The 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, which took place May 31-June 4 in Chicago, drew more than 32,000 oncology specialists from around the world. The theme of 2019 ASCO conference was "Caring for Every Patient, Learning from Every Patient". Among the topics of interest covered were new approaches to surmount limited access to cancer care and the latest advances in targeted therapies for pancreatic, prostate cancers and soft tissue sarcomas. In the field of head and neck cancer, 8 oral abstracts and 75 poster abstracts were presented at this meeting. In this review, we are going to summarize the eight studies that have been presented orally. The topics are recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma for two abstracts (#6000, #6002), salivary duct carcinoma for one abstract (#6001), locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma for two abstracts (#6003, #6004), oropharyngeal carcinoma for two abstracts (#6006, #6008), and oral cavity cancer for one abstract (#6007).

Background/Objectives: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has generally an indolent character with a good prognosis. However, recurrence remains a major concern for the patients during their lifetime. Despite the slowly progressing character of PTC, recurrence can occur within a short period after initial surgery. This study aimed to determine the clinical findings and cause of recurrence in patients who underwent re-operative surgery due to neck node recurrence by reviewing the CT (computed tomographic) scan imaging of the recurrence of PTC retrospectively. Materials & Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients referred to Ajou University Hospital from January 2002 to January 2018. All patients had re-operative surgery due to neck node recurrence and CT scan results of preoperative evaluation and postoperative follow up. Over this period, 110 patients who underwent re-operation due to neck node recurrence with a CT scan were included in our cohort, resulting in a total of 220 re-operations. Results: The time from initial operation to first re-operation was examined in 110 patients. The median time to re-operation was 28 months, with a range of 4 months to 186 months. Most re-operations (82.7%) occurred within the first five years, 43.6% were in the first two years from the initial surgery. The result of the retrospective CT review showed newly developed cases (21,19.1%), missed diagnosis cases (42,38.2%), real recur cases after surgery (33,30.0%), and remnant lymph nodes (LNs) cases (14,12.7%). We further sub-analyzed 14 cases with remnant LNs. Reasons for remnant LNs included insufficient operation (N=5) and beyond general surgical extent. (N=9). Conclusion: Re-operation due to cervical lymph node recurrence is mostly a persistent disease. They included a missed diagnosis and incomplete operation. These finding may reduce the reoperation of cervical lymph node recurrence by accurate preoperative evaluation and complete surgical resection at the initial surgery.

Background/Objectives: Although anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is rare, it is one of the deadliest forms of thyroid cancer. The fatality rate for ATC is high, and the survival rate at one year after diagnosis is <20%. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-tumor activities of paclitaxel, radiation, and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) combined therapy in anaplastic thyroid cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo and explore its effects on apoptotic cell death pathways. Materials & Methods: ATC cell line was exposed to TKI, lenvatinib in the presence or absence of paclitaxel with radiation, and cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Effects of the combined treatment on cell cycle and intracellular signaling pathways were assessed by flow cytometry and western blot analysis. The ATC cell line xenograft model was used to examine the anti-tumor activity in vivo. Results: Our data revealed that the combined administration of paclitaxel, TKI, and radiation decreased cell viability in ATC cells, and also significantly increased apoptotic cell death in these cells, as demonstrated by the cleavage of caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation. This combination therapy reduced anti-apoptotic factor levels in ATC cells, while significantly decreasing tumor volume and increasing survival in ATC xenografts. Conclusion: These results indicate that administering the combination of paclitaxel, TKI, and radiation therapy may exert significant anticancer effects in preclinical models, potentially suggesting a new clinical approach for treating patients with ATC.

Parathyroid adenoma can cause extracapsular bleeding. In 1934, Capps first reported a case of massive hemorrhage secondary to rupture of a parathyroid adenoma. Recently, we experienced a 73-year-old female presented with pharyngeal discomfort and extensive ecchymosis over the neck without history of trauma. Endoscopic investigation revealed submucosal hemorrhage in the posterior wall of the hypopharynx. CT scan and ultrasonography demonstrated the presence of a mass below the left thyroid lobe. Serum calcium level was normal and PTH level was elevated. We underwent left thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy 2 weeks later from first visit. During the operation, hypopharyngeal mucosa was teared and it was treated with pharyngostoma formation and L-tube feeding. We report a rare case of normocalcemic parathyroid adenoma with spontaneous hemorrhage and propose the proper management period with a literature review.

Lemierre's syndrome is rare disease characterized by anaerobic sepsis, internal jugular vein thrombosis, septic emboli that resulted from head and neck infection. Lemierre's syndrome has significant morbidity, so immediate, accurate diagnosis and treatment is needed. It is necessary to perform contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) for diagnosis. Systemic antibiotics is recommended, and surgical interventions, anticoagulation may beis considered for treatment. We report misdiagnosed case as a simple deep neck infection on initial ultrasonography with simultaneous abscess aspiration but finally diagnosed and treated internal jugular vein thrombophlebitis (Lemierre's syndrome) on CT scan. We report a case of a 45-year-old patient, who was diagnosed with a simple deep neck infection and treated with simultaneous abscess aspiration, but finally diagnosed and treated internal jugular vein thrombophlebitis (Lemierre's syndrome) on CT scan.

Oncocytic lipoadenoma is a rare salivary gland tumor composed of adipose tissue and oncocytic epithelial cells in varied proportions. We report a case of an oncocytic lipoadenoma of the submandibular gland, which presented as a submandibular gland mass. The patient was a 65-year-old woman with a right submandibular mass measuring 2 × 2 × 1.6 cm. As a sonographic evaluation and computed tomograph scan gave us the impression of benign submandibular gland tumor such as pleomorphic adenoma, we resected the right side submandibular gland. Grossly, the tumor was well circumscribed with yellow to brown cut surface. Microscopically, the tumor was surrounded by a thin, fibrous capsule and composed of oncocytic epithelial cells admixed with mature adipose tissue. Final diagnosis was an oncocytic lipoadenoma. We discussed here radiologic and pathologic finding of this rare salivary gland tumor.

