Objective:To evaluate preoperative high-resolution thin-layer cervical enhanced CT used to predict the venous route of the submental flap reflux vein and its relationship with adjacent structures in order to guide the anatomical understanding and protection of submental flap in pharyngeal cancer surgery.Methods:Sixty consecutive patients with pharyngeal cancer who underwent submental flap repair surgery in our department from March 2022 to December 2024, as well as 60 patients who were accepted neck dissection suffering other cancers, were selected. Before surgery, high-resolution cervical enhanced CT scans were performed, and the position of the transverse section of the facial vein in the venous phase horizontal image gradually variation tendency was focused layer by layer. The direction and adjacent relationship of the submental flap reflux veins were determined and recorded. Combined with 60 patients with other head and neck tumors who underwent neck dissection in our department during the same period (a total of 120 cases, 240 sides), the classification and management of the draining veins of Fang′s mental flap were conducted. Type Ⅰ mainly drains into the internal jugular vein; Type Ⅱ mainly drains into the external jugular vein and Type Ⅲ mainly drains into the anterior jugular vein (often accompanied by an external jugular draining branch). The status and proportion of venous drainage were analyzed.Results:Vascular predictive coincidence rate was 98.3% (59/60) among the 60 patients with pharyngeal cancer. Only one patient was predicted to have a simple return to the external jugular vein. However, during the operation, in addition to the main return to the external jugular vein, a small portion also returned to the internal jugular vein. Submental flap reflux vessels were classified into three types based on intraoperative submental flap venous return in 60 cases of laryngopharyngeal cancer, in conjunction with the analysis of venous return patterns from 240 cervical CT scans. Type Ⅰ mainly refluxed to the internal jugular vein, accounting for 42.1%. Type Ⅱ mainly refluxed to the external jugular vein (47.9%). Type Ⅲ mainly refluxed to the anterior jugular vein (10.0%). The total detection rate of CT reading of 240 venous reflux was 98.7% (237/240). Vascular predictive coincidence rate was 97.9%(235/240).Conclusion:The detailed analysis of submental venous return vessels can accurately predict the direction of reflux veins and its surrounding areas by preoperative high-resolution enhanced CT scan. This provides reliable guidance for the anatomy and protection of the submental flap reflux veins during surgery.

Objective:To compare the survival outcomes of different subsequent treatment regimens in patients with locally advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) who achieved partial response (PR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy based on the gross tumor volume regression rate (GTVRR).Methods:This retrospective study included patients with locally advanced HPSCC treated at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, from January 2011 to December 2023. The cohort included 135 males and 3 females, aged from 35 to 77 years. All patients received 2-3 cycles of TPF regimen (paclitaxel+cisplatin+5-fluorouracil) neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Subsequent treatments included concurrent chemoradiotherapy or surgery combined with postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy. The impacts of different subsequent treatment modalities on the survivals and prognoses of patients were compared based on GTVRR thresholds of 50% and 70%. The χ 2 test was used to analyze influencing factors; survival analysis and intergroup comparisons were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test; prognostic factors were assessed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Results:The 5-year OS and PFS rates were 56.5% and 47.9%, respectively, while, the 10-year OS and PFS rates were 25.8% and 21.2%, respectively. The median OS was 75 months, and the median PFS was 48 months. The laryngeal function preservation rate for the entire cohort was 83.3%. The patients who underwent surgery combined with postoperative radiotherapy had significantly better OS and PFS outcomes than those treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy ( P<0.05). Stratification based on GTVRR revealed that the surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy regimen was particularly effective for PR patients with a GTVRR of 30%-70%, showing significantly better OS and PFS compared to the concurrent chemoradiotherapy group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The optimal subsequent treatment for PR-HPSCC may be surgery-based comprehensive treatment, particularly for patients with a GTVRR of 30%-70%. This study offers valuable insights for the stratified treatment of HPSCC, which could contribute to improving overall patient prognosis.

