Faculty Bibliography

PURPOSE: Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography scans are becoming standard of care in the evaluation of Hodgkin disease (HD). The frequency of false positive (FP) PET scans in pediatric HD after completion of therapy has not been well studied. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All PET scan reports on pediatric HD patients at our institution between February 2000 and February 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. Scans were considered positive if the interpretation was most consistent with malignancy. FP results were determined by pathologic evaluation, resolution on scan, or absence of disease progression over at least 1 year without intervention. RESULTS: We reviewed 255 PET scans on 47 patients, including 156 posttherapy scans on 34 patients. Positive predictive value for scans obtained during routine follow-up was 11%, with an FP rate of 16%. Identifiable etiologies of FP scans included: fibrosis, progressive transformation of germinal centers, abdominal wall hernia, appendicitis, thymus and HIV associated lymphadenopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Routine PET scans after completion of therapy in pediatric HD patients have a low positive predictive value and a high FP rate. Prospective studies are needed to reduce the ambiguity of positive results. In the interim, positive PET scans after treatment should be interpreted cautiously and therapeutic decisions should not be made without histologic confirmation.

Smokeless tobacco and areca nut are popular with South Asians and South Asian immigrants, most commonly used as paan and gutka. Their regular use leads to oral cancer. The South Asian community in the U.S. is rapidly growing, where paan and gutka are readily available. The study was the first exploration of the migration of the paan and gutka habits, and their use in the U.S.A 108-item questionnaire on paan and gutka usage and beliefs was administered to 138 first-generation Bangladeshi and Indian-Gujarati immigrant adults at community sites in the New York metropolitan area. Forty-five percent Indian-Gujaratis reported ever-regular paan use; of which 5% are current users. Thirty-one percent reported ever-regular gutka use; of which 77% are current users. Thirty-five percent Bangladeshis reported ever-regular paan use; of which 70% arc current users. Nine percent reported ever-regular gutka use; of which 67% are current users. Bangladeshis are more likely to identify paan as causing oral cancer. Indian-Gujaratis are more likely to identify gutka as causing oral cancer.Between the two communities, there were significant differences in paan and gutfca usage, migration effects, and oral career risk perception. There is a need for comprehensive migration studies on the determinants of usage, and for community-specific interventions for these carcinogenic products.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe the utility of oral chemiluminescent lighting (FDA-cleared ViziLite) as an adjunct to standard visual examination (SVE) to enhance visualization of mucosal lesions, particularly those "clinically suspicious" for oral pre-cancer or cancer. Subjects were considered at risk for oral cancer or pre-cancer if they have no a priori knowledge of the presence or absence of an oral lesion at the time of examination. METHODOLOGY: Five-hundred and one consecutive consenting subjects, over 40 years of age and with a positive tobacco history, received a standard visual examination with conventional incandescent lighting, followed by chemiluminescent lighting. All lesions were recorded, and for lesions detected by both screening modalities, comparisons were made of the subjective parameters of lesion brightness, sharpness, surface texture, and relative size. RESULTS: A total of 410 epithelial lesions were detected in 270 subjects by standard visual examination, of which 127 were clinically "suspicious" for oral cancer and pre-cancer. Ninety-eight lesions were also visualized by chemiluminescent lighting as "aceto-white" (CL+), in addition to six lesions not previously seen by standard visual examination. Seventy-seven of the CL+ lesions (78.5%) were clinically suspicious; all "suspicious" lesions with an ulcerative component and ulcerated lesions consistent with trauma were CL+. Leukoplakias were significantly more likely to be CL+ than erythroplakias (p < 0.01). Overall, those lesions illuminated by chemiluminescent lighting appeared brighter, sharper, and smaller compared to incandescent illumination. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that oral chemiluminescent lighting, when used as a screening adjunct following the standard visual oral examination, provides additional visual information. Leukoplakias may be more readily visualized by chemiluminescence. Studies are underway to explore the clinical significance and predictive value of oral chemiluminescent lighting.

OBJECTIVES: To review the available scientific literature on cancer care in nursing homes and recommendations for clinical practice and further research are offered. DATA SOURCES: Research studies and review articles. CONCLUSION: Overlooked issues for older adults with cancer in nursing homes include screening, treatment, and symptom management. Cancer care and survivorship in nursing homes receives little direct attention. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Oncology nurses can improve cancer care and survivorship in nursing homes by considering nursing homes as a practice venue.

