Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Polydioxanone Plate and Platelet-Rich Plasma on Cartilage Regeneration.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of polydioxanone (PDS) plate and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the regeneration of cartilage grafts, which are frequently used in nasal and septal surgery. Methods: Fifteen white New Zealand Albino-type female rabbits were used in the study. Our study was carried out on 4 different applications on each animal: cartilage only, cartilage+PRP, cartilage+PDS plate, and cartilage+PRP+PDS plate, and in 3 different periods: the first month, the second month, and the third month. Results: A significant difference was obtained between the groups using cartilage+PRP and cartilage+PRP+PDS only in the first month. When both application types were compared, a statistically significant decrease was found in the histopathological cartilage viability score after PDS use. In examining peripheral chondrocyte proliferation, a statistically significant difference was found only in the third-month comparison. When the group using only cartilage was compared with the group using cartilage+PDS, it was determined that peripheral chondrocyte proliferation was significantly reduced at the end of the third month with PDS. In evaluating fibrosis and foreign body reaction, a statistically significant increase was detected using a PDS plate. In histopathological cartilage viability score statistical analysis, a significant difference was obtained between the groups using cartilage+PRP and cartilage+PRP+PDS only in the first month. Degeneration in the cartilage structure was observed macroscopically in the specimens where the PDS plate was used. Shape change and cartilage deformation were observed in the PDS plate specimens. Conclusions: When the results were examined, this observation coincided with the statistically significant increase in foreign body reaction and fibrosis in the PDS plate groups. However, these results contradicted our hypothesis before the study and the information in the literature. Our results will help provide preliminary information and guidance for future studies and offer a different perspective.

A study on the efficacy of combined surgery in advanced-stage congenital cholesteatoma with canal-wall-up surgery.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the outcomes of patients with advanced congenital cholesteatoma who underwent microscopic or endoscope-combined Canal Wall Up Tympanomastoidectomy (CWUT) in our clinic and to determine the contribution of endoscope use in reducing recurrence/residual rates. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the data of individuals who underwent microscopic or combined endoscopic surgery between 2008 and 2022 in our clinic were scanned from the database. Demographic data, preoperative computed tomography (CT) findings, preoperative and postoperative hearing results, operation and intraoperative status of the ossicles, duration of surgery, postoperative follow-up period, recurrence and residual disease status during follow-up were investigated. RESULTS: The data of 37 pediatric cases operated in our clinic were included in the study. All of the included cases were Potsic Stage 4 patients who underwent CWUT. The mean age of the operated individuals was 8.7 years (5-12 years) and the mean follow-up period was 47.3 months (12-112 months). 19 cases were performed microscopically only, 2 recurrences and 5 residuals were detected. 18 cases were performed combined and 1 recurrence and 1 residual was found. CONCLUSION: In this study, it was determined that using an endoscope together with a microscope in congenital cholesteatoma cases, decreased the rate of recurrence and residual disease by protecting the external auditory canal in patients with advanced mastoid invasion.

Audio-vestibular and radiological analysis in Meniere's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Intravenous gadolinium-enhanced inner ear magnetic resonance imaging (IV Gd-enhanced inner ear MRI) is a new technique for diagnosing Meniere's disease (MD). Vestibular tests have also long been used for MD, but which tests should be included in the oto-neurological test battery remains controversial. The evaluation method to be used to confirm the clinical diagnosis in MD is not clear. This study aimed to examine the results of vestibular tests and IV Gd-enhanced inner ear MRI in individuals diagnosed with unilateral definite Meniere's disease. METHODS: IV Gd-enhanced inner ear MRI (Endolymphatic Hydrops [EH] and Perilymphatic Enhancement [PE]), conventional audiometry (0.25-8 kHz), video Head Impulse Test (vHIT), cervical Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential (cVEMP), air caloric test, and dizziness handicap inventory were applied to 16 adult patients diagnosed with unilateral definite MD. RESULTS: Among the patients with definite MD, EH (cochlear and/or vestibular) was identified in 93.7% and 68.7% of the symptomatic and the asymptomatic ears, respectively. There was a positive correlation between the hearing thresholds at 2, 4, 6 and 8 kHz and the degree of cochlear EH (p < 0.05). PE (cochlear and/or vestibular) was observed in 37.5% of the asymptomatic and symptomatic ears. The sensitivity of the vestibular test battery (vHIT, cVEMP, and caloric test) was 100% and its specificity was 50%, while the sensitivity of the IV Gd-enhanced inner ear MRI (EH and PE together) was 93.8% and the specificity was 81.3%. CONCLUSION: MRI had higher sensitivity and specificity than the vestibular test battery. PE or vHIT alone was not considered to be reliable in the diagnosis of MD. In suspected MD, the clinical history, hearing tests, and IV Gd-enhanced inner ear MRI are sufficient for diagnosis. If MRI technique is not possible, vestibular tests (caloric test and cVEMP, not vHIT) can provide reliable results when evaluated together.

