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Deep Learning Technology: Sebastian Arnold, Betty van Aken, Paul Grundmann, Felix A. Gers and Alexander Löser. Learning Contextualized Document Representations for Healthcare Answer Retrieval. The Web Conference 2020 (WWW'20)
Funded by The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy; Grant: 01MD19013D, Smart-MD Project, Digital Technologies
People with HPV-mediated oropharyngeal cancer tend to have higher survival rates. The prognosis for people with oropharyngeal cancer depends on the age and health of the person and the stage of the disease. It is important for people with oropharyngeal cancer to have follow-up exams for the rest of their lives, as cancer can occur in nearby areas. In addition, it is important to eliminate risk factors such as smoking and drinking alcohol, which increase the risk for second cancers.
Smoking is the most important risk factor for laryngeal cancer. Death from laryngeal cancer is 20 times more likely for heaviest smokers than for nonsmokers. Heavy chronic consumption of alcohol, particularly alcoholic spirits, is also significant. When combined, these two factors appear to have a synergistic effect.
Some other quoted risk factors are likely, in part, to be related to prolonged alcohol and tobacco consumption. These include low socioeconomic status, male sex, and age greater than 55 years.
People with a history of head and neck cancer are known to be at higher risk (about 25%) of developing a second cancer of the head, neck, or lung. This is mainly because in a significant proportion of these patients, the aerodigestive tract and lung epithelium have been exposed chronically to the carcinogenic effects of alcohol and tobacco. In this situation, a field change effect may occur, where the epithelial tissues start to become diffusely dysplastic with a reduced threshold for malignant change. This risk may be reduced by quitting alcohol and tobacco.
The risk factors that can increase the risk of developing oropharyngeal cancer are:
- Smoking and chewing tobacco
- Heavy alcohol use
- A diet low in fruits and vegetables
- Chewing betel quid, a stimulant commonly used in parts of Asia
- Mucosal infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) (HPV-mediated oropharyngeal cancer)
- HPV infection
- Plummer-Vinson syndrome
- Poor nutrition
- Asbestos exposure
Certain genetic changes including: P53 mutation and CDKN2A (p16) mutations.
High-risk lesions:
- Erythroplakia
- Speckled erythroplakia
- Chronic hyperplastic candidiasis
Medium-risk lesions:
- Oral submucosal fibrosis
- Syphilitic glossitis
- Sideropenic dysphagia (or Paterson-Kelly-Brown syndrome)
Low-risk lesions:
- Oral lichen planus
- Discoid lupus erythematosus
- Discoid keratosis congenita
Laryngeal papillomatosis is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), most frequently by types 6 and 11. The mode of transmission is found to differ depending on age. The disease is typically separated into two forms, juvenile and adult papillomatosis, based on whether it develops before or after 20 years of age. The juvenile form is generally transmitted through contact with a mother’s infected vaginal canal during childbirth. Less is known about transmission in the adult form of this disease, though oral sex has been implicated as a potential mode of transmission. However, it is uncertain whether oral sex would directly transmit the virus or activate the dormant virus that was transmitted at childbirth.
In general, physicians are unsure why only certain people who have been exposed to the HPV types implicated in the disease develop laryngeal papillomatosis. In the case of the juvenile form of the disease, the likelihood of a child born of an infected mother developing laryngeal papillomatosis is low (between 1 in 231 to 1 in 400), even if the mother’s infection is active. Risk factors for a higher likelihood of transmission at childbirth include the first birth, vaginal birth, and teenage mother.
Smoking and alcohol abuse as the major risk factors. Viral causes has recently been taken under consideration as one of the risk factors. Viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (majorly involved in causing nasopharyngeal carcinoma) and human papilloma virus are included in this category. Chewing of betel nut ("Areca catechu") quid has been directly associated to cause oral cancers. It has also been stated under the FDA poisonous plant data base by the U.S Food and Drug Administration
An unbalanced diet, deficit in fruits and vegetables has shown to increase the risk of cancer.
The evolution of laryngeal papillomatosis is highly unpredictable and is characterized by modulation of its severity and variable rate of progression across individuals. While instances of total recovery are observed, the condition is often persistent and lesions can reappear even after treatment. Factors that might affect the clinical course of the condition include: the HPV genotype, the age at onset, the elapsed time between the diagnosis and first treatment in addition to previous medical procedures. Other factors, albeit controversial, such as smoking or the presence gastroesophageal reflux disease might also play a role in the progression of the disease.
The papillomas can travel past the larynx and infect extralaryngeal sites. In more aggressive cases, infection of the lungs can occur with progressive airway obstruction. Although rare (less than 1% of people with laryngeal papillomatosis), transformation from a benign form to a malignant form is also observed. Death can result from these complications (morbidity rate is around 1-2%).
The exact cause of VIN is unknown. Studies are being done to determine the cause of VIN. The following factors have been associated with VIN:
- HPV (Human Papilloma Virus)
- HSV-2 (Herpes simplex Virus - Type 2)
- Smoking
- Immunosuppression
- Chronic vulvar irritation
- Conditions such as Lichen Sclerosus
Normally found in children or young adults, a common cause of conjunctival squamous cell papilloma is during childbirth, when the mother passes the virus to her child.
