The Current State of Regionalization in Otolaryngologic Specialized Tumor Care for Tumor Diagnoses.

OBJECTIVE: The current extent of otolaryngologic cancer care regionalization is unclear. This study characterizes case volume regionalization patterns for 4 distinct otolaryngologic tumors-head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), thyroid cancers (TCs), vestibular schwannomas, and pituitary adenomas (PAs). METHODS: The 2010-2016 National Cancer Database was queried for patients with HNSCCs, TCs, vestibular schwannomas, and PAs. Facility geographic locations were divided into 4 geographical quadrants. High-volume facilities (HVFs) were defined as top 100 by volume facility for ≥1 pathology. RESULTS: A total of 191/1342 facilities (4.2%) were defined as an HVF. Vestibular schwannoma was the most regionalized, with 65.9% of patients treated at an HVF. Thyroid cancer (37.4%) and HNSCC (38.8%) were the least commonly treated at HVFs. Forty-one/191 (21.5%) were classified as HVFs for all 4 pathologies. Factors predictive of treatment at HVFs included age <65, higher income, and private insurance, larger tumor size, and lower American Joint Committee on Cancer stage. CONCLUSION: Over 20% of HVFs were considered high-volume for all 4 pathologies. Vestibular schwannomas were the most regionalized compared with PAs, TCs, and HSNCCs.

Efficacy of Nortriptyline and Migraine Lifestyle Modifications in Vestibular Migraine Management.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of nortriptyline regimen and migraine dietary/lifestyle modifications on dizziness and stress levels in patients diagnosed with vestibular migraine (VM). METHODS: A total of 35 patients diagnosed with definite VM based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders were included in this intervention study. Patients self-selected to receive either nortriptyline regimen alone (10-40 mg daily with biweekly escalation) (group A, n = 17) or migraine dietary/lifestyle modifications alone (group B, n = 18). Main outcome measures were dizziness severity and stress level measured by the visual analog scale (VAS). RESULTS: At 4-week post-treatment, dizziness decreased from 6.0 ± 2.5 to 4.2 ± 3.4 (p = 0.069) in group A and from 8.7 ± 1.5 to 3.6 ± 3.0 (p < 0.001) in group B. VAS for stress changed from 5.5 ± 1.3 to 5.4 ± 2.9 (p = 0.93) and from 6.9 ± 3.2 to 5.0 ± 2.7 (p = 0.025) in groups A and B, respectively. The δ values of the VAS score for dizziness were 1.8 ± 3.7 and 5.1 ± 3.1 and the δ values of the VAS score for stress were 0.06 ± 2.9 and 1.9 ± 3.3 in groups A and B, respectively. Quality of life (QOL) improved in 88% patients in group A and 94% patients in group B. CONCLUSIONS: Nortriptyline, at a maximum dose of 40 mg, effectively alleviates patient symptoms, while a migraine diet and lifestyle modifications notably reduce vertiginous symptoms and stress levels in VM patients in 4 weeks. Both interventions are equally effective in ameliorating the QOL of patients. The ideal treatment for patients would likely need to include both medication and diet/lifestyle changes.

Vestibular and auditory manifestations of migraine.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this narrative review is to discuss current literature about vestibular migraine and other cochleovestibular symptoms related to migraine. RECENT FINDINGS: Vestibular migraine affects 2.7% of the US population. Misdiagnosis is common. The pathophysiology is currently unknown but new research shows that calcitonin gene-related peptide, which is implicated in migraine headaches, is expressed in the audiovestibular periphery. A recent large-scale placebo-controlled trial looking at metoprolol for vestibular migraine was terminated early due to poor recruitment; however, at study completion, no differences were seen between treatment arms. Many other audiovestibular symptoms have been shown to be associated with migraine, including tinnitus, hearing loss, aural fullness, otalgia, and sinus symptoms. Migraine is also associated with risk for developing numerous otologic conditions, including Meniere's disease, vestibular loss, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, and sudden sensorineural hearing loss. There is now some evidence that patients may experience fluctuating hearing loss and aural fullness without vertigo in association with migraine, which is called cochlear migraine. SUMMARY: Migraine can cause a variety of audiologic and vestibular symptoms, and further research is required to understand how migraine affects the inner ear.

Interfacing with the nervous system: a review of current bioelectric technologies.

