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Biomedical subjects

J Depondt

Publications and source records attributed to J Depondt.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Prognostic value of mandibular involvement in oral cavity cancers.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine, in a homogeneous population, the prognostic impact of mandibular involvement in oral cancers. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of 117 patients with T4 squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity treated by surgery and radiotherapy in the ENT Department of Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital. All patients had histologically confirmed mandibular involvement. Patients with partial involvement of the mandible underwent rim mandibulectomy (RM) and those with extensive invasion underwent segmental mandibulectomy (SM). METHODS: The local failure rate and the overall survival curves were calculated with respect to type of mandibulectomy. The causes of death were analysed. RESULTS: The surgery was conservative in 55 cases (47%) and segmental in 62 patients (53%). The degree of mandibular involvement did not influence the local failure rate (29% and 25% in the RM and SM groups, respectively). On the other hand, it strongly influenced vital outcome, as five-year survival was only 25.4% after segmental mandibulectomy, compared to 40% after rim mandibulectomy. The metastases and the second primary tumors were more frequent in the SM group. CONCLUSION: The degree of mandibular invasion influenced the survival rate of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity but this difference is not due to local failure.

Adult↗

[T3 and T4 cancer of the oral cavity, surgical treatment with oral tongue resection].

Amputation of the oral tongue is required to treat T3 and T4 bilateral tumors of the anterior two third of the tongue with or without extension to the floor of the mouth. This partial glossectomy was performed initially for 27 patients and as salvage therapy for 35 patients with recurrent diseases. The reconstruction required a flap in all cases, including 8 microvascular free flaps. Two months after surgery, two third of patients had a satisfactory swallowing hability. The functional results were worst for patients operated after radiotherapy. Actuarial survival rates were 37.5% and 22.1% at 3 and 5 years respectively. The survival rate of patients who had surgery as primary modality of treatment was significantly better as compared with those who had radiotherapy before surgery (p=0,018). This surgery offers a perfect control of tumors of the anterior floor and oral tongue and good rehabilitation provided by the conservation of the posterior tongue.

Adult↗

[Supraglottic laryngectomy with arytenoidectomy].

Relearning to swallow is frequently difficult after supraglottic laryngectomy requiring arytenoid cartilage resection. We propose a surgical procedure in which a local flap is used to close the pharyngeal defect without approximating the laryngeal remnants and the base of tongue. The procedure opens the median raphe and cuts the hyoid bone along the midline. The strap muscles, the perichondrium from the thyroid cartilage and thyroid lobe on the ispilateral side to the tumor are retracted laterally to be used to close the mucosal defect. Sixty-eight patients with T1-T3 carcinomas of the laryngeal margin with extension to an arytenoid in all cases and limited extension to the medial wall and/or anterior angle pyriform fossa in 33 underwent this surgical procedure. Only 5 patients had local recurrence and 8 a lymph node recurrence. Visceral metastases occurred in 21 patients (33%) and second primary tumors were diagnosed at the time of surgery or during follow-up in 19 patients (28%). Three and 5-year actuarial survival rates were 57 and 51%, respectively. Despite post operative radiotherapy, functional success was obtained in 50 patients (75%). This technique provided good tumor control and a high rate of satisfactory functional results in patients with tumors of lateral margin extended to one arytenoid.

Aged↗

[Diagnostic value of needle biopsy and frozen section histological examination in the surgery of primary parotid tumors].

