Cochlear Implants after Meningitis and Otosclerosis: A Comparison between Cochlear Ossification and Speech Perception Tests.

(1) Background: Performance after Cochlear Implantation (CI) can vary depending on numerous factors. This study aims to investigate how meningitis or otosclerosis can influence CI performance. (2) Methods: Retrospective analysis of CI performance in patients with etiological diagnosis of meningitis or otosclerosis, comparing the etiologies and analyzing the image findings, along with electrode array insertion status and technique. (3) Results: Speech recognition in CI patients with otosclerosis improves faster than in patients with meningitis. Other features such as radiological findings, degree of cochlear ossification, surgical technique used and total or partial insertion of electrodes do not seem to be directly related to speech recognition test performance. (4) Conclusions: Patients should be warned that their postoperative results have a strong correlation with the disease that caused their hearing loss and that, in cases of meningitis, a longer duration of speech-language training may be necessary to reach satisfactory results.

Cochlear Implantation in Children with Auditory Neuropathy: Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Auditory neuropathy (AN) is a nosological entity of unknown etiology, which is associated with fluctuations in rates of speech discrimination. Its diagnosis is based on presence of otoacoustic emissions and lack of, or abnormal, brainstem auditory evoked potential. With respect to treatment, we have variable results in the literature about development of speech perception and skills, in children with AN and cochlear implant (CI) rehabilitation. OBJECTIVES: Comparatively assessing results recorded for the development of auditory and speech skills in children with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD), who were subjected to cochlear implantation, in comparison to results recorded for children with sensorineural hearing loss associated with other causes was the objective of this study. METHOD: A systematic literature review with meta-analysis was performed, with studies published from 1975 to 2023. RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included in the systematic review, and eight were selected for the meta-analysis, which showed there was no evidence allowing the conclusion that the two groups were different from each other about results in speech performance after 1 year of CI placement. CONCLUSION: Therefore, this study shows that CI provides the comparable benefit to children with ANSD in comparison to children with neurosensory hearing loss associated with other causes in their speech development.

Brazilian Society of Otology task force - Vestibular Schwannoma ‒ evaluation and treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature on the diagnosis and treatment of vestibular schwannoma. METHODS: Task force members were educated on knowledge synthesis methods, including electronic database search, review and selection of relevant citations, and critical appraisal of selected studies. Articles written in English or Portuguese on vestibular schwannoma were eligible for inclusion. The American College of Physicians' guideline grading system and the American Thyroid Association's guideline criteria were used for critical appraisal of evidence and recommendations for therapeutic interventions. RESULTS: The topics were divided into 2 parts: (1) Diagnosis - audiologic, electrophysiologic tests, and imaging; (2) Treatment - wait and scan protocols, surgery, radiosurgery/radiotherapy, and systemic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Decision making in VS treatment has become more challenging. MRI can diagnose increasingly smaller tumors, which has disastrous consequences for the patients and their families. It is important to develop an individualized approach for each case, which highly depends on the experience of each surgical team.

Cochlear implant in tinnitus management.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To evaluate whether cochlear implantation can mitigate tinnitus perception and its discomfort among patients with severe-to-profound hearing loss, in order to provide an answer on a possible treatment for a health condition with high prevalence and impact on quality of life. RECENT FINDINGS: Tinnitus can develop after peripheral hearing loss and is associated with altered auditory processing. It does not only involve auditory structures but also aberrant neural activity and interaction with other regions of the Central Nervous System associated with emotion, attention, anguish, memory and motor activity. SUMMARY: Recent studies investigated the changes in tinnitus perception among patients who underwent cochlear implantation and demonstrated a postoperative decrease. Hence, patients with severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are likely to benefit from cochlear implantation.

