Functional outcomes and caloric response changes after endolymphatic sac decompression.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate caloric response changes after endolymphatic sac decompression (ESD), together with hearing outcomes and the functional benefit of the operation. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of subjects who underwent endolymphatic sac decompression at a tertiary referral centre was performed. Data on audiological results, caloric testing, and functional level scale of the patients were analysed. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients who met our criteria were eligible for enrolment in the study. The average follow-up after surgery was 25 months (range, 13-41). Postoperative pure-tone threshold averages and reduced vestibular response values (RVR) were not significantly altered by ESD; whereas, functional level scores improved significantly. CONCLUSION: Endolymphatic sac decompression is a surgical procedure that preserves hearing and vestibular function, and improves the daily functional level of patients with Ménière's disease. ESD can be preferred both in bilateral and unilateral disease because it does not alter vestibular function and preserves hearing.

Olfactory function assessment of migraine patients by using the Sniffin' sticks test: A clinical study.

OBJECTIVE: This as a cross-sectional controlled clinical study. We hypothesis that the olfactory functions in migraine patients may differ from the healthy controls. In this study, we evaluated the olfactory functions by using a Sniffin' Sticks test battery, which is a reliable and semi quantitative test to evaluate for olfactory dysfunction. METHODS: Patients above 18 years of age who had migraine received a definitive diagnosis of migraine from experienced headache specialists based on the criteria of The International Classification of Headache Disorders-3 were included. Odor threshold, discrimination, and identification parameters were assessed using the "Sniffin' Sticks" test. RESULTS: One-hundred and one migraine patients (age [mean ± SD], 36.9 ± 10.4 years; range, 18-60 years) and sixty healthy volunteers (age 34.5 ± 13.2 years, range 18-65 years) participated in our study. The median odor threshold score [percentiles 25th-75th] was 8.3 [6.5-9.8] for the migraine group during attack free period and 4.5[3.6-6.0] for the control group. It was found that the migraine group had a median odor discrimination score of 10.0 [10.0-13.0] and the control group 12.0 [11.0-13.0]. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001 and p = 0.032 respectively). The median odor discrimination and identification scores were statistically significant higher for the participants with higher educational level group than in those of lower educational group (p < 0.0001). The median odor discrimination and identification scores of those without allodynia (12.0 [10.0-14.0] and 13.0 [10.0-13.0] respectively) were higher than that of those with allodynia (11.0 [9.0-12.0] and 11.0 [10.0-13.0] respectively) (p = 0.037 and p = 0.034 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We found that the odor thresholds, discrimination and identification scores of the migraine group demonstrate differences from those of the healthy group and in relation to allodynia.

The effect of bony obliteration on quality of life after tympano-mastoidectomy surgery: A prospective observational controlled cohort study.

Objectives: The study's primary objective was to compare the quality of life (QoL) and external auditory canal (EAC) hygiene among patients who underwent bony mastoid obliteration or meatoplasty after canal wall down (CWD) mastoidectomy. Methods: A prospective, observational, controlled cohort study was conducted at our tertiary referral university hospital. Twenty-eight patients older than 16 years of age with chronic otitis media who underwent CWD mastoidectomy were included. Two cohorts were followed: CWD mastoidectomy followed by mastoid obliteration (Group 1, n = 14) and CWD mastoidectomy followed by meatoplasty (Group 2, n = 14). The main outcome measures of total COMBI score (postoperative 6-month QoL) and EAC hygiene were compared between the groups. Results: The average age of the patients was 36.14 (12. 22) years; 15 (53.6%) were female and 13 (46.4%) were male. There were no differences in demographic variables, preoperative findings, or COMQ-12 (preoperative QoL) scores between groups. The average COMBI score of Group 1 (49.0 [8.66]) was not significantly different from Group 2 (46.79 [7.76]) (p = .482). Poor EAC hygiene was observed in eight (57.1%) patients in Group 2 and three (21.4%) patients in Group 1 (p = .06). In Group 1, no resorption of graft material was observed in 10 (71.4%) patients, minor resorption was observed in three (21.4%) patients, and significant resorption was observed in one (7.1%) patient. There were no significant differences in audiological findings between groups (p > .05). Conclusion: There were no significant differences regarding short-term postoperative QoL, EAC hygiene, or hearing outcomes between patients who underwent bony mastoid obliteration or meatoplasty after CWD mastoidectomy. Level of Evidence: 1b (individual prospective cohort study).

