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With the widespread adoption of intranasal radiofrequency (RF) devices, our objective was to report national adverse events (AEs) associated with their use. The Food and Drug Administration's Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience was queried. A total of 24 device-related AEs were reported, 11 (45.8%) for Celon® (Olympus), 3 (12.5%) for Vivaer® (Aerin), 2 (8.3%) for Neuromark® (Neurent), and 8 (33.3%) for Rhinaer® (Aerin). Seven (63.6%) of the Celon®-related complications were related to tissue necrosis (largely user error-related), but 1 (9.1%) episode of pediatric ocular palsy was also reported. Vivaer® complications included synechiae formation, a mucosal perforation, and a case of empty nose syndrome. Of the posterior nasal nerve ablating devices, 9 of 10 AEs were epistaxes, of which 7 (77.8%) required operative intervention. Surgeons should exercise vigilance and tissue-appropriate device settings when utilizing RF devices. Epistaxis and tissue necrosis may occur, as well as more rare, but devastating, complications.

BackgroundAcute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFS) is an aggressive disease that requires prompt diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment given its rapid progression. However, there is currently no consensus on diagnosis, prognosis, and management strategies for AIFS, with multiple modalities routinely employed. The purpose of this multi-institutional and multidisciplinary evidence-based review with recommendations (EBRR) is to thoroughly review the literature on AIFS, summarize the existing evidence, and provide recommendations on the management of AIFS.MethodsThe PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were systematically reviewed from inception through January 2022. Studies evaluating management for orbital, non-sinonasal head and neck, and intracranial manifestations of AIFS were included. An iterative review process was utilized in accordance with EBRR guidelines. Levels of evidence and recommendations on management principles for AIFS were generated.ResultsA review and evaluation of published literature was performed on 12 topics surrounding AIFS (signs and symptoms, laboratory and microbiology diagnostics, endoscopy, imaging, pathology, surgery, medical therapy, management of extrasinus extension, reversing immunosuppression, and outcomes and survival). The aggregate quality of evidence was varied across reviewed domains.ConclusionBased on the currently available evidence, judicious utilization of a combination of history and physical examination, laboratory and histopathologic techniques, and endoscopy provide the cornerstone for accurate diagnosis of AIFS. In addition, AIFS is optimally managed by a multidisciplinary team via a combination of surgery (including resection whenever possible), antifungal therapy, and correcting sources of immunosuppression. Higher quality (i.e., prospective) studies are needed to better define the roles of each modality and determine diagnosis and treatment algorithms.

Despite diagnostic advancements, the development of reliable prognostic systems for assessing the risk of cancer recurrence still remains a challenge. In this study, we developed a novel framework to generate highly representative machine-learning prediction models for oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) cancer recurrence. We identified cases of 5- and 10-year OTSCC recurrence from the SEER database. Four classification models were trained using the H2O ai platform, whose performances were assessed according to their accuracy, recall, precision, and the area under the curve (AUC) of their receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. By evaluating Shapley additive explanation contribution plots, feature importance was studied. Of the 130,979 patients studied, 36,042 (27.5%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 58.2 (13.7) years. The Gradient Boosting Machine model performed the best, achieving 81.8% accuracy and 97.7% precision for 5-year prediction. Moreover, 10-year predictions demonstrated 80.0% accuracy and 94.0% precision. The number of prior tumors, patient age, the site of cancer recurrence, and tumor histology were the most significant predictors. The implementation of our novel SEER framework enabled the successful identification of patients with OTSCC recurrence, with which highly accurate and sensitive prediction models were generated. Thus, we demonstrate our framework's potential for application in various cancers to build generalizable screening tools to predict tumor recurrence.

Mucociliary clearance is an important physiological mechanism for clearing the upper airways. Previously, it has been shown that different disease processes and drugs affect ciliary beat frequency (CBF). Namely, epinephrine has been shown to accelerate CBF in various animal models. Additionally, phase contrast microscopy (PCM) and spectrally encoded interferometric microscopy (SEIM) have been used to image dynamic tissue of the upper airway. Herein, we explore the effects of epinephrine on human sinonasal mucosa through PCM and SEIM. Sinonasal mucosa was harvested from patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Tissue was imaged using PCM and SEIM, maintaining physiological temperature through the use of warmed HBSS and a heating plate. Videos were taken before addition of any drugs as baseline. Epinephrine was diluted to 1 mg/mL (1:1000) and 1mL of solution was introduced to the sinonasal mucosa. PCM and SEIM was performed after to determine effects of epinephrine on CBF. Data analysis was performed using MATLAB (Mathworks, Natick, Massachusetts). Human sinonasal mucosa, taken from various anatomic locations, showed CBF values on PCM and SEIM consistent with what has been shown in previous literature. Upon addition of epinephrine to sinonasal mucosa, a marked increase in CBF was observed in both PCM and SEIM. In conclusion, the addition of epinephrine to sinonasal mucosa increased ciliary beat frequency. This validates the use of SEIM for determining CBF in sinonasal tissues. Further studies include adding to our sample size to determine a more accurate magnitude of increase of CBF.

