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Objective: To conduct high-throughput mutational analysis in 6 commonly used head and neck cancer cell lines. Comprehensive mutation analysis of primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumors has recently been reported, and mutations in the NOTCH receptors, TP53 and CDKN2A, were key findings. Established cell lines are valuable tools to study cancer in vitro. Similar high-throughput mutational analysis of head and neck cancer cell lines is necessary to confirm their mutational profile., Design: DNA was extracted from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) cell lines Cal27, Detroit562, FaDu, SCC4, SCC15, and SCC25. Cell line identity was confirmed by short tandem repeat (STR) analysis, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection status was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. A total of 535 cancer-associated genes were sequenced through a limited exome capture on the Illumina HiSeq system., Setting: London Regional Cancer Program., Results: The identity of the 6 cell lines was confirmed by STR analysis, and all lines tested negative for HPV infection. We achieved an average of 129-fold coverage with paired-end 100 base-pair reads. Sequencing revealed an average of 38 damaging mutations in each cell line (range, 30-45). The TP53 mutations, predicted to confer loss of function, were noted in all cell lines, and damaging CDKN2A mutations were found in all lines except SCC15., Conclusions: High-throughput sequencing of head and neck cancer cell lines revealed similar mutations to those observed in primary tumors. Thus, these lines reflect the tumor biology of HNSCC and can serve as valuable models to study HNSCC in vitro.

Objectives: To determine the long-term retention of a 3-dimentional (3-D) educational computer model of the larynx to teach laryngeal anatomy and to compare it with standard written instruction (SWI)., Design: Prospective randomized controlled trial., Setting: University education program., Participants: One hundred health care students., Interventions: For short-term assessment, 50 students were randomized to the 3-D model and 50 to SWI and were tested using a 20-question laryngeal test. Six months later, the same students were invited to retake the laryngeal anatomy test to examine long-term retention., Main Outcome Measure: The score on a 20-item Web-based test that assessed the students' level of knowledge of laryngeal anatomy approximately 6 months after their initial exposure to the laryngeal anatomy teaching intervention., Results: Sixty-two students retook the test: 3-D (n = 30) and SWI (n = 32). No significant difference was noted in mean scores (P = .54) and change in scores (P = .59) between short- and long-term retention on the laryngeal anatomy test. There was a trend toward an increase in 3-D scores in both groups (P = .07) and a significant increase in 3-D scores in the 3-D group only (P = .049)., Conclusions: A low-fidelity model (SWI) is just as effective as a high-fidelity model (3-D) in teaching laryngeal anatomy. The acquired knowledge from either educational intervention may last up to 6 months for long-term retention. This study is one of the few in medical education to examine long-term retention.

Objectives: To create a 3-dimensional (3D) educational computer model of the larynx, to assess the feasibility of this learning module on a Web-based platform, and to obtain student feedback on the module., Design: Male and female adult cadaveric necks were scanned with microcomputed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging scanners. Key structures were identified on each slice of the computed tomogram and/or magnetic resonance image and analyzed with a segmentation software package. Then, the images were exported into Microsoft Powerpoint. Visual text and audio commentary were added. Real cases of a child's larynx, an adult with a tracheostomy, and a patient with laryngeal carcinoma were included. The computer module was launched on a password-protected, Web-based platform., Participants: Fifty-eight first-year medical students (38% male; mean [SD] age, 23 [1.8] years) were invited to evaluate the module and to complete a survey., Results: Most students thought that the 3D computer module was effective (60%), clear (66%), and user friendly (72%); most students (81%) thought that it was easier to understand laryngeal anatomy when they could visualize it in 3D; and most students (83%) said that they would like lectures better if they were supplemented with 3D computer modules., Conclusion: A 3D educational computer model of the larynx has been successfully created and warmly received by medical students.

Objective: To evaluate facial impairment and disability with respect to quality of life in patients with facial paresis after vestibular schwannoma surgery., Design: Cross-sectional observational study., Setting: Academic, tertiary care hospital., Patients: All consecutive patients during a 5-year period who underwent vestibular schwannoma surgery., Main Outcome Measures: The validated, patient-graded Facial Clinimetric Evaluation (FaCE) scale questionnaire was administered to all study patients. Main outcome measures included total and social function FaCE scores. Subgroup analysis was performed on patient factors (age and sex), surgical factors (tumor size and time since operation), and House-Brackmann grade., Results: A total of 56 FaCE questionnaires were returned (85% response rate): 28 patients (50%) had normal facial function (House-Brackmann grade I), and 28 patients (50%) had abnormal facial function (House-Brackmann grades II-VI). There were no demographic differences between the normal and abnormal groups. The normal group had a total FaCE score of 96.2 compared with 67.1 in the abnormal group (P<.05). Subgroup analysis of patients with facial paresis revealed that age, sex, time since operation, tumor size, and House-Brackmann grade were not statistically significant factors predicting the FaCE social function score (P<.05)., Conclusions: Facial paresis is an important complication of vestibular schwannoma surgery and will impair a patient's quality of life. The level of impairment may not be predicted by a patient's age, sex, tumor size, time since operation, or severity of facial paresis.