Can Hounsfield unit density value accurately predict prelaryngeal invasion in laryngeal carcinoma cases.

OBJECTIVE: The Hounsfield unit density value (HUDV) is a relative quantitative measurement of radio density used by radiologists in the interpretation of computed tomography (CT) images. Our aim is to investigate the role of HUDV in evaluating pre-epiglottic space (PES) involvement of laryngeal carcinoma. METHODS: Seventy-four patients treated for laryngeal carcinoma in our clinic between 2014 and 2019 were included in the study. The invasion status of PES was determined radiologically and pathologically. HUDV was measured with a circular selected region of interest, with a constant size of 10 mm2 for PES. The relationship between patological PES invasion, radiological PES invasion, and HUDV was evaluated. RESULTS: Measuring HUDV to determine PES invasion (74.3 %) was significantly higher than​​ conventional CT evaluation (59.5 %) (p = 0.001). The agreement coefficient (kappa value) of the conventional CT evaluation and the HUDV regarding PES involvement was 0.673, which was interpreted as 'good'. CONCLUSION: HUDV could be used as an additional tool in diagnosing pre-epiglottic space invasion in laryngeal cancer.

Factors Affecting Success Rates in Endoscopic Repair of CSF Rhinorrhea.

Objectives: Our aim in this study is to assess the effect of factors such as age, etiology, defect size, application of lumbar drainage and surgical technique on Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) fistula repair success rates. Methods: The Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system of our clinic was retrospectively reviewed for cases that were operated between 2006 and 2020 for CSF fistula originating from anterior skull base with endoscopic transnasal technique. A total of 35 patients were included in the study. Patients were grouped according to the number of layers used in repair (two, three or four-layered reconstruction) and defect size (smaller than 5 mm, 5 to 10 mm and larger than 10mm), etiology, location of the defect and application of lumbar drainage as LD (+) and LD (-). Complications and CSF leak recurrence were compared between groups. Results: Recurrence rates in patients who had 2 layered reconstructions were significantly higher compared to patients who had 3 or 4 layered reconstructions (p=0.049). The recurrence rate in LD (+) group (41.7%) was significantly lower compared to LD (-) group (4.3%) (p=0.012). There were no significant difference in recurrence rates between groups in terms of age, defect size, defect location and etiology. Conclusion: In endoscopic transnasal repair of anterior skull base-derived bos fistulas, planning the reconstruction at least 3 times and applying lumbar CSF drainage increases the success rates.

Effects of submucoperichondrial application of platelet-rich plasma on nasal mucosal healing after septoplasty.

OBJECTIVE(S): Our aim is to investigate the effects of the submucoperichondrial application of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) on nasal mucosal healing after septoplasty surgery. METHOD(S): This prospective randomized observational study was conducted between July 2019 and February 2021, with 40 patients aged 18-60 years who underwent closed the only septoplasty operation for similar septal deviations. Patient divided into two group; 21 patients were placed in PRP group to which PRP was applied on all mucosal surface and submucoperichondrial area of septum and 19 patients were placed in control group to which saline solution was applied on same regions. Nasal obstruction score, mucociliary clearance time, presence of nasal crusting, and bleeding time were evaluated on 5th, 10th, 15th day after surgery and compared between groups. RESULTS: Intranasal crusting on day 10 was found to be lower in the PRP group (n:13 68.4 %) than control group (n:7 33.3 %) with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.028). The nasal obstruction score on day 10 and 15 were found to be lower in the PRP group (3,33 ± 2,75, 2,07 ± 2,20) (than the control group (5,44 ± 2,26, 3,37 ± 1,92) with a statistically significant difference (p = 0,003,p = 0,009). The mucociliary clearance rate was found to be higher and the bleeding time was found to be lower in the PRP group, but a statistically significant difference was not observed. CONCLUSIONS: Application of submucoperichondrial PRP could have beneficial effects on nasal mucosal repair, nasal crusting, and congestion after septoplasty surgery.

