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Management of oropharyngeal cancer depends on several factors. Immediate surgery or radiotherapy may be considered. If the patient is operable, the choice depends on the extent of the disease, the contributing factors, and the expected functional results. For HPV-positive cancers, studies show comparable efficacy between surgery and radiotherapy. For early-stage cancers, unimodal treatment should be preferred. For HPV-negative cancers, the results of retrospective and observational studies are in favor of surgery. These studies have some limitations. In observational and/or retrospective studies, reclassification biases and the applicability of propensity scores weaken the validity of studies showing differences in management. Tumor and patient comparability are others majors interpretation biases. It is precipitate to conclude that surgery is superior for HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancers. Toxicity, therefore, becomes a criterion of choice for treatment. Unimodal management by surgery allows limited toxicity for the early stages. Surgery has less impact on salivation. Radiotherapy is rather less deleterious for swallowing in the early stages. For the advanced stages of HPV-induced tumors, the non-superiority of surgery should lead to the choice of radiochemotherapy. For oropharyngeal cancers, the possible benefit of surgery in HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancers must be confirmed in randomized studies. For the early stages of oropharyngeal cancer with unimodal treatment, management could be decided by shared decision making., (Copyright © 2022 Société française de radiothérapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To identify the factors related to the presence of occult metastases before salvage total laryngectomy (STL) in rcN0 patients and to propose an algorithm to identify patients who do not require neck dissection (ND)., Patients and Methods: This multicentric retrospective study included five centers with recruitment from 2008 to 2018. Inclusion criteria were: i) having been treated for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma in first intention by radiotherapy (either alone or potentiated or preceded by induction chemotherapy), ii) having received STL with or without ND, iii) having an rcN0 neck at the time of STL., Results: 120 patients met the inclusion criteria. The overall rate of occult metastases was 9.1 %. The rate was significantly higher in patients with an initial positive cN+ lymph node status (p < 0.005) and in advanced stages with rcT3-T4 lesions at recurrence (p < 0.005). Patients with occult metastases recurred earlier than those without (p = 0.002). The overall survival of patients was the same with or without ND (p = 0.16). There were significantly more healing complications requiring revision surgery in the group with ND than in the group without (p = 0.048)., Conclusion: ND does not confer a net survival benefit and is associated with significant complications. Patients without initial lymph node metastases who are rcT1-T2 at recurrence or rcT3-T4 with a recurrence period of more than 12 months could benefit from STL without ND. This decisional algorithm, which needs to be validated, would help avoid 58 % of ND procedures and their proven morbidity., Discipline: Head and neck surgery., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Incidence of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) is increasing, especially in young adults, despite decreasing tobacco and alcohol consumption., Methods: This multicentric retrospective study of 185 young adults with OTSCC (median follow-up 43 months), investigated risk factors, tumour characteristics and oncological outcomes according to the smoking status., Results: Overall, 38% of patients were smokers (S). Non-smokers (NS) were significantly younger than S. Sex ratios were 1.1 for N and 1.8 for S. NS patients were less frequently cannabis or alcohol users than S, but were more likely to have a history of leukoplakia. Second primaries were observed in NS (4.4%) and in S (12.7%). Despite more frequent local relapse in NS (p = 0.018), there was no difference in diagnostic stage and overall survival between groups., Conclusion: OTSCC affects differently young S and NS patients suggesting the existence of a specific clinical entity of OTSCC in non-smoking young adults., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) is an option to treat supraglottic squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). We studied the oncologic outcomes after TORS for supraglottic laryngectomy (SGL)., Methods: We conducted a multicenter observational study of SGL using TORS for patients with supraglottic SCC with at least 2 years of follow-up., Results: One hundred twenty-two patients were included in our study. Mean follow-up was 42.8 months. Local control was 94.3% at 2 years and 90.2% at 5 years. Overall survival and disease-free survival were 86.9% and 95.1% at 2 years, and 78.7% and 94.3% at 5 years, respectively. Sixty-three patients (51.6%) received adjuvant radiotherapy. For 16 of them, this was due to close or positive margins., Conclusion: Local control rate after TORS SGL was at least equivalent to what has been described in the literature for open or transoral laser surgery, or with radiotherapy. Using TORS seems to be an effective therapeutic treatment of early-stage and intermediate-stage supraglottic SCCs., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of (18) F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18) FDG PET)-CT in detecting residual or recurrent disease after nonsurgical treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)., Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx, or cervical lymph node location of SCC treated with chemoradiotherapy. Twelve weeks posttreatment, (18) FDG PET-CT results were compared to histology if residual disease was suspected. Patients with complete response received a minimum of 24-month follow-up., Results: Forty-seven patients were included with 40 months of median follow-up: 46 with a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) at the primary site and 43 in the neck. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 86.7%, 90%, 76.5%, and 93.1%, respectively, at the primary site and 100%, 97.2%, 87.5%, 100%, respectively, in the neck., Conclusion: (18) FDG PET-CT seems effective in detecting residual disease and in predicting recurrent disease within the first 2 years of follow-up after nonsurgical treatment. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E1271-E1276, 2016., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: The diagnosis of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer in clinical practice is based on p16 immunohistochemistry and PCR detection of viral DNA (HPV-PCR). The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the concordance between these 2 diagnostic tests. The secondary objective was to study the clinical characteristics of these patients., Materials and Methods: This single-centre prospective study was conducted between February 2010 and July 2012. Immunohistochemical analysis of p16 and HPV-PCR were performed on tumour biopsies. Concordance was evaluated according to Cohen's kappa coefficient and was interpreted according to the Landis and Koch scale. The patients' clinical data were analysed as a function of the diagnostic test results., Results: Seventy-one patients were included in this study. The prevalence of HPV was 43.7% according to p16 and 31% according to HPV-PCR. The concordance study revealed a kappa coefficient of 0.615. A tumour of the tonsil or base of the tongue was detected in 100% of p16+/HPV-PCR+ cases. Smoking and alcohol abuse were significantly less frequent among HPV+ patients regardless of the method of detection. These patients were older and presented tumours with a lower grade of histological differentiation., Conclusion: p16 immunohistochemistry or HPV-PCR used alone appear to be insufficient. These results confirm the high prevalence of HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and the previously reported specific clinical and histological features, apart from age. It appears essential for future clinical trials to be stratified according to smoking and tumour HPV status, defined by means of reliable virological tests targeting E6/E7 mRNA and no longer a simple positive response to the p16 marker, as is frequently the case at the present time. New tests suitable for use in routine practice therefore need to be developed., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Patients undergoing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) for pharyngoesophageal malignancies are subject to develop malignant seeding at the PEG stoma. Risk factors include an untreated or recurrent advanced stage squamous cell carcinoma at the time of the PEG procedure and an endoscopic pull-string gastrostomy. Diagnosis is frequently late because this rare complication is poorly known. Prognosis remains poor despite aggressive treatment. Physicians should be aware of this complication in the event of hypermetabolic uptake around or close to a PEG stoma in patients monitored for a pharyngoesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: The French Society of Otorhinolaryngology (SFORL) set up a work group to draw up guidelines for initial staging of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Locoregional and remote extension assessment are dealt with in two separate reports. The present part 3 deals with the assessment of frequent associated symptoms and pathologies, requiring early treatment and the collection of data on a certain number of clinical and paraclinical parameters for therapeutic decision-making in the multidisciplinary team meeting., Materials and Methods: A multidisciplinary critical analysis of the literature was conducted. General assessment here covers screening, assessment and initial management of the following: usual risk factors (smoking, alcohol, HPV), the most frequent medical comorbidities, nutritional status, social and psychological status, dental status, pain and possible anemia. As oncologic management frequently associates surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, the underlying examinations should be early, as part of initial staging. The levels of evidence for the examinations were estimated so as to grade guidelines, failing which expert consensuses were established., Results: The high rates of pain, malnutrition and anemia call for systematic screening and early management, especially as rapidly effective treatments exist. Assessing comorbidity and social and psychological status enables general health status to be assessed, along with possible contraindications to the usual treatments. Tracheal intubation problems may require intubation under flexible endoscopy or jet-ventilation by inter-cricothyroid catheterization from the diagnostic endoscopy stage. Assessment and adapted dental care should be conducted if radiation therapy is likely or certain., Conclusion: Early management of symptoms and comorbidity and anticipation of subsequent treatment are intended to shorten initial staging time and to collate the data needed for therapeutic decision-making. This assessment should be performed at the same time as the locoregional and remote extension assessment, and is obviously to be adapted according to tumoral extension stage and the possible treatment options., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This report presents the French Society of ORL (SFORL) guidelines for exploration for remote metastasis and synchronous second cancer in initial staging of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma., Materials and Methods: An exhaustive literature review was analyzed by a multidisciplinary work-group., Results: The thorax is the most frequent location of remote metastases and synchronous second cancer outside of the upper aerodigestive tract. Thoracic CT is recommended as first-line examination in all cases (grade B). 18-FDG PET/CT is recommended when the thoracic CT image is doubtful or in case of high metastatic risk (grade B), for the detection of non-pulmonary remote metastasis. Esophageal exploration is recommended in case of significant risk of synchronous esophageal cancer (hypopharyngeal or oropharyngeal tumor, chronic alcohol intoxication) (grade B). The reference examination is flexible endoscopy of the upper digestive tract (grade B)., Conclusion: The present grade B recommendations rationalize the roles of the various first-line radiological and endoscopic examinations for remote metastasis and synchronous second cancer, so as to limit the number of examinations performed, thereby reducing the time needed for initial staging., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To set out good practice guidelines for locoregional extension assessment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (excluding nasopharynx, nasal cavities and sinuses)., Materials and Methods: A critical multidisciplinary review of the literature on locoregional extension assessment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck was conducted, applying levels of evidence in line with the French health authority's (HAS) literature analysis guide of January 2000., Conclusion: Based on the levels of evidence of the selected articles and on work-group consensus, graded guidelines are set out for clinical, endoscopic and imaging locoregional extension assessment of head and neck cancer., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: We reviewed outcomes of treatment of early glottic carcinoma by transoral laser resection., Methods: We performed a retrospective study of tumor stage, type of cordectomy (European Laryngological Society), resection margins, local control, and laryngeal preservation., Results: Of 142 patients treated with curative intent, 79 (92% male; average age, 63 years) were retained for this study, on the basis of availability of information regarding resection margins, the absence of adjuvant radiotherapy, and followup of at least 2 years. The tumors were classified pTis (n = 21), pT1a (n = 51), or pT1b (n = 7) and were treated by cordectomy types I (23%), II (30%), III (27%), IV (6%), and V (14%). The average follow-up was 56 months (range, 24 to 150 months). The overall 5-year actuarial recurrence-free survival rate was 89%, and the 5-year actuarial disease-specific survival rate was 97.3%. There were 11 local recurrences (14%); 7 were treated by another laser resection, 1 by radiotherapy, 1 by supracricoid partial laryngectomy, and 2 by total laryngectomy. The overall rate of final local control with the laser alone was 100% for patients with initially positive margins, 95% for those with initially suspicious margins, and 94% for those with free margins. The overall rate of organ preservation was 100% for patients with positive or suspicious margins and 96% for those with free margins. Margin status (p = .39), cordectomy type (p = .67), and anterior commissure involvement (p = .16) were not statistically related to recurrence (Kaplan-Meier calculations with nonparametric univariate analysis). The recurrence rate was significantly higher for T1b tumors, however (p = .001)., Conclusions: Laser microresection provides high rates of local control and organ preservation for early glottic cancer. Positive or suspicious margins were not related to recurrence, nor was anterior commissure involvement. This study implies that suspicious margins can be managed with a "watch-and-wait" attitude. Re-treatment with laser, external partial laryngectomy, and radiotherapy remain therapeutic options for recurrences.

Objective: To evaluate the oncologic results of glottic carcinoma in situ (CIS) treated with transoral carbon dioxide laser microsurgery., Methods: A retrospective review of 12 patients with glottic CIS previously untreated, treated with carbon dioxide laser transoral microsurgery between January 1990 and December 1999 was conducted., Results: Initial and ultimate local control rates were 75%, and 100%, respectively. Three local failures occurred: two glottic CIS were treated by carbon dioxide laser transoral microsurgery, one squamous cell glottic carcinoma was treated by supracricoid partial laryngectomy with cricohyoidoepiglottopexy. The ultimate rate of laryngeal preservation rate was 100%., Conclusions: Based on the material of this study, recommended treatment for glottic CIS should be carbon dioxide laser transoral microsurgery. Difficulties in endoscopic exposure of the larynx is a contraindication. Further studies are necessary to confirm these preliminary results.