Long-term outcomes of facial nerve decompression by transmastoid versus middle cranial fossa approach for traumatic facial paralysis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare the long-term results of patients who underwent facial nerve decompression surgery with either transmastoid-supralabyrinthine (TMSL) or combined transmastoid- middle cranial fossa (MCF) approach for traumatic facial nerve paralysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective case-control study. The medical records of traumatic facial paralysis patients with House Brackmann (HB) Grade 6 who underwent facial nerve decompression surgery at via either TMSL or MCF approach between January 2011 and December 2017 were reviewed. The patients who had otic capsule involvement and total sensorineural hearing loss, therefore underwent translabyrinthine facial nerve decompression, and the patients follow-up period has not yet reached four years were excluded from the study. Postoperative HB score and hearing status were compared. RESULTS: Eleven patients were operated with MCF approach (group 1), while 9 patients with TMSL approach (group 2). Average age of patients was 20.04 + 15.2 (range:4-47) years. Three (15 %) patients were female, while 17 (85 %) was male. Geniculate ganglion (90 %) was the most affected segment of the facial nerve. Facial nerve edema was observed in all cases, while intraneural hematoma were encountered in 4 (20 %) cases. Statistically significant improvement in median HB scores were reached in both groups, and no significant difference was observed in post-operative HB scores between both techniques. No significant difference in median AC 0,5-4 khZ and BC 0,5-3 kHz thresholds was observed between both techniques. CONCLUSION: Even middle fossa approach is the best surgical technique to explore geniculate ganglion and labyrinthine segment of facial nerve, the functional results of transmastoid supralabrynthine approach, which is not needed craniotomy with low complication rate are as successful as middle fossa approach in selected patients.

Paranasal Sinus Fungus Ball, Anatomical Variations and Dental Pathologies: Is There Any Relation?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between anatomical variations and the fungus ball (FB), and the association between odontogenic etiologies and the maxillary sinus FB. Methods: We analyzed the clinical records of 66 patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery for FB. The anatomical variations determined were nasal septal deviation (NSD) and direction, presence of Onodi and Haller cell, concha bullosa and lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus. Further, dental X-ray records were reviewed to detect any possible odontogenic etiologies in patients with maxillary sinus FBs. Results: There were 41 female and 25 male patients. Positive fungal culture was found in 60 patients (91%) and the causative fungus was Aspergillus species in all cases. The correlation between NSD and localization of the maxillary sinus FB was statistically significant (p=0.0409). Maxillary sinus FB was more common on the concave side of the NSD. Presence of dental pathologies was significantly associated with maxillary sinus FB compared to the healthy side (p=0.0011). For sphenoid sinus FB, NSD was detected in a similar number for both the affected and unaffected side and there were no significant correlations (p>0.05). However, the relationship between sphenoid sinus FB and presence of lateral recess was significant (p=0.0262). Conclusion: Our study revealed that the maxillary sinus FB was more common on the concave side of the deviated septum. Also, dental pathologies or a presence of dental treatment history were associated with maxillary sinus FB.

Evaluation of Patients with Post-Traumatic Hearing Loss: A Retrospective Review of 506 Cases.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the audiological, radiological, and examination findings of patients who have been treated for hearing loss (HL) due to head trauma and evaluated in terms of causality to reveal current data, and to highlight the steps to be taken. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the reports of cases that had applied for disability with HL due to head injury and had been evaluated by the Forensic Medicine Institute between January 01, 2009 and January 01, 2019. RESULTS: Of the total cases of head trauma, 52.42% were not vehicle-related, and cases were observed to be concentrated in the age range of 19-40 (55.92%; n = 283). Although otorrhagia/otorrhea was the most common finding in all types of trauma, TM perforation was the most common finding in blast-type injuries. While the rate of newly developed unilateral HL was 84.2%, 72.7% of the patients had sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) . Temporal bone fractures were detected in 59.3% of the cases, and 60.2% of them were of the longitudinal type. Facial paralysis (FP) was detected in 28.6% of the cases, and there was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of HL compared to those without FP. Other nerve palsy was detected in 4.9% of the cases, and N. Abducens paralysis was the most common. CONCLUSION: Accompanying intracranial nerve injury, temporal fracture, and intracranial pathologies are considerably high in patients who develop HL following head trauma. The first examination requires a multidisciplinary approach to guide future disability applications.

