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Introduction: Several diagnostic modalities with various sensitivity and specificities can be used to evaluate a parotid mass. The aims of this project were to compare the diagnostic actionability, accuracy, and ability to accurately predict extent of surgery for FNA and frozen section during the evaluation of a parotid mass., Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent parotidectomy for a parotid mass from January 1, 2015 to January 30, 2022 was conducted. Actionability was defined as a pathology diagnosis or the histologic grade of a lesion, as this provided clear and useful information for the surgeon to act upon. Diagnostic accuracy was determined by comparing FNA and frozen section results to final pathology. Accuracy of extent of surgery was determined by comparing predicted extent of surgery from the FNA or frozen section result to the extent of surgery predicted by the final pathology., Results: A total of 626 patients were included in this study. FNA was obtained in 396 (63%) patients, while all neoplasms were evaluated by frozen section analysis. FNA diagnosis was actionable in 318 (80%), while frozen section diagnosis was actionable in 616 (98%) patients. Exactly 294 (92.5%) FNA diagnoses were accurate compared with 600 (98%) frozen section diagnoses. The FNA diagnosis predicted appropriate extent of surgery in 294 (74%) while the frozen section diagnosis predicted appropriate extent of surgery in 600 (96%). Among the 396 patients with FNA, frozen section was significantly more likely to accurately predict appropriate extent of surgery compared with FNA (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: Frozen section is more likely to yield actionable and accurate results compared with FNA. Additionally, frozen section is better than FNA in predicting the appropriate extent of surgery., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives: Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has been rising. This manuscript looks to explore racial disparities in the surgical management of OPSCC., Methods: A cancer database was queried for patients with OPSCC diagnosed from 2004 to 2017. Univariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used to evaluate associations between patient race/ethnicity, surgical treatment, and reasons for lack of surgery., Results: 37 306 (74.3%) patients did not undergo surgery, while 12 901 (25.7%) patients did. Non-Hispanic black (NHB) patients were less likely to undergo surgery than other races (17.9% vs. 26.5%; p < 0.0001). In clinical discussions, the Asian, Native American, Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (ANAHPI), and unknown race group was more likely to directly refuse surgery when recommended (2.5% vs. 1.5%; p = 0.015)., Conclusion: Racial differences exist in treatment for OPSCC. NHB patients are less likely to actually undergo surgical management for OPSCC, while other patients are more likely to directly "refuse" surgery outright when offered., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: We aim to explore the prognostic role of absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) before, during, and after treatment on oncologic outcomes in human papillomavirus associated oropharyngeal cancer (HPV(+)OPSCC)., Methods: Retrospective cohort at a tertiary center, 2006-2018. Multivariable Cox regressions were used to determine the effect of ALC on risk of progression. Univariate linear regression was performed to determine clinical factors associated with lower ALC., Results: All 197 patients underwent primary surgery. Mean (SD) ALC nadirs (×10 9  cells/L) were: baseline (N = 149): 1.69 (0.56); postoperative (N = 126): 1.58 (0.59); post-RT (N = 141): 0.68 (0.35) and long-term (N = 105): 0.88 (0.37). Lower baseline ALC nadir was associated with worse overall survival (HR 3.85, 95%CI: 1.03-14.29, p = 0.04). Lower postoperative ALC nadir was associated with higher risk of progression (HR 2.63, 95%CI: 1.04-6.67, p = 0.04)., Conclusions: Lower baseline ALC is associated with worse survival, whereas lower postoperative ALC is associated with increased risk of progression in surgically treated HPV(+)OPSCC., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Recurrent pleomorphic adenoma (PA) can be a lifelong disease, and rates of subsequent recurrence are high., Methods: Patients between 2000 and 2015 were identified. Primary outcome was subsequent recurrence after surgical salvage., Results: Twenty-seven of 84 patients developed a subsequent recurrence. Risk factors for subsequent recurrence included a higher number of previous recurrences (P < .01), worse preoperative facial nerve function (P < .01), and deep parotid lesion(s) (P < .01). Interval since last surgery was protective (P < .01), specifically >10 years since last surgery (P < .01). For patients with a >10-year interval since their last surgery, the subsequent recurrence-free rate at 10 years follow-up was 80.2% vs 31.8%., Conclusions: For patients presenting with a >10-year interval since their last surgery, subsequent recurrence rates are low, which may allow for as needed surveillance recommendations. For patients presenting with recurrent PA and ≤10 years since their last surgery, a closer surveillance is warranted., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: In patients presenting with recurrent pleomorphic adenoma (rPA), clinical evaluation can fail to recognize carcinoma ex PA (cxPA). We aim to identify the risk factors for cxPA., Methods: This is a single institution retrospective case-control study from 2000 to 2015. CxPA was diagnosed based on surgical pathology. Demographics, clinical, and social histories were collected., Results: A number of 13/106 (12.3%) patients were diagnosed with cxPA, of which only 4/13 (31%) had clinical features suspicious for malignancy. Compared to benign rPA, factors associated with cxPA included age >50 (odds ratio [OR] 6.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.71-25.98, P < .01), >10 pack-years of smoking history (OR 3.36, 95% CI: 1.01-11.14, P = .04), and the largest tumor being >2 cm on pathology (OR 4.42, 95% CI: 1.14-17.10, P = .03)., Conclusions: In patients presenting with rPA, risk factors for malignant transformation include age >50, significant smoking history, and tumors larger than 2 cm. Clinical signs of malignancy such as rapid growth or pain are not always present., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: The da Vinci single-port (SP) robot is a new instrument for transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in oropharyngeal cancers (OPSCCs). We describe one-year SP surgical outcomes and compare them to da Vinci Si outcomes., Methods: Retrospective cohort study at a high-volume TORS center. Consecutive patients undergoing TORS SP procedures from 10/2018 to 09/2019 were included. SP OPSCC outcomes were compared to a historical cohort of Si OPSCC patients. t tests were used to compare continuous variables; χ 2 or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to compare nonparametric categorical variables., Results: Seventy-eight patients underwent SP TORS. The bleed rate was 5.1%, mortality rate was 2.6%, and conversion rate was 0%. Compared to the Si cohort, OPSCC patients undergoing TORS SP procedures saw no significant differences in operative time or post-TORS bleeds (P > .05)., Conclusions: The SP is a comparably safe surgical instrument. Overall learning curve for the SP was rapid among experienced TORS surgeons., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Smoking among patients with cancer is associated with poor outcomes, however, smoking cessation interventions have had limited success., Methods: This randomized controlled trial compared a novel smoking cessation intervention ("intervention") with enhanced usual care ("control"). Participants were smokers with head and neck or thoracic malignancies undergoing radiation. Controls received brief counseling. Intervention participants received intensive counseling, pharmacotherapy, text-messaging, and financial incentives. Biochemically confirmed 7-day abstinence at 8 weeks was compared using Fisher's exact t test. Smoking abstinence and intensity were also analyzed using time-series panel regression., Results: The study population comprised 19 intervention and 10 control participants. More intervention (74%) than control (30%) participants abstained from smoking at 8 weeks (P = .05). Intervention participants were significantly more likely to abstain (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 14.70; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.56-60.76) and smoked fewer cigarettes (adjusted incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.16; 95% CI 0.06-0.40) during weeks 1 to 8., Conclusion: This intervention decreased smoking among patients with upper aerodigestive cancers during radiotherapy., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)