Stanisław Bień

Is to demonstrate epidemiological and clinical parameters of the group of patients with sinonasal malignancies and to analyze its impact on development of recurrences after primary surgical treatment conducted in Head and Neck Surgery Department of Holly Cross Cancer Center Kielce during 7-years period 2001-2007. The retrospective analysis of the group of 42 patients with sinonasal malignancies was made, based on medical record and outpatient follow-up, considering: age, sex, primary focus, histological outcome, local and clinical stage and methods of the therapy. In the group of patients with at least 3-years period of follow-up (n=42) the dependence the rate of oncological failures such as local recurrence, nodal metastases, distant metastases or the second primary focus on clinical and epidemiological factors was analyzed. The probability of survival rate was also estimated. The studied group consists of 42 patients (27M, 15K, M:K = 1.8:1). Age ranged from 28 to 87. The most common localization was maxillary sinus--59.5%. Patients with high local (T3, T4) and clinical (III, IV) stage constitute 77.5% of the studied group. In 66.7% cases the radiation therapy had to follow the surgery. In the group of 42 patients with at least 3-years period of follow-up the oncological failure appeared in 17 cases (40.5%): local recurrence (8), nodal metastases (7), distant metastases (1) and all of them in 1 case. The treatment was performed through: local recurrence (surgery in 2 cases, CHTH--3, symptomatic treatment--3), nodal metastases (RND--3, SND--4, supplementary radiotherapy--7), distant metastases--CHTH--2 cases. Thanks to these procedures the 5-year survival rate is 23.1% and the 3-year survival rate is 29.4%. (1) The oncological failure after primary surgical treatment in the group of patients with sinonasal malignancies developed in 40.5% cases, mainly as local recurrence or nodal metastases. (2) Primary localization and sex have no impact on the rate of the recurrence. (3) The oncological failures significantly more often relate to young patients with high local, clinical stage and low grade of malignancies. (4) The recurrence after primary surgical treatment in the group of patients with sinonasal malignancies substantially reduces 3- and 5-year survival rate (29.4%; 23.1%) compared with the entire studied group--54.8%; 40.0%.

The goal of this randomized controlled study was to investigate the effect of Heat and Moisture Exchanger use on pulmonary symptoms and quality of life aspects in laryngectomized patients. Eighty laryngectomized patients were included and randomized into an HME and Control group. The effect of the HME was evaluated by means of Tally Sheets and Structured Questionnaires. The results showed a significant decrease in the frequency of coughing, forced expectoration, and stoma cleaning in the HME group. There were trends for the prosthetic speakers to report more fluent speech with the HME and for the HME group to report fewer sleeping problems. In conclusion, this study, performed in Poland, confirms the results of previous studies performed in other countries, showing that pulmonary symptoms decrease significantly with HME use and that related aspects such as speech and sleeping tend to improve, regardless of country or climate.

The aim of the study was to examine whether pleomorphic adenoma of salivary glands can occur on the basis of constitutional BRCA-1 mutations. Two hundred and sixty-eight patients affected by mixed tumour of salivary glands were examined for occurrence of three BRCA-1 mutations dominating in Poland. BRCA-1 mutation was detected in only one of the patients, a female affected by breast cancer and pleomorphic adenoma of parotid gland. Parotid gland tumour showed clinical and histopathological features of typical pleomorphic adenoma with no morphological features of high-grade malignancy, which are characteristic of BRCA-1-dependent tumours. Considering the low frequency of BRCA-1 mutation in the examined group and also the absence of features characterizing BRCA-1-dependent tumours in the only BRCA-1-positive case, pleomorphic adenoma of salivary glands should not be recognized as a BRCA-1 dependent tumour.

A retrospective analysis was performed of 12,888 cases of larynx and hypopharynx carcinoma diagnosed in 19 ENT Departments in Poland during an 11-year period from 1991 to 2001. An assessment of basic epidemiological data, including also tumor site and disease stage at the time of diagnosis, was conducted. Epidemiological trends over the 11-year period of the analysis were examined. The average M:F proportion was 8:1, with a significant increase in the number of female patients during the analyzed period. The predominant localization of carcinoma was in the glottis (47.2%), followed by the supraglottis (40.3%) and pyriform sinus (7.8%). A significant increase in pyriform sinus tumors was observed in the analyzed period. Majority of cases (57.4%) presented with local advanced stage (T3 + T4) carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx, with the highest rate (81.0%) for the pyriform sinus carcinomas, and with the lowest rate for glottic tumors (41.8%). Regional lymph node metastases were diagnosed in 47.7% of the analyzed cases, with the highest rate (82.2%) in cases of pyriform sinus carcinomas, and the lowest (31.7%) in glottic carcinomas. In the 11-year period, a significant drop in N0 cases and a tendency toward increased rates of N2 and N3 lymph nodes metastases cases of supraglottic carcinoma were observed. Distant metastases at the time of diagnosis were registered in 2.2% of the analyzed cases, with the highest percentage in the posterior pharyngeal wall (7.6%) and pyriform sinus (7.4%) carcinomas.

