This retrospective study examines the diagnostic accuracy of ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) and neck magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting nodal metastasis for patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and assesses the predictive values of metabolic and structural features derived from ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT. By involving 66 patients from 2014 to 2021, the sensitivity and specificity of both modalities were calculated. ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT outperforms neck MRI for nodal disease detection, with 89% sensitivity, 65% specificity, and 77% accuracy for nodal metastasis (p = 0.03). On the other hand, neck MRI had 66% sensitivity, 62% specificity, and 64% accuracy. Approximately 11% of patients witnessed a change in their therapy intent when relying on ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT nodal staging results. Analyzing the cohort for PET-derived metabolic and morphological parameters, a total of 167 lymph nodes (LN) were visualized. Parameters such as the LN maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and LN size were computed. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed. Among the 167 identified cervical LNs, 111 were histopathologically confirmed as positive. ROC analysis revealed the highest area under the curve for LN MTV (0.89; p < 0.01), followed by LN size (0.87; p < 0.01). Both MTV and LN size independently predicted LN metastasis through multivariate analysis. In addition, LN MTV can reliably predict false-positive LNs in preoperative staging, offering a promising imaging-based approach for further exploration.

Needle fracture during dental local anesthetic injections is a rare but significant, potentially serious complication. Various approaches for the location and removal of broken needles have been described; however, there are several difficulties and concerns related to the potential complications and critical anatomic challenges peculiar to the head and neck region. In this case, we describe the diagnostic approaches utilized in locating a broken needle that migrated in the pterygomandibular space following gag reflex, and sudden head movement of a middle-aged male patient. A meticulous diagnostic approach was employed to locate the needle utilizing CBCT scan, CT scan with contrast, and C-arm X-ray machine. The needle was successfully retrieved using an angled hemostat inserted through an oral incision, guided by a C-arm X-ray machine and ENT endoscopic instruments. While careful planning could prevent many complications that may arise during oral surgical procedures, inadvertent events leading to serious complications should be addressed using the appropriate and timely diagnostic techniques pre-and intra-operatively.

Radiotherapy (RT) achieves excellent local control (LC) in early-stage glottic cancer (ESGC); however, treatment-related edema or necrosis may necessitate tracheostomy and adversely affect quality of life. We compared tracheostomy rates and oncologic outcomes between whole-larynx radiotherapy (WLRT) and vocal cord–only radiotherapy (VC-RT) in patients with ESGC. We retrospectively analyzed 247 patients with Tis–T2 glottic cancer treated with definitive RT (2007–2023) at two Middle Eastern centers. Patients received WLRT (n = 166) or VC-RT (n = 81). The primary endpoint was a tracheostomy rate (TR) ≥6 months after RT for non-recurrent airway compromise. Secondary endpoints included 3-year local failure (LF) and overall survival (OS). TR and LF rates were analyzed using cumulative incidence with death as a competing risk, while OS was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. The median age was 59 years; 97.6% of patients were male and 78.9% were smokers. The median follow-up was 45.3 months. VC-RT patients more frequently had cT2 disease (22.2% vs. 5.4%, p < 0.001) and received accelerated fractionation (19.8% vs. 7.2%, p = 0.0069). Overall, 20 of 247 patients (8%) required tracheostomy without recurrence. Edema-related tracheostomy occurred more frequently after WLRT (0% vs. 14.2% for VC-RT; p < 0.001). Tracheostomy was reversed in 8/20 patients (40%) after a median of 13.4 months. The 3-year LF rates were 7.6% with VC-RT and 11.6% with WLRT (p = 0.18), and OS was 93.3% and 89.5% (p = 0.16), respectively. VC-RT reduces the risk of tracheostomy without compromising oncologic outcomes.