Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology

OBJECTIVES: The American Academy of Otolaryngology clinical practice guidelines recommend cross-sectional imaging or fine needle aspiration for any neck mass in an adult that persists beyond 2 weeks that is not convincingly related to a bacterial infection. We aimed to assess the role of ultrasound in the evaluation and management of neck masses. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of adult patients evaluated in the Otolaryngology clinic at a single institution from December 2014 to December 2015 for a visible or palpable neck mass persistent beyond 2 weeks who had an ultrasound exam as part of their initial workup...

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to compare the results of hearing tests performed using the uHear application with those of standard audiometry in Thai people in Bangkok. METHODS: From December 2018 to November 2019, a prospective observational study was conducted involving Thai participants aged between 18 and 80 years. All participants were tested using standard audiometry and the uHear application in a soundproof booth and in a typical hearing environment...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency-specific benefits of ossicular chain preservation compared to performing disarticulations and reconstructions in transmastoid facial nerve decompression surgery in patients with an intact ossicular chain. METHODS: A retrospective chart review (January 2007 and June 2018) of patients undergoing transmastoid facial nerve decompression on the intact middle ear for severe facial palsy at a tertiary referral center. Surgery was performed with ossicular chain disarticulation on an as-needed basis using either ossicular chain preservation (without ossicular disarticulation), incudostapedial separation, or incus disarticulation technique...

OBJECTIVE: Postthyroidectomy voice and swallowing symptoms (PVSS) may occur even in absence of laryngeal nerve injuries, which remains poorly understood. The objective of this review was to investigate the occurrence of PVSS and the potential etiological role of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). DESIGN: Scoping review. METHODS: Three investigators search PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases for studies investigating the relationship between reflux and PVSS...

OBJECTIVES: Patients with single-sided deafness (SSD) may experience difficulties with speech perception in noise, sound localization, have tinnitus and experience a reduced quality of life (QoL). contralateral routing of sound hearing aids (CROS) or bone conduction devices (BCD) may partly improve subjective speech communication and QoL in SSD patients. A trial period with these devices can help in making a well-informed choice of treatment. Our aim was to evaluate factors influencing the choice of treatment made after a BCD and CROS trial period in adult SSD patients...

OBJECTIVE: A key outcome measure in the clinical evaluation of dysphonia is the Voice Handicap Index (VHI-10). The clinical validity of the VHI-10 was established from surveys administered in the physician's office. We aim to understand whether VHI-10 responses remain reliable when the questionnaire is completed in settings other than the physician's office. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study conducted over a 3-month period in the outpatient laryngology setting...

OBJECTIVE: Social functioning is an important factor in the evaluation of postoperative health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for pituitary adenoma patients. In a prospective cohort study multidimensional HRQoL of non-functioning (NFA) and functioning (FA) pituitary adenoma patients were evaluated following endoscopic endonasal surgery using the endoscopic endonasal sinus and skull base surgery questionnaire (EES-Q). METHODS: Prospectively, 101 patients were included...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of large vestibular aqueduct syndrome (LVAS) on middle ear sound transmission using wideband absorbance immittance (WAI). METHODS: WAI results from young adult LVAS patients and normal adults were compared. RESULTS: Averaged energy absorbance (EA) at ambient and peak pressure in the LVAS group showed differences to the normal group. Under ambient pressure, the average EA of the LVAS group was significantly higher than the normal group at frequencies 472-866 Hz and 6169-8000 Hz ( p  < ...

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to predict occurrence of facial nerve stimulation (FNS) in cochlear implanted patients for far-advanced otosclerosis (FAO) by correlating preoperative computed tomography (CT)-scan data to FNS and to evaluate FNS impact on hearing outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective analysis on 91 ears (76 patients) implanted for FAO. Electrodes were straight (50%) or perimodiolar (50%). Demographic data, extension of otosclerosis on preoperative CT scan, occurrence of FNS, and speech performance were analyzed...

OBJECTIVES: Patients are increasingly relying on YouTube for health information. We objectively evaluated the quality and comprehensiveness of sialendoscopy YouTube videos available to patients. We further investigated the relationship between video content and video popularity. METHODS: We identified 150 videos using the search term "sialendoscopy." Videos were excluded if they were lectures for medical professionals, operating room (OR) recordings, unrelated, non-English, or non-audio...