BACKGROUND: Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) is usually the first-line intervention for obstructive sleep apnea, but up to 50% of patients are unable to tolerate therapy because of discomfort-usually nasal complaints. No factors have been definitively correlated with nCPAP tolerance, although nasal cross-sectional area has been correlated with the level of CPAP pressure, and nasal surgery improves nCPAP compliance. This study examined the relationship between nasal cross-sectional area and nCPAP tolerance. METHODS: We performed acoustic rhinometry on 34 obstructive sleep apnea patients at the time of the initial sleep study. Patients titrated to nCPAP were interviewed 18 months after starting therapy to determine CPAP tolerance. Demographic, polysomnographic, and nasal cross-sectional area data were compared between CPAP-tolerant and -intolerant patients. RESULTS: Between 13 tolerant and 12 intolerant patients, there were no significant differences in age, gender, body mass index, CPAP level, respiratory disturbance index, or subjective nasal obstruction. Cross-sectional area at the inferior turbinate differed significantly between the two groups (p = 0.03). This remained significant after multivariate analysis for possibly confounding variables. A cross-sectional area cutoff of 0.6 cm2 at the head of the inferior turbinate carried a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 77% for CPAP intolerance in this patient group. CONCLUSION: Nasal airway obstruction correlated with CPAP tolerance, supporting an important role for the nose in CPAP, and providing a physiological basis for improved CPAP compliance after nasal surgery. Objective nasal evaluation, but not the subjective report of nasal obstruction, may be helpful in the management of these patients

PURPOSE: Since its description in the 1970s, the radial forearm free flap has earned a clearly defined role in the armamentarium of reconstructive head and neck surgery. Three decades later, the donor site remains an intrinsic drawback primarily due to its esthetic impact, although functional morbidity is significant in a minority. These points do not outweigh significant advantages but are occasionally reasons for the choice of alternative flaps. Modifications evolved in an effort to improve these undesirable features include primary closure, rotation-advancement, proximal paddle placement, full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) and suprafascial dissection. We describe a novel technique of engineering a composite graft of cadaveric acellular dermal matrix and autologous split-thickness skin graft (STSG) for a better donor-site closure. METHODS: From December 1995 to August 2003, 23 patients underwent radial forearm reconstruction of head and neck defects. Control patients (Group I; n = 5) had donor sites closed by conventional STSG technique (0.014-0.016 inch). In 18 patients (Group II), the donor site was closed with a composite technique (dermal allograft, 0.020-0.030 inch, and an ultrathin STSG, 0.0080 inch). Both groups of patients were retrospectively studied for comparative defects. Contralateral upper extremities also served as controls. All patients underwent a standardized functional examination of the donor and contralateral extremities, as well as an outcome questionnaire. All extremities were photographed for visual comparison by the author. RESULTS: Three of the 5 group I patients were available for follow-up, which averaged 64 months (60-72 months). Thirty-three percent had a decrease in functional parameters and 67% complained of paresthesia. Patient satisfaction was 3.5/5. Six of the 18 patients were excluded from Group II due to insufficient follow-up or inability to follow. Follow-up averaged 8 months (1-24 months). Functional parameters in all patients were comparable to the contralateral extremity, except in 1 patient. In this case, a 0.030-inch allograft was used which never revascularized, inhibiting wrist motion. Other patients exhibited excellent range of motion of the wrist and fingers. This was the only patient in this group that exhibited paresthesia of the donor site. Patient satisfaction was 4.6/5. Esthetic results were extremely gratifying as judged by the author. Esthetic results were better than those observed in Group I. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Composite grafting with acellular dermal matrix and STSG provides a comparable (trending to superior) result with traditional STSG for the treatment of radial forearm graft donor sites. Even if functionally equivalent, it is esthetically superior and therefore a technique warranting further investigation

Division of the lower lateral cartilages in rhinoplasty has long been maligned for producing unnatural results. However, recognition of medial, intermediate, or lateral crural discrepancies allows for their division and overlay. By identifying variant nasal anatomy and understanding the anticipated postsurgical dynamics, the rhinoplasty surgeon will be able to produce consistent, natural outcomes

The current study retrospectively reviewed the cases of 68 patients who had undergone total laryngectomy and tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) over a 16-year period. Fifty-one patients underwent primary TEP and 17 underwent secondary TEP. Nearly 80% of patients who received TEP at the time of laryngectomy achieved excellent voice quality perceptually. In contrast, only 50% of secondary TEP patients achieved excellent voice ratings. This difference was statistically robust (p = 0.03). Although both surgical and prosthesis-related complications occurred more frequently following primary TEP, statistically significant differences were not achieved. Neither pre- nor postoperative radiotherapy had any effect on voice restoration or complication rates. Based on these data, primary TEP may be preferable for several reasons, including a greater likelihood of successful voice restoration, a shorter duration of postoperative aphonia, and the elimination of the need for a second operation and interim tube feedings

Iatrogenic injury to the internal carotid artery (ICA) is a rare complication of pharyngeal surgery that most commonly occurs in children with an anomalous course to the internal carotid artery. Most aberrant arteries are asymptomatic. They can remain undiscovered preoperatively or be found incidentally on radiographic studies completed for an unrelated reason. Evaluation of definitive internal carotid artery injuries is well documented in the trauma literature. We present a case of a suspected intraoperative injury to the internal carotid artery during routine pharyngeal surgery. Ultimately no injury was found, however, aberrant internal carotid arteries were coincidentally discovered