[Validation of the German version of Eating Assessment Tool for head and neck cancer patients]. / Validierung der deutschen Version des Eating Assessment Tool bei Kopf-Hals-Tumor-Patienten.

OBJECTIVE: The assessment of subjective swallowing complaints constitutes an important element in a multidimensional, modern management of head and neck cancer patients suffering from dysphagia. For this purpose, an internationally recognized and validated 10-item questionnaire EAT-10 is used that was developed and validated by Belafski et al. in 2008. The purpose of the present study is the translation of EAT-10 into the German language and its validation for head and neck cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After the translation of EAT-10 into German according to the guidelines for the translation of foreign measuring instruments, a validation of gEAT-10 was carried out on the basis of the sample of 210 head and neck cancer patients. The reliability was determined by means of the internal consistency (Cronbach's Alpha) and item-total correlations (Spearman). The construct validity was verified by the uni- and multivariate analyses of the distribution of gEAT-10 total scores depending on gender, age, BMI, tumor stage and localization as well as type of the oncological therapy. RESULTS: The internal consistency amounted to α = .94, the item-total correlations varied between ρ = .59 and ρ = .85. No significant associations between gEAT-10 total scores and gender as well as age were identified in univariate calculations. Such associations were found for BMI, tumor stage and localization as well as type of the oncological therapy. However, only the tumor stage yielded a significant result in a regression. CONCLUSIONS: The gEAT-10 was shown to be a reliable and construct valid questionnaire for the assessment of subjective swallowing complaints in patients with head and neck cancer.

Differences of radiological artefacts in cochlear implantation in temporal bone and complete head.

OBJECTIVES: Accurate radiological evaluation of cochlear implants is essential for improvement of devices and techniques and also for assessing the position of the electrodes within the cochlea. Radiological study of implants has focused on isolated temporal bones. Previous studies showed relevant sizes of artefacts (dimensions of the radiological image compared with the actual dimensions of the electrode) in visualization of cochlear implants in computed tomography and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). In this study, we aimed to obtain CBCT images of cochlear electrodes in isolated temporal bones and in whole heads and to assess the differences in image quality between the two. METHODS: Cochlear electrodes were implanted in three complete human heads. Radiological examinations were performed using a single CBCT scanner with varying x-ray tube currents, voltages, and rotation angles. The temporal bones were then removed and the same radiological examinations were repeated, with and without the receiver coils. Artefacts from a basal electrode (electrode 9) and an apical electrode (electrode 2) were calculated. These were compared with each other by measuring the diameter of the image of the electrode (electrode inclusive of imaging artefacts) and with the real electrode diameters from the manufacturer's data. Additionally, the radiological diameters (inclusive of artefact) of the electrodes were compared to the cross-sectional diameters of the basal and apical coils of the cochlea at the locations of these two electrodes. RESULTS: In comparison to the real electrode diameters, radiological artefact proportions of 51-58% for electrode 9 and 56-61% for electrode 2 were calculated. The differences between whole head images (group 1) and temporal bone images with and without the receiver coil (groups 2 and 3) were highly significant for each protocol (P < 0.001). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These results indicate that it is not possible reliably to determine the exact intracochlear positions of electrodes using CBCT. Imaging of isolated temporal bones produced significantly greater artefacts than imaging of the whole head. Evaluations of image quality based only on results for isolated temporal bones are not transferable to clinical situations, and should be assessed critically.

Variations in the expression and distribution pattern of AQP5 in acinar cells of patients with sialadenosis.

Previously, we pointed out on a possible role of aquaporin 5 (AQP5) in the development of sialadenosis. The goal of the present study was to further assess the association of AQP5 in the development of this salivary gland disease. The acinar diameter and mean surface area appeared elevated in sialadenosis tissues, which is a typical observation in this disease. AQP5 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using tissue samples derived from salivary glands of patients with confirmed sialadenosis either as a primary diagnosis or as a secondary diagnosis within the framework of other salivary gland diseases. Normal salivary gland tissue served as a control. In sialadenosis tissues, the AQP5 signal at the apical plasma membrane of acinar cells frequently appeared stronger compared with that in normal salivary glands. In addition, the distribution of AQP5 at the apical region seemed to differ between normal and sialadenosis tissues, where AQP5 frequently was diffusely distributed near or at the apical plasma membrane of the acinar cells in contrast to normal controls where the AQP5 signal was strictly confined to the apical plasma membrane. These observations suggest that sialadenosis is associated with a different AQP5 expression and distribution pattern in salivary acinar cells.