Acanthosis Nigricans and Its Response to Metformin.

Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is the most common cutaneous manifestation of insulin resistance (IR) and is commonly seen in non-Caucasian populations. Variable benefits of metformin in the treatment of AN have been reported in the literature. We report an adolescent Caucasian boy with IR and extensive AN who showed complete resolution of AN after 2 years of metformin, despite persistence of IR.

Managing children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and coexisting celiac disease: Real-world data from a global survey.

OBJECTIVES: Celiac disease (CD) is among the diseases most commonly associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D). This study aimed to evaluate the worldwide practices and attitudes of physicians involved in pediatric diabetes care regarding diagnosing and managing CD in children with T1D. METHODS: The 30-item survey was conducted between July and December 2023 aimed at targeting pediatricians with special interest in T1D and CD. It was shared by the JENIOUS- young investigators group of the International Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) and the YES- early career group of the European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology (ESPE). RESULTS: 180 physicians (67.8% female) from 25 countries responded. Among respondents, 62.2% expected sustaining optimal glycemic control in children with T1D and CD (T1D+CD) to be more difficult than in children with T1D alone. Majority (81.1%) agreed that more specific guidelines are needed. The follow-up routine for patients with T1D+CD differed, and one-quarter of physicians scheduled more frequent follow-up checkups for these patients. Seventy percent agreed multidisciplinary outpatient clinics for their follow-up is needed. In the multivariate ordinal logistic regression model, a statistically significant predictor of a higher degree of practice according to ISPAD 2022 guidelines was a higher level of country income (OR=3.34; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results showed variations in physicians' practices regarding managing CD in children with T1D, emphasising the need for more specific guidelines and intensive education of physicians in managing this population, especially in lower-income countries. Our data also suggest the implementation of multidisciplinary outpatient clinics for their follow-up.

Analysis of disease characteristics of a large patient cohort with congenital generalized lipodystrophy from the Middle East and North Africa.

BACKGROUND: Congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL) is a rare inherited disease characterized by a near-total absence of adipose tissue and is associated with organ system abnormalities and severe metabolic complications. Here, we have analyzed the disease characteristics of the largest CGL cohort from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) who have not received lipodystrophy-specific treatment. METHODS: CGL was diagnosed clinically by treating physicians through physical assessment and supported by genetic analysis, fat loss patterns, family history, and the presence of parental consanguinity. Data were obtained at the time of patient diagnosis and during leptin-replacement naïve follow-up visits as permitted by available medical records. RESULTS: Data from 43 patients with CGL (37 females, 86%) were collected from centers located in eight countries. The mean (median, range) age at diagnosis was 5.1 (1.0, at birth-37) years. Genetic analysis of the overall cohort showed that CGL1 (n = 14, 33%) and CGL2 (n = 18, 42%) were the predominant CGL subtypes followed by CGL4 (n = 10, 23%); a genetic diagnosis was unavailable for one patient (2%). There was a high prevalence of parental consanguinity (93%) and family history (67%) of lipodystrophy, with 64% (n = 25/39) and 51% (n = 20/39) of patients presenting with acromegaloid features and acanthosis nigricans, respectively. Eighty-one percent (n = 35/43) of patients had at least one organ abnormality; the most frequently affected organs were the liver (70%, n = 30/43), the cardiovascular system (37%, n = 16/43) and the spleen (33%, n = 14/43). Thirteen out of 28 (46%) patients had HbA1c > 5.7% and 20/33 (61%) had triglyceride levels > 2.26 mmol/L (200 mg/dl). Generally, patients diagnosed in adolescence or later had a greater severity of metabolic disease versus those diagnosed during childhood; however, metabolic and organ system abnormalities were observed in a subset of patients diagnosed before or at 1 year of age. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis suggests that in addition to the early onset of fat loss, family history and high consanguinity enable the identification of young patients with CGL in the MENA region. In patients with CGL who have not received lipodystrophy-specific treatment, severe metabolic disease and organ abnormalities can develop by late childhood and worsen with age.

