Investigation of the relationship between hyperacusis and auditory processing difficulties in individuals with normal hearing.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hyperacusis and auditory processing (listening) difficulties (APDiff) in normal-hearing young adults and to explore the relationship between these two conditions. METHODS: A total of 333 participants aged 18-24 underwent pure-tone audiometry tests and completed the Khalfa Hyperacusis Questionnaire (KHQ) and the University of Cincinnati Auditory Processing Inventory (UCAPI) online. RESULTS: Hyperacusis was identified in 26.43% of participants, and APDiff in 36.04%. A strong, positive correlation was found between KHQ and UCAPI scores (r = 0.603, p < 0.001). Logistic regression models indicated that hyperacusis significantly increased the likelihood of having APDiff (OR 7.688, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Despite the high prevalence of hyperacusis and APDiff in young adults, few seek help from audiology clinics. Our findings highlight a significant link between hyperacusis and APDiff, emphasizing the need for screening protocols for auditory processing skills in young adults due to these conditions' potential social and academic impacts.

Evaluation of Inflammatory Blood Markers in Sinonasal Inverted Papilloma.

OBJECTIVE: Sinonasal inverted papillomas are benign neoplasms of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. They have characteristic features such as a high risk of recurrence and possible malignant transformation. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between sinonasal inverted papilloma and inflammatory blood markers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-five patients who were diagnosed histologically as having sinonasal inverted papilloma and 65 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Inflammatory blood markers such as neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), red cell distribution width (RDW), mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width (PDW) of the patient and control groups were compared. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the patients and controls for white blood cell, platelet, hemoglobin, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts (P > .05). No statistically significant difference was found between the patients and controls for NLR, PLR, RDW, MPV, and PDW (P > .05). In the logistic regression analysis model, which was created to investigate the effects of inflammatory blood markers in determining the patient group, the increase in the NLR and decrease in the PLR were found to be statistically significant factors (P = .008, P = .039). CONCLUSION: This is the first study in the literature to investigate the relationship between sinonasal inverted papilloma and inflammatory blood markers, and the results suggest that NLR and PLR may be used to distinguish patients with sinonasal inverted papilloma from controls.

The Role of Preemptive Infiltration Anesthesia in the Management of Postoperative Pain Following Septoplasty

Abstract Introduction Septoplasty is one of the most common surgical procedures in rhinology practice. Two major problems encountered after septoplasty are pain and bleeding. Preoperative administration of analgesics before the surgical stimulus, which is the main concept of preemptive analgesia, decreases postoperative pain. Objective The present study was designed to investigate whether preincisional lidocaine infiltration to the subperichondrial area during septoplasty surgery reduced or not postoperative pain and analgesic use. Methods The present prospective, randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind trial was conducted on 64 consecutive patients with nasal septum deviation. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups; the study group received 2% 20 mg lidocaine/cc (n = 31), and the control group received 6 cc 0.9% NaCl (n = 33). A standard questionnaire was given to each patient to mark his or her pain score between 0 and 10 at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th, and 24th hours. Results The mean and the range of visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of the patients in the study group at the 1st, 3rd, 12th, and 24th hours were 4.03 ± 3.08 (0-10); 3.42 ± 2.39 (0-8); 2.97 ± 2.22 (0-8); 2.87 ± 2.61 (0-9); and 1.94 ± 2.06 (0-9) respectively. The mean and the range of VAS scores of the patients in the control group at the 1st, 3rd, 12th, and 24th hours were 4.12 ± 2.7 (0-10); 3.45 ± 2.4 (0-10); 2.94 ± 2.7 (0-10); 2.79 ± 2.34 (0-10); and 1.5 ± 1.8 (0-6), respectively. The statistical analysis revealed no significant difference among the groups. Conclusion The preemptive local anesthetic administration to the incision area and under the mucoperichondrial flap before septoplasty does not decrease the level of postoperative pain.

The Role of Preemptive Infiltration Anesthesia in the Management of Postoperative Pain Following Septoplasty.

