Recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma represents an extremely challenging therapeutic situation. Given the vulnerability of the already pretreated neurological structures surrounding the nasopharynx, any potential salvage retreatment option bears a significant risk of severe complications that result in high treatment-related morbidity, quality of life deterioration, and even mortality. Yet, with careful patient selection, long-term survival may be achieved after local retreatment in a subgroup of patients with local or regional relapse of nasopharyngeal cancer. Early detection of the recurrence represents the key to therapeutic success, and in the case of early stage disease, several curative treatment options can be offered to the patient, albeit with minimal support in prospective clinical data. In this article, an up-to-date review of published evidence on modern surgical and radiation therapy treatment options is summarized, including currently recommended treatment modifications of both therapeutic approaches during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma is typical by regional lymph nodes metastases. Therefore we decided to analyse associated risk factors. Objective: In this retrospective study we focused on the incidence of metastatic involvement of the central compartment’s lymph nodes correlated with age, size of the primary tumour, infiltration of thyroid gland capsule, positive lymphangioinvasion in order to assess risk factors. Method: We analysed group of 156 patients with papillary carcinoma, who have undergone total thyroidectomy and bilateral elective central compartment neck dissection. We evaluated the occurrence of metastases, size, infiltration and lymphangioinvasion based on definitive histology of the whole group and separately for subgroups of patients under and over 45 years. Result: We found metastatic involvement in 88 (56.4%) patients. When comparing the subgroups of patients under (73 patients) and over 45 years (83 patients), we found metastases in 56 vs. 32 (76.7% vs. 38.6%) patients. In the subgroup of younger patients we found significant higher incidence of metastases compared with the group of over 45 years, P < 0.001 (P = 0.000027). We found significant higher incidence of metastases in patients with positive capsule infiltration in the whole group, P < 0.001 (P = 0.00049); in the subgroup of under 45 years, P < 0.001 (P = 0.00091) and in patients with positive lymphangioinvasion in the whole group, P < 0.01 (P = 0.00177); in the subgroup of over 45 years, P < 0.001 (P = 0.0002). In patients with metastases we found tumour size ≥1cm more frequently in all groups. Conclusion: We recorded higher incidence of regional metastases in patients under 45 years, positive capsule infiltration, lymphangioinvasion. Age under 45 years itself does not correlate with less aggressive disease, to the contrary some of other analysed risk factors correlate with more aggressive disease.

Background. Internal cell biology, including apoptotic regulation, is presumed to play a key role in the development of recurrent pleomorphic adenoma (PA). Aim. The aim of our study was to determine the relevance of B-cell lymphoma 2 (bcl-2) oncoprotein immunoexpression and distribution in primary PA, and its recurrence. Methods. Ten primary-non-recurrent, 14 primary-to-recur, and 28 recurrences of parotid PA patients aged 19-73 (mean 40.7±16.7) years were enrolled. The bcl-2 expression was compared between groups using a semi-quantitative histoscore, defined as the multiple of the percentage of cells by the intensity of immunostaining. Results. Widely varying bcl-2 immunoreaction was found in the epithelial areas of 91.7% of primary and 85.2% of recurrent PA. Similarly varying but much less, immunopositivity was found in the myxoid areas of 62.5% of primary and 71.4% of recurrent tumours. No obvious differences in the bcl-2 staining intensity or pattern of specific epithelial morphologic structures in either the primary-non-recurrent, primary-to-recur or recurrent tumours were found. In both the mesenchymal and epithelial areas of PA, the differences in bcl-2 immunohistoscore between the primary-nonrecurrent and primary-to-recur groups were not statistically significant (P=0.62, respectively 0.51). In the mesenchymal areas, the study revealed a significantly increased histoscore in recurrent tumours compared to their corresponding primaries (P=0.01). Increased bcl-2 expression in recurrent PA suggests an exaggerated aggressiveness of that tumor. Conclusion. The fact that a significant difference in the histoscore was found exclusively in the myxoid component seems to accord with the reported prevalence of the latter in recurrent and metastatic PA.

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We present a rare case of a 72-years old male with a big lesion coming out from his mouth suddenly. Examination showed a mucosal lesion seen outside of the mouth, saliva running outside, he was not able to swallow, it was hard to speak and breathe for him. At the time of arrival the patient was stable, later developed a distress and dyspnoe because of the part of tumor inside of his mouth was moving in and out on breathing and was obstructing his airway. This situation required an urgent tracheostomy to secure the patient’s airway. After tracheostomy we continued with endaural approach technique to remove the tumor, the origin of lesion was identified within the postcricoid area. Lesion was removed safely, sent to histology with no complication after. Results came back as a lipoma pedunculated. Literature search did not reveal any cases of limb lipoma presenting with a sudden hanging tumor causing airway compromise and dysphagia, all cases were diagnosed during routine examination. Our case has proven that hypopharyngoesophageal lipoma can present as an acute condition and we have to be able to save and manage patients like this.

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The authors present a case report of a 38-year-old female patient admitted at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery in Ružomberok with an 18-month history of vertigo, right-sided tinnitus, sensorineural hearing loss and facial nerve paresis. The patient was dia gnosed with an 8 mm temporal bone tumor, located in the area of the lateral posterior semicircular canal and vestibule, which was intraoperatively identified as an extremely rare aggressive low-grade adenocarcinoma of the endolymphatic sac. In the case report, the authors discuss the anatomy, dia gnosis, CT and MRI images, the chosen surgical procedure and the subsequent dispensarization of the patient as well as an overview of the relevant literature. Keywords papillary adenocarcinoma – Heff ner’s tumor – saccus endolymphaticus

Introduction: Temporal bone chondroblastoma is a rare, locally aggressive tumour originating from immature cartilage, which recurs to a high degree. Treatment is surgical. Radiotherapy is reserved for recurrence. We describe a case of a 15-year-old-boy choosing a conservative surgical approach with reconstruction of the posterior canal wall. This study aims to report a rare pediatric case. Methods: A literature review was performed to better understand temporal bone chondroblastomas, to describe their histopathological and radiological characteristics and to establish the optimal surgical and non-surgical treatments. The research of previous published data was done using PubMed with keywords mentioned below. Results: Authors present a case of a 15-year-old boy with hearing impairment and facial nerve palsy. Conservative surgery with reconstruction of the tympanic membrane and posterior wall of the external auditory canal, restoring the hearing has been performed. We did not administer any adjuvant therapies. No sign of recurrence was observed 1 year after primary surgery. Facial nerve function is normal, and hearing is satisfactory. Conclusion: Chondroblastomas account for less than 1% of primary bone tumours. Temporal bone chondroblastoma is rare, locally aggressive, with a high prevalence of recurrence. This study describes specific histopathological and radiological findings, the chosen surgical approach and follow-up to improve the management and the prognosis of patients affected with this particular clinical entity.