Objective:To evaluate preoperative high-resolution thin-layer cervical enhanced CT used to predict the venous route of the submental flap reflux vein and its relationship with adjacent structures in order to guide the anatomical understanding and protection of submental flap in pharyngeal cancer surgery.Methods:Sixty consecutive patients with pharyngeal cancer who underwent submental flap repair surgery in our department from March 2022 to December 2024, as well as 60 patients who were accepted neck dissection suffering other cancers, were selected. Before surgery, high-resolution cervical enhanced CT scans were performed, and the position of the transverse section of the facial vein in the venous phase horizontal image gradually variation tendency was focused layer by layer. The direction and adjacent relationship of the submental flap reflux veins were determined and recorded. Combined with 60 patients with other head and neck tumors who underwent neck dissection in our department during the same period (a total of 120 cases, 240 sides), the classification and management of the draining veins of Fang′s mental flap were conducted. Type Ⅰ mainly drains into the internal jugular vein; Type Ⅱ mainly drains into the external jugular vein and Type Ⅲ mainly drains into the anterior jugular vein (often accompanied by an external jugular draining branch). The status and proportion of venous drainage were analyzed.Results:Vascular predictive coincidence rate was 98.3% (59/60) among the 60 patients with pharyngeal cancer. Only one patient was predicted to have a simple return to the external jugular vein. However, during the operation, in addition to the main return to the external jugular vein, a small portion also returned to the internal jugular vein. Submental flap reflux vessels were classified into three types based on intraoperative submental flap venous return in 60 cases of laryngopharyngeal cancer, in conjunction with the analysis of venous return patterns from 240 cervical CT scans. Type Ⅰ mainly refluxed to the internal jugular vein, accounting for 42.1%. Type Ⅱ mainly refluxed to the external jugular vein (47.9%). Type Ⅲ mainly refluxed to the anterior jugular vein (10.0%). The total detection rate of CT reading of 240 venous reflux was 98.7% (237/240). Vascular predictive coincidence rate was 97.9%(235/240).Conclusion:The detailed analysis of submental venous return vessels can accurately predict the direction of reflux veins and its surrounding areas by preoperative high-resolution enhanced CT scan. This provides reliable guidance for the anatomy and protection of the submental flap reflux veins during surgery.

Objective:To compare the survival outcomes of different subsequent treatment regimens in patients with locally advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) who achieved partial response (PR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy based on the gross tumor volume regression rate (GTVRR).Methods:This retrospective study included patients with locally advanced HPSCC treated at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, from January 2011 to December 2023. The cohort included 135 males and 3 females, aged from 35 to 77 years. All patients received 2-3 cycles of TPF regimen (paclitaxel+cisplatin+5-fluorouracil) neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Subsequent treatments included concurrent chemoradiotherapy or surgery combined with postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy. The impacts of different subsequent treatment modalities on the survivals and prognoses of patients were compared based on GTVRR thresholds of 50% and 70%. The χ 2 test was used to analyze influencing factors; survival analysis and intergroup comparisons were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test; prognostic factors were assessed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Results:The 5-year OS and PFS rates were 56.5% and 47.9%, respectively, while, the 10-year OS and PFS rates were 25.8% and 21.2%, respectively. The median OS was 75 months, and the median PFS was 48 months. The laryngeal function preservation rate for the entire cohort was 83.3%. The patients who underwent surgery combined with postoperative radiotherapy had significantly better OS and PFS outcomes than those treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy ( P<0.05). Stratification based on GTVRR revealed that the surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy regimen was particularly effective for PR patients with a GTVRR of 30%-70%, showing significantly better OS and PFS compared to the concurrent chemoradiotherapy group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The optimal subsequent treatment for PR-HPSCC may be surgery-based comprehensive treatment, particularly for patients with a GTVRR of 30%-70%. This study offers valuable insights for the stratified treatment of HPSCC, which could contribute to improving overall patient prognosis.