Objectives  Skull base chordomas are locally aggressive malignant tumors derived from the notochord remnant. There are limited large-scale studies examining the role and extent of surgery and radiation therapy. Design  Analysis of the National Cancer Database (NCDB) was performed to evaluate the survival outcomes of various treatments, and to assess for predictors of overall survival (OS). Participants  This is a retrospective, population-based cohort study of patients diagnosed with a clival/skull base chordoma between 2004 and 2015 in the NCDB. Main Outcome Measures  The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Results  In all, 468 cases were identified. Forty-nine percent of patients received surgery and 20.7% had positive margins. Mean age at diagnosis was 48.4 years in the surgical cohort, and 55% were males. Of the surgical cohort, 33.8% had negative margins, 20.7% had positive margins, and 45.5% had unknown margin status. Age ≥ 65 (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.07; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.63-5.76; p  5 cm (HR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.26-4.15; p  = 0.007), and government insurance (HR: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.24-4.2; p  = 0.008) were independent predictors of OS. When comparing surgery with or without adjuvant radiation, no survival differences were found, regardless of margin status ( p  = 0.66). Conclusion  Surgery remains the mainstay of therapy. Advanced age (>65 years), large tumor size, and government insurance were predictors of worse OS. Whereas negative margins and the use of adjuvant radiation did not appear to impact OS, these may very well reduce local recurrences. A multidisciplinary approach is critical in achieving optimal outcomes in this challenging disease.

BackgroundIdiopathic intracranial hypertension can lead to dural defects and spontaneous leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the skull base. Skull base CSF leaks are rarely reported in pregnancy but pose unique challenges for obstetricians and anesthesiologists.Case presentationA 31-year-old G4P1021 at 14 weeks developed debilitating headaches and CSF rhinorrhea. Brain imaging revealed a bony defect of the sphenoid sinus with a meningoencephalocele and a partially empty sella, consistent with CSF leakage from a skull base defect. The patient was neurologically stable without signs of meningitis; thus, management was focused on symptomatic alleviation. A planned cesarean section was performed at 38 weeks under spinal anesthesia. The patient had spontaneous marked improvement of her symptoms postpartum.ConclusionPregnancy may exacerbate skull base CSF leaks, requiring careful management with a multidisciplinary team. Neuraxial anesthesia can safely be performed in pregnant individuals with spontaneous skull base CSF leakage, but further studies are needed to determine the safest mode of delivery in these patients.

Skull base defects following resection of anterior cranial fossa and sinonasal tumors are not uncommon. Advances in endoscopic techniques have allowed for entirely endonasal resection and reconstruction of these tumors. This article discusses techniques in the evaluation and management of anterior skull base defects.

ObjectiveTo determine the implications of obesity on postoperative adverse events following skull base surgery.MethodsThe 2005-2017 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database was queried for adverse events in skull base surgery cases. Patients were stratified by body mass index (BMI) into normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI  .05). On propensity score-adjusted multivariable analysis, only bleeding (OR = 0.42, P  .05).ConclusionsObesity was associated with decreased postoperative bleeding and increased deep vein thromboses. Obese patients were otherwise at no higher risk for medical or surgical complications. Elevated BMI did not confer an increased risk for readmission, reoperation, or death. Thus, patient obesity should not be a major determinant in offering skull base surgery in individuals who would otherwise benefit from treatment.

ObjectiveSinonasal lymphomas are a rare entity that commonly present with nonspecific sinonasal symptoms and are often recognized immediately. Through this review, we aim to summarize important principles in diagnosis and treatment of sinonasal lymphomas, with the goal of disseminating the current knowledge of this under-recognized malignancy to otolaryngologists.MethodsSystemic review using PRISMA guidelines of foundational scholarly articles, guidelines, and trials were reviewed focusing on clinical characteristics of key sinonasal lymphoma subtypes, along with available treatments in the otolaryngology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology literature.ResultsSinonasal lymphoma are derived from clonal proliferation of lymphocytes at various stages of differentiation, of which diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) are the most common. Diagnosis and staging require biopsy with immunohistochemistry in conjunction with imaging and laboratory studies. Treatment is ever evolving and currently includes multi-agent chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.ConclusionOtolaryngologists may be the first to recognize sinonasal lymphoma, which requires a comprehensive workup and a multidisciplinary team for treatment. Symptoms are nonspecific and similar to many sinonasal pathologies, and it is crucial for otolaryngologists to keep a broad differential.Level of evidence5.

