Artificial Intelligence for Diagnosis in Otologic Patients: Is It Ready to Be Your Doctor?

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the precision of language-model artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnosing conditions by contrasting its predictions with diagnoses made by board-certified otologic/neurotologic surgeons using patient-described symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary care center. PATIENTS: One hundred adults participated in the study. These included new patients or established patients returning with new symptoms. Individuals were excluded if they could not provide a written description of their symptoms. INTERVENTIONS: Summaries of the patient's symptoms were supplied to three publicly available AI platforms: Chat GPT 4.0, Google Bard, and WebMD "Symptom Checker." MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: This study evaluates the accuracy of three distinct AI platforms in diagnosing otologic conditions by comparing AI results with the diagnosis determined by a neurotologist with the same information provided to the AI platforms and again after a complete history and physical examination. RESULTS: The study includes 100 patients (52 men and 48 women; average age of 59.2 yr). Fleiss' kappa between AI and the physician is -0.103 (p < 0.01). The chi-squared test between AI and the physician is χ2 = 12.95 (df = 2; p < 0.001). Fleiss' kappa between AI models is 0.409. Diagnostic accuracies are 22.45, 12.24, and 5.10% for ChatGPT 4.0, Google Bard, and WebMD, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Contemporary language-model AI platforms can generate extensive differential diagnoses with limited data input. However, doctors can refine these diagnoses through focused history-taking, physical examinations, and clinical experience-skills that current AI platforms lack.

Chromosomal 1p Duplication in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report.

Chromosomal 1p duplications are a rarity, with minimal literature on the topic. As a result, it is useful to document patient presentations with this defect to help guide the management and treatment of future patients with this genetic abnormality. We present a successful case report of a patient with a chromosome 1p31.3p31.1 duplication, including her initial presentation, the path to genetic testing, and patient outcome. Chromosomal duplication was found on genetic testing performed for failure to thrive and inability to meet her developmental milestones. The patient was significantly undernourished due to her feeding difficulties, leading to her presentation of altered mental status, growth arrest, dehydration, and hypoglycemia. Intervention in the form of a gastrostomy tube and fundoplication led to a significant improvement in the stability seen in the patient at the time of discharge. Long-term cognitive-linguistic treatment is required for continued neurological development. Only 11 publications currently exist regarding chromosome 1p duplication. However, none are specific to the 1p31.3p31.1 duplication, making this case report the first of its kind. Overlapping chromosomal 1p duplications have been described in patients with low birth weight and growth delays, palate abnormalities, intellectual disability, microcephaly, heart defects, and ambiguous genitalia. Despite the rarity of this duplication, it is essential to document these cases because if some of these genetic abnormalities are identified in more significant numbers, they can be conclusively linked to the patient's phenotype. In addition, the treatment plan played an instrumental role in stabilizing our patient's condition. It is also helpful to report the treatment plans so future clinicians who encounter this situation can utilize the successful treatment plans that most align with their patient's clinical presentation.

Left Vocal Process Avulsion.

Vocal fold process avulsion results from trauma that detaches the vocal process and thyroarytenoid muscle from the body of the arytenoid cartilage. Vocal fold laxity often causes severe dysphonia. Findings can be subtle. A high index of suspicion often permits diagnosis and effective surgical repair.

Characterization of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux in the Elderly Population.

INTRODUCTION: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) often is not diagnosed due to its presentation without heartburn. The aim of this study was to analyze the signs and symptoms of elderly patients undergoing treatment for LPR using subjective as well as objective measures including strobovideolaryngoscopies, 24-hour pH studies, and manometry to highlight appropriate considerations for diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux who were seen from January 2010 to February 2021 in the practice of the senior author (Robert T. Sataloff) who had undergone 24-hour pH testing, and for whom all data were available. Patients aged 60 years and older were considered elderly and compared to patients younger than 40 and between the ages of 40 and 59. However, patients in their 60s, 70s, and 80s were evaluated and compared separately. Objective reflux findings, 24-hour pH studies, and manometry were compared between groups. RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty-eight patients being treated for LPR were included, 100 of whom were over the age of 60. While 94.1% of patients younger than 40 had a chief complaint of hoarseness, 71% percent of those aged 60 and older complained of hoarseness. Patients aged 60 and older were more likely to present with no voice complaint as their age increased (P = 0.001). Lower esophageal sphincter residual pressure was 12.15 ±â€¯6.28 in elderly patients compared to 4.90 ±â€¯3.38 in patients younger than 40 (P < 0.001). Upper esophageal sphincter (UES) basal pressure was decreased in elderly patients at 83.84 ±â€¯50.53 compared to 105.92 ±â€¯51.49 in patients younger than 60 or younger (P = 0.029). Older patients in their 70s and 80s also had lower UES basal pressures at 75.79 ±â€¯47.66 and 63.45 ±â€¯14.50 (P = 0.003). Additionally, while 71.4% of patients younger than 40 had normal esophageal motility (Chicago classification v4), only 40% of elderly patients had normal esophageal motility (P < 0.001). More severe ventricular obliteration also was present in elderly patients compared to non-elderly patients (P = 0.032), and thick endolaryngeal mucus was less likely to be present in elderly patients (P = 0.007). Reflux finding score differed between age groups with patients aged less than 40 scoring 14.78 ±â€¯2.5, 40-59 year olds scoring 15.83 ±â€¯2.13 and patients 60 and older scoring 15.48 ±â€¯2.43 (P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: Elderly patients diagnosed with LPR have different presentations of the disease compared with younger patients.

