Scheduled Follow-up Research Articles

Assessment of a close respiratory follow-up schedule at 3 and 6 months after acute COVID-19 and its related investigations

BackgroundRespiratory sequela after acute COVID-19 is common and requires medical follow-up. Considering its vast economic impact, there is still no consensus regarding the mid-term follow-up plan after recovery. ObjectiveTo evaluate the necessity of a close pulmonary follow-up schedule after acute COVID-19 and its related investigations. MethodsA prospective cohort study including adult patients after acute COVID-19 pneumonia. Patients were invited or referred to a 3- and 6-month follow-up visits at a large pulmonary institute in a tertiary center. Before each visit, patients completed demographic and clinical questionnaires, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and chest CT scans. Results168 patients were included after completing both visits (medians of 80 and 177 days). Their mean age was 58 ± 15 and 52% recovered from severe or critical COVID-19. Between the two visits, there was no change in DLCOc (mean 73 ± 18 %predicted in both visits) and FVC (mean 90 ± 16 vs. 89 ± 16 %predicted). The COPD assessment tool and modified Medical Research Council scale had inverse correlations with the DLCOc, and similarly did not change between the visits. Occupational exposures were the only factor associated with a change in DLCOc during follow-up (3% decrease, p = 0.04). An improvement in chest CT findings at the second visit was not associated with a change in PFTs. ConclusionsMost clinical variables did not change during a close follow-up schedule in the first six months after acute COVID-19. Such a follow-up plan does not appear necessary and should be personalized to limit excessive costs and resources.

Time to reconsider skin cancer-related follow-up visits.

BCC, cSCC and melanoma have very intense follow-up schedules, which are mostly based on expert opinion and on recurrence rates. We found that as the incidence of skin cancer rises it is followed by a three-to-eightfold larger number of follow-up consultations, depending on the type of skin cancer, which will seriously impact dermatological care capacity. A reconsideration and further evaluation of the follow-up schedules will be necessary to keep dermatological care accessible to all patients.

Experiences and Perceptions of Telehealth Visits in Diabetes Care During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes and Their Providers: Qualitative Study.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has been widely adopted in outpatient settings in the United States. Although telehealth visits are publicly accepted in different settings, little is known about the situation after the wide adoption of telehealth from the perspectives of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and their providers. This study aims to identify barriers and facilitators of maintaining continuity of care using telehealth for patients with T2D in a diabetes specialty clinic. As the second phase of a multimethod study to understand missed appointments among adults with T2D, we conducted semistructured, individual, in-depth phone or Zoom interviews with 23 adults with T2D (14/23, 61% women; mean age 55.1, SD 14.4, range 35-77 years) and 10 providers from diabetes clinics in a tertiary academic medical center in Maryland. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic content analysis by the research team. Adults with T2D and their providers generally reported positive experiences with telehealth visits for diabetes care with some technical challenges resulting in the need for in-person visits. We identified the following 3 themes: (1) "perceived benefits of telehealth visits," such as convenience, time and financial efficiencies, and independence from caregivers, benefits shared by both patients and providers; (2) "perceived technological challenges of telehealth visits," such as disparities in digital health literacy, frustration caused by unstable internet connection, and difficulty sharing glucose data, challenges shared by both patients and providers; and (3) "impact of telehealth visits on the quality of diabetes care," including lack of diabetes quality measures and needs and preferences for in-person visits, shared mainly from providers' perspectives with some patient input. Telehealth is generally received positively in diabetes care with some persistent challenges that might compromise the quality of diabetes care. Telehealth technology and glucose data platforms must incorporate user experience and user-centered design to optimize telehealth use in diabetes care. Clinical practices need to consider new workflows for telehealth visits to facilitate easier follow-up scheduling and lab completion. Future research to investigate the ideal balance between in-person and telehealth visits in diabetes care is warranted to enhance the quality of diabetes care and to optimize diabetes outcomes. Policy flexibilities should also be considered to broaden access to diabetes care for all patients with T2D.

Guideline of guidelines: follow-up after orchidectomy for clinical stage 1 testicular cancer.