Peripheral giant cell granuloma (PGCG) is an benign non-neoplastic lesion most commonly occurring in oral cavity but extraoral PGCG is extremely rare. Recently, we experienced a case of an isolated PGCG in the parotid gland in 59-year-old man. FNAB findings and radiologic findings including CT and US were suggestive of Warthin's tumor. Partial parotidectomy was performed. Pathologic findings showed fibrillar connective tissue stroma with spindled, ovoid, and round histiocytes-like cells mixed with uneven multinuclear giant cells, small capillaries, hemorrhage, hemosiderin-laden macrophages, and necrosis which were consistent with giant cell granuloma. We report a case of an PGCG in parotid with a review of literature.

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma is a rare epithelial neuroendocrine malignancy and is preferentially located in gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. Cases of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma have been reported in many other locations, including the thymus, gallbladder, prostate, larynx, salivary glands, nasopharynx, tonsil and mastoid. However, primary sinonasal large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma never have been reported in Korea. We experienced a case of primary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma arising from left maxillary sinus recently. A 82-year-old male patient presented with nasal obstruction and epistaxis. The biopsy revealed large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma with poor differentiation. After a general evaluation, the patient was staged as cT3N0M0. The patient was treated by combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy. We report this rare case with literature review.

Pharyngocutaneous fistula is a relatively common, but serious complication after pharyngeal or laryngeal cancer surgery. It can cause wound infection, longer hospitalization period and sometimes carotid artery rupture which can be fatal. Recently, we experienced a 63-year-old larynx cancer patient who had dementia and alcoholic liver cirrhosis for underlying diseases. He underwent total laryngectomy and both neck dissection, and pharyngocutaneous fistula occurred during postoperative radiotherapy. Pharyngocutaneous fistula during postoperative radiotherapy has not yet reported in the literature, and there are few reports about pre and postoperative management of dementia patient after head and neck cancer surgery. Therefore, we report this case with a brief review of literature.

Warthin's tumor (WT) is second most common neoplasm in the parotid gland and it can be accompanied by inflammation and necrosis. The chest wall inflammation may present a rapid and fatal clinical course and secondary to parotid abscess is extremely rare. An 81-year-old man came to emergency room complained of rapidly enlarged left parotid mass and inflammatory symptoms and signs around the upper lateral neck. We performed incision and drainage with adequate infection control. He was pathologically diagnosed as abscess. We report the unique and instructive clinical case with a literature review.

Hamartomas are non-neoplastic malformations or congenital errors of tissue development. Hamartoma is composed by an excessive growth of mature tissue present in wrong proportions and abnormal arrangements. The lesion usually presents as a submucosal mass with ill-defined margins. Hamartoma occurs in all areas of the body, especially in the liver, spleen, kidney and lung. However, hamartoma is very rare in the head and neck. Presenting symptoms of hamartoma are typically vague and nonspecific. Treatment of hamartomas consists of adequate surgical excision. We present a 59 year-old male patient who presented with submental swelling. Malignancy could not be ruled out with preoperative radiologic examination, so surgical excision was planned. The mass was excised with transcervical approach. Histopathologic examination has confirmed the mass as a mucinous gland adenomatoid hamartoma.

Ganglioneuroma (GN) is benign neurogenic tumor arising from ganglia of the sympathetic nervous system. They are mostly found at posterior mediastinum, retroperitoneum, and adrenal gland, whereas only 1-5% occurred in the cervical region. GN usually present as a single, painless and slow-growing mass, but multiple cervical occurrences are extremely rare. An 80-year-old woman came to our clinic complained of posterior neck mass for three years. We performed surgical excision, and it was finally diagnosed as GN. We report the unique and rare disease entity with a brief literature review.

Inflammatory myofibrolastic tumor (IMT) is a rare borderline neoplasm. It frequently occurs in the lung but occasionally occurs in extrapulmonary sites such as the genitourinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, breast, salivary glands, sinonasal tract, orbit, and the central nervous system. Laryngeal involvement of IMT is very rare. A 61-year-old woman who complained of hoarseness persisting for 3 months visited our hospital. Laryngoscopy showed an elevated lesion in the right true vocal cord. Incisional biopsy was confirmed as larygeal inflammatory myofibrolastic tumor. We performed a transoral excision with CO₂ LASER under suspension examination. Regional recurrence or distant metastasis was not observed after 9 months of follow-up. Herein we report a case of larygeal inflammatory myofibrolastic tumor that was treated with surgery alone, with a literature review.

Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (C-ALCL) is rare among skin malignancies. C-ALCL usually manifests as reddish or violet nodules. Surgical excision or radiation therapy is generally considered as first-line therapy, but a clinically aggressive disease may require multiagent chemotherapy. Establishing a proper diagnosis of C-ALCL is challenging but should be made to avoid inappropriate treatment and its consequences. The authors report a case of medically resolved C-ALCL in an 81-year-old man presented with well-defined nodular lesions on the forehead.

Pneumoparotid is a rare cause of parotid gland swelling, and is caused by retrograde air reflux from the oral cavity, into the parotid gland via Stensen's duct. Most patients complained of painless swelling in the parotid region. Herein, we report a rare case of pneumoparotid, incidentally diagnosed without symptoms on CT, for follow-up of parotid lymph node enlargement.