The aim of this study is to discuss the state of the art with regard to established or promising bioelectric therapies meant to alter or control neurologic function. We present recent reports on bioelectric technologies that interface with the nervous system at three potential sites-(1) the end organ, (2) the peripheral nervous system, and (3) the central nervous system-while exploring practical and clinical considerations. A literature search was executed on PubMed, IEEE, and Web of Science databases. A review of the current literature was conducted to examine functional and histomorphological effects of neuroprosthetic interfaces with a focus on end-organ, peripheral, and central nervous system interfaces. Innovations in bioelectric technologies are providing increasing selectivity in stimulating distinct nerve fiber populations in order to activate discrete muscles. Significant advances in electrode array design focus on increasing selectivity, stability, and functionality of implantable neuroprosthetics. The application of neuroprosthetics to paretic nerves or even directly stimulating or recording from the central nervous system holds great potential in advancing the field of nerve and tissue bioelectric engineering and contributing to clinical care. Although current physiotherapeutic and surgical treatments seek to restore function, structure, or comfort, they bear significant limitations in enabling cosmetic or functional recovery. Instead, the introduction of bioelectric technology may play a role in the restoration of function in patients with neurologic deficits.

Successful treatment of a child with definite Meniere's disease with the migraine regimen.

Emerging evidence suggests substantial overlap between the symptoms of Meniere's disease (MD) and migraine-related cochlear/vestibular disorders. We report a 5-year-old girl with a 6-month history of left-sided hearing loss followed by daily episodes of vertigo, headache, and vomiting who met the criteria for definite MD. The patient became symptom-free and gained near normal hearing levels after starting on a 6-week migraine diet/lifestyle regimen with riboflavin and magnesium. We believe that the symptoms of MD may be primarily due to a vestibular migraine phenomenon. Pediatric MD patients may benefit from migraine lifestyle/dietary changes with control of both cochlear and vestibular symptoms.

Use of interactive iBooks for patient education in otology.

INTRODUCTION: Physicians in the ambulatory setting face challenges in adequately educating patients in a brief office encounter. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of an iPad-based interactive educational module (iBook) in various otologic pathologies. METHODS: Patients presenting with symptoms of tinnitus, dizziness, hearing loss, or cochlear implant evaluation were included. In total, 44 patients received the iBook and 22 patients served as controls. Prior to viewing the iBook, patients completed a pre-survey to assess baseline knowledge. After viewing the iBook, patients completed a post-survey to assess changes in perception and knowledge of their disease. Results were compared to that of the control group who did not receive iBook supplementation prior to being seen by the physician. RESULTS: Paired t-test analysis showed significant improvements (p<0.01) in both self-reported perception and concrete understanding in various concepts when compared to pre-iBook results. This was further compared to the control group, which showed a significant gain in factual knowledge (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Patients who viewed the iBook, personalized to their diagnosis, displayed significantly improved understanding of their condition. Increased use of interactive educational modalities, such as the iBook, can be of benefit to an otologic practice in improving patient education and satisfaction.

Tinnitus Patients Suffering from Anxiety and Depression: A Review.

OBJECTIVES: To review literature on the link between depression and anxiety in patients suffering from tinnitus. METHOD: A systematic review of published English-language literature was performed using PubMed, Ovid, and Cochrane databases. RESULTS: Of the 56 eligible abstracts 15 were chosen to be included in the review. All articles showed an association of depression and anxiety in tinnitus patients. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the strong association between tinnitus, depression, and anxiety- all tinnitus patients should be screened for psychiatric disorders. Treatment for these complex conditions should involve a multidisciplinary team with cognitive behavioral therapy and possible pharmacological therapy.

The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: PAs and NPs in outpatient surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and occupational characteristics of physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) in outpatient surgical subspecialty clinics. METHODS: The 2007 and 2008 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) databases were queried for the number and characteristics of office visits seen by different provider types (PAs or NPs, physicians, or both) in various surgical subspecialties. RESULTS: More than 250 million weighted sample visits were analyzed. PAs or NPs were involved in 5.9% of visits, though the percentage of patients seen by them alone (1.1%) was significantly lower (P<0.0001). PAs and NPs were more likely to be involved in pre- or postoperative visits, and often saw the same diagnoses alone as physicians only. The most common procedures performed by PAs and NPs varied according to subspecialty. CONCLUSIONS: PAs and NPs have a minor prevalence in the ambulatory surgical workforce during the time period studied. Further integration of these providers into the outpatient setting may help optimize efficiency in ambulatory surgical care.

A micro-drive hearing aid: a novel non-invasive hearing prosthesis actuator.

The direct hearing device (DHD) is a new auditory prosthesis that combines conventional hearing aid and middle ear implant technologies into a single device. The DHD is located deep in the ear canal and recreates sounds with mechanical movements of the tympanic membrane. A critical component of the DHD is the microactuator, which must be capable of moving the tympanic membrane at frequencies and magnitudes appropriate for normal hearing, with little distortion. The DHD actuator reported here utilized a voice coil actuator design and was 3.7 mm in diameter. The device has a smoothly varying frequency response and produces a precisely controllable force. The total harmonic distortion between 425 Hz and 10 kHz is below 0.5 % and acoustic noise generation is minimal. The device was tested as a tympanic membrane driver on cadaveric temporal bones where the device was coupled to the umbo of the tympanic membrane. The DHD successfully recreated ossicular chain movements across the frequencies of human hearing while demonstrating controllable magnitude. Moreover, the micro-actuator was validated in a short-term human clinical performance study where sound matching and complex audio waveforms were evaluated by a healthy subject.

