Featured Publications
Guideline - Adherence in advanced stage head and neck cancer is associated with improved survival – A National study
Cohen O, Brauer PR, Judson BL, Burtness BA, Earles J, Mehra S. Guideline - Adherence in advanced stage head and neck cancer is associated with improved survival – A National study. Oral Oncology 2021, 125: 105694. PMID: 34971883, DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2021.105694.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOverall survivalNCCN guidelinesGuideline adherenceAdherence ratesNeck cancerAdvanced stage HNCGuideline adherence rateOverall stage IIINational Cancer DatabaseDecreased overall survivalAdvanced-stage headPrevalence of guidelinesComorbidity scoreAdherent patientsAdvanced headClinical stagingImproved survivalGuideline awarenessHNC patientsBlack raceInsurance statusNational cohortCancer DatabaseRisk factorsFemale genderChanges in Population-Level and Institutional-Level Prescribing Habits of Radioiodine Therapy for Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Jacobs D, Breen CT, Pucar D, Holt E, Judson BL, Mehra S. Changes in Population-Level and Institutional-Level Prescribing Habits of Radioiodine Therapy for Papillary Thyroid Cancer. Thyroid 2020, 31: 272-279. PMID: 32811347, DOI: 10.1089/thy.2020.0237.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPapillary thyroid cancerNational Cancer DatabaseThyroid cancerRadioactive iodine therapyNumber of patientsHospital-specific effectsIodine therapyAdvanced diseaseTotal thyroidectomyRadioiodine therapyPrescribing habitsRAI useCancer DatabaseMixed regression modelsPatientsJoinpoint analysisHospitalIndividual hospitalsCancerHospital selectionNational trendsThyroidectomyTherapySignificant declineRegression modelsPositive margin rates and predictors in transoral robotic surgery after federal approval: A national quality study
Hanna J, Morse E, Brauer PR, Judson B, Mehra S. Positive margin rates and predictors in transoral robotic surgery after federal approval: A national quality study. Head & Neck 2019, 41: 3064-3072. PMID: 31058417, DOI: 10.1002/hed.25792.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositive margin rateTransoral robotic surgeryLow positive margin rateLow-volume facilitiesHigh-volume facilitiesPositive marginsT classificationMargin rateHuman papilloma virus (HPV) statusRobotic surgeryLymph-vascular invasionNational Cancer DatabaseMargin statusRetrospective reviewTumor subsiteVirus statusCancer DatabaseMultivariable regressionLinear associationPatientsSurgeryQuality studiesStatusAssociationClinical value of transoral robotic surgery: Nationwide results from the first 5 years of adoption
Li H, Torabi SJ, Park HS, Yarbrough WG, Mehra S, Choi R, Judson BL. Clinical value of transoral robotic surgery: Nationwide results from the first 5 years of adoption. The Laryngoscope 2018, 129: 1844-1855. PMID: 30575965, DOI: 10.1002/lary.27740.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsCarcinoma, Squamous CellChemoradiotherapy, AdjuvantChi-Square DistributionCombined Modality TherapyDatabases, FactualFemaleHumansKaplan-Meier EstimateMaleMargins of ExcisionMiddle AgedMultivariate AnalysisNatural Orifice Endoscopic SurgeryNeoplasm StagingOropharyngeal NeoplasmsProportional Hazards ModelsRegression AnalysisRetrospective StudiesRobotic Surgical ProceduresTreatment OutcomeUnited StatesConceptsOropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomaTransoral robotic surgeryTransoral laser microsurgeryNonrobotic surgeryTORS patientsPositive marginsTLM patientsLower likelihoodT2 oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomaEarly stage oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomaLong-term oncologic outcomesUse of TORSKaplan-Meier log-rank testRobotic surgeryNational Cancer DatabaseMajority of patientsMultivariate Cox analysisSquamous cell carcinomaLog-rank testChi-square testCox multivariateN3 diseaseAdjuvant chemoradiotherapyAdjuvant radiotherapyAdjuvant therapyTreatment Delays in Primarily Resected Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: National Benchmarks and Survival Associations
Morse E, Judson B, Husain Z, Burtness B, Yarbrough WG, Sasaki C, Cheraghlou S, Mehra S. Treatment Delays in Primarily Resected Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: National Benchmarks and Survival Associations. Otolaryngology 2018, 159: 987-997. PMID: 30060700, DOI: 10.1177/0194599818779052.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHPV-positive patientsRadiation treatment durationTotal treatment packageOverall survivalTreatment initiationTreatment durationEnd intervalOropharyngeal cancerTreatment delayTreatment packageOropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomaCox proportional hazards regressionMultivariable logistic regression analysisRadiation treatmentRetrospective cross-sectional analysisNational Cancer DatabaseProportional hazards regressionSquamous cell carcinomaDuration of diagnosisLogistic regression analysisNational benchmarksCross-sectional analysisMedian durationOverall cohortHazards regression
