Quality-of-Life Outcomes Following Endoscopic Resection of Sinonasal Inverted Papilloma.

OBJECTIVES: There is growing interest in assessing patient quality of life (QOL) following treatment of sinonasal tumors, including inverted papilloma (IP). We aimed to elucidate the natural history of postoperative QOL outcomes in IP patients treated with surgery. METHODS: Cases of sinonasal IP treated surgically at 4 tertiary academic rhinology centers were retrospectively reviewed. SNOT-22 scores were used to evaluate QOL preoperatively and postoperatively (1, 3, 6, 12 months). Repeated-measures ANOVA assessed for differences in mean scores over time. Linear regression identified factors associated with QOL longitudinally. RESULTS: 373 patients were analyzed. Mean preoperative SNOT-22 score was 20.6 ± 20.4, which decreased to 16.3 ± 18.8 (p = 0.041) and 11.8 ± 15.0 (p < 0.001) at 1 and 3 months postoperatively, respectively. No further changes in SNOT-22 scores occurred beyond 3 months postoperatively (p > 0.05). When analyzed by SNOT-22 subdomains, nasal, sleep, and otologic/facial subdomain scores (all p < 0.05) demonstrated improvement at 12-month follow-up compared with preoperative scores; this was not observed for the emotional subdomain score (p = 0.800). Recurrent cases were associated with higher long-term SNOT-22 scores (ß = 7.08; p = 0.017). Age, sex, degree of dysplasia, prior surgery, primary site, and smoking history did not correlate with symptoms (all p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: QOL outcomes related to IP resection are largely driven by nasal, sleep, and otologic/facial subdomains, though patients appear to experience enduring improvement as early as 3 months postoperatively. Recurrent disease is a major driver of negative QOL. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 2024.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Rhinitis and Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are valuable in the assessment and management of rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis [CRS]. They measure outcomes which may include symptoms, disease control, well-being, and health-related quality of life (QOL). PROMS for rhinitis and rhinosinusitis are often used before and after an intervention, e.g., medication, therapeutic procedure or, in allergic rhinitis (AR), allergen immunotherapy. Although widely used in clinical trials for AR and conjunctivitis, symptom score PROMs are less validated than disease control or QOL measures. The best validated PROM for AR is the RQLQ (Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire), but there is no universally accepted criterion standard for symptom and disease control PROMs. For CRS, at least 15 different criteria have been used to assess disease control in clinical studies, but what CRS disease control means and how it should be measured are concepts in evolution. The most used QOL measure for CRS is the SNOT-22 Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). The use of PROMs to support clinical decisions and for shared decision making for rhinitis and rhinosinusitis still has many challenges, including selection of the preferred instrument, when and how to administer, the impact of co-morbidities, and questionnaire fatigue for both patient and provider.

Twelve-month outcomes following temperature-controlled radiofrequency treatment of the septal swell body for nasal airway obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Improved nasal airway obstruction (NAO) symptoms were reported at 3 months following temperature-controlled radiofrequency (TCRF) treatment of the septal swell body (SSB). This report provides results from assessments of the long-term safety and efficacy of TCRF treatment of SSB hypertrophy to treat NAO through 12 months posttreatment. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter, long-term, open-label study was conducted in nine centers within the United States and included patients with severe/extreme NAO attributed to SSB hypertrophy. Outcome measures included assessments of Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation Score (NOSE), Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) ease-of-breathing, patient satisfaction, and adverse events at 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: Of the 70 patients treated, 65 and 62 patients completed the 6- and 12-month follow-up assessments. Compared to baseline, there was a 67.5% decrease in adjusted mean NOSE scores at 6 months (mean change -49.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] -54.8 to -44.4; p < 0.001) and a 65.4% decrease at 12 months (mean change -48.1, 95% CI -53.7 to -42.5); p < 0.001), which is consistent with previously published 3-month results. A 62.0% and 62.5% improvement compared to baseline was observed in the NRS ease-of-breathing score at 6 and 12 months, respectively (p < 0.001). No serious adverse were reported overall and no new device- or procedure-related adverse events were reported in the interval between 3 and 12 months posttreatment. CONCLUSION: TCRF treatment of SSB hypertrophy has a significant and durable effect on improving the symptoms of NAO and health-related quality of life in patients with symptoms of nasal obstruction and congestion through 12 months postprocedure.