Mucociliary clearance facilitated by healthy cilia beating is crucial to normal upper airway function. Phase-contrast microscopy (PCM) is the current golden standard for measuring ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and has limitations. With PCM, one cannot appreciate how CBF varies across the complex landscape of the nasal vault and sinus tissues. With Spectrally encoded interferometric microscopy (SEIM), en face imaging of cilia can be achieved, providing insight into the changes in CBF across tissue surfaces. This study aims to validate the use of SEIM to quantify ciliary beat frequency across ex vivo upper airway tissue.

ObjectiveTo review overall survival (OS), recurrence patterns, and prognostic factors of de novo sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (DN-SCC).Data sourcesPubMed, Scopus, OVID Medline, and Cochrane databases from 2006 to December 23, 2020.Review methodsThe study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Articles were required to report either recurrence patterns or survival outcomes of adults with DN-SCC. Case reports, books, reviews, meta-analyses, and database studies were all excluded.ResultsForty-one studies reported on survival or recurrence outcomes. The aggregate 5-year OS was 54.5% (range, 18%-75%) from 35 studies (n = 1903). Patients undergoing open surgery were more likely to receive radiation therapy and present at an advanced stage compared to those receiving endoscopic surgery (all P < .001). Advanced T stage, presence of cervical nodal metastases, maxillary sinus primary site, and negative human papillomavirus (HPV) status were all correlated with significantly worse 5-year OS. Direct meta-analysis of 8 studies demonstrated patients with surgery were more likely to be alive at 5 years compared to those who did not receive surgery (odds ratio, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.48-3.47; P < .001). Recurrence was reported in 628 of 1471 patients from 26 studies (42.7%) with an aggregate 5-year locoregional control rate of 67.1% (range, 50.4%-93.3%).ConclusionThis systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that the 5-year OS rate for DN-SCC may approach 54.5% and recurrence rate approaches 42.7%. In addition, various tumor characteristics including advanced T stage, positive nodal status, maxillary sinus origin, and negative HPV status are all associated with decreased survival.

BackgroundNasopharyngeal swab testing, which has greatly increased in utilization due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is generally safe and well-tolerated, although it may be rarely associated with adverse events.MethodsPublicly reported adverse events associated with nasopharyngeal COVID-19 testing within the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database and the published literature were queried.ResultsA total of 129 adverse events were reported, including 66 from the MAUDE database and 63 from literature review. The most common complications were swab fracture resulting in retained foreign body (47%), followed by epistaxis (17%), and headache (11%). Seven (12%) of the reported retained foreign body cases required removal under general anesthesia, while 1 (5%) of the epistaxis cases required surgical intervention. The most serious adverse event was meningitis following cerebrospinal fluid leak.ConclusionsPatients and healthcare providers should be aware of the potential risks associated with testing, with attention to ensuring proper technique, and be prepared to recognize and manage adverse events.

We characterized the clinical and sociodemographic factors predictive of surgery refusal in pituitary adenoma (PA) patients. We queried the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to identify adult PA patients treated from 2004−2015 receiving or refusing surgery. Multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional-hazards analysis identified clinical and/or sociodemographic factors predictive of surgery refusal or mortality, respectively. Of the 34,226 patients identified, 280 (0.8%) refused surgery. On multivariate logistic regression, age > 65 (OR: 2.64; p < 0.001), African American race (OR: 1.70; p < 0.001), Charlson-Deyo Comorbidity (C/D) Index > 2 (OR: 1.52; p = 0.047), and government insurance (OR: 2.03; p < 0.001) or being uninsured (OR: 2.16; p = 0.03) were all significantly associated with surgery refusal. On multivariate cox-proportional hazard analysis, age > 65 (HR: 2.66; p < 0.001), tumor size > 2 cm (HR: 1.30; p < 0.001), C/D index > 1 (HR: 1.53; p < 0.001), having government insurance (HR: 1.66; p < 0.001) or being uninsured (HR: 1.67; p < 0.001), and surgery refusal (HR: 2.28; p < 0.001) were all significant predictors of increased mortality. Macroadenoma patients receiving surgery had a significant increase in overall survival (OS) compared to those who refused surgery (p < 0.001). There are significant sociodemographic factors that influence surgery refusal in PA patients. An individualized approach is warranted that considers functional status, clinical presentations, and patient choice.

