Early Brain Amyloid Accumulation at PET in Military Instructors Exposed to Subconcussive Blast Injuries.

Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of disability in young adults. Recurrent TBI is associated with a range of neurologic sequelae, but the contributing factors behind the development of such chronic encephalopathy are poorly understood. Purpose To quantify early amyloid ß deposition in the brain of otherwise healthy adult men exposed to repeated subconcussive blast injury using amyloid PET. Materials and Methods In this prospective study from January 2020 to December 2021, military instructors who were routinely exposed to repeated blast events were evaluated at two different points: baseline (before blast exposure from breacher or grenade) and approximately 5 months after baseline (after blast exposure). Age-matched healthy control participants not exposed to blasts and without a history of brain injury were evaluated at similar two points. Neurocognitive evaluation was performed with standard neuropsychologic testing in both groups. Analysis of PET data consisted of standardized uptake value measurements in six relevant brain regions and a whole-brain voxel-based statistical approach. Results Participants were men (nine control participants [median age, 33 years; IQR, 32-36 years] and nine blast-exposed participants [median age, 33 years; IQR, 30-34 years]; P = .82). In the blast-exposed participants, four brain regions showed significantly increased amyloid deposition after blast exposure: inferomedial frontal lobe (P = .004), precuneus (P = .02), anterior cingulum (P = .002), and superior parietal lobule (P = .003). No amyloid deposition was observed in the control participants. Discriminant analysis on the basis of regional changes of amyloid accumulation correctly classified the nine healthy control participants as healthy control participants (100%), and seven of the nine blast-exposed participants (78%) were correctly classified as blast exposed. Based on the voxel-based analysis, whole-brain parametric maps of early abnormal early amyloid uptake were obtained. Conclusion Early brain amyloid accumulation was identified and quantified at PET in otherwise healthy adult men exposed to repetitive subconcussive traumatic events. © RSNA, 2023 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Haller in this issue.

Impact of Anticholinergic Medications on Speech Perception Performance after Cochlear Implantation.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and characterize the impact of anticholinergic medications, which have known adverse effects on cognition in older adults, on speech perception after cochlear implantation. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. SUBJECT POPULATION: Adult patients who underwent cochlear implantation between January 2010 and September 2020 with speech perception scores at 3, 6, and 12 months. INTERVENTIONS: Anticholinergic burden of patients' prescribed medications. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: AzBio speech perception scores after implantation. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-six patients had documented AzBio in quiet speech perception score at all three postactivation time points. Patients were divided into three groups by anticholinergic burden (ACB) score, including ACB = 0 (90 patients), 1 (23 patients), and ≥2 (13 patients). There was no statistically significant difference between ACB groups in audiologic performance at candidacy testing ( p = 0.77) or at 3 months after implantation ( p = 0.13). Beginning at 6 months, a lower mean AzBio was seen in patients with higher ACB scores (68% ACB = 0; 62% ACB = 1; 48.1% ACB ≥ 2; p = 0.03). At 12 months, there were further differences between the groups (71.0% ACB = 0, 69.5% ACB = 1, 48.0% ACB ≥2, p < 0.01). Controlling for the effects of age using multivariate linear regression showed persistent effects of ACB score on learning-related AzBio improvements. Comparatively, the negative impact of a single ACB score point was equivalent to nearly 10 years of aging ( p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Increased ACB is associated with worse speech perception scores after cochlear implantation, an effect that persists even when accounting for patient age, suggesting that these medications may have cognitive and learning effects that reduce cochlear implant performance.

Gender and Ethnic Diversity in Academic Facial Plastic Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Characterize academic facial plastic surgeons by demographics, time in practice, academic productivity, and faculty position. STUDY TYPE: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Facial plastic surgery faculty in US otolaryngology residencies with a title of assistant professor, associate professor, or professor were identified. Demographics and academic data were obtained from public profiles and Scopus. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-eight surgeons were identified. Females comprised 25.6%. Most surgeons were White (69.6%), followed by Asian (25%), Hispanic (3.6%), and Black (1.8%). Mean h-index was similar between sexes when controlling for years in practice (1.13 vs. 1.14, p = 0.575). Female representation was greater among early-career surgeons (41%) than among mid- or late-career surgeons (24% and 13%, respectively) (p = 0.006). The correlation of years in practice with academic title was similar between sexes. There was no difference in h-index (p = 0.384) or distribution of academic positions (p = 0.658) between White and non-White surgeons. There was no statistical difference in full professorship (p = 1.0) or research productivity (p = 0.974) between late-career White and non-White academic facial plastic surgeons. There was no statistical difference in promotion from assistant professorship (p = 0.506) or research productivity (p = 0.857) between White and non-White surgeons in practice for over 5 years. CONCLUSION: Female representation in academic facial plastic surgery is low, though greater gender parity among younger surgeons suggests an improving trend. Hispanic and Black surgeons remain significantly underrepresented in the field. Although increased diversity is needed in academic facial plastic surgery, established minority surgeons have experienced similar research productivity and advancement through academic ranks as their majority counterparts. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: N/A Laryngoscope, 133:1869-1874, 2023.

