent. To this date, less than a hundred cases have been mentioned in the literature. Early diagnosis and management of the tumor can enhance the prognosis. Methods/Case Report We present to you a case of a 63-year-old woman presenting with epistaxis, nasal congestion, and blockage. The tumor was completely removed surgically and postoperative radiation therapy was given. Grossly the tumor was gray-white, with a solid texture. Postsurgical microscopic examination of the sections from different areas showed variegated appearance having a mix of teratoid; carcinomatous; sarcomatous and primitive neuroectodermal elements. Immunohistochemical staining revealed tumor cells expressing desmin, EMA, and cytokeratin. The follow-up examination was done after a year and showed no sign of recurrence. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) N/A Conclusion Because of the scarcity and mixed cell lines of this tumor pathological diagnosis of the neoplasm is hard. Since this neoplasm is highly malignant and locally aggressive proper identification and removal are necessary for improving morbidity as well as mortality.

Improved Survival after Breast-Conserving Therapy Compared with Mastectomy in Stage I-IIA Breast Cancer

In the current study, we sought to compare survival outcomes after breast-conserving therapy (BCT) or mastectomy alone in patients with stage I-IIA breast cancer, whose tumors are typically suitable for both locoregional treatments. The study cohort consisted of 1360 patients with stage I-IIA (T1–2N0 or T0–1N1) breast cancer diagnosed between 2001 and 2013 and treated with either BCT (n = 1021, 75.1%) or mastectomy alone (n = 339, 24.9%). Median follow-ups for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 6.9 years (range, 0.3–15.9) and 7.5 years (range, 0.2–25.9), respectively. Fifteen (1.1%), 14 (1.0%) and 48 (3.5%) patients experienced local, regional, and distant relapse, respectively. For the whole cohort of patients, the estimated 5-year DFS and OS were 96% and 97%, respectively. After stratification based on the type of local treatment, the estimated 5-year DFS for BCT was 97%, while it was 91% (p < 0.001) for mastectomy-only treatment. Inverse probability of treatment weighting matching based on confounding confirmed that mastectomy was associated with worse DFS (HR 2.839, 95% CI 1.760–4.579, p < 0.0001), but not with OS (HR 1.455, 95% CI 0.844–2.511, p = 0.177). In our study, BCT was shown to have improved disease-specific outcomes compared to mastectomy alone, emphasizing the important role of adjuvant treatments, including postoperative radiation therapy, in patients with early-stage breast cancer at diagnosis.