Safety and Efficacy of Outpatinet Type 1 Thyroplasty Using Gore-Tex for Mobile Vocal Folds.

INTRODUCTION: Type 1 thyroplasty treats glottic insufficiency (GI) through vocal fold medialization. The safety of type 1 thyroplasty and its efficacy in an outpatient setting have not been investigated in patients with mobile vocal folds. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate efficacy and safety of outpatient type 1 thyroplasty using Gore-Tex for mobile vocal folds. METHODS: Patients from our voice center who had vocal fold paresis, had not had prior thyroplasty, and who underwent type 1 thyroplasty using Gore-Tex implants and were followed for at least 3 months were included in this retrospective study. Strobovideolaryngoscopy footage from each patient's preoperative and postoperative visits was compiled and de-identified. Three blinded physician raters reviewed and evaluated the videos to determine glottic closure and complications. Interrater reliability was moderate and intrarater reliability was good for GI. RESULTS: A total of 108 patients with an average age of 49.6 years were included in the retrospective cohort. GI improved significantly in patients from preoperative to first postoperative visit and from preoperative to second postoperative visit. The GI improvement from the second to third visit was not significant. In total, 33 patients underwent additional Thyroplasty, 12 due to revision from a complication and 25 for further voice improvement. There were no major complications seen. Within 1 month of surgery, the most frequent findings were edema and hemorrhage. Long-term complications evaluated by raters were reported inconsistently with poor interrater and intrarater reliability, and therefore were excluded. CONCLUSION: Overall, outpatient type 1 thyroplasty using a Gore-Tex implant is safe and effective in treating dysphonia due to GI in patients with vocal fold paresis and mobile vocal folds. There were no major complications within 1 week of surgery requiring hospitalization, supporting the literature that type 1 thyroplasty is safe to perform in the outpatient setting.

Misdiagnosis of Vocal Fold Nodules.

INTRODUCTION: Benign vocal fold masses (BVMs) include nodules, polyps, cysts, and other pathology. Nevertheless, some otolaryngologists and other physicians utilize "vocal fold nodules" as an umbrella diagnosis for vocal fold masses. Patients subsequently evaluated by a laryngologist are found to have a different vocal fold mass, which often has a different prognosis and treatment plan compared to nodules. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate at which vocal fold nodules are misdiagnosed. METHODS: Adult voice patients who presented to our voice center having been evaluated elsewhere by an otolaryngologist and diagnosed with vocal fold nodules, or prenodules, were included in this retrospective study. Strobovideolaryngoscopy (SVL) footage from each patient's first visit or prior to any treatment at our center was compiled and de-identified. Three blinded physician raters evaluated the videos to determine if the mass(es) was/were nodules on a binary scale, with 1 indicating a nodule. If the mass was not a nodule (0), the raters were asked to identify it based on a list of five different mass types. RESULTS: There were 56 cases (11 male and 45 female) included in the retrospective cohort. The average age was 38 ± 14.8 with a range of 11-65. Reliability between all raters was fair (κ = 0.3). Individually raters 1 and 2 had very good reliability (κ = 1) and rater 3 had good reliability (κ = 0.6). In 100% of cases, two raters agreed that none of the masses were nodules. Only one rater identified two masses as vocal fold nodules, indicating that at least 97% of cases were not vocal fold nodules and had been misdiagnosed. The most frequently identified mass and the most frequently agreed upon mass by all raters was vocal fold cyst or pseudocyst, followed by fibrous mass. Only one rater was unable to identify the mass type in some cases (n = 7). CONCLUSION: Vocal fold nodules are frequently misdiagnosed. Proper identification of vocal fold masses requires high levels of expertise and SVL. Since treatment of BVMs varies with mass type, accurate diagnosis is essential.