Objectives/hypothesisThis study utilizes a large population national database to comprehensively analyze prognosticators and overall survival (OS) outcomes of varying treatment modalities in a large cohort of sinonasal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (SN-DLBCL) patients.Study designRetrospective database study.MethodsThe National Cancer Database was queried for all SN-DLBCL cases diagnosed from 2004 to 2015. Kaplan-Meier log-rank test determined differences in OS based on clinical covariates. Cox proportional-hazards analysis was used to determine clinical and sociodemographic covariates predictive of mortality.ResultsA total of 2,073 SN-DLBCL patients were included, consisting of 48% female with a mean age of 66.0 ± 16.2 years. Overall, 82% of patients were Caucasian, 74% had early-stage disease, and 49% had primary tumors in the paranasal sinuses. Early-stage patients were more likely to receive multi-agent chemoradiotherapy compared to multi-agent chemotherapy alone (P

BackgroundNo study to date has analyzed the progression of sinonasal symptoms over time in COVID-19 patients. The purpose of this study is to analyze the progression of sinonasal symptoms and risk factors for olfactory dysfunction in the mild severity COVID-19 patient.MethodsAn internet survey was used to assess sinonasal symptoms in patients with COVID-19. Changes in rhinologic domain and symptom-specific Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) scores were compared at five time points: two weeks before diagnosis, at diagnosis, two weeks after diagnosis, four weeks after diagnosis, and six months after diagnosis.Results521 responses were collected. Rhinologic domain SNOT-22 scores increased significantly (p  0.999). Taste-specific SNOT-22 scores also peaked at diagnosis (2.06, p  0.999). There were no significant differences in sense of smell or taste between 1-month and 6-month timepoints.ConclusionSinonasal symptoms, particularly loss of smell and taste, may be important presenting symptoms in the mild severity COVID-19 patient. Our findings support incorporating these symptoms into screening protocols.Level of evidence4.

BackgroundSpindle cell oncocytoma (SCO) of the pituitary gland is an extremely rare nonfunctional World Health Organization grade I tumor. SCOs are often misdiagnosed as nonfunctional pituitary adenomas on the basis of preoperative imaging. They are often hypervascular and locally adherent, which increases hemorrhage risk and limits resection, leading to increased risk of recurrence. The authors report a case of SCO treated at their institution and provide a review of the current literature.ObservationsSCO of the pituitary gland can be a rare cause of progressively growing pituitary tumors that presents similarly to nonfunctional pituitary adenoma. Endoscopic transsphenoidal resection of the tumor by a multidisciplinary team allowed total resection despite local adherence of the tumor. Postoperatively, the patient's visual symptoms improved with persistence of secondary adrenal insufficiency and secondary hypothyroidism.LessonsCareful resection is needed due to SCO's characteristic hypervascularity and strong adherence to minimize local structure damage. Long-term follow-up is recommended due to the tendency for recurrence.

BackgroundThis study evaluates the influence of facility case-volume on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treatments and overall survival (OS).MethodsThe 2004-2015 National Cancer Database was queried for patients with NPC receiving definitive treatment.ResultsA total of 8260 patients (5-year OS: 63.4%) were included. The 1114 unique facilities were categorized into 854 low-volume (treating 1-8 patients), 200 intermediate-volume (treating 9-23 patients), and 60 high-volume (treating 24-187 patients) facilities. Kaplan-Meier log-rank analysis demonstrated significantly improved OS with high-volume facilities (p

The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of preoperative frailty on short-term outcomes following intradural resection of skull base lesions. The 2005-2017 ACS-NSQIP database was queried for 30-day post-operative outcomes of patients undergoing intradural resection of the skull base, extracted by CPT codes 61601, 61606, 61608, and 61616. Five-item modified frailty index (mFI) was calculated based on the history of diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, chronic hypertension, and functional status. A total of 701 patients (58.8% female, 72.0% white) were included with a mean age of 51.8 ± 14.7 years. Compared to patients with mFI = 0 (n = 403), patients with mFI ≥ 1 (n = 298) were more likely to have higher rates of reoperation (13.4% vs. 8.7%, p = 0.045), medical complications (20.5% vs. 9.2%, p

