Journal Reviews

American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy cover image.

An advance in imaging for sinonasal tumours?

5 July 2022 | | Rhinology / Sinus | apparent diffusion coefficient, benign, diffusion-weighted, dynamic contrast enhanced, functional imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, malignant, masses, sinonasal, time signal intensity

Benign sinonasal growths are incredibly common, and malignant sinonasal growths thankfully rare. We know that malignant tumours often present late, and the imaging can sometimes be misleading, so the authors here compare using diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), dynamic contrast enhanced...

Continuous Ambulatory Vestibular Assessment (CAVA)

2 March 2022 | | Audiology - Diagnostic, Neurotology, Otology | Ménière’s disease, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, dizziness, migraine, nystagmus, vestibular diseases

This article presents initial test findings using a novel system called CAVA - Continuous Ambulatory Vestibular Assessment. Akin to the 24-hour ECG tape to identify cardiac arrhythmias, this system aims to continuously monitor the presence of a nystagmus pattern in...

Dysphagia journal cover image.

Benign oesophageal strictures: overview and management strategies

6 September 2021 | | Laryngology / Swallowing / Voice | Endoscopic dilation, Esophageal benign stricture, Stent

Benign oesophageal strictures may have several attributable causes including caustic injuries, long-term acid reflux, eosinophilic oesophagitis, anastomotic strictures and endoscopic therapy. Endoscopic dilation via bougies or balloon dilators may treat most strictures successfully and satisfactorily. However, in some situations treatment...

Extracapsular dissection versus parotidectomy

30 April 2020 | | Head and Neck | benign parotid tumour, extracapsular dissection, literature review, superficial parotidectomy

This is a literature review of 16 papers using the PRISMA protocol. In comparing the two techniques, not surprisingly, they found that extracapsular dissection was associated with a reduced incidence of facial nerve paralysis and Frey’s syndrome and a shorter...

Does the season affect the diagnosis of vestibular disorders?

7 January 2020 | | Vestibular Disorders | BPPV, ENT practices, Germany, Meniere’s disease, Vestibular disorders, benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo, demographic data, seasonal variation, vestibular neuritis, vestibular neuronitis

There are mixed results in the literature regarding seasonal variation in the presentation of various peripheral vestibular disorders. In this large population study involving over 20,000 patients recruited from 116 ENT practices across Germany, the authors analysed the demographic characteristics...

DIY Epley manoeuvre

1 October 2018 | | Otology, Tinnitus | Particle repositioning maneuver, Posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Recurrence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

This is an interesting paper that looks at getting patients to do their own particle repositioning manoeuvre (PRM) after having it done by a clinician (‘Epley’ to you and me although there are some slight differences) once a week for...

Type 2 diabetes and BPPV

1 July 2016 | | Type 2 Diabetes, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, hypertension

Previous research has shown an association between BPPV and certain medical conditions such as hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and type 1 diabetes. The authors in this retrospective observational study investigated the interaction between BPPV and type 2 diabetes by examining the ‘role...

Benefit of prolonged voice rest following phonosurgery

1 September 2015 | | benign laryngeal lesions, phonosurgery, voice rest

The recommendation for voice rest following surgery is not agreed amongst surgeons, regarding either the type of voice rest (absolute or relative) or the optimal duration. In this ongoing study, 31 elective patients operated on for benign laryngeal lesions were...