Postoperative nasal debridement after endoscopic sinus surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Postoperative debridement is a controversial subject in the rhinology literature. The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to determine the effect of regular debridement versus no debridement on disease-specific outcomes and patient inconvenience. METHODS: Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with polyposis who were to undergo basic sinus surgery (antrostomy, ethmoidectomy, and polypectomy) were randomized to either debridement (at postoperative weeks 2 and 4) or no debridement, and their outcomes were assessed at 4 weeks and at 6 months with the Lund-Kennedy Endoscopic Score (LKES), the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-21 (SNOT-21), a visual analog scale for postoperative pain, and a novel scoring system for postoperative inconvenience (Post-Operative Inconvenience Scale; POIS). All patients were instructed to use high-volume saline rinses twice daily. RESULTS: At 4 weeks after operation, there was no difference between the groups in regard to LKESs (control group, 2.1 of 20; debridement group, 2.4 of 20; p = 0.59) or SNOT scores (control group, 9.1; debridement group, 8.3; p = 0.47). The visual analog scale pain scores showed significance (control group, 19 mm; debridement group, 38 mm; p = 0.019), as did the POIS scores (control group, 18.3; debridement group, 6.1; p = 0.002). At 6 months after surgery, again no difference was seen between the groups on either LKESs or SNOT scores. CONCLUSIONS: In our patient population, debridement after surgery did not affect disease-specific outcomes.

Base of the tongue hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma: Case report and literature review.

Hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma is an uncommon neoplasm arising in minor salivary glands. We present a rare case of hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma in the base of the tongue. We report a case of a 38-year-old female presented with a progressive history of hemoptysis and dysphagia over the course of 4 years. Examination revealed a mass originating from the base of the tongue with a biopsy confirmed as hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma . An Ovid MEDLINE and PubMed literature review was conducted due to the rarity of this type of tumor. The patient underwent surgical excision with immediate reconstruction with radial forearm free flap followed with adjuvant radiotherapy and was disease free at her most recent follow-up (12 months). Our review included a total of 13 new cases, including our case. The majority of the cases presented with dysphagia. Surgical excision is the mainstay of treatment, and overall these patients have a good prognosis. Our case highlights a rare presentation of hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue, successfully treated with surgical excision, free tissue reconstruction and adjuvant radiotherapy.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Educational and Academic Activities of Healthcare Professionals in Bahrain.

INTRODUCTION: Since its emergence, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a radical effect on different aspects of health worldwide. The burden created by the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare systems has also involved educational and academic activities among healthcare professionals. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the participation of doctors and nurses in educational and academic activities in Bahrain. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted through an online questionnaire that was distributed among 204 healthcare providers (HCPs) in the Kingdom of Bahrain. RESULTS: Out of 204 HCPs, 110 (53.9%) were doctors and 94 (46.1%) were nurses. A total of 154 responses were received (100 (64%) doctors and 54 (35.1%) nurses) with an overall response rate of 75.5%. Seventy-four (74%) doctors and 32 (59.2%) nurses stated that their overall academic activities had decreased since the start of the pandemic, yet this was not statistically significant (P=0.059). Unlike nurses, doctors attended more webinars 54 (54%) and online courses 47 (47%), compared to the time before the pandemic (P=0.022, P=0.014, respectively). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on educational and academic activities among healthcare workers. However, it created an opportunity to expand the use of electronic and online methods in those activities.

Isolated oropharyngeal abscess with hypopharyngeal extension recurring 12 years after initial surgical management: A case report and review of the literature.

Pharyngeal abscesses require urgent management as they have the propensity to cause severe and life-threatening complications. The introduction of antibiotics has led to a dramatic decline in the incidence of these infections. Regardless, abscess formation continues to be observed in the peritonsillar, parapharyngeal, and retropharyngeal spaces. Oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal abscesses that cause airway obstruction are scarcely reported and tend to be secondary to other processes. Herein, we describe the case of an 83-year-old man presenting with an idiopathic, obstructive, oropharyngeal wall abscess, extending from the infratonsillar region to the hypopharynx, which recurred after initial surgical management 12 years prior for the same process. He required reintervention during both episodes for rapid reaccumulation. A detailed electronic literature search of PubMed and MedLine was performed for studies reporting on recurrent pharyngeal abscesses and their management. Results were limited to articles published in English from inception to August 2021. The timely management of pharyngeal infections acutely obstructing the airway is crucial. Physicians should adopt close and frequent monitoring and have a low threshold for reimaging should symptoms worsen or fail to improve after the initial surgical intervention.

