Journal Reviews
Not to be mis-underestimated
It is a very rare occurrence to find a paper looking at NF2 and the auditory system. There seems to only be a couple on NF2 prevalence in the population, so this is unsurprising. As far as I can recall...
Total glossectomy and laryngectomy
This review paper analysed studies published between January 2000 and January 2024, assessing the functional outcomes of total glossectomy combined with laryngectomy. The primary outcomes included speech ability, swallowing function and gastrostomy tube dependence. Secondary outcomes considered were disease recurrence...
Eagle syndrome and vascular complications
Eagle syndrome is characterised by an elongated styloid process, which is anatomically positioned between the external carotid artery laterally and the internal carotid artery and internal jugular vein medially. As a result, vessel impingement can be exacerbated by head movements,...
The ACS-NSQIP study – predictive risk factors and outcomes in primary malignant parotid tumour surgery
Malignant parotid gland tumours occupy a good proportion of the ENT surgeon’s operative caseload. Large standardised datasets for malignant parotid tumour surgery are limited. This international multi-institutional study is based on the pooled American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality...
In the West of Scotland, what factors impact and what are the survival trends for laryngeal cancer?
The TV and radio presenter Jamie Theakston recently returned to his radio show to announce he is cancer free. He had been off air for a year after having surgery to treat early-stage laryngeal cancer. His diagnosis was made when...
Outcomes of reirradiation for recurrent head and neck SCC
Recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is often a challenge to manage when radiotherapy has previously been administered as a component of the initial treatment. Salvage surgery is usually the preferred modality of treatment, but for unresectable...
Bones, stones and surgical moans: rethinking PTH dynamics in parathyroid surgery
Intraoperative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) testing has revolutionised minimally invasive unilateral parathyroidectomy (MIP) as the gold standard treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism, replacing old-timey four-gland exploration. IOPTH testing ensures reliable excision of all hypersecreting glands, including those pesky hard-to-find ones, without relying...
Quinsy and culture
Peritonsillar abscesses are frequently encountered in clinical practice. Standard treatment includes empirical medical treatment and drainage. This study aimed at evaluating the value of culture and sensitivity testing of the aspirate in guiding antibiotic treatment. Patients received empirically amoxycillin, amoxycillin...
One-stage laryngotracheal reconstruction in young infants
Airway inadequacy is a significant problem in young infants and may go undetected until inflammatory conditions trigger acute episodes, some of which require a tracheostomy. In addition to breathing difficulties, feeding problems are also common. This study involves 11 children...
AI in ENT practice
Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are becoming increasingly prevalent in our lives and there has been both enthusiasm and caution for using AI in healthcare. A recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported on a trial examining...
Outcomes of office-based biopsies for laryngopharyngeal carcinoma – faster diagnoses and equivalent oncological outcomes as compared to biopsies under general anaesthesia
Patients in the UK with head and neck cancers are the most likely to face long waits to treatment in comparison to other cancer sites, with only just over half commencing treatment within 62 days of being referred on a...
Maxillomandibular advancement and airway morphology
This is a cadaveric study comparing alterations in airway volume. Seven advancements of the maxillomandibular complex were undertaken, each with a 2 mm incremental advancement being scanned with a total of eight scans per cadaver. They showed that comparisons between...
