A systematic review of case reports in spontaneous regression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was carried out to investigate the pattern and characteristics of this phenomenon.

A systematic search of case studies of spontaneously regressed head and neck SCC was carried out in Ovid Embase, Ovid Medline and Pubmed. Methodological quality was assessed by ascertainment of diagnosis and overall details of reports. Outcomes included patient demographics, head and neck SCC characteristics and clinical course of disease.

A total of 8 cases were included and 50 per cent (n = 4) of the reported cases were SCC of the vocal folds. All cases received a surgical biopsy and three cases had possible febrile episodes preceding regression. The mean length of time to regression was 4.3 months.

Spontaneous regression in head and neck SCC is likely to be under-reported. A better understanding of how the host immune system can instigate an antitumour response will shed light on the development of novel treatments.

Temporal bone osteoradionecrosis is a rare but significant complication of radiation for head and neck malignancies. Various management techniques have been described, but no clear protocol exists.

A retrospective case review of patients with temporal bone osteoradionecrosis managed over 15 years was carried out to highlight multidisciplinary team (MDT) management. The review findings were compared with the published literature and a protocol was derived for the management of future cases.

A total of 20 patients were included. The sites of osteoradionecrosis included the external auditory canal, the middle ear and the lateral skull base, presenting with features including recalcitrant pain, infection, neuropathies and intracranial sepsis. Treatments included hyperbaric oxygen, antibiotics, debridement and, in advanced cases, lateral temporal bone resection with vascularised tissue transfer. Post-operative and long-term outcomes were discussed.

Early temporal bone osteoradionecrosis may be managed conservatively. Refractory osteoradionecrosis can be life-threatening because of intracranial complications and sepsis. Such cases need an MDT approach with radical skull-base surgery for removal of necrotic foci and reconstruction using vascularised tissue transfer.

In this study, we reviewed the post-operative complications in parotidectomy and its association with various patient, tumour and surgical factors.

All parotidectomies performed in our regional unit between 2013 to 2020 were identified. Electronic medical record and clinic letters were reviewed for any post-operative complications. A logistical regression model was applied on data collected on twelve patient factors, three tumour factors and four surgical factors.

379 cases of parotidectomy were identified in the eight-year study period. 55% (n = 210) were documented with nine types of post-operative complications. This study identified age >80 (odds ratio = 1.89, p = 0.018), active smoker (odds ratio = 0.94, p = 0.018), total parotidectomy approach (odds ratio = 1.77, p = 0.012), longer operation time (odds ratio = 0.006, p = 0.015) and hypertension (odds ratio = 1.23, p = 0.019) were associated with a higher risk of facial nerve palsy. Predictive factors were also identified for auricular nerve numbness and Frey syndrome.

This study revealed the incidences and potential predictors of post-operative complications in parotidectomy. Notably, the grade of operator (consultants/ registrars) had no effect on the possibility of adverse outcome, reflecting patient safety was not compromised for training. These findings can be used in patient counselling and guide treatment options to minimise post-operative complications.

The larynx is the second most prevalent subsite for head and neck cancer. Over half of head and neck cancer patients present with advanced disease. We report our regional practices for palliative intent laryngeal squamous cell cancer (SCC).

Retrospective analysis of patients with laryngeal SCC treated with palliative intent, discussed at the regional head and neck multidisciplinary team meeting from July 2010 to June 2016.

A total of 65 patients were included, of whom 45 per cent had potentially curable disease but were not fit for curative treatment. Nine patients (14 per cent) underwent tracheostomy, with mean survival and hospital stay of 278 and 48 days, respectively. Four patients (6 per cent) underwent debulking surgery with mean survival and hospital stay of 214 and 1 days, respectively.

All palliative treatment measures offered to patients can have an impact on survival and quality of life. Patients should be at the centre of the decision-making process and counselled on the potential impact of interventions.

Out-patient channelled endoscopic local anaesthetic biopsy reduces the time to diagnosis and wider use may improve cancer pathway times. This study aimed to assess the practice of ENT surgeons using channelled local anaesthetic biopsy.

A survey was distributed nationally, containing questions about out-patient local anaesthetic biopsy.

In total, 58 responses were returned; only 12 per cent of respondents (n = 7) used general anaesthetic biopsy. The advantages of local anaesthetic biopsy were: the avoidance of general anaesthetic for patients with poor performance scores (95 per cent, n = 55) and faster cancer pathway times (91 per cent, n = 53). Disadvantages were: clinics running late (29 per cent, n = 17) and complications (24 per cent, n = 14). The main barrier to using local anaesthetic was access to channelled flexible endoscopy (38 per cent, n = 22), with 43 per cent (n = 25) reporting they were not using out-patient channelled endoscopes but would be interested in using them.

