Objectives The objective was to review the clinicopathologic features of carotid blowout syndrome (CBS) in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) and present a management algorithm. Methods We reviewed all HNC patients with a diagnosis of CBS seen at our tertiary cancer hospital from 1994 to 2009 and performed a retrospective review of all English-language studies documenting CBS cases within the past 15 years. Results Eight patients with HNC developed CBS at our institution, and another 132 HNC patients were presented in 21 studies. Patients with CBS typically have a history of radiotherapy (89%), nodal metastasis (69%), and neck dissection (63%). This disease usually occurs proximal to the carotid bifurcation and is commonly associated with soft tissue necrosis in the neck (55%) and mucocutaneous fistulas (40%). Half of CBS patients present with sentinel bleeding, but 60% of patients will develop a life-threatening hemorrhage requiring emergent intervention. Over 90% of patients with CBS were treated with endovascular therapy, and surgical ligation was rarely indicated. The morbidity and mortality rates of patients with CBS are significant; only 23% have survived without evidence of disease. Conclusions Carotid blowout syndrome is uncommon and can be rapidly fatal without prompt diagnosis and intervention. Although endovascular treatment within the carotid system can have a significant risk of mortality and neurologic morbidity, it has become the treatment of choice for CBS.

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Background: Recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (rHNSCC) represents a significant global health burden with an unmet medical need. In this study we determined the safety and efficacy of RM-1929 photoimmunotherapy in patients with heavily pretreated rHNSCC.

6014 Background: Patients with rHNSCC who have failed standard of care have poor prognoses and limited therapeutic options. In this study, final results are reported of a phase 2a trial of photoimmunotherapy (PIT) with a targeted drug RM-1929, consisting of the EGFR-directed antibody cetuximab conjugated to a photoactivatable dye (IRDye 700DX). Binding of the antibody-dye conjugate to cancer cells followed by photoactivation with nonthermal red light induces selective and rapid necrosis of the cancer cells, with minimal damage to surrounding tissue. Methods: A phase 2a, multicenter, open-label, study of RM-1929 PIT in patients with locoregional, rHNSCC who could not be satisfactorily treated with surgery, radiation, or platinum chemotherapy was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the drug, RM-1929. For each treatment, nonthermal red light (690 nm) was applied to the tumors 24 hours post IV infusion of the drug. Surface illumination was administered for superficial tumors and interstitial illumination via intratumoral placement of fiber optic diffusers for deep tumors. Therapeutic response was assessed using CT RECIST 1.1 by an independent blinded radiologist. Results: Thirty rHNSCC patients were enrolled. There were no dose-limiting toxicities and one Grade 1 photosensitivity reaction. Most reported AEs were mild to moderate in severity with 96.7% (29/30) of patients with Grade 1 and 83.3% (25/30) with Grade 2, respectively. There were 13 (43.3%) patients who had at least one SAE. 86% (19/22) of SAEs were deemed unlikely related to treatment, including all 3 fatal SAEs. Three SAEs were reported to be possibly/probably related to treatment (site/oral pain, tumor hemorrhage, and airway obstruction). ORR was 50% (15/30) with 16.7% (5/30) CR and 86.7% (26/30) DCR. Median PFS and OS results will be forthcoming. Conclusions: These data indicate that RM-1929 PIT treatment was generally well tolerated with majority of AEs as mild to moderate in severity. Preliminary data showed favorable response rates in a heavily pre-treated population. A global phase 3 clinical trial is currently underway. Clinical trial information: NCT02422979.

No statistically significant benefit is found for use of preincisional bupivacaine in tonsillectomy.