Bleomycin Electrosclerotherapy (BEST) for Slow-Flow Malformations of the Upper Aerodigestive Tract.

Bleomycin electrosclerotherapy (BEST), which combines intralesional bleomycin administration with electroporation, enhances drug uptake and has shown efficacy in treating vascular malformations resistant to conventional therapies. While BEST is increasingly used in various anatomical sites, its application in the upper aerodigestive tract remains underexplored. This study evaluates the safety and effectiveness of BEST in managing slow-flow vascular malformations of the oral cavity, tongue, larynx, and hypopharynx.

[Psychological stress and psychiatric comorbidities in the treatment of dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer].

Background: Dysphagia, along with dysphonia and dyspnea, is undoubtedly one of the major problems in the treatment of head and neck tumors. However, impairment of the ability to swallow has many different aspects.

Objective: This article aims to shed light on the interactions and interdependencies between dysphagia and psychological stress and psychiatric comorbidities.

Cervical Mycobacterium genavense infection in a patient with lymphadenitis and previously unknown anti-IFN-γ IgG autoantibodies.

Background: Infections with atypical mycobacteria are rare and sometimes difficult to correctly diagnose. In many cases underlying diseases such immune deficiency can promote these infections.

Case Presentation: A 43-year-old male of Southeast Asian origin presented to our tertiary care hospital with persistent cervical lymphadenopathy non-responsive to antibiotics.

Swallowing and Speaking Evaluation After Resection and Reconstruction Versus Definite Radiochemotherapy for (Sub)total Tongue Cancer.

Background: In very advanced tongue cancer, definite radiochemotherapy (RCHT) is often preferred over total or near total glossectomy due to organ preservation and functionality, particularly swallowing.

Methods: This retrospective study compares the functionality and survival of 10 patients with very advanced tongue cancer who received (sub)total glossectomy with prior or adjuvant RCHT and reconstruction by a musculocutaneous anterolateral thigh flap. All 10 patients had comparable tongue carcinomas treated by definite RCHT.

Measurement of inferior colliculus volume based on MRI image stacks and its relationship with age and hearing status.

The inferior colliculus is a key nucleus in the central auditory pathway, integrating acoustic stimuli from both cochleae and playing a crucial role in sound localization. It undergoes functional and structural development in childhood and experiences age-related degeneration later in life, contributing to the progression of age-related hearing loss. This study aims at finding out, whether the volume of the human inferior colliculus can be determined by analysis of routinely performed MRIs and whether there is any age-related variation.

De-intensification of postoperative radiotherapy in head and neck cancer irrespective of human papillomavirus status-results of a prospective multicenter phase II trial (DIREKHT Trial).

Background: Current standard treatment concepts in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are based on former studies using 2D and 3D treatment plans. However, modern radiation techniques allow for a more precise and individual dose application. Therefore, in a clearly defined patient population, de-intensified risk-adapted radiation is investigated.

Laryngectomy plus postoperative radio(system)therapy versus primary radio(system) therapy for the treatment of locally advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer - results from the University Clinical Cancer Registry Regensburg.

Background: There are few adequate randomized clinical trials directly comparing the therapeutic options of primary laryngectomy (pLE) vs. primary radio(system)therapy (pR(S)T) in patients with locally advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma and thus little clear scientific evidence to decide which patients will benefit most from which procedure.

Aims/objectives: Aim was to compare survival between the therapeutic options and to learn from the limitations of this study, especially in the context of improved clinical assessment.

Effect of hypoglossal nerve stimulation on snoring: an evaluation using objective acoustic parameters.

Study Objectives: Hypoglossal nerve stimulation is an established therapy for sleep apnea syndrome. Whether or not this therapy on snoring and nighttime noise exposure is effective and how strong this effect may be has not been objectively investigated thus far and was the aim of this study.

Methods: In 15 participants (14 males; age: 30-72 years; mean: 51.

MCT4 blockade increases the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade.

Background & Aims: Intratumoral lactate accumulation and acidosis impair T-cell function and antitumor immunity. Interestingly, expression of the lactate transporter monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) 4, but not MCT1, turned out to be prognostic for the survival of patients with rectal cancer, indicating that single MCT4 blockade might be a promising strategy to overcome glycolysis-related therapy resistance.