Several medical organisations have developed evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of testicular cancer. This article aimed to review, compare, and summarise the most updated international guidelines and surveillance protocols for clinical stage 1 (CS1) testicular cancer. We reviewed a total of 46 articles on proposed follow-up strategies for testicular cancer, and six clinical practice guidelines including four guidelines published by urological scientific associations and two guidelines published by medical oncology associations. Most of these guidelines have been developed by panels of experts with different backgrounds in clinical training, and geographic practise patterns, which explains the considerable variability between published schedules, and recommended follow-up intensity. We present you with a comprehensive review of the most important clinical practice guidelines and propose unifying recommendations based on the most up to date evidence to help standardise follow-up schedules based on patterns and risk of disease relapse.

Status of the neonatal follow-up system in China: survey and analysis.

There is little information about neonatal follow-up programs (NFUPs) in China. This study aimed to conduct a survey of hospitals participating in the Chinese Neonatal Network (CHNN) to determine the status of NFUPs, including resources available, criteria for enrollment, neurodevelopmental assessments, and duration of follow-up. We conducted a descriptive study using an online survey of all 72 hospitals participating in CHNN in 2020. The survey included 15 questions that were developed based on the current literature and investigators' knowledge about follow-up practices in China. Sixty-four (89%) of the 72 hospitals responded to the survey, with an even distribution of children's (31%), maternity (33%) and general (36%) hospitals. All but one (98%) hospital had NFUPs, with 44 (70%) being established after 2010. Eligibility criteria for follow-up were variable, but common criteria included very preterm infants < 32weeks or < 2000g birth weight (100%), small for gestational age (97%), hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (98%) and postsurgery (90%). The average follow-up rate was 70% (range: 7.5%-100%). Only 12% of hospitals followed up with patients for more than 24months. There was significant variation in neurodevelopmental assessments, follow-up schedule, composition of staff, and clinic facilities and resources. None of the staff had received formal training, and only four hospitals had sent staff to foreign hospitals as observers. There is significant variation in eligibility criteria, duration of follow-up, types of assessments, staffing, training and facilities available. Coordination and standardization are urgently needed.

(258) LACK OF PATIENT COMPLIANCE COMPROMISES SAFETY OF VASECTOMY

Abstract Objectives Vasectomy is worldwide considered a cost-effective, definitive and safe method for male contraception and therefore one of the most frequently performed outpatient surgeries. However, repeated spermiogram controls to ascertain azoospermia are generally recommended to guarantee successful operation. This legal necessity, with all its implications, is noted in all signed informed consents basically to avert unjustified medical liability issues. Methods Members of the Austrian Andrological Working Group participate to this nationwide, retrospective data analysis for vasectomy in 2020. The primary aim was to investigate patients adherence/consultations according to the preoperative provided instructions. An anonymous dataset over 610 patients was analyzed. Results The mean patient age of was 41.60 years (SD 6.69), with the youngest male being 25 years old and the oldest male being 68 years old. A documented follow-up appointment for first spermiogram-analysis was scheduled for these patients in 96.89% (n=591), but, only 90.19% (n=533) attended to these appointments by achieving azoospermia in 86.00% (n=436). In 71 cases vital sperm could still be detected in the ejaculate (unknown in 26 cases). A second spermiogram control was scheduled for 87.24% (n=465 patients; unknown in 24 cases) and was attended by 392 patients (84.30% of patients), hereby azoospermia was achieved in 91.33% (n=358; unknown in 2 cases). Complications such as hematoma, edema, or infection were reported in only 25 patients (4.10%). Failure to achieve sperm clearance was age-independent. Conclusions Although being a safe procedure with a low complication rate, post-vasectomy follow-up lacks extensive adherence. Roughly 10% of patients missed the required post-vasectomy controls and this regardless of the informed consent signed by the patient. Due to persisting oligozoospermia in 14% of patients after the first and 9% after the second follow-up visit, patients must be encouraged to attend the previously scheduled follow-up appointments. To guarantee a successful operation and safe contraception follow-up visits are crucial. Conflicts of Interest None

Prevention and management of childhood progressive myopia: National consensus guidelines.

