Head and Neck Tumors
Journal "Head and neck tumors" — a quarterly color practical peer-reviewed journal, which is published since 2009.
The journal is the official publication of the Russian Society of Head and Neck Tumors Specialists.
IF RusSCI: 0.526. H-Index: 12.
Journal "Head and neck tumors" is put on the Higher Attestation Commission (HAC) list of leading peer-reviewed scientific
periodicals recommended to publish the basic research results of candidate’s and doctor’s theses.
The journal is included in the Scientific Electronic Library and the Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI) and has an impact factor; it is registered in the Scopus database, CrossRef, its papers are indexed with the digital object identifier (DOI).
The journal’s electronic version is available in the leading Russian and international electronic libraries, including EBSCO
and DOAJ.
Editor in Chief: Sergey O. Podvyaznikov, Doctor of Sciences (Medicine), Member of the Russian Academy of Natural History, Honored Worker of Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Professor of the Acad. A.I. Savitsky Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine of Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Leading Researcher at the Department of Head and Neck Tumors of N. N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology of the Ministry of Health of Russia, Vice-President of the Russian National Public Organization “Russian Society of Head and Neck Tumors Specialists”.
Target audience: oncologists, chemotherapists, radiation oncologists, neurosurgeons, otolaryngologists, maxillofacial surgeons, endocrinologists and ophthalmologists, as well as the researchers of fundamental areas of oncology, specialists of big pharmaceutical companies and innovative technologies in medicine.
Contents: researches, reviews, lectures, discussion papers and clinical examples, reports on activities in the field of head and neck tumors.
Members of the editorial board and the authors of the journal — leading russian and foreign experts on the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck tumors.
Format: 210 х 280 mm (А4).
Volume: 80–100 pages.
Circulation: 2000 copies.
Frequency: 4 issues per year.
Disrtibution: addressed on the territory of the Russian Federation and CIS countries.
Index of subscription: in the “Press of Russia” catalogue — 82408.
Anyone can subscribe to the Journal in the site of the «ABV-press» Publishing house.
Information about types of advertising in the printed publications can be found in «Cooperate» section.
Current Issue
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Vol 16, No 2 (2026)
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF HEAD AND NECK TUMORS
Endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of patients with tracheobronchial tree tumors
Abstract
Introduction. The diagnosis and treatment of bronchial tumors remain one of the most challenging and relevant issues in modern medicine. Benign tumors with an endobronchial growth pattern are particularly alarming. These neoplasms are characterized by slow growth, an absence or scarcity of clinical symptoms until complications arise, and relatively rare malignant transformation.
Aim. To analyze the efficacy of diagnostic methods and endoscopic interventions aimed at restoring bronchial patency in patients with tumors of the bronchial tree.
Materials and methods. The study included 24 patients with tumors of the trachea and bronchi (20 (83 %) men and 4 (17 %) women) who received treatment at the N. N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology from 2011 to July 2024. All patients underwent a comprehensive examination, which included standard blood tests, computed tomography of the thorax, and bronchoscopy with biopsy followed by morphological verification.
Results. Endoscopic examination using all available imaging modalities revealed bronchial lumen obstruction by exophytic masses of various shapes and consistencies, located on both broad and narrow bases. The tumor was localized in the trachea in 6 (25 %) cases and within the bronchial lumen in 18 (75 %) cases. Endoscopic tumor resection for diagnostic and treatment purposes was performed in all 24 (100 %) patients. Electrosurgery was performed using an endolaryngeal mask (7 (30 %) cases) and a rigid bronchoscope (15 (70 %) cases). As a result, bronchial patency was successfully restored without stenting. Adenoid cystic carcinoma was identified in 2 (8.3 %) patients, adenocarcinoma in 2 (8.3 %), and atypical carcinoid in 2 (8.3 %).
Conclusion. Endoscopic treatment methods, such as loop electrosurgical excision and its combination with electrocoagulation, are effective approaches for restoring bronchial patency in patients with benign tumors, as well as a way to obtain a substantial amount of tissue material to establish a diagnosis. The obtained data confirm the significance of endoscopic methods in the treatment of bronchial tumors.
