Cytopathologic assessment of gloves and instruments after major head and neck surgery

To investigate the potential for cancer cells to be transferred between anatomic sites via instruments and other materials.

Pilot prospective study from April 2018-January 2019 at Rush University Medical Center. Glove and instrument washings were collected from 18 high-risk head and neck cancer resection cases (36 samples total). Each case maintained at least one of the following features in addition to a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma or sarcoma: palliative/salvage surgery, positive margins, extensive tumor burden, and/or extra capsular extension (ECE). Surgical gloves and four main instruments were placed through washings for blind cytological assessment (2 samples/case).

18 patients undergoing surgical tumor resection for biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma with at least one of the aforementioned characteristics were included. 26.7% of cases had ECE, 40.0% had positive final margins and 46.7% had close final margins. Tumor locations included: oral cavity (10), neck (4), parotid gland (2), and skin (2). Malignant cells were isolated on glove washings in 1 case (5.5%). No malignant cells were isolated from instrument washings. The single case of malignant cells on glove washings occurred in a recurrent, invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp with intracranial extension. Anucleated squamous cells likely from surgeon skin were isolated from 94.4% of washings. Squamous cells were differentiated from mature cells by the absence of nuclei.

Malignant squamous cells can be isolated from surgical glove washings, supporting the practice of changing of gloves after gross tumor resection during major head and neck cancer resections.