Myopia is a major public health problem worldwide, including India, with the global prevalence of myopia increasing rapidly over decades. The clinical and socioeconomic impact of myopia is also expected to rise with rising prevalence. Therefore, the focus has now been shifted to prevent the incidence and progression of myopia. However, there is lack of any standardized guidelines for myopia management. This document aims to generate a national-level expert consensus statement on the management of childhood myopia in the Indian scenario. The expert panel of pediatric ophthalmologists consisted of 63 members who met in a hybrid meeting. A list of topics deliberating discussion in the meeting was provided to the experts in advance and they were instructed to provide their opinions on the matter during the meet. The panel of experts then gave their views on each of the items presented, deliberated on different aspects of childhood myopia, and reached a consensus regarding the practice patterns in the Indian scenario. In case of opposing views or lack of a clear consensus, we undertook further discussion and evaluated literature to help arrive at a consensus. A written document is prepared based on recommendations explaining definition of myopia, refraction techniques, components and methods of workup, initiation of anti-myopia treatment, type and timing of interventions, follow-up schedule, and indications for revised or combination treatment. This article formulates evidence-based guidelines for progressing myopes and pre-myopes and also establishes uniformity in the management of childhood myopia in the country.

Improved Compliance of Pediatrics High Blood Pressure Guidelines in Well-Child Clinic Visits.

The providers were educated on American Academy of Pediatrics high BP clinical practice guidelines. We integrated the guideline steps into the electronic medical record (EMR) and analyzed outcome measures. The outcome measures were: (1) BP recorded in the chart, (2) screening done by simplified BP table by clinic staff, (3) repeat manual BP by the provider, (4) BP classification, (5) documentation of BP classification, (6) management plan, and (7) follow-up schedule. Specific interventions were made based on each plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycle, including reeducating the guidelines, reemphasizing following the EMR steps, and providing providers with individualized feedback and alerts. Six of 7 outcome measures (except repeat manual BP by provider) achieved 86%-100% range after the second PDSA cycle. The annotated run chart demonstrates that repeat manual BP by provider improved from 38% to 89% in the fourth PDSA cycle. Pediatric residents who run well-child clinics improved adherence to pediatric high BP guidelines by providing education and integrating prompts and information into the EMR.

Exploring Patient Adherence to Post-Surgical Follow-Up in Pelvic Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a significant cause of disability that affects 5-10% of reproductive-aged women. Laparoscopy with histological confirmation is the gold standard in establishing the diagnosis as therapeutic management surgery is addressed to a certain category of patients. The objective of this study was to assess patient adherence to follow-up after surgery for endometriosis as the primary endpoint, pain symptoms, quality of life, mental health, and fertility as the secondary endpoints. We have analyzed patients' adherence to follow-up after surgery for endometriosis after 1, 3, 5, and 7 years. Out of the 2538 total number of surgeries, 453 patients replied just to the first questionnaire (group A), 528 to the first and second (group B), and only 356 carried out the entire follow-up schedule. General health was significantly lower for group A (46.6 vs. 56.4) but with no statistical difference in the post-surgical improvement in both groups. Pain level score improvement was lower for group A (10.5 vs. 18.8), which is statistically significant. In this light, laparoscopy still remains the gold standard in diagnosis only. Furthermore, no malignancy was discovered. The mental component was improved by laparoscopy based on SF-36 in group B. Studies on patient preference for surgery versus alternative treatment are needed.