How to be a good reviewer: A step-by-step guide for approaching peer review of a scientific manuscript.

Objectives: The peer review process is critical to maintaining quality, reliability, novelty, and innovation in the scientific literature. However, the teaching of scientific peer review is rarely a component of formal scientific or clinical training, and even the most experienced peer reviewers express interest in continuing education. The objective of this review article is to summarize the collective perspectives of experienced journal editors about how to be a good reviewer in a step-by-step guide that can serve as a resource for the performance of peer review of a scientific manuscript. Methods: This is a narrative review. Results: A review of the history and an overview of the modern-day peer review process are provided with attention to the role played by the reviewer, including important reasons for involvement in scientific peer review. The general components of a scientific peer review are described, and a model for how to structure a peer review report is provided. These concepts are also summarized in a reviewer checklist that can be used in real-time to develop and double-check one's reviewer report before submitting it. Conclusions: Peer review is a critically important service for maintaining quality in the scientific literature. Peer review of a scientific manuscript and the associated reviewer's report should assess specific details related to the accuracy, validity, novelty, and interpretation of a study's results. We hope that this article will serve as a resource and guide for reviewers of all levels of experience in the performance of peer review of a scientific manuscript.

Assessment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps: Development of the Nasal Polyp Patient Assessment Scoring Sheet tool.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a heterogeneous disorder with a wide range of validated subjective and objective assessment tools to assess disease severity. However, a comprehensive and easy-to-use tool that integrates these measures for determining disease severity and response to treatment is still obscure. The objective of this study was to develop a standardized assessment tool that facilitates diagnosis, uniform patient monitoring, and comparison of treatment outcomes between different centers both in routine clinical practice and in research. Methods: To develop this tool, published literature on assessment tools was searched on various databases. A panel of 12 steering committee members conducted an advisory board meeting to review the findings. Specific outcome measures to be included in a comprehensive assessment tool and follow-up sheet were then collated following consensus approval from the panel. The tool was further validated for content and revised with expert recommendations to arrive at the finalized Nasal Polyp Patient Assessment Scoring Sheet (N-PASS) tool. Results: The N-PASS tool was developed by integrating the subjective and objective measures for CRS assessment. Based on expert opinions, N-PASS was revised to be used as an easy-to-use guidance tool that captures patient-reported and physician-assessed components for comprehensively assessing disease status and response to treatment. Conclusion: The N-PASS tool can be used to aid in the diagnosis and management of CRS cases with nasal polyps. The tool would also aid in improved monitoring of patients and pave the way for an international disease registry. Level of evidence: Oxford Level 3.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Tobacco Smoking History as a Risk for Outcomes after Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Resection of Pituitary Adenoma.

Objectives This study seeks to comprehensively analyze the impact of smoking history on outcomes after endoscopic transsphenoidal hypophysectomy (TSH) for pituitary adenoma. Design This was a retrospective study. Setting This study was done at the tertiary care center. Participants Three hundred and ninety-eight adult patients undergoing TSH for a pituitary adenoma. Main Outcome Measures Clinical and tumor characteristics and operative factors were collected. Patients were categorized as never, former, or active smokers, and the pack-years of smoking history was collected. Years since cessation of smoking was obtained for former smokers. Specific outcomes included postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, length of hospitalization, 30-day return to the operating room, and 30-day readmission. Smoking history details were comprehensively analyzed for association with outcomes. Results Any history of smoking tobacco was associated with return to the operating room (odds ratio [OR] = 2.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-6.76, p = 0.039), which was for persistent CSF leak in 58.3%. Among patients with postoperative CSF leak, any history of smoking was associated with need for return to the operating room to repair the CSF leak (OR = 5.25, 95% CI: 1.07-25.79, p = 0.041). Pack-years of smoking was positively associated with a return to the operating room (OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.06, p = 0.048). In all multivariable models, all negative outcomes were significantly associated with the covariate: occurrence of intraoperative CSF leak. Conclusion This is the first study to show smoking may have a negative impact on healing of CSF leak repairs after TSH, requiring a return to the operating room. This effect appears to be dose dependent on the smoking history. Secondarily, intraoperative CSF leak as covariate in multivariable models was significantly associated with all negative outcomes.

