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Experience of the Curie Institute in treatment of cancer of the mobile tongue: II. Management of the neck nodes.

Treatment of neck nodes of 602 patients with cancer of the mobile tongue was mainly surgical. Three-hundred-eighty-three (64%) were clinically N0, and 244 had elective neck dissection. Thirty-four percent (84/244) had occult metastasis. Thirteen percent (33/244) had major nodal involvement (greater than 3N + and/or extracapsular spread) and received postoperative radiotherapy. Twenty-one percent (7/33) recurred in the neck. Thirty-six percent (12/33) were alive, NED, at five years. Sixty-six percent (160/244) were N-, and 21% (51/244) had minimal nodal disease (less than or equal to 3N+) and did not receive postoperative radiotherapy; recurrence in neck was similar (7% and 14%) as well as the five-year survival (54% and 51%). Twenty-one patients had preoperative radiotherapy to the neck. Only one (5%) experienced recurrence of disease. Fifty had radiotherapy only. Seven (14%) failed in the neck. There were 219 patients who had clinically positive nodes and 120 who had radical neck dissection. One-hundred-one of these patients did not receive preoperative radiotherapy. Sixty-three percent (64/101) had nodal metastasis, and 27% (27/101) had major nodal involvement. In this group of patients, for the same degree of nodal involvement, postoperative recurrences in neck and the survival were similar to that of patients with clinically N0 neck, except for those with major nodal involvement. This latter group had a dismal five-year survival (12%). Nineteen had preoperative radiotherapy, and three (16%) had recurrence of disease in the neck. At present, patients with clinically N0 neck and small primary (less than or equal to 3 cm), who are therefore at low risk of failure at primary, receive brachytherapy and conservative neck dissection. Postoperative radiotherapy is given if major nodal metastasis exists. Those with larger primary (high risk of failure) receive neck irradiation only, since many will require combined resection at a later date. All patients with clinically positive nodes are treated preoperatively with 5500 rads before neck dissection.

Brachytherapy↗

Femoral anteversion, femoral offset, and abductor lever arm after total hip arthroplasty using a modular femoral neck system.

We studied the effectiveness of a modular femoral neck system for the adjustment of femoral anteversion, femoral offset, and abductor lever arm during total hip arthroplasty (THA) using computed tomography data, and comparing findings in patients with a modular neck femoral component (116 hips) with those in patients with a cemented femoral component (23 hips). In the modular neck group, we intraoperatively evaluated various impingements using trial necks and heads, and selected the appropriate combination of modular neck and head from two types of straight neck, four types of anteverted/retroverted neck, two types of medialized/lateralized neck, and two types of varus/valgus neck. In the cement group, femoral anteversion was not changed using undersized stems, and an appropriate modular head was selected. While the 15 degree retroverted necks effectively corrected femora with a mean anteversion of 40.0 degree (range 28.8 degree-53.1 degree), the 15 degree anteverted necks were effective for femora with a mean anteversion of 14.2 degree (range, 3.3 degree-21.9 degree). Use of the straight or varus necks resulted in an average abductor lever arm value of more than 40 mm, with a mean anteversion of 26.4 degree. In patients with preoperative anteversion of more than 30 degree, postoperative anteversion was significantly smaller in the modular neck group than in the cement group (29.6 +/- 4.2 degree vs. 35.3 +/- 3.6 degree). This modular neck system effectively adjusted femoral anteversion and abductor lever arm in femora with various preoperative anteversion values.

Adult↗

Predictive factors for neck and shoulder pain: a longitudinal study in young adults.