Immunoperoxidase stains have identified antigens of the human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11 in approximately 50% of cases of squamous cell papilloma.
Squamous cell carcinoma of eye tissues is one of the most frequent neoplasms of cattle.
Vaccinating girls with HPV vaccine before their initial sexual contact has been claimed to reduce incidence of VIN.
A squamous cell papilloma is a generally benign papilloma that arises from the stratified squamous epithelium of the skin, lip, oral cavity, tongue, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, cervix, vagina or anal canal. Squamous cell papillomas are a result of infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).
Keratoacanthoma usually occurs in older individuals. As with squamous cell cancer, it seems likely that ultraviolet light from the sun causes the development of KA. As with squamous cell cancer, sporadic cases have been found co-infected with the human papilloma virus (HPV).
Many new treatments for Melanoma are also known to increase the rate of Keratoacanthoma, such as the B-Raf inhibitor drugs Vemurafenib and Dabrafenib.
A papilloma (plural papillomas or papillomata) ("" + "") is a benign epithelial tumor growing exophytically (outwardly projecting) in nipple-like and often finger-like fronds. In this context refers to the projection created by the tumor, not a tumor on an already existing papilla (such as the nipple).
When used without context, it frequently refers to infections (squamous cell papilloma) caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), such as warts. Human papillomavirus infection is a major cause of cervical cancer, although most HPV infections do not cause cancer. There are, however, a number of other conditions that cause papilloma, as well as many cases in which there is no known cause.
Tonsillar carcinoma can be either HPV related or HPV unrelated. It is shown that cases which are HPV positive have a better prognosis than those with HPV negative oropharyngeal cancer.
Head and neck cancers are malignant neoplasms that arise in the head and region which comprises nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, oral cavity, salivary glands, pharynx, and larynx. Majority of head and neck cancers histologically belong to squamous cell type and hence they are categorized as Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (abbreviated as HNSCC)[Forastiere AA, 2003]. HNSCC are the 6th most common cancers worldwide and 3rd most common cancers in developing world. They account for ~ 5% of all malignancies worldwide (Ferlay J, 2010) and 3% of all malignancies in the United States (Siegel R, 2014).
Risk factors include tobacco consumption (chewing or smoking), alcohol consumption, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, human papilloma virus (HPV; esp. HPV 16, 18) infection, betel nut chewing, wood dust exposures, consumption of certain salted fish and others (NCI Factsheet, 2013). EBV infection has been specifically associated with nasopharyngeal cancer. Reverse smoking was considered as a risk factor for oral cancer. Interestingly, "Cis-retinoic acid" (i.e. supplements of retinoic acid) intake may increase the risk of HNSCC in active smokers. Low consumption of fruits and vegetables was associated with higher incidence of HNSCC.
HNSCC classification: Based on the HPV infection status, head and neck cancers are classified into HPV-positive and HPV-negative categories. So far, this is the only available molecular classification. Majority (>50%) of oral cancers are HPV-positive in the U.S. HPV-positive oral cancers are widely prevalent in younger patients and are associated with multiple sexual partners and oral sexual practices. HPV-positive cancers have better prognosis, especially for nonsmokers as compared to HPV-negative cancers.
Staging and grading of HNSCC: HNSCC are classified according to the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) system of American Joint Committee on cancer. TNM staging system for HNSCC are discussed else where.
Symptoms include lump or sore, sore throat, hoarse of voice, difficulty in swallowing etc (NCI Factsheet, 2013).
Treatment for HNSCC is predominantly based on the stage of the disease. Factors such as patient fitness, baseline swallow, airway functional status, and others are considered before determining the treatment plan. Standard of care for HNSCC includes one or combination of the following: surgery, radiation, chemotherapeutic agents such as Cisplatin, 5-Flurouracil (5-FU) etc. Molecularly targeted therapies were developed since the discovery of role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in HNSCC development, progression and prognosis. These targeted therapies include monoclonal antibodies (such as cetuximab, panitumumab etc.) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (such as erlotinib, gefitinib, etc.). Among these EGFR-targeting agents, only cetuximab has been approved by FDA in 2006 for HNSCC treatment.
Ninety percent (MacMillan, 2015) of cases of head and neck cancer (cancer of the mouth, nasal cavity, nasopharynx, throat and associated structures) are due to squamous cell carcinoma. Symptoms may include a poorly healing mouth ulcer, a hoarse voice or other persistent problems in the area. Treatment is usually with surgery (which may be extensive) and radiotherapy. Risk factors include smoking, alcohol consumption and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Elad S, Zadik Y, Zeevi I, et al., 2010, pp. 1243–1244). In addition, recent studies show that about 25% of mouth and 35% of throat cancers are associated with HPV. The 5 year disease free survival rate for HPV positive cancer is significantly higher when appropriately treated with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy as compared to non-HPV positive cancer, substantiated by multiple studies including research conducted by Maura Gillison, "et al." of Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center.
