The interval since first symptoms until diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck region is still a problem in southern Brazil

The aim was to examine the interval since first symptoms until final diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in the head and neck region in southern Brazil. The individuals were prospectively selected and underwent anamnesis, physical examination and interview in the first medical consultation at a Cancer Hospital from south of Brazil. From 488 patients who underwent clinical examination, 105 were included in the study with diagnosis of SCC. Patients average interval from first symptoms to final diagnosis was 152 days (median 86; max:1105; min: 1), the average professional interval was 108 days (median: 97; max:525; min: 1) , and the average total period interval was 258 days (median: 186; max:1177; min: 45). Factors statistically associated with patient and diagnosis itinerary intervals were smoking and poorly adapted dentures and distance from home to hospital, respectively. The identification of the itinerary characteristics of this specific population may reflect in more effective public policies, such as primary and secondary prevention programs, aiming to increase the survival of oncological patient. Furthermore, the knowledge of the variables that influence the late diagnosis minimizes patient's journey in search of care to cancer centers through health programs

Accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of fine needle aspiration biopsy in salivary gland tumours : a retrospective study

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of fine needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB) of salivary gland tumours performed at the Erasto Gaertner Hospital over the course of a four year period. Study design: A retrospective study was carried out between 2001-2005 to review the cases of patients with salivary gland tumours who had undergone pre-operative FNAB and had been diagnosed during post-operative histopathology examination. Results: A total of 106 cases of salivary gland tumours were considered for this study, but 27 cases (25.5%) of the samples were considered unsatisfactory for analysis. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were calculated considering only the 79 benign and malignant cases in which FNAB provided sufficient samples for analysis. Based on these data, the value of sensitivity was 68.2% (15/22), specificity was 87.7% (50/57), accuracy was 82.3% (65/79), positive predictive value was 68.2% (15/22) and negative predictive value was 87.7% (50/57). Conclusions: Despite the high rate of inadequate samples obtained in the FNAB in this study, the technique offers high specificity, accuracy and acceptable sensitivity