12-18
Algorithm of noninvasive diagnosis of patients with suspected neoplasm in the maxillofacial region in dental examination
Abstract
Introduction. Diagnosis of neoplasms of the maxillofacial region remains one of the most acute and widely discussed problems in modern medicine. Despite the visual accessibility of this area, a significant part of malignant tumors are detected only at stages III–IV. In such cases, medical care is often focused only on palliative care, and radical intervention leads to severe functional defects and aesthetic disorders that require complex multidisciplinary rehabilitation.
Aim. To determine the significance of certain biomarkers of the tumor process in unstimulated oral fluid (saliva) for the possibility of non-invasive diagnosis of tumors of the maxillofacial region at a dental appointment.
Materials and methods. The study included patients with neoplasms of the maxillofacial region, divided into three main groups based on clinical, dental and morphological data. The object of the study was unstimulated oral fluid. The material was collected 30 minutes before or after a meal using disposable instruments in containers made of ultrapure polypropylene.
Results. The study confirms that the composition of the oral fluid varies depending on the morphological type of the maxillofacial tumor. The combination of biomarkers MMP-8, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, NSE, CYFRA 21–1, AFP and CEA has high sensitivity and specificity (≥80 %), which makes them promising for the diagnosis and monitoring of the development of tumor processes.
Conclusion. The use of saliva as a biomaterial for the determination of tumor markers is a highly effective and clinically justified method for diagnosing neoplasms of the maxillofacial region.
19-24
Diagnosis and treatment of patients with metastases of squamous cell carcinoma unknout primary site
Abstract
The term “metastases of a malignant tumor with an unidentified primary site (from an unknown primary site)” refers to a malignant disease presented by metastatic tumors in which the primary site can be identified based on neither the patient’s clinical history nor diagnostic evaluation. This malignancy is characterized by an unknown anatomical origin of the primary tumor at the time treatment is initiated. Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary sites for 5 % of all head and neck malignancies.
This pathology is frequently confused with benign tumors, especially at an early stage of development. Prior to referral to a specialized hospital, most patients with this type of cancer received treatment for other diseases, so the time for early initiation of therapy following the identification of the primary site was lost. A thorough examination of cervical lymph nodes with suspected neoplasia is necessary for the timely diagnosis of the malignancy and identification of the primary site. Histological types of the tumor include squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma, and anaplastic carcinoma. An association of the tumor with wart virus or Epstein–Barr virus is sometimes noted, which determines the treatment strategy.
The article presents a diagnostic algorithm for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary site based on data from the N. N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology obtained in 2014–2024, including clinical, imaging, and pathomorphological findings, as well as treatment options for this pathology.
25-39
The efficacy of selperkatinib in the first and subsequent lines of targeted therapy in unresectable progressive medullary thyroid cancer with a mutation in the gene RET
Abstract
Introduction. RET gene mutations are frequently detected in patients with medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). In unresectable and metastatic disease, multikinase inhibitors are used, however, their efficacy is limited, and toxicity may require therapy adjustment. Selpercatinib is a selective RET inhibitor that has demonstrated high efficacy in RET-positive MTC.
Aim. To compare the efficacy and safety of selpercatinib when used in the first versus subsequent lines of targeted therapy in patients with progressive unresectable and / or metastatic RET-mutated MTC.
Materials and methods. The study included 20 patients with MTC divided into two groups. In Group А (n = 10), selpercatinib was used as first-line therapy, in Group Б – in the second or third line after vandetanib and / or cabozantinib. The median follow-up was 43.5 and 9.25 months, respectively. Efficacy was evaluated using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours 1.1 and by analyzing serum calcitonin dynamics. Adverse events were also analyzed.
