Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak During Stapes Surgery: The Importance of Temporal Bone CT Reconstructions in Oblique Anatomically Oriented Planes.

Stapes gusher is a massive flow of perilymph and cerebrospinal fluid leak that fills the middle ear immediately after surgical opening of the labyrinth, such as during stapedectomy. Stapes gusher usually occurs as the result of a congenital malformation that causes an abnormal communication between the perilymphatic space and the subarachnoid space involving the internal auditory canal or the cochlear duct. To date, the potential risk of stapes gusher cannot be assessed preoperatively, as there are not pathognomonic signs suggestive of this complication. However, high-resolution computed tomography scan (HRCT) of the temporal bone can provide information that may help recognizing patients at risk. Recently, an anatomic evaluation of the inner ear with oblique reformation at HRCT has been described. This reformation offers a new and more detailed topographic vision of temporal bone structures compared to the classic axial and coronal planes and may help identifying anatomical alterations otherwise not visible. In this article, we present a case of stapes gusher and the role of preoperative HRCT with oblique reformation in its prevention.

Sudden olfactory loss as an early marker of COVID-19: a nationwide Italian survey.

PURPOSE: The presence of many asymptomatic COVID-19 cases may increase the risks of disease dissemination, mainly for physicians. There are numerous reports on the frequent findings of sudden anosmia or hyposmia, before or at the same time of the typical COVID-19 symptoms onset. The aim of this study was to verify the association of olfactory impairment and COVID-19, providing a basis for subsequent research in the field of COVID-19 clinical heterogeneity. METHODS: We developed a 15-item online questionnaire on "Sudden Olfactory Loss (SOL) and COVID-19" that was administered during March 2020 to Italian general practitioners registered to a social media group. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty responses were received. SOL was identified as a significant sign of infection in COVID-19 patients, mainly aged between 30 and 40 years, even in the absence of other symptoms. SOL was present as an initial symptom in 46.7% of subjects, and in 16.7%, it was the only symptom. Among the COVID-19 confirmed cases, SOL occurred as the only symptom in 19.2% of patients. CONCLUSION: SOL could represent a possible early symptom in otherwise asymptomatic COVID-19 subjects. Subjects affected by SOL should be considered as potential COVID-19 cases. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Anatomic landmarks for masseteric nerve identification: Anatomic study for a new reference point.

The masseteric nerve is often used as a donor nerve in the treatment of facial paralysis. Even if several anatomical studies described landmarks for its identification, their main disadvantages are the anatomical variability and the changes due to surgery. Sixteen dissections were performed on cadaveric specimens. The masseteric muscle (MM), the zygomatic arch (ZA), the masseteric nerve (MN) and the zygomatic branch of the facial nerve (ZB) were identified and their relationships were measured. The relationships between MN and ZB resulted to be constant, with MN intersecting ZB at a depth of 0,78 cm in the muscle, 1,6 cm below ZA and 0,8 cm from the posterior border of MM. The measures obtained demonstrated as the main zygomatic branch of the facial nerve can be a suitable landmark for the identification of the masseteric nerve, with no variations due to the surgical procedure or patient characteristics.

Tinnitus and equilibrium disorders in COVID-19 patients: preliminary results.

PURPOSE: Tinnitus and equilibrium disorders such as dizziness and vertigo have been reported by patients with COVID-19; however, they have been rarely investigated. The aim of this study was to study the prevalence of subjective tinnitus and dizziness in a sample of COVID-19 patients using an online 10-item close-ended questionnaire. METHODS: A multicentric study that included 15 Italian hospitals in different regions was conducted using an online 10-item close-ended questionnaire developed to identify the presence of tinnitus and balance disorders in patients with COVID-19 between May 5 and June 10, 2020. The questionnaire was administered to 185 patients in a period of > 30 - < 60 days after diagnosis of COVID-19; responses were recorded in an online Excel spreadsheet. The questionnaire was composed of three sections: (1) demographic information; (2) presence and characteristics of tinnitus and dizziness after COVID-19 diagnosis; (3) possible association with migraine. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients (18.4%) reported equilibrium disorders after COVID-19 diagnosis. Of these, 32 patients reported dizziness (94.1%) and 2 (5.9%) reported acute vertigo attacks. Forty-three patients (23.2%) reported tinnitus; 14 (7.6%) reported both tinnitus and equilibrium disorders. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the presence of subjective otoneurological symptoms such as tinnitus and balance disorders can affect COVID-19 patients; further studies are necessary to investigate the prevalence and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these subjective symptoms in COVID-19 patients.

Nasal Polyposis: Insights in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Differentiation of Polyp Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Chronic rhinosinusitis is a common inflammatory disease of paranasal sinuses, which causes rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, and hyposmia. The genetic predisposition or the exposure to irritants can sustain the inflammatory response and the development of nasal polyposis. Nasal polyps are benign and teardrop-shaped growths that project in the nasal cavities, and originate from the ethmoid sinuses. This inflammatory process is associated with high expression of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 and IgE. Antibodies targeting these cytokines or receptors represent a therapeutic strategy in the treatment of nasal polyposis in combination with corticosteroids. The molecular pathogenesis of nasal polyps in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients is associated with remodeling transition, a process in which epithelial cells lose their typical phenotype, acquiring a mesenchymal-like aspect. TGFß/SMAD, ERK, and Wnt/ß-catenin pathways are altered during the nasal tissue remodeling. miRNA and inhibitor molecules targeting these signaling pathways are able to interfere with the process; which could lead to alternative therapies. Nasal polyps are an alternative source of mesenchymal stem cells, which can be isolated from surgical biopsies. A molecular understanding of the biology of PO-MSCs will contribute to the delineating inflammatory process underlying the development of nasal polyps.