2024
Predisposing, Enabling, and Need Factors Driving Palliative Care Use in Head and Neck Cancer
Fereydooni S, Valdez C, William L, Malik D, Mehra S, Judson B. Predisposing, Enabling, and Need Factors Driving Palliative Care Use in Head and Neck Cancer. Otolaryngology 2024, 171: 1069-1082. PMID: 38796734, DOI: 10.1002/ohn.819.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPalliative careAssociated with palliative carePC usePalliative care useAnderson Behavioral ModelHealth service useHigher incomePrivate insuranceHead and neck cancerNational Cancer DatabaseHigher comorbidity indexMultivariate logistic regressionCare useService useMonths of lifeNeed factorsInformational counselingEnabling factorsHispanic ethnicityPC indicatorsCancer DatabaseNeck cancerBlack raceRetrospective studyCurative treatmentPatterns of Care for T1 Glottic Squamous Cell Carcinomas from 2004–2020
Malik D, Jacobs D, Fereydooni S, Park H, Mehra S. Patterns of Care for T1 Glottic Squamous Cell Carcinomas from 2004–2020. The Laryngoscope 2024, 134: 3633-3644. PMID: 38411338, DOI: 10.1002/lary.31363.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGlottic squamous cell carcinomaT1 glottic squamous cell carcinomaSquamous cell carcinomaDual-modality treatmentOver-treatmentT1a tumorsCell carcinomaTreatment regimensOverall treatment modalityNational Cancer DatabaseRate of surgeryYear of treatmentMultivariate logistic regressionCochran-Armitage testT1b tumorsT1b diseaseCancer DatabaseOver-treatedTreatment modalitiesTreatment patternsAssociated with greater likelihoodSurgeryPatientsTumorLogistic regression
2021
Major Salivary Gland Cancer With Distant Metastasis Upon Presentation: Patterns, Outcomes, and Imaging Implications
Benchetrit L, Mehra S, Mahajan A, Rahmati RW, Judson BL, Edwards HA. Major Salivary Gland Cancer With Distant Metastasis Upon Presentation: Patterns, Outcomes, and Imaging Implications. Otolaryngology 2021, 167: 305-315. PMID: 34784258, DOI: 10.1177/01945998211058354.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDistant metastasisMajor salivary gland cancerPredictors of DMRate of DMSite of DMHigh-grade mucoepidermoid carcinomaCancer-accredited hospitalsComputed tomography neckNational Cancer DatabaseCommon metastatic siteKaplan-Meier methodCox regression analysisLog-rank testSalivary duct carcinomaSalivary gland cancerRegression analysisMultivariate regression analysisHigh rateCancer presentationRetrospective cohortBone metastasesHistologic subtypeMetastatic sitesTumor histologyDuct carcinomaProlonged inpatient stay after upfront total laryngectomy is associated with overall survival
Jacobs D, Kafle S, Earles J, Rahmati R, Mehra S, Judson BL. Prolonged inpatient stay after upfront total laryngectomy is associated with overall survival. Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology 2021, 6: 94-102. PMID: 33614936, PMCID: PMC7883619, DOI: 10.1002/lio2.441.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNational Cancer DatabaseTotal laryngectomyOverall survivalInpatient LOSMultivariable analysisCharlson-Deyo comorbidity scoreLong-term overall survivalPostoperative long-term mortalityMultivariable binary logistic regressionNinety-day mortalityUpfront total laryngectomyLong-term mortalityDays of diagnosisKaplan-Meier analysisBinary logistic regressionProlonged LOSComorbidity scoreWorse OSPatient ageCox regressionInpatient stayVolume centersClose surveillanceFemale sexInpatient length
2020
Revisiting the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 1221 Hypothesis: Treatment for Stage III/IV HPV-Negative Oropharyngeal Cancer
Jacobs D, Torabi SJ, Park HS, Rahmati R, Young MR, Mehra S, Judson BL. Revisiting the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 1221 Hypothesis: Treatment for Stage III/IV HPV-Negative Oropharyngeal Cancer. Otolaryngology 2020, 164: 1240-1248. PMID: 33198564, DOI: 10.1177/0194599820969613.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNational Cancer DatabaseHPV-negative oropharyngeal cancersChemoradiation therapyOverall survivalCancer DatabaseOropharyngeal cancerHPV-negative oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomaLarge national cancer databaseNeck cancer-specific survivalOropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomaCox proportional hazards regressionKaplan-Meier survival analysisCancer-specific survivalImproved overall survivalMultivariable Cox regressionRetrospective cohort studyAdjuvant chemoradiation therapyUse of surgeryEnd Results ProgramProportional hazards regressionSquamous cell carcinomaSEER cohortAdjuvant therapyCohort studySEER databaseThe epidemiology, surgical management, and impact of margins in skull and mandibular osseous‐site tumors
