Psychological Status as an Effect Modifier of the Association Between Allergy Symptoms and Allergy Testing.

OBJECTIVE: Patient-reported outcome measures, while valuable, may not correlate with diagnostic test results. To better understand this potential discrepancy, our objective was to determine whether psychological health is an effect modifier of the association between patient-reported allergy outcome scores and allergy test results. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective outcomes study. SETTING: Tertiary care hospital and community-based clinic. METHODS: This study included 600 patients at least 18 years of age who presented for symptoms related to allergic rhinitis and completed the related sinonasal outcome test (SNOT), which includes validated nasal, allergy, and psychological domains. Stratified analyses of odds ratios and Spearman correlation coefficients were utilized to assess for effect modification by psychological status. RESULTS: Worse patient-reported allergic rhinitis symptoms were significantly associated with positive allergy test results (odds ratio [OR] 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22-2.34, P = .002) in patients with better psychological health. In contrast, there was no association in patients with worse psychological health (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.36-3.10, P = .92). These findings were corroborated by assessments of correlation: allergy domain scores were positively correlated with allergy testing scores (Spearman rho 0.18, 95% CI 0.10-0.25, P < .001) in patients with better psychological health, while there was no correlation in patients with worse psychological health (-0.02, 95% CI -0.16-0.12, P = .77). CONCLUSIONS: Psychological status was an effect modifier of the association between allergy domain and allergy testing data. When assessing the relationship between subjective measures, such as sinonasal validated instruments, and objective measures, such as allergy test results, accounting for effect modifiers such as psychological state can provide clinical and research-related insights.

A case report of sinonasal glomangiopericytoma: An important reminder to always collect specimen.

OBJECTIVES: To present a case report of sinonasal glomangiopericytoma (GPC) in a female patient in her thirties and to highlight the importance of collecting pathology specimens even in routine sinus surgery cases. METHODS: A case report detailing the diagnosis of GPC in a female in her thirties, including her initial presentation, treatment, and follow-up, along with a brief review of the literature. RESULTS: Pathology of the collected specimen revealed sinonasal GPC along with chronic rhinosinusitis. Immunohistochemistry was positive for SMA, beta-catenin, and cyclin D1; and negative for STAT6, ERG, pankeratin, SOX10, and S100. CONCLUSION: This diagnosis expands the knowledge around the demographic profile of GPC patients. GPC should be included in the differential diagnosis of sinonasal masses, even in younger patients. The case highlights the importance of collecting the entire pathology specimen in all cases, even of ones that seem routine and benign.

Biologics versus endoscopic sinus surgery: Acute rhinosinusitis episodes and antibiotic use in chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: We sought to determine if chronic rhinosinusitis patients treated with endoscopic sinus surgery have fewer episodes of acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) post treatment compared to CRS patients treated with biologics alone. METHODS: We analyzed the electronic medical records of 213 adults with CRS who initiated treatment with either dupilumab or mepolizumab in calendar years 2016-2021 (CRS-biologics) group and a matched group with tissue eosinophilia who had undergone endoscopic sinus surgery (CRS-ESS) group. For each cohort, the medical record was reviewed to determine the number of ARS episodes for 12 months before and after treatment. Similarly, the number of antibiotic prescriptions was determined for each cohort in the 12 months after initiation of biologic therapy or ESS. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in ARS episodes before initiation of between the CRS-biologic and CRS-ESS cohorts (0.38 versus 0.44 episodes per year, respectively; p = 0.323). In contrast, after initiation of therapy, the CRS-biologics group had a significantly reduced frequency of acute rhinosinusitis episodes versus the CRS-ESS group (0.11 versus 0.25 episodes per year; p = 0.001). Finally, the utilization of oral antibiotics in the 12 months after among those treated with biologics versus those treated with ESS was not significantly different (0.04 versus 0.08, respectively; p = 0.109). CONCLUSION: For CRS patients, treatment with dupilumab or mepolizumab significantly reduced the number of ARS episodes compared to CRS treated with ESS. Biologics appear to work as well as ESS in the control of ARS episodes after treatment for CRS.

Parathyroidectomy outcomes for Asians in the United States: Implications for resident surgical education.