OBJECTIVES: Access to cochlear implantation may be negatively influenced by extended travel time to a cochlear implant (CI) center or lower socioeconomic status (SES) for the individual. There is a critical need to understand the influence of these variables on patient appointment attendance for candidacy evaluations, and CI recipients' adherence to post-activation follow-up recommendations that support optimal outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of adult patients referred to a CI center in North Carolina for initial cochlear implantation candidacy evaluation between April 2017 and July 2019 was conducted...

OBJECTIVE: Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has become an effective treatment for early-stage oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs). We aimed to analyze the clinical safety and efficacy of TORS for human papilloma virus (HPV)-positive and HPV-negative OPSCC in China. METHODS: Patients with OPSCC of pT1-T2 stage who underwent TORS from March 2017 to December 2021 were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients (HPV-positive, n  = 25; HPV-negative, n  = 58) were included...

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and early surgical outcomes of transoral robotic and endoscopic thyroidectomy conducted by a novice surgeon. METHODS: We analyzed 27 patients who underwent transoral thyroidectomy between December 2018 and November 2021. All the surgeries were performed by a novice surgeon without prior endoscopic or robotic surgery experience; the surgeon had experienced 12 cases of transcervical thyroidectomy before adopting transoral thyroidectomy...

BACKGROUND: The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in an unprecedented global pandemic. Most infected patients are either asymptomatic or have mild upper respiratory infection symptoms. However, life-threatening sequelae have been observed. In this report, we reviewed nine cases of patients with severe complications from sinonasal disease in the setting of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: IRB approval was obtained prior to study initiation...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the 5-year survival outcomes of patients with oropharyngeal cancer treated with transoral laser microsurgery at our institution. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal cohort study of all cases of oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer or clinically unknown primaries diagnosed at our institution between September 1, 2014, to December 31, 2019, treated with primary transoral laser microsurgery were analyzed. Patients with a previous history of head and neck radiation were excluded from analysis...

OBJECTIVES: Conchal Crus is a kind of congenital auricular deformation which is often overlooked. Few studies reported a large number of cases. We compared the efficacy of EarWell and self-made conchal formers on Conchal Crus to summarize our experience of correction and to find out the influencing factors. METHODS: Two groups of Conchal Crus babies underwent conchal correction with the EarWell and self-made conchal formers respectively. The combined auricular deformities in these babies were corrected with EarWell Infant Ear Correction System...

OBJECTIVES: We previously reported that >50% of postoperative opioids prescribed at our institution went unused for common otolaryngologic procedures. Based on these findings, we instituted multimodal, evidence-based guidelines for postoperative pain management. In the second part of our multiphasic study, we evaluated the effects of these guidelines on (1) quantity of unused opioids, (2) patient satisfaction, and (3) institutional perceptions toward the opioid epidemic and prescribing guidelines...

INTRODUCTION: Most patients significantly benefit from cochlear implantation (CI). However, speech understanding varies widely, with a small proportion of patients demonstrating limited audiometric outcomes. While there are well-documented determinants of poor performance, there remains a cohort of patients that do not meet expected outcomes. Preoperative prognostication is desirable to manage expectations, ensure value of the intervention, and reduce risk. The objective of the study is to evaluate variables found within a single CI center's most limited functioning cohort following implantation...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate gravity perception disturbance (GPD) in patients with Meniere disease (MD), we classified GPD type based on the results of the head-tilt perception gain (HTPG) and the head-upright subjective visual vertical (HU-SVV) evaluated by the head-tilt SVV (HT-SVV) test in patients with unilateral MD. METHODS: We conducted the HT-SVV test on 115 patients with unilateral MD and 115 healthy controls. Among the 115 patients, the period from the first vertigo episode to the examination (PFVE) was known for 91 patients...

OBJECTIVE: Analyze efficacy of self-directed resident microvascular training versus a mentor-led course. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized, single-blinded cohort study. SETTING: Academic tertiary care center. METHODS: Sixteen resident and fellow participants were randomized into two groups stratified by training year. Group A completed a self-directed microvascular course with instructional videos and self-directed lab sessions...