Bilateral Ethmoidal Mucocele Causing Proptosis in a Child.

OBJECTIVES: Paranasal sinus mucocele is a benign cystic lesion, lined with respiratory epithelium and filled with mucoid secretions, which is generally seen in the ethmoid or frontal sinuses. Inflammation, trauma, fibrosis, neoplasm, and previous surgery play a role in etiology. Treatment of this condition requires marsupialization and drainage. Endoscopic surgery is the gold standard procedure. METHODS: A 2-year-old boy was referred to our clinic with a diagnosis of bilateral ethmoid mucocele causing proptosis in the right eye. General clinical examinations and routine blood analysis revealed normal health condition of the patient and comorbidities such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and/or ciliary dysfunction were excluded. The patient was operated with an endoscopic endonasal approach. RESULTS: As far as we know, our article reports the first case of bilateral ethmoidal sinus mucocele with no underlying comorbidity, such as cystic fibrosis or ciliary dyskinesia. CONCLUSIONS: Children are rarely affected by mucocele and if present at early age, there is usually an underlying cause. In pediatric patients with signs and symptoms suggestive of a mucocele, it is important to rule out other benign and malignant paranasal sinus pathologies. Marsupialization and drainage via endoscopic endonasal approach is the preferred treatment modality.

Most Cited Articles in Head and Neck Oncology.

OBJECTIVES: The number of citations an article receives is an important indication of its impact. The main objectives of this investigation provide readers with a practical guide in evaluating head and neck oncology literature and determine the characteristics of trends in ORL. METHODS: This was a retrospective bibliometric analysis that did not involve human participant. The Thomson Reuters Web of Science was searched to determine the citations of all published HNO articles. Most cited 300 article analyzed and a total of 100 articles were included in our investigation under the topic search "Head AND NECK AND (cancer OR carcinoma OR oncology)." Articles include malignancies other than head and neck are excluded. The top 100 cited articles were selected and analyzed by 2 independent investigators. Country, Institution, First Author, Journal name, study design, cites per year information gathered and analyzed. RESULTS: The journal with the highest number of top 100 cited articles was New England Journal Of Medicine with 19 paper, followed by The Journal of Clinical Oncology(17) and Cancer Research (12). The top article on the list (Radiotherapy plus cetuximab for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck-NEJM) has 2243 citations. A statistically significant association was found between the journal impact factor and the number of top 100 cited articles (P < .05). The United States had the highest number of articles (63). John Hopkins is differed from other institutions with 15 contributing articles. CONCLUSION: Our analysis provides an insight into the citation frequency of top cited articles published in HNO to help recognize the quality of the works, discoveries and the trends steering the study of HNO. This is also a modern reading list for young HNO scientist.

The Role of Indirect Laryngoscopy, Clinical and Ultrasonographic Assessment in Prediction of Difficult Airway.