Introduction: Outcomes for Asian patients in the United States are often overlooked in the surgical literature. Surgical education includes little emphasis on reporting outcomes for Asian patients in the United States. Our null hypothesis (H0) is that there is no difference in surgical complications following parathyroid surgery between Asians and all other ethnicities in the United States. Our alternate hypothesis (H1) is that Asians have more incidences of certain complications (possibly due to culture and language barriers). Methods: Data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) was queried for parathyroidectomy and patient race. Complications within 30 days of surgery were extracted. Results: Among, White, Black, Asian, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, and Hispanic patients of the United States the Asians (p = 0.018) and Blacks (p = 0.003) had increased operative time for parathyroid surgery compared to other groups. Hispanics had the most surgical complications (p = 0.025). Blacks had statistically significant longer hospital stay (p < 0.0001). Discussion/conclusion: United States Asian patient data is not typically analyzed separately for complications. We found that in the United States Asians have increased operative time for parathyroidectomy. Future studies of healthcare inequities should include analysis of data for Asian surgical data in the United States as this may help prevent future surgical complications.

Reducing Surgical Risks for Septal and Turbinate Surgery.

Septoplasty is one of the most frequently performed procedures in otolaryngology. The procedure is also performed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons as well as plastic surgeons. Septal deviation is one of the most common findings on physical examination in the otolaryngologist's office. Nasal obstruction when caused by septal deviation may be addressed with septoplasty. Turbinate surgery may be performed in conjunction to further improve the airway.

Rethinking the relationships between chronic rhinosinusitis and asthma severity.

BACKGROUND: Previous authors have endorsed the need for prospective studies on the effect of treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis on asthma outcomes. Although common pathophysiology for asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has been suggested with the unified airway theory, there is limited data to support the claim and our study does not support the theory. METHODS: This case-control study involved adult patients with a primary diagnosis of asthma in 2019 who were identified from the electronic medical records and divided into those with and without an associated CRS diagnosis. For each asthma encounter, the asthma severity classification, oral corticosteroid (OCS) use and oxygen saturation scores were tabulated and compared between asthma patients with CRS versus control patients after 1:1 matching on age and sex. We determined the association between asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis when evaluating proxies for disease severity: oral corticosteroid use, average oxygen saturation and minimum oxygen saturation. We identified 1321 clinical encounters for asthma associated with CRS and 1321 control encounters for asthma without CRS. RESULTS: OCS prescription rates at the asthma encounter were not statistically different between the groups (15.3 % and 14.6 %, respectively; p = 0.623). Asthma severity classification was higher in those with CRS versus those without (38.9 % and 25.7 % classified as severe, respectively; p < 0.001). We identified 637 asthma with CRS and 637 matched control patients. There was no significant difference in mean recorded O2 saturations between asthma patients with CRS versus control patients (mean O2 saturations, 97.2 % and 97.3 %, respectively; p = 0.816) nor in minimum oxygen saturation (96.8 % and 97.0 %, respectively; p = 0.115). CONCLUSION: Among patients with a primary diagnosis of asthma an increasing severity of asthma classification was significantly associated with an associated diagnosis of CRS. In contradistinction, the presence of CRS comorbidity in asthma patients was not associated with increased OCS use for asthma. Similarly, average oxygen saturation and minimum oxygen saturation did not seem differ according to CRS comorbidity. Our study does not support the unified airway theory that suggests a causative relationship between the upper and lower airway.

Seven cardinal questions for the patient with ear, nose or throat complaints: Review.

The incidence of otolaryngological problems in general medicine practice is highly seasonal and approaches 25% in some months of the year. Accurate diagnosis in the otolaryngology office often requires the use of binocular microscopy, nasal endoscopy, and flexible laryngoscopy, none of which are available in a general medicine office. Therefore, history taking and physical examination techniques available in the non-otolaryngology office are of utmost importance. Using evidence-based history taking for ear, nose, and throat (ENT) problems facilitates dealing with patients who present with otolaryngologic complaints. In this paper, I present 7 cardinal questions to be asked when taking the history of a patient with ENT complaints.