The necessity of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in the diagnosis and treatment of parotid gland lesions is still controversial. We examined the accuracy of cytology and histology in a review of 128 parotid gland tumors who underwent surgery with FNAB, n = 102 and/or frozen section examination (FS), n = 94. The diagnostic sensibility and specificity for malignant or benign lesions was respectively 81.5% and 97.5% for FNAB and 75% and 100% for FS as compared with definite histology (110 tumors were benign and 18 malignant). Insufficient material for FNAB evaluation was found in 12 patients mainly with small tumors (p = 0.043) or with tumors located in the deep process of the parotid gland (p = 0.029). Surgery was inappropriate (superficial lobe resection for malignant tumor) because of 4 false negative FS diagnoses. FNAB offers valuable information in the diagnosis of nonsurgical lesions and permits to avoid FS if FNAB identify a benign lesion. FS remains mandatory if FNAB evaluation is not possible or suggests a neoplastic tumor.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Prognostic value of lymph node involvement in oral cancers: a study of 137 cases.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of lymph node involvement in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of 137 patients with T4 squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity treated by surgery and radiotherapy (84 N0, 23 N1, 16 N2,14 N3). Twenty-three patients in the N0 group had a history of surgery or radiotherapy. One hundred fourteen patients underwent limited or radical neck dissection unilaterally or bilaterally. METHODS: The histological charts were reviewed and correlated with preoperative lymph node clinical stage. The local failure rate and the overall survival curves were calculated with respect to clinical and histological stages. The causes of death were analyzed. RESULTS: No evidence of lymph node metastasis was found in 47.4% of cases (54 of 114 patients). Among the node-positive (N+) patients, 39 had rupture of the lymph node capsule (R+). In the N0 group, 27.8% of patients were N+. Regional control rates after surgery and radiotherapy were 95% at 1 year and 85.4% at 5 years. The local failure rates were 6% in N0, 8.7% in N1, 31.2% in N2, 51.7% in N3, 9% in node-negative (N-), and 29% in N+R+ patients. The overall survival rates at 3 and 5 years were, respectively, 44.7% and 34.8% in the N0 group, 37.7% and 37.7% (same rate at 3 and 5 years) in the N1 group, and 31.2% and 15.8% in the N2 group. None of the patients in the N3 group survived beyond 2 years. The overall survival rates at 5 years were 42.8% and 17.5% in the N- and N+ groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with locally advanced tumors (T4), clinical nodal status and histological nodal invasion were key prognostic factors. The presence of occult metastases in the N0 group justifies routine neck dissection.

Adult↗

[Prognostic influence of cutaneous involvement in malignant tumors of the oral cavity].

The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic influence of cutaneous involvement in T4 squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. The population was a homogeneous group of 137 patients. Cutaneous tumor localizations were observed in 20 of them. Surgery and radiotherapy were given in 103 cases and salvage surgery was performed in 34. Local control at 5 years was achieved in 68.5 % of the patients. Carcinologic failure rate was 55 % and 27.3 % in patients with and without cutaneous involvement respectively (p =0. 013). 5-year survivor rate was also correlated with cutaneous involvement: 10 % versus 32.2 % (p <0.0001).

Adult↗

[Retro-pharyngeal and pharyngeal-laryngeal lipomas].

Pharyngeal and laryngeal lipoma are uncommon mesenchymal tumors. This report discusses the clinical and pathological features of five cases and a review of the literature. Symptoms included dysphagia, throat discomfort and airway obstruction in three patients. These complaints occurred over several years. One patient had a recurrent fibrolipoma and had experienced several surgical procedures. Surgery is the treatment of choice including conservative procedures but for large tumors open surgical approaches rather than endoscopic techniques should be employed. Recurrent tumor may be a sign of incomplete excision but also of a well-differentiated liposarcoma.

Adult↗

Down-regulation of desmosomal molecules in oral and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas as a marker for tumour growth and distant metastasis.

Down-regulation of adhesion molecules has been observed in a number of squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and is considered to be associated with tumour invasiveness and lymph node metastasis. The present prospective investigation aimed at analyzing the expression patterns of desmosomal markers in oral and pharyngeal SCC and correlations that may exist between these patterns and tumour behaviour. Two constitutive desmosomal molecules, desmoplakin (Dp) and plakoglobin (Pg), were examined in 26 samples of primary carcinoma of the head and neck. The correlation between Dp and Pg expression was only moderate, reflecting functional differences between the two proteins. Whereas decreased Dp and Pg expression was closely associated with distant metastasis formation, reduced Pg expression was correlated to the development of large tumours. There were also variable relationships between the expression of these markers and lymph node invasion, histological differentiation, or survival of the patients. Biochemical analysis of cytoskeletal fractions confirmed the decrease in desmosomal proteins, particularly in tumours which later developed metastases. Down-regulation of Dp and Pg in oral and pharyngeal SCC may represent a reliable marker for extensive tumour growth and the risk of distant metastasis formation, Dp and Pg apparently having metastasis- and tumour-suppressor properties, respectively.