Giant Cell Angiofibroma in Sublingual Area: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

We present a case of Giant Cell-Rich Solitary Fibrous Tumor also known as Giant cell angiofibroma, occuring in sublingual region, to our knowledge, which has never been reported before. Forty-nine years old female who presented with painless, slowly growing mass in the sublingual region underwent excisional surgery and was diagnosed with giant cell-rich solitary fibrous tumor previously referred to as giant cell angiofibroma. In our report, we aimed to report the unusual localization of this rare tumor, examine the new nomenclature and classification of giant cell-rich solitary sibrous tumor or giant cell angiofibroma and review the literature regarding head and neck localization of this tumor.

Rhinolithiasis, a rare entity: Analysis of 31 cases and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: Rhinolithiasis is a rare condition which results from deposition of salt around a endogenous or exogenous nidus. In the literature, most of the reports are single case studies. In this study, we aimed to present the characteristics, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment methods of 31 rhinolithiasis cases and to focus on the current literature. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 31 rhinolithiasis cases which have been diagnosed and treated in a tertiary care center between January 2014 and December 2018. Patient characteristics, presenting symptoms, concomitant sinonasal disorders, and type of surgery were noted. Descriptive statistics were carried out. RESULTS: Mean age was 25.4±15.7. The cases were comprised 14 female patients (45.2%) and 17 male patients (54.8%). The most common presenting symptom was nasal obstruction (71%). Malodorous unilateral rhinorrhea was present in 17 patients (54.8%). Epistaxis snoring and sleep apnea were other rare symptoms. In 21 of the cases (67.7%), rhinolith was located between inferior turbinate and septum which was the most common location seen in our series. The number of patients who were under the age of 18 was 13, in 2 of them, rhinolith was found to be formed around a plastic bead, and in 2 of them, fruit seeds were the nidus. The most common concomitant sinonasal pathology was septal deviation which was detected in 20 of the patients (64.5%), adenoid vegetation and nasal polyposis were other disorders. In 20 of the patients (64.5%), simple removal of the rhinolith using a forceps with the help of a rigid nasal endoscope was performed. Eight of the 17 patients had severe deviation and septoplasty was performed at the same time, which was the most common concomitant surgical intervention (25.8%). In 3 patients (9.6%), functional endoscopic sinus surgery was performed at the same time. CONCLUSION: Our series is one of the largest series in the literature. The most common presenting symptom was nasal obstruction followed by malodorous rhinorrhea. Accompanying sinonasal disorders should be addressed to improve the outcome. Rigid or flexible endoscopic examination should be used to detect a rhinolith. Computed tomography scan can diagnose a hidden rhinolith in a patient with nasal obstruction.

Can Hounsfield Unit Density Accurately Predict Recurrent Cholestatoma in Previously Operated Ears?

The objective of the study was to determine whether Hounsfield Unit density would differentiate between cholesteatoma and other causes of opacification, such as granulation tissue in previously operated ears. Temporal bone computer tomography (CT) scans of 47 patients, who had revision mastoid surgeries, were evaluated retrospectively. A circular 5 mm2 region of interest (ROI) was placed at aditus ad antrum to measure Hounsfield Unit (HU) density. There was no statistically significant difference between cholesteatoma and non-cholesteatoma groups in terms of HU densities. Intraclass correlation coefficient test showed an intraclass correlation of 0.41 between measurements done by radiologists and otorhinolaryngologists, which showed poor reliability. Contrary to previous studies in unoperated ears, in operated ears HU density at aditus level cannot be a reliable diagnostic adjunct. Moreover, when it is considered that interrater reliability was poor between radiologists' and otolaryngologists' measurements, a need for further studies arise to solidify findings in this study. Key Words: Cholesteatoma diagnostic imaging, Middle ear surgery, Revision mastoidectomy.

Symptomatology of COVID-19 from the otorhinolaryngology perspective: a survey of 223 SARS-CoV-2 RNA-positive patients.