The 5 cases of salivary duct carcinoma (SDC); very rare, but distinct group of highly malignant salivary gland tumor are presented, and difficulties with pathological and clinical diagnosis is discussed. The SDC developed in single cases in parotid salivary gland, submandibular salivary and in mucosa of maxillary sinus, pyriform fossa and oral cavity (check). In 3 cases the second malignant tumor was present--synchronously (SDC + pleomorphic adenoma in parotid gland; SDC + squamous cell carcinoma in hypopharynx) or metachroneously (squamous cell carcinoma of upper lip followed by SDC). In one case the high levels of PSA suggesting of metastases from unknown primary within the prostate gland, or PSA expression related to SDC was observed. The four patients received radical treatment - surgical resection followed by radiotherapy; in one case only palliative treatment was applied, due to patient's poor general condition and high advancement of the primary disease. The observation ranged from 10 to 77 months (average time--31 months). The one patient died 13 months after diagnosis and palliative treatment. The three patients are alive with distant metastases to the lung and bones (77, 38 and 18 months after primary treatment was completed). Only one patient with 10 months observation after treatment is living without symptoms of recurrence or metastases.

Surgical rehabilitation of voice and speech, with implantation of Provox 2 voice prosthesis is becoming a standard procedure in Poland in the last few years. Still some opinions are raised, considering the potential risk of complications, particularly, when tracheo-esophageal puncture is finally located in the irradiated tissue. The assessment of safety, and analysis of complication encountered with tracheo-esophageal puncture, and implantation of voice prosthesis. The 106 cases of patients treated with mentioned above method. The primary implantation was performed in 73 (68,9%) cases; the secondary implantation in 33 (31,1%). The 85 (80,2%) patients received radiotherapy before, or after implantation. In the analyzed period (2002-2004) apart of 106 implantations, the replacement of 132 prostheses was performed. There was only one, potentially life-threatening complication recorded in the analyzed group of 106 patients--inhalation of prosthesis to tracheo-bronchial tree. The most common complications directly related to implantation were: infection in the place of created fistula after secondary implantation 4/33(12,1%), and spontaneous partial extrusion of prosthesis with occlusion of created fistula tract 8/106 (7,5%). The average lifetime of prosthesis in place, was 9,8 months in irradiated field, and 9,7 months in patients who did not received radiotherapy. Surgical rehabilitation of voice and speech, with implantation of vocal prosthesis is safe and reliable procedure. The radiotherapy applied before or after creation of tracheo-esophageal fistula is not a contra indication for this method. Generally low rate of complications is similar in both groups--who does received or not received radiotherapy. Also the stability of implanted prostheses were similar in both groups.

Ipsilateral salivary gland tumors of different histological types are very rare. Out of 196 parotidectomies performed (from 03. 2001 to 12. 2005), in 6 (3.06%) cases synchronous tumors of different type has been found in pathologic specimens. In 5 cases pleomorphic adenoma was one of synchronous tumor--in 2 cases with adenocarcinoma and in single cases with salivary duct carcinoma, adenolymphoma, and myoepithelioma. In one case, the adenolymphoma was synchronous with carcinoma planoepitheliale metastaticum from the primary in the skin post auricular area (late metastasis). Following the review of literature concerning the problem, two concepts has been critically discussed--the real synchronous occurrence of two different tumors, and transformation of benign tumor of salivary neoplasm to its malignant form.

The basic epidemiological data concerning laryngeal carcinoma in Poland were presented, and risk factors in laryngeal carcinoma were reviewed. The premalignant laryngeal lesions, grading of squamous cell carcinoma, and rare malignant tumors of the larynx were discussed. Apart of presentation of actual TNM classification of laryngeal carcinoma, the established criteria of local advancement assessment, and anatomical terms introduced in new TNM system were clarified.

The signs and symptoms of acute pharyngitis was described, and principles of diagnostic and therapeutic approach was discussed, concentrating on differentiation between the various forms of virus and bacterial pharyngitis. The economical and clinical importance of rational diagnosis of acute pharyngitis was pointed out, in aspect of antibiotic prescribing limited to acute streptococcal tonsillitis.