Revisit Rates for Pediatric Tonsillectomy: An Analysis of Admit and Discharge Times.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between intraday timing of outpatient pediatric tonsillectomy and revisit outcomes and complications. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of New York databases. SETTING: Ambulatory surgery, emergency department and inpatient hospital settings. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The State Ambulatory Surgery, State Emergency Department and State Inpatient Databases for 2010-2011 were analyzed for revisits. Outcomes assessed were revisits for any reason, bleeding, acute pain or fever, nausea, vomiting and dehydration. The relationships between the hour of admission for surgery, the hour of discharge and the revisit outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: The study included 33,611 children (mean age, 6.62 years; 45.7% female) and 62.0% were admitted in the early morning. Discharges were most common in the early afternoon (28.3%). Revisit rates were significantly higher for the early evening discharges (6.0%) versus late morning discharges (3.1%) (P < .001). Revisits for bleeding were 1.8% for discharge in the early evening versus 0.6% in the late morning (P < .001). Revisits for fever, nausea, vomiting or dehydration were 1.8% for discharge in the early evening versus 0.9% in the late morning (P = .002). Late afternoon admission was significantly associated with higher revisit rates (10.9%, P < .001). Bleeding revisits were highest for late afternoon admit hour (1.5%, P = .001). Revisits for acute pain were also highest for late afternoon admit hour (2.3%, P = .005). CONCLUSION: Revisit are significantly higher when the patient is discharged late. Late afternoon surgery is also significantly associated with higher revisit rates. Surgeons may wish to consider these findings when a late tonsillectomy or late discharge is anticipated post-tonsillectomy.

Perioperative Risk Factors Associated With Morbidity and Mortality Following Pediatric Inpatient Sinus Surgery.

OBJECTIVES:: Pediatric sinus surgery is indicated for a wide range of sinonasal and skull base pathologies, but it is most commonly performed for recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis or complicated acute sinusitis. The authors aim to report medical risk factors of morbidity and mortality following inpatient sinus surgery in the pediatric population. METHODS:: Using data from the Kids' Inpatient Database from 2003 to 2012, patients with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, procedure codes for primary sinus surgery were identified. Mixed-effect multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors of inpatient postoperative morbidity and mortality. RESULTS:: The final sample included a weighted estimate of 4965 pediatric patients. The rates of inpatient morbidity and mortality were 6% and 1%, respectively. Respiratory complications (2.5%) were the most prevalent postoperative adverse events. The most prevalent comorbidities were chronic sinusitis (59.8%), acute sinusitis (27.8%), and cystic fibrosis (26.4%). Compared with patients who did not experience any morbidity, patients with inpatient morbidity had higher rates of pneumonia, mycoses, and nasal or paranasal benign neoplasm ( P < .05). The odds of inpatient morbidity and mortality were highest for patients with leukemia (odds ratio, 2.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.59-4.72; P < .001) and mycoses (odds ratio, 15.84; 95% confidence interval, 6.45-38.89; P < .001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS:: This study is the first to report the national comorbidity burden and risk factors for postoperative adverse events following inpatient sinus surgery. Knowledge of the comorbidities and independent factors associated with morbidity and mortality will help in directing preoperative optimization and counseling. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:: 2c.

Factors Predictive of Postoperative Acute Respiratory Failure Following Inpatient Sinus Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The impact of perioperative risk factors on outcomes following outpatient sinus surgery is well defined; however, risk factors and outcomes following inpatient surgery remain poorly understood. We aimed to define risk factors of postoperative acute respiratory failure following inpatient sinus surgery. METHODS: Utilizing data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample Database from the years 2010 to 2014, we identified patients (≥18 years of age) with an Internal Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) procedure code of sinus surgery. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify risk factors of postoperative acute respiratory failure. RESULTS: We identified 4919 patients with a median age of 53 years. The rate of inpatient postoperative acute respiratory failure was 3.35%. Chronic sinusitis (57.7%) was the most common discharge diagnosis. The final multivariable logistic regression analysis suggested that pneumonia, bleeding disorder, alcohol dependence, nutritional deficiency, heart failure, paranasal fungal infections, and chronic kidney disease were associated with increased odds of acute respiratory failure (all P < .05). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this represents the first study to evaluate potential risk factors of acute respiratory failure following inpatient sinus surgery. Knowledge of these risk factors may be used for risk stratification.

Prevalence of Potential Adult Chronic Rhinosinusitis Symptoms in the United States.

