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Lymph node ratio is a significant predictor for loco-regional recurrence after neck dissection in patients with papillary thyroid cancer

Lymph node metastases are common in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), yet the impact of nodal metastases on survival remains unclear. Lymph node density (LND) is the ratio between the number of positive lymph nodes excised and the total number of...

New MRI technique assesses treatment response in skull base osteomyelitis

This paper describes another useful imaging technique to monitor Necrotising Otitis Externa (NOE). Echoplanar diffusion weighted magnetic resonance (DW MR) shows high signal on the ‘ADC map’ with active disease and this reduces in signal intensity as symptoms improve. This...

Consider PCR testing in culture negative necrotising otitis externa

Necrotising otitis externa (NOE) often does not yield identification of a causative organism to treat although in 90% of cases it is a member of the pseudomonas species. The incidence of fungal NOE is not to be forgotten and this...

Management of necrotising otitis externa

Although uncommon, necrotising (previously malignant) otitis externa (nOE) can be very aggressive, particularly if not managed appropriately. In this study the authors perform a retrospective review of 25 patients admitted with nOE over a four year period at a tertiary...

How has management and outcomes of necrotising otitis externa changed over the past decade?

Necrotising otitis externa (NOE) remains a challenging condition for ENT departments, particularly with the increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the general population. There is no international consensus on treatment, although many institutions now have local guidelines drawn up...

OTO-104 in noise-induced and cisplatin-induced hearing loss

These two animal studies report on potential new applications for intra-tympanic OTO-104, a slow-release hydrogel formulation of dexamethasone that is currently being used in a Europe-wide randomised trial for Ménière’s disease. In the first paper, guinea pigs were given a...

Outcomes in endoscopic sinus surgery

This study assessed the effect of endoscopic sinus surgery with regard to olfactory function and nasal obstruction, in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients with, and without, nasal polyposis. One hundred and thirteen patients entered the study, and assessments were performed pre-...

A modification of the crescentic flap for nasal skin reconstruction

Non-melanoma skin cancers are the most frequent skin tumours and in over 25% of cases affect the nose. Following excision, the reconstruction may be challenging. Reconstruction aims to preserve the anatomical units, nasal functions and also an aesthetic final outcome....

Temperature-controlled radiofrequency treatment of the nasal valve confers sustained benefit

Aiming to investigate long-term efficacy and safety (three years post treatment), this was an extension of a previous multicentre, prospective, single-blinded, randomised controlled trial that investigated the effectiveness and safety of temperature-controlled radiofrequency treatment (TCRF) to the nasal valve (NV)...

Role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in managing papillary thyroid cancer

Although studies have shown that the presence of lymph nodes metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma does not alter survival, other studies have shown that it increases morbidity and mortality and that the presence of cervical lymph node metastasis at diagnosis...

Columellar strut grafts versus septal extension grafts – which is better?

Rhinoplasty is a commonly performed procedure that, while often pursued for cosmetic enhancement, can also significantly influence nasal airway function. This seven year retrospective cohort study performed at a tertiary centre in Australia compares two well established techniques for nasal...