OBJECTIVES: Pre-operative airway evaluation is essential to decrease the proportion of possible mortality and morbidity due to difficult airway (DA). The study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of pre-operative ultrasonographic airway assessment (UAA) and indirect laryngoscopy (IL) in predicting DA. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective obsevational study. METHODS: Preoperative clinical examination (body mass index [BMI], mallampati classification [MP], thyromental distance, sternomental distance, neck circumference), UAA (epiglottis-skin distance [ESD], hyoid bone-skin distance [HSD], the thickness of tongue root [ToTR], anterior commissure-skin distance [ACSD]) and IL with the rigid 70-degree laryngoscope were performed to predict DA (Cormack-Lehane grade 3 and 4). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PP), and negative predictive values of the parameters were assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-two of 140 (15.7%) patients were diagnosed with DA. The cut-off points of ESD, HSD, ToTR, ACSD, and BMI were 2.09 cm, 0.835 cm, 4.05 cm, 0.545 cm, and 27.10, respectively. AUC values were 0.874, 0.885, 0.871, 0.658, and 0.751 in the same order. AUC values for IL and MP were 0.773 and 0.925, respectively. MP and HSD had the best sensitivity (91%), IL grading had the best specificity (100%), and PP (100%) value among all measurements. The best-balanced sensitivity (91%), specificity (97%), and PP (88%) values were obtained by combining the IL with MP and ESD or with MP and HSD. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasonographic measurements and IL were found significantly correlated to predict DA. Combined parameters, the IL with MP and ESD or with MP and HSD, are the best parameters in predicting the DA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E555-E560, 2021.

Determining the number and distribution of intraparotid lymph nodes according to parotidectomy classification of European Salivary Gland Society: Cadaveric study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the distribution of the parotid gland's intraglandular lymph nodes using the parotidectomy zones determined by the parotidectomy classification of the European Salivary Gland Society (ESGS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 128 parotid glands were dissected from 64 fresh cadavers, by bilateral parotidectomy without additional incision within the standard autopsy procedure, and categorized. RESULTS: Eighty-six percent of the IGLNs were located in the superficial lobe and 14% in the deep lobe. An average of 7.09 ± 3.55 IGLNs were found for each of the gland; there were 6.11 ± 3.28 in the superficial lobe and 0.98 ± 1.46 in the deep lobe. While the most common lymph nodes were found in level 2 with 47.7%, only 5% of IGLNs were at level 4. According to the proposed modification, the most common lymph nodes (35.24%) were located at level 2B. CONCLUSION: Level 2B was found to contain significantly more lymph nodes than other levels, which has not been evaluated before in literature.

Malignant Transformation of Parotid Gland Non-sebaceous Lymphadenoma: Case Report and Review of Literature.

Non-sebaceous lymphadenoma is a sporadic benign tumor of salivary glands. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical properties, diagnostic criteria, and theories for the histologic origin of the disease have been defined and well-discussed in the literature. However, none of the cases showed malignant transformation to date. We reported a case of 54 years old female patient with a right preauricular mass. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a 2 cm, well-defined contrast-enhanced mass in the right parotid gland. Fine needle aspiration cytology was undiagnostic but suspicious for malignancy. Total parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation was done. In the histopathological examination, non-sebaceous lymphadenoma regions and malignant cells with abundant cytoplasm, large vesicular nuclei, and prominent nucleoli, which occupied approximately 70% of the mass, were seen. The diagnosis was undifferentiated carcinoma arisen from non-sebaceous lymphadenoma. Adjuvant radiotherapy was given. No recurrence was detected during ten months of follow-up. This case is the first case of a malignancy developed from non-sebaceous lymphadenoma.

A Rarely Seen Mass of Nasal Cavity: Seromucinous Hamartoma.

Seromucinous hamartoma (SH) is a rarely seen benign polypoid mass of the sinonasal tract. Although the most common presentation symptom is nasal obstruction, most of the patients are asymptomatic. In this paper, the authors present an additional case of SH and discuss its differential diagnosis. A 34-year-old male patient presented with progressive nasal obstruction and serous nasal discharge for several months. A well-defined polypoid mass was detected in the left nasal cavity during the endoscopic assessment. Preoperative biopsy was reported as benign polypoid lesion. The mass was resected via transnasal endoscopic approach and final pathological examination was notified as SH.The SH is an uncommon tumor, originates from nasal septum in the most cases and presents as a well-circumscribed polypoid mass. Radiological imaging modalities and biopsy should be performed to distinguish from the sinonasal malignancies. Complete surgical excision is recommended treatment and recurrence is almost never.

