Faculty Bibliography

Carotid paragangliomas, commonly known as carotid body tumors, are the most commonly reported head and neck paragangliomas. They are slow growing and always associated with the carotid arteries and adjacent nerves. They are rarely malignant. The estimates for familial transmission of this tumor range from 30%-50%. When multiple paragangliomas are present, the most common combination is 2 carotid paragangliomas. There are no absolute indications for surgical resection, but tumors expressing biochemical activity, a growth rate >1-2 mm per year or demonstrating airway or alimentary tract compression should be resected. Patients younger than 50 years should have small-to-medium sized paragangliomas resected. Patients with significant comorbidities or a contralateral cranial nerve dysfunction should not have surgery. Large carotid paragangliomas involving the skull base would likely result in multiple lower cranial nerve dysfunction after resection requiring multispecialty care afterwards. When dealing with bilateral carotid paragangliomas, resection of the smaller tumor first is recommended. Simultaneous carotid paraganglioma excision is discouraged because of acute baroreceptor failure. The second carotid paraganglioma may be observed for growth or it may be radiated depending on symptoms, size, or growth. The role and indications for angiography and embolization are covered elsewhere in this issue. If a carotid paraganglioma is biochemically active, alpha-adrenergic blockade followed by beta blockade is recommended and should be commenced 10 days before surgery. The complications associated with carotid paraganglioma excision are lower cranial nerve palsies and cerebrovascular accidents, although these are quite uncommon for small-to-medium sized tumors. Meticulous surgery and control of the carotid arteries can decrease these morbidities dramatically. Recently, a "top down" or craniocaudal approach to these tumors has gained acceptance among many surgeons. This approach controls the cephalad internal carotid artery and external carotid artery and removes the tumor down to the bifurcation. This technique has decreased the incidence of cranial neuropathy and blood loss in these patients. Following treatment, the uncomplicated patient requires yearly follow-up consisting of physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging. The familial patient should be genetically tested for succinate dehydrogenase mutations. Depending on the type of mutation yearly imaging and evaluation of siblings, parents and children is strongly advised. As metachronous lesions are possible, this follow-up is a lifetime undertaking

Tympanic paragangliomas (TP) arise in the middle ear along the course of Jacobson's or Arnold's nerve. These lesions can vary from small masses on the cochlear promontory to tumors that extend into the mastoid and external auditory canal. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice for TP with very low-recurrence rates. The various surgical approaches for TP are adapted to the configuration of individual tumors to provide adequate exposure to the margins of the tumor in the mesotympanum, hypotympanum, and mastoid. Using these surgical approaches in combination with meticulous dissection and hemostasis with adjunctive tools such as laser and micro-bipolar instruments allows for safe and effective resection of these vascular tumors from within the confines of the tympanic cavity

OBJECTIVES: To examine innovative models and other research-based interventions that hold potential to assure high-quality care for the growing older adult population living with cancer as one of multiple chronic conditions. Evidence from these care delivery approaches provides a roadmap for the development of future care models. DATA SOURCES: Published peer-reviewed literature, policy analyses, and web-based resources. CONCLUSION: Available evidence suggests the need for models that engage patients and their family caregivers, focus on patient's functional capacities, emphasize palliative care, and maximize the contributions of all team members. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses are uniquely positioned to lead or play a major role in the evolution and implementation of care models targeting older adults with cancer, but must increase their knowledge and skills related to both oncology and geriatrics to maximize their contributions.

BACKGROUND: Recipient-site infection after oropharyngeal reconstruction is a potentially disastrous complication. Although studies suggest that perioperative antibiotics reduces infection rates in these patients from 87% to 20%, there is no consensus regarding what constitutes the most appropriate antibiotic regimen and duration of treatment. METHODS: A retrospective review of perioperative antibiotic administration was performed of all patients who underwent local, pedicled, or free flap oropharyngeal reconstruction after oncologic resection by a single surgeon at a single institution between 2007 and 2013 to assess for recipient-site complications. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients underwent 100 reconstructions (61 free flap reconstructions, 39 pedicled/local flap reconstructions) and all received a combination of intravenous (IV) antibiotic agents designed to cover oral flora. There were 23 (23%) recipient-site complications, which included cellulitis (9%), mucocutaneous fistula (5%), abscess (5%), and wound dehiscence (4%). Duration of antibiotic prophylaxis, defined as less than 48 hours (short-course) or greater than 48 hours (long-course), was not a significant predictor of recipient-site complication. Significant risk factors for recipient-site complications were clindamycin prophylaxis (P < 0.008), increased duration of surgery (P < 0.047), and advanced age (P < 0.034). Recipient-site complication was found to be a significant predictor of both increased length of hospital stay (P < 0.001) and increased time to the resumption of enteral feeds (P < 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that extended courses of perioperative antibiotics do not confer additional benefits in patients undergoing oropharyngeal reconstruction. We recommend a limited 48-hour course of prophylactic antibiotics with sufficient aerobic and anaerobic coverage to help minimize the incidence of antibiotic-related morbidities.

