Asbestos is one of the major worldwide occupational carcinogens. The global burden of asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) was estimated around 231,000 cases/year. Italy was one of the main European asbestos producers until the 1992 ban. The WHO recommended national programs, including epidemiological surveillance, to eliminate ARDs. The present paper shows the estimate of the burden of mortality from ARDs in Italy, established for the first time. National standardized rates of mortality from mesothelioma and asbestosis and their temporal trends, based on the National Institute of Statistics database, were computed. Deaths from lung cancer attributable to asbestos exposure were estimated using population-based case-control studies. Asbestos-related lung and ovarian cancer deaths attributable to occupational exposure were estimated, considering the Italian occupational cohort studies. In the 2010–2016 period, 4400 deaths/year attributable to asbestos were estimated: 1515 from mesothelioma, 58 from asbestosis, 2830 from lung and 16 from ovarian cancers. The estimates based on occupational cohorts showed that each year 271 deaths from mesothelioma, 302 from lung cancer and 16 from ovarian cancer were attributable to occupational asbestos exposure in industrial sectors with high asbestos levels. The important health impact of asbestos in Italy, 10–25 years after the ban, was highlighted. These results suggest the need for appropriate interventions in terms of prevention, health care and social security at the local level and could contribute to the global estimate of ARDs.

Even if the epidemic of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is still far from being over worldwide, the health effects of regulations banning asbestos can be evaluated in the countries that implemented them early. Estimates of MPM future burden can be useful to inform and support the implementation of anti-asbestos health policies all around the world. With this aim we described the trends of MPM deaths in Italy (1970–2014) and predicted the future number of cases in both sexes (2015–2039), with consideration of the national asbestos ban that was issued in 1992. The Italian National Statistical Institute (ISTAT) provided MPM mortality figures. Cases ranging from 25 to 89 years of age were included in the analysis. For each five-year period from 1970 to 2014, mortality rates were calculated and age–period–cohort Poisson models were used to predict future burden of MPM cases until 2039. During the period 1970–2014 a total number of 28,907 MPM deaths were observed. MPM deaths increased constantly over the study period, ranging from 1356 cases in 1970–1974 to 5844 cases in 2010–2014. The peak of MPM cases is expected to be reached in the period 2020–2024 (about 7000 cases). The decrease will be slow: about 26,000 MPM cases are expected to occur in Italy during the next 20 years (2020–2039). The MPM epidemic in Italy is far from being concluded despite the national ban implemented in 1992, and the peak is expected in 2020–2024, in both sexes. Our results are consistent with international literature.

Background: The introduction of biological drugs in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is allowing new and increasingly promising therapeutic options. This manuscript aims to provide a multicenter trial in a real-life setting on Mepolizumab treatment for severe uncontrolled CRSwNP with or without comorbid asthma. Methods: A retrospective data analysis was jointly conducted at the Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery departments of La Sapienza University and San Camillo Forlanini Hospital in Rome. Both institutions participated by sharing clinical information on patients with CRSwNP treated with Mepolizumab. Patients were evaluated before starting Mepolizumab, at six months and at twelve months from the first drug administration. During follow–up visits, patients underwent endoscopic evaluation, quality of life assessment, nasal symptoms assessment, and blood tests to monitor mainly neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, and IgG, IgA, and IgE assay. Results: Twenty patients affected by CRSwNP and treated with Mepolizumab were enrolled (12 females and 8 males with a mean age of 63.7 years). Sixteen patients (80%) had concomitant asthma. During follow-up, a gradual improvement in nasal polyp score, quality of life and nasal symptoms, assessed by SNOT-22 and VAS and loss of smell measured by olfactory VAS, was found. Regarding blood tests, eosinophils decreased gradually, while other blood parameters showed no statistically significant changes. Conclusions: Mepolizumab has been shown to be effective in the therapeutic management of patients with CRSwNP. Further studies are needed to support our findings and better understand the underlying immune pathways to predict patients’ response to biological treatment in CRSwNP.

Background/Objectives: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) represents a debilitating disease with significant morbidity and decreased quality of life (QoL). The introduction of biologics in its management has allowed new therapeutic options, and Dupilumab represents the first approved biologic. This study aims to evaluate a possible relationship between the clinical response to biological therapy and mental health in patients with severe CRSwNP. Methods: This is a multicenter study conducted at the Otolaryngology departments of three major Italian health institutions. Participants were patients with CRSwNP treated with Dupilumab. Patients were assessed at baseline and during treatment by submitting them to a survey consisting of a dedicated questionnaire focused on psychological health and two patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs): the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for nasal symptoms. Results: 86 patients were included in the study (58 males and 28 females; mean age: 58.2 years). There was a significant improvement in both symptoms and QoL, with an enhanced psychological state observed in patients after the first administration and within the first months of therapy. Conclusions: This study evaluated the possible correlations between Dupilumab treatment and improvements in mental health in patients with CRSwNP, as assessed through a survey, and clinical conditions, assessed through SNOT-22 and VAS. Our findings showed that Dupilumab not only improved clinical symptoms but also had a positive impact on patients’ mental health, with benefits observed already after the first administration and the first months of therapy. This survey highlights the relevance of psychological well-being and its implications for patients with chronic diseases such as CRSwNP.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the temporal bone is an extremely rare malignancy, comprising only 0.2% of head and neck cancers. There is currently no universally accepted staging system for these tumors. This study evaluates the utility of the Pittsburgh staging system for temporal bone SCC, examines prognostic factors, and reports clinical outcomes. A retrospective review was conducted on a small cohort of 15 patients diagnosed with temporal bone SCC between 2020 and 2023. Imaging included high-resolution CT and MRI (T1W, T2W, and DWI). Staging accuracy was assessed, and Cohen’s Kappa coefficient was used to compare radiological and pathological staging. Results showed a 73% accuracy in preoperative radiological staging, with higher agreement for T3/T4 tumors (86%) compared to T1/T2 (63%). MRI provided additional information, revealing dural enhancement in two patients and parotid involvement in one. Survival analysis indicated 100% survival in T1/T2 patients, 25% in T3, and 0% in T4, supporting the prognostic value of the Pittsburgh system. While limited by the small sample size, the study confirms that the Pittsburgh staging system offers a reliable approach to stratifying patients with temporal bone SCC and underscores the importance of combined CT and MRI for accurate staging and treatment planning.

Background/Objectives: The therapeutic effectiveness of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) depends on an accurate diagnosis that identifies disease characteristics, evaluates sinus patency, and detects paranasal sinus obliteration. This study aims to assess a novel artificial intelligence (AI) system integrated with radiomic analysis for the radiological evaluation of CRSwNP, developing a reliable and predictive clinical-radiological scoring system. Methods: This study retrospectively evaluates CT scans of patients with CRSwNP. Image analysis was performed using Radiomica LifeX (Local Image Features Extraction) version 7.5. The extracted densitometric volumes were compared to the Lund-Mackay Score (LMS) to develop a novel scoring system (P-ABCD score) and assess its radiomic predictive capability. Results: Twenty patients with CRSwNP undergoing Dupilumab therapy participated in this study. The P-ABCD score, derived from sinus CT imaging data, served as a valuable objective measure of clinical improvement following CRSwNP treatment. Conclusions: Advanced radiomic imaging techniques of the sinus cavity provide precise volumetric data combined with texture analysis. These techniques offer high sensitivity by accurately quantifying the true extent of inflammatory involvement in the paranasal sinuses, enabling effective disease stratification.