Nasopharyngeal acid reflux and Eustachian tube dysfunction in adults.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between nasopharyngeal pH and Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) in adults. STUDY DESIGN: Unmatched case-control study. METHODS: Forty-one subjects, 20 adults with a diagnosis of ETD and 21 healthy adults as controls, were enrolled from an outpatient clinic. All subjects had a Dx-pH probe placed near the torus tubarius in the posterior nasopharynx for 24 hours. The pH values were recorded every 0.5 second. Decreases in pH were considered as reflux events if the pH dropped below 5.5. RESULTS: The average nasopharyngeal pH value was 6.90 (range, 5.33-7.73) in the subjects with ETD and 7.07 (range, 5.99-7.94) in the controls. The difference between the 2 groups was not statistically significant (P = .30). The ETD group, on average, had a higher number of nasopharyngeal reflux events (2.3 +/- 1.6 vs 0.8 +/- 1.2, respectively; P = .002) and higher reflux finding score (3.6 +/- 2.7 vs 0.4 +/- 1.4, respectively; P < .00 I) than the control group. CONCLUSION: By using a novel pH probe that allows detection of acidity in a nonliquid environment, a comparison of nasopharyngeal pH between control patients and those with ETD was performed. Eustachian tube dysfunction was more likely to be associated with a higher number of nasopharyngeal reflux events and higher reflux finding score. Nasopharyngeal reflux may have a role in the pathogenesis of ETD.

Facial Paralysis in Otitis Media Due to Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), formerly Wegener's granulomatosis, commonly presents primarily with otitis media and hearing loss, as well as upper and lower respiratory symptoms. However, facial nerve paralysis is a rare manifestation of this uncommon necrotizing vasculitis. We report a patient with facial paralysis accompanied by otitis media. In further studies, our patient was diagnosed with GPA, which was neglected before. In such a presentation, acute suppurative otitis media is the most likely cause of the facial paralysis, but GPA must also be considered, especially in cases with new-onset, painful serous otitis, acute otitis media, or pale granulation tissue in the middle ear, in adults with no previous history of Eustachian tube dysfunction.

Conservative Management of Acute Sports-Related Concussions: A Narrative Review.

This review explores the application of the conservative management model for pain to sports-related concussions (SRCs), framing concussions as a distinct form of pain syndrome with a pathophysiological foundation in central sensitization. Drawing parallels with proven pain management models, we underscore the significance of a proactive approach to concussion management. Recognizing concussions as a pain syndrome allows for the tailoring of interventions in alignment with conservative principles. This review first covers the epidemiology and controversies surrounding prolonged concussion recovery and persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS). Next, the pathophysiology of concussions is presented within the central sensitization framework, emphasizing the need for early intervention to mitigate the neuroplastic changes that lead to heightened pain sensitivity. Five components of the central sensitization process specific to concussion injuries are highlighted as targets for conservative interventions in the acute period: peripheral sensitization, cerebral metabolic dysfunction, neuroinflammation, glymphatic system dysfunction, and pain catastrophizing. These proactive interventions are emphasized as pivotal in accelerating concussion recovery and reducing the risk of prolonged symptoms and PPCS, in line with the philosophy of conservative management.

Reply to Theodorou et al. Comment on "Umemoto et al. Management of Migraine-Associated Vestibulocochlear Disorders. Audiol. Res. 2023, 13, 528-545".

We thank the authors for their insightful and thoughtful commentary on our recent publication [...].

White Matter Hyperintensity in Patients with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVE: To compare white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and analyze subpopulations with age-matched controls. METHODS: T2-weighted MRI scans of 150 patients with SSNHL were assessed for WMHs and compared with the data of 148 healthy age-matched adults. Assessments of WMHs included independent grading of deep white matter hyperintensities (DWMHs) and periventricular hyperintensities (PVHs). WMH severity was visually rated using the Fazekas and Mirsen scales by two independent observers. RESULTS: Fazekas grades for PVHs (p < 0.001) and DWMHs (p < 0.001) of SSNHL patients were found to be significantly greater than those of healthy participants. The average Mirsen grades for DWMHs of healthy and SSNHL patients were evaluated to be 0.373 ± 0.550 and 2.140 ± 0.859, respectively. Mirsen grades for DWMHs of SSNHL patients were found to be significantly greater (p < 0.001) than those of healthy participants. The Mirsen scale was found to have higher sensitivity (p < 0.001) than the Fazekas scale in grading PVHs and DWMHs. No significant difference (p = 0.24) was found in specificities between the two scales. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with sudden hearing loss have a much higher likelihood of having periventricular and deep white matter hyperintensities compared to age-matched controls. These findings indicate that sudden hearing loss patients are more likely to have microvascular changes in the brain, which may indicate a vascular and/or migraine origin to sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Google Trends Analysis of Otologic Symptom Searches Following COVID-19.