The frontal sinus is the most complex of all paranasal sinuses. Given its proximity to the cranial vault and orbit, frontal sinus pathology can progress to involve these structures and lead to significant morbidity, or even mortality. Surgical management of the frontal sinus is technically challenging. Various open and endoscopic surgical techniques are available to the otolaryngologist. This article presents an overview of the major disease entities that affect the frontal sinus, with a special emphasis on treatment principles and surgical management.

This review covers potential complications of frontal sinus surgical management and strategies for prevention of these complications. Accordingly, recent advances in frontal sinus surgical techniques are described, and the management of complications stemming both from these and traditional techniques are detailed.

In recent years oral mucosal injury has been increasingly recognized as an important toxicity associated with mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, including in patients with breast cancer who are receiving everolimus. This review addresses the state-of-the-science regarding mTOR inhibitor-associated stomatitis (mIAS), and delineates its clinical characteristics and management. Given the clinically impactful pain associated with mIAS, this review also specifically highlights new research focusing on the study of the molecular basis of pain. The incidence of mIAS varies widely (2-78%). As reported across multiple mTOR inhibitor clinical trials, grade 3/4 toxicity occurs in up to 9% of patients. Managing mTOR-associated oral lesions with topical oral, intralesional, and/or systemic steroids can be beneficial, in contrast to the lack of evidence supporting steroid treatment of oral mucositis caused by high-dose chemotherapy or radiation. However, steroid management is not uniformly efficacious in all patients receiving mTOR inhibitors. Furthermore, technology does not presently exist to permit clinicians to predict a priori which of their patients will develop these lesions. There thus remains a strategic need to define the pathobiology of mIAS, the molecular basis of pain, and risk prediction relative to development of the clinical lesion. This knowledge could lead to novel future interventions designed to more effectively prevent mIAS and improve pain management if clinically significant mIAS lesions develop.

BACKGROUND: Tenecteplase, a modified plasminogen activator with higher fibrin specificity and longer half-life, may have advantages over alteplase in acute ischemic stroke thrombolysis. AIMS: We undertook an individual patient data meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that compared alteplase with tenecteplase in acute stroke. METHODS: Eligible studies were identified by a MEDLINE search, and individual patient data were acquired. We compared clinical outcomes including modified Rankin Scale at three months, early neurological improvement at 24 h, intracerebral hemorrhage, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, and mortality at three months between all dose tiers of tenecteplase and alteplase. RESULTS: Three relevant studies (Haley et al., Parsons et al., and ATTEST) included 291 patients and investigated three doses of tenecteplase (0.1, 0.25, 0.4 mg/kg). There were no differences between any dose of tenecteplase and alteplase for either efficacy or safety end points. Tenecteplase 0.25 mg/kg had the greatest odds to achieve early neurological improvement (OR [95%CI] 3.3 [1.5, 7.2], p = 0.093), excellent functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0-1) at three months (OR [95%CI] 1.9 [0.8, 4.4], p = 0.28), with reduced odds of intracerebral hemorrhage (OR [95%CI] 0.6 [0.2, 1.8], P = 0.43) compared with alteplase. Only 19 patients were treated with tenecteplase 0.4 mg/kg, which showed increased odds of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage compared with alteplase (OR [95% CI] 6.2 [0.7, 56.3]). CONCLUSIONS: While no significant differences between tenecteplase and alteplase were found, point estimates suggest potentially greater efficacy of 0.25 and 0.1 mg/kg doses with no difference in symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, and potentially higher symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage risk with the 0.4 mg/kg dose. Further investigation of 0.25 mg/kg tenecteplase is warranted.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and also accuracy of the laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) referring diagnosis and to determine the most useful clinical tool in arriving at the final diagnosis in a tertiary laryngology practice. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with planned data collection. SETTING: Six tertiary academic laryngology practices. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We collected referring diagnosis and demographic information, including age, sex, ethnicity, referring physician, and whether or not patients had prior flexible laryngoscopy for 1077 patients presenting with laryngologic complaints from January 2010 and June 2013. Final diagnosis after the referred laryngologist's examination and the key diagnostic test used was then recorded. RESULTS: Of 1077 patients, 132 had a singular referring diagnosis of LPR. Only 47 of 132 patients (35.6%) had LPR confirmed on final primary diagnosis. Transnasal flexible laryngoscopy confirmed this in 27 of 47 (57.4%) patients. Eighty-five of 132 (64.4%) had a different final diagnosis than LPR. Sixty-five of 85 (76.5%) of these alternative pathologies were diagnosed with the aid of laryngeal stroboscopy. CONCLUSIONS: LPR appears to be an overused diagnosis for laryngologic complaints. For patients who have already had transnasal flexible laryngoscopic exams prior to their referral, laryngeal stroboscopy is the key diagnostic tool in arriving at the correct diagnosis.