When It's Not Allergic Rhinitis: Clinical Signs to Raise a Patient's Suspicion for Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in patients presenting with the chief complaint of nasal allergies. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Tertiary care, academic center. METHODS: Clinical and demographic characteristics were collected from participants who were patients presenting with the chief complaint of nasal allergies. From all participants, a 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) was collected, and a modified Lund-Kennedy endoscopy score was calculated from nasal endoscopy. Association was sought between having CRS and variables of clinical and demographic characteristics, SNOT-22, and endoscopy score. RESULTS: A total of 219 patients were recruited and 91.3% were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis; 45.2% were also diagnosed with CRS. Approximately half of the patients with CRS reported no intranasal corticosteroid usage. Having CRS was associated with male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 2.29, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.30-4.04, P = .004), endoscopy score (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.59-2.42, P < .001), and the SNOT-22 nasal subdomain score (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03-1.11, P = .001) related to SNOT-22 items: "need to blow nose," "thick nasal discharge," "sense of taste/smell," and "blockage/congestion of nose." At least moderate (item score ≥3) "blockage/congestion of nose" or "thick nasal discharge," mild "need to blow nose" (item score ≥2) or very mild decreased "sense of taste/smell" (item score ≥1), and any nasal endoscopy findings (endoscopy score ≥1) were statistically significant predictors of CRS. CONCLUSION: Moderate or more severe nasal obstruction or discharge symptoms, any decreased sense of smell/taste, or positive nasal endoscopy findings in patients believing they have allergic rhinitis should prompt further evaluation of CRS to avoid delays in treatment.

A scoping review of Rasch analysis and item response theory in otolaryngology: Implications and future possibilities.

Objective: Item response theory (IRT) is a methodological approach to studying the psychometric performance of outcome measures. This study aims to determine and summarize the use of IRT in otolaryngological scientific literature. Methods: A systematic search of the Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library databases was performed for original English-language published studies indexed up to January 28, 2023, per the following search strategy: ("item response theory" OR "irt" OR "rasch" OR "latent trait theory" OR "modern mental test theory") AND ("ent" OR "otorhinolaryngology" OR "ear" OR "nose" OR "throat" OR "otology" OR "audiology" OR "rhinology" OR "laryngology" OR "neurotology" OR "facial plastic surgery"). Results: Fifty-five studies were included in this review. IRT was used across all subspecialties in otolaryngology, and most studies utilizing IRT methodology were published within the last decade. Most studies analyzed polytomous response data, and the most commonly used IRT models were the partial credit and the rating scale model. There was considerable heterogeneity in reporting the main assumptions and results of IRT. Conclusion: IRT is increasingly being used in the otolaryngological scientific literature. In the otolaryngology literature, IRT is most frequently used in the study of patient-reported outcome measures and many different IRT-based methods have been used. Future IRT-based outcome studies, using standardized reporting guidelines, might improve otolaryngology-outcome research sustainably by improving response rates and reducing patient response burden. Level of evidence: 2.