PURPOSE: To determine prevalence, severity, duration, and time from onset to diagnosis of general and Otorhinolaryngologic symptoms related to COVID-19 in whole disease spectrum: from mild to critical patients. METHODS: All adult patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA found in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs between March 10 and April 21, 2020 were surveyed by the authors for new onset symptoms during disease course. Demographic features, general symptoms, and Otorhinolaryngological symptoms were evaluated and compared by disease severity. RESULTS: Of 223 included patients, 18.4% had mild, 61.4%; moderate, 14.3%; severe, and 5.8%; critical disease. Median age was 51 (range 20-93), 113 (50.7%) were male and 110 (49.3%) were female. The most common general symptoms were fatigue, cough, and fever with respective frequencies of 71.3%, 54.3%, and 50.7%. The most common Otorhinolaryngologic symptoms were taste loss, smell loss, and sore throat with respective frequencies of 34.5%, 31.8%, and 26%. Fatigue, fever, and dyspnea were more common in severe-critical patients compared to mild-moderate patients (p = 0.029, p = 0.016, and p < 0.001, respectively). Only smell loss was more common in mild-moderate group (p = 0.003). Prevalence of other symptoms did not differ between groups. Symptom durations and onset time to diagnosis varied. CONCLUSION: When compared to the previous studies, while general symptoms were less common, Otorhinolaryngologic symptoms were more common in our study population. Considering high infection risks, Otorhinolaryngologists should be aware of COVID-19 patients presenting with Otorhinolaryngologic complaints.

The role of fine needle aspiration biopsy in deep lobe parotid tumors: Comparison of preoperative cytology and postoperative histopathologic results.

PURPOSE: Major salivary gland tumors constitute almost 3% of head and neck tumors. Tumors located exclusively in the deep lobe are not common and 20% of parotid gland tumors originate from deep lobe under the branches of the facial nerve. Accuracy of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) procedure in salivary gland tumors have been studied extensively, however there isn't any data regarding usefulness of FNAB in tumors located exclusively in deep lobe of parotid gland. In this study we aimed to assess the use of FNAB in deep lobe parotid tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 51 patients with deep lobe parotid tumors who underwent surgery in our clinic between January 2013-December 2018. Characteristics of patients were recorded. Preoperative FNAB results and postoperative final histopathologic diagnosis were compared. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 24.0 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The number of patients that met the inclusion criteria was 51. The mean age of patients were 49.2(14-86). In 40 (78.4) of the patients, tumor was reported as benign and in 11 (21.6) patients FNAB diagnosis was suspicious for malignancy, malignant or non-diagnostic. In final histopathologic diagnosis, 42 of the tumors were benign and 9 were malignant. The most common benign tumor type was pleomorphic adenoma which constitutes 27 of the cases (52.9%). Regarding detection of malignant disease, the sensitivity of FNAB was 90.4%, specificity was 77.7%, positive predictive value was 95%, negative predictive value was 63.6%. There was a substantial agreement between FNAB and final histopathologic diagnosis(kappa = 0,628). CONCLUSIONS: FNAB is a safe and reliable tool to evaluate deep lobe parotid tumors. It is an important part of preoperative surgical planning and can help the surgeon in patient counseling. FNAB with ultrasound guidance is recommended for deep lobe tumors.

