BackgroundIn order to minimize surgical stress and preserve organs, endoscopic or robotic surgery is often performed when conducting head and neck surgery. However, it is impossible to physically touch tumors or to observe diffusely invaded deep organs through the procedure of endoscopic or robotic surgery. In order to visualize and safely resect tumors even in these cases, we propose using an indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence method for navigation surgery in head and neck cancer.ObjectiveTo determine the optimum surgical time for tumor resection after the administration of ICG based on the investigation of dynamic ICG fluorescence imaging.MethodsNine patients underwent dynamic ICG fluorescence imaging for 360 minutes, assessing tumor visibility at 10, 30, 60, 120, 180, and 360 minutes. All cases were scored according to near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging visibility scored from 0 to 5.ResultsDynamic NIR fluorescence imaging under the HyperEye Medical System indicated that the greatest contrast in fluorescent images between tumor and normal tissue could be observed from 30 minutes to 1 hour after the administration of ICG. The optimum surgical time was determined to be between 30 minutes to 2 hours after ICG injection. These findings are particularly useful for detection and safe resection of tumors invading the parapharyngeal space.ConclusionICG fluorescence imaging is effective for the detection of head and neck cancer. Preliminary findings suggest that the optimum timing for surgery is from 30 minutes to 2 hours after the ICG injection.

Temporary neurologic abnormalities were detected in 9 of 60 patients undergoing treatment with high-dose methotrexate and citrovorum factor rescue (MTX-CF) for osteosarcoma. The incidence of abnormalities and abnormalities themselves were more severe than previously reported. This was attributed to an increased dose and more frequent administration of MTX-CF. In view of the transient nature of the abnormalities, a biochemical cause is implicated, and the mechanisms by which it may occur are discussed.

A randomized two-arm study was undertaken to determine relative tumoricidal effects of intra-arterial cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II (I/A-CDP) and high-dose methotrexate with citrovorum factor rescue (MTX-CF) in the treatment of the primary tumor in patients with osteosarcoma. Responses were evaluated by clinical, radiographic, angiographic, and pathologic parameters. Fifteen patients were randomized to receive MTX-CF and 15 to I/A-CDP. In the MTX-CF arm there were four responses (three complete responses, one partial response) whereas in the I/A CDP arm there were nine responses (seven complete responses, two partial responses). Two patients who failed MTX-CF and requested alternative treatment with I/A-CDP also responded. The total I/A-CDP response was 11/17.

Shaker exercises as a prophylactic exercise contributed to preservation of swallowing function in patients with head and neck cancer.

Glomangiopericytoma (GPC) is a rare sinonasal perivascular tumor that accounts for < 0.5–1% of all sinonasal tumors. GPC is categorized as a low-grade neoplasm with borderline malignancy and a tendency of local recurrence. GPC is a rare mesenchymal neoplasm characterized by the perivascular proliferation of tumor cells, and it requires being distinguished from solitary fibrous tumors. Here, we report a case of GPC in a 68-year-old male patient who presented at the emergency room of our hospital with a complaint of sudden epistaxis. A small, reddish, protruding tumor was observed on the right nasal septum. A biopsy revealed a possible perivascular tumor such as a GPC or solitary fibrous tumor. Thus, we performed complete resection with endoscopic surgery. The size of the resected tumor was 12 × 5 mm, and it showed a uniform proliferation of oval-to-short spindle-shaped cells with slightly branching vascular structures. The tumor cells showed minimal cytologic atypia and there were an average of 3 mitoses in 10 high power fields. Necrosis was not observed. The tumor cells showed strong and diffuse nuclear immunostaining with beta catenin and were negative with STAT6, CD34 and bcl-2. The MIB-1 labeling index was approximately 5%. Genetic testing revealed CTNNB1 mutation (p.S33C). Thus, a diagnosis of low grade GPC was made on the biopsy and the patient could be successfully treated with endoscopic resection.