Introduction Septoplasty is one of the most common surgical procedures in rhinology practice. Two major problems encountered after septoplasty are pain and bleeding. Preoperative administration of analgesics before the surgical stimulus, which is the main concept of preemptive analgesia, decreases postoperative pain. Objective The present study was designed to investigate whether preincisional lidocaine infiltration to the subperichondrial area during septoplasty surgery reduced or not postoperative pain and analgesic use. Methods The present prospective, randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind trial was conducted on 64 consecutive patients with nasal septum deviation. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups; the study group received 2% 20 mg lidocaine/cc ( n = 31), and the control group received 6 cc 0.9% NaCl ( n = 33). A standard questionnaire was given to each patient to mark his or her pain score between 0 and 10 at the 1 st , 3 rd , 6 th , 12 th , and 24 th hours. Results The mean and the range of visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of the patients in the study group at the 1 st , 3 rd , 12 th , and 24 th hours were 4.03 ± 3.08 (0-10); 3.42 ± 2.39 (0-8); 2.97 ± 2.22 (0-8); 2.87 ± 2.61 (0-9); and 1.94 ± 2.06 (0-9) respectively. The mean and the range of VAS scores of the patients in the control group at the 1 st , 3 rd , 12 th , and 24 th hours were 4.12 ± 2.7 (0-10); 3.45 ± 2.4 (0-10); 2.94 ± 2.7 (0-10); 2.79 ± 2.34 (0-10); and 1.5 ± 1.8 (0-6), respectively. The statistical analysis revealed no significant difference among the groups. Conclusion The preemptive local anesthetic administration to the incision area and under the mucoperichondrial flap before septoplasty does not decrease the level of postoperative pain.

Electrically Evoked Auditory Late Responses as a Novel Method for Cochlear Implant Programming.

HYPOTHESIS: Electrically evoked auditory late responses (eALR) are useful as an objective cochlear implant (CI) fitting method. BACKGROUND: Different objective and behavioral methods are used for CI fitting. However, there is no objective method that indicates that the electrical signal reaches the auditory cortex. eALR is an indicator that electrical signals reach the auditory cortex, so our aim was to investigate the use of eALR as an objective method for CI programming. METHODS: Two different programs were created for 21 unilateral Med-El CI users. In the first program, the most comfortable level (MCL) was adjusted with the electrical stapes reflex threshold (eSRT), and the threshold levels (THR) were behaviorally adjusted according to the user's feedback. In the second program, the MCL level was adjusted to a level where all the components of the eALR were clearly seen, and the user did not feel uncomfortable; the THR levels were adjusted to the lowest level where the eALR P1 wave could be seen. The results of the MCL and THR levels of the two programs and the free field tests conducted with both programs were compared. RESULTS: While MCL levels did not differ significantly between the two programs, a significant difference was observed between THR levels. In addition, no significant difference was found between hearing and speech tests with CI in the free field. CONCLUSION: The results revealed no significant performance difference between the two programs and that eALR could be preferred as an objective method for MCL determination.

Is Preoperative Embolization Necessary for Carotid Paraganglioma Resection: Experience of a Tertiary Center.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate whether preoperative embolization is a useful procedure to decrease blood loss and neurovascular complications for carotid body tumor (CBT) surgery or not. METHODS: Medical records of our tertiary care center from 2012 to 2019 were scanned for patients who underwent surgery for CBT, retrospectively. Age, gender, complaint and head and neck examination findings at the time of presentation, preoperative complete blood count parameters, imaging records (cervical magnetic resonance imaging and carotid artery angiography), Shamblin classification, tumor size, intraoperative findings, and postoperative complications were noted. RESULTS: A total of 26 patients were operated due to CBT between 2012 and 2019 in our clinic; preoperative arterial embolization was performed to 15 (57.7%) patients, and 11 (42.3%) patients were operated without embolization. Youngest patient was 24 years old, while oldest was 69 years and mean age was 44.35 ± 12.73. (embolization group: ages ranging between 24 and 64 with a mean of 41.5 ± 11.02 years; in nonembolization group: ages ranging between 26 and 69 with a mean of 48.1 ± 14.3). Embolization status was not significantly related to cranial nerve injury, vascular injury, overall complications, and hematocrit decrease. Arterial injury is more likely to occur with increasing Shamblin class (r = .39; P = .04). Tumor size is not found to be significantly related to cranial nerve injury, vascular injury, overall complications, and hematocrit decrease, but cranial nerve injury and vascular injury were more likely to occur in large tumors (r = .34; P = .089 and r = .34; P = .087, respectively). Age was significantly and negatively correlated to vascular injury (r = -.51; P = .05). Vascular injury was significantly correlated with gender (male predominance: r = -.64; P = .000). CONCLUSION: Although preoperative arterial embolization is considered to attenuate the complication risk, we found that there was no significant difference among the patients with or without embolization.