The role of endogenous Antisecretory Factor (AF) in the treatment of Ménière's Disease: A two-year follow-up study. Preliminary results.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of increased endogenous Antisecretory Factor (AF) synthesis using specially processed cereals (SPC) in a sample of patients with defined unilateral Meniere's disease (MD), compared to the results of a treatment protocol of intravenous glycerol and dexamethasone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients with unilateral MD were divided in 2 groups and treated with SPC and with intravenous glycerol and dexamethasone for 24 months. Audio-vestibular evaluation was performed before (T0) and every six months. The number of vertigo spells were evaluated before and after therapy and the Efficacy Index (EI) was calculated. Questionnaires for hearing loss, tinnitus and quality of life were administered. RESULTS: EI decreased in the SPC group after 18 (T18) (p = .0017) and 24 (T24) months of therapy (p = .0111). There was a significant reduction for tinnitus score in the SPC group at T24 (p = .0131). No significant differences were found between the two groups at T0 (p = .4723), while a significant difference was found at T24 (p = .0027). Quality of life showed a significant improvement in daily activities in the SPC group (p = .0033) compared to the infusion therapy group. No statistically significant changes in PTA thresholds were found in both groups between T0 and T24. CONCLUSION: The preliminary results of our study show a significant reduction of vertigo spells and a positive effect on tinnitus severity and on quality of life in patients with unilateral MD treated with SPC and when compared to patients treated with intravenous glycerol and dexamethasone. No effects on hearing thresholds were noted in both groups.

Objective and self-evaluation voice analysis after transoral laser cordectomy and radiotherapy in T1a-T1b glottic cancer.

Voice quality outcome becomes an important factor in the choice of the therapeutic option. The differences between radiotherapy and laser cordectomy have been extensively debated in the literature. We analyzed the vocal outcomes after carbon dioxide (CO2) laser cordectomy and radiotherapy treatment for T1a-b early glottic cancer by means of objective and subjective voice evaluation. A retrospective study was performed on 56 cancer patients, 30 treated with cordectomy and 26 with radiotherapy. All patients underwent laser cordectomy which was performed under general anesthesia using a surgical microscope in laryngeal suspension. The laser we used was an Ultrapulse one, 10.6-µm wavelength, and a power setting of 2 to 4 W in an Ultrapulse mode was selected. Two different sets of data were recorded: (a) voice acoustic analysis (jitter, shimmer, fundamental frequency and noise/harmonic ratio) and (b) voice handicap index (VHI). Data collected were statistically analyzed using SPSS 20.0 for Windows. Jitter, shimmer, and signal-to-noise ratio were significantly altered in both glottic cancer patient groups as compared to the control group. On the contrary, no statistically significant alteration of the fundamental frequency was found in both treatment groups. Interestingly, jitter and shimmer values were significantly more compromised in transoral laser surgery patients as compared with radiotherapy-treated patients. The VHI was also significantly altered in both cancer patient groups as compared to the control group. More importantly, however, the self-evaluation voice analysis was not significantly different between the two treatment groups, contrary to what we observed for two of the four parameters measured in the objective voice analysis. Given the importance of the self-perception of the voice quality, no treatment can be considered superior from the patients' point of view. Therefore, we suggest that priority should be given to the endoscopic surgery, due to lower costs, lower morbidity, and shorter hospitalization.

Prognostic role of salivary CD44sol levels in the follow-up of laryngeal carcinomas.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to verify CD44sol levels in the saliva of patients during follow-up after surgery for laryngeal cancer, to compare them with those registered at the time of diagnosis (pre-intervention) in the same patients, and to assess the reliability of the test as a prognostic indicator. METHODS: This prospective study was performed on 21 patients having laryngeal cancer who underwent surgery at the Division of Otolaryngology, University of Catanzaro; twelve adults with head and neck benign disease were recruited to form a control group. For each patient, the clinical­anamnestic data were collected and entered into a database. The sampling of undiluted saliva was performed the day before surgery and during the follow-up, every 3 months. Salivary CD44sol levels were determined using the ELISA method. RESULTS: Mean salivary CD44sol levels in the patients group before surgery (pre-intervention) were significantly higher than those in the control group (70.75 ± 33.8 vs. 12.4 ± 8.7 ng/ml). At follow-up performed 3 months after surgery, 18 of 21 (85.71%) patients had a reduction in salivary CD44sol levels, with a mean value of 50.1 ng/ml; the difference between these and pre-intervention CD44sol levels was statistically significant (P < 0.04). Mean CD44sol levels of 31.1 ng/ml at 6 months post-intervention have been determined in 19 of 21 enrolled patients; none of the 19 patients have actual signs of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: These data seem to show that the determination of salivary CD44sol levels can represent a promising prognostic test in laryngeal carcinomas.