Update on MRI findings of osteomyelitis of long bones in the adult population.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the usefulness of new and established MRI signs of osteomyelitis in long bones in adults. METHODS: All patient records over a 9-year period with clinical or MRI suspicion for osteomyelitis were retrospectively reviewed, using strict criteria for proof of infection. Two musculoskeletal radiologists independently reviewed the MRIs of proven osteomyelitis. RESULTS: Out of 45 MRIs of confirmed osteomyelitis, 2 MRIs (4%) did not show confluent low-signal intensity on T1-weighted images, but all showed confluent high-signal intensity on T2-weighted images. Central hypoenhancing regions of marrow without abscess formation were found in 15-18/35 (43-51%) cases where gadolinium was given. We often found multiple foci of marrow replacement in the same bone. The areas of marrow involvement often had an irregular contour. Penumbra sign, marrow fat globules, and sequestra were uncommon. CONCLUSION: Multiple foci of bone marrow signal abnormalities, an irregular contour of marrow abnormality, and central marrow hypoenhancement without abscess are common signs of osteomyelitis of long bones in adults. Confluent low T1-signal intensity is not always present.

Failure and Revision Surgery After Cochlear Implantation in the Adult Population: A 10-year Single-institution Retrospective and Systematic Review of the Literature.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize failure rate and etiology after cochlear implantation; to identify predictors and describe outcomes after implant failure. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review and systematic review of the literature using PubMed and Embase. SETTING: Academic Cochlear Implant Center. SUBJECT POPULATION: Four hundred ninety-eight devices in 439 distinct adult patients. INTERVENTIONS: Unilateral or bilateral cochlear implantation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Implant failure rate and etiology. RESULTS: A total of 32 devices (5.9%) failed in 31 patients encompassing the following failure types in accordance with the European Consensus Statement of Cochlear Implants: 17 device failures (53.1%), 11 failures due to performance decrement/adverse reactions (34.4%), and 4 medical reasons (12.9%). There was no significant difference in age, sex, or manufacturer between patients with and without failures. Twenty-five percent of patients with failure leading to explantation had childhood onset of deafness compared to 12.1% of patients with adult-onset hearing loss (OR = 2.42; p = 0.04). Performance decrement/adverse reaction patients had an older average age at implantation compared to device failure patients (mean 68.5 yr 95% CI: 59.9-77.1 vs mean 47.6 yr, CI: 39.9-55.3, p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in time to failure, sex, or device manufacturer between the different types of failures. Twenty-nine patients who experienced CI failure underwent a revision surgery, while the remaining two opted for explantation without reimplantation. One patient who underwent revision surgery subsequently presented with a second failure and underwent a second revision, which was successful.In our systematic review, 815 citations were reviewed, and 9 studies were selected for inclusion. Overall failure rate across all studies was 5.5%. Device failure was the leading cause of failure in the majority (6/9) of studies, accounting for 40.8% of all failures. Medical reasons were the second leading cause at 33.6%, followed by performance decrement/adverse reaction (20.9%) and other (4.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Cochlear implant failure is a rare phenomenon. Childhood-onset of hearing loss appears to be associated with an increased risk of overall failure. Older patients are at increased risk for performance decrement/adverse reaction. Revision surgery success rates remain very high and patients with failure of any cause should be offered explantation with concurrent reimplantation.

Patient Perceptions of Head and Neck Ambulatory Telemedicine Visits: A Qualitative Study.