In vitro study on immune response modifiers as novel medical treatment options for cholesteatoma.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate cytokine profile of cholesteatoma and to collect information about important intercellular signaling pathways by establishing two different cell culture models, to block important intercellular signaling pathways in cholesteatoma by applying immune system modifier drugs to develop alternative medical therapy options for cholesteatoma. METHODS: To observe the pathogenesis of cholesteatoma and to apply the immunomodulatory drugs, cholesteatoma tissue culture models were constituted with HEKa cells and cholesteatoma keratinocytes, which were obtained from 3 patients who underwent operations for cholesteatoma. Medicines including 5-fluorourasil, imiquimod, cyclosporine, and tacrolimus were applied on both cholesteatoma keratinocytes and HEKa cells. After 48 h of incubation, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, and Ki67 levels were measured to determine cell viability rates. RESULTS: In the cholesteatoma control group, IL-6 and TNF-α levels were found higher than in the HEKa control group. All repurposed drugs in the study demonstrated anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and cytotoxic effects on cholesteatoma. Imiquimod and tacrolimus in particular are potential treatment prospects for cholesteatoma due to their strong anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic effects. CONCLUSION: Medical therapy options for cholesteatoma are still missing and surgery is not the ultimate solution. We have focused on intercellular inflammatory processes, which play significant roles in the pathogenesis of cholesteatoma in our paper. Inflammation and proliferation of cholesteatoma decreased after all repurposed drug applications in our study. Anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects of tacrolimus and imiquimod was more significant than other drugs in the study. For this reason, tacrolimus and imiquimod should be examined in depth with in vivo studies in terms of efficacy and safety for medical treatment of cholesteatoma.

Uncommon Childhood Unilateral Cervical Giant Thymic Cyst.

Cervical thymic cysts are rare and present in the first decade of life. They constitute 0.3% to 1% of congenital neck masses. Thymic tissue foci, which exist between the mandible and the mediastinum, can be found at the descent of the thymic primordium. Thymic cysts should be considered in pediatric patients who present with cervical neck masses. The diagnosis of thymic cysts can only be made by histopathologic examinations. In recent years, the number of reports of thymic cyst cases have increased, one possible cause being the heightened awareness of thymic cysts among pathologists.

Is Transnasal Endoscopic Marsupialization Sufficient in Thornwaldt Cysts?

OBJECTIVE: Thornwaldt cyst is a rare nasopharyngeal lesion that develops from primitive notochord residues. The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term results of transnasal endoscopic marsupialization surgery in the treatment of Thornwaldt's cyst, its success and its qualification in the treatment. METHOD: The data of 21 patients who underwent transnasal endoscopic marsupialization surgery for symptomatic Thornwaldt cyst in our hospital between 2009 and 2015 and followed up regularly after the operation were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Eleven patients were female and 10 were male. The mean age of the patients was 35.5 years (15-60). All patients underwent transnasal endoscopic marsupialization as a surgical technique. No intraoperative and postoperative complications were observed. In all cases, the complaints regressed postoperatively. There was no recurrence at 4-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Transnasal endocopic marsupialization as a surgical method can be performed safely in Thornwaldt cyst cases because of its easy applicability, short surgical time, low recurrence rates and efficacy in treatment.

Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Fat Grafts in the Repair of Tympanic Membrane Perforations: An Experimental Study.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the use of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to improve the success rate of fat graft myringoplasty in perforated tympanic membranes of rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 healthy Wistar albino female rats were divided into two groups. In Group 1, the left tympanic membranes were perforated and grafted with a fat graft that was harvested from the inguinal region. In Group 2, the left tympanic membranes were perforated, and a fat graft was also harvested from the inguinal region. Then, the fat was soaked in 0.5 mL PRP and grafted at the perforation. After the procedure, the rats were examined, and the graft situation was assessed at 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14 days. All of the rats were sacrificed 21 days after perforation, and a histopathological examination was made. RESULTS: We compared fat graft histopathological and otomicroscopic findings between the groups. While we did not observe graft rejections in Group 2, we saw 1 case of graft rejection in Group 1. In the histopathological examination, PRP prevents fat graft resorption by the terms of the adipocyte area, granulation tissue area, and vacuolization area. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the efficacy of fat grafts prepared with PRP on rat tympanic membranes. The fat graft with PRP did not statistically improve the success rate compared to the graft without PRP. Histopatologic findings of the study showed that PRP prevents fat graft resorption. Further studies are needed to further examine the advantages of the graft with PRP.

Evaluation of the Vestibular System and Etiology in Children with Unilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the vestibular system of children with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (USNHL), investigate the etiological factors of USNHL and analyze whether a genetic predisposition exists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-three children aged less than 18 years with USNHL, who visited the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) department between January 2004 and December 2012, were included in this study. Cases with conductive hearing loss were excluded from the study. The patients were subjected to etiologic, genetic, and ophthalmologic evaluation; radiologic imaging; electronystagmography (ENG); and vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) tests. The control group, which included 25 healthy children (13 males and 12 females), had undergone audiological assessment and were subjected to ENG and VEMP tests. RESULTS: All of the patients had severe-to-profound hearing loss. Mumps immunoglobulin G was positive in 22 (66.7%) of 33 patients. The 35delG mutation was not found in any of the patients. All of the patients underwent temporal computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Inner ear anomaly was present in 51.5% of the patients. Overall, 21 of 31 ENG patients had canal paresis in the affected ear. The VEMP response was absent on the affected side in three patients. The n23 latency average of the patient group was longer than that of the control group. CONCLUSION: Because USNHL causes irreversible problems in children, early diagnosis and auditory rehabilitation are very important. As USNHL is accompanied by inner ear anomaly, children with USNHL should undergo temporal bone CT and MRI. To evaluate the vestibular system, ENG and VEMP are non-invasive and diagnostic tests.

The Analysis of Patients Operated for Frontal Sinus Osteomas.

OBJECTIVE: Paranasal sinus osteomas are benign tumors that are smooth-walled, slow-growing, and induced by bone tissue. Although their most common localization is the frontal sinus, some osteomas are seen in the ethmoid, maxillary, and sphenoid sinuses. Frontal sinus osteomas are often asymptomatic; however, when they become symptomatic, headache is the most common complaint. In this study, we aimed to analyze the postoperative results of patients who were diagnosed with frontal sinus osteoma and were operated with appropriate surgical techniques. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 14 patients who were diagnosed with frontal sinus osteoma and were operated in our department between March 2009 and July 2014. The following parameters were analyzed: patients' age and gender, complaints at the time of admission to our clinic, pathological findings from physically examination, tumor features observed in preoperative paranasal sinus computed tomography (size and localization), surgical methods applied, intra- and postoperative complications, and recurrence rates. All patients preoperatively provided informed consent. RESULTS: Of the 14 patients, 7 were males and 7 were females, with a mean age of 40.57 years. A total of 11 (79%) osteomas were located within the frontal sinus and 3 (21%) within the frontal recess. External surgical approach was performed to 11 patients, endoscopic approach was performed to 2 patients and external and endoscopic approach was performed to 1 patient together. CONCLUSION: Although the preferred surgical method in frontal sinus osteoma depends depended on size and localization of tumors, experience of surgeon is also important. Although the external surgical approach is appropriate for large and laterally localized osteomas, the endoscopic approach is appropriate for small and inferomedially localized osteomas. In both surgical approaches the site of origin should be drilled.