Torabi SJ, Bourdillon A, Salehi PP, Kafle S, Mehra S, Rahmati R, Judson BL. The epidemiology, surgical management, and impact of margins in skull and mandibular osseous‐site tumors. Head & Neck 2020, 42: 3352-3363. PMID: 32743892, DOI: 10.1002/hed.26389.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOverall survivalPositive marginsImproved overall survivalNational Cancer DatabaseEffect of surgeryInherent selection biasSurgical managementCox regressionCancer DatabaseTreatment outcomesCartilage tumorsMultivariate analysisSurgeryTumorsOsteosarcomaEpidemiologySelection biasImpact of marginsTreatmentDescriptive analysisCohortAssessing National Utilization Trends and Outcomes of Robotic and Endoscopic Thyroidectomy in the United States
Jacobs D, Torabi SJ, Gibson C, Rahmati R, Mehra S, Judson BL. Assessing National Utilization Trends and Outcomes of Robotic and Endoscopic Thyroidectomy in the United States. Otolaryngology 2020, 163: 947-955. PMID: 32539533, DOI: 10.1177/0194599820927699.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNational Cancer DatabaseEndoscopic thyroid surgeryRobotic thyroid surgeryThyroid surgeryOpen surgeryRobotic approachNational utilization trendsUnplanned hospital readmissionMultivariable logistic regressionOutcomes of roboticsPostoperative mortalityWorse morbidityComplication rateHospital readmissionEndoscopic thyroidectomyMortality outcomesPositive marginsSurgical approachNational cohortCancer DatabasePatient outcomesEndoscopic approachRetrospective analysisSurgeryOpen approachAdjuvant external beam radiotherapy for surgically resected, nonmetastatic anaplastic thyroid cancer
Saeed NA, Kelly JR, Deshpande HA, Bhatia AK, Burtness BA, Judson BL, Mehra S, Edwards HA, Yarbrough WG, Peter PR, Holt EH, Decker RH, Husain ZA, Park HS. Adjuvant external beam radiotherapy for surgically resected, nonmetastatic anaplastic thyroid cancer. Head & Neck 2020, 42: 1031-1044. PMID: 32011055, DOI: 10.1002/hed.26086.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnaplastic thyroid cancerLonger OSAdjuvant EBRTThyroid cancerAdjuvant external beam radiotherapyNational Cancer DatabaseExternal beam radiotherapyConcurrent chemoradiationConcurrent chemotherapyImproved survivalMedian ageCancer DatabaseRetrospective analysisBeam radiotherapyEBRTChemotherapyPatientsCancerUVAChemoradiationResectionRadiotherapy
2019
1149P Pathologic staging changes in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: Stage migration and implications for adjuvant treatment
Husain Z, Lee N, Eskander A, Park H, mehra S, Burtness B. 1149P Pathologic staging changes in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: Stage migration and implications for adjuvant treatment. Annals Of Oncology 2019, 30: v466. DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdz252.041.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOral cavity squamous cell carcinomaPathologic extranodal extensionDepth of invasionSquamous cell carcinomaPT3N0 patientsOverall survivalStage migrationCell carcinomaStaging systemAJCC-8 staging systemFive-year overall survivalNational InstitutePathologic tumor classificationNational Cancer DatabaseAmerican Joint CommitteeRisk of deathNew staging systemBristol-Myers SquibbPStage IVBUpstaged tumorsDefinitive surgeryPostoperative radiotherapyPT3 tumorsAdjuvant treatmentExtranodal extensionMargins in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated with Transoral Laser Microsurgery: A National Database Study
Hanna J, Brauer PR, Morse E, Mehra S. Margins in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treated with Transoral Laser Microsurgery: A National Database Study. Otolaryngology 2019, 161: 986-992. PMID: 31476984, DOI: 10.1177/0194599819874315.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositive margin rateLaryngeal squamous cell carcinomaPercent of patientsSquamous cell carcinomaPositive marginsTransoral laser microsurgeryMargin rateMargin statusT stageCell carcinomaNational Cancer DatabaseNational database studyMultivariable logistic regressionProper patient selectionEquivalent survival benefitLaser microsurgeryLaryngeal laser surgeryMicrosurgery resectionT3 tumorsNonacademic centersSurvival benefitGlottic tumorsMultivariable analysisPatient selectionRetrospective reviewPreoperative biopsy in parotid malignancies: Variation in use and impact on surgical margins