BackgroundInvasive fungal rhinosinusitis (IFS) is a rare but often fatal disease. There are limited studies regarding IFS with orbital complications (IFSwOC). The present study aimed to identify the clinical signs associated with IFSwOC and prognosticators of the disease.MethodsA retrospective case series was conducted of patients histopathologically confirmed IFS or fungal rhinosinusitis with clinically apparent neuro-orbital complications who underwent surgery between 2008 and 2018. Demographic data, presenting symptoms and signs, culture data, laboratory results, and patient outcomes were obtained from medical records.ResultsA total of 38 patients were identified, including 9 patients with IFSwOC, and 29 patients with IFS without orbital complications (IFSsOC). The clinical signs associated with developing orbital complications include headache, fever, sphenoid sinus, or posterior ethmoid sinus involvement, CRP level ≥ 1.025 mg/dL, or ESR level ≥ 46.5 mm/h. In IFSwOC group, male, posterior ethmoid sinus involvement, WBC count ≥ 9000 μL, CRP level ≥ 6.91 mg/dL, or ESR level ≥ 69 mm/h were correlated with a significantly poorer prognosis.ConclusionIFS patients with sphenoid or posterior ethmoid sinus involvement, headache or fever as presenting symptoms, elevated CRP, and ESR level were at risk of developing orbital complications. Timely surgical debridement followed by systemic antifungal treatment may improve treatment outcomes.

ObjectiveTo review overall survival (OS), recurrence patterns, and prognostic factors of de novo sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (DN-SCC).Data sourcesPubMed, Scopus, OVID Medline, and Cochrane databases from 2006 to December 23, 2020.Review methodsThe study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Articles were required to report either recurrence patterns or survival outcomes of adults with DN-SCC. Case reports, books, reviews, meta-analyses, and database studies were all excluded.ResultsForty-one studies reported on survival or recurrence outcomes. The aggregate 5-year OS was 54.5% (range, 18%-75%) from 35 studies (n = 1903). Patients undergoing open surgery were more likely to receive radiation therapy and present at an advanced stage compared to those receiving endoscopic surgery (all P < .001). Advanced T stage, presence of cervical nodal metastases, maxillary sinus primary site, and negative human papillomavirus (HPV) status were all correlated with significantly worse 5-year OS. Direct meta-analysis of 8 studies demonstrated patients with surgery were more likely to be alive at 5 years compared to those who did not receive surgery (odds ratio, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.48-3.47; P < .001). Recurrence was reported in 628 of 1471 patients from 26 studies (42.7%) with an aggregate 5-year locoregional control rate of 67.1% (range, 50.4%-93.3%).ConclusionThis systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that the 5-year OS rate for DN-SCC may approach 54.5% and recurrence rate approaches 42.7%. In addition, various tumor characteristics including advanced T stage, positive nodal status, maxillary sinus origin, and negative HPV status are all associated with decreased survival.

IntroductionThe short-term adverse events and predictors of morbidity in surgical resection of esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) are largely unknown, and investigating these variables can help direct planning for at-risk patients.MethodsThe 2005-2017 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried to identify patients with a diagnosis of ENB undergoing skull base surgery for tumor resection. Information regarding demographics, patient morbidity score, pre-operative and intra-operative data, and post-operative outcomes were extracted. Cox proportional hazard analysis was utilized to assess complication and readmission/reoperation rates.ResultsA total of 95 patients undergoing skull base surgery for resection of ENB were included. Mean age, BMI, operation time, and post-operative length of stay (LOS) of the cohort were 53.6 ± 16.2 years, 29.1 ± 6.5, 392.0 ± 204.6 minutes, and 5.8 ± 4.6 days, respectively. In total, 31 patients (32.6%) experienced at least one 30-day adverse event, which included blood transfusion intra-operatively or within 72 hours from the operation (22.1%), readmission (10.7%), intubation >48 hours (7.4%), reintubation (4.2%), organ or space infection (4.2%), reoperation (4.0%), superficial or deep surgical site infection (2.1%), sepsis (2.1%), pulmonary embolism (1.1%), and myocardial infarction (1.1%). Patients who experienced at least one adverse event had significantly higher operation time (486.8 ± 230.4 vs. 347.5 ± 176.2 minutes, p = 0.002), LOS (9.2 ± 5.6 days vs. 4.2 ± 3.0, p