Perspectives of Young Otolaryngologists on Pediatric ENT and the Future of the Field in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the current status and the future of pediatric otolaryngology in Turkey by evaluating the opinions of young otolaryngologists on pediatric otolaryngology. METHODS: The study included 224 otolaryngology physicians who were senior residents registered with the Turkish Otolaryngology and Head-Neck Surgery Association (TORL-HNS). The physicians were in their last two years of otolaryngology training (154 physicians) or had completed their residency training and were in their first year of otolaryngology practice (70 physicians). They were approached via e-mail and Short Message Service (SMS) in October through December 2019 with a descriptive letter and asked to voluntarily complete an online questionnaire consisting of total 25 questions in five sections. RESULTS: The online questionnaire was sent to 224 physicians, and 109 (49%) participated in the survey. All 109 participants answered all the questions. Overall, 71 participants (65.1%) were in training for residency and 38 (34.9%) were in their first year of expertise. According to their professional interests, the participants listed rhinology (45 participants, 41.3%), head and neck surgery (27 participants, 24.8%), facial plastic surgery (19 participants, 17%), otology-neurotology (16 participants, 14.7%), and laryngology-phoniatry (2 participants, 1.8%) as their first preference for subspecialty. Pediatric otolaryngology was never a first choice among the participants, although four (3.7%) listed pediatric otolaryngology as their second preference. CONCLUSION: The aim of this study was to shed light on the current and future status of pediatric otolaryngology in Turkey. We believe the establishment of exclusive pediatric otolaryngology clinics under the umbrella of general ear, nose and throat (ENT) clinics and the foundation of officially approved fellowship programs would bring this subspecialty field to its deserved and desired level in our country.

Peritonsillar dexamethasone-bupivacaine vs. bupivacaine infiltration for post-tonsillectomy pain relief in children: a randomized, double-blind, controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: Post-tonsillectomy pain is one of the most frequent morbidities of tonsillectomy surgery. Currently, there is no standard protocol for post-tonsillectomy pain control. In our study, we aimed to compare the effects of perioperative peritonsillar dexamethasone-bupivacaine and bupivacaine-alone infiltration on pain control in pediatric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was conducted between February 2018 and May 2018 in a single-center tertiary education and research hospital, otorhinolaryngology/head and neck surgery clinic, under general anesthesia, which included 120 pediatric patients between the ages of 2-12 (mean 5.7 ± 1.8), and who were with ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) I-II classification. Patients were randomly divided into three groups as 40 participants in each group. Group 1 consisted of patients who were injected with dexamethasone-bupivacaine into their peritonsillar region, group 2 consisted of patients who were injected with bupivacaine only, and group 3 consisted of patients who were injected with saline only as the control group. FLACC (face, legs, activity, cry, consolability) Scale and Wong-Baker FACES® Pain Rating Scale (WBS) were used for early and late period postoperative pain scoring. Patients with pain score ≥ 4 were treated with paracetamol rescue analgesia. Side effects such as nausea, vomiting and bleeding were recorded. Data of all groups were compared statistically and p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of demographic data, duration of operation and duration of anesthesia. The pain scores of group 1 were significantly lower than those of the control group except for postoperative 45th min, 2nd day and 3rd day. The pain scores of the group 1 were significantly lower at all times except for the postoperative 12th and 24th hour, than those of group 2. The pain scores of the group 2 were lower than the control group only at postoperative 7th day, but no significant difference was found at other times. No statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of requirement rates for the first 60 min recovery analgesia (p = 0.686). No statistical difference was found between the groups in terms of side effects. CONCLUSION: In our study, preoperative local dexamethasone-bupivacaine infiltration in pediatric patients was shown to be more effective than bupivacaine-only and serum-only infiltration for early and late post-tonsillectomy pain control.

Contralateral Ear Findings in Chronic Otitis Media.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic otitis media (COM) reveals a spectrum of otoscopic findings, and both ears may be affected to a different degree. The analysis of contralateral ear in patients with COM is important to detect the early signs of the disease. This may enable the follow-up and treatment of abnormalities in contralateral ear without delay. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the otoscopic and audiologic findings of contralateral ears of patients with COM. METHODS: The institutional data of patients who underwent surgical treatment between 2014 and 2017 due to COM were reviewed. Suppurative ears with cholesteatoma, polyps, and otorrhea refractory to medical treatment and ears with dry middle ear mucosa, with otorrhea responsive to medical treatment, and without cholesteatoma were divided into two groups (Group 1 and Group 2, respectively). All patients were examined with regard to the presence of perforation, retraction, myringosclerosis, atrophy, and audiological results before the groups were compared. RESULTS: Approximately 50% of contralateral ears of patients with COM showed abnormalities at an otoscopic examination in both groups. Tympanic membrane retraction in Group 1 was greater than in Group 2, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Both the mean air and bone conduction thresholds of the contralateral ears in Group 1 were also found to be elevated when compared with Group 2, and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: COM may be seen bilaterally due to the same predisposing factors affecting the ears. Therefore, detection, follow-up, and early treatment of abnormalities of contralateral ear associated with otitis media have clinical importance in the prevention or delaying progression of these abnormalities to COM.