Results. In Group А, the mean duration of therapy was 42.9 months. Complete response was achieved in 4 (40 %) patients, stable disease – in 5 (50 %), and partial response – in 1 (10 %). Disease progression at 22 months from treatment initiation was noted in 1 case. All patients are alive and continue therapy. In 4 (40 %) patients, calcitonin levels decreased to reference values. In Group Б, the mean duration of therapy was 11.8 months. Partial response was registered in 4 (40 %) patients and stable disease in 6 (60 %); no complete responses were observed. One patient died due to disease progression. A decrease in calcitonin levels was observed, but normalization was not achieved. Arterial hypertension was the most common adverse event. Treatment was not discontinued in any patient due to toxicity.
Conclusion. Selpercatinib has demonstrated high efficacy and acceptable safety in RET-positive MTC. Its use in the first line was characterized by a higher complete response rate and a more pronounced decrease in calcitonin levels compared with subsequent lines. However, administration of the drug following progression on vandetanib and / or cabozantinib also allowed for disease control and represented a reasonable treatment option.
40-49
Functional outcomes of upper aerodigestive tract reconstruction using visceral autografts in oncology patients
Abstract
Introduction. Extended surgeries for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal tumors are accompanied by the loss of alimentary and vocal functions. Therefore, the efficacy of upper aerodigestive tract reconstruction must be evaluated not only by structural integrity but also by functional outcomes.
Aim. To evaluate the functional outcomes of upper aerodigestive tract reconstruction using visceral autografts in oncology patients and to determine the clinical features of utilizing the ileoascendocecal segment without a voice prosthesis and a small bowel autograft combined with tracheoesophageal puncture and voice prosthodontics.
Materials and methods. The treatment outcomes of 35 patients following laryngectomy with hypopharyngeal resection were analyzed. In 17 cases, reconstruction was performed using an ileoascendocecal segment; in 18 cases, a small bowel autograft with voice prosthesis placement was used. The evaluation included alimentary function, clinical and acoustic parameters of alaryngeal voice, voice prosthesis functioning, quality of life assessed by the Voice Handicap Index-30 (VHI-30) questionnaire, and the nature of postoperative complications.
Results. Satisfactory patency of the reconstructed segment was noted in 14 out of 15 patients in the ileoascendocecal segment group and in 16 out of 18 patients in the small bowel autograft group. Swallowing outcomes in both groups were good or excellent. Quantitative variables are presented as median (Me) and interquartile range [Q1; Q3]. The majority of acoustic parameters showed no statistically significant differences; however, the maximum phonation time was longer in patients who underwent reconstruction with the ileoascendocecal segment: 4.60 [4.22; 5.53] s versus 4.02 [3.41; 4.70] s. The total VHI-30 score was lower in the ileoascendocecal segment group: 25 [18; 32] points versus 38 [29; 47] points, indicating less voice-related disability. Following visceral reconstruction, the most common complications included cervical anastomotic fistulas and complications associated with voice prosthesis functioning.
Conclusion. Both methods – the use of an ileoascendocecal segment and a small bowel autograft with voice prosthodontics – provide effective restoration of alimentary function but differ in the mechanism of vocal rehabilitation, dependence on a voice prosthesis, and the clinical profile of complications.
50-56
ORIGINAL REPORT
Biomarkers of response to chemoradiotherapy in head and neck tumors
Abstract
In modern oncology practice, biomarkers are increasingly used to select patients for individualized treatment based on tumor genetic characteristics for many types of cancer. However, for head and neck tumors, there are no personalized treatments available outside the context of clinical trials. Several studies indicate that head and neck tumors have specific properties that influence their response to chemotherapy. However, there is very little information on the results of the search for markers of response to radiation or chemoradiation therapy of patients with tumors of the head and neck.
This review presents a number of biomarkers predicting response to radiation / chemoradiation therapy for head and neck tumors.