Introduction: COVID-19 infection was accompanied by otologic symptoms, a pattern that was captured early by Google Trends. The objective of this study is to investigate searches for otologic symptoms and identify correlations with the pandemic onset. Materials and Methods: Search interest for otologic symptoms was gathered using Google Trends from two years before and two years following the pandemic start date. A two-tailed Mann-Whitney U test was used to identify significant changes and effect size. Results: In total, search interest for 14 terms was collected, with significant changes identified in 11. Six terms showed increased search interest, with the most significant rises observed for headache (r=0.589, p<0.001), dizziness (r=0.554, p<0.001), and tinnitus (r=0.410, p<0.001). Search interest decreased for five terms, with the most notable declines found in searches for migraine headache (r=0.35, p<0.001) and phonophobia (r=0.22, p=0.002). No significant changes were seen in ear pressure (p=0.142), neck pain (p=0.935), and sudden hearing loss (p=0.863) searches. Conclusion: COVID-19 infection is often accompanied otologic symptoms and holds a diagnostic role. Fluctuating search interest may be attributed to a true increase in cases, media trends, or people's desires to stay informed. Google Trends robustly captured trends in search interest and presented itself as a valuable epidemiological tool.

A Novel Technique of Reduction Meatoplasty for Correction of Very Large Meatus from a Previous Canal Wall-Down Mastoidectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of reduction meatoplasty, a novel technique aiming to improve the usage of molded hearing aids and ear plugs in patients undergoing mastoid obliteration of a previous canal wall-down (CWD) mastoidectomy, complicated with a very large meatus. PATIENTS: Twenty-six patients from a tertiary care neurotology clinic with a very large meatus from a previous CWD mastoidectomy, who were unable to use molded hearing aids or ear plugs for water protection. INTERVENTION: Reduction meatoplasty after mastoid obliteration (cartilage strips and bone pate) of the CWD mastoidectomy. The procedure involves removing a wedge of skin and underlying soft tissue superiorly in the meatus. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Reduction in meatus size, enabling usage of hearing aids and ear plugs. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients underwent mastoid obliteration and reduction meatoplasty to reduce meatus size. Patients were followed up for an average of 22 months postoperation. After operation, the meatus size was significantly reduced in all patients, enabling usage of over-the-counter ear plugs. In addition, all six patients with hearing aids could use standard occlusive hearing aid domes without requiring molded hearing aids. No patients showed symptoms of chronic infection in the mastoid cavity during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Results of reduction meatoplasty showed significant improvements in functionality of the external auditory meatus, indicating that this technique is effective in reducing meatus size and improving the normal meatal anatomy after mastoid obliteration.

Noise-induced hearing threshold shift among US adults and implications for noise-induced hearing loss: National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and evaluate the associated risk factors of the noise-induced hearing threshold shift (NITS) in the US adult population based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). The study population consisted of 5,418 individuals aged 20-69 years who had complete audiologic data from the NHANES database. Stringent criteria were used to define NITS. Prevalence of unilateral, bilateral, and total NITS and their association with several socio-demographic and hearing-related factors were evaluated. The prevalence of unilateral, bilateral, and total NITS was 9.4, 3.4 and 12.8%, respectively. Prevalence of bilateral NITS was higher in subjects with older age, male gender, white (non-Hispanic) and Hispanic ethnicities, education level less than or equal to high school diploma, married/living with partner status, Mexico as country of birth, service in armed forces, smoking history, diabetes, and different kinds of noise exposure. Odds of NITS were only higher in older people, males, and smokers. This study provides comprehensive information on the prevalence of NITS in the US adult population and its associated risk factors. More targeted interventions may be done for educational, preventative, and screening purposes.

Meniere's disease is a manifestation of migraine.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To discuss the theory that Meniere's disease (MD) is a variation of otologic migraine rather than an isolated inner ear condition. RECENT FINDINGS: In contrast to the approximately 12% of the general population suffering from migraine headaches, 51-60% of patients with MD experience migraine headaches. While pathognomonic for MD, endolymphatic hydrops has also been identified in patients with vestibular migraine. Treatment with the integrative neurosensory rehabilitation approach (diet and lifestyle changes, magnesium and riboflavin supplementation, and when needed, prophylactic medication) to treat the underlying migraine process has been highly effective in patients with MD. SUMMARY: MD can be understood as a manifestation of migraine such that patients with MD can be effectively treated with migraine therapies.