STUDY DESIGN: A longitudinal study. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence and incidence of neck and shoulder pain in young adults and to identify the associated and predictive factors of neck and shoulder pain based on 7-year follow-up. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Several work-related, psychosocial, and sociodemographic factors have been verified as being related to neck and shoulder pain in adult populations, but far fewer longitudinal studies concerning the topic have been carried out in young populations. METHODS: A random sample of 826 high school students was investigated when they were 15 to 18 years old and again at 22 to 25 years of age. Altogether, 394 (48%) patients participated in both surveys. The outcome variable was weekly neck and shoulder pain during the past 6 months in adulthood, and the explanatory variables included some sociodemographic factors, leisure time activities, self-assessed physical condition, psychosomatic stress symptoms, and symptoms of fatigue and sleep difficulties. RESULTS: In 7 years, the prevalence of weekly neck and shoulder pain increased from 17% to 28%. Among those who were asymptomatic at baseline, 6-month incidence of occasional or weekly neck and shoulder pain was 59% 7 years later. In an adjusted model, psychosomatic symptoms remained an associated factor for prevalent neck and shoulder pain 7 years later for both females and males. In females, neck and shoulder pain in adolescence was associated with prevalent neck and shoulder pain in adulthood, and sports loading dynamically in the upper extremities was an associated factor for a low prevalence of neck and shoulder pain 7 years later. In separate analyses of incident neck and shoulder pain, psychosomatic stress symptoms predicted neck and shoulder pain in adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: In young adults, the incidence of neck and shoulder pain is high, and the associated factors of neck and shoulder pain are already multifactorial in a young population.

Adolescent↗

Chronic neck pain. An epidemiological, psychological and SPECT study with emphasis on whiplash-associated disorders.

Chronic neck pain, a common cause of disability, seems to be the result of several interacting mechanisms. In addition to degenerative and inflammatory changes and trauma, psychological and psychosocial factors are also involved. One common type of trauma associated with chronic neck pain is whiplash injury; this sometimes results in whiplash-associated disorder (WAD), a controversial condition with largely unknown pathogenetic mechanisms. We studied the prevalence of chronic neck pain of traumatic and non-traumatic origin and compared the prevalence of, sociodemographic data, self-perceived health, workload and chronic low-back pain in these groups. In a ready-made questionnaire (MONICA study), we added questions about cervical spine and low-back complaints. 6,000 (72%) completed a self-administered questionnaire. 43% reported neck pain: 48% of women and 38% of men. Women of working age had more neck pain than retired women, a phenomenon not seen in men. 19% of the studied population suffered from chronic neck pain and it was more frequent in women. A history of neck trauma was common in those with chronic neck pain. Those with a history of neck trauma perceived their health worse and were more often on sick-leave. About 50% of those with traumatic and non-traumatic chronic neck pain also had chronic low-back pain. We assessed the subjective and objective neuropsychological functioning in 42 patients with chronic neck pain, 21 with a whiplash trauma, and 21 without previous neck trauma. Despite cognitive complaints, the WAD patients had normal neuropsychological functioning, but the WAD group especially had deviant MMPI results-indicating impaired coping ability and somatization. WAD patients had no alterations in cerebral blood-flow pattern, as measured by rCBF-SPECT and SPM analysis, compared to healthy controls. This contrasts with the non-traumatic group with chronic neck pain, which showed marked blood-flow changes. The blood-flow changes in the non-traumatic group were similar to those described earlier in pain patients but--remarkably enough--were different from those in the WAD group. Chronic neck pain of whiplash and non-traumatic origin appears to be unique in some respects. A better understanding of the underlying pathological mechanisms is a prerequisite for prevention of the development of such chronic pain syndromes and for improvement of the treatment of patients with severe symptoms.

Adult↗

The impact of patterns of nodal metastasis on modifications of neck dissection.