Brazilian Society of Otology task force - Vestibular Schwannoma - evaluation and treatment

Abstract Objective: To review the literature on the diagnosis and treatment of vestibular schwannoma. Methods: Task force members were educated on knowledge synthesis methods, including electronic database search, review and selection of relevant citations, and critical appraisal of selected studies. Articles written in English or Portuguese on vestibular schwannoma were eligible for inclusion. The American College of Physicians' guideline grading system and the American Thyroid Association's guideline criteria were used for critical appraisal of evidence and recommendations for therapeutic interventions. Results: The topics were divided into 2 parts: (1) Diagnosis - audiologic, electrophysiologic tests, and imaging; (2) Treatment - wait and scan protocols, surgery, radiosurgery/radiotherapy, and systemic therapy. Conclusions: Decision making in VS treatment has become more challenging. MRI can diagnose increasingly smaller tumors, which has disastrous consequences for the patients and their families. It is important to develop an individualized approach for each case, which highly depends on the experience of each surgical team.

Is there benefit from the use of cochlear implants and hearing aids in cognition for older adults? A systematic review.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess whether hearing aids (HA) and cochlear implants (CI) bring benefits to cognition or mitigate cognitive decline in older adults. Methods: This is a systematic literature review registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) and based on the criteria recommended by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Study type (PICOS) strategy was used to define eligibility. Studies that met the criteria were included in the qualitative synthesis. We assessed the risk of bias through the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists. Results: A total of 3,239 articles, found in eight databases, addressed the relationship between HA, CI, and cognition. We selected 30 experimental articles reporting measures of cognitive outcomes for older adults to include in the qualitative analysis. Of those, 23 studies reported a significant improvement in outcome and seven reported no significant change. Conclusions: This systematic review indicates that CI and HA can bring benefits to cognition in older adults. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021273690.

Partial laryngectomy and reconstruction with rotation of the epiglottis in the treatment of a rare laryngeal schwannoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Neurogenic tumors of the larynx are rare, with few cases having been reported in the literature. Schwannomas are responsible for 0.1% of all benign tumors of the larynx. They arise in the sheaths of the peripheral, autonomic, and cranial nerves. The objective of this report is to describe a case of a bulky laryngeal schwannoma, the surgical procedure for its removal, and the long-term patient follow-up. CASE PRESENTATION: A 19-year-old Brazilian woman presented to our institution with a complaint of progressive dyspnea over the preceding year, as well as dysphonia, dysphagia for solids, and globus pharyngeus. Direct rigid laryngoscopy showed a supraglottic tumor obstructing approximately 90% of the larynx. With the symptoms progressing to severe dyspnea, an emergency tracheostomy was performed. After infusion of intravenous contrast, magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass lesion with intense, heterogeneous contrast enhancement along the posterior wall of the hypopharynx, blocking all of the lumen and measuring 2.8 cm and 2.2 cm at its largest diameters. The image suggested a neoplastic lesion. The patient underwent open surgery for tumor resection. Her postsurgical recovery was uncomplicated. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry revealed the tumor to be a laryngeal schwannoma. CONCLUSION: The definitive diagnosis of laryngeal lesions can be difficult, and histopathology plays a pivotal role. Laryngeal schwannomas are rare; however, tumors can become large and may ultimately lead to airway obstruction.

A 67-Year-Old Woman with Sudden Hearing Loss Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

BACKGROUND Few reports have described the association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and sudden hearing loss. The precise pathophysiological mechanism causing this symptom is unknown. This report describes a case of sudden hearing loss in a patient with COVID-19 pneumonia due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. CASE REPORT A 67-year-old woman with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), as confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing from nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs, was examined. She experienced sudden hearing loss in her right ear and disabling tinnitus. She underwent combined corticosteroid therapy (oral and intratympanic), resulting in an isolated improvement of 250 kHz in the right ear (from 60 dB, the threshold became 15 dB) and of 4, 6, and 8 kHz in the left ear (from 35 dB, 20 dB, and 35 dB, the thresholds became 15 dB, 5 dB and 20 dB, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Although rare, hearing loss appears to be a possible sequela to SARS-CoV-2 infection and deserves attention because it is a medical emergency requiring immediate clinical treatment. Additional studies are needed to assess the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in and the long-term characteristics of this type of hearing loss.