57-66
Evaluation of the quality of life in oncology patients after total temporomandibular joint replacement using a new domestic system
Abstract
Introduction. Treatment of primary and secondary neoplastic lesions of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) remains a highly relevant problem. These tumors are characterized by a variety of histological types, a lack of pathognomonic symptoms, and the complexity of their location. Surgical treatment typically involves extended mandibular resections with TMJ exarticulation and removal of the infratemporal fossa structures. The mandible and TMJ form an anatomic and functional complex that ensures mastication, deglutition, and speech production. Disruption of the mandibular arch continuity and the absence of the TMJ lead to persistent impairment of all the aforementioned functions, which significantly decreases the patients’ quality of life. In this regard, the development of effective methods for mandibular reconstruction with immediate or delayed total TMJ replacement aimed at restoring the lost functions is a relevant scientific and practical task.
Aim. To evaluate the quality of life in patients after extended combined oral cavity resections with immediate or delayed total TMJ replacement.
Materials and methods. The study included 17 patients with head and neck tumors involving the TMJ structures who were examined and underwent surgical treatment between 2020 and 2025 at the N. N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology (Moscow) and the Clinical Hospital “Lapino” (Moscow Region). In all cases, segmental resection of the mandible with TMJ exarticulation and immediate or delayed total replacement of this joint was performed, and a total TMJ replacement system manufactured by LLC “LOGIX Medical Systems” (Novosibirsk, Russia) was placed. All patients completed the University of Washington Quality of Life (UW-QOL) v4 questionnaire for head and neck cancer patients 7 days prior to surgery and 3 months postoperatively.
Results. According to the UW-QOL v4 questionnaire, a positive trend in the patients’ quality of life was observed across most domains after surgical treatment. In the preoperative period, the majority of patients exhibited severe impairment of physical functions and psycho-emotional status indicators. Three months after total TMJ replacement, quality of life indicators improved significantly, demonstrating the efficacy of the utilized joint replacement system.
Conclusion. In primary and secondary tumor lesions of the TMJ after exarticulation, total joint replacement is the method of choice, ensuring the restoration of lost functions and improving the patients’ quality of life.
67-80
Clinical, pathomorphological, and molecular genetic differences between primary amelanotic and melanotic cutaneous melanoma
Abstract
Introduction. Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is a highly aggressive malignant tumor characterized by pronounced heterogeneity and high metastatic potential. Although CM accounts for only about 2 % of all malignancies, it contributes to 80 % of skin cancer-related mortality.
Aim. To perform a comparative analysis of the clinical, anamnestic, pathomorphological, and molecular genetic characteristics of amelanotic cutaneous melanoma (ACM) and melanotic cutaneous melanoma (MCM) to determine prognostic criteria and assess the risk of disease progression.
Materials and methods. A retrospective single-center study was conducted including 93 patients aged 18–90 years with histopathologically verified primary stage I–II CM who received radical surgical treatment (wide local excision, R0) between 2021 and 2024. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed for tumor thickness >0.8 mm. Patients were divided into two groups: ACM (n = 33) and MCM (n = 60). Exclusion criteria were stage III–IV disease, hypomelanotic melanoma, uveal melanoma, mucosal melanoma, multiple primary tumors, and metastases of unknown primary site.
Results. No significant differences in patient age were observed between the groups; females predominated in both cohorts. ACM was more frequently localized on the trunk (45 % of cases) and lower extremities (24 % of cases), whereas MCM was located on the trunk (57 % of cases) and upper extremities (20 % of cases). ACM predominantly exhibited a nodular growth pattern (75.7 % of cases), while MCM was mostly superficial spreading (53 % of cases). ACM was diagnosed at stage IIC in 36.4 % of cases, whereas MCM was diagnosed at an early stage (IA) in 50 % of cases. ACM demonstrated extremely aggressive morphological parameters: median Breslow thickness was 4.05 mm (versus 1 mm in MCM), and the rate of epidermal ulceration was 60 % (versus 21.6 % in MCM). The median mitotic rate per 1 mm² in ACM was 8 times higher than in MCM. Compared to MCM, the molecular genetic profile of ACM was characterized by a higher frequency of mutations in both the BRAF gene (57.5 % vs 47 %) and the NRAS gene (18.1 % vs 5 %).