Comprehensive analysis of parotid mass: A retrospective study of 369 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To present the results of patients who underwent superficial or total parotidectomy because of parotid gland tumors in our tertiary care clinic. METHODS: The data of 362 patients who underwent parotid surgery from January 2008 to November 2015 were collected and analyzed in demographic, histopathological features, and complications. RESULTS: Three hundred sixty-nine cases (performed in 359 patients) were analyzed and we assessed complications of parotid surgery such as transient or permanent facial paralysis and Frey's syndrome. Pleomorphic adenomas and Warthin's tumors consisted 74% of all parotid gland tumors. These tumors were generally located in the superficial lobe and tail of the parotid gland (81%). Also, tumor size in the positive surgical margin group was larger than in the negative surgical margin group (p=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Most of parotid gland tumors are benign. However, the frequency of malignancy increases in deep lobe of parotid gland. High grade malignant tumors have more tendency to have positive surgical margin during surgery, and facial paresis preoperatively.

Repair of Tegmen Tympani Defect Presenting with Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea Using the Middle Cranial Fossa Approach.

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhea frequently occurs without temporal bone trauma, fracture, surgery, or any identifiable causes. It is usually associated with tegmen tympani defects of the temporal bone in adults. The congenital origin theory and the arachnoid granulation theory have been accepted to explain the tegmen tympani defect. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are used to show the defects, brain tissue, and the meninges. We recently encountered three cases of spontaneous CSF otorrhea with a defect on the tegmental plate of the temporal bone. High-resolution CT (HRCT) scan of the temporal bones showed the tegmen tympani defects. The defects were successfully repaired with temporal muscle fascia or fascia lata graft and fibrin glue using the middle cranial fossa approach via craniotomy.

Frontal Sinus Pneumatization Affects Height of the Lateral Lamella and Position of Anterior Ethmoidal Artery.

Preoperative evaluation of the frontal sinus (FS) and associated anatomical structures may reduce the risk of intraoperative complications and facilitate the management of potential complications. In this study, the authors aimed to evaluate relationship between FS pneumatization and critical anatomical structures. Paranasal sinus computerized tomography scans of 350 sides of 175 patients were evaluated. The pneumatization pattern of the FS, FS dimensions (on the axial, coronal, and sagittal slices), anterior ethmoidal artery, and depth of the of olfactory fossa were evaluated for every patient on both sides. There were 111 (63.4%) male and 64 (36.6%) female patients. The authors found a statistically significant correlation between the depth of olfactory fossa and the anterior ethmoidal artery position (P <0.001). As the FS pneumatization increases, the likelihood of the anterior ethmoid artery to run separately from the skull base also increases. Also, there was a statistically significant difference among the types in terms of the depth of the olfactory fossa (Kruskal-Wallis P = 0.002). The depth of the olfactory fossa increases depending on the increase of FS pneumatization.Our study shows that the olfactory fossa depth (skull-base depth) increases as FS pneumatization increases. In light of this information, the evaluation of the preoperative sinus computerized tomography scans will help in performing safer endoscopic sinus surgeries.

[A juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma: our 10-year experience in a tertiary centre]. / Jüvenil nazofarengeal anjiofibrom: Üçüncü basamak bir merkezdeki 10 yillik deneyim.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the demographic characteristics, tumor stage, surgical treatment and recurrence rate among patients operated with a juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 45 patients (44 males, 1 female; mean age 21 years, range 9 to 55 years) who underwent surgery at Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Otorhinolaryngology clinic between March 2006 and July 2015. The patients were classified according to age, sex, presenting symptom, tumor stage, surgical procedure applied, preoperative embolization, perioperative blood transfusion, complications, and the presence of recurrence. RESULTS: The most common presenting symptoms were epistaxis (78%) and nasal obstruction (73%). Preoperative angiography was performed on all patients and embolization was applied in eligible patients (69%). Transnasal endoscopic approach in 31 patients, midfacial degloving in six patients, and lateral rhinotomy approach in three patients were applied. The overall recurrence rate was 31% (n=14). CONCLUSION: The most important factor in determining the risk of postoperative recurrence is the preoperative tumor stage. Preoperative embolization reduces the amount of perioperative bleeding. Endoscopic transnasal approach decreases the rate of complications and length of hospitalization.