Results of Radiofrequency Ablation of Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy in Patients with Allergic and Non-Allergic Rhinitis.

OBJECTIVES: For the treatment of the inferior turbinate hypertrophy that is unresponsive to medical treatment, turbinate surgery with radiofrequency is a widely used method. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of turbinate surgery with radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of turbinate hypertrophy, and compare the results of patients with allergic rhinitis and non-allergic rhinitis. METHODS: A total of 59 consecutive patients aged 18-67 years (mean 37±13) who underwent radiofrequency ablation to the inferior turbinate at our tertiary care hospital from September 2017 to January 2018 were enrolled in this prospective nonrandomized clinical study. The patients with allergic rhinitis (n=23) were classed as group 1, and the patients with non-allergic rhinitis (n=36) were classed as group 2. Endoscopic nasal examination and an acoustic rhinometer were applied, and a standard 0-10 visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess nasal symptoms preoperatively and postoperatively at the third and sixth months. RESULTS: The study found a significant reduction in nasal obstruction for both groups postoperatively. This reduction was higher in group 1. The decrease in nasal VAS scores for itching, rhinorrhea, and sneezing were statistically significant in group 1, whereas the decrease in nasal VAS scores for sneezing was significant in group 2. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that radiofrequency appears to be an effective and safe treatment option for inferior turbinate hypertrophy of patients with allergic rhinitis or non-allergic rhinitis. It also provides a better perception of all nasal symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis, and a better perception of nasal obstruction and sneezing in patients with non-allergic rhinitis.

Epidemiology and Clinical Features of Peritonsillar Abscess: Is It Related to Seasonal Variations?

OBJECTIVE: Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is defined as pus accumulation between the tonsillar capsule and constrictor pharyngeal muscle. It can be seen as a complication of acute tonsillitis, but other mechanisms have also been proposed. In this study we aimed to reveal the seasonal variations and epidemiologic features of PTA. METHODS: This is a retrospective, observational study. We reviewed 221 patients, and together with 24 recurrent cases, 245 admissions were reviewed in total. Age, gender, the duration of admission, seasonal and monthly distribution of cases, diabetes and smoking status, white blood cell count, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were recorded. Monthly and seasonal incidences of PTA were reviewed to see if there is any association of climate variations and PTA incidence rate. Features associated with the length of hospitalization and recurrence were also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 245 PTA cases were admitted to our clinic between June 2014 and June 2017. The highest amount of cases was observed in spring and winter. The C-reactive protein and white blood cell count (WBC) levels were found to be positively correlated with the length of hospitalization. There was no statistically significant correlation with recurrence and smoking, the WBC levels, CRP levels, and length of prior hospitalization. Diabetes status was not found to be associated with length of hospitalization and CRP levels. CONCLUSION: The present study reflects the epidemiologic and clinical features of PTA in Istanbul. Our findings showed that seasonal variation was not significant, consistent with previous studies. The highest incidence rate was observed in spring and winter. Length of hospitalization was found to be positively correlated with C-reactive protein and white blood cell count (WBC) levels. Recurrence was not statistically correlated with and smoking, the WBC levels, CRP levels, and length of hospitalization. More studies are recommended to reveal the different epidemiologic factors affecting the incidence of PTA.

