Background Endoscopic skull‐base surgery (ESBS) is employed in the management of diverse skull‐base pathologies. Paralleling the increased utilization of ESBS, the literature in this field has expanded rapidly. However, the rarity of these diseases, the inherent challenges of surgical studies, and the continued learning curve in ESBS have resulted in significant variability in the quality of the literature. To consolidate and critically appraise the available literature, experts in skull‐base surgery have produced the International Consensus Statement on Endoscopic Skull‐Base Surgery (ICAR:ESBS). Methods Using previously described methodology, topics spanning the breadth of ESBS were identified and assigned a literature review, evidence‐based review or evidence‐based review with recommendations format. Subsequently, each topic was written and then reviewed by skull‐base surgeons in both neurosurgery and otolaryngology. Following this iterative review process, the ICAR:ESBS document was synthesized and reviewed by all authors for consensus. Results The ICAR:ESBS document addresses the role of ESBS in primary cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea, intradural tumors, benign skull‐base and orbital pathology, sinonasal malignancies, and clival lesions. Additionally, specific challenges in ESBS including endoscopic reconstruction and complication management were evaluated. Conclusion A critical review of the literature in ESBS demonstrates at least the equivalency of ESBS with alternative approaches in pathologies such as CSF rhinorrhea and pituitary adenoma as well as improved reconstructive techniques in reducing CSF leaks. Evidence‐based recommendations are limited in other pathologies and these significant knowledge gaps call upon the skull‐base community to embrace these opportunities and collaboratively address these shortcomings.

PURPOSE Plasma circulating tumor human papillomavirus DNA (ctHPVDNA) is a sensitive and specific biomarker of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). We investigated whether longitudinal monitoring of ctHPVDNA during post-treatment surveillance could accurately detect clinical disease recurrence. METHODS AND MATERIALS A prospective biomarker clinical trial was conducted among patients with nonmetastatic HPV-associated (p16-positive) OPSCC. All patients were treated with curative-intent chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Patients underwent a 3-month post-CRT positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan and were thereafter clinically evaluated every 2-4 months (years 1-2), then every 6 months (years 3-5). Chest imaging was performed every 6 months. Blood specimens were collected every 6-9 months for analysis of plasma ctHPVDNA using a multianalyte digital polymerase chain reaction assay. The primary endpoint was to estimate the negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV) of ctHPVDNA surveillance. RESULTS One hundred fifteen patients were enrolled, and 1,006 blood samples were analyzed. After a median follow-up time of 23 months (range, 6.1-54.7 months), 15 patients (13%) developed disease recurrence. Eighty-seven patients had undetectable ctHPVDNA at all post-treatment time points, and none developed recurrence (NPV, 100%; 95% CI, 96% to 100%). Twenty-eight patients developed a positive ctHPVDNA during post-treatment surveillance, 15 of whom were diagnosed with biopsy-proven recurrence. Sixteen patients had 2 consecutively positive ctHPVDNA blood tests, 15 of whom developed biopsy-proven recurrence. Two consecutively positive ctHPVDNA blood tests had a PPV of 94% (95% CI, 70% to 99%). Median lead time between ctHPVDNA positivity and biopsy-proven recurrence was 3.9 months (range, 0.37-12.9 months). CONCLUSION Detection of ctHPVDNA in two consecutive plasma samples during post-treatment surveillance has high PPV and NPV for identifying disease recurrence in patients with HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer and may facilitate earlier initiation of salvage therapy.

No abstract

Endoscopic skull base surgery continues to rapidly evolve, requiring comparable advances in reconstructive techniques. While smaller skull base defects with low intraoperative CSF flow have been successfully managed with a variety of avascular and/or noncellular techniques, larger defects with high CSF flow require more robust repairs often in the form of vascularized flaps, which confer excellent success rates in this setting. Despite these successful outcomes, a paucity of data describing specific patient and operative characteristics and their effects on repair exist. Therefore, a retrospective, consecutive chart review was performed on patients who underwent endoscopic skull base reconstruction with a vascularized flap in the setting of intraoperative CSF leaks. In this series, 151 patients with a mean age of 51 years underwent 152 vascularized flap skull base reconstructions for an array of benign and malignant pathologies. These vascularized flaps included 144 nasoseptal flaps, 6 endoscopic-assisted pericranial flaps, 1 facial artery buccinator flap, and 1 inferior turbinate flap that were used throughout all regions of the skull base. Perioperative (< 3 months) and postoperative (> 3 months) flap complications were assessed and revealed 3 perioperative flap defects (2.0%) defined as a visualized defect within the substrate of the flap and a total of 5 perioperative CSF leaks (3.3%). No patient experienced flap death/complete flap loss in the cohort. Assessed postoperative flap complications included 1 case (0.7%) of mucocele formation, 8 cases (5.3%) of prolonged skull base crusting, and 2 cases (1.3%) of donor-site complication, specifically septal perforation secondary to nasoseptal flap harvest. Among the 152 cases identified, 37 patients received radiation therapy while 114 patients did not undergo radiation therapy as part of the treatment profile. No significant association was found between perioperative complication rates and radiation therapy (p = 0.634). However, a significant association was found between postoperative complication rates and radiation therapy, primarily accounted for by an increased risk for prolonged (> 6 months) skull base crusting (p = 0.025). It is clear that larger skull base defects with high intraoperative CSF flow require thoughtful approach and strong consideration for vascularized repair.

No abstract