Surgeons are interested in using channelled endoscopic local anaesthetic biopsy, but they are limited by access to equipment. Increased use of channelled endoscopes may improve national cancer pathway times and avoid challenging general anaesthetics.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, ENT-UK recommended a move from face-to-face clinics to telephone appointments. This study reviewed the safety of telephone clinics for urgent two-week-wait cancer referrals.

Patients consulted in telephone clinics between April and November 2020 were identified from an electronic database. Study patients included those diagnosed with malignant disease at six months. The Head and Neck Cancer Risk Calculator version 2 score, outcome of the initial clinic and final diagnoses were reviewed.

A total of 1062 patients were triaged in clinic; 9.2 per cent (n = 98) were diagnosed with cancer at 6 months. Of these 98 patients, 69 received an urgent face-to-face appointment, 26 underwent urgent scans and 3 had a delayed telephone review. Twenty patients (20.4 per cent) diagnosed with cancer had a low-risk Head and Neck Cancer Risk Calculator score.

The late diagnosis rate of 0.28 per cent suggests a small proportion of cancer could have been missed. Telephone clinics, whilst a pragmatic means to maintain patient flow during the pandemic, could result in late diagnoses.

Image enhancement systems are important diagnostic tools in the detection of laryngeal pathologies. This study aimed to compare three different image enhancement systems: professional image enhancement technology, Image1 S and narrow-band imaging.

Using the three systems, 100 patients with laryngeal lesions were investigated using a flexible and a 30° rigid endoscope. The lesions were diagnosed by three experts and classified using the Ni classification. The findings were compared.

Lesions classified as ‘benign’ were histopathologically confirmed in 50 per cent of patients, malignant lesions were confirmed in 41 per cent and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis were confirmed in 9 per cent. There was no significant difference between the experts’ assessments of each image enhancement system.

The three systems give comparable results in the detection of laryngeal lesions. With two additional systems, more users can perform image-enhanced endoscopy, resulting in a broadly available tool that can help to improve oncological assessment.

Digital health tools are increasingly being recognised as effective interventions in monitoring chronic health conditions. This systematic review addressed how digital health is currently utilised in patients with head and neck cancer as an adjunct to care.

Studies of the development or evaluation of an eHealth, telemedicine or telemonitoring tool were eligible. A narrative synthesis was performed as per Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses reporting guidelines.

Twenty-nine studies of digital health tools in head and neck cancer were identified. Nine were randomised, controlled trials but most had concern of bias. Fourteen (48 per cent) of the interventions used multiple modes of delivery. The primary digital tool functions are symptom tracking and self-care, prehabilitation and rehabilitation, psychological support, and education, including decision aids. Most tools aimed to support patients during active cancer treatment.

There are a small number of digital health tools for head and neck cancer patients; however, there is a lack of well-designed randomised, controlled trials to demonstrate effectiveness.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic led to increased pressure on health services, which, combined with variable social restrictions, led to decreased referrals for head and neck cancer. This study assessed whether there were lasting changes to head and neck cancer referrals during different stages of the pandemic response in 2020 and 2021.

A retrospective review was conducted of all cases referred for suspected head and neck cancer to our institution in January 2020, April 2020, April 2021 and June 2021.

There was a rebound 91 per cent increase in referrals between April 2020 and April 2021 following the 59 per cent decrease in referrals between January 2020 and April 2020. Males made up 47.1 per cent of referrals in January 2020, 40 per cent in April 2020 and 37.82 per cent in April 2021.

Further research is recommended to investigate the reasons why there is a continued decline in male referrals and the effect this has on their outcomes.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is caused by difficulty in bolus preparation and transport from the mouth to the oesophagus; this may result in malnutrition and aspiration pneumonia. It has a high prevalence in head and neck cancer patients. The objective of this study is to reduce these complications using a new protocol of diagnosis and evaluation of oropharyngeal dysphagia.

This is a prospective study developed in a secondary hospital. All patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer in 2021 and 2022 are subjected to this protocol: an oropharyngeal dysphagia screening test, a swallowing-related quality of life questionnaire and a flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallow.

A total of 72 evaluations are reported using this protocol, before and after cancer treatment, and only 1 presents with aspiration pneumonia.

Using this protocol, the incidence of aspiration pneumonia can be reduced, and diet recommendations can be given earlier in order to maintain a patient's nutritional requirements.