BACKGROUND: Radical neck dissection (RND) is standard treatment for cervical metastasis from head and neck cancer. Although effective, RND produces significant morbidity. In an effort to reduce this morbidity, modifications of RND have been developed. These modifications can be comprehensive yet spare some or all of the nonlymphatic structures removed in RND, or they can remove less than all the lymph node groups removed in RND and are termed selective neck dissections. We have reviewed the literature regarding the patterns of nodal metastasis from head and neck cancer to define the indications for these modifications of RND. METHODS: A review of the literature concerning patterns of nodal metastasis from head and neck cancer was performed. Using this information, recommendations on the use of modifications of neck dissection were formulated. RESULTS: In squamous cancers, with clinically negative neck supraomohyoid neck dissection is an adequate node sampling procedure for oral cavity and oropharyngeal lesions, and lateral (jugular) neck dissection for primary lesions of the hypopharynx, and larynx. In the clinically positive neck comprehensive neck dissection with preservation of the spinal accessory nerve is oncologically sound. CONCLUSIONS: Nodal metastasis of head and neck cancer occurs in predictable patterns. Based on these patterns of nodal metastasis, recommendations for the use of modifications of neck dissection are presented.

Head and Neck Neoplasms↗

Results of salvage treatment of the neck in patients with oral cancer.

BACKGROUND: About 50% of the patients with neck recurrences after the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma are not considered candidates for further treatment, and reported survival is generally poor. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic importance of neck recurrences and results of salvage treatment in patients with oral carcinoma. PATIENTS: Five hundred thirteen patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity underwent surgical treatment, with follow-up from less than 2 to 119 months (mean, 16.9 months). SETTING: Referral center, private or institutional practice, and ambulatory and hospital care center. INTERVENTION: Four hundred forty-eight patients underwent neck dissection, and 65, resection of the primary tumor only. Postoperative radiotherapy was used for 228. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of neck recurrences and survival after salvage treatment. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients (16.0%) had neck recurrences, including ipsilateral in 44, contralateral in 31, and bilateral in 7. Most neck recurrences (77 [94%]) were diagnosed within 2 years. Salvage treatment was attempted in 51 patients (62%). Of the patients with a previously untreated side of the neck, 27 underwent radical neck dissections (11 ipsilateral and 16 contralateral) and only 5 remained with no evidence of disease. The significant factors associated with survival after neck recurrence were type of previous neck dissection (P<.001), previous postoperative radiotherapy (P =.003), and interval free of neck recurrence (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing previous neck dissection and with recurrences diagnosed after 6 months are not usually candidates for curative salvage treatment and are at a high risk for death. Only 5 of 46 patients with recurrences in a previously untreated side of the neck survived after salvage treatment. Patients with neck recurrences have a poor prognosis, despite salvage treatment.

Adult↗

Aortic neck dilation after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: should oversizing be blamed?

Long-term durability after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) is dependent upon the maintenance of an effective seal between the endograft and the proximal landing zone. Continuous neck dilation might lead to the loss of such a seal. This study aims at evaluating the incidence, risk factors, and clinical consequences of post-EVAR aneurysm neck dilation in patients treated with two types of endografts: AneuRx and Ancure. We reviewed data concerning all consecutive patients submitted to primary EVAR using the AneuRx and Ancure devices. Preoperative neck anatomic characteristics (diameter, calcification, and thrombus load) were evaluated, and device oversize percentage was calculated. Postoperative same-level neck diameter was measured on all postoperative computed tomographic (CT) scans. Probabilities of neck dilation (> or = 10% and > or = 15%) relative to preoperative diameter and first postoperative diameter were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method and compared between patients using both types of endograft. The impact of anatomic characteristics on neck dilation incidence was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models. Mean neck dilation was compared between patients with and without device migration and proximal type I endoleak. Both groups had similar probabilities of dilating > 10% relative to preoperative diameter and to first postoperative diameter. Proximal necks in AneuRx-treated patients had higher probabilities of dilating > or = 15% relative to preoperative diameter than Ancure-treated patients (45.5% vs. 18.7% at 1.5 years, p = 0.025), but the probability of such dilation relative to the first postoperative diameter was not different between the two groups (12.4% vs. 9.1% at 1.5 years, p = 0.832). None of the preoperative neck characteristics was associated with neck dilation risk. Device oversize percentage was correlated with the percentage of neck dilation at first postoperative CT scan relative to preoperative diameter in both the AneuRx (correlation coefficient = 0.469, p < 0.0001) and the Ancure (correlation coefficient = 0.464, p < 0.011) groups, but it was not correlated with the percentage of neck dilation at 1 or 1.5 years relative to first postoperative CT scan in either group. Patients with and without caudad device migration (> or = 5 mm) had similar percentages of neck dilation at 1.5 years relative to preoperative diameter, but migrators had higher mean percentages of dilation at 1.5 years relative to first postoperative neck diameter (11.4% vs. 5.6, p = 0.012). Two phenomena may be differentiated: an immediate postimplant dilation, strongly correlated with the percentage of oversize and more likely to reach values > or = 15% with an AneuRx device than with an Ancure graft, and a subsequent dilation, relative to the first postoperatively measured diameter, equally probable with either type of device, not correlated with the percentage of oversizing but associated with caudad device migration. Our study does not support any adverse role for the degree of oversize.