Temperature-controlled radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of chronic rhinitis: Two-year outcomes from a prospective multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive temperature-controlled radiofrequency (TCRF) ablation of the posterior nasal nerve (PNN) demonstrated a significant larger treatment effect on the symptom burden of chronic rhinitis patients than a sham control (no energy delivery) at the 3-month primary endpoint of this trial. METHODS: Two-year posttreatment outcomes for patients treated in a prospective, multicenter, patient-blinded randomized controlled trial were determined by combining the index active treatment-arm and index control-arm crossover patients into a single group (after the primary endpoint) to evaluate the treatment effect durability and long-term effects on concomitant chronic rhinitis medication usage. RESULTS: The mean baseline reflective total nasal symptom score (rTNSS) was 8.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.9-8.6; N = 104). At 2 years (N = 79), the mean change in rTNSS was -5.3 (95% CI, -5.8 to -4.8; p < 0.001; 64.6% improvement). The 2-year responder rate (≥30% improvement in rTNSS) was 87.3% (95% CI, 78.0-93.8). All four components of the rTNSS (rhinorrhea, congestion, sneezing, and nasal itching) showed significant improvement over baseline, with rhinorrhea and congestion showing the most improvement. Postnasal drip and cough symptoms were also significantly improved. At 2 years, 81.0% (95% CI, 70.6-89.0) reported a minimal clinically important difference of ≥0.4-point improvement in the mini-rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire score. Of 56 patients using chronic rhinitis medications at baseline, 25 of 56 (44.6%) either stopped all medication use (7/56 [12.5%]) or stopped/decreased (18/56 [32.1%]) use of ≥1 medication class at 2 years. No serious adverse events related to the device/procedure were reported over 2 years. To determine the potential effect of patients who left the trial over 2 years on the responder rate, the responder statuses of the 14 patients with follow-up data who were lost to follow-up/withdrew/died were imputed by the last observation carried forward and the responder statuses of all nine patients who had an additional nasal procedure were imputed to nonresponder, resulting in a 2-year responder rate of 79.4% (95% CI, 70.3-86.8). CONCLUSION: TCRF ablation of the PNN is safe and resulted in a significant and sustained reduction in chronic rhinitis symptom burden through 2 years and a substantial reduction in concomitant medication burden.

Qualitative Research Methodology and Applications: A Primer for the Otolaryngologist.

OBJECTIVE: Qualitative and mixed methods methodology is becoming more commonplace in otolaryngology as the field strives to understand more complex concepts of the ear, nose, and throat. This methodology can have tremendous utility in studies directed at patient-centered care by offering practical insights and granular detail-directly from patients-which may not be realized by quantitative approaches. METHODS: Narrative Review. RESULTS: This review focuses on what questions can be answered by qualitative research, the basics of the underlying principals and different methodologies utilized, and describes the pearls, pitfalls, and rigor of qualitative research. CONCLUSIONS: This understanding of qualitative inquiry is critical for the otolaryngologist to stay current on what is published and have the ability to include this in their research repertoire. Laryngoscope, 134:27-31, 2024.

Concerns regarding health-related social media usage amongst otolaryngology patients.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to determine concerns of otolaryngology patients regarding health-related social media usage. METHODS: A total of 372 otolaryngology patients were asked to report their level of concern (on a scale of "not at all", "a little", "somewhat", or "highly" concerned) regarding health-related social media usage as it pertained to risk of "loss of privacy or anonymity related to your health condition", "reliability of disease/treatment information", and "reliability of physician reviews/recommendations". Demographics and social media usage patterns (on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok or other platforms) were compared to concerns about health-related social media usage. RESULTS: The level of concern was highest for reliability of disease/treatment information and least for loss of privacy/anonymity (p < 0.001). Concern about loss of privacy/anonymity was associated with age over 25 years (OR = 3.12, 95%CI 1.66-5.86, p < 0.001) and negatively with daily use of Twitter (OR = 0.54, 95%CI 0.30-0.96, p = 0.035). Concern about reliability of disease/treatment information was negatively associated with Medicare insurance (OR = 0.57, 95%CI 0.35-0.93, p = 0.024), which is available to adults aged ≥65 years, and concern over reliability of physician reviews/recommendations was associated with patients identifying their race as Asian, American Indian and other (OR = 3.16, 95%CI 1.22-8.19, p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: The greatest concern about health-related social media usage is related to reliability of disease/treatment information, though notably less among patients with Medicare who represent adults of age 65 years or older. Concerns over loss of privacy/anonymity and reliability of physician reviews/recommendations are also prevalent and associated with patient demographics. These concerns may constrain utilization of social media for healthcare purposes, which highlights the importance of reliable sources of information.