Adult↗

Cytokeratin alterations as diagnostic and prognostic markers of oral and pharyngeal carcinomas. A prospective study.

Cytokeratin (CK) alterations have been reported in carcinomas from different anatomical sites, and these have been associated with specific aspects of tumour behaviour. In order to assess the relationships between CK modifications and future tumour behaviour, we conducted the present prospective study on 26 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of oral and pharyngeal mucosae and corresponding controls. Cytokeratins were investigated using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunofluorescence techniques. All healthy tissues, oral lining and oropharyngeal mucosae, expressed the oesophageal type CKs, including CK 19. Other simple epithelial CKs (7, 8, 17 and 18) were not detected. In carcinomas originating from corresponding sites, expression of oesophageal CKs varied widely from one specimen to another, and simple epithelial keratins were often found. Statistical analysis indicated correlations between CK expression and the clinicopathological data of SCC patients. Small tumour size was strongly associated with the expression of CKs 10 and 19. Interestingly, an absence of lymph node involvement was significantly associated with CK 18 expression. Tumours giving rise to recurrences, metachronous tumours, and distant metastasis were significantly associated with an absence of CK 13. These results suggest that CKs 10, 19, 18 and 13 could be reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers in the assessment of oral and pharyngeal squamous carcinomas.

Adult↗

[Endoscopic surgical treatment of Zenker hypopharyngeal diverticuli. Apropos of 59 cases].

We report our experience with 59 cases of Zenker's diverticulum, all treated endoscopically from 1979 to 1998. The ages ranged from 59 to 98 years. There were contraindications for conventional surgery or deep general anesthesia for all the patients. The surgical technique of endoscopic treatment was performed under general anesthesia, using a specially designed endoscope for exposure. Scissors, and after 1990 CO2 LASER, were used to divide the posterior cricopharyngeal muscle fibers. There was no major complication. Our results are comparable with literature, 92% success, even though a small diverticulum may paradoxically remain. Besides, from our experience, it may be necessary to perform two sessions for diverticulum larger than 3 cm. This safe and efficient treatment can be recommended for patients of all ages with a contraindication for conventional surgery.

Aged↗

[Endoscopic treatment of a Zenker diverticulum. 50 cases].

OBJECTIVES: Endoscopy has been used for many years as an alternative to surgery for the treatment of Zenker's diverticulum. We report our experience in 50 cases. METHODS: From 1979 to 1995, we treated 50 cases of Zenker's diverticulum endoscopically. Patients' age ranged from 59 to 98 years. All patients had contraindications for conventional surgery or deep anesthesia. The surgical technique of endoscopic treatment is performed under general anesthesia using a specially designed endoscope for exposure. Scissors, then after 1990, CO2 LASER, was used to divide the posterior crico-pharyngeal muscle fibers. RESULTS: There were no major complications. Our results, 95% success, were comparable with those reported in the literature even though, paradoxically, a small diverticulum may remain. Our experience also showed that it may be necessary to perform two sessions for diverticula larger than 3 cm. CONCLUSION: This safe and efficient treatment can be recommended for patients of all ages with a contraindication for conventional surgery.

Aged↗

[Total glossectomy with laryngectomy].

Because local control of locally advanced cancer of base of tongue and larynx managed with combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy is poor, we proposed total glossectomy with total laryngectomy. Twenty-one patients underwent this operation over a period of 8 years. It was a salvage surgery for 15 patients, and an up-front surgery for the 6 others. Postoperative complications occurred in ten patients, and three patients died in the postoperative period. Mean total duration of hospitalisation was 40 days. Oral feeding could be achieved in 14 patients (mean delay: 46 days), but satisfactory oesophageal voice has never been obtained. We can conclude from the analysis of this series that total glossectomy with total laryngectomy is a heavy surgery, which leads to frequent complications, severe functional sequellae, and poor survival. However, control of pain can be obtained, that justifying this heavy procedure. We recommend that patients and relatives should be fully informed about the consequences of surgery before final decision.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Laryngectomized patients' education and follow-up.