Given the uncertainty regarding the predictive value of unilateral tonsillar enlargement and/or lesion in malignancies, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of unilateral tonsillar enlargement and/or lesion referral criterion in the adult suspected head and neck cancer pathway.

All two-week wait referrals received in 2018–2019 were reviewed. All patients referred with unilateral tonsillar enlargement and/or lesion were included and analysed for patient demographic data, presenting symptoms, initial clinic outcomes and final diagnoses.

A total of 4934 urgent head and neck cancer referrals were analysed, and 1.9 per cent of these had unilateral tonsillar enlargement and/or lesion. Only 10 patients were diagnosed with tonsil cancer. All the positive tonsil cancer cases had at least one additional head and neck red flag symptom.

The referral criterion for unilateral tonsillar enlargement and/or lesion may be of limited benefit in an already economically challenged National Health Service. Further multicentre studies should be undertaken to refine conclusions on the value of unilateral tonsillar enlargement and/or lesion alone as a criterion for the head and neck cancer two-week wait pathway.

This study aimed to evaluate the perceived quality of life, unmet needs and psychological distress in patients with head and neck cancer in a rural setting in New Zealand.

Patients presenting with head and neck cancer in Northland, New Zealand, were asked to complete questionnaires on quality of life, unmet needs, and anxiety or depression together with a free-text option.

About one quarter of respondents (27 per cent) scored high in the anxiety and depression scale, with corresponding diminished quality of life scores and increased needs. Over half of respondents (54 per cent) found it challenging to travel for treatment. Financial difficulties were encountered more frequently with indigenous patients. Rurality alone does not lead to significant differences in quality of life or needs.

After treatment for head and neck cancer, it is important to monitor and manage patients’ psychological distress and ease of access to health services to improve quality of life.

For low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia cases, pharyngolaryngeal lesions equal to or less than 5 mm in size do not generally progress to invasive carcinoma. However, micro-superficial lesions equal to or less than 5 mm that showed rapid growth have been recently encountered. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of preferential progression of lesions equal to or less than 5 mm in size.

Gross findings, endoscopic findings and pathological results of 55 lesions measuring equal to or less than 5 mm in diameter were retrospectively reviewed to identify factors that distinguish squamous cell carcinoma or high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia from low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia or non-atypia lesions.

The overall sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive value of background colouration and intrapapillary capillary loop pattern in differentiation of squamous cell carcinoma or high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia from low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia or non-atypia lesions were all 100 per cent.

Diagnosis based on background colouration and the intrapapillary capillary loop pattern on narrow-band imaging facilitates the pathological examination of lesions measuring equal to or less than 5 mm.

Delay in the diagnosis of head and neck cancer can result in significant excess morbidity and mortality. How the pandemic has affected patient presentation in Scotland is unknown.

This retrospective cohort study compared all presentations of head and neck cancer between June and October of 2019 with the same period following the peak of the pandemic in 2020 in West Scotland, a region populated by 2.5 million people.

A total of 528 patients met our inclusion criteria. Compared with 2019, patients in 2020 were more likely to present with a higher American Joint Committee on Cancer stage (odds ratio, 1.67 (95 per cent confidence interval = 1.20 to 2.31); p = 0.002), a longer preceding symptom duration (odds ratio, 2.03 (95 per cent confidence interval = 1.44 to 2.87; p < 0.001) and to have an emergency presentation (odds ratio, 2.53, (95 per cent confidence interval = 1.15 to 5.55; p = 0.017).

Patients are presenting later with more advanced head and neck cancer following the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Effective nasal reconstruction requires skin and soft tissue cover, cartilage or bone structure, and mucosal lining. Ideal lining is thin, pliable and vascularised, making reconstruction challenging. This paper presents the first case series with long-term outcomes of pericranial flaps used as inner lining for nasal reconstruction.

Patients undergoing paramedial forehead flaps from 2007 to 2019 were identified using second-stage nasal reconstruction billing codes. Patients with pericranial flaps for lining, for whom there were data on resulting outcomes and complications, were identified.

Sixty-six patients underwent second-stage nasal reconstruction. Eighteen patients had paramedian forehead and pericranial flaps for inner lining reconstruction. The flap lining had no immediate post-operative complications. Three patients suffered partial to major reconstructive failure post radiotherapy. Other complications included nasal stenosis and orocutaneous fistula.

Combined with paramedian forehead flaps, the pericranial flap is reliable as inner lining for nasal reconstruction. It is easily accessible and useful in resections with limited mucosal options.

Adverse swallowing outcomes following head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treatment in the context of late-onset post-radiotherapy changes can occur more than five years post-treatment.