Effect of Nasal Soft-Tissue Envelope Thickness on Postoperative Healing Process Following Rhinoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: Understanding the postoperative dynamics of the nasal soft-tissue envelope (NSTE) is necessary to obtain the desired cosmetic results after rhinoplasty. This study was conducted to determine the changes of NSTE thickness and its effects on periorbital edema and ecchymosis following rhinoplasty. METHODS: Thirty-five patients who underwent rhinoplasty were included in the study. Nasal skin and subcutaneous tissue thickness at the tip, supratip, rhinion, and nasion were measured using ultrasonography preoperatively and at the postoperative 3rd and 10th months. Periorbital edema and ecchymosis were evaluated at postoperative days 1, 3, and 7. The patients were categorized as the thick NSTE group (n = 17) and the thin NSTE group (n = 18) according to the preoperative median NSTE thickness. RESULTS: In the thin NSTE group, supratip skin, subcutaneous tissue, and total NSTE thickness were lowest on the preoperative day but no statistically significant difference was found for the thick NSTE group. In the thin NSTE group, total NSTE thickness of the rhinion was highest at the postoperative 3rd month, but in the thick NSTE group, there was no statistically significant difference between postoperative 3rd and 10th months. In both groups, total NSTE thickness of the nasion was highest at the postoperative 3rd month and lowest at the postoperative 10th month. CONCLUSIONS: Supratip fullness occurs more prominent in patients with thin NSTE. Postoperative edema in the rhinion is greater in patients with thin NSTE for the early postoperative period but it lasts longer in patients with thick NSTE. Soft-tissue envelope atrophy at the nasion occurs in both groups in the late postoperative period. Periorbital edema and ecchymosis severity are not affected by NSTE thickness.

Comparison of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte Density with Histopathological Parameters and Effect on Prognosis in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancers.

OBJECTIVES: The study aims to determine the ratio of the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in the tumor microenvironment in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck and its effect on prognosis using histopathological parameters. METHODS: The patients who underwent head and neck surgery with the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck at Cerrahpasa medical faculty ENT Clinic between January 2010 and November 2013 were included in this study. The age, gender, smoking status, alcohol use, radiologic images, and operation technique were analyzed for all patients. TNM pathologic staging, histologic differentiation grade, desmoplastic stromal reaction, vascular and perineural invasion, and lymph node metastasis were also evaluated. Representative hematoxylin-eosin stained slides from each block were cut and the ratio of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in tumor tissue was examined by an expert to confirm histology. RESULTS: In this study, 114 patients (105 males and 9 females) met inclusion criteria and were included. The mean age was 60.3±9.7 (ranging from 27 to 85 years). TIL and desmoplastic stromal reaction were compared statistically to the extent of primary tumor, vascular and perineural invasion, lymph node metastasis and histological grade of the tumor. While there was no statistically significant difference between TIL and these parameters, there was a statistically significant correlation between desmoplastic stromal reaction and these parameters. Considering five years of patient survival, although TIL had a positive impact on the prognosis of the tumor, there was no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSION: We suggest that besides TNM pathologic staging and histologic parameters, immune cells reacting to the tumor will be a distinctive factor in determining the prognosis and new treatment methods. We believe that TIL will affect the current cancer treatments by increasing its anti-tumor effects and will give promising results in cancer immunotherapy.

The Efficacy of Intratympanic Steroid Injection in Tinnitus Cases Unresponsive to Medical Treatment.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the efficacy of an intratympanic steroid injection in tinnitus cases unresponsive to medical treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out at the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department with 107 patients (46 male, 61 female) between the ages of 20 and 77 with a mean of 42.8 years who had idiopathic tinnitus. Patients were randomized by simple randomization to receive intratympanic dexamethasone or isotonic solution. The patients received six intratympanic injections, two per week for three weeks. Tinnitus handicap index (THI) was performed before treatment and at first week, first month, and six months after the completion of the study protocol. The audiometric tests were performed six months after the treatment. RESULT: In the study group, pretreatment THI and post-treatment first month THI scores and pretreatment THI and post-treatment sixth month THI scores were significantly different whereas the same scores were not significantly different in the control group. The comparison of THI scores between the groups revealed significantly lower scores in the first and sixth months for the study group. CONCLUSION: The effect of the intratympanic injection of dexamethasone on the efficacy of treatment of tinnitus severity was statistically significant.