DS15 Metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: how best to develop a skin cancer service for future populations

Abstract The incidence of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is increasing in the White population. Despite a favourable prognosis in the majority, it remains a cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in immunosuppressed and elderly individuals. Large cSCCs can be challenging for surgical clearance, recurrence and metastatic disease, despite guidelines for the management and staging of cSCC. We sought to identify high-risk features of those who develop metastatic disease. Our centre typically manages 300 cSCCs annually, but only cSCCs discussed at our two multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings (head and neck and skin cancer) at our level 4 hospital over a 3-year period (2019–2021) were included in a retrospective observational study. A total of 124 patients with high-risk cSCC (due to patient or tumour factors) were included. Male sex predominated. Sixteen cases had metastatic disease. Median age at diagnosis was 80 years in the total MDT group and 86.5 years in the metastasis group. Of 16 patients with metastases, eight had complete primary excisions. Five cases had incomplete primary excision (peripheral or deep margins involved), and three cases had a narrow margin of &amp;lt; 1 mm. Primary tumour size was similar in both the MDT and metastasis groups (median size 17 vs. 20 mm). Head and neck sites predominated in both (88%). In the metastatic group, one had chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, but no other patients with immunosuppression were identified, and the majority (81%) suffered with multimorbidity (≥ 2 chronic illnesses). Nine patients with metastatic cSCC received radiotherapy, two systemic chemotherapies, five neck dissections and one immunotherapy. Most patients presenting with metastatic cSCC at our centre were &amp;gt; 85 years old, a group sometimes known as ‘the oldest old’, and many had multimorbidity. This, coupled with tumour location, poses challenges for healthcare professionals in managing the initial cSCC aggressively and implementing a reasonable follow-up and surveillance schedule. In comparing both groups, advanced age was the predominant difference, with twice as many aged &amp;gt; 85 years in the metastasis group vs. the MDT group. Immunosenescence is a process of immune dysfunction that occurs with age and includes remodelling of lymphoid organs, leading to changes in the immune function of the elderly and relates to the development of malignant tumours. It is estimated that 5 million people in the UK will be in this age group by 2050 (www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/reports-and-publications/reports-and-briefings/health–wellbeing/rb_feb13_understanding_the_oldest_old_improving_later_life.pdf). There is a need to continue to consider this dynamic group (those aged &amp;gt; 85 years) and those with multimorbidity when strategies for the projected management of cSCC are being considered.

Maxillary Overdenture Implant Survival Rate and Prosthetic Complications: An Observational Study

Background: Edentulism is a serious public health problem since it is a physical defect that has been associated with significant impairments in self-esteem, communication, nutrition, and perceptions of appearance. This study aimed to evaluate the survival rate and prosthetic complications of implant-supported overdentures in the edentulous upper jaw. Methods: This prospective study was carried out at Banasree Dental and German Dental implant surgery centers from December 2011 to December 2021 where 78 patients were included in this study and evaluated clinically and radiographically. A total of 20 patients were excluded as they did not agree to or maintain the follow-up schedule. After this procedure, 58 patients (24 male and 34 female) were evaluated for this study. Results: The mean age of the patients was 61.3± 6.8 years whereas the 24 (41.4%) were male. The total survival rate of implants was 94.8% at the 5-year follow-up and 92.2% at the 10-year follow-up. In the 3.0 mm diameter implants, the lowest survival rate was 70.6% at the 5-year follow-up and 52.9% at the 10-year follow-up, whereas in the 3.8 mm diameter implants it was 95.1% and 93.4%, in the 4.2 mm diameter implants it was 97.8% and 96.7%, and in the 4.6 mm diameter implants it was 94.8% and 92.2%, respectively. Most of the 29 implants had prosthetic tooth fractures, followed by 18 premature wear of gaskets, 15 prosthesis loosening/shedding, 9 damaged prosthesis flanges, 4 damaged baskets, and 3 implants with screw loosening. Conclusion: It is concluded that implant-supported maxillary overdentures have a high rate of survival and are a safe and reliable treatment option. But it's obvious that biological and mechanical complications arise frequently and that they become more common over time.

Canada's Student Mental Health Network: Protocol for a Comprehensive Program Evaluation.