Benchetrit L, Torabi SJ, Morse E, Mehra S, Rahmati R, Osborn HA, Judson BL. Preoperative biopsy in parotid malignancies: Variation in use and impact on surgical margins. The Laryngoscope 2019, 130: 1450-1458. PMID: 31411749, DOI: 10.1002/lary.28224.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPreoperative biopsyParotid malignanciesSurgical marginsPositive marginsClinical T1 stageNational Cancer DatabaseClinical T stageClinical N stageHigh-volume centersSubgroup of patientsMultivariable logistic regressionEarly clinical stageChi-square testAdjuvant therapyRetrospective cohortYounger patientsT stageClinical stageSurgical outcomesVolume centersBiopsy useCancer DatabaseN stageBiopsyPatientsIs robotic surgery an option for early T‐stage laryngeal cancer? Early nationwide results
Hanna J, Brauer PR, Morse E, Judson B, Mehra S. Is robotic surgery an option for early T‐stage laryngeal cancer? Early nationwide results. The Laryngoscope 2019, 130: 1195-1201. PMID: 31233223, DOI: 10.1002/lary.28144.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTransoral robotic surgeryTransoral laser microsurgeryAdjuvant radiationOpen surgerySupraglottic patientsOverall survivalCox regressionMargin statusMultivariable analysisSurgical approachLaryngeal cancerLaryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patientsSquamous cell carcinoma patientsEarly-stage laryngeal cancerRobotic surgeryMultivariable Cox regressionNational Cancer DatabaseCell carcinoma patientsRetrospective database analysisViable treatment optionTORS patientsPartial surgeryMultivariable logisticCarcinoma patientsNegative marginsPositive Surgical Margins in Submandibular Malignancies: Facility and Practice Variation
Benchetrit L, Morse E, Judson BL, Mehra S. Positive Surgical Margins in Submandibular Malignancies: Facility and Practice Variation. Otolaryngology 2019, 161: 620-628. PMID: 31159649, DOI: 10.1177/0194599819852094.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositive margin ratePositive surgical marginsPositive marginsOverall survivalMargin rateSurgical resectionSurgical marginsSubmandibular carcinomaCox proportional hazards regressionMultivariable logistic regression analysisCancer-accredited hospitalsPreoperative diagnostic biopsiesNational Cancer DatabasePrimary surgical resectionAdvanced T stageKaplan-Meier curvesProportional hazards regressionLogistic regression analysisQuality of careCarcinoma histologyRetrospective cohortMargin statusPreoperative biopsyT stageHazards regressionPathologic staging changes in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: Stage migration and implications for adjuvant treatment
Lee NCJ, Eskander A, Park HS, Mehra S, Burtness BA, Husain Z. Pathologic staging changes in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: Stage migration and implications for adjuvant treatment. Cancer 2019, 125: 2975-2983. PMID: 31090934, DOI: 10.1002/cncr.32161.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOral cavity squamous cell carcinomaPathologic extranodal extensionDepth of invasionAJCC Cancer Staging ManualCancer Staging ManualSquamous cell carcinomaOverall survivalPT3N0 patientsStage migrationStaging ManualCell carcinomaStaging systemAJCC-8 staging systemPathologic tumor classificationNational Cancer DatabaseRisk of deathNew staging systemPStage IVBUpstaged tumorsAdjuvant treatmentDefinitive surgeryExtranodal extensionPostoperative radiotherapyPT classificationPT1 tumorsGender disparities in head and neck cancer chemotherapy clinical trials participation and treatment
Benchetrit L, Torabi SJ, Tate JP, Mehra S, Osborn HA, Young MR, Burtness B, Judson BL. Gender disparities in head and neck cancer chemotherapy clinical trials participation and treatment. Oral Oncology 2019, 94: 32-40. PMID: 31178210, DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2019.05.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChemotherapy clinical trialsNational Cancer DatabaseClinical trialsDefinitive radiotherapyChemotherapy administrationNational Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelinesMultivariable logistic regression analysisNeck squamous cell carcinomaEnd Results ProgramSquamous cell carcinomaClinical trial participationLogistic regression analysisGeneral U.S. populationChemotherapy useDefinitive chemoradiotherapyNCCN guidelinesAdult patientsDefinitive treatmentMultivariable analysisNetwork guidelinesResults ProgramCell carcinomaTrial participationCancer DatabaseU.S. patients