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Background: Microlaryngoscopy is a basic technical skill in Oto‐HNS. It is essential for residency programs to have a competency‐based assessment tool to evaluate residents' performance of this procedure. An Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) is a procedure‐specific assessment, which consists of the following: (a) Operation‐Specific Checklist and (b) Global Rating Scale (GRS). Objective: The objective of this study was to create an OSATS for adult microlaryngoscopy. Methods: This was a prospective study, with an initial qualitative phase for OSATS development (Phase I), and a clinical pilot phase (Phase II). In Phase I, interviews were conducted with three laryngologists to establish a stepwise description of adult microlaryngoscopy and review a previously validated GRS for relevance to microlaryngoscopy. Responses were used to create a framework for the OSATS. The OSATS was then presented to Oto‐HNS residents and laryngologists in an alternating fashion, for review of clarity and relevance. A pilot study was then performed to evaluate the resident performance of adult microlaryngoscopy. Multiple regression analysis was carried out to investigate whether training level, case complexity, and previous OSATS exposure could predict participant scores. Results: Phase I of this study led to the creation of a 34‐item OSATS. The pilot study (N = 28 procedures) revealed that training level was significantly correlated with increased OSATS scores. There was no statistically significant correlation between case complexity and resident scores. Assessors reported the perceived utility of the OSATS and intent for use in residency training. Conclusion: Application of the proposed OSATS will allow for competency‐based assessment of the resident performance of microlaryngoscopy. Level of Evidence: NA Laryngoscope, 133:2719–2724, 2023 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucous membrane plasmacytosis (MMP) is rare condition characterized by diffuse plasma cell infiltration of upper aero‐digestive tract mucosa. It results in epithelial hyperplasia that has a classic papillary appearance. We describe a case of MMP primarily affect laryngeal and oropharyngeal mucosa resulting in progressive airway obstruction. We highlight airway management and histopathology. The patient had near complete clinical response with inhaled budesonide, which has not yet been described as a treatment option in the literature. Laryngoscope, 133:70–72, 2023 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives/hypothesis: Amyloidosis represents a heterogeneous group of disorders marked by abnormal protein formation and deposition. Laryngeal amyloidosis is rare and classically thought to remain isolated with little risk of systemic involvement or associated malignancy. This study sought to further characterize differences in clinical characteristics between patients with laryngeal and nonlaryngeal amyloidosis.Study Design: Retrospective case-control study.Methods: The Stanford Translational Research Integrated Database Environment was searched to identify patients with biopsy-confirmed laryngeal amyloidosis and patients with amyloidosis without laryngeal involvement on endoscopy. Mann-Whitney U and χ2 tests were used for statistical analysis.Results: Of 865 patients treated for amyloidosis between 1996 and 2016, 22 (2.5%) patients with biopsy-proven laryngeal amyloidosis were identified. An additional 22 patients with amyloidosis of a different organ and negative laryngoscopy-and therefore without laryngeal amyloidosis-were identified as controls. Compared to these controls with nonlaryngeal amyloidosis, patients with laryngeal amyloidosis were younger (mean age 52.8 years vs. 68.4 years, P < .0006), and 18% had additional organ involvement. Immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis was the most common subtype in both groups of patients. Eighty-six percent of patients with laryngeal amyloidosis required surgical excision, and of these patients, over 30% required multiple excisions.Conclusions: There is a significant rate (18%) of multiorgan involvement in patients with laryngeal amyloidosis, which contradicts conventional concepts that this is an isolated disorder. This finding could have a significant impact on the evaluation and management of patients with laryngeal amyloidosis.Level Of Evidence: 3b. Laryngoscope, 128:670-674, 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a case of neck pain in a middle-aged woman, initially attributed to a retropharyngeal infection and treated with urgent intubation. With the help of computed tomography, the diagnosis was later revised to acute prevertebral calcific tendinitis, a self-limiting condition caused by abnormal calcium hydroxyapatite deposition in the longus colli muscles. It is critical to differentiate between these two disease entities due to dramatic differences in management. A discussion of acute prevertebral calcific tendinitis and its imaging findings is provided below.