Objective:To summarize the clinical features, treatments and outcomes of patients with SMARCB1(INI-1)-deficient sinonasal carcinoma (SDSC).Methods:Fifteen patients who were diagnosed as SDSC in Beijing Tongren Hospital from October 2016 to June 2021 were retrieved, including nine males and six females, ranged from 25 to 78 years old. For TNM stage, one case was in stage T2, one case was in stage T3, 13 cases were in stage T4; 13 cases were in stage N0, two cases were in stage N2; 14 cases were in stage M0, one case was in stage M1. The most common paranasal sinus affected by tumor was the ethmoid sinus. Five patients were treated by radical surgical resection combined with postoperative adjuvant therapy, four patients treated by neoadjuvant therapy with surgical resection, three patients treated by surgical resection only, one patient treated by neoadjuvant therapy with concurrent chemoradiotherapy, one patient treated by preoperative radiotherapy with surgery, and one patient received palliative chemotherapy. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed in all cases. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve, and the Log-rank test was used to compare the difference to 20 undifferentiated carcinoma patients with positive INI-1 expression in the same period.Results:Immunohistochemical analysis showed the complete absence of INI-1 expression in the tumor nuclei in all 15 cases. The follow-up information was available with a median follow-up time of 21 months (3-56 months). The 3-year overall survival rate, disease specific survival rate, disease-free survival rate and metastasis-free survival rate were 58.9%, 58.9%, 36.4% and 31.2%, respectively. Disease-free survival in SDSC patients was significantly lower compared with undifferentiated carcinoma patients with positive INI-1 expression ( HR=2.87,95% CI:0.92~8.91, P=0.043). Cox regression analysis showed that patients with comprehensive treatment based on surgery had a better prognosis than others ( HR=8.61,95% CI:1.38~53.73, P=0.021). Conclusion:SDSC is a highly aggressive malignant tumor with the characteristics of easy recurrence, early metastasis and poor prognosis. INI-1 immunohistochemical analysis is recommended in the pathologically poorly differentiated sinonasal carcinoma. Comprehensive treatment based on radical resection may be the first choice for SDSC patients.

Objective: To analyze the differentially expressed genes related to the chemosensitivity with the TPF regimen for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and to measure potential functional targeting genes expressions. Methods: Twenty-nine patients with primary hypopharyngeal cancer who underwent induction chemotherapy with TPF from January 2013 to December 2017 in Beijing Tongren Hospital were enrolled for microarray analysis, including 28 males and 1 female, aged from 43 to 73 years old. Among them, 16 patients were sensitive to chemotherapy while 13 patients were non-sensitive. Illumina Human HT-12 Bead Chip was applied to analyze the gene expressions and online bioinformatics analysis was used to analyze the differentially expressed genes. Reverse transcription and quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to measure the mRNA expression of potential functional genes of TPF induction chemotherapy in 43 samples, 29 from original patients and 14 from additional patients. Graphpad prism 7.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 1 381 significantly differentially expressed genes were screened out. By GO analysis, up-regulated genes included sequestering in extracellular matrix, chemokine receptor binding and potassium channel regulator activity; down-regulated genes included regulation of angiogenesis, calcium ion binding and natural killer cell activation involved in immune response. With KEGG database analysis, down-regulated pathways included ECM-receptor interaction and peroxisome and up-regulated pathways included Glutathione metabolism and PPAR signaling pathway. The expressions of CD44 and IL-6R were significantly different and appeared biologically significant. CD44 was significantly upregulated in insensitive tissues (0.54±0.06) compared with sensitive tissues (0.33±0.04)(P<0.01). IL-6R was significantly downregulated in insensitive tissues (0.44±0.03) compared with sensitive tissues. (0.68±0.03) (P<0.01). Conclusion CD44 and IL-6R may be potentially functional genes of TPF induction chemotherapy in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

The incidence of thyroid cancer has grown in the past 20 years, the number of patients with surgical complications grows as well. Hypoparathyroidism is one of the severe complications which reduces the quality of life after thyroidectomy. How to preserve the structure and function of parathyroid glands and to avoid the pitfalls of the operation has always been the key point of thyroidectomy. This article reviews the recent progress of embryology and surgical anatomy of parathyroid glands, identification techniques and auxiliary imaging tools for the identification and preservation of parathyroid glands in thyroidectomy.

Objective:To evaluate the application of computer-assisted design and three-dimensional printing technique in reconstruction of maxillary defects with individual free fibular flap.Methods:A total of 13 patients, 7 males and 6 females with age from 12 to 55 years old, underwent the reconstruction of maxillary defects after subtotal or total maxillectomy for benign or malignant tumors between January 2016 and December 2018 were reviewed. Ther were 4 cases of subtotal maxillectomy and 9 cases of total maxillectomy. Before operation, osteotomy line was planned on three-dimensional images. A three-dimensional individual resin fibula model based on mirror images of the healthy side maxilla was obtained to fabricate an anatomically adapted osteomyocutaneous fibula free flap using computer-assisted design and forming. Oral, nasal, and eye functions and facial appearance were evaluated.Results:The 13 cases were followed up for 5-40 months, all flaps were alive except one due to flap failure and all cases were tumor free confirmed by CT or MRI. Ten patients could eat normal food without nasal food return, and 3 cases had palatal fistula. Eleven cases showed good speaking functional results. All cases had normal eye positions, no cases with diplopia and loss of vision. With evaluation by VAS, an average score of 8 was obtained, and most of patients were satisfied with their postoperative facial appearances.Conclusion:Reconstruction of maxillary defects by free fibular flap designed by three-dimensional printing and computer-assisted technique not only restored oral, nasal and eye functions, but also showed satisfactory facial appearance.