Angioplasty↗

Responses of medullary reticulospinal neurons to sinusoidal rotation of neck in the decerebrate cat.

The electrical activity of 132 neurons located in the inhibitory area of the medullary reticular formation, namely, in the medial aspects of the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis, magnocellularis and ventralis has been recorded in precollicular decerebrate cats during sinusoidal displacement of the neck. This was achieved by rotation of the body about the longitudinal axis of the animal, while maintaining the head stationary. In particular, 85 neurons were activated antidromically by stimulation of the spinal cord at T12 and L1, the remaining 47 units were not activated antidromically. Among these reticular neurons tested, 66 out of 85 (i.e. 77.6%) of the neurons that were, and 31 out of 47 (i.e. 66.0%) of the neurons that were not antidromically activated responded to slow neck rotation at the frequency of 0.026 Hz and at the peak amplitude of displacement of 10 degrees. The units influenced by neck rotation showed a periodic modulation of the firing rate in response to sinusoidal stimulation of neck receptors. In particular, 70 of 97 units (i.e. 72.2%) were excited during side-down neck rotation and depressed during side-up rotation, while 19 of 97 units (i.e. 19.6%) showed the opposite pattern. In both instances, the peak of the responses occurred with an average phase lead of +41 degrees for the extreme side-up or side-down neck displacement. The remaining 8 units (i.e. 8.2%) showed a prominent phase shift of the peak of their response relative to neck position. The proportion of units excited during side-down neck rotation were almost equally distributed throughout the whole rostro-caudal extent of the reticular structures explored. Responses to neck rotation were detectable at 0.25 degrees of peak displacement. The gain (imp./s/deg.) and the sensitivity (%/deg., i.e. percentage change of the mean firing rate per degree of displacement) in responses of reticulospinal neurons decreased by increasing the peak amplitude of neck rotation from 1 to 10 degrees at a frequency of 0.026 Hz. Therefore, the system did not behave linearly with respect to amplitude of stimulation. By increasing the frequency of stimulation from 0.008 to 0.32 Hz at the fixed amplitude of 10 degrees, the gain, sensitivity and phase lead of responses increased for frequencies of neck rotation above 0.051 Hz. Reticulospinal neurons may thus monitor changes in neck position as well as in velocity of neck rotation. Responses of reticulospinal neurons to neck rotation are discussed in relation to the responses to the same stimulus recently described of vestibulospinal neurons originating from the lateral vestibular nucleus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

CT artifacts of the proximal aortic neck: an important problem in endograft planning.