Contact endoscopy in oral lesions: method assessment

INTRODUÇÃO: a expectativa de incidência do câncer da cavidade oral estimada para 2008, no Brasil, é de 14.160 casos e cerca de 50% desses tumores serão diagnosticados tardiamente. Os procedimentos diagnósticos menos invasivos e confiáveis podem incrementar o diagnóstico precoce. OBJETIVOS: a) descrever as dificuldades da endoscopia de contato aplicada à boca e ao lábio (microestomatoscopia de contato); b) aplicar no diagnóstico das lesões do lábio os critérios usados na endoscopia de contato de outras topografias; c) descrever parâmetro objetivo para a aplicação do critério Celularidade; d) comparar os diagnósticos deste exame, nas lesões do vermelhão do lábio inferior, com os do anatomopatológico. MÉTODO: o estudo foi prospectivo, de casos não consecutivos, utilizando o endoscópio de contato Storz 8715 A e o corante azul de toluidina. Foi dividido em Estudo Inicial, com 31 exames (21 do lábio e 10 da boca) para objetivos a e b, e em Estudo Final, com 69 exames (53 do vermelhão e 16 da mucosa labial sem lesão) para objetivos c e d. No primeiro, interessaram lesões do lábio e da boca, apenas exames in vivo e sem biópsia dirigida. No segundo, interessaram lesões do vermelhão do lábio inferior, apenas exames ex vivo e com biópsia dirigida. Os critérios aplicados foram Celularidade, Arquitetura, Extratificação e Morfometria. O critério Celularidade foi dividido em faixas conforme a contagem manual das células de cada lesão benigna e maligna. Foram aplicados análises de regressão e o teste de correlação de Kendall. RESULTADOS: a falta de nitidez das imagens ocorreu em 100% dos casos, os critérios, quando alterados em conjunto, definiram malignidade à microestomatoscopia de contato. Estudo Final: o teste de Kendall foi significativo para todos os critérios; O critério Celularidade foi dividido em quatro faixas (Risco Mínimo (RM), Pouco Risco (PR), Médio Risco (MR) e Alto Risco (AR). A análise de regressão destacou que os critérios Estratificação e Celularidade, assim como as faixas Risco Mínimo (RM) e Pouco Risco (PR), juntas, foram significativos para o diagnóstico de malignidade. Não ocorreram falsonegativos e os falso-positivos foram 9,4%. A sensibilidade para o diagnóstico de malignidade foi 100%, a especificidade 88%, o valor preditivo positivo 70,5%, o valor preditivo negativo 100% e a acurácia 90,3%. CONCLUSÃO: as dificuldades encontradas (contato do aparelho com a superfície anatômica, deslizamento do aparelho, tremores finos e falta de nitidez da imagem) não inviabilizaram o procedimento. Os critérios puderam ser observados e estavam correlacionados entre si. As faixas RM e PR agrupadas confirmaram a significância da divisão por faixas. A sensibilidade e a especificidade foram altas e com bom valor preditivo positivo para o diagnóstico de lesões malignas do vermelhão do lábio inferior. O estudo sugere que a microestomatoscopia de contato é útil no diagnóstico das lesões do lábio, da boca, especialmente do vermelhão do lábio inferiorINTRODUCTION: In Brazil, the expectation of incidence of oral cavity cancer is estimated at 14160 cases in 2008. and approximately 50% of such tumors will be diagnosed belatedly. Non-invasive and more reliable diagnostic procedures may enhance the number of early diagnoses. OBJECTIVES: 1) to describe difficulties of contact endoscopy related to mouth and lip (contact microstomatoscopy); 2) test the regular used criteria in other sites 3) describe objective parameters for applying Cellularity criterion; 4) compare diagnoses of contact microstomatoscopy in relation to lesions of the lower lip vermilion area (LVA) to anatomopathological diagnoses. CASUISTICS: 31 examinations were included in the Initial Study: 21 lip lesions and 10 oral lesions. In the Final Study, there were 69 examinations: 53 of lip vermilion area and 16 of lip mucosa with no lesion. METHODS: This study was prospective, the cases were not consecutive, the contact endoscope Storz 8715 A and toluidine blue were used. The experiment was divided into Initial Study (objectives 1 and 2) and Final Study (objectives 3 and 4). In the first study, oral and lip lesions were the focus, only in vivo examinations and without directed biopsy. In the second study, lower LVA lesions were the focus, only ex vivo cases related to and the biopsy was directed. The Cellularity criterion was divided into ranges in accordance with manual count of every malignant and benign lesion cells. Regression analyses and the Kendall`s correlation test were assessed. RESULTS: Lack of image clearness occurred in 100% of the cases; the criteria, when altered, defined malignancy through contact microstomatoscopy. In the Final Study, Kendall test was significant in relation to the criteria. Cellularity criterion was divided into four ranges: Minimum Risk (MNR) with less then 43 cells, Low Risk (LR) with 44 to 63 cells, Medium Risk (MR) with 64 to 83 cells, and High Risk (HR) with more than 84 cells. Regression analysis indicated that Stratification and Cellularity criteria, as well as both grouped ranges MNR and LR, were significant in relation to diagnosis of malignancy. False-negatives did not occur; in addition, false-positives represented 9.4%. Sensitivity to diagnosis of malignancy was 100%, 88% of specificity, 70.5% of positive predicted value, 100% of negative predictive value, and 90.3% of accuracy. CONCLUSION: Difficulties encountered (contact of the equipment with anatomic surface, sliding of the equipment, slight tremors, and lack of image clearness) did not stop the accomplishment of the procedure. All criteria were observed and correlated. The ranges MR and LR, when grouped, confirmed the significance of the division into ranges. Sensitivity and Specificity were high and presented good positive predictive value in relation to diagnosis of malignant lesions of lower lip vermilion area. This study suggests that contact microstomatoscopy may be applied to diagnosis of oral and lip lesions and, especially, of lower LV

Uso do retalho nasogeniano musculocutâneo em ilha, por via submandibular, na reconstrução do soalho da boca

O retalho nasogeniano com pedículo inferior tem sido utilizado, por via transbucal (supramandibular), na reconstrução do soalho da boca. A descrição da técnica de confecção do retalho nasogeniano musculocutâneo em ilha por via submandibular e a viabilidade do mesmo, tendo-se como parâmetro a necrose do retalho, são os objetivos deste estudo. Complementarmente, fez-se uma avaliação da mobilidade da língua, da capacidade de articulação dos fonemas orais no pós-operatório e procurou-se identificar através de análise estatística os fatores que pudessem estar correlacionados com a necrose do retalho. Foram operados nove pacientes considerados como T2, cinco como T3 e três como T4, sendo que todos foram submetidos a algum tipo de esvaziamento cervical. Dos dezessete retalhos, um teve necrose total, e outro, necrose parcial, proporcionando uma viabilidade de 88,3%. Em nenhum dos casos ocorreu fístula orocutânea. A avaliação da mobilidade da língua e da capacidade de articulação dos fonemas orais demonstrou resultados próximos do normal