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"Sociability" is defined as the range of experiences linking the subject to others. This is the first study to focus specifically on the impact of head and neck cancer on the sociability of patients' partners. Data were collected via a dedicated questionnaire sent to patients' partners. The main endpoint was partner's self-assessment of the impact of the patient's disease on the partner's everyday life. The impact on sociability was analyzed with respect to: the circle of friends (friendship environment), unknown environment, known outside environment, necessary environment, and solitary activities. Two hundred and seventy partners responded. Their everyday activities were impacted by the patient's disease in 71.5% of cases. The friendship environment was badly affected in 46.4% of cases. The unknown environment was affected in 44.0% of cases. Social practices related to the known outside environment were affected in 67.8% of cases, and the necessary environment in 26.0%; the number of solitary activities increased in 35.6% of cases. Social impact on patients' partners was thus considerable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early management in oncology is based on coordination and high-quality exchange between the various health-care partners. The present guidelines are based on a literature search with levels of evidence. Treatment waiting time can be optimized by performing assessment as early as possible (Expert opinion), to limit the interval (ideally, less than 4 weeks) between first consultation and data collection. In the first specialist consultation, diagnostic work-up should be scheduled and the data required for management should be determined (Grade B). Work-up may be conducted on a day-care basis or with conventional admission (Expert opinion). The patient's medico-social context should be taken into account from the outset, with social work involvement whenever necessary (Expert opinion). Pain and nutritional management should be planned for (Grade A) and realistic therapeutic education be provided (Expert opinion). Community-hospital teamwork for supportive care should be optimized (Expert opinion). Management should be early and multidisciplinary, to shorten delay between diagnosis and treatment initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives A 10-year retrospective study investigated factors for survival and laryngeal preservation in advanced laryngeal, hypopharyngeal or epilaryngeal neoplasia. Material and method Two hundred and forty-six patients with advanced cancer of the larynx (17.48%), hypopharynx (48.78%) or epilarynx (33.74%) undergoing primary organ-sparing treatment were included from 1998 to 2008. Treatment comprised chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy for 92.68% of patients, isolated radiation therapy for 1.6% and concomitant or sequential radiation-chemotherapy for 5.7%. General health status, history and tumor status were recorded. Factors influencing survival were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier estimator, log-rank test and Cox models. Results Median overall survival of the population was 2.3 years and median laryngeal preservation 0.99 years in male patients and 2 years in female patients. Survival correlated significantly with body mass index (BMI; P = 0.0004), WHO performance status ( P = 0.0064), alcohol consumption ( P = 0.0004) and cessation ( P < 0.0001) and also T stage ( P = 0.0038), initial laryngeal mobility ( P = 0.0002) and post-chemotherapy assessment ( P < 0.0001). Survival with functional larynx correlated with baseline BMI at first consultation ( P = 0.016), baseline WHO grade ( P = 0.0005), laryngeal mobility ( P < 0.0001), T staging ( P = 0.0009), and T and/or N chemotherapy response to a classical organ preservation protocol ( P < 0.0001). Conclusion Over and above established criteria, the present study highlighted the importance of general health and nutritional status during treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Objective: Study of patients with stage T1N0M0 or T2N0M0 glottic cancer treated by exclusive radiotherapy and comparison of the survival and functional results of this series with those of the literature. Method: Retrospective study of stage T1N0M0 or T2N0M0 glottic cancers diagnosed between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2010 and treated by exclusive radiotherapy. Evaluation of survival, recurrence and larynx preservation rates. Study centres: CLCC François-Baclesse and CHU de Caen. Patients: Fifty-nine patients (53 men and sixwomen) treated for glottic cancer (57 squamous cell carcinomas, two verrucous carcinomas) comprising 51 T1N0M0 and eight T2N0M0 tumours. Treatment with exclusive radiotherapy (mean dose of 70Grays limited to the thyroid cartilage for 57 patients, with lymph node irradiation for two patients). Results: In this series, five (9.8%) patients with stage T1N0M0 glottic cancer and three patients (37.5%) with stage T2N0M0 glottic cancer relapsed, corresponding to a global recurrence rate of 13.6%. Three of the eight recurrences involved lymph nodes exclusively (N), two patients relapsed exclusively at the primary tumour site (T) and three patients presented local and lymph node recurrence (T and N). Treatment consisted of salvage total laryngectomy with bilateral cervical lymph node dissection in three cases, bilateral cervical lymph node dissection and sensitized radiotherapy in two cases, exclusive chemotherapy in one case, cervical lymph node dissection and cervical radiotherapy in one case. The last patient with recurrence died prior to salvage therapy. The larynx preservation rate was 94.9%. Conclusion: In comparison with the literature, treatment of stage T1-T2N0M0 glottic cancer by exclusive radiotherapy gives very good results, with a larynx preservation rate of 95%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction Benign osteoblastoma is a rare fibrous bone tumour observed in children. Very few cases involving the paranasal sinuses have been reported. Summary A 10-year-old child presented with a 1-month history of right exophthalmos. Clinical and radiological assessment demonstrated a heterogeneous tumour with bone components occupying all of the maxillary sinus. Initial histology was in favour of fibrous dysplasia. Surgery was performed via a combined approach. After review of the histology slides, the final diagnosis was that of osteoblastoma. In view of the procedure performed and after consultation, no complementary treatment was proposed. A recurrence was observed 8 months later. Right maxillectomy associated with total ethmoidectomy via a combined approach was performed to ensure complete resection of the tumour. A favourable course without recurrence was observed with a follow-up of 5 years. Discussion Osteoblastoma of the maxillary sinus is rare. CT assessment must be as precise as possible to avoid confusion with another tumour. The diagnosis can only be confirmed by histological examination. This case report is completed by a review of the literature with description of the main differential diagnoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The authors present the guidelines of the French Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Society (SFORL) for patient pathway organization in head and neck cancer, and in particular for multidisciplinary team meetings. The present article concerns the therapeutic decision-making process. Methods A multidisciplinary work group was entrusted with a review of the scientific literature on the above topic. Guidelines were drawn up, based on the articles retrieved and the group members’ individual experience. They were then read over by an editorial group independent of the work group. The final version was established in a coordination meeting. The guidelines were graded as A, B, C or expert opinion, by decreasing level of evidence. Results It is recommended that: an organ specialist should contribute to all multidisciplinary meetings on head and neck cancer; all members of the multidisciplinary meeting should have specific knowledge in head and neck cancer; any referring physician who does not follow the multidisciplinary meeting's advice should justify that decision; there should be sufficient time to prepare, discuss and sum up the cases dealt with in the multidisciplinary team meeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]