Variability in Minimal Clinically Important Difference Calculation and Reporting in the Otolaryngology Literature.

OBJECTIVE: Best practices for calculation of the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of outcome measures include the use of complementary methodologies (broadly classified as anchor-based and distribution-based) and reporting of the MCID's predictive ability. We sought to determine MCID calculation and reporting patterns within the otolaryngology literature. METHODS: A systematic search strategy of Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases was developed and implemented to identify studies reporting the determination of an MCID for an outcome measure. Studies specifically within the otolaryngology literature (defined as journals classified as "otorhinolaryngology" in the Journal Citation Reports database) were included. All those journals were additionally searched for relevant articles. RESULTS: There were 35 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Of these studies, 88.6% reported MCID of a patient-reported outcome measure and the remainder were for objective outcome measurements. Anchor-based methods were used by 82.9% of studies and distribution-based methods were used by 68.6% of studies. Of all studies, 31.4% utilized anchor-based methods alone, 17.1% utilized distribution-based methods alone, and 51.4% used both methods. Only 25.7% of studies reported the sensitivity (median: 60.8%, range: 40.5%-86.7%) and specificity (median: 80.4%, range: 63.5%-88.0%) of the MCID to detect patients experiencing clinically important change. CONCLUSION: Deviation from best practices in MCID calculation and reporting exists within the otolaryngology literature, with almost half of all studies only using one method of MCID calculation and almost three-quarters not reporting the predictive ability (sensitivity/specificity) of the calculated MCID. When predictive ability is reported, however, MCIDs appear to be more specific than sensitive. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 134:2059-2069, 2024.

Impact of medical treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis on eustachian tube dysfunction.

KEY POINTS: CRS patients treated with medical management have improvement in ETD symptoms as reflected by lower ETDQ-7 scores However, appropriate CRS medical management may be limited in ability to significantly improve, or resolve, ETD.

Patient perspectives on recall period and response options in patient-reported outcome measures for chronic rhinosinusitis symptomatology: An international multi-centered study.

BACKGROUND: Existing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) use a variety of recall periods and response scales to assess CRS symptom burden. Global perspectives of CRS patients regarding optimal recall periods and response scales for CRS PROMs are unknown. METHODS: This was a multi-center, cross-sectional study recruiting 461 CRS patients from sites across the United States, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, and Austria. Participants chose which CRS symptom recall period (1 day, 2 weeks, 1 month, >1 month) was most reflective of their current disease state and upon which to best base treatment recommendations (including surgery). Participants also chose which of six response scales (one visual analogue scale and five Likert scales ranging from four to eight items) was easiest to use, understand, and preferred. RESULTS: A plurality of participants (40.0%) felt their CRS symptoms' current state was best reflected by a 1-month recall period. However, most patients (56.9%) preferred treatment recommendations to be determined by symptoms experienced over a >1 month period. The four- and five-item Likert scales were the easiest to understand (26.0% and 25.4%, respectively) and use (23.4% and 26.7%, respectively). The five-item (26.4% rating it most preferred and 70.9% rating it preferred) and four-item Likert (22.3% rating it most preferred and 56.4% rating it preferred) response scales were most preferred. CONCLUSION: Future PROMs for CRS should consider assessment of symptoms over a 1-month period and use a four- or five-item Likert response scale to reflect global patient preferences. These findings also inform interpretation of current CRS PROMs.