Objective:To evaluate clinical applications and efficacy of submental artery perforator flap in reconstruction surgery after removal of pharyngeal carcinoma.Methods:A total of 27 patients in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University were included, 23 males and 4 females with age from 40 to 70 years old, and 17 patients were hypopharyngeal carcinoma (HPC) and 10 patients were oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC). All patients underwent tumor resection followed by simultaneously reconstruction surgery using submental artery perforator flap between January 2015 and December 2019. Of 5 patients with palatine tonsil cancer, 4 underwent the combined approach of neck and oral resection and 1 with madibulotomy. All 5 patients with tongue base cancer received transhyoid partial glossotomy with or without partial laryngectomy. Sixteen patients with pyriform sinus carcinoma received partial laryngo-pharyngectomy with preservation of laryngeal functions. One patient with posterior hypopharyngeal wall carcinoma had partial pharyngectomy. Prognosis and laryngeal functions were analyzed after reconstruction surgery with submental artery perforator flap in patients with pharyngeal carcinoma.Results:The 27 patients were followed up for 6-66 months, with a median of 13 months, of them 24 patients were alive without recurrence or metastasis, 1 patient died of recurrence, 1 patient died of esophageal carcinoma and 1 patient was alive with the recurrence of tongue base carcinoma. Postoperative complications included flap failure for 1 case, pharyngeal fistula for 1 case, subcutaneous hydrops for 2 cases and lymphatic fistula for 1 case. Total 2 and 3 year survival rates were 92.9% and 88.9%, respectively. Total decanulation rate was 92.6%; decanulation rate and intubation time were 16/17 and 3.5 months in HPC patients; and decanulation rate and intubation time were 9/10 and 2 months in OPC patients. Total oral feeding rate was 92.6% and nasogastric feeding time was 3.5 weeks in HPC patients and 3 weeks in OPC patients.Conclusion:The submental artery perforator flap is an excellent choice for reconstruction surgery after removal of oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma, with good outcomes of laryngeal functions.

Objective:To study the significance of induction chemotherapy and subsequent comprehensive therapy for overall survival rate (OS) and larynx dysfunction-free survival rate (LDFS) in patients with advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods:Patients who met the inclusion criteria with the diagnoses of advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma between 2011 and 2017 received 2 or 3 cycles of TPF regimen induction chemotherapy. Patients who attained complete response (CR) received radical chemotherapy. Patients who attained partial response (PR) and the reduction of tumor volume was more than 70% were defined as large PR and received concurrent chemoradiotherapy. When the tumor volume reduction of PR patients was less than 70%, they were defined as small PR. (CR+large PR) group was defined as effective group. Patients who did not reach CR and large PR were defined as uneffective group and underwent radical surgery and received adjuvant radiotherapy as appropriate after the surgery. The end points of the study were OS, progression-free survival (PFS) and LDFS. Chi-square (χ 2) test was used for correlation analysis. Survival analysis was performed by the Kaplan-Meier method with a Log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards model was used for univariate and multivariate survival analysis. Results:A total of 260 patients were enrolled in the study. The follow-up period ranged from 5 to 83 months, with an average of 24.7 months. The 3-year and 5-year OS rate was 46.0% and 32.6%, respectively. The 3-year and 5-year PFS rate was 41.0% and 26.6%, respectively. The 3-year and 5-year LDFS rate was 37.9% and 24.8%, respectively. Poor outcome of induction chemotherapy, advanced N stage, strong positive Ki-67 immunohistochemistry (all P<0.001) were negative prognostic factors. The advanced clinical stage was positively related to the poor outcome of induction chemotherapy ( P=0.015). There was no significant difference in OS and PFS between the large PR group and the small PR group (all P>0.005). Conclusion:TPF regimen induction chemotherapy and subsequent comprehensive therapy for patients with advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma may improve the quality of life of patients, with high OS rate and LDFS rate.