Prevalence estimates for mental health-related problems, including above-average stress, psychological distress, and symptoms of mental illnesses have increased significantly among Canadian postsecondary students. As demand for downstream mental treatment has surpassed many institutions' abilities to deliver timely care, there is a need for innovative upstream supports that foster mental health promotion and mental illness prevention among this population. Supported by an extensive network of student volunteers, Canada's Student Mental Health Network is a virtual, one-stop shop for centralized mental health education and evidence-based resources tailored to postsecondary students. This article describes a protocol for the comprehensive evaluation of the Network. Development of the Network was developed using a participatory action research framework. Network content is created and curated by students and reviewed by subject matter experts. The proposed program evaluation will include both a formative process evaluation and a summative impact assessment to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and utility of the Network in addition to assessing change in the 3 primary outcomes of interest: mental health literacy, perceived social support, and help-seeking behavior. Participants will be recruited directly from the Network website using a "rolling" recruitment approach to allow for continuous data collection and evaluation. A combination of qualitative (ie, interviews) and quantitative (ie, surveys) methods of data collection will be used. The process of evaluation of the Network will begin in September 2022, collecting data for 1 year. In September 2023, the impact evaluation will begin using the same follow-up schedule. Data collection will then remain ongoing to facilitate the continued evaluation of the Network. Reports detailing evaluation data will be released annually. The Network is a novel and innovative method of delivering universal mental health promotion to Canadian postsecondary students by providing centralized and freely accessible mental health education and resources, created by students and validated by subject matter experts. The continued creation and curation of resources for the Network will be ongoing to meet the evolving needs of the target population. PRR1-10.2196/41521.

Identification of iron metabolism-related genes as prognostic indicators for papillary thyroid carcinoma: a retrospective study.

The thyroid cancer subtype that occurs more frequently is papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Despite a good surgical outcome, treatment with traditional antitumor therapy does not offer ideal results for patients with radioiodine resistance, recurrence, and metastasis. The evidence for the connection between iron metabolism imbalance and cancer development and oncogenesis is growing. Nevertheless, the iron metabolism impact on PTC prognosis is still indefinite. Herein, we acquired the medical data and gene expression of individuals with PTC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Typically, three predictive iron metabolism-related genes (IMRGs) were examined and employed to build a risk score (RS) model via the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, univariate Cox, and differential gene expression analyses. Then we analyzed somatic mutation and immune cell infiltration among RS groups. We also validated the prognostic value of two IMRGs (SFXN3 and TFR2) by verifying their biological function through in vitro experiments. Based on RS, all patients with PTC were stratified into low- and high-risk groups, where Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that disease-free survival (DFS) in the high-risk group was much lower than in the low-risk group (P < 0.0001). According to ROC analysis, the RS model successfully predicted the 1-, 3-, and 5-year DFS of individuals with PTC. Additionally, in the TCGA cohort, a nomogram model with RS was developed and exhibited a strong capability to anticipate PTC patients' DFS. In the high-risk group, the enriched pathological processes and signaling mechanisms were detected utilizing the gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Moreover, the high-risk group had a significantly higher level of BRAF mutation frequency, tumor mutation burden, and immune cell infiltration than the low-risk group. In vitro experiments found that silencing SFXN3 or TFR2 significantly reduced cell viability. Collectively, our predictive model depended on IMRGs in PTC, which could be potentially utilized to predict the PTC patients' prognosis, schedule follow-up plans, and provide potential targets against PTC.

Impaired endothelial glycocalyx, vascular dysfunction and myocardial deformation four months after Covid-19 infection are partially improved at twelve months