PURPOSE: To describe the imaging error introduced by noncircular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) necks in axial and reformatted computed tomographic (CT) images and discuss the potential implications for aortic endografting. METHODS: The records of 120 endograft patients with preoperative CT axial scans and subsequent 3-dimensional (3D) computerized reconstructions were reviewed. Maximum and minimum infrarenal aortic neck diameters were measured from axial CT scans and 3D reformatted slices at the same point on the vessel. Diameter measurements were made at the largest point within the 10-mm segment of vessel below the lowest renal artery. Excluded were aneurysms with proximal neck minimum diameters >30 mm, neck lengths < 15 mm, or angulation > 75 degrees measured on the axial CT slice. RESULTS: Measuring from reformatted CT slices, 86 (71.6%) cases had < or = 2-mm differences between maximal and minimal neck diameters, comprising the "round neck" group A. In 34 (28.4%) cases, the neck was not round: 26 (21.7%) had diameter differences between 2 and 4 mm (group B) and 8 (6.7%) had a > 4-mm difference (group C; range 4.1-8.1 mm). Although AAA diameter, neck length, and neck angle progressively increased as the difference between neck maximum and minimum diameters grew, i.e., greater eccentricity, these trends did not reach statistical significance. Mean infrarenal neck maximum diameter was significantly larger in group C (30.2 +/- 3.4 mm) compared to groups A (23.0 +/- 2.9 mm, p = 0.0002) and B (23.8 +/- 3.6 mm, p = 0.0003). Hence, 28.4% of AAAs had a noncircular aortic neck of varying degree, and 6.7% had an eccentricity factor that may have clinical significance. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the importance of selecting an endoprosthesis sized 15% to 20% larger than the infrarenal aortic neck diameter. Three-dimensional reconstruction using reformatted CT slices perpendicular to the flow lumen is an important tool that offers enhanced accuracy of infrarenal aortic neck evaluation.

Angiography↗

A study comparing different approaches in managing neck nodes in early carcinoma of the tongue.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate elective neck treatment in patients with early stage (T1-2 negative neck node [N0]) squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue. METHODS: The medical records of all patients with early stage (T1-2 N0) of oral tongue cancer at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between January 1980 and December 1997, were identified and retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Our cohort consisted of 93 patients: 45 males and 48 females, with a median age of 60 years. All patients received treatment with curative intent. Partial glossectomy was carried out, except for 8 patients who underwent tongue brachytherapy. The neck was observed in 29 patients, 36 were treated by modified neck dissection, and 28 by elective neck irradiation. With a median follow-up of 62 months, 29 patients had documented neck node recurrence. Ninety six percent (28/29) of recurrences occurred within 22 months from treatment completion. The 5 year actuarial event free survival with regard to nodal relapse in observed was 59%, dissected was 79% and irradiated neck was 63%. Our results showed a trend toward better neck node control in patients managed by elective neck dissection compared to those observed (p=0.07) or receiving elective neck irradiation (p=0.18). Tumor thickness of more than 10 mm was associated with increased risk of nodal relapse (p=0.0004). Neck node recurrence has a poor prognosis with a 5 year disease specific survival of 16%. CONCLUSION: A trend for higher neck control was observed after neck dissection in patients with T1-2 N0 squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue. Elective neck dissection should be considered particularly for patients with tumor thickness of more than 10 mm.

Aged↗

Expanded application of selective neck dissection with regard to nodal status.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of extending the application of selective neck dissection to include more-extensive neck disease in patients with squamous carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract remains controversial. METHODS: A review of all patients undergoing selective neck dissection at a single institution during a 5-year period was undertaken. The analysis was conducted on 82 patients who received 94 selective neck dissections as part of initial therapy for management of squamous carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract, including: oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx. RESULTS: Forty-six of the 94 dissected necks were supraomohyoid dissections, and 48 were lateral neck dissections. Sixty-five percent of patients were followed a minimum of 2 years and formed the cohort for final analysis. There were eight regional recurrences, three of which occurred in the contralateral, undissected neck. The regional recurrence rate for all patients undergoing selective neck dissection, with or without radiotherapy, according to pathologic N status was as follows: NO (1/33), 3%; N1 (1/8), 12.5%; and multiple positive nodes (3/26), 11.5%. A comparison of recurrence rates with respect to extent of neck disease (N0-N1 versus multiple positive nodes) for both types of neck dissection did not demonstrate significant differences; supraomohyoid neck dissection, p < .5; lateral neck dissection, p < .25. CONCLUSIONS: There exists an expanded role for selective neck dissection in selected patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract and multiple N+ cervical disease. The selection of patients who are candidates for selective lymphadenectomy should be based on pathoanatomic considerations with reference to the primary site of tumor and demonstrated level(s) of metastatic involvement.

