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Diagnosis, Treatment and Prognosis of Head and Neck Cancer
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Diagnosis, Treatment and Prognosis of Head and Neck Cancer

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 1156

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Armando De Virgilio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Organi di Senso, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
Interests: head and neck surgery; minimally invasive surgery; reconstructive surgery; head and neck oncology; robotic surgery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Elena Russo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Organi di Senso, Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
Interests: head and neck cancer; chronic rhinosinusitis; salivary gland tumors; squamous-cell carcinoma; robotic surgery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Head and neck cancer (HNC) comprises a biologically diverse group of malignancies, presenting complex diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Recent advances in molecular profiling, imaging technologies, and minimally invasive surgical and therapeutic techniques are transforming the clinical landscape, allowing for more precise and personalized care. Early detection and accurate staging are critical to improving outcomes, while functional preservation and quality of life are increasingly prioritized treatment objectives. This Special Issue aims to showcase current evidence and emerging perspectives related to the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of HNC. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Topics of interest may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Innovations in surgical and non-surgical management;
  • Biomarkers for risk stratification and therapeutic response;
  • Strategies for surveillance and survivorship care.

Dr. Armando De Virgilio
Dr. Elena Russo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • head and neck neoplasms
  • surgical procedures
  • minimally invasive surgical procedures
  • radiotherapy
  • immunotherapy
  • biomarkers
  • treatment outcome
  • early diagnosis
  • prognosis
  • quality of life

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 525 KB  
Article
Monocyte-to-Lymphocyte Ratio as New Prognostic Factor in Patients with Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma
by Luca Canali, Francesca Gaino, Claudia Valenziano, Giulio Sandri, Alberto Paderno, Fabio Ferreli, Luca Malvezzi, Gherardo Mazziotti, Andrea Lania, Giuseppe Spriano and Giuseppe Mercante
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(6), 2363; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15062363 - 19 Mar 2026
Viewed by 405
Abstract
Objectives: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare but biologically aggressive neuroendocrine tumor for which reliable preoperative prognostic biomarkers are still lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the association between preoperative blood immunological markers and disease recurrence in patients with MTC undergoing curative [...] Read more.
Objectives: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare but biologically aggressive neuroendocrine tumor for which reliable preoperative prognostic biomarkers are still lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the association between preoperative blood immunological markers and disease recurrence in patients with MTC undergoing curative surgery. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a single tertiary academic center including 52 consecutive patients who underwent curative surgery for MTC between January 1999 and December 2023. The study size was determined by including all eligible consecutive patients meeting predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria within the study period. Preoperative inflammatory indices (MLR, NLR, PLR, SII, SIRI) were calculated from standardized complete blood count tests performed within 30 days before surgery. Disease-free survival (DFS) was calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis with a backward stepwise selection based on the Akaike Information Criterion was used to identify independent predictors of recurrence, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: The mean age was 55.0 years (range 31–75), and 73% of patients were female. The ROC-derived cut-off for preCT was 181 pg/mL. Locally advanced disease (T3-T4) was observed in 12% of cases, and cervical node metastases in 27%. With a mean follow-up of 75.48 months, the 3- and 5-year DFS rates were 91% and 86%, respectively. On multivariable Cox regression, a high monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR ≥0.37), positive surgical margins, and pathological nodal involvement remained independently associated with worse DFS after confounder adjustment (HR 9.73, 10.78, and 17.71, respectively). Conclusions: Elevated MLR, histological node metastases, and positive surgical margins independently predict recurrence in MTC after curative treatment. Preoperative MLR may represent a simple, inexpensive, and reproducible biomarker to improve preoperative risk stratification and personalize surgical and follow-up strategies: patients with MLR ≥0.37 may benefit from more aggressive management and/or closer follow-up. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis, Treatment and Prognosis of Head and Neck Cancer)
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Review

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16 pages, 613 KB  
Review
Transoral Robotic Surgery for Elderly Patients with Oropharyngeal and Laryngeal Cancer: A Comprehensive Review
by Elena Russo, David Virós Porcuna, Philippe Gorphe, Vinidh Paleri, Raul Pellini, Andrea Costantino, Remo Accorona and Armando De Virgilio
J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(4), 1586; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15041586 - 18 Feb 2026
Viewed by 463
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) poses a significant health challenge, especially among elderly patients, who are often underrepresented in clinical trials. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has emerged as a promising alternative to non-surgical strategies such as chemoradiotherapy (CRT), but [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) poses a significant health challenge, especially among elderly patients, who are often underrepresented in clinical trials. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has emerged as a promising alternative to non-surgical strategies such as chemoradiotherapy (CRT), but its effectiveness in older adults is not well-studied. Methods: A structured narrative review of studies on TORS for elderly HNSCC patients was conducted using the PubMed/MEDLINE database. Studies were selected according to predefined eligibility criteria based on the PICOS framework. PRISMA reporting principles were applied to document study identification and selection. Results: The available evidence suggests that, in carefully selected elderly patients, TORS is associated with disease-specific (DSS) and disease-free survival (DFS) outcomes comparable to those reported in younger cohorts, while overall survival (OS) appears more strongly influenced by comorbidities than chronological age. TORS may facilitate treatment de-escalation in selected cases, potentially reducing exposure to adjuvant therapies and limiting treatment-related toxicity. Functional outcomes, particularly swallowing function and long-term gastrostomy dependence, may be favorable in selected elderly patients; however, comparative data with non-surgical approaches remain limited, heterogeneous, and are partly derived from mixed-age cohorts. Conclusions: TORS represents a viable treatment option for selected elderly HNSCC patients, providing encouraging oncologic outcomes and potential functional advantages. Nevertheless, the current evidence base is predominantly retrospective and heterogeneous. Careful patient selection is essential, and further prospective elderly-specific studies are needed to better define functional and oncologic benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnosis, Treatment and Prognosis of Head and Neck Cancer)
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