A retrospective study was conducted utilising patient records from March 2013 to April 2015. Patients were categorised into ‘swallow dysfunction’ and ‘normal swallow’ groups. Quality of life was investigated using the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory and EuroQol questionnaires.

Swallow dysfunction was seen in 77 (51 per cent) of 152 patients. Twenty-eight patients (36 per cent) in the swallow dysfunction group reported symptoms in year five. Swallow dysfunction was associated with stage IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (p < 0.001) and radiotherapy (p < 0.001). MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory global scores showed significant differences between swallow dysfunction and normal swallow groups (p = 0.01), and radiotherapy and surgery groups (p = 0.03), but there were no significant differences between these groups in terms of MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory composite or EuroQol five-dimensions instrument scores.

One-third of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma survivors with swallow dysfunction still show symptoms at more than five years post-surgery, a point at which they are typically discharged.

Several guidelines have been produced for the management of nutrition in patients with head and neck cancer. However, no systematic evaluation of the quality of these guidelines has been performed to date.

A comprehensive search was conducted up to August 2020. The quality of guidelines was assessed by four independent reviewers using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation, 2nd edition.

Nine guidelines were assessed for critical evaluation. Only two guidelines were classified as ‘high quality’. The ‘scope and purpose’ domain achieved the highest mean score (75.5 ± 17.0 per cent), and the lowest domain mean score was ‘applicability’ (37.6 ± 23.0 per cent).

These findings highlight the variability in the methodological quality of guidelines for the management of nutrition in head and neck cancer. These results may help to improve the reporting of future guidelines and guide the selection for use in clinical practice.

This study aimed to assess the current literature on the safety and impact of in-office biopsy on cancer waiting times as well as review evidence regarding cost-efficacy and patient satisfaction.

A search of Cinahl, Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, Prospero, PubMed and Web of Science was conducted for papers relevant to this study. Included articles were quality assessed and critically appraised.

Of 19 741 identified studies, 22 articles were included. Lower costs were consistently reported for in-office biopsy compared with operating room biopsy. Four complications requiring intervention were documented. In-office biopsy is highly tolerated, with a procedure abandonment rate of less than 1 per cent. When compared with operating room biopsy, it is associated with significantly reduced time-to-diagnosis and time-to-treatment initiation. It is linked to improved overall three-year survival.

In-office biopsy is a safe procedure that may help certain patients avoid general anaesthetic. It was shown to significantly reduce time-to-diagnosis and time-to-treatment initiation when compared with operating room biopsy. This may have important implications for oncological outcomes. In-office biopsy requires fewer resources and is likely to be cost-saving five-years following introduction. With high rates of sensitivity and specificity, in-office biopsy should be considered as the first-line procedure to achieve tissue diagnosis.

This study aimed to determine the number, reasons and costs of surgical voice restoration related tracheoesophageal valve attendances over 36 months at a head and neck oncology unit.

Demographic, medical and valve related details from all patient contacts were recorded, including self-change information, urgent appointment information, modifications required and costs of prostheses.

Over 3 years, 99 patients underwent 970 valve changes. The main reasons for changes were central leakage, prophylactic change and self-change at home. Changes were significantly more frequent in the first 12 months (mean, 42 days) compared with longstanding patients (mean, 109.96). Intervals between changes were unpredictable; no predictive factors reached statistical significance. Mean expenditure on valves was £966.63 per week (including value added tax and in-house customisation).

Valve lifespan is comparable with outcomes in similar units despite more pre-emptive and patient-led changes and more comprehensive data inclusion. Investigation into how patient satisfaction and costs relate to valve selection and units’ service delivery models is needed.

Patients with coronavirus disease vaccine associated lymphadenopathy are increasingly being referred to healthcare services. This work is the first to report on the incidence, clinical course and imaging features of coronavirus disease vaccine associated cervical lymphadenopathy, with special emphasis on the implications for head and neck cancer services.

This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients referred to our head and neck cancer clinics between 16 December 2020 and 12 March 2021. The main outcomes measured were the proportion of patients with vaccine-associated cervical lymphadenopathy, and the clinical and imaging characteristics.

The incidence of vaccine-associated cervical lymphadenopathy referrals was 14.8 per cent (n = 13). Five patients (38.5 per cent) had abnormal-looking enlarged and rounded nodes with increased vascularity. Only seven patients (53.9 per cent) reported full resolution within an average of 3.1 ± 2.3 weeks.

Coronavirus disease vaccine associated cervical lymphadenopathy can mimic malignant lymphadenopathy and therefore might prove challenging to diagnose and manage correctly. Healthcare services may encounter a significant increase in referrals.