Evaluation of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) and electrocochleography for the diagnosis of Ménière's disease / Avaliação dos potenciais evocados miogênicos vestibulares (VEMP) e eletrococleografia no diagnóstico da doença de Ménière

Abstract Introduction: Ménière's disease (MD) is an inner ear disorder characterized by episodic vertigo, tinnitus, ear fullness, and fluctuating hearing. Its diagnosis can be especially difficult in cases where vestibular symptoms are present in isolation (vestibular MD). The definitive diagnosis is made histologically and can only be performed post-mortem, after analysis of the temporal bone. Endolymphatic hydrops is a histopathological finding of the disease and occurs more often in the cochlea and saccule, followed by the utricle and semicircular canals. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) emerged as the method of assessment of vestibular function in 1994. Until then, there was no unique way of assessing saccular function and the inferior vestibular nerve. Given that the saccule is responsible for most cases of severe hydrops, VEMP appears as a new tool to assist in the diagnosis of MD. Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of VEMP and electrocochleography (EcochG) in the diagnosis of definite MD compared with clinical diagnosis. Methods: The study includes 12 patients (24 ears) diagnosed with definite MD defined according to the clinical criteria proposed by the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) in 1995, as well as 12 healthy volunteers allocated to the control group (24 ears). A clinical diagnosis by the AAO-HNS criteria was considered as the gold standard. All patients underwent an otoneurological examination, including pure tone and speech audiometry, VEMP, and extratympanic EcochG. The sensitivity and specificity to detect the presence or absence of disease were calculated, as well as their 95% confidence intervals. The reliability of VEMP and EcochG in both ears was assessed using the kappa index. Results: In both tests and in both ears, the ability to diagnose healthy cases was high, with specificity ranging from 84.6% to 100%. Moreover, the ability of the tests to diagnose the disease varied from low to moderate sensitivity, with values ranging from 37.5% to 63.6%. The agreement of both tests in the right ear, measured by the kappa coefficient, was equal to 0.54 (95% CI: 0.20-0.89), indicating a moderate agreement. In the left ear, that agreement was equal to 0.07 (95% CI: −0.33 to 0.46), indicating a weak correlation between the tests. The sensitivity of the VEMP for the right ear was 63.6% and for the left ear, 62.5%. The sensitivity of EcochG for the right ear was 63.6% and 37.5% for the left ear. Conclusion: The specificity of both tests was high, and the sensitivity of VEMP was higher than that of EcochG.

