Preoperative evaluation of depth of invasion in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The inclusion of depth of invasion (DOI) in the American Joint Committee on Cancer's staging system for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has major clinical impacts. Recent studies have evaluated the reliability of imaging modalities and biopsy techniques to measure DOI preoperatively. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to comprehensively include all previously described methods to measure preoperative DOI in oral tongue SCC (OTSCC) and to compare their reliability. A systematic review was conducted on PubMed, Embase and Cochrane according to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies that evaluated the reliability of DOI measured on biopsy or imaging (rDOI) by comparing it to DOI on histopathology (pDOI) were included for extraction. A meta-analysis was conducted to obtain pooled correlation coefficients for each imaging modality. The pooled correlation coefficients between rDOI and pDOI were 0.86 (CI95% = [0.82-0.88]) and 0.80 (CI95% = [0.70-0.87]) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies and computed tomography (CT) studies, respectively. For ultrasound (US), the correlation coefficient could only be measured by including studies which measured not only DOI but also tumor thickness. It was 0.89 (CI95%= [0.82-0.94]). Overall, MRI is the better studied modality. It has a good reliability to measure preoperative rDOI in OTSCC. CT is less studied but appears to be less reliable. US cannot be compared to these imaging modality as it has been used more often to measure TT than DOI.

A Randomized Controlled Trial on Facial Muscle Therapy in Nasal Obstruction.

Background: Muscular exercises of the lateral nasal wall have been described as a potential treatment of nasal valve obstruction. The objective of this study was to compare whether nasal exercises improve nasal obstruction, using a randomized controlled model. Methods: Participants were randomized into groups performing exercises targeting nasal (group A) or facial (group B) muscles. Nasal obstruction was measured using a validated standardized patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) questionnaire (Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey [SCHNOS]) at enrolment and at the end of the 8 weeks program. Results: Fifty-six patients completed the study. Upon completion of the programs, a three-point SCHNOC-C score improvement (95% [confidence interval, CI] = [-9 to 2]) was seen in Group A, whereas an eight-point score improvement (95% [CI] = [-15 to -0.4]) was observed in Group B. A seven-point SCHNOS-O score difference (95% [CI] = [-13 to -1]) was observed in Group A, whereas a difference of 15 points was seen in Group B (95% [CI] = [-22 to -8]). No significant difference was found between group A and B (p = 0.373 and p = 0.065, respectively). Conclusion: This randomized controlled trial suggested that nasal muscle exercises show no improvement on nasal obstruction.

Chronic suppurative otomastoiditis due to nontuberculous mycobacteria: A case series.

INTRODUCTION: Eight new cases of chronic otomastoiditis due to nontuberculous mycobacteria were reported at Center Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine (CHUSJ) between 2008 and 2018. In the literature, only 89 cases have been described since 1972. This case series aims to define the clinical presentation, infectious pathogens, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic means employed in cases of nontuberculous mycobacteria otitis media encountered in our tertiary pediatric reference center. METHODS: All cases of otitis media caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria diagnosed at Sainte-Justine between 2008 and 2018 were reviewed. Species identification was retrieved from the Laboratoire de Santé Publique du Québec, Quebec's provincial public health and reference laboratory. RESULTS: All 8 cases occurred in immunocompetent children. Clinical features on presentation were chronic tympanostomy tube otorrhea with abundant granulation tissue in 7 cases. CT scan demonstrated coalescent mastoiditis in 3 cases. The median delay between initial presentation and identification of nontuberculous mycobacteria was 81 days. Seven patients had a Mycobacterium (M.) abscessus complex infection. Treatment consisted of weekly microscopic granulation debridement, a combined systemic antibiotic therapy for an average duration of 21 weeks, as well as instillation of boric acid into the middle ear. While 3 cases required at least one mastoidectomy, 2 cases were treated only medically. CONCLUSION: Nontuberculous mycobacteria otitis media is a rare clinical entity, for which high clinical suspicion and specific microbiological analyses could minimize diagnostic delay. The use of boric acid as a desiccating agent may allow for a better local control.

North American survey and systematic review on caudal Septoplasty.

BACKGROUND: Surgical correction of caudal septal deviation is a technically challenging step of functional rhinoplasty. Multiple surgical techniques have been described in the literature but comparing the efficacy of each in relieving obstruction presents a challenge. Outcome measures are necessary to adequately compare techniques. This study aims to describe the current caudal septoplasty techniques of Otolaryngologists and Facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons (FPRS), as well as their use of outcome measures, and to compare these practices with surgical trends described in the literature. METHODS: An online survey was sent to three Otolaryngology and FPRS associations in Canada and the United States. A systematic review was conducted on SCOPUS and PubMed to classify the caudal septoplasty techniques described in the literature and the outcome measurement tools used. RESULTS: Our survey identified that caudal septoplasty is more commonly performed by surgeons with an FPRS training background. The most common techniques were the swinging door technique (69.5%), extracorporeal septoplasy (46.7%), cartilage scoring (45.3%), and splinting with bone (25.4%). Despite using a vast array of surgical techniques, North American physicians rarely rely on standardized outcome assessment tools. Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) are used almost twice as frequently in the literature as they are by surgeons in their clinical practice. CONCLUSION: We recommend that future studies of caudal septoplasty include an assessment of both form and function using a validated PROM such as the Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey.

Office-Based Stapes Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to provide a proof of concept and to assess the success and safety of stapes surgery for otosclerosis under local anesthesia in an office-based setting (OBS) as compared with a hospital operating room setting (ORS). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: We reviewed all patients who underwent stapes surgery by the same surgeon from October 2014 to January 2017 at our tertiary care center (ORS, n = 36, 52%) and in an OBS (n = 33, 48%). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The surgical technique was identical in both groups. All patients had a temporal bone computed tomography scan and audiogram within the 6 months prior to surgery. Air-bone gaps (ABGs), bone conduction, and air conduction pure tone average values were calculated. Preoperative results for pure tone average, bone conduction, ABG, and word recognition scores were compared with early (4 months) and late (12 months) follow-up audiograms. Intra- and postoperative complications were compared. RESULTS: Both groups were comparable in terms of demographic characteristics and severity of disease. The mean 1-year postoperative ABG was 5.66 dB (95% CI = 4.42-6.90) in the ORS group and 6.30 dB (95% CI = 4.50-8.10) in the OBS group (P = .55). ABG improved by 24.27 dB (95% CI = 21.40-27.13) in the ORS group and 23.15 dB (95% CI = 18.45-27.85) in the OBS group (P = .68). Complication rates did not differ, although this study remains underpowered. CONCLUSIONS: In this small group of patients, the success of stapes surgery performed in an OBS and its complications were comparable to those of an ORS, thus providing an alternative to patients on long operating room waiting lists.

Lupus mastitis as a first manifestation of systemic disease: About two cases with a review of the literature.

Lupus mastitis is an uncommon manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that affects the subcutaneous fat in the breast, much like lupus panniculitis, but additionally involves the mammary gland. We report on two women for whom lupus mastitis was the initial manifestation of SLE and provide a literature review of 34 additional cases reported in the Anglo-Saxon and French literature since 1971, making this the largest review to date. Lupus mastitis (LM) can manifest clinically as subcutaneous masses that may be painful, or may present cutaneous involvement such as thickening and discolouration. The radiologic manifestations of LM are broad and include calcifications, masses and asymmetries. Most often, excluding malignancy requires percutaneous biopsy, with histologic findings that are virtually pathognomonic for SLE. Thus, surgery is avoided and medical management can begin, antimalarial drugs and corticosteroids in most cases.