Functional and aesthetic problems due to mutilating surgical excisions and adjuvant radiotherapy prolonging the therapeutic period and increasing consequences, are common to all cervicofacial tumors. Laryngectomy is the most representative example, because it affects the aero-digestive tract, the site of major functions; breathing, phonation and swallowing. It necessitates excellent information to the patient post-operatively, and then adapted rehabilitation requiring the learning of oesophageal speech. A close follow-up is required to track loco-regional relapses, secondary neoplastic sites and metastases, cessation of alcohol and tobacco use, and to provide family, social and professional rehabilitation. There are often problems to manage with socio-culturally disadvantaged classes, and physically and psychologically fragile patients, whose hope of surviving is, in general, mediocre.

Aftercare↗

[Lymphoepithelial hyperplasia of the parotid gland and HIV infection].

A retrospective review of 10 patients with parotid enlargement is presented. Nine patients were known to be antibody positive for the HIV and one was subsequently tested to be positive. Parotid enlargement was nodular in 9 patients, bilateral in 7, unilateral in 2. One patient had a diffuse enlargement with xerostomia and xerophtalmy. Histological results confirmed begnin lymphoepithelial lesion in all patients. Pathogenesis, diagnostic, pronostic and therapeutic problems are discussed in a literature review.

Adult↗

[Malignant tumors of the petrous bone. Apropos of 25 cases].

Twenty five cases of malignant tumors of the petrous bone are presented. Prognosis depends on the histology and on the local invasion which dictate the possibility of curative surgery. Squamous cell carcinoma of the middle ear and other invasive tumors have a bad prognosis, and in spite of the progress of modern image technology, the peripetrous extension of the tumors are often underestimated. Actuarial two years survival for squamous cell carcinoma was 38%. Total excision needs at least a subtotal petrous resection with, in some cases meningal and internal carotid resection. In all cases, surgery was followed by radiation. Low grade malignant tumors had a better prognosis and required a more limited resection. In these cases, when necessary, facial nerve can be repaired by a cable graft at the time of initial surgery.

Adolescent↗

[Cancer of the tongue in women. A propos of 40 cases].

Forty women, average age of 54, have been treated in first intention or after the failure of a previous treatment, for a squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. Eighteen (45%) had no risk factors and 9 were under forty years of age. The oral tongue was the most frequent localisation in the group of patient without risk factors. Nineteen local failures were observed. Actuarial three-years survival was 36%. We believe that the poor prognosis of female tongue squamous carcinoma requires aggressive treatment with combined surgery and brachytherapy on the primary lesion and prophylactic neck dissection even in patients without palpable cervical nodes.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin/5-fluorouracil in head and neck cancer.

In a prospective, randomized, multicenter study, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT) with carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) followed by locoregional treatment (LRT) was compared with locoregional treatment alone in the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer. This study, which includes 324 patients, was conducted from January 1988 to July 1991. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the carboplatin/5-FU regimen both on the incidence of mutilating surgery and on the survival rate. Chemotherapy consisted of three cycles of carboplatin 400 mg/m2 day 1 and 5-FU 1 g/m2 days 1-5, repeated every 3 weeks. Patients with a complete tumor response then received radiotherapy alone, instead of the treatment planned initially. Three hundred patients were analyzed: 79 had tumors of the oral cavity, 106 oropharyngeal tumors, and 115 pharyngolaryngeal tumors. One hundred fifty patients underwent CT+LRT; 150 patients had LRT alone. Grade 3 and 4 toxicity rates were minimal in the CT+LRT group; toxicity was mainly hematologic (24% neutropenia, 19% thrombocytopenia). There were 3 toxic deaths (2%), 2 due to septicemia and 1 due to cardiac toxicity. One hundred forty-three patients were evaluable for efficacy. The tumor objective response rate was 63% and complete response rate was 31% (35% for oropharyngeal, 34% for pharyngolaryngeal tumors, 22.5% for oral cavity tumors), which led to a 29% decrease in the rate of mutilating surgery. Conservative treatment was performed in 57% of patients in the CT+LRT group vs. 24% in the LRT group (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between survival curves in the CT+LRT and LRT groups. At 4 years, overall survival rates were 56 and 46%; disease-free survival rates were 33 and 30% in the CT+LRT and the LRT groups, respectively. The survival rates were not significantly different in the two groups. The locoregional recurrence rates were 35% in the CT+LRT arm and 25% in the LRT arm (p = 0.04), with median follow-up of 25 months. The rates of secondary localization and distant metastasis were not significantly different in the two groups.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