OBJECTIVE: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been unprecedented use of telemedicine for otolaryngology ambulatory visits. Patient satisfaction with telemedicine is an important metric, but survey-based questionnaires do not capture the nuances of the patient experience. This study aims to understand head and neck patients' perceptions about telemedicine clinic visits during COVID-19. METHODS: Fifty-six established patients who had video-based telemedicine visits with an otolaryngology-head and neck surgery faculty member between March 25, 2020, and April 24, 2020, completed unstructured telephone interviews. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze the interview data. Retrospective chart reviews were conducted to determine the patients' demographic, disease, and treatment information. RESULTS: The primary benefits of telemedicine were accessibility and cost and time savings. Primary limitations included the ability to perform a physical examination. Most patients expressed a willingness to participate in future remote visits if appropriate or necessitated by social circumstances. DISCUSSION: Telemedicine is a disruptive process, and long-term adoption requires understanding patient perception of and satisfaction with telemedicine. Head and neck cancer patients were generally satisfied with telemedicine. The study elucidated patient perceived benefits and limitations of telemedicine. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Continued implementation of telemedicine in otolaryngology-head and neck ambulatory clinics will require consideration of contextual features surrounding the virtual delivery of care, with particular attention to visit appropriateness for telemedicine and social circumstances.

Prevalence and Characterization of Interaction of Retrievable Inferior Vena Cava Filters with the Spine in Patients Undergoing Complex Filter Removal.

PURPOSE: To examine spinal interaction types and prevalence of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters in patients presenting for complex filter removal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 447 patients presenting for complex removal of IVC filters were reviewed, including patient demographics, IVC filter dwell time, filter fracture status, and computed tomography (CT) evidence of filter interaction with the spine. Spinal interaction was defined as a filter strut touching or penetrating into the vertebral body or disc. Patients with evidence of filter penetration and spinal interaction had abdominal CT that preceded filter removal assessed by 2 interventional radiologists to categorize the type of spinal interaction, including bony reaction and osteophyte formation. RESULTS: CT evidence of spinal interaction by the filter was found in 18% of patients (80/447). Interaction with the spine was more common in single point of fixation filters than filters with rails (P = .007) and was more likely in filters with round wires than flat wires (P = .0007). Patients with interaction had longer dwell times (mean [SD] 5.7 [4.46] y) compared with patients without interaction (mean [SD] 3.2 [3.85] y); this relationship was significant (P < .0001). Women were more likely than men to experience filter/spine interaction (P = .04). Filters with spinal interaction were more likely to be fractured (P = .001). Filter interaction was found in 38% (30/78) of patients with symptoms, including chest and back pain, compared with 14% (50/369) of patients without symptoms (P < .0001, odds ratio 3.99). CONCLUSIONS: Retrievable IVC filters may interact with the spine. These interactions are associated with longer filter dwell times, female sex, and round wire filter construction.

Telemedicine for head and neck ambulatory visits during COVID-19: Evaluating usability and patient satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a rapid increase in telemedicine visits. Otolaryngology patient satisfaction with these visits has not yet been extensively studied using a validated survey. METHODS: All patients who had telemedicine visits with three head and neck surgeons, by phone or video-based platform, between March 25, 2020 and April 24, 2020. Retrospective chart reviews were conducted to determine demographic, disease, and treatment information. Patients who had a video visit were contacted by telephone and, if they could be reached and consented, were administered the telehealth usability questionnaire (TUQ). RESULTS: Hundred surveys were completed. The average score across all questions was 6.01 on a scale from 1 to 7, where 7 indicated the highest level of patient agreement. The highest scores were for questions related to satisfaction with telehealth (6.29), while the lowest were related to reliability (4.86). CONCLUSIONS: Patients are generally highly satisfied with telemedicine.

Frozen Section Evaluation of Margin Status in Primary Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Head and Neck: A Correlation Study of Frozen Section and Final Diagnoses.

Frozen section is routinely used for intraoperative margin evaluation in carcinomas of the head and neck. We studied a series of frozen sections performed for margin status of head and neck tumors to determine diagnostic accuracy. All frozen sections for margin control of squamous carcinomas of the head and neck were studied from a 66 month period. Frozen and permanent section diagnoses were classified as negative or malignant. Correlation of diagnoses was performed to determine accuracy. One thousand seven hundred and ninety-six pairs of frozen section and corresponding permanent section diagnoses were obtained. Discordances were found in 55 (3.1%) pairs. In 35 pairs (1.9%), frozen section was reported as benign, but permanent sections disclosed carcinoma. In 21 cases, the discrepancy was due to sampling and in the remaining cases it was an interpretive error. In 20 cases (1.1%), frozen section was malignant, but the permanent section was interpreted as negative. Frozen section is an accurate method for evaluation of operative margins for head and neck carcinomas with concordance between frozen and permanent results of 97%. Most errors are false negative results with the majority of these being due to sampling issues.