Clinical effectiveness of thyroidectomy on the management of locally advanced laryngeal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of thyroid gland invasion in patients with advanced laryngeal cancer was reported to be 0-50%. However there is a controversy in necessity and extent of routine thyroidectomy in these patients due to the difficulty in diagnosis of tumor invasion to thyroid gland and the risk of possible postoperative hypothyroidism and hypocalcemia. METHODS: The medical files of 47 patients who underwent thyroidectomy as part of surgical treatment for advanced laryngeal cancer were reviewed. RESULTS: Fourty-four (93.6%) patients underwent hemithyroidectomy, 3 (6.3%) patients underwent total thyroidectomy. Thyroid gland invasion was found in 2 (4.2%) patients. Hypothyroidism occurred in 15 (31.9%) patients, and their hormone levels were regulated with medical treatment during follow-up. Hypocalcemia was not found in any patients. CONCLUSION: We recommend that at least a hemithyroidectomy should be performed in patients with advanced laryngeal cancer, if they have any predictive factor (subglottic extension more than 1cm, invasion of paraglottic space, thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage and prelaryngeal tissue detected by radiological examination) for thyroid gland invasion.

Does desloratadine alter the serum levels of montelukast when administered in a fixed-dose combination?

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to investigate the serum levels of montelukast when administered alone or in combination with desloratadine. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective crossover study. METHODS: Twenty-three healthy volunteers were investigated in two sessions. Volunteers were given 10 mg of montelukast orally with 250 mL water in the first session. The same subjects were given 10 mg of montelukast in fixed combination with 5 mg desloratadine 10 days after first session. Blood samples were collected 2, 3, and 4 hours after drug administration, and kept at -80°C after both applications. Plasma samples were analyzed for montelukast concentration. RESULTS: Mean concentration values of both groups were not statistically different (P > .05), but the differences were statistically significant according to time (P < .05). Statistically significant difference was not found between the groups according to the area under curve on the basis of both marginal and cumulative values for all different time intervals (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: The absorption rate of montelukast was not altered when administered with desloratadine. This study suggested that desloratadine does not influence the bioavailability of montelukast, and their combination therapy can be used safely.

Survival of diced and block cartilage grafts in combination with injectable calcium hydroxylapatite.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Dorsal nasal irregularities after trauma, and various procedures such as excessive nasal hump resection, are major problems for patients who have undergone rhinoplasty. Many grafts have been described for the correction of dorsal nasal irregularities. In this study, we used an injectable implant, in combination with diced or block cartilage grafts, to test the efficacy of injectable calcium hydroxylapatite on the survival of diced or block cartilage grafts. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, controlled, parallel group animal study. METHODS: Fourteen New Zealand white rabbits were used. Block cartilage and diced cartilage grafts, alone and in combination with injectable calcium hydroxylapatite, were placed subcutaneously in the rabbits' dorsal thoracolumbar region. On the 90th day following surgery, the graft areas were extracted immediately after the rabbits were sacrificed. Pathological examination was conducted on all specimens. RESULTS: The pathologic and histochemical findings were compared between groups. There was chronic inflammation observed in all of the groups. However, none of the groups had metaplastic bone formation or calcification. The group that received diced cartilage in combination with the injectable implant received the highest scores for peripheral chondrocyte proliferation, matrix collagen, elastic fiber, and proteoglycan content (P < 0.05). A comparison of the block and diced cartilage grafts revealed that peripheral chondrocyte proliferation was more pronounced in the diced cartilage grafts (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of calcium hydroxylapatite in combination with diced cartilage grafts does not have any long-term negative effects on chondrocyte viability.

Patient-reported outcomes after endonasal rhinoplasty for the long nose.

BACKGROUND: The long nose with an inferiorly rotated tip commonly results from a discrepancy between tip support and the downward forces of long septum, long upper lateral cartilage, and elongated lower lateral cartilage. Although many techniques have been described for surgical correction, very few studies were designed to include patient-reported outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to introduce our current management of long nose with drooping tips as well as to present the patient-reported outcomes of our case series of endonasal rhinoplasties. METHODS: This study prospectively analyzed 121 patients who underwent rhinoplasty for the correction of long nose with drooping tips. Study participants completed both a baseline questionnaire before the rhinoplasty operation and a postsurgical patient questionnaire 12 months following the operation, including the European QOL Questionnaire and Rhinoplasty Outcomes Evaluation Questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean values corresponding to the European QOL Questionnaire visual analog scale score significantly increased after surgery compared with baseline (P < 0.01). Mean values corresponding to self-care (P < 0.01), usual activities (P < 0.05), discomfort (P < 0.01), and anxiety (P < 0.01) showed significant decrease after surgery. A general and significant improvement of the mean Rhinoplasty Outcomes Evaluation Questionnaire scores by rhinoplasty increased from 20.14 ± 7.38 to 82.05 ± 12.8 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Resection of the caudal portion of upper lateral cartilage may correct aesthetic problems in patients with long nose with a drooping tip in which a reduction in the width and the length of middle third of the nose is required. This study suggested an efficient method for aesthetic correction of long nose with the improved patient-reported outcomes.

