Elevated NLR predicts worse outcomes in patients with HNSCC.

Elevated platelet count and PLR are associated with poor prognosis in patients with HNSCC.

Objectives Epistaxis, especially posterior epistaxis, is occasionally refractory to treatment. In these cases, sphenopalatine artery surgeries, including cauterization and ligation, are required. Previous reports have demonstrated treatment results for these procedures but failed to provide high‐level evidence. The aim of this study was to quantify the rates of failure and perioperative complications of these procedures by using a meta‐analysis technique. Methods We systematically searched electronic databases and identified articles regarding epistaxis, sphenopalatine artery ligation, or cauterization. Pooled rebleeding and complication rates were calculated by using a random effects model. Results A total of 896 cases of sphenopalatine ligation or cauterization for epistaxis were analyzed. Pooled rebleeding rates for the entire cohort, cauterization group, and ligation group were 13.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.0–17.8, P < 0.001), 7.2% (95% CI 4.6–11.0, P < 0.001), and 15.1% (95% CI 9.8–22.5, P < 0.001), respectively. Pooled perioperative complication rates for the entire cohort, cauterization group, and ligation group were 8.7% (95% CI 4.9–15.1, P < 0.001), 10.2% (95% CI 3.8–24.5, P < 0.001), and 6.4% (95% CI 1.8–20.9, P < 0.001), respectively. Conclusion Overall, sphenopalatine surgery for refractory epistaxis is an effective method because of its low rates of failure and complications. Cauterization is more effective than ligation, whereas complications are comparable between the two procedures.Laryngoscope, 129:1731–1736, 2019

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BackgroundInflammatory markers are used to predict prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Previous reports of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and NPC mortality are inconsistent. This study aimed to quantify the prognostic impact of NLR on NPC.MethodsThe primary outcome was overall survival (OS), and the secondary outcomes were disease-specific survival (DSS), progression-free survival (PFS) and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). We systematically searched electronic databases, identified articles reporting an association between NLR and NPC prognosis. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted, and pooled HRs for each outcome were estimated using random effect models.ResultsNine studies enrolling 5397 patients were included in the analyses. NLR greater than the cutoff value was associated with poor overall survival (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.27–1.78), disease-specific survival (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.22–1.71), progression-free survival (HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.22–1.90), and distant metastasis-free survival (HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.14–2.95).ConclusionsElevated NLR predicts worse OS, DSS, PFS and DMFS in patients with NPC.