Objective  Surgical resection is widely accepted as a critical component for definitive treatment of sinonasal mucosal melanoma. Systemic immunotherapy, including multiple newer agents, has been used to treat metastatic or unresectable disease. In this study, we examine its efficacy in locoregional control when used in conjunction with surgical resection for primary mucosal lesions. Design  Present study is a retrospective review of all patients at a tertiary academic medical center with primary sinonasal mucosal melanoma and distant metastatic disease. Results  A total of four patients were identified. In all cases, patients were treated with a combination of surgical resection of the primary tumor and systemic immunotherapy. Three patients were initially treated with surgery at the primary site followed by immunotherapy for distant metastases. Response to immunotherapy at the sites of primary and metastatic disease was seen in two patients. All four patients developed progression or recurrence at the primary site following initiation of immunotherapy for which they underwent surgical resection. One patient remains in follow-up without evidence of disease 20 months after initial treatment; three succumbed to the disease at 135, 37, and 16 months after initial treatment. Conclusion  Surgical resection for local control plays a critically important role in the treatment of sinonasal mucosal melanoma regardless of the presence of metastases and whether immunotherapy will be given. This case series suggests that, though immunotherapy may demonstrate efficacy in managing distant disease, surgery should remain the first-line treatment for the primary site.

IntroductionThe emergence of popular online rating websites, social media platforms, and public databases for industry payments and scholarly outputs provide a complete physician online presence which may guide choice and satisfaction.MethodsWebsites of all U.S. otolaryngology academic institutions were queried for fellowship-trained rhinologists. Additional well-known and academically active rhinologists were identified by the senior author. Online ratings and comments were collected from Google, Healthgrades, Vitals, and RateMD websites, and weighted rating scores (RS) were calculated on a 1-5 scale.ResultsA total of 210 rhinologists with 16 ± 9 years of practice were included, where 6901 online ratings (33 ± 47 per rhinologist) provided an average RS of 4.3 ± 0.6. RS was not different according to gender (p = 0.58), geographic quartile (p = 0.48), social media presence (p = 0.41), or attending top-ranked medical school (p = 0.86) or residency programs (p = 0.89). Years of practice negatively correlated with RS (R = -0.22, p$300 (n = 113). Attending a top-ranked medical school was associated with higher industry payments (p

ObjectiveFor symptomatic nonsecreting pituitary adenomas (PAs), resection remains a critical option for treatment. In this study, the authors used a large-population national database to compare endoscopic surgery (ES) to nonendoscopic surgery (NES) for the surgical management of PA.MethodsThe National Cancer Database was queried for all patients diagnosed with histologically confirmed PA who underwent resection between 2010 and 2016 in which the surgical approach was specified. Due to database limitations, microsurgery and craniotomy were both categorized as NES.ResultsOf 30,488 identified patients, 16,373 (53.7%) underwent ES and 14,115 (46.3%) underwent NES. There was a significant increase in the use of ES over time (OR 1.16, p < 0.01). Furthermore, there was a significant temporal increase in ES approach for tumors ≥ 2 cm (OR 1.17, p < 0.01). Compared to NES, patients who underwent ES were younger (p = 0.01), were treated at academic centers (p < 0.01), lived a greater distance from their treatment site (p < 0.01), had smaller tumors (p < 0.01), had greater medical comorbidity burden (p = 0.04), had private insurance (p < 0.01), and had a higher household income (p < 0.01). After propensity score matching to control for age, tumor size, Charlson/Deyo score, and type of treatment center, patients who underwent ES had a shorter length of hospital stay (LOS) (3.9 ± 4.9 days vs 4.3 ± 5.4 days, p < 0.01), although rates of gross-total resection (GTR; p = 0.34), adjuvant radiotherapy (p = 0.41), and 90-day mortality (p = 0.45) were similar. On multivariate logistic regression, African American race (OR 0.85, p < 0.01) and tumor size ≥ 2 cm (OR 0.89, p = 0.01) were negative predictors of receiving ES, whereas diagnosis in more recent years (OR 1.16, p < 0.01), greater Charlson/Deyo score (OR 1.10, p = 0.01), receiving treatment at an academic institution (OR 1.67, p < 0.01) or at a treatment site ≥ 20 miles away (OR 1.17, p < 0.01), having private insurance (OR 1.09, p = 0.01), and having a higher household income (OR 1.11, p = 0.01) were predictive of receiving ES. Compared to the ES cohort, patients who started with ES and converted to NES (n = 293) had a higher ratio of nonwhite race (p < 0.01), uninsured insurance status (p < 0.01), longer LOS (p < 0.01), and higher rates of GTR (p = 0.04).ConclusionsThere is an increasing trend toward ES for PA resection including its use for larger tumors. Although ES may result in shorter LOS compared to NES, rates of GTR, need for adjuvant therapy, and short-term mortality may be similar. Factors such as tumor size, insurance status, facility type, income, race, and existing comorbidities may predict receiving ES.

PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the correlation between nasal resistance and oxygen desaturation to better elucidate the role of nasal obstruction in the pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).Patients and methodsEighty-eight OSA patients aged between 22 and 77 years were enrolled in this study. Nasal resistance was measured at pressures of 75, 150, and 300 Pa, with the patients first in the seated position than in the supine position. Relationships between the oximetric variables and nasal resistance in the seated and supine positions were analyzed.ResultsFrom seated to supine position, a statistically significant increase in nasal resistance was observed at pressures of 75 and 150 Pa (p=0.001 and p=0.006, respectively). Significant positive correlations were noted between nasal resistance in the supine position at 75 Pa (SupineNR75) and oximetry variables, including oxygen desaturation index (ODI, p=0.015) and the percentage of total time with oxygen saturation level lower than 90% (T < 90%, p=0.012). However, significant positive correlations existed only in moderate to severe OSA when the study group was further divided into two subgroups (mild vs moderate to severe OSA). Body mass index (β = 0.476, p

The current literature lacks strong guidelines regarding surgical management of patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), who present with the clinical triad of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP), bronchial asthma, and aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug intolerance. To further define the effectiveness of sinus surgery in treating AERD patients, this review article discusses current evidence regarding outcomes associated with more extensive surgery, the benefits of frontal sinus surgery on polyposis, and the role of Draf III intervention. Numerous studies suggest that Draf III frontal sinusotomy may be an efficacious early intervention due to increased neo-ostial patency and subsequent distribution of topical therapies. Future studies that further investigate the efficacy and safety of extensive surgery in AERD patients are warranted.

Background  Sinonasal adenocarcinoma (SNAC) is a rare malignancy arising from mucus-secreting glandular tissue. Limited large-scale studies are available due to its rarity. We evaluated SNAC in the National Cancer Database (NCDB), a source that affords multi-institutional, population studies of rare cancers and their outcomes. Methods  The NCDB was queried for adenocarcinoma in the sinonasal tract. Multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate for factors contributing to overall survival (OS). Results  A total of 553 patients were identified. The cohort was composed of 59.3% males. The nasal cavity was the most common primary site, representing 44.1% of cases. About 5.7% of patients presented with nodal disease, while 3.3% had distant metastases. About 40.6% of cases presented with stage IV disease. About 73.5% of patients underwent surgery, 54.2% received radiation therapy, and 27.7% had chemotherapy. Median OS was 71.7 months, while OS at 1, 2, and 5 years was 82, 73.0, and 52%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, advanced age (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.05), Charlson-Deyo score of 1 (HR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.20-3.30), advanced tumor grade (HR: 2.73; 95% CI: 1.39-5.34), and advanced tumor stage (HR: 2.71; 95% CI: 1.33-5.50) were associated with worse OS, whereas surgery (HR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.20-0.60) and radiation therapy (HR: 0.55; 95% CI: 0.33-0.91), but not chemotherapy (HR: 1.16; 95% CI: 0.66-2.05), predicted improved OS. Conclusions  SNAC is a rare malignancy with 5-year survival approximating 50%. Surgery and radiation therapy, but not chemotherapy, are associated with improved survival, and likely play a critical role in the interdisciplinary management of SNAC.

Objectives  A persistent craniopharyngeal canal (CPC) is a rare embryologic remnant that presents as a well-corticated defect of the midline sphenoid body extending from the sellar floor to the nasopharynx. Our case series aims to describe three unique presentations of this congenital anomaly and their subsequent management. Design  Retrospective review. Setting  Tertiary academic medical center. Participants  Patients who underwent endoscopic transnasal surgical repair of a CPC lesion. Main Outcome Measures  Resolution of symptoms and surgical outcomes. Results  A total of three patients were identified. The clinical presentation varied, however, all cases prompted further imaging which demonstrated a persistent CPC and associated pathologic lesion. The presentation of a persistent CPC with nasal obstruction and subsequent iatrogenic cerebrospinal fluid leak as in Case 1 demonstrates the importance of imaging in this work-up. Cases 2 and 3 in the series were representative of the larger subset of patients in the literature who present with the defect incidentally but still warrant surgical management. Nonetheless, a standard approach to diagnosis with preoperative imaging and subsequent transnasal endoscopic repair of the skull base defect was undertaken. Conclusion  The persistent CPC is a rare congenital anomaly associated with diverse pathology and careful review of preoperative radiology is critical to the management. When warranted, subsequent surgical repair and reconstruction is associated with excellent postoperative outcomes.

