Purpose COVID-19 displays a variety of clinical manifestations; in pauci-symptomatic patients olfactory (OD) and gustatory dysfunctions (GD) may represent the first or only symptom. This topic is currently arousing great interest, and a growing number of papers are being published. Aim of this study is to investigate the timing of recovery from OD and GD in a reallife population hospitalized for COVID-19. Methods We followed up by a phone interview the first 100 patients discharged a month earlier from three Italian nonintensive care wards. Results All 100 patients were Caucasian, mean age was 65 years, 60% were males. Forty-two patients (mean age 63 years) experienced subjective chemosensory dysfunctions (29 OD and 41 GD): the male/female ratio was 2:1; 83% reported a complete or near complete recovery at follow-up. The recovery rate was not significantly different between males and females. The mean duration of OD and GD was 18 and 16 days, respectively. The mean recovery time from OD or GD resulted significantly longer for females than for males (26 vs 14 days, P = 0.009). Among the 42 symptomatic, the mean age of males was significantly higher than that of females (66 vs 57 years, P = 0.04), while the opposite was observed in the 58 asymptomatic patients (60 vs 73 years, P = 0.0018). Conclusions Recovery from OD or GD was rapid, occurring within 4 weeks in most patients. Chemosensory dysfunctions in women was less frequent, but longer lasting. The value of our study is its focus on a population of hospitalized patients significantly older than those previously described, and the additional data on gender differences.

Purpose. COVID-19 displays a variety of clinical manifestations; in pauci-symptomatic patients olfactory (OD) and gustatory dysfunctions (GD) may represent the first or only symptom. To date, literature addressing these disorders is scarce. Aim of this study is to investigate the timing of recovery from OD and GD in a real-life COVID-19 population.Methods. We followed up by a phone interview the first 100 patients discharged a month earlier from three Italian non-intensive care wards.Results. All patients were Caucasian, mean age was 65 years, 60% were males. OD and GD were early symptoms reported by 29% and 41% of patients, respectively. Among the 42 symptomatic patients, the male/female ratio was 2:1; 83% reported an almost resolved dysfunction at follow-up. The recovery rate was not significantly different between males and females. The mean duration of OD and GD was 18 and 16 days, respectively. The mean recovery time from OD or GD resulted significantly longer for females than for males (26 vs 14 days, p=0.009). Among the 42 symptomatic, the mean age of males was significantly higher than that of females (66 vs 57 years, p=0.04), while the opposite was observed in the 58 asymptomatic patients (60 vs 73 years, p=0.0018).Conclusions. Recovery from OD or GD was rapid, occurring within 4 weeks in most patients. Chemosensory dysfunctions in women was less frequent, but longer lasting. The value of our study is its focus on a significantly older population than those previously described, and to add further data on gender differences.

Introduction: First bite syndrome refers to the development of pain in the parotid region after the first bite of each meal.Case report: A man was referred to our institution with first bite syndrome as his only symptom. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head and neck revealed a deep lobe parotid mass in close contact with the external carotid artery. Computed tomography guided fine needle biopsy indicated adenoid cystic carcinoma. Total parotidectomy was performed, with en bloc resection of the infiltrated external carotid artery and a selective neck dissection of levels Ib to III. High-weight ion radiotherapy was administered post-operatively.Conclusion: First bite syndrome has hitherto only been described following parapharyngeal space surgery. We present the first case of parotid gland adenoid cystic carcinoma presenting with first bite syndrome as the only symptom. The presence of first bite syndrome should prompt the clinician to investigate the parapharyngeal space and deep lobe of the parotid gland, especially in the absence of other signs or symptoms.

Objectives: Investigators hypothesized that cancer stem cells (CSCs) could play a role in determining cancer progression by metastasizing to cervical lymph node (N+) and then influencing prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) patients. Results: Immunohistochemical showed CD44 (93.1%) and CD133 (10.34%) expression; FACS-analysis showed the enrichment of CD44/CD133 cancer cells, with the highest clonogenic capacity of CD44+-subpopulation; a higher CD44 rates were documented from N+ subcultures than from original tumours (P < 0.05). Conclusions: A putative cancer stem-like cell population is detectable in HNSCCs, and our findings show their in vitro clonogenic capacity by demonstrating that CD44+-cultured cells are the main population proliferating obtained by N+ HNSCC metastases, emphasizing their possible role in tumour progression.Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma accounts approximately 500 000 new cases per year.