University of Pittsburgh Department of Otolaryngology 2022 Publications JANUARY Joseph Dohar, MD Title: Pediatric otolaryngology telemedicine amid a pandemic - And beyond Authors: McCoy JL, Shaffer AD, Dohar JE Journal: Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Dec 28;153:111014; online ahead of print Summary: We conclude that telemedicine was equally well received by patients as compared to traditional live assessments suggesting that virtual care is a viable post-pandemic paradigm change. Satisfaction was rated as "Good" or "Excellent", however, messaging when surgery is not recommended was less acceptable and must be improved to obtain increased caregivers' agreement in an era of shared decision making. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34974276
Uma Duvvuri, MD, PhD Title: Phase I trial of cetuximab, radiation therapy, and ipilimumab in locally advanced head and neck cancer Authors: Ferris RL, Moskovitz J, Kunning S, Ruffin AT, Reeder C, Ohr J, Gooding WE, Kim S, Karlovits BJ, Vignali DAA, Duvvuri U, Johnson JT, Petro D, Heron DE, Clump DA, Bruno TC, Bauman JE. Journal: Clinical Cancer Research Summary: Concurrent radiation therapy (RT) with cetuximab, an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody (mAb), is a standard treatment for locally advanced head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC). CTLA-4+ T regulatory cells (Treg) dampen cellular immunity and correlate negatively with clinical outcomes. This phase I study added antiCTLA-4 mAb ipilimumab to cetuximab-RT. Link: https://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2022/01/28/1078-0432.CCR-21-0426.long Title: Poor treatment tolerance in head and neck cancer patients with low muscle mass Authors: Mascarella MA, Patel T, Vendra V, Gardiner L, Kergoat MJ, Kubik MW, Solari MG, Snyderman CH, Traylor KS, Ferris RL, Kim S, Duvvuri U, Sridharan SS Journal: Head and Neck Summary: We ascertain the role of a low cervical paraspinal skeletal muscle index (CPSMI) as a biomarker for poor treatment tolerance in patients with operable mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). A prospective cohort of patients with operable HNSCC requiring microvascular reconstruction was evaluated. Low CPSMI was calculated using preoperative CT neck imaging. Poor treatment tolerance, a composite measure of incomplete therapy or severe morbidity/mortality during treatment, was the primary outcome. One hundred and twenty-seven patients underwent extirpative surgery with a mean age was 60.5. Poor treatment tolerance occurred in 71 (56%) patients with 21 not completing recommended adjuvant therapy and 66 having severe treatment-related morbidity. A low CPSMI was independently associated with poor treatment tolerance (OR 2.49, 95%CI 1.10–5.93) and delay to adjuvant therapy (OR 4.48, 95%CI 1.07–27.6) after adjusting for multiple confounders. Low CPSMI was independently associated with poor treatment tolerance in patients with operable HNSCC. Link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10970347