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction COVID-19 patients present impaired subclinical markers of cardiovascular and endothelial function. Subclinical myocardial and vascular dysfunction during COVID-19 disease have been associated with worse outcomes and higher mortality risk. Purpose We investigated the effect of COVID-19 infection on markers of endothelial, vascular and myocardial function at four and twelve months after the infection Methods We recruited 70 patients who were examined in a dedicated post-COVID-19 outpatient clinic during a scheduled follow-up visit at four and twelve months after a confirmed COVID-19 infection and 70 healthy individuals with similar clinical characteristics. At four and twelve months we measured (i) perfused boundary region (PBR) of the sublingual arterial microvessels (increased PBR indicates reduced endothelial glycocalyx thickness), (ii) flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), (iii) coronary flow reserve (CFR) by Doppler echocardiography, (iv) pulse wave velocity (PWV) and central systolic blood pressure (cSBP), (v) global left and right ventricular longitudinal strain (GLS), (vi) myocardial global work index (GWI) global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work (GWW) and the myocardial global work efficiency (GWE) and v) malondialdehyde (MDA), an oxidative stress marker. Results At four months, COVID-19 patients displayed higher values of PBR5–25 compared to control group (p&amp;lt;0.001) which increased at twelve months (p&amp;lt;0.001). FMD, PWV and cSBP values were similar between 4 and 12 months (p&amp;gt;0.05 for all the comparisons) and higher than those in controls (p&amp;lt;0.001, p = 0.057, p = 0.003 respectively). At four months, COVID-19 patients presented impaired CFR and LVGLS values which were improved at twelve months (p = 0.002, p = 0.069 respectively), though remained impaired compared to controls (p = 0.003 for all the comparisons). At four months, COVID-19 patients had impaired RVGLS values which were significantly improved at twelve months (p = 0.001) and showed no statistically significant difference compared to controls (p&amp;gt;0.05). COVID-19 patients at four months display higher myocardial wasted work and decreased myocardial efficiency compared to controls (p = 0.01, p = 0.006, respectively). There was a modest improvement in GWW and GWE at twelve months, (p = 0.043, p = 0.001, respectively); however, these markers remained impaired compared to controls (p&amp;gt;0.05). At four months, MDA was higher in COVID-19 patients compared to control group and significantly decreased at twelve months (p&amp;lt;0.001); however, these values remain higher than in controls (p = 0.002). Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 causes endothelial and cardiovascular dysfunction which are partially restored at twelve months after the infection.

Single-Setting 3D MRI/US-Guided Frozen Sectioning and Cryoablation of the Index Lesion: Mid-Term Oncologic and Functional Outcomes from a Pilot Study.

Our study explored frozen section reliability in prostate cancer (PCa) diagnoses and described surgical steps of a 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-ultrasound (US)-guided prostate biopsy (PB) and focal cryoablation of the index lesion (IL) in a single-setting procedure. Patients with a suspicious prostatic specific antigen (PSA) value, with a PIRADS 4 or 5 single lesion, were enrolled for trans perineal 3D MRI-US-guided PB and TRUS-guided focal cryoablation. Three cores were taken from the IL, three cores from the surrounding area, while systematic sampling was performed for the rest of the gland. After confirmation of PCa in frozen sections, focal cryoablation was performed. The 1st-year follow-up schedule included a PSA test at a 3-month interval, MRI 3 months and 1 year postoperatively and PB of the treated area at 1 year. Following the follow-up schedule, an involved PSA test at a 3-month interval and yearly MRI were performed. The PCa diagnosis was histologically confirmed in all three patients with frozen sections. At final histology, a single Gleason score upgrade from 6 (3 + 3) to 7 (3 + 4) was observed. All patients were discharged on postoperative day 1. At the 3-month evaluation, mean PSA values decreased from 12.54 (baseline) to 1.73 ng/mL and MRI images showed complete ablation of the IL in all patients. Urinary continence and potency were preserved in all patients. At the 1-year follow-up, one patient had suspicious ipsilateral recurrence on MRI and underwent a new analogous procedure. Post follow-up was uneventful and PSA remained stable in all patients. Three-dimensional MRI-US-guided frozen sectioning and focal cryoablation of the IL is a step forward towards a "patient-tailored" minimally invasive approach to the diagnosis and cure of PCa.

Comparison of Botulinum Toxin Injections and Type 2 Thyroplasty for Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia.

