The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, toxicity and efficacy of postoperative radiochemotherapy with weekly cisplatin in locoregionally advanced or high risk head and neck cancer in a single institutional setting.Patients with head and neck cancer of stage III/IV or patients with insufficient margins of resection were included in the study. Radiotherapy consisted of 70 Gy/ 7 weeks/ 35 fraction after R1/2 resection and 60-64 Gy/ 6-6,5 weeks/ 30-32 fraction after R0 resection, respectively. All patients received concurrent cisplatin 40 mg/m 2 weekly. Between 7/2002 and 12/2008, 100 consecutive patients [WHO ≤ 2, male to female ratio 84/16, median age 54 years] were treated. Tumors of the oropharynx were the most frequent (49%) and stage IV was predominant (86%). 96% patients received the full radiation treatment as planned, median total tumor dose was 66 Gy. Omission of weekly cisplatin had been occurring frequently, the most frequent reason for its early cessation were hematological toxicities (34%). Grade 3/4 mucosal toxicity developed in 32%. No death was observed during the treatment. The late toxicities were acceptable, predominantly subcutaneous fibrosis and xerostomia in most of the cases. We recorded six cases of osteonecrosis. Two and half year overall survival, locoregional control, time to progression and disease free survival were 64%, 88%, 79% and 59%, respectively.Postoperative radiochemotherapy with weekly cisplatin is toxic, but tolerable and highly effective in terms of locoregional control and survival. Multivariete analysis revealed that the only prognostic factor for survival was primary surgery at the University centre.

The authors describe malignant degeneration of the epithelial component of a cystadenolymphoma (CAL) of the parotid gland in a 79-year-old man. This development of carcinoma in CAL is a very rare occurrence, with only eight cases described thus far in the literature.

No abstract

The biological relationship between different HPV-infected sites might be complex; however, the increased prevalence of HPV in oral samples of women positive for anogenital HPV indicates that such infections are unlikely to be independent of one another. Sexual activity likely affects the risk of concurrent anogenital and oral coinfections. However, it is also possible that one infection site provides a reservoir that can increase the risk of autoinoculation at anatomically distant locations or that coinfections develop as a result of other factors, such as immunodeficiency. Nevertheless, women with HPV-associated malignancy undoubtedly have a higher risk of developing OSCC.Key words: human papillomavirus - HPV - genital HPV infection - oral HPV infection - oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma - standardized incidence ratio - head and neck cancer This article was supported by by the project UNCE 204065 of Charles University. The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study. The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE recommendation for biomedical papers.Submitted: 26. 8. 2017Accepted: 4. 1. 2018.

<p>Surgery for Grave’s disease is one possible option for definitive treatment. Thyroidectomy is performed after achieving a euthyroid state. Pre-operative preparation of the hyperthyroid patient is essential to avoid peri- and post-operative serious complications due to thyrotoxicosis mainly thyrotoxic crisis and death. The mainstay of preparation is the administration of anti-thyroid drugs. Occasionally rapid pre-operative optimization is required for special reasons (intolerance or side effects to anti-thyroid drugs or an aggravated serious disease with thyrotoxicosis). Various regimens for this aim were suggested with protocols composing various combination iodine (as a Lugol’s solution, or iopanoic acid, or ipodat sodium), steroids, usually dexamethasone and beta blockers, alternatively other options are plasmapheresis, lithium and exchange ionic resin. The restoration of hyperthyroid Grave’s disease to euthyroidism in our patient was rapidly accomplished with iodine, dexamethasone and beta blockers (at seventh day without complications). We propose a possible treatment protocol for these cases.</p>

Background:The objective was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of curative radiotherapy in patients with sinonasal carcinoma and to identify prognostic factors influencing treatment outcomes. Materials and methods:The authors conducted a retrospective study of 61 consecutive patients treated with postoperative or definitive radiotherapy from 2002 to 2018 (median age 59 years, current/former smokers 71%, maxillary sinus 67%, nasal cavity 26%). The majority of patients were diagnosed with locally advanced disease (85% clinical stage ≥ III). Regional cervical metastases were initially diagnosed in 23% of patients. The most common histology was squamous cell carcinoma (61%). Radiation therapy was preceded by radical surgery in 64% of patients. 29 patients received chemotherapy (48%). Results:The median follow-up was 53 months. The median total dose of radiotherapy achieved was 70 Gy. The 5-and 10-year locoregional control, distant control, overall survival, and disease-free survival were 74% and 64%, 90% and 90%, 51% and 35%, and 38% and 25%, respectively. Severe acute toxicity occurred in 36%, severe late toxicity in 23% of patients. Severe unilateral visual impairment occurred in 6 patients, temporal lobe necrosis in 1 patient, and osteoradionecrosis requiring surgery in 2 patients. Conclusion:The results of the study demonstrated the high effectiveness of curative treatment in patients with sinonasal carcinoma with long-term locoregional and distant control. The multivariate analysis indicated that N-staging, age, comorbidity score [as assessed by Adult Comorbidity Evaluation 27 (ACE-27)] and initial response to treatment were the strongest prognostic factors.

No abstract