Introduction  Olfactory groove meningiomas (OGMs) are often associated with loss of smell following resection. Loss of smell has a measurable impact on quality of life. Smell preservation has been previously described in open approaches for early stage or unilateral OGMs. Evidence of smell preservation in endoscopic approaches is lacking. Design  A multi-institutional retrospective review was performed on consecutive patients who underwent unilateral endoscopic endonasal resection of OGM. A gross total resection was achieved with preservation of the contralateral olfactory cleft and bulb. Olfactory function was assessed with a six-point olfactory symptom score and the Sniffin' Sticks 12-item smell identification test (SS-12). Contralateral olfactory bulb volume was measured on postoperative magnetic resonance imaging. Results  Four patients (age 42.0 ± 7.5, 75% female) were assessed. Olfactory function was assessed at 21.8 ± 5.6 months following surgery. All patients reported some degree of smell preservation (75% described a slight/mild impairment in smell or better). Olfactory identification was preserved with an SS-12 score of 9 ± 1.4 (anosmia defined as ≤6). The olfactory bulb volume was calculated to be 47.4 ± 15.9 mm 3 (normal >40 mm 3 ). Conclusion  Smell preservation is possible following unilateral endoscopic endonasal resection of carefully selected OGM.

Objectives  Pituitary carcinoma is a rare entity with fewer than 200 total cases reported in the English literature. Analysis of the population-level data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) affords the opportunity to study this poorly understood tumor type. Methods  The NCDB was queried for site, histology, and metastasis codes corresponding to pituitary carcinoma. Statistical analyses were performed to determine factors associated with overall survival (OS). Results  A total of 92 patients with pituitary carcinoma met inclusion criteria. The 1 and 5 years of OS for all patients was 93.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 88.2-98.6%) and 80.0% (95% CI: 71.6-89.4%), respectively. Patients with invasive primary tumor behavior had 1 and 5 years of OS of 69.2% (95% CI: 48.2-99.5%) and 52.7% (95% CI: 31.2-89.2%), respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that compared with benign primary behavior, invasive behavior had increased all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1,296, 95% CI: 15.1- > 2,000). Surgery without adjuvant radiation or chemotherapy was the most common therapy (48.9%), followed by no treatment (40.2%). Compared with surgery alone, no treatment had worse OS (HR, 11.83, 95% CI: 1.41-99.56). Increasing age and female sex were both associated with increased mortality. Conclusions  The most common treatment for pituitary carcinoma is surgery alone followed by no surgery. Surgery alone has significantly better OS compared with no treatment. The efficacy of radiation, chemotherapy, and neurohormonal treatments needs to be examined with prospective studies.

Background and objectivesHereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu disease, causes recurrent mucous membrane hemorrhage, especially epistaxis. In this systematic review, we discuss the efficacies of the three most common laser photocoagulation treatments for HHT-related epistaxis.Study design/materials and methodsA systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and MEDLINE from database inception to March 2019. Studies reporting epistaxis outcomes following argon, neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG), and diode laser photocoagulation for HHT were included. χ2 and Barnard's exact tests were utilized to detect differences in reduced epistaxis frequency and intensity rates.ResultsFifteen out of 157 published studies met our eligibility criteria, spanning a collective 362 patients. Argon, Nd:YAG, and diode laser therapy reduced epistaxis frequency in 90.4%, 88.9%, and 71.1% of patients, respectively, and reduced epistaxis intensity in 87.8%, 87.2%, and 71.1% of patients, respectively. Diode laser photocoagulation significantly underperformed in both outcome measurements when compared with argon (frequency: P = 0.005; intensity: P = 0.034) and Nd:YAG (frequency: P = 0.012; intensity: P = 0.041). There was no significant difference between argon and Nd:YAG in reducing HHT epistaxis frequency (P = 0.434) or intensity (P = 0.969). Categorizing HHT patients by clinical severity demonstrated a higher rate of improvement in the mild-moderate group compared with the severe group in both argon (P

BackgroundRecently, there has been mounting evidence suggesting the efficacy of steroid-eluting stents (SES) for management of chronic rhinosinusitis after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). This meta-analysis serves to evaluate the efficacy of SES in improving postoperative outcomes after ESS.MethodsA systematic literature search was performed of PubMed for articles published between 1985 and 2018. The outcome variables were reported at, on average, 30 days postintervention.ResultsSeven of the 76 published studies, all of which were industry-sponsored, were included for a collective cohort of