Objective To determine the prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis-related symptoms in the United States. Study Design Cross-sectional analysis of a national database. Setting Representative sampling of the US adult population. Subjects and Methods The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data set, taste and smell supplement 2013-2014 was analyzed for sinonasal question responses regarding discolored nasal mucus, nasal blockage, sinus pain, and dysosmia. The individual prevalences as well as the prevalence of 2 or more of these symptoms (which would be compatible with a diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis) were determined for the US population. Results After excluding adults with an intercurrent head cold, 113.5 million adults (mean age 58.2 years; 52.6% female) were analyzed. Individual symptom prevalences were dysosmia (9.17 million, 8.1%), nasal blockage (6.9 million, 6.0%), sinus pain (2.37 million, 2.1%), and discolored mucous (1.28 million, 1.1%). Overall, 14.8 million (13.0%) adults had exactly 1 sinonasal symptom, and 2.37 million adults (2.1%) responded with 2 or more cardinal symptoms for chronic rhinosinusitis. With respect to sex, 1.9% of males reported 2 or more symptoms compatible with chronic rhinosinusitis vs 2.2% of females ( P = .690), which is not statistically significant. Conclusion Of US adults, 2.1% meet symptom criteria for the potential diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis at any given time. Further objective corroboration with a physical exam and determination of duration of symptoms would be required to determine the true prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis, but this point prevalence represents the potential population at risk for chronic rhinosinusitis in the United States.

The Burden and Visit Prevalence of Pediatric Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Objectives Pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis has a substantial impact, but its epidemiology has yet to be elucidated. Our objectives were (1) to determine the associated national visit burden and (2) to assess its frequency relative to other frequent childhood otolaryngological illnesses. Study Design Analysis of national survey databases. Setting Ambulatory care settings in the United States, 2005 to 2012. Subjects and Methods Cases with a diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis were assessed in total and as a proportion of all visits reported in National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys. To place these data into context, results for acute rhinosinusitis, allergic rhinitis, upper respiratory tract infection, and otitis media were also extracted and compared. Data specific to individual age group and calendar year were assessed. Results Chronic rhinosinusitis accounted for 5.6 million visits per annum (range, 3.7-7.5 million) among patients 0 to 20 years of age. Children in the >5- to 10-year-old and >10- to 15-year-old age groups were more likely to be affected ( P < .001). Among all visits, chronic rhinosinusitis was diagnosed in 2.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9%-2.4%), acute rhinosinusitis in 0.6% (95% CI, 0.5%-0.7%), allergic rhinitis in 2.6% (95% CI, 2.3%-2.8%), upper respiratory tract infection in 8.0% (95% CI, 7.5%-8.4%), and otitis media in 6.7% (95% CI, 6.5%-7.1%). Chronic rhinosinusitis visits were significantly more prevalent than for acute rhinosinusitis (relative risk, 3.40; 95% CI, 2.70-4.10; P < .0001). Among those >15 to 20 years of age, chronic rhinosinusitis was 2.18-fold (95% CI, 1.65-2.70) more frequently diagnosed than otitis media. Conclusions The visit burden from pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis exceeds that of acute rhinosinusitis and equals the burden from allergic rhinitis.

Grade repetition and parents' perception of hearing loss: An analysis of data from children in the United States.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To determine whether parent-perceived hearing problems are associated with grade repetition among children in the United States. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis of a contemporary national database. METHODS: The National Survey of Children's Health 2011 to 2012 was analyzed. Hearing loss, as perceived and reported by parents, was categorized as: no hearing problem, history of a hearing problem, or current hearing problem. Children never repeating a grade versus repeating one or more grades (kindergarten-high school) were identified. Univariate statistics and multivariate logistic regression analyzed the association of hearing problems with grade repetition. Patients with mental retardation, autism, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder were excluded from the analysis. After adjusting for race, sex, and poverty level, odds ratios for grade repetition were computed. RESULTS: Among 66.1 million (average age, 8.3 years, 49.0% male) children, 97.3% never had a hearing problem, 1.7% had a history of a hearing problem, and 1.0% had a current hearing problem. Overall, 7.1% repeated a grade. Grade repetition was reported in 6.9% of children without a hearing problem versus 9.4% with a history of a hearing problem and 19.3% with a current hearing problem (P < 0.001). After adjustment for race, poverty level, and sex, a history of a hearing problem demonstrated an odds ratio of 1.9 (95% confidence interval 0.82-4.13) for grade repetition, whereas a current hearing problem demonstrated an odds ratio of 3.0 (1.90-4.80). CONCLUSION: Parents' perception of children's hearing problems is strongly associated with grade repetition. This trend is noticed in elementary school more than in high school. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4. Laryngoscope, 127:741-745, 2017.

