No abstract

Extranodal extension (ENE) is a very strong prognostic factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. However, significant variance in reported incidence of ENE suggests discordance in perception of ENE among pathologists. This study aims to map the different definitions of histopathological ENE used in the literature. A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement. Guided by the research question: "How is histopathological ENE defined?" the databases Medline, Embase, and Cochrane were systematically searched. All retrieved studies were reviewed and qualitatively analyzed. Three categories of existing definitions were formed. The systematic literature search yielded 1786 studies after removal of duplicates. Nine hundred and thirty-four full text articles were assessed for inclusion and 44 unique ENE definitions were identified and categorized 1-3; (1) simple definitions only describing a breach in the capsule (48%), (2) definitions also including a description of the perinodal tissue (43%), and (3) definitions adding a description of a specific reaction in the perinodal structure (9%). No consensus definition of ENE exists, but based on the level of details in the identified definitions, three overall categories of ENE definitions were established.

Background: Due to a substantial risk of malignancy, patients with focal FDG avid thyroid incidentalomas (FFTIs) on PET/CT are in most of Denmark referred to Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) fast track programs. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of malignancy in FFTI managed in a HNC fast track program. Methods: A prospective cohort study including all patients with FFTI referred to the HNC fast track program, Odense University Hospital between the 1 st of September 2016 and 31 st of August 2017. Ultrasonography (US) and fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) were intended to be done in all patients. Nodules with cytology of Bethesda 1, 3, 4, 5, or 6 were planned for surgical removal. Results: A total of 104 patients were included. All patients had US and 101 patients (97%) had FNAB. Forty-two patients had benign cytology classified as Bethesda 2. The remaining 62 patients underwent surgery except from 11 patients, mainly due to comorbidity. The overall risk of malignancy for patients with FFTI referred to our HNC fast track program was calculated to be 24% (23/95) based on patients with unequivocal cytology and/or histology. The only statistically significant US characteristic to predict malignancy was the appearance of irregular margins with a sensitivity of 47% and specificity of 96%. Conclusion: The risk of malignancy of FFTIs handled in our HNC fast track program is 24%.

Background Extranodal extension (ENE) in lymph node metastases is one of the most important prognostic factors in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Studies have shown inconsistency among pathologists in the assessment of ENE. The aims of this study were: (1) to determine the interrater and intrarater reliability and agreement in the assessment of ENE among Danish pathologists and (2) to test if a standardized assessment method may increase interrater agreement. Methods Four Danish head and neck pathologists assessed ENE presence or absence in 120 histological slides from lymph nodes with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma metastases (first round). Subsequently, guidelines were introduced to the pathologists and a new assessment was performed (second round). Finally, two of the pathologists assessed the slides to determine intrarater reliability and agreement (third round). Results Interrater kappa coefficients varied between 0.57 and 0.67 in the first round and between 0.59 and 0.72 in the second round. The intrarater agreement between round 2 and 3 was 0.88 for pathologist 1 and 0.92 for pathologist 2 with resulting kappa coefficients of 0.76 (95% CI 0.64-0.88) and 0.84 (95% CI 0.74-0.94), respectively. ConclusionWe found a moderate level of reliability and agreement among pathologists for ENE in lymph node metastases from oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas. The intrarater reliability and agreement was generally higher than interrater measures. Interrater agreement was slightly improved by standardized assessment.