Heterogeneity in the definition of chronic rhinosinusitis disease control: a systematic review of the scientific literature.

PURPOSE: Disease control is conceptually recognized to be an important outcome measure for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, inconsistent usage is a significant factor in disadoption of important concepts and it is presently unclear how consistently the construct of CRS 'control' is being defined/applied. The objective of this study was to determine the heterogeneity of CRS disease control definitions in the scientific literature. METHODS: Systematic review of PubMed and Web of Science databases from inception through December 31, 2022. Included studies used CRS disease control as an explicitly stated outcome measure. The definitions of CRS disease control were collected. RESULTS: Thirty-one studies were identified with more than half published in 2021 or later. Definitions of CRS control were variable, although 48.4% of studies used the EPOS (2012 or 2020) criteria to define control, 14 other unique definitions of CRS disease control were also implemented. Most studies included the burden CRS symptoms (80.6%), need for antibiotics or systemic corticosteroids (77.4%) or nasal endoscopy findings (61.3%) as criteria in their definitions of CRS disease control. However, the specific combination of these criteria and prior time periods over which they were assessed were highly variable. CONCLUSION: CRS disease control is not consistently defined in the scientific literature. Although many studies conceptually treated 'control' as the goal of CRS treatment, 15 different criteria were used to define CRS disease control, representing significant heterogeneity. Scientific derivation of criteria and collaborative consensus building are needed for the development of a widely-accepted and -applied definition of CRS disease control.

Chronic rhinosinusitis disease control: a review of the history and the evidence.

INTRODUCTION: Control is an important concept and outcome measure for chronic incurable diseases, defined as the extent to which manifestations of a disease are within acceptable limits. Control reflects a global metric of disease status and serves as the goal of treatment. This review will encompass the history of the disease control concept applied to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and the body of scientific literature that has focused on the definition of CRS disease control. AREAS COVERED: A review of the scientific literature identified historical studies and guidelines that have developed definitions of CRS disease control, as well as recent studies identifying the most significant determinants of CRS control. A particular focus was made on studies that investigated patients' and physicians' perspectives of CRS control. EXPERT OPINION: Patients and physicians have well-aligned perspectives about the definition, criteria, and application of CRS disease control, with a specific prioritization of patients' assessments of their own CRS control, as well as the symptoms of nasal obstruction and nasal drainage. The development of future guidelines for assessing CRS control must be based on criteria supported by evidence as essential to the assessment of CRS control but should also be the subject of broad international consensus.

Determinants of impact factor and Eigenfactor score in otolaryngology journals.

Objective: This study aims to identify determinants of high impact, measured by Impact Factor (IF) and Eigenfactor score, among otolaryngology journals. Methods: Bibliometric data of "otorhinolaryngology" journals were collected from the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) database. For the years 2009-2020, we collected normalized Eigenfactor score, 5-year IF, immediacy index, fraction of IF from journal-self citation, proportion and magnitude of published citable articles, and total citation counts. High-IF and -Eigenfactor journals were considered those within the top-quartile of that metric each respective year. Results: High-IF and -Eigenfactor otolaryngology journals displayed higher 5-year IFs, immediacy indexes, and IF without self-citation (p < .05 for all years) including total citations counts and citable articles when ranked by Eigenfactor (p < .05 for all years). Otolaryngology IF correlated with 5-year IF and immediacy index within the same year (p < .05 for all years) and from previous years (p < .05 for all years; p < .05 for 2017-2018; p > .05 for 2009-2016). Eigenfactor correlated with 5-year IF, total citation counts, and citable articles within the same year (p < .05 for all years) and previous years (p < .05 for 2013-2018). Multilinear regression revealed that 5-year IF (p < .05 for 2009-2018) and immediacy index from the prior 2 years (p < .05 for 2017-2018; p > .05 for 2009-2016) predicted 2019 IF. Similarly, 5-year IF, total citation counts, and citable articles (p < .05 for 2013-2018) predicted 2019 Eigenfactor score. Conclusion: Sustained publication of impactful articles is the dominant driver of high IF and Eigenfactor score. Eigenfactor score reflects a unique evaluation of otolaryngology journals; ranking otolaryngology journals by their Eigenfactor scores significantly alters journal ranking compared to ranking by IF. Level of evidence: NA.