Dilated Minute Chambers in Laryngeal Vocal Fold Polyps: Histopathological and Ultrastructural Features.

In Reinke's space of human vocal fold, type III collagen forms a three dimensional network and this contains numerous minute chambers in between these fibers. These compartments are occupied by glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins. In laryngeal fold lesions, such as Reinke's edema and vocal fold polyps, proteoglycan (PG)/hyaluronic acid (HA) components of extracellular matrix increased. We investigated the size and quantity of the minute chambers within Reinke's space, filled with PG/HA with the aid of transmission electron microscopy. Eight vocal fold polyps and 10 mucosal biopsies (as control group) were all evaluated by light microscopy and electron microscopy. We detected that PG/HA in extracellular matrix had been increased in vocal fold lesions when compared with control group, by Alcian Blue-pH 2.5 stain. The mean volume of the chambers in Reinke's space of normal larynx was measured as 0.040233 µm2 whereas the mean volume of these chambers in vocal fold polyps was measured as 6.420221 µm2. The difference between the volumes of these chambers in vocal fold polyps and in control group was statistically significant (P = 0.001). Within these chambers PG/HA were found and PG/HA filling these chambers were increased in vocal fold polyps. We think proteoglycan and glycosaminoglycans, especially HA, play an important role in determining biochemical properties of vocal fold lesions.

Extra-Cochlear Insertion in Cochlear Implantation: A Potentially Disastrous Condition.

OBJECTIVES: Cochlear implantation is an increasingly used technique for auditory rehabilitation of pediatric and adult population. Safe implantation is achieved in most cases; however, intraoperative complications and misplacement of the electrode are observed in some. The aim of this presentation was to review the characteristics of patients with extra-cochlear electrode insertion, postoperative diagnostic methods, and considerations in revision surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 423 cases of cochlear implantation performed in our clinic between 2012 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed and those of extra-cochlear implantation were evaluated. RESULTS: Extra-cochlear insertion was found in 3 patients. The electrode was placed into the internal acoustic canal in the first case, superior semicircular canal in the second case, and internal carotid artery canal in the third case. Cochlear insertion was achieved in all cases with re-implantation, and no complication was observed. CONCLUSION: This case series highlights that rare, but potentially serious, consequences of misplacement of the electrode in cochlear implantation can be successfully avoided and treated via a multidisciplinary approach.

Role of Preoperative Embolization in Surgical Treatment of the Carotid Body Paragangliomas.

In this study, we aimed to show the benefits of preoperative embolization on surgery of carotid body tumors.This is a retrospective study of the medical records of 20 patients who were operated for carotid body paragangliomas during 2011-2017. Computed tomography angiography (BTA) and/or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) were performed for the entire patients. Patients were assessed according to the Shamblin classification. All patients were subjected to direct cerebral angiography by the femoral route 24 to 48 hours before the surgery and tumor embolization was performed in the appropriate cases (19 patients). The amount of hemorrhage and transfusion need during surgery has been reported. The ages of the patients ranged from 21 to 66, with an average of 45.65. In 20 patients ascendan pharyngeal artery was found as the main artery of tumor. No complications were seen after the embolization procedure. Tumor sizes ranged from 12 mm to 95 mm diameter (mean: 45, 5 mm). 10 patients (50%) were Shamblin type 1, 6 patients (30%) were Shamblin type 2, 4 patients (20%) were Shamblin type 3. In 5 patients (25%), the nerve (N. vagus or hypoglossus) was sacrificed due to cranial nerve involvement. Vagal and hypoglossal nerve sacrificed together in 4 patients.These patients' tumor sizes were bigger than 70 mm. Only in 1 patient, internal carotid artery injured and reconstructed with saphenous vein graft. Neurological deficit did not develop postoperatively. Bleeding was mean 275 mL (125 mL-700 mL). In conclusion, we believe that preoperative embolization of carotid paraganglioma is an effective procedure that helps surgeon during dissection with minimal blood loss. The embolization is relatively easy procedure without no additional complications.