National Practice Patterns of Antireflux Medication for Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

IMPORTANCE: Antireflux medication has been endorsed as a useful adjunctive therapy for chronic rhinosinusitis, but its use remains controversial. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether chronic rhinosinusitis is associated with administration of proton pump inhibitors, histamine2-receptor antagonists, antacids, or prokinetic agents; whether practice patterns vary according to visit setting; and whether those patterns vary according to the presence or absence of potentially confounding conditions. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A cross-sectional analysis was performed of data from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2010, from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, which included 590 772 observations representing 7 191 711 480 ambulatory care visits. Univariate, multivariate, and stratified analyses were performed from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2010. EXPOSURES: Chronic rhinosinusitis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The probability of receiving antireflux medications was the main measured outcome. RESULTS: Of 7 191 711 480 ambulatory care visits, those for chronic rhinosinusitis were not more likely to result in the administration of proton pump inhibitors (odds ratio, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.62-1.63; P = .99) or antacids and prokinetic agents (odds ratio, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.30-5.10; P = .77). In addition, patients with chronic rhinosinusitis were less likely to receive histamine2-receptor antagonists than were those without chronic rhinosinusitis, even when adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, visit setting, other antireflux agents, and presence or absence of gastroesophageal reflux, laryngopharyngeal reflux, or allergy diagnoses (odds ratio, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.12-0.57; P = .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: National practice patterns observed thus far have not favored the use of proton pump inhibitors, histamine2-receptor antagonists, antacids, or prokinetic agents for chronic rhinosinusitis.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Gastroesophageal Reflux: A Multivariate Population-Level Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies investigating the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) demonstrate mixed results and have had limited capacity to control for concurrent confounders. Our objectives were to (1) determine if GER is significantly associated with OSA when simultaneously adjusting for the presence of other potentially confounding conditions and (2) quantify the magnitude of any such association that exists. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 2005-2010. SETTING: Ambulatory visits in the United States. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Adults with a diagnosis of OSA or GER and potentially confounding conditions were identified. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, as well as sensitivity analyses based on increasingly narrow diagnostic definitions. RESULTS: A significant positive association between GER and OSA was observed, which persisted after adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, sinonasal obstructive and inflammatory disorders, laryngopharyngeal obstructive and inflammatory disorders, obesity, asthma, and lung disorders. This positive association remained significant regardless of diagnostic criteria, whether broad (odds ratio: 1.94, 95% confidence interval: 1.07-3.54, P = .030) or narrow (odds ratio: 2.13, 95% confidence interval: 1.17-3.88, P = .014). CONCLUSION: In this analysis of a national database defining the 3 most prioritized diagnoses, GER is independently associated with OSA, with double the odds of concurrent occurrence, even while controlling for potentially related conditions.

High grade neuroendocrine neoplasm of the antrum and orbit.

Neuroendocrine malignancies-tumors characterized by the production of dense-core secretory granules-are most often encountered in the lungs and can also be found in extrapulmonary sites. Our patient had a primary neuroendocrine tumor of the antrum with an elusive cell of origin that secondarily invaded the inferior orbit. In the sinuses, neuroendocrine tumors may be confused with infectious sinusitis or squamous cell carcinoma. There are no known pathognomonic clinical or radiographic signs to distinguish these tumors from other conditions. Diagnosis depends on a biopsy with histopathologic and immunohistochemical analysis to identify biomarkers such as synaptophysin, chromogranin, CD56 and neuron specific enolase. Our patient's tumor defied precise immunohistochemical characterization because of its primitive character and erratic biomarker expression. The diagnosis oscillated between a neuroendocrine carcinoma and an ectopic esthesioneuroblastoma grade IV-hence the use of the more generic nosologic category of neuroendocrine neoplasm without specifying a neuronal or epithelial origin. Data to guide management are limited, particularly in the ophthalmic literature, and derive from experience with tumors of the sinonasal compartments. In the present case of a sino-orbital high grade neuroendocrine neoplasm, regional lymph node metastases developed shortly after presentation. The tumor has responded well to chemotherapy and radiation, but recurrence is often encountered within 2 years in this class of neoplasms.