Aged↗

Early nodal response as a predictor for necessity of functional neck dissection after chemoradiation.

PURPOSE: Chemoradiation is increasingly becoming the standard of care for node-positive squamous cell cancer of the head and neck. Response to chemoradiation for clinically node-positive disease in the neck is often difficult to ascertain because clinical response may or may not be predictive of pathological response. This often leads to uncertainty about the necessity of a functional neck dissection after chemoradiation. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed a cohort of node-positive patients to examine pathological response as well as clinical outcome after chemoradiation with or without functional neck dissection. METHODS: Using the radiation oncology records from 1993 until 2003, a population of 420 patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck were identified. Of these, 34 patients were clinically node positive at the time of diagnosis and under went chemoradiation as their primary therapy. All patients received a concurrent platinum-based regimen. Median radiation dose to gross neck disease was 68.4 Gy (range: 50.4-73.8 Gy). RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 25 months (range: 4-88 months). Patients with a complete response (17/34, 50%) after receiving 50 Gy finished the full course of therapy but did not undergo functional neck dissection. Only one patient (1/17) in this observation group experienced relapse in the neck. Patients with a partial response who received 50 Gy (17/34) completed therapy and under went functional neck dissection, regardless of response at the end of therapy. Fifty percent (3/6) with positive pathology had a regional relapse in the neck, whereas only 1/11 patients with negative pathology relapsed in the neck. This result compared favorably with those who were observed after chemoradiation. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical response at 50 Gy can be an effective means of selecting patients for functional neck dissection. Patients with complete response at 50 Gy may be observed with a low regional recurrence rate. Those patients with a partial response should undergo adjuvant neck dissection.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

New QCT analysis approach shows the importance of fall orientation on femoral neck strength.

UNLABELLED: The influence of fall orientation on femur strength has important implications for understanding hip fracture risk. A new image analysis technique showed that the strength of the femoral neck in 37 males varied significantly along the neck axis and that bending strength varied by a factor of up to 2.8 for different loading directions. INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is associated with decreased BMD and increased hip fracture risk, but it is unclear whether specific osteoporotic changes in the proximal femur lead to a more vulnerable overall structure. Nonhomogeneous beam theory, which is used to determine the mechanical response of composite structures to applied loads, can be used along with QCT to estimate the resistance of the femoral neck to axial forces and bending moments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The bending moment [My(theta)] sufficient to induce yielding within femoral neck sections was estimated for a range of bending orientations (theta) using in vivo QCT images of 37 male (mean age, 73 years; range, 65-87 years) femora. Volumetric BMD, axial stiffness, average moment at yield (M(y,avg)), maximum and minimum moment at yield (M(y,max) and M(y,min)), bone strength index (BSI), stress-strain index (SSI), and density-weighted moments of resistance (Rx and Ry) were also computed. Differences among the proximal, mid-, and distal neck regions were detected using ANOVA. RESULTS: My(theta) was found to vary by as much as a factor of 2.8 for different bending directions. Axial stiffness, M(y,avg), M(y,max), M(y,min), BSI, and Rx differed significantly between all femoral neck regions, with an overall trend of increasing axial stiffness and bending strength when moving from the proximal neck to the distal neck. Mean axial stiffness increased 62% between the proximal and distal neck, and mean M(y,avg) increased 53% between the proximal and distal neck. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that femoral neck strength strongly depends on both fall orientation and location along the neck axis. Compressive yielding in the superior portion of the femoral neck is expected to initiate fracture in a fall to the side.