Osteosarcoma of the Ethmoid Sinus.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignant bone tumor and it is very rare in head and neck region. If it arises in this area, most common localizations of this tumor are mandible and maxilla and ethmoid sinus is very rare site for this malignancy. A 43-year-old female admitted to our clinic with the complaint of pain in the right half of the face and headache persisting for 2 months. According to the clinical symptoms and imaging studies, sinonasal ossifying fibroma was suspected. For this reason, patient was operated endoscopically and histopathological examination revealed that osteoid matrix producing atypical osteoblastic cells so these findings identified osteoblastic variant OS. This article is about a very rare case of OS of ethmoid sinus. The differential diagnosis, general characteristics, and classification of this tumor, radiological features, and surgical techniques are also presented.

Cervical Necrotizing Fasciitis of Odontogenic Origin and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is an infection of the soft tissues pathology with high mortality that spreads through the fascial planes and rarely seen in head and neck region. The cause of infection is often odontogenic problems. Broad-spectrum antibiotics, surgical debridement, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) are important for the treatment of disease. We report a case of cervical NF in a 33-year-old woman who was treated with rapid surgical debridement and simultaneous HBO.

Cellular Angiofibroma of the Nasopharynx.

Angiofibroma is a common tumor of the nasopharynx region but cellular type is extremely rare in head and neck. A 13-year-old boy presented with frequent epistaxis and nasal obstruction persisting for 6 months. According to the clinical symptoms and imaging studies juvenile angiofibroma was suspected. Following angiographic embolization total excision of the lesion by midfacial degloving approach was performed. Histological examination revealed that the tumor consisted of staghorn blood vessels and irregular fibrous stroma. Stellate fibroblasts with small pyknotic to large vesicular nuclei were seen in a highly cellular stroma. These findings identified cellular angiofibroma mimicking juvenile angiofibroma. This article is about a very rare patient of cellular angiofibroma of nasopharynx.

Effect of energy-based devices on voice quality after total thyroidectomy.

Voice alteration is an important complication of thyroid surgery and is closely related to patients' quality of life. There are no studies analyzing effect of energy-based devices (EBD) on voice quality (VQ). Aim of this prospective study is to evaluate impact of sutureless total thyroidectomy performed with EBDs on objective voice parameters of patients without recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and/or external branch of superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) injury. Sixty patients underwent total thyroidectomy with meticulous dissection of EBSLN. Patients were assigned to Group L (Ligasure™), Group H (Harmonic), or Group C (Conventional) through random ballot. For analysis of alteration in VQ, digital videolaryngostroboscopy (VLS), voice handicap index (VHI), multidimensional voice program (MDVP), and electroglottography (EGG) were used. VLS was performed by 70°-angled indirect laryngoscopy and evaluation was standardized by VLS scale and laryngeal function scoring. This study is registered on clinicaltrials.gov with number NCT01865006. Forty eight patients were female. There was no difference on demographic data. On post-operative laryngoscopic examination, none of the patients had vocal fold palsy. When mean VHI scores at post-operative 1st week and 2nd month were compared to pre-operative values for each groups, groups L and H demonstrated a significant increase in VHI in the early post-operative evaluation, while there was no significant increase for group C. No significant increase was seen in late post-operative period compared to pre-operative period for any groups. In the early post-operative period, VQ is better with the conventional technique than EBDs; however, in late post-operative period, VQ is detected better in EBDs (especially in Group L) than the conventional technique, but no statistical difference was observed.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the parotid gland.

An inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, previously known as an inflammatory pseudotumor, is an uncommon neoplasm. This tumor, which has characteristic morphologic and immunohistochemical features, is mostly seen in the lung. We present a rare case of an inflammatory myofibroblastic pseudotumor of the parotid gland. A 45-year-old woman presented with a 4-month history of a swelling in her right parotid region. A partial parotidectomy with preservation of the facial nerve branches was performed. The incidence of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor in the parotid gland is low, and local resection is currently the best treatment. A prolonged postoperative follow-up period is necessary for patients with inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the parotid gland is discussed with a brief literature review.