Volume 15 Issue 1 (2025)

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) causes a serious loss of facial function or death, and its morbidity is highly related to the usage of tobacco products. Uncovering the mechanisms of tobacco-related OSCC plays a vital role in the prevention and treatment of OSCC. The present review systematically and comprehensively discusses the known mechanisms of tobacco-related OSCC and offer a foundation for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of tobacco-mediated OSCC. Scientific literature related to the incidence of tobacco-related OSCC and studies on mechanisms related to tobacco components are included, both in humans and animals. Among the 129 articles cited, three perspectives of the incidence of tobacco-related OSCC were evaluated: DNA adducts, receptor binding, and cocarcinogenic pathways. Tobacco-associated carcinogens cause OSCC by covalently binding to DNA to form DNA adducts or by binding to the receptors, and through the combined action of cocarcinogenic pathways. Three tobacco carcinogens that bind to DNA to form DNA adducts, two receptors that bind to carcinogens, five downstream pathways, and three cocarcinogen-related pathways were listed. This work evaluated the present research status of tobacco-related OSCC to enhance the pathogenesis knowledge of OSCC and offer a foundation for further research endeavours on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of tobacco mediated OSCC.

Carotid body tumor (CBT) represents a specific type of head and neck paraganglioma that is characteristically located at the bifurcation of the carotid artery. This tumor typically causes a separation of the external and internal carotid arteries. On the other hand, papillary thyroid carcinoma is recognized as the most common malignant neoplasm of the thyroid gland. In spite of the fact that they are distinctive pathologies, they both affect the neck region. Given the exceptionally low incidence of carotid body tumors (CBTs), the occurrence of an additional malignancy—whether synchronous or metachronous—in the same patient is expected to be an extraordinarily rare phenomenon. Within the literature, a genetic and syndromic relationship between carotid body tumor and papillary thyroid carcinoma is not however known. We describe two cases that could provide valuable insights into the limited body of evidence concerning the potential relationship between these distinct pathologies. The simultaneous presence of carotid body tumor and papillary thyroid carcinoma in a single patient might either represent a coincidental finding or stem from an unidentified genetic mutation.

Head and neck cancers (HNCs) include malignancies of the oral cavity, salivary glands, thyroid, oropharynx, and nasopharynx, with risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, viral infections, and environmental exposures contributing to over half a million global cases annually. Despite treatment advances, poor prognosis underscores the need for accurate diagnosis and continuous monitoring. Medical imaging plays a critical role in HNC evaluation but is often limited by the complexity of anatomy and tumor biology. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI), particularly deep learning, offer opportunities to enhance diagnostic accuracy and optimize treatment strategies. This study reviews the application of deep learning in HNC imaging, evaluating different architectures and addressing challenges like limited annotated datasets, high computational demands, and ethical concerns. Overcoming these challenges will revolutionize HNC diagnostics, redefine precision oncology, and improve patient care. The future integration of explainable AI models and multimodal data will be crucial in advancing diagnostic precision, ensuring clinical applicability, and addressing ethical and resource challenges. As AI progresses, its effective integration into clinical workflows will not only enhance healthcare delivery but also reduce inequalities, accelerating significant advancements in HNC management and transforming patient outcomes.

Middle ear cholesteatoma is a common ear disease with different manifestations and pathological mechanisms in children and adults.Middle ear cholesteatoma is more severe in children than adults. We aimed to detect the expression of tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 11 (TNFSF11) and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 11B (TNFRSF11B) and analyze the difference in ear bone destruction in middle ear cholesteatoma in children and adults.Through the comprehensive analysis of related studies, the mechanism of its action in the progression of the disease was expounded, and the theoretical basis for clinical treatment was provided. A total of 18 children and 32 adults with middle ear cholesteatomas were examined. The degree of bone destruction was observed. TNFSF11 and TNFRSF11B expressions in the cholesteatoma and normal external auditory canal skin were detected by immunohistochemistry. Bone destruction was more severe in children with middle ear cholesteatoma. TNFSF11 expression in cholesteatoma was significantly higher in children than adults, whereas expression in external auditory canal skin was not significantly different between groups. Expression of TNFRSF11B in cholesteatoma and external auditory canal skin was not significantly different between children and adults. In children and adults, TNFSF11 in cholesteatomas was not correlated with TNFRSF11B. TNFSF11 expression was positively correlated with the degree of ear bone destruction, unlike TNFRSF11B. TNFSF11 expression in children with cholesteatoma is higher than adults and is involved in the molecular biological mechanism underlying its destructive nature. These findings will help us develop better treatments.