Methods: To determine whether blockade of MCT4 alone is sufficient to improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy, we examined the effects of the selective MCT1 inhibitor AZD3965 and a novel MCT4 inhibitor in a colorectal carcinoma (CRC) tumor spheroid model co-cultured with blood leukocytes in vitro and the MC38 murine CRC model in vivo in combination with an antibody against programmed cell death ligand-1(PD-L1).

Tracheoesophageal Fistula Closure in a Pediatric Patient Using a Supraclavicular Artery Island Flap.

Acquired tracheoesophageal fistulas can lead to large defects with fatal complications. Surgical management is challenging but necessary to prevent respiratory infections and poor weight gain. Therefore, a reliable and pliable flap like the pedicled supraclavicular artery island flap with its wide arc of rotation and robust vascularization is needed for reconstruction.

Targeting the microenvironment in the treatment of arteriovenous malformations.

Extracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are regarded as rare diseases and are prone to complications such as pain, bleeding, relentless growth, and high volume of shunted blood. Due to the high vascular pressure endothelial cells of AVMs are exposed to mechanical stress. To control symptoms and lesion growth pharmacological treatment strategies are urgently needed in addition to surgery and interventional radiology.

Closure of Nasal Septal Perforations Using a Diced Cartilage in Fascia Graft.

The spectrum of surgical techniques in the repair of nasal septal defects is wide. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of using a diced cartilage in fascia (DC-F) graft for successful closure of nasal septal perforations and to evaluate symptom reduction. This was a retrospective study of 18 patients undergoing surgical repair of symptomatic nasoseptal perforations of different etiologies using a DC-F graft from 2020 until 2021.

Use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in preoperative planning before resection of a second branchial cleft fistula.

In the head and neck area, a large proportion of clinically relevant fistulas occur in childhood. The present case describes the use of contrast enhanced ultrasound with intraductal administration of the contrast medium for preoperative visualization of the fistula duct in the case of a second brachial cleft fistula. This provided the surgeon with important additional information, such as the detailed course of the fistula and its relation to the large vessels of the neck.

Reconstruction of the Exenterated Orbit with an Island Pericranial Flap: A New Surgical Approach.

Unlabelled: Reconstruction of the bony socket after orbital exenteration is a matter of much debate. Prompt defect closure with a microvascular flap is desirable but involves a major surgical procedure and hence, places considerable burden on the patient. The new surgical technique presented here permits a technically simpler wound closure with fewer complications after orbital exenteration.

Head and neck oncology management in the time of COVID-19: results of a head and neck cancer center.

Purpose: Given the concerns about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care, we analyzed the treatment quality of the head and neck cancer center Regensburg before and throughout 2 years of the pandemic. We included data of 3 years to reflect the extended pandemic period as new developments continued to influence its course.

Methods: This retrospective review included all patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2019, 2020, and 2021 who had not started treatment elsewhere prior to being referred to the head and neck cancer center.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands: a pilot study of potential therapeutic targets and characterization of the immunological tumor environment and angiogenesis.

Background: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare type of cancer commonly occurring in salivary glands. It is characterized by slow but infiltrative growth, nerve infiltration and overall poor prognosis, with late recurrence and distant metastasis. The treatment of ACC is still limited to surgery and/or (adjuvant) radiotherapy.

TIMolol Nasal Spray as a Treatment for Epistaxis in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (TIM-HHT)-A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled, Cross-Over Trial.

To date, there is no approved local therapeutic agent for the treatment of epistaxis due to hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Several case reports suggest the topical use of timolol. This monocentric, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, cross-over study investigated whether the effectiveness of the standard treatment with a pulsed diode laser can be increased by also using timolol nasal spray.

[Measuring the cochlea using a tablet-based software package: influence of imaging modality and rater background].

Background: Cochlear duct length (CDL) is subject to significant individual variation. In the context of cochlear implantation, adapting the electrode array length to the CDL is of potential interest, as it has been associated with improvements in both speech recognition and sound quality. Using a tablet-based software package, it is possible to measure CDL at the level of the organ of Corti (CDL) to select appropriate electrode array lengths based on individual cochlear anatomy.