Effect of grapefruit juice on bioavailability of montelukast.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to investigate possible interactions between grapefruit juice and montelukast for up to 4 hours. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, crossover study with 23 healthy volunteers was performed in two sessions. METHODS: In the first session, volunteers were treated with oral montelukast 10 mg once daily with 250 ml water. After a 10-day washout period, the same volunteers were treated with 10 mg montelukast with 250 ml grapefruit juice. Blood samples were collected 2, 3, and 4 hours after drug administration and kept at -80°C after both applications. Plasma samples were analyzed for montelukast concentration. RESULTS: The mean plasma concentration of montelukast across all time intervals was significantly greater (P = 0.0001) for those given grapefruit juice (517, 484, and 440) versus those treated with water (366, 356, and 292). Moreover, with respect to the time the sample was collected, there was no significant difference (P = 0.13) in the mean total plasma concentration up to 4 hours after montelukast ingestion for either group. There was a significant difference between the groups according to the area under curve with regard to marginal and cumulative values for all different time intervals (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma concentration of montelukast was higher when administered with grapefruit juice, as compared to with water. This may have been due to the effect of grapefruit on liver metabolism of montelukast and the cytochrome P450 system.

Evaluation of nasal airway alterations associated with septorhinoplasty by both objective and subjective methods.

The aim of functional septorhinoplasty is to create an esthetically elegant nose and harmony in the face by preserving nasal function as well as maintaining or restoring adequate airway. Since nasal complaints are usually subjective, it may be difficult to evaluate the functions objectively. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the alterations in nasal function associated with septorhinoplasty by using both objective and subjective methods. The study population consisted of 40 patients who underwent septorhinoplasty and 40 healthy controls. Before and after the operation, visual analog scale, acoustic rhinometry, rhinomanometry, and Odiosoft-Rhino test were applied to all patients and controls. There were significant differences in all parameters both before and after the operation. While a significant difference was obtained between the patient and control groups in terms of preoperative values, no significant difference was found between postoperative values of these groups. Both objective and subjective methods are important in evaluations.

Comparative analysis of primary and secondary rhinoplasties according to surgeon's perspective, patient satisfaction, and quality of life.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to analyze and compare the problems and technical difficulties related to surgical intervention, patient satisfaction, and quality of life after primary and secondary rhinoplasties. METHODS: A total of 168 cases of rhinoplasty were grouped as primary or secondary according to the patient's history of rhinoplasty. The type of nasal deformity, the surgical approach, and the difficulty of the surgery were recorded. The levels of patient satisfaction and the quality of life were assessed before and after the operation with the Rhinoplasty Outcomes Evaluation (ROE) and European Quality of Life-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaires. A quantitative and statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients had secondary rhinoplasty, and 135 patients had primary rhinoplasty. Relatively high rates of saddle nose deformity, crooked nose, and tip asymmetry were observed in the secondary rhinoplasty group. The preoperative and postoperative scores on the ROE and EQ-5D questionnaires demonstrated statistically significant differences in both the primary and secondary rhinoplasty groups. The comparison of postoperative change between the primary and secondary rhinoplasty groups did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical difficulty of secondary rhinoplasty is approximately twice that of primary rhinoplasty because of the high rate of major deformities. However, the levels of patient satisfaction and improvements in quality of life are similar after primary and secondary rhinoplasties.

Diode laser treatment of hypertrophic inferior turbinates and evaluation of the results with acoustic rhinometry.