Conclusion. Amelanotic cutaneous melanoma significantly differs from the melanotic form by the predominance of the vertical growth phase (nodular subtype), manifestation at advanced localized stages (stage IIC), and a combination of highly unfavorable morphological parameters (high mitotic activity, pronounced Breslow thickness, ulceration) along with a high frequency of BRAF and NRAS gene mutations. This complex of features determines the aggressive biological potential of ACM and accounts for a high risk of tumor progression.
81-87
REVIEW
Clinical effectiveness and safety of endoscopic thyroid surgery by transoral-submental access (review)
Abstract
The article presents an analysis of the current literature on the performance of transoral-submental endoscopic thyroidectomy (TOaST) for thyroid diseases. The features of the technique are considered, the results of retrospective clinical studies are highlighted, in which TOaST is compared with transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy by vestibular approach and traditional open approach. Objective surgical indicators and subjective clinical and functional outcomes, including the assessment of pain severity, sensory disorders, and satisfaction with the cosmetic result, were considered. Special attention was paid to meta-analysis data, which reflects the comparative effectiveness and safety of various surgical approaches. The obtained results allow us to determine the place of the TOaST technique in modern thyroid surgery and outline the prospects for its further study.
Aim. To analyze and summarize the data of modern literature devoted to the assessment of clinical efficacy, safety and clinical and functional results of endoscopic transoral and submental thyroidectomy.
88-98
CLINICAL CASE
Modern methods of treatment of anaplastic thyroid cancer (clinical case)
Abstract
The article presents a clinical case of treating stage IV anaplastic thyroid cancer with a V600E mutation in the BRAF gene and distant metastasis (including metastases to the right ventricle of the heart and the right adrenal gland). At the first stage, targeted therapy (dabrafenib + trametinib) was performed, which allowed achieving pronounced clinico-metabolic regression and performing radical multi-stage surgical treatment. Subsequently, with the development of drug resistance and the detection of high expression of programmed cell death 1 ligand (PD-L1) (Combined Positive Score (CPS) – the ratio of the number of PD-L1-positive cells to the total number of tumor cells = 100), immunotargeted therapy with pembrolizumab in combination with lenvatinib was prescribed, resulting in a partial metabolic response. Despite the subsequent disease progression, overall survival from the time of diagnosis was 46 months. The presented clinical case demonstrates the importance of molecular profiling and the use of a multidisciplinary approach, as well as the possibility of using active surgical management in the oligoprogression of anaplastic thyroid cancer.
99-108
Parathyroid gland neoplasms with irregular hormone activity (a series of clinical cases)
Abstract
Primary hyperparathyroidism is an endocrine disorder characterized by excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone accompanied by upper-normal or elevated serum calcium levels resulting from primary parathyroid gland pathology. The diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism is established exclusively based on laboratory findings. However, the 2025 Russian Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Primary Hyperparathyroidism mention another form of the hypercalcemic variant of this condition, which may manifest as hypercalcemia combined with high-normal parathyroid hormone levels (falling within the upper limit of the reference range without exceeding it). A detailed description of this form of the disease is not provided, and in clinical practice, differential diagnosis with familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia is recommended. Furthermore, the pathogenesis of this variant of primary hyperparathyroidism remains unclear and contradicts the classical understanding of the disease progression. Consequently, most specialists interpret hypercalcemia with normal parathyroid hormone levels as a laboratory error rather than a manifestation of primary hyperparathyroidism. In the literature, reports of primary hyperparathyroidism with normal parathyroid hormone levels are rare and largely limited to isolated case reports.
The article presents three clinical cases of diagnosis and treatment of parathyroid neoplasms with irregular hormonal activity. It is described that, despite the presence of hypercalcemia, visualization of parathyroid tumors, and high parathyroid hormone levels in the needle washings, normoparathyremia was observed in patients over a long period. In all cases, the diagnosis was verified by histological examination.
109-123
Регистрационный номер и дата принятия решения о регистрации СМИ: серия ПИ № ФС 77-36990 от 21.07.2009.