Predictors of the Need to Use Medications in the Management of Neonatal Hypoglycemia.

Background and objective Neonatal hypoglycemia (NH) is one of the most common causes of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Persistent NH despite adequate feeding and intravenous dextrose may often require medications to maintain normal blood glucose levels (BGL). Several medications are used in the management of persistent NH, such as glucagon, diazoxide, and octreotide. In this study, we aimed to determine the factors that predict the need for medications to treat persistent NH. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study conducted at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Oman. Infants admitted to the NICU between 2015 and 2019 with hypoglycemia (capillary blood glucose <2.6 mmol/l) were eligible to be included in the study. A prespecified dataset was collected from electronic patient records, including birth weight (BW), APGAR scores, gestational age, BGL, maternal risk factors such as diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, or antenatal use of medications, and the NICU management during admission. Data analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 27.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results A total of 89 neonates were admitted due to NH during the study period. Of them, 10 (11.2%) patients had received medication (diazoxide). Use of medication for persistent NH was significantly associated with maternal gestational diabetes/diabetes mellitus (GDM/DM) status (p=0.041), higher BW (p=0.001), and large for gestational age [LGA (defined as BW >90th percentile)] (p=0.014), severe hypoglycemia (mean glucose level of 1-1.5 mmol/l) at two hours of life and at admission, and elevated maximum glucose infusion rate (GIR). GIR for the medication-requiring cohort was 12.95 mg/kg/min and that for the non-medication-requiring cohort was 6.77 mg/kg/min (p<0.001). Conclusion Based on our findings, the need for using certain medications to treat persistent NH, such as diazoxide in neonates admitted with NH, can be predicted by factors such as maternal GDM/DM status, BW >90th percentile, very low BGL at two hours of age and on admission, and elevated GIR. Elevated maximum GIR was a leading indicator for using medications in the treatment of NH.

Subcutaneous Calcification and Fixed Flexion Deformity of the Right Elbow Joint in a Child with a GNAS Mutation: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: The art of medicine glorifies when a clinician listens carefully to the patient's story, gives a thorough examination, performs appropriate investigations, and finally links findings together to reach a definite diagnosis. An interesting case was reported here, highlighting the integration of different symptoms and manifestations with some relevant biochemical investigations to reach a final diagnosis. To the best of our knowledge, fixed flexion deformity, as a complication of subcutaneous calcification, has not been previously reported in a child with Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO). CASE PRESENTATION: A 2.5-year-old boy was born at term with a birth weight of 3.5 kg (-0.49 SDS). The child was referred to a general pediatrician with a history of right elbow joint swelling noticed initially at six months of age. He then developed the limitation of right upper arm movement, which slowly progressed afterward. The patient had no history of trauma. At nine months of age, he was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, preceded by cold skin, dry hair, and constipation. At nine years of age, he presented with a fixed flexion deformity of the right elbow associated with markedly limited joint movement and symmetrical hands with hyperpigmented knuckles of right metacarpal bones. Subcutaneous masses were felt along the right forearm, showing tenderness on palpation. Investigations revealed elevated serum parathyroid hormone and normal calcium indicating parathyroid hormone resistance. Further genetic testing revealed GNAS mutation. The child was obese throughout his childhood. CONCLUSIONS: This case report describes an obese child with subcutaneous calcification that led to fixed flexion deformity of the elbow, starting at an incredibly early age. Hypothyroidism and pseudohypoparathyroidism raised the suspicion of AHO, which was later confirmed by genetic testing. This is the first case report on fixed flexion deformity in a patient with GNAS mutation (c.719-1G > A Chr20: 57484737) in West Asia.

Monitoring Haematocrit in Paediatric Patients Receiving Testosterone Therapy in Arab Countries.