Inferior turbinate hypertrophy is the most common cause of chronic nasal obstruction. When conservative medical treatment options fail in patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy, reduction of the inferior turbinate can be performed using surgical techniques. Laser-assisted turbinate surgery has the advantages of limited tissue trauma and reduced bleeding. We evaluated the effectiveness and outcomes of using a diode laser (λ = 980 nm) in turbinate reduction. Our study included 62 patients with symptoms of nasal obstruction due to hypertrophic inferior turbinates, who did not respond to medical treatment (≥ 1 year). Patients were treated with diode laser between January 2009 and December 2010 in our ENT (ear, nose, and throat) department. Subjective outcome of severity of nasal obstruction was assessed on a standard 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS). Acoustic rhinometry was used to measure nasal patency. The cross-sectional areas 1, 2, and 3 and the volumes between 2.5 and 5.5 cm were measured. VAS scores and acoustic rhinometry measurements were performed preoperatively and 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery. The mean follow-up was 13.1 ± 1 months. The mean operation time was 3 min per turbinate; no nasal packing was necessary. We did not observe any major complications. Both subjective and objective evaluations showed significant improvement. VAS scores improved, the mean MCA2, MCA3, and V2-5 measurements increased significantly 1 year after surgery. In the first year after surgery, 53 of 62 (85.4%) patients reported marked improvements in nasal breathing. Our results showed that, objectively and subjectively, the success rates in diode laser-assisted turbinate reduction were satisfactory. The diode laser, being one of the most portable and least expensive of the lasers available for turbinate surgery, makes it possible for turbinate reduction to be performed under topical anesthesia within a short period of time with excellent patient acceptance.

Use of cone beam computed tomography in otolaryngologic treatments.

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) allows us to evaluate 3-dimensional (3D) morphology of the maxillofacial skeleton and also used in dentomaxillofacial imaging to solve complex diagnostic and treatment planning problems such as craniofacial fractures, temporamandibular dysfunctions or sinus imaging. CBCT uses a rectangular or round 2D detector, which allows a single rotation of the gantry to generate a scan of the entire region of interest. Technological and application-specific factors such as development of compact, relatively low-cost, high-quality, large, flat-panel detector arrays; the availability of low-cost computers with processing power sufficient for cone beam image reconstruction; the fabrication of highly efficient radiograph tubes capable of multiple exposures necessary for cone beam scanning at prices lower than those currently used for fan beam CT; and limited volume scanning (e.g., head and neck) eliminating the need for subsecond gantry rotation speeds make this possible. The objective of this study is to review published evidence for CBCT having an important role in ORL treatments. We aimed to review all the available literature about the CBCT imagination in ORL treatments. Systematic literature search was performed using PubMed and Ovid. Additional literature was retrieved from reference lists in the articles. Systematic analysis of the literature from 1998 to 2010 was performed. A total of 40 abstracts were evaluated independently by two members of the project group, and 38 articles were included in the review.

Use of rhinomanometry in common rhinologic disorders.

Rhinomanometry is a functional test of nasal aerodynamics that measures transnasal airflow and the pressure gradient allowing nasal resistance to be calculated from these data. Three methods of rhinomanometry that are currently in use are anterior rhinomanometry, posterior (peroral) rhinomanometry and postnasal (pernasal) rhinomanometry. The usefulness of this method has increased owing to the development of technology and use of microcomputers connected to the measuring devices. Rhinomanometry can be used for: clinical evaluation of the symptom of nasal obstruction; research in nasal physiology; allergy challenge testing; pre- and post-treatment assessments of surgical or medical therapy; and evaluation of patients with sleep apnea.

What is the role of partial middle turbinectomy in endocanalicular laser-assisted endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy?

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to compare outcomes of endocanalicular laser-assisted endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) with and without partial anterior middle turbinectomy. METHODS: A prospective randomized comparative study was conducted on 91 subjects with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction, undergoing endocanalicular (ECL) procedures. Group 1 was composed of 44 (7 bilateral) patients undergoing ECL diode laser-assisted endonasal DCR without partial anterior middle turbinectomy and group 2 was composed of 47 (7 bilateral) patients undergoing partial anterior middle turbinectomy and ECL diode laser-assisted endonasal DCR. Follow-up period was 11.0 (6.0-14.5 months) months for group 1 and 9.2 (5.0-14.2 months) months for group 2. Functional success was defined as absence of epiphora and anatomic success was defined as ability to irrigate the lacrimal system. Anatomic and functional success at the 1st week, 3rd month, and final postoperative examinations of two groups were compared using chi-square tests. RESULTS: Final anatomic successes were 39/51 (76%) cases for group 1 and 51/54 (94%) cases for group 2. Final functional successes were 36/51 (%71) patients in group 1 and 48/54 (88%) patients in group 2. Group 2 had higher success at the final examination and the difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: We recommend partial anterior middle turbinectomy in all laser ECL laser-assisted endonasal DCR, but further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to strengthen our hypothesis.