Determinants of physician assessment of chronic rhinosinusitis disease control using EPOS 2020 criteria and the importance of incorporating patient perspectives of disease control.

BACKGROUND: We identify chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) manifestations associated with how rhinologists assess CRS control, with a focus on patient perspectives (patient-reported CRS control). METHODS: Fifteen rhinologists were provided with real-world data from 200 CRS patients. Participating rhinologists first classified patients' CRS control as "controlled," "partly controlled," and "uncontrolled" using seven CRS manifestations reflecting European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps (EPOS) CRS control criteria (nasal obstruction, drainage, impaired smell, facial pain/pressure, sleep disturbance, use of systemic antibiotics/corticosteroids in past 6 months, and nasal endoscopy findings) and patient-reported CRS control. They then classified patients' CRS control without knowledge of patient-reported CRS control. Interrater reliability and agreement of rhinologist-assessed CRS control with patient-reported CRS control and EPOS guidelines were determined. RESULTS: CRS control classification with and without knowledge of patient-reported CRS control was highly consistent across rhinologists (κw  = 0.758). Rhinologist-assessed CRS control agreed with patient-reported CRS control significantly better when rhinologists had knowledge of patient-reported CRS control (κw  = 0.736 vs. κw  = 0.554, p < 0.001). Patient-reported CRS control, nasal obstruction, drainage, and endoscopy findings were most strongly associated with rhinologists' assessment of CRS control. Rhinologists' CRS control assessments weakly agreed with EPOS CRS control guidelines with (κw  = 0.529) and without (κw  = 0.538) patient-reported CRS control. Rhinologists classified CRS as more controlled than EPOS guidelines in almost 50% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study directly demonstrates the importance of patient-reported CRS control as a dominant influence on rhinologists' CRS control assessment. Knowledge of patient-reported CRS control may better align rhinologists' CRS control assessments and treatment decisions with patients' perspectives.

Temperature-controlled radiofrequency device treatment of septal swell bodies for nasal airway obstruction: An open-label, single arm multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Nasal airway obstruction (NAO) is a highly prevalent disorder. Septal swell body (SSB) hypertrophy is an often overlooked contributor to NAO. SSB treatment may relieve symptoms of NAO. The objective of this study was to assess the clinical use of a temperature-controlled radiofrequency (TCRF) device to treat SSBs to improve symptoms in adults with NAO. METHODS: In this prospective, multicenter, open-label, single arm study, patients with severe or extreme NAO related to SSB hypertrophy received bilateral TCRF treatment in the SSB area. The primary endpoint was improvement in Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) Scale scores from baseline to 3 months postprocedure. A subset of study patients underwent computed tomography (CT) imaging to evaluate posttreatment changes in SSB size. RESULTS: Mean NOSE Scale scores significantly improved from 73.5 (SD 14.2) at baseline to 27.9 (SD 17.2) at 3 months postprocedure, a reduction of -45.3 (SD 21.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -50.4 to -40.1; p < 0.0001); the responder rate was 95.7% (95% CI: 0.88 to 0.99; p < 0.0001). CT evaluation at 3 months showed statistically significant reductions in the SSB with the greatest reduction in the middle thickness (mean change -3.4 [SD 1.8] mL, 95% CI: -4.0 to -2.8; p < 0.0001). Minimal adverse events with any relationship to the device or procedure were reported; none were serious in nature and no septal perforations occurred. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that TCRF treatment of SSB hypertrophy is well tolerated and effective at reducing both SSB size and symptoms of NAO at 3 months posttreatment.