CALLAS, PETER W.

ABSTRACT Objectives To characterize practice patterns and outcomes in the management of low‐ and intermediate‐grade salivary gland carcinoma prior to the existence of treatment guidelines. Methods Analysis of a registry of patients who underwent parotid and submandibular gland resections for low‐and intermediate‐grade carcinomas between 2010 and 2019. Results Of all 786 patients included in the study, 726 (92%) had preoperative imaging and 653 (83%) had preoperative biopsy. Of the 729 patients with parotid gland cancer, the majority underwent superficial ( n = 384, 53%) or total ( n = 254, 35%) parotidectomy. In patients with facial nerve preservation, total parotidectomy was associated with a significant increase in transient facial weakness (72/177 (41%) vs. 82/311 (26%), RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.50–0.84, p < 0.05) and permanent facial nerve weakness (23/176 (13%) vs. 16/301 (5%), RR 0.41, 95% CI 0.22–0.75, p < 0.05) compared to superficial parotidectomy. Adjuvant radiation therapy ( RT ) was delivered to 285 (36%) patients. The proportion of patients receiving adjuvant RT declined significantly over the time period from 2015 to 2019 compared to 2010 to 2014 at 162/504 (32%) and 123/282 (44%), respectively ( RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.61–0.89, p < 0.05). When comparing the time periods from 2015 to 2019 and 2010 to 2014, there was no significant difference in local control rates ( RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.26–1.04, p = 0.06) or regional control rates ( RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.26–2.13, p = 0.58). Conclusions Management of low‐ and intermediate‐grade salivary cancer from 2010 to 2019 was variable, which is expected given the rarity and heterogeneity of the disease and the lack of treatment guidelines prior to 2021. Most patients with parotid malignancies underwent superficial or total parotidectomy. The extent of parotidectomy had an impact on facial nerve function outcomes. Delivery of adjuvant radiation trended down with time. The data presented here will support dissemination of the guidelines and provide data that could inform future trials. Level of Evidence 2b.

ImportancePostoperative radiation therapy for close surgical margins in low- to intermediate-grade salivary carcinomas lacks multi-institutional supportive evidence.ObjectiveTo evaluate the oncologic outcomes for low- and intermediate-grade salivary carcinomas with close and positive margins.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThe American Head and Neck Society Salivary Gland Section conducted a retrospective cohort study from 2010 to 2019 at 41 centers. Margins were classified as R0 (negative), R1 (microscopically positive), or R2 (macroscopically positive). R0 margins were subclassified into clear (&amp;gt;1 mm) or close (≤1 mm). Data analysis was performed from June to October 2023.Main Outcomes and MeasuresMain outcomes were risk factors for local recurrence.ResultsA total of 865 patients (median [IQR] age at surgery, 56 [43-66] years; 553 female individuals [64%] and 312 male individuals [36%]) were included. Of these, 801 (93%) had parotid carcinoma and 64 (7%) had submandibular gland carcinoma, and 748 (86%) had low-grade tumors and 117 (14%) had intermediate-grade tumors, with the following surgical margins: R0 in 673 (78%), R1 in 168 (19%), and R2 in 24 (3%). Close margins were found in 395 of 499 patients with R0 margins (79%), for whom margin distances were measured. A total of 305 patients (35%) underwent postoperative radiation therapy. Of all 865 patients, 35 (4%) had local recurrence with a median (IQR) follow-up of 35.3 (13.9-59.1) months. In patients with close margins as the sole risk factor for recurrence, the local recurrence rates were similar between those who underwent postoperative radiation therapy (0 of 46) or observation (4 of 165 [2%]). Patients with clear margins (n = 104) had no recurrences. The local recurrence rate in patients with R1 or R2 margins was better in those irradiated (2 of 128 [2%]) compared to observed (13 of 64 [20%]) (hazard ratio [HR], 0.05; 95% CI, 0.01-0.24). Multivariable analysis for local recurrence found the following independent factors: age at diagnosis (HR for a 10-year increase in age, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.06-1.67), R1 vs R0 (HR, 5.21; 95% CI, 2.58-10.54), lymphovascular invasion (HR, 4.47; 95% CI, 1.43-13.99), and postoperative radiation therapy (HR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.04-0.29). The 3-year local recurrence-free survivals for the study population were 96% vs 97% in the close margin group.Conclusions and RelevanceIn this cohort study of patients with low- and intermediate-grade major salivary gland carcinoma, postoperative radiation therapy for positive margins was associated with decreased risk of local recurrence. In isolation from other risk factors for local recurrence, select patients with close surgical margins (≤1 mm) may safely be considered for observation.