Combined endoscopic endonasal and sublabial transmaxillary approaches for resection of intracranially extended juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.

BACKGROUND: Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas (JNAs) are rare, benign, and locally invasive nasopharyngeal tumors. Endoscopic endonasal resection is effective, non-invasive, with low complication rates. Until recently, endoscopic resection was not suitable for intracranially invasive tumors. PURPOSE/METHOD: We describe resection steps of an intracranially extending JNA with a combined endoscopic endonasal and endoscopic-assisted sublabial transmaxillary approaches. Indications, advantages, and approach-specific complications are also discussed. The main surgical steps are shown in an operative video. CONCLUSION: Surgical excision of JNAs by a combined endoscopic endonasal and sublabial transmaxillary approaches represents a safe and effective treatment for selected intracranially invasive JNA.

5-Fluorouracil for Treatment of Vocal Fold Scar.

BACKGROUND: Vocal fold (VF) scar can result from trauma, neoplasm, inflammatory processes, congenital causes, surgery and other etiologies. In general, once the vibratory margin of the VF has been scarred, it has not been possible to return VF function to normal; but often it can be improved. The drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a pyrimidine antimetabolic that has many clinical applications ranging from systemic chemotherapy to topical treatment of actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma of the skin. Local injection with 5-FU also has been used for hypertrophic scar and keloids. 5-FU was shown to have benefit in animal models of VF scar and subglottic stenosis. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of 5-FU injection on VF vibratory function in patients with VF scar. Outcomes of 5-FU injection were compared to controls injected with dexamethasone. METHODS: Adult voice center patients who had undergone VF injection with dexamethasone or a series of three 5-FU injections for treatment of VF scar were included in the study. Postoperative outcomes included percentage of subjects demonstrating improvement after injection, change in scar size, glottic closure, and VF stiffness, as well as digital image analysis measurements of mucosal wave. Outcomes were compared between subjects who received 5-FU and those who received dexamethasone. RESULTS: There were 58 VFs injected with 5-FU and 58 historical controls injected with dexamethasone. Baseline subject characteristics and etiology of scar did not differ significantly between the 5-FU and dexamethasone cohorts, except that scar size was greater in the 5-FU group and mucosal wave was worse at baseline. After a series of three 5-FU injections, 61.22% improved, 8.16% demonstrated no change, and 30.61% worsened. In the dexamethasone cohort, 51.06% improved, 0.00% demonstrated no change, and 48.94% worsened. The response differed significantly between the 5-FU and dexamethasone cohorts, with a greater proportion of subjects who underwent 5-FU injection demonstrating improvement postoperatively. In the 5-FU cohort, 32.76% of subjects previously had undergone and failed dexamethasone injection for VF scar: and within that group 84.21% improved, 5.26% demonstrated no change, and 10.53% worsened following 5-FU injection. On digital image analysis, the percent improvement in postoperative mucosal wave was significantly greater in the 5-FU cohort compared to the dexamethasone group, which demonstrated a worsening of mucosal wave. CONCLUSIONS: A series of three intralesional injections with 5-FU outperformed dexamethasone for improving mucosal wave in patients with VF scar. A prior failed trial of dexamethasone injection predicted a favorable response to 5-FU. Further research is encouraged to confirm or refute these findings.

The Use of Laryngeal Electromyography to Determine Surgical Success Following Anastomosis and Implantation Reinnervation Surgeries for Vocal Fold Paralysis: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this systematic review is to elucidate an evidence-based review of the benefit of laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) in determining surgical success following reanastamosis and implantation reinnervation surgery for treating vocal fold paralysis. METHODS: We searched the following databases: PubMed, Embase and MEDLINE from inception to September 2022. Articles that included postoperative LEMG as a tool to evaluate patients after surgery for vocal fold paralysis were included. RESULTS: A total of 203 studies were identified, 106 were read in full, and 11 that met the inclusion criteria were systematically reviewed. CONCLUSION: The available evidence suggests that postoperative LEMG data is consistent with visual, perceptual, and acoustic analysis and therefore is a reliable tool in determining surgical success. LEMG provides both qualitative and quantitative evaluation, rather than the qualitative evaluation provided by standard methods, which yields additional parameters that more effectively and definitively characterize percent of muscle reinnervation at each stage and timeline the patient's recovery.