Resumo Introdução: A doença de Ménière (DM) é uma doença da orelha interna caracterizada por vertigem episódica, zumbido, plenitude aural e audição flutuante. Seu diagnóstico pode ser especialmente difícil nos casos em que os sintomas vestibulares estão presentes isoladamente (DM vestibular). O diagnóstico de certeza é histológico e somente pode ser feito no post mortem, após análise do osso temporal. A hidropisia endolinfática é um achado histopatológico da doença e ocorre mais frequentemente na cóclea e sáculo, seguidos pelo utrículo e canais semicirculares. Os potenciais evocados miogênicos vestibulares (VEMP) surgiram como método de avaliação da função vestibular em 1994. Até então não havia uma maneira exclusiva de avaliação da função sacular e do nervo vestibular inferior e como o sáculo era responsável por grande parte dos casos de hidropisia severa, o VEMP apareceu como uma nova ferramenta para auxiliar no diagnóstico da DM. Objetivo: Avaliar a sensibilidade e especificidade do VEMP e da eletrococleografia (ECochG) no diagnóstico da DM em comparação com o diagnóstico clínico. Método: Foram selecionados 12 pacientes (24 orelhas) com diagnóstico de DM definida de acordo com os critérios clínicos propostos pela American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 1995 (AAO-HNS) e 12 voluntários saudáveis alocados no grupo controle (24 orelhas). Considerou-se o diagnóstico clínico pela AAO-HNS como padrão ouro. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a exame otoneurológico, incluindo audiometria tonal e vocal, VEMP e eletrococleografia extratimpânica. A sensibilidade e especificidade para detectar a presença ou ausência de doença foram calculadas e os respectivos intervalos de confiança de 95% obtidos. A confiabilidade dos testes de diagnóstico VEMP e eletrococleografia em ambas as orelhas foi avaliada pelo índice kappa. Resultados: Em ambos os testes e em ambas as orelhas, a capacidade para diagnosticar os casos saudáveis é alta, a especificidade varia de 84,6%-100%. Além disso, a capacidade dos testes para o diagnóstico da doença varia de baixa a moderada sensibilidade, com valores de 37,5%-63,6%. A concordância dos dois testes na orelha direita, medida pelo coeficiente de kappa, foi igual a 0,54; 95% IC (0,20-0,89) indicaram uma concordância moderada. Para a orelha esquerda essa concordância foi igual a 0,07 com 95% IC (-0,33-0,46), o que indicou uma concordância fraca entre os testes. A sensibilidade do VEMP para a orelha direita foi de 63,6% e para a orelha esquerda, de 62,5%. A sensibilidade da ECochG para a orelha direita foi de 63,6% e 37,5% para a orelha esquerda. Conclusão: A especificidade de ambos os testes foi alta e a sensibilidade do VEMP foi maior do que a da eletrococleografia.

Evaluation of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) and electrocochleography for the diagnosis of Ménière's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Ménière's disease (MD) is an inner ear disorder characterized by episodic vertigo, tinnitus, ear fullness, and fluctuating hearing. Its diagnosis can be especially difficult in cases where vestibular symptoms are present in isolation (vestibular MD). The definitive diagnosis is made histologically and can only be performed post-mortem, after analysis of the temporal bone. Endolymphatic hydrops is a histopathological finding of the disease and occurs more often in the cochlea and saccule, followed by the utricle and semicircular canals. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) emerged as the method of assessment of vestibular function in 1994. Until then, there was no unique way of assessing saccular function and the inferior vestibular nerve. Given that the saccule is responsible for most cases of severe hydrops, VEMP appears as a new tool to assist in the diagnosis of MD. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of VEMP and electrocochleography (EcochG) in the diagnosis of definite MD compared with clinical diagnosis. METHODS: The study includes 12 patients (24 ears) diagnosed with definite MD defined according to the clinical criteria proposed by the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) in 1995, as well as 12 healthy volunteers allocated to the control group (24 ears). A clinical diagnosis by the AAO-HNS criteria was considered as the gold standard. All patients underwent an otoneurological examination, including pure tone and speech audiometry, VEMP, and extratympanic EcochG. The sensitivity and specificity to detect the presence or absence of disease were calculated, as well as their 95% confidence intervals. The reliability of VEMP and EcochG in both ears was assessed using the kappa index. RESULTS: In both tests and in both ears, the ability to diagnose healthy cases was high, with specificity ranging from 84.6% to 100%. Moreover, the ability of the tests to diagnose the disease varied from low to moderate sensitivity, with values ranging from 37.5% to 63.6%. The agreement of both tests in the right ear, measured by the kappa coefficient, was equal to 0.54 (95% CI: 0.20-0.89), indicating a moderate agreement. In the left ear, that agreement was equal to 0.07 (95% CI: -0.33 to 0.46), indicating a weak correlation between the tests. The sensitivity of the VEMP for the right ear was 63.6% and for the left ear, 62.5%. The sensitivity of EcochG for the right ear was 63.6% and 37.5% for the left ear. CONCLUSION: The specificity of both tests was high, and the sensitivity of VEMP was higher than that of EcochG.

Electrocochleography for Ménière's disease: is it reliable?

