A significant increase of 61.6 % in new cases of head and neck cancer (HNC) worldwide is projected by 2050. Multimodal treatments for HNC often result in debilitating oral side effects like oral mucositis (OM). Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy shows promise in managing these side effects, yet standardized protocols are lacking. This randomized clinical trial aims to evaluate PBM's effectiveness in preventing and treating oral side effects and related symptoms in HNC patients.

Theeighth edition oftheAmerican Joint Committee onCancer (AJCC) Staging Manualclassifies pT1-3N1M0 oralcavity squamous cellcarcinoma (OCSCC) asp-Stage III. However, the prognosis within this group is heterogeneous, and the clinical benefit of adjuvant therapy for patients with a single nodal metastasis remains unclear.Here, we analyzed nationwide data from Taiwan to assess survival outcomes and examine the role of adjuvant therapy in this population.

Aspiration pneumonia is a major cause of non-cancer mortality following radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. This study aims to investigate its incidence and risk factors in patients receiving adjuvant radiotherapy for oral cavity cancer (OCC).

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a rare malignancy typically involving the skeletal system, but it can present in extraskeletal sites (EES). Primary Ewing sarcoma of the parotid gland is extremely rare, with few cases reported. We present a case of a 24-year-old male with a rapidly growing left parotid mass diagnosed as EES through immunohistochemistry and confirmed by molecular testing. The patient received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, leading to significant tumor reduction, followed by a radical parotidectomy. Histopathology showed residual tumor with over 90 % necrosis. The patient remains disease-free under active surveillance. The rarity of Ewing sarcoma in the parotid gland presents diagnostic challenges. This case emphasizes the importance of molecular testing in establishing the diagnosis and highlights the successful multimodal treatment approach combining chemotherapy and surgery. Literature on EES of the head and neck remains limited, and treatment guidelines continue to evolve.

Radiation-associated lymphedema and fibrosis (LEF) is a significant toxicity following radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Recently, the CT Lymphedema and Fibrosis Assessment Tool (CT-LEFAT) was developed to standardize LEF diagnosis through fat stranding visualized on CT. This study aims to evaluate the inter-observer reliability and diagnostic accuracy of the CT-LEFAT criteria.

Although various associations between venous thromboembolism (VTE) and head and neck cancer have been identified, limited data exist regarding the incidence of VTE in patients undergoing surgery for head and neck cancer. This study aims to investigate potential risk factors for VTE development in head and neck cancer patients and establish a risk assessment model to aid in risk stratification for these individuals.

To evaluate predictive impact of granular subsites of head/neck rhabdomyosarcoma in a cross-age evaluation of the population-based SEER-program.

Radiation-induced sarcomas (RIS) are rare entities that have been studied infrequently in large cohorts, with most data derived from case reports or small series. This study aims to systematically evaluate existing data to synthesize and consolidate current knowledge.

Oral malignant melanoma specifically denotes a rare subtype of melanoma originating in oral mucosa, characterized by a generally poor prognosis. Inhibitors targeting programmed cell death protein-1 or its ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) have become widely accepted as primary treatments for malignant melanoma. The current report describes a unique case of advanced gingival malignant melanoma treated with pembrolizumab monotherapy in a 67-year-old Asian female. The report comprehensively evaluates the therapeutic potential of pembrolizumab, as well as its immune-related adverse events (irAEs).

Pleomorphic adenomas are benign tumors that typically arise from the salivary glands, most commonly the parotid gland. However, they can also occur in minor salivary glands and ectopic salivary tissue, and in very rare cases, these tumors arise in the nasopharynx.

To systematically analyze the regional disease control of nasal vestibule squamous cell carcinoma (NVSCC) after primary treatment.

The INVERT trial is a prospective, monocentric, proof-of-principle phase 2clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) inpatients with resectable, locally advanced oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (LAOCSCC).

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is prevalent in Southern China and Southeast Asia, which is effectively managed through chemoradiotherapy for locoregionally advanced cases (LA-NPC). Despite current guidelines endorsing various rehabilitation regimens for surgery, evidence supporting the benefits of rehabilitation during systemic radiotherapy is scarce. Thus we introduce the Enhanced Recovery After Radiotherapy (ERAR) concept. We enrolled patients with stage III to IVA LA-NPC in this study. The ERAR group received comprehensive interventions encompassing nursing, oral care, psychology support, rehabilitation, nutrition, and skin health throughout their radiotherapy. The standard care group received conventional radiotherapy rehabilitation. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline, the 17th and 33rd radiotherapy sessions. Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate group by time effects on the outcomes, controlling for key covariates. A total of 104 LA-NPC patients with a mean age of 49.2 ± 10.9 years were enrolled in the study group from August 2021 to September 2023. The ERAR group showed significant improvements in quality of life (P = 0.014), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) anxiety (P < 0.001), HADS depression (P < 0.001), distress thermometer (P = 0.049), NRS2002 (P = 0.040), weight loss (P < 0.001), and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) (P = 0.040) scores outperforming the standard care group at all measured time points. The ERAR protocol significantly mitigates acute radiation-induced toxicities in LA-NPC patients. This study is anticipated to serve as a reference for clinicians and encourage the adoption of a standardized protocol aimed at facilitating rapid recovery post-radiotherapy.

The current TNM staging system does not fully address the variations in glottic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) extension and subsites involvement, especially if treated with transoral laser microsurgery (TOLMS). This study aims to evaluate the oncologic outcomes after TOLMS in intermediate-advanced glottic SCC, stratified by prognostic subcategories based on anatomical tumor extension.

Extranodal extension (ENE) is an important prognostic factor in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), often associated with poor survival outcomes. However, the current nodal (N) staging system may need to be revised to reflect the prognosis. Emerging evidence suggests that the number of positive lymph nodes may offer improved prognostic accuracy. This study evaluates the outcomes of OSCC patients with pathological ENE (pENE) and explores the prognostic significance of absolute positive lymph node count.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has emerged as a promising tool in the treatment of HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPSCC). This systematic review sought to answer the question: what is the current role of ctDNA in the diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of HPV-associated OPSCC?