Accidental Falls↗

Radical, modified, and selective neck dissection for cutaneous malignant melanoma.

BACKGROUND: The roles of modified and selective neck dissections in treating patients with clinical metastatic melanoma and the place of adjuvant radiotherapy are unclear. In the elective setting, the efficacy of various selective dissections also requires clarification. METHODS: The prospectively documented experience of the senior author (COB) was analyzed. A total of 175 patients had 183 neck dissections and 92 parotidectomies in 6 years. There were 75 therapeutic and 108 elective operations. Modified or selective neck dissections were performed in 58% of patients with clinical neck metastases. Ali but two elective operations were modified or selective dissections. Postoperative radiotherapy was given to 27 dissected necks. Minimum follow-up was 12 months, and 86% of patients were followed up for 2 years or to neck recurrence. RESULTS: Nodes were histologically positive in 80 dissections. The cumulative rate of control of metastatic melanoma in the neck was 86% at 5 years. Neck recurrence developed in 14% of radical dissections, 0% of modified, and 23% of selective dissections performed for clinical disease. Neck recurrence occurred after 5% of elective dissections. Recurrence was 7% among irradiated necks compared to 23% in nonirradiated (p-value not significant). The 5-year survival rate was 50%, and this was significantly worsened by increasing node involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Modified radical neck dissection is highly effective in controlling metastatic melanoma in selected patients. Selective dissections are less effective and need further study. Adjuvant radiotherapy appears to decrease the risk of neck recurrence. In the elective setting, recurrence is uncommon following the selective neck dissections described.

Adolescent↗

Treatment of neck nodes after induction chemotherapy in patients with primary advanced tumours.

Responsiveness of neck nodes to induction chemotherapy often differs from that of the primary tumour. We have conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the results of treating the neck in a cohort of 350 patients with locally advanced (T3-4) head and neck carcinomas treated with radiation therapy at the primary location of the tumour after induction chemotherapy. One hundred and thirty-nine patients (40%) did not have neck nodes on diagnosis (N0). The treatment of the neck included surgery in 65 patients. Neck dissections were carried out before radiotherapy in 37 patients and after radiotherapy in 28 patients. The frequency of neck treatment failure was 24%. There was a tendency to better neck control when treatment included neck dissection, independently of the neck stage or response to chemotherapy. This tendency was statistically significant in patients with an advanced regional tumour (N2-3) who did not achieve a complete regional response after chemotherapy. In a multivariate analysis the variables that were related to the regional failure were the relapse of the tumour at the primary site, the neck stage (N), the type of treatment used in the neck, and the grade of regional response after induction chemotherapy. Our results lead us to suggest that after induction chemotherapy neck surgery is advisable in all cases with advanced regional disease (N2-3), independently of the grade of response achieved after induction chemotherapy, and is also advisable in N1 patients in whom induction chemotherapy does not achieve a complete response.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Proximal femur geometry to detect and distinguish femoral neck fractures from trochanteric fractures in postmenopausal women.