Injection of botulinum toxin type A (BTX) into intrinsic laryngeal muscles is the current gold standard therapy for adductor spasmodic dysphonia (AdSD). However, a surgical procedure could potentially offer more stable and long-lasting voice quality to AdSD patients. Here, we report the long-term results of type 2 thyroplasty (TP2) with TITANBRIDGE® (Nobelpharma, Tokyo, Japan) compared with those of BTX injections. In total, 73 AdSD patients visited our hospital between August 2018 and February 2022. Patients were provided the option of BTX injections or TP2. They were assessed via the Voice Handicap Index (VHI)-10 before treatments and at scheduled clinical follow-ups at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks for BTX and at 4, 12, 26, and 52 weeks for TP2. Overall, 52 patients selected the BTX injection and had a pre-injection mean VHI-10 score of 27.3 ± 8.8. Following injections, the scores significantly improved to 21.0 ± 11.1, 18.6 ± 11.5, and 19.4 ± 11.7 at 2, 4, and 8 weeks, respectively. There were no significant differences between the pre-injection scores and the 12-week scores (21.5 ± 10.7). Alternately, 32 patients opted to be treated with TP2 and had a pre-treatment mean VHI-10 score of 27.7. All patients reported an improvement in their symptoms. Additionally, the mean VHI-10 score significantly improved to 9.9 ± 7.4 at 52 weeks following treatment. There was a significant difference between the two treatment groups at 12 weeks. Some patients received both treatments. These preliminary results provide important insights into the value of TP2 as a potential permanent treatment for AdSD patients. 3 Laryngoscope, 133:3443-3448, 2023.

Rates of colorectal cancer screening versus lung cancer screening: Where does the problem lie?

e22504 Background: In 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended expanding the population who should undergo routine lung or colorectal cancer screening to include those between 50 and 80, with a 20-pack or more smoking history, and those who are currently smoking or have quit within the last 15 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 74.3% of the at-risk population undergo colorectal cancer screening. In contrast, according to the American Lung Association, only 5.8% of the eligible population undergoes lung cancer screening. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 158 patients who underwent colorectal cancer screening by colonoscopy between July 2022 and October 2022 at a high-volume hospital in Indiana. Patients were followed up in their primary care office between November 2022 and January 2023 to assess if they had also met the screening criteria for lung cancer with a low dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan. Patients who met the lung screening criteria were interviewed at their subsequent primary care appointment to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes, and compliance with lung cancer screening. Results: Of the 158 participants, 86 (54.4%) met the criteria for lung cancer screening with a LDCT. Only 5 (5.8%) of the eligible subjects underwent LDCT screening. 72 of the 81 patients who were not screened for lung cancer had scheduled follow-ups with their primary care provider during the study time frame. Of these 72 patients, 45 (62.5%) lacked knowledge about LDCT and lung cancer screening, despite meeting the criteria for it. 22 (30.5%) did not think they needed a LDCT, and 5 (6.9%) had no interest in screening despite previous awareness. All 72 patients who had colorectal cancer screening but not lung cancer screening were asked why they underwent the former but not the latter. 68 (94.4%) indicated that colonoscopy was recommended to them and that they knew someone in their families who had it done. Conclusions: Colon cancer screening rates remain high compared to lung cancer screening rates in an at-risk population. A lack of knowledge from patients is the primary reason for not receiving LDCT, despite receiving colon cancer screening.

Recurrence rate-based strategy to tailor surveillance scheduling in single hepatocellular carcinoma ≤2 cm after curative therapy: Analysis of 6,105 global patients.

e16225 Background: For initially diagnosed very early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, VEH, i.e. single Hepatocellular Carcinoma ≤2 cm), surveillance after surgical resection (SR) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) remains largely unclear. We conducted this multicenter study to explore optimal surveillance strategies and evaluate the current surveillance strategies for initially diagnosed VEH after SR/RFA to support the clinical follow-up schedule. Methods: A total of 6,105 initially diagnosed VEH patients who received SR/RFA from global centers were included. After the measurement of the recurrence rate of each month, delayed detection times for tumor recurrence of various follow-up strategies were calculated. The candidate strategies were evaluated according to the delayed detection times and the tumor volume doubling time (TVDT), and a preferable surveillance strategy was recommended. Results: The cumulative 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year recurrence probabilities were 12.7%, 25.9%, 35.7%, 43.7%, and 49.3%, respectively. Based on the monthly recurrence rate, programing surveillance schedules were tailored, which were more effective than current surveillance strategies under the same visits. When patients were followed up every 6 months, the delayed recurrence detection after curative treatment was expected to be 2.35 to 2.57 months. Given that 93.3% of patients did not have &gt;TVDT with a rapid growth subtype when recurrent nodules were detected, a surveillance strategy with a 6-month interval was recommended. Conclusions: Six months of interval surveillance was conservatively supported in patients with VEH after curative therapy.