Effects of septoplasty on speech and voice.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was subjective and objective evaluation of changes in acoustic features of voice before and after septoplasty surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective. METHODS: Twenty patients scheduled for septoplasty procedure were included in the study. Before and 1 and 3 months after septoplasty surgery, acoustic analysis were performed. The recordings of /a/ vowel were used to evaluate average fundamental frequency (F0), Jitter percent, and Shimmer percent. In spectrographic analyses, F3-F4 values for the vowels /i, e, a, o, and u/, nasal formant frequencies of the consonants /m/ and /n/ in the word /mana/, and four formant frequencies (F1, F2, F3, and F4) for nasalized /a/ vowel following a nasal consonant /n/ in the word /mana/ were compared. For the perceptual evaluation, the patients were asked to read the Turkish "Dere" passage. The differences in nasal resonance and subjective evaluations were rated. RESULTS: A statistically significant change was not observed in F0 (P=0.307), Jitter (P=0.919), and Shimmer (P=0.024) values measured before and after the operation for vowel /a/. Nasal formants measured before and after the operation for nasal formant /m/ and nasal formant /n/ in the word /mana/, which contains nasal consonants, and nasalized vowel /a/, which comes after a nasal consonant, did not differ statistically significant (P=0.096 and P=0.034, respectively). Comparisons among F1, F2, F3, and F4 values did not reveal a statistically significant change for nasalized vowel /a/, which comes after a nasal consonant in the word /mana/. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that a complete therapeutic approach to patients affected by nasal septum deviation do not reveal significant voice abnormalities.

Bipolar radiofrequency-induced interstitial thermoablation for oral cavity vascular malformations: Preliminary results in a series of 5 children.

We report our assessment of the effectiveness of bipolar radiofrequency-induced interstitial thermoablation (BRIT) for the treatment of certain oral cavity vascular malformations in 5 children. Two of these patients had lymphangiomatous macroglossia (LM), 1 had lymphangioma circumscriptum (LC), and 2 had a venous malformation (VM). Each patient underwent BRIT at least twice; treatment was delivered at 4- to 8-week intervals according to each patient's circumstances. The 2 patients with LM required three treatment sessions; although their tongue volume decreased after each session, both still required a partial glossectomy to achieve a satisfactory reduction in volume. The patient with LC underwent two BRIT treatments, which reduced the size of the lesion by half; the remainder was excised. The 2 patients with a VM (1 buccal and 1 lingual) responded well to BRIT, and their malformations almost completely disappeared. Our early results with BRIT suggest that it is an effective treatment for oral cavity vascular malformations-more so for patients with venous rather than lymphangiomatous lesions.

GlideScope video laryngoscope-assisted tongue base radiofrequency for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea: pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the advantages and feasibility of using the GlideScope video laryngoscope (GSVL) (Saturn Biomedical Systems, Burnaby, BC) in radiofrequency tongue base reduction for patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). METHODS: Patients suffering from mild to severe OSAS associated with predominant tongue base obstruction (grade 3-4 Mallampati score) confirmed with physical examination who applied to our clinic during the first half of 2007 were included in our study. Seven-watt bipolar radiofrequency was applied to each patient's tongue base assisted by the GSVL at five to seven different locations for 30 to 35 seconds, resulting in energy application in a range of 210 to 245 J. All operations were carried out by the same surgeon, and patients were observed for 15 days postoperatively for any complications. RESULTS: Twelve patients were included in our study. Six of our patients were male and the other six were female. Each patient underwent a session of GSVL-assisted tongue base radiofrequency with a mean energy application of 210 to 245 J via five to seven punctures. The use of the GSVL assisted in a more thorough observation of tongue base anatomy, which aided in our aim to avoid the neurovascular bundle. The use of the GSVL during tongue base radiofrequency surgery creates a safer operation site and allows the surgeon to feel more confident during the procedure. The fact that we encountered no postoperative complications endorses our theory. CONCLUSION: The use of the GSVL in tongue base radiofrequency application not only creates a safer operative site and makes the procedure more uncomplicated but also could be an effective method that could be used in teaching hospitals for the education of otolaryngology surgeons regarding the tongue base radiofrequency procedure.