Objectives Testosterone is the main agent used to induce puberty in boys in Arab countries. It is recommended to monitor haematocrit before and during androgen replacement. However, data from single centre studies indicated that this recommendation is rarely practiced by paediatricians compared to adult physicians. The aim of this study is to evaluate the monitoring of haematocrit of patients on Testosterone therapy by paediatric endocrinologists practicing in Arab countries. Methods A cross-sectional study using an online survey that was sent to all members of the Arab Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (ASPED), who they practice in all Arab countries. The study was carried out between July and October 2019. Ethical approval was granted by ASPED council in May 2019 (MRE2019-02Q).  Results One hundred four physicians responded to the survey from 17 countries. 81/104 (77.8%) answered the question about Testosterone monitoring (42 paediatric endocrinologists, 11 general paediatrician consultants with interest in endocrine, 16 specialists, four fellows and eight residents). Of the 81 responders 18 clinicians (22.2%) thought of monitoring the haematocrit; 15 (18.5%) thought no laboratory monitoring is needed at all. Conclusion The survey indicated that most paediatric endocrinologists in Arab countries do not monitor haematocrit in patients on testosterone replacement and majority are not aware that secondary erythrocytosis can result from androgen therapy. Raising the awareness on monitoring haematocrit during androgen replacement therapy is needed especially when reaching the adult dose.

Use of continuous glucose monitoring trend arrows in the younger population with type 1 diabetes.

Early control of glycaemia is key to reduce vascular complications in individuals with Type 1 diabetes. Therefore, encouraging children and adolescents with T1DM to take responsibility for controlling glucose levels is an important yet a challenging task. The rapid expansion of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems has allowed for more comprehensive analysis of glycaemia in T1D. Moreover, CGM devices have the ability to calculate rate of change in glucose levels and display the information as trend arrows. In turn, this can help to take evasive actions to return glucose levels to near physiological glycaemia, which can be highly motivating for young people with T1DM. In the absence of standardised, evidence-based guidance, this consensus document, generated by experts from the Arab Society of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes and international advisors, summarises recent literature on the use of trend arrows in young people with T1DM. The use of trend arrows in different CGM systems is reviewed and their clinical significance is highlighted. Adjusting insulin doses according to trend arrows is discussed while also addressing special situations, such as exercise, fasting, nocturnal hypoglycaemia and menstruation. Adequate understanding of trend arrows should facilitate optimisation of glycaemic control in the T1D population.

Thyroid Hormone Resistance due to a Novel De Novo Mutation in Thyroid Hormone Receptor Alpha: First Case Report from the Middle East and North Africa.

The physiological actions of thyroid hormone (TH) are mediated through TH alpha and TH beta receptors. Resistance to TH (RTH) is characterized by a lack of peripheral tissues' response to the active form of TH. TH receptor beta has been extensively studied. Mutations in this receptor were considered the main reason for TH resistance for some time up until the discovery of mutations in TH receptor alpha (TRα) that has attained more focus and interest in recent years. A 13-year-old child with classic hypothyroidism features (coarse facies, growth and developmental delay, skeletal dysplasia, generalized muscular hypertrophy, and severe constipation) associated with near-normal thyroid hormone levels, which did not support the diagnosis of hypothyroidism biochemically. Therefore, progressing with whole-exome sequencing had revealed a de novo heterozygous mutation in a gene encoding TRα that establishes a diagnosis of RTHα. This case report demonstrates a rare form of TH resistance due to mutation of TRα. It also emphasizes that THs act through distinctive receptor subtypes in different target tissues. Moreover, this report aims to raise awareness about this genetic mutation, which is thought to be more common than expected. However, due to its subtle features and insidious presentation, many cases remain undiagnosed; hence, the disorder's exact incidence is unknown.

Use of ambulatory glucose monitoring and analysis of ambulatory glucose profile in clinical practice for diabetes management; a position statement of the Arab Society of Paediatric Endocrinology and diabetes.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Diabetes mellitus imposes a significant burden around the world generally and in the Middle East and North Africa specifically. Glucose monitoring is a cornerstone of diabetes management. METHODS: Glycated haemoglobin has always been the main metric for assessing glycaemic control, but its use is linked with multiple pitfalls. As an alternative, continuous glucose monitoring is becoming a standard of care in many countries. Intermittent scanning glucose monitoring (isCGM) has acquired a worldwide popularity and has been proven to improve glycaemic control, hypoglycaemia detection and prevention, and quality of life. RESULTS: The most recent International Society of Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes practice. guidelines recommended its use in young people with diabetes observing Ramadan to ensure safe fasting. At a meeting in Abu Dhabi in November 2019, the Arab Society for Paediatric. Endocrinology and Diabetes brought together a number of regional diabetes experts, patient. representatives and international expert advisors to review the evidence for isCGM and propose. guidelines for its use in the Middle East and North Africa region. CONCLUSION: In this paper, the authors strongly recommend the use of isCGM for patients in MENA and present general recommendations and compressive specific guidance for physicians and patients, which they believe will also have wider resonance.