INTRODUCTION: Endolymphatic hydrops, the histopathological substrate of Ménière's disease, is an almost universal finding in postmortem studies of patients with this disease. The cause of hydrops is still unknown, as is the mechanism by which it causes progressive dysfunction of the sensory organs of inner ear. The fluctuating course of the disease complicates the interpretation of certain tests, such as electrocochleography; thus, for some authors its diagnostic value is questionable. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical applicability of electrocochleography in the diagnosis of hydrops. It is a valuable tool, but still generates conflicting opinions among otolaryngologists. METHODS: Systematic review of the literature on electrocochleography in patients diagnosed with endolymphatic hydrops. RESULTS: A total of 34 articles regarding the use of electrocochleography in patients with hydrops, from the year 2000 onwards, were selected. Of these, 15 were excluded from the review as they were not observational studies. Only one cross-sectional study addressing the clinical use of electrocochleography by otolaryngologists was included. CONCLUSION: Electrocochleography is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of hydrops, as it is a non-invasive, easy to handle procedure, which offers new techniques to increase the sensitivity of the test, and thereby assists otolaryngologists in the management of Ménière's disease.

Electrocochleography for Ménière's disease: is it reliable?, / Eletrococleografia na doença de Ménière: é confiável?,

Introduction: Endolymphatic hydrops, the histopathological substrate of Ménière's disease, is an almost universal finding in postmortem studies of patients with this disease. The cause of hydrops is still unknown, as is the mechanism by which it causes progressive dysfunction of the sensory organs of inner ear. The fluctuating course of the disease complicates the interpretation of certain tests, such as electrocochleography; thus, for some authors its diagnostic value is questionable. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical applicability of electrocochleography in the diagnosis of hydrops. It is a valuable tool, but still generates conflicting opinions among otolaryngologists. Methods: Systematic review of the literature on electrocochleography in patients diagnosed with endolymphatic hydrops. Results: A total of 34 articles regarding the use of electrocochleography in patients with hydrops, from the year 2000 onwards, were selected. Of these, 15 were excluded from the review as they were not observational studies. Only one cross-sectional study addressing the clinical use of electrocochleography by otolaryngologists was included. Conclusion: Electrocochleography is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of hydrops, as it is a non-invasive, easy to handle procedure, which offers new techniques to increase the sensitivity of the test, and thereby assists otolaryngologists in the management of Ménière's disease. .

Introdução: A hidropisia endolinfática é o substrato histopatológico e achado quase universal nos estudos post-mortem de pacientes com doença de Ménière. A causa da hidropisia ainda é desconhecida, assim como o mecanismo pelo qual causa disfuncção progressiva dos órgãos sensitivos da orelha interna. O curso flutuante da doença dificulta a interpretação de exames como a eletrococleografia, que apresenta, para alguns autores, valor diagnóstico controverso. Objetivos: O objetivo deste estudo é analisar a aplicabilidade clínica da eletrococleografia no diagnóstico da hidropisia endolinfática, sendo uma ferramenta de uso comum e que ainda gera opiniões conflitantes entre os otorrinolaringologistas. Método: Revisão sistemática da literatura sobre eletrococleografia em pacientes com diagnóstico de hidropisia endolinfática. Resultados: Foram selecionados 34 artigos sobre o uso da eletrococleografia em pacientes portadores de hidropisia endolinfática a partir do ano 2000; 15 artigos foram excluídos da revisão por não se tratarem de estudos observacionais, com inclusão de somente um estudo transversal que trata sobre o uso clínico da eletrococleografia entre os otorrinolaringologistas. Conclusão: A eletrococleografia é uma importante ferramenta no diagnóstico da hidropisia endolinfática, por ser não invasiva, de fácil mensuração, e por oferecer novas técnicas capazes de aumentar a sensibilidade do exame e auxiliar o otorrinolaringologista no tratamento da Doenca de Ménière. .