Diagnostic yield of MRI for pediatric hearing loss: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review to analyze the diagnostic yield of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for pediatric hearing loss, including comparison to computed tomography (CT) and subgroup evaluation according to impairment severity and specific diagnostic findings (cochlear anomalies, enlarged vestibular aqueduct, cochlear nerve abnormalities, and brain findings). DATA SOURCES: Pubmed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library were assessed from their inception through December 2013. Manual searches were also performed, and topic experts were contacted. REVIEW METHODS: Data from studies describing the use of MRI with or without comparison to CT in the diagnostic evaluation of pediatric patients with hearing loss were evaluated, according to a priori inclusion/exclusion criteria. Two independent evaluators corroborated the extracted data. Heterogeneity was evaluated according to the I(2) statistic. RESULTS: There were 29 studies that evaluated 2434 patients with MRIs and 1451 patients with CTs that met inclusion/exclusion criteria. There was a wide range of diagnostic yield from MRI. Heterogeneity among studies was substantial but improved with subgroup analysis. Meta-analysis of yield differences demonstrated that CT had a greater yield than MRI for enlarged vestibular aqueduct (yield difference 16.7% [95% CI, 9.1%-24.4%]) and a borderline advantage for cochlear anomalies (4.7% [95% CI, 0.1%-9.5%]). Studies were more likely to report brain findings with MRI. CONCLUSIONS: These data may be utilized in concert with that from studies of risks of MRI and risk/yield of CT to inform the choice of diagnostic testing.

Risk of malignancy associated with head and neck CT in children: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review to evaluate the risk of malignancy associated with computed tomography (CT) of the head and/or neck in infants, children, and adolescents. DATA SOURCES: Pubmed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were assessed from the date of their inception to January 2014. Additionally, manual searches of bibliographies were performed and topic experts were contacted. REVIEW METHODS: Data were obtained from studies measuring or estimating the risks of malignancy associated with radiation from head and/or neck CT in pediatric populations according to an a priori protocol. Two independent evaluators corroborated the extracted data. RESULTS: There were 16 criterion-meeting studies that included data from n = 858,815 patients. The radiation-related risk of malignancy was estimated using primary patient data for both the exposure and outcome in a minority of studies, with most analyses utilizing mathematical modeling techniques. The data regarding otolaryngology-specific studies were limited and suggested a borderline significant increase in the risk of all combined cancers after facial CT (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.14; 95% CI, 1.01-1.28) and neck/spine CT (IRR = 1.13; 95% CI, 1.00-1.28). Cohort data suggest that 1 excess brain malignancy occurred after 4000 brain CTs (40 mSv per scan) and that the estimated risk in the 10 years following CT exposure was 1 brain tumor per 10,000 patients exposed to a 10 mGy scan at less than 10 years of age. CONCLUSION: Detailed understanding of any potential malignancy risk associated with pediatric imaging of the head and neck furthers our ability to engage in rational, shared, informed decision making with families considering CT scan.

Personally Modifiable Risk Factors Associated with Pediatric Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric hearing loss is an increasingly recognized problem with significant implications. Increasing our quantitative understanding of potentially modifiable environmental risk factors for hearing loss may form the foundation for prevention and screening programs. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether specific threshold exposure levels of personally modifiable risk factors for hearing loss have been defined, with the overarching goal of providing actionable guidance for the prevention of pediatric hearing loss. DATA SOURCES: A systematic review was performed. Computerized searches of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were completed and supplemented with manual searches. REVIEW METHODS: Inclusion/exclusion criteria were designed to determine specific threshold values of personally modifiable risk factors on hearing loss in the pediatric population. Searches and data extraction were performed by independent reviewers. RESULTS: There were 38 criterion-meeting studies, including a total of 50,651 subjects. Threshold noise exposures significantly associated with hearing loss in youth included: (1) more than 4 hours per week or more than 5 years of personal headphone usage, (2) more than 4 visits per month to a discotheque, and (3) working on a mechanized farm. Quantified tobacco levels of concern included any level of in utero smoke exposure as well as secondhand exposure sufficient to elevate serum cotinine. CONCLUSIONS: Specific thresholds analyses are limited. Future studies would ideally focus on stratifying risk according to clearly defined levels of exposure, in order to provide actionable guidance for children and families.