Correction to: Evaluating the effectiveness of adjuvant radiotherapy in addition to surgery versus surgery alone at improving oncologic outcomes for early stage buccal carcinoma: a systematic review.

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported that one of the authors' names was spelled incorrectly. In this Correction the incorrect and correct author name are shown. The original publication of this article has been corrected.

Evaluating the effectiveness of adjuvant radiotherapy in addition to surgery versus surgery alone at improving oncologic outcomes for early stage buccal carcinoma: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the evidence to evaluate oncologic outcomes for patients with early stage buccal squamous cell carcinoma treated with surgery versus surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy. DATA SOURCES: Ovid MedLine, EMBASE, Google Scholar, PubMed. REVIEW METHODS: The primary purpose was to perform a systematic review to determine the published literature comparing oncologic outcomes of patients with early stage (Stages I&II) buccal mucosal squamous cell carcinoma, treated with surgical resection alone versus surgery plus adjuvant radiation therapy. Oncologic outcomes of interest were overall survival, locoregional recurrence, and disease specific survival. The secondary aim was to perform a meta-analysis to quantitively compare and summarize the data on oncologic outcomes between treatments. RESULTS: A total of 1457 studies were screened and five retrospective cohort studies (n = 733 patients) were eligible for quantitative analysis. Overall study quality was moderate to high. Pooled relative risk ratios using a fixed effects model did not reveal any statistically significant difference in overall survival (p = 0.70) or locoregional recurrence rates (p = 0.72) in Stage I and II disease. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate there is sparse evidence comparing oncologic outcomes for early stage buccal squamous cell carcinoma treated with surgery alone versus surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy. Our findings based on a limited body of evidence suggest no obvious benefit in the addition of adjuvant radiation therapy, however robust randomized trials are warranted to reach firm conclusions.

Continuous Flash Glucose Monitoring in children with Congenital Hyperinsulinism; first report on accuracy and patient experience.

BACKGROUND: The factory calibrated FreeStyle Libre (FSL) flash glucose monitoring system has been recently introduced for use in patients with diabetes mellitus. There are no reports available regarding its use in patients with congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI). We have assessed the accuracy of FSL compared to the finger prick capillary blood glucose (CBG) over 2 weeks period in patients with CHI and evaluated the parents' experience of using FSL. METHODS: Four hundred sixty-seven episodes of CBG along with corresponding swipe FSL readings were available from 11 children with CHI (0.5-5 years). A detailed questionnaire was completed by the parents. RESULTS: The mean variation between the two methods was 0.29 mmol/l (SD ±1.07), higher readings by FSL compared to CBG. The FSL sensors stayed in-situ for an average period of 11.5 days. There was a positive correlation between the two methods (r = 0.7). The FSL tended to overestimate compared to CBG (bias = 0.29 mmol/l; 95% CI: 0.19 to 0.38). Only 70% of values were within the reference standard (±0.83 mmol/l) at glucose concentrations less than 5.6 mmol/l. The overall Mean Absolute Relative Difference (MARD) was 17.9%. Forty two episodes of hypoglycaemia (CBG < 3.5 mmol/l) were noted but FSL identified only 52% of these episodes. The Bland Altman analysis showed the 95% limits of agreement between the two methods ranging from - 1.8 (95% CI: -1.97 to - 1.64) to 2.37 (95% CI: 2.21 to 2.54). Majority of the parents found the glucose trend on FSL to be useful to detect and prevent hypoglycaemic episodes. All parents felt that FSL is a very easy and convenient method to measure the glucose especially during sleep. A significant proportion of parents felt that FSL readings were not accurate and 56% of parents expressed interest to continue using FSL after the trial period. CONCLUSION: Noticeable variability between the two methods of measuring the glucose was noted. Despite the ease of using the FSL system, concerns related to accuracy, especially at low glucose values do remain although parents find the glucose trend to be very useful. Further larger trials are needed in CHI patients before FSL is recommended as a routine alternative method for measuring glucose levels.