Some proximal femur geometry (PFG) parameters, measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), have been reported to discriminate subjects with hip fracture. Relatively few studies have tested their ability to discriminate femoral neck fractures from those of the trochanter. To this end we performed a cross-sectional study in a population of 547 menopausal women over 69 years of age with femoral neck fractures (n = 88), trochanteric fractures (n = 93) or controls (n = 366). Hip axis length (HAL), neck-shaft angle (NSA), femoral neck diameter (FND) and femoral shaft diameter (FSD) were measured by DXA, as well as the bone mineral density (BMD) of the nonfractured hip at the femoral neck, trochanter and Ward's triangle. In fractured subjects, BMD was lower at each measurement site. HAL was longer and NSA wider in those with femoral neck fractures. With logistic regression the age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for a 1 standard deviation (SD) decrease in BMD was significantly associated at each measurement site with femoral neck fracture (femoral neck BMD: OR 1.9, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.4-2.5; trochanter BMD: OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.0; Ward's triangle BMD: OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.3-2.2) and trochanteric fracture (femoral neck BMD: OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.9-3.6; trochanter BMD: OR 3.0, 95% CI 2.2-4.1; Ward's triangle BMD: OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.4-2.3). Age-adjusted OR for 1 SD increases in NSA (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.7-2.8) and HAL (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.6) was significantly associated with the fracture risk only for femoral neck fracture. In the best predictive model the strongest predictors were site-matched BMD for both fracture types and NSA for neck fracture. Trochanteric BMD had the greatest area (0.78, standard error (SE) 0.02) under the receiver operating characteristic curve in trochanteric fractures, whereas for NSA (0.72, SE 0.03) this area was greatest in femoral neck fractures. These results confirm the association of BMD with proximal femur fracture and support the evidence that PFG plays a significant role only in neck fracture prediction, since NSA is the best predictive parameter among those tested.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: orderly neck node spread.

A prospective study of 271 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed nasopharyngeal carcinoma was undertaken to assess the pattern of cervical nodal involvement with reference to 10 cervical nodal groups and three levels of neck; 204 (75.3%) patients were found to have cervical lymphadenopathy at presentation. Fifty-four (26.5%) of these patients had right cervical lymphadenopathy, 70 (34.3%) had left cervical lymphadenopathy, and 80 (39.2%) had bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy. The occurrence of lymphadenopathy in the 10 cervical nodal groups and the mean size of nodes in these nodal groups were computed. The subdigastric and upper jugular group was involved in more than 95% of cases. The lower the position in the neck, the less frequently the nodal group was involved. The mean size of nodes was largest in the subdigastric and upper jugular region compared with the other groups. The nodes in the upper neck were generally larger than those in the lower neck. The lower two levels of neck were involved without involvement of the upper level of the ipsilateral neck in fewer than 4% of cases. The present study indicates that neck node involvement by nasopharyngeal carcinoma is by orderly spread down the neck, which explains the adverse prognostic significance of neck node involvement in the lower neck. The orderly involvement of the neck nodes suggests that prophylactic irradiation of the neck should be given at least one level beyond the clinical extent of disease, which for patients with no clinically palpable node would mean prophylactic irradiation of the upper neck.

Head and Neck Neoplasms↗

Elective neck dissection versus observation in primary parotid carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of elective neck dissection in the clinically negative neck of patients with primary carcinoma of the parotid gland. Study design and setting A retrospective analysis was undertaken at a university Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery on 83 previously untreated patients with primary carcinoma of the parotid gland and a clinically negative neck. The reliability of fine needle aspiration cytology, frozen section, and the clinico-pathologic findings of patients with occult neck metastases were analyzed. The regional recurrence rate and the outcome were compared among 2 groups; one with elective neck dissection (N = 41) and one without elective neck dissection (N = 42). RESULTS: The diagnosis of malignancy was known preoperatively in 59 (71%) cases, the exact histologic tumor type in 36 (43%) and the grade in 37 (44%) of 83 cases. Occult metastases were detected in 8 (20%) of 41 cNO patients, in 5 cases associated with a high-grade and in 3 cases with a low-grade carcinoma. Recurrence of disease developed in 5 (12%) patients in the elective neck dissection group and in 11 (26%) patients in the observation group. All of the 7 neck recurrences occurred in the observation group. The 5-year actuarial and disease-free survival rate was 80% and 86% for patients with elective neck dissection and 83% and 69% for patients without neck dissection. Conclusion and significance A routine elective neck dissection is suggested in all patients with primary carcinoma of the parotid gland. The efficacy of elective neck dissection, nevertheless, has never been evaluated prospectively.

Biopsy, Needle↗