Background: Levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 are altered in acute stroke patients compared to controls. However, results for IL-10 are inconsistent (higher in stroke patients compared to controls in some studies and decreased in others) and very few studies have examined associations of these biomarkers with risk of incident stroke. Methods: We examined associations of baseline levels of IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 with stroke risk factors and risk of incident stroke in 1,572 white and black men and women from the REGARDS Study; an observational cohort of 30,239 adults followed for 5 years. Among those without prebaseline stroke, stroke cases (n=592, 53% men, 59% white, mean age 70 years) were compared to a cohort random sample (n=980, 44% men, 58% white, mean age 65 years). We used Cox proportional hazards models to examine associations of biomarkers with incident stroke. Hazard ratios (HR; 95% confidence intervals) for highest compared to lowest quartile for each biomarker are presented. Results: Baseline IL-6 was significantly higher in incident stroke cases compared to the cohort sample (p<0.001) while IL-8 and IL-10 levels did not vary significantly (p>0.05 for both). Adjusting for age, sex and race, IL-6 was higher in blacks compared to whites and higher in current smokers compared to never/former smokers (all p≤0.01). IL-6 was inversely associated with physical activity, alcohol use and education (all p≤0.01). IL-8 and IL-10 did not vary significantly with the risk factors examined. Adjusting for age, sex and race, the HR for risk of incident stroke in those in the highest compared to lowest quartile of IL-6 was 2.4 (1.6-3.4). HRs for IL-8 and IL-10 were 1.5 (1.0-2.1) and 1.4 (1.0-1.9), respectively. Adjusting for Framingham stroke risk factors and history of coronary heart disease, only IL-6 remained significantly associated with stroke risk (HR 2.0; 1.3-3.2). HRs for IL-8 and IL-10 were 1.1 (0.7-1.6) and 1.2 (0.8-1.8), respectively. IL-6 remained significantly associated with stroke risk when C-reactive protein was added to the model (HR 1.7; 1.1-2.7). Associations did not differ by race. Conclusions: In this population-based sample of US black and white adults, IL-6, but not IL-8 or IL-10, was associated with stroke risk factors and risk of incident stroke. Further study is needed on the clinical utility of IL-6 measurement in stroke risk assessment.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is one of the highest volume surgeries performed annually. We hypothesized that there is a statistically significant intradepartmental cost variance with supply utilization variability amongst surgeons of different subspecialty. This study sought to describe laparoscopic cholecystectomy cost of care among three subspecialties of surgeons. This retrospective observational cohort study captured 372 laparoscopic cholecystectomy cases performed between June 2015 and June 2016 by 12 surgeons divided into three subspecialties: 2 in bariatric surgery (BS), 5 in acute care surgery (ACS), and 5 in general surgery (GS). The study utilized a third-party software, Surgical Profitability Compass Procedure Cost Manager and Crimson System (SPCMCS) (The Advisory Board Company, Washington, DC), to stratify case volume, supply cost, case duration, case severity level, and patient length of stay intradepartmentally. Statistical methods included the Kruskal-Wallis test. Average composite supply cost per case was $569 and median supply cost per case was $554. The case volume was 133 (BS), 109 (ACS), and 130 (GS). The median intradepartmental total supply cost was $674.5 (BS), $534 (ACS), and $564 (GS) (P<0.005). ACS and GS presented with a higher standard deviation of cost, $98 (ACS) and $110 (GS) versus $26 (BS). The median case duration was 70 min (BS), 107 min (ACS), and 78 min (GS) (P<0.02). The average patient length of stay was 1.15 (BS), 3.10 (ACS), and 1.17 (GS) (P<0.005). Overall, there was a statistically significant difference in median supply cost (highest in BS; lowest in ACS and GS). However, the higher supply costs may be attenuated by decreased operative time and patient length of stay. Strategies to reduce total supply cost per case include mandating exchange of expensive items, standardization of supply sets, increased price transparency, and education to surgeons.

AbstractIRD organs are classified by the Public Health Service to be at above‐average risk for harboring human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C, and hepatitis B. Traditionally underutilized, there exists even greater reluctance for their use in pediatric patients. We performed a retrospective analysis via the United Network for Organ Sharing database of all pediatric renal and hepatic transplants performed from 2004 to 2008 in the United States. Primary outcomes were patient and graft survival. Proportional hazards regression was performed to control for potentially confounding factors. Waitlist time, organ acceptance rates, and infectious transmissions were analyzed. There were 1830 SRD renal, 92 IRD renal, 1695 SRD hepatic, and 59 IRD hepatic transplants. There were no statistically significant differences in allograft or patient survival in either group. Acceptance rates of IRD organs were lower for kidney (1.5% IRD vs 4.82% SRD) and liver (1.99% IRD vs 4.51% SRD). One transmission of a bloodborne pathogen involving a pediatric recipient out of 7797 unique transplants was reported from 2008 to 2015. IRD organs appear to have equivalent outcomes. Increasing their utilization may improve access to transplant while decreasing wait times and circumventing waitlist morbidity and mortality.