Peri-operative factors predisposing to pharyngocutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy: analysis of a large multi-institutional patient cohort.

BACKGROUND: Pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) is a problematic complication following total laryngectomy. Disagreement remains regarding predisposing factors. This study examines perioperative factors predicting PCF following total laryngectomy using a large multicenter data registry. METHODS: Retrospective cohort analysis was performed using patients undergoing total laryngectomy in the ACS-NSQIP database for 2006-2014. Sub-analysis was performed based on reconstruction type. Outcome of interest was PCF development within 30 days. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis of 971 patients was performed. Three variables showed statistical significance in predicting PCF: wound classification of 3 and 4 vs. 1-2 (OR 6.42 P < 0.0004 and OR 8.87, P < 0.0042), pre-operative transfusion of > 4 units of packed red blood cells (OR 6.28, P = 0.043), and free flap versus no flap reconstruction (OR 2.81, P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies important risk factors for development of PCF following total laryngectomy in a large, multi-institutional cohort of patients, thereby identifying a subset of patients at increased risk.

Informed consent: do information pamphlets improve post-operative risk-recall in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy: prospective randomized control study.

BACKGROUND: Informed consent consists of basic five elements: voluntarism, capacity, disclosure, understanding, and ultimate decision-making. Physician disclosure, patient understanding, and information retention are all essential in the doctor-patient relationship. This is inclusive of helping patients make and manage their decisions and expectations better and also to deal with any consequences and/or complications that arise. This study investigates whether giving patients procedure-specific handouts pre-operatively as part of the established informed consent process significantly improves overall risk-recall following surgery. These handouts outline the anticipated peri-operative risks and complications associated with total thyroidectomy, as well as the corrective measures to address complications. In addition, the influence of potential confounders affecting risk-recall, such as anxiety and pre-existing memory disturbance, are also examined. METHODS: Consecutive adult (≥18 years old) patients undergoing total thyroidectomy at a single academic tertiary care referral centre are included. Participants are randomly assigned into either the experimental group (with pamphlets) or the control group by a computerized randomization system (Clinstat). All participants filled out a Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and they are tested by the physician for short-term memory loss using the Memory Impairment Screen (MIS) exam. All patients are evaluated at one week post-operatively. The written recall questionnaire test is also administered during this clinical encounter. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients are included--25 of them receive verbal consent only, while another 24 patients received both verbal consent and patient education information pamphlets. The overall average of correct answers for each group was 83% and 80% in the control and intervention groups, respectively, with no statistically significant differences. There are also no statistically significant differences between the two groups, in both interview duration, in time between interviews, and in recall tests. No correlation is also apparent between the pre-op HADS score and the recall questionnaire overall score. CONCLUSIONS: A pre-operative thyroid surgical information pamphlet alone might not be sufficient to enhance patient test scores and optimally educate the patient on their expected care pathway in thyroid surgery. Supplementation with alternative means of patient education perhaps using emerging technologies needs to be further investigated.

Lymphadenopathy: defining a palpable lymph node.

BACKGROUND: The threshold size required to detect lymphadenopathy via palpation has never been formally determined. The purpose of this study was to determine the threshold, sensitivity, and error of node palpation and how this changes with experience. METHODS: Lymphadenopathy models were created using polyvinyl alcohol cryogel (PVA-C) to mimic tissue tactility. Node diameter ranged from 0.5 to 4 cm. Study subjects were medical students, otolaryngology residents, and otolaryngology consultants. Each subject provided 22 estimates of size. Primary outcomes were the sensitivity, error (true vs estimated size), and threshold of palpation. RESULTS: Thirty subjects completed the study. Sensitivity was 60%, 74%, and 86% for students, residents, and consultants, respectively (p < .01). Error was 0.88 cm, 0.61 cm, and 0.57 cm, respectively (p < .05). Palpation threshold was 1.32 cm, 0.83 cm, and 0.75 cm, respectively (p < .05). All participants detected nodes ≥2 cm, whereas consultants detected nodes ≥1 cm. CONCLUSION: Experience is associated with decreased palpation threshold and error, and increased sensitivity. Educational interventions should target nodes <2 cm.