Incidence is five in 100,000 (12,500 new cases per year) in the USA. The American Cancer Society estimated that 9,510 men and women (7,700 men and 1,810 women) would be diagnosed with and 3,740 men and women would die of laryngeal cancer in 2006.
Laryngeal cancer is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that laryngeal cancer affects fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S.
Conjunctival Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Conjunctival SCC) and corneal intraepithelial neoplasia comprise what are called Ocular Surface Squamous Cell Neoplasias. SCC is the most common malignancy of the conjunctiva in the US, with a yearly incidence of 1-2.8 per 100,000. Risk factors for the disease are exposure to sun (specifically occupational), exposure to UVB, and light-colored skin. Other risk factors include radiation, smoking, HPV, arsenic, and exposure to polycyclic hydrocarbons.
Conjunctival SCC is often asymptomatic at first, but it can present with the presence of a growth, red eye, pain, itching, burning, tearing, sensitivity to light, double vision, and decreased vision.
Spread of conjunctival SCC can occur in 1-21% of cases, with the first site of spread being the regional lymph nodes. Mortality for conjunctival SCC ranges from 0-8%.
Diagnosis is often made by biopsy, as well as CT (in the case of invasive SCC).
Treatment of Conjunctival SCC is usually surgical excision followed by cryotherapy. After this procedure, Conjunctival SCC can recur 8-40% of the time. Radiation treatment, topical Mitomycin C, and removal of the contents of the orbit, or exenteration, are other methods of treatment. Close follow-up is recommended, because the average time to recurrence is 8–22 months.
Treatment may include the following:
- Surgery with or without radiation
- Radiotherapy
Fast neutron therapy has been used successfully to treat salivary gland tumors, and has shown to be significantly more effective than photons in studies treating unresectable salivary gland tumors.
- Chemotherapy
The exact cause of nasal polyps is unclear. They are, however, commonly associated with conditions that cause long term inflammation of the sinuses. This includes chronic rhinosinusitis, asthma, aspirin sensitivity, and cystic fibrosis.
Various additional diseases associated with polyp formation include:
Chronic rhinosinusitis is a common medical condition characterized by symptoms of sinus inflammation lasting at least 12 weeks. The cause is unknown and the role of microorganisms remains unclear. It can be classified as either with or without nasal polyposis.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common cause of nasal polyps in children. Therefore, any child under 12 to 20 years old with nasal polyps should be tested for CF. Half of people with CF will experience extensive polyps leading to nasal obstruction and requiring aggressive management.
Nipple adenomas most commonly occur in 30- to 40-year-old women, but can also occur in men. They can also occur at any age, including in the elderly, in adolescence, and in infants.
Little is known about the total incidence of salivary gland tumours as most benign tumours go unrecorded in national cancer registries. The majority of salivary tumours are benign (65-70%). Within the parotid gland 75 - 80% of tumours are benign. Around 50% of the tumours found in the submandibular glands are benign. Sublingual gland tumours are very rare but if present, they are most likely to be malignant.
In the United States, salivary gland cancers are uncommon with an incidence rate of 1.7 in 100000 between 2009 and 2013.
An inverted papilloma is a type of tumor in which surface epithelial cells grow downward into the underlying supportive tissue. It may occur in the nose and/or sinuses or in the urinary tract (bladder, renal pelvis, ureter, urethra). When it occurs in the nose or sinuses, it may cause symptoms similar to those caused by sinusitis, such as nasal congestion. When it occurs in the urinary tract, it may cause blood in the urine.
A nipple adenoma is a type of intraductal papilloma that arises within the lactiferous ducts that are located within the nipple.
Keratoacanthomas (molluscum sebaceum) may be divided into the following types:
- "Giant keratoacanthomas" are a variant of keratoacanthoma, which may reach dimensions of several centimeters.
- "Keratoacanthoma centrifugum marginatum" is a cutaneous condition, a variant of keratoacanthomas, which is characterized by multiple tumors growing in a localized area.
- "Multiple keratoacanthomas" (also known as "Ferguson–Smith syndrome," "Ferguson-Smith type of multiple self-healing keratoacanthomas,") is a cutaneous condition, a variant of keratoacanthomas, which is characterized by the appearance of multiple, sometimes hundreds of keratoacanthomas.
- A "solitary keratoacanthoma" (also known as "Subungual keratoacanthoma") is a benign, but rapidly growing, locally aggressive tumor which sometimes occur in the nail apparatus.
- "Generalized eruptive keratoacanthoma" (also known as "Generalized eruptive keratoacanthoma of Grzybowski") is a cutaneous condition, a variant of keratoacanthomas, characterized by hundreds to thousands of tiny follicular keratotic papules over the entire body. Treatments are not successful for many patients with Generalized eruptive keratoacanthoma. Use of emollients and anti-itch medications can ease some symptoms. Improvement or complete resolutions of the condition has occurred with the application of the following medications: Acitretin, Isotretinoin, Fluorouracil, Methotrexate, Cyclophosphamide.