Regularly scheduled physical examinations and the detection of breast cancer recurrences.

Follow-up care of early breast cancer (EBC) patients usually includes routinely scheduled physical examinations. While ASCO guidelines recommend a physical exam every three to six months for the first three years, little evidence supports this schedule. We evaluated recurrence detection of patients transferred into a single centre survivorship program that follows ASCO recommendations. Patients with EBC referred to the Wellness Beyond Cancer Program (WBCP) who had breast cancer recurrence between February 1, 2013, and January 1, 2019 were reviewed. Descriptive analyses were used to present patient and disease characteristics stratified by type of recurrence and mode of cancer detection. Of 206 recurrences, 135 were distant recurrences (65.5%), 41 were ipsilateral breast recurrences (19.9%), and 30 were contralateral breast primaries (14.6%). Distant recurrences were primarily detected via patient-reported symptoms (125/135, 92.6%). 53.7% (22/41) of ipsilateral breast recurrences were detected by patients and 41.5% (17/41) by routine imaging. Contralateral breast primaries were primarily detected by imaging 83.3% (25/30) and patient-reported symptoms 16.7% (5/30). Only 2/206 (1.14%) recurrences/new primaries were detected by healthcare providers at routinely scheduled follow-up visits. Despite following ASCO guidelines, healthcare providers rarely detect recurrences at routinely scheduled follow-up appointments. Our data suggests that approximately 35, 000 follow-up visits were required for healthcare providers to detect these 2 recurrences. While reduced in-person visits may affect other aspects of follow-up care (e.g. toxicity management), it appears unlikely, provided patients attend regular screening tests, that less frequent in-person follow-up is associated with worse breast cancer-related outcomes.

Cancer recurrence: Detection and diagnostic intervals in Danish primary care.

e13110 Background: Danish cancer survivors receive hospital-based, specialized follow-up care with one central aim to detect cancer recurrence (CR) at an early stage. Nevertheless, CR is frequently detected outside of scheduled follow-up visits as 40-60% of CR patients encounter and present symptoms. The family physician (FP) is presumed to facilitate most of these diagnostic pathways. However, little is known about CR detection in primary care. We aim to examine diagnostic intervals, actions taken by the FP and sub-optimal events for patients presenting symptoms of CR in primary care. Methods: We are conducting a retrospective, national cohort study based on questionnaire data linked to register data at the individual level. Patients diagnosed with CR of melanoma, lung, breast, colorectal, bladder, ovarian and endometrial cancer between Jan 2022 and May 2024 are included. Patients are identified consecutively using validated, register-based algorithms. All Danish citizens have access to free healthcare and 99% are listed with a specific FP. The affiliated FP is invited to complete a questionnaire on the diagnostic pathway utilizing the patient medical record. Danish health registers provide information on the primary cancer, CR diagnosis date, comorbidity, education, sex, and age. Results: We aim to include 3,000 CR patients and expect to receive information on 1,000 CR diagnostic pathways initiated in primary care. We will present preliminary results from the first 500 responders. The proportion of diagnostic pathways initiated in primary care was 33%, hospital-based follow-up was 44%, and another route was 23%. The FPs initiated the diagnostic pathway by referral to cancer specific urgent pathway for 31% of patients, by referral to specialized private or hospital-based physician including diagnostic imaging for 30% of patients. For 31% of diagnostic pathways, the FPs reported sub-optimal or delaying events. The most frequently reported sub-optimal event was regarding clinical decisions by the FP (12%). For patients with CR of breast cancer (n=53), the mean diagnostic interval (time from first contact to CR diagnosis) was 86 days [95% CI = 61 to 112days]. Conclusions: One third of diagnostic pathways for CR was initiated in primary care. This project will provide novel, comprehensive evidence on these diagnostic pathways to inform the efforts for early detection of CR and survivorship in primary care.