The 30dURs in patients who undergo head and neck surgery can be low, but costly. Identifying patients at risk for 30dUR will help develop preventative strategies. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E502-E510, 2016.

Decellularized tracheal scaffolds offer a potential solution for the repair of long-segment tracheal defects. However, complete decellularization of trachea is complicated by tracheal collapse. We created a partially decellularized tracheal scaffold (DTS) and characterized regeneration in a mouse model of tracheal transplantation. All cell populations except chondrocytes were eliminated from DTS. DTS maintained graft integrity as well as its predominant extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. We then assessed the performance of DTS in vivo. Grafts formed a functional epithelium by study endpoint (28 days). While initial chondrocyte viability was low, this was found to improve in vivo. We then used atomic force microscopy to quantify micromechanical properties of DTS, demonstrating that orthotopic implantation and graft regeneration lead to the restoration of native tracheal rigidity. We conclude that DTS preserves the cartilage ECM, supports neo-epithelialization, endothelialization and chondrocyte viability, and can serve as a potential solution for long-segment tracheal defects.

We tested composite tracheal grafts (CTG) composed of a partially decellularized tracheal graft (PDTG) combined with a 3-dimensional (3D)-printed airway splint for use in long-segment airway reconstruction. CTG is designed to recapitulate the 3D extracellular matrix of the trachea with stable mechanical properties imparted from the extraluminal airway splint. We performed segmental orthotopic tracheal replacement in a mouse microsurgical model. MicroCT was used to measure graft patency. Tracheal neotissue formation was quantified histologically. Airflow dynamic properties were analyzed using computational fluid dynamics. We found that CTG are easily implanted and did not result in vascular erosion, tracheal injury, or inflammation. Graft epithelialization and endothelialization were comparable with CTG to control. Tracheal collapse was absent with CTG. Composite tracheal scaffolds combine biocompatible synthetic support with PDTG, supporting the regeneration of host epithelium while maintaining graft structure.

Objectives To evaluate changes in distribution of reported thyroid nodule fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytopathology results since implementation of the Bethesda classification and revised 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines for selecting nodules for biopsy. Study Design Retrospective review. Setting Tertiary academic medical center. Subjects and Methods Evaluation of ultrasound (US)-guided thyroid FNA by a single surgeon using 2015 ATA nodule selection criteria and Bethesda reporting on 211 thyroid nodules in a 1-year period (2015). Comparison is made to an earlier sample wherein any nodule >1 cm underwent US FNA with cytology reported prior to Bethesda consensus (2006). Results The current cohort involved mostly women (79%); nodules ranged from 1 to 7 cm (mean ± SEM, 2.4 ± 0.07 cm). Mean ± SEM age was 53.5 ± 1.1 years. Bethesda reporting yielded 6% nondiagnostic, 57% benign, 3% malignant, and 34% indeterminate (27% atypia of undetermined significance [AUS]/follicular lesion of undetermined significance [FLUS], 4% follicular neoplasm [FN]/Hürthle neoplasm [HN], and 2% suspicious for malignancy [SFM]). The malignancy rate in indeterminate nodules was 26% (18% AUS/FLUS, 33% FN/HN, and 80% SFM). Age, sex, or nodule size did not correlate with indeterminate cytology. The comparator sample of 447 nodules had significantly different distribution, with 7% nondiagnostic, 80% benign, 5% malignant, and 8% indeterminate ( P < .00001). Conclusion We observed a significantly increased proportion of indeterminate cytology and corresponding decrease in benign nodules compared with an earlier sample, predominately from an increase in AUS/FLUS. Multiple factors are likely involved, including selection of sonographically suspicious nodules for biopsy based upon 2015 ATA guidelines coupled with cytopathological interpretation by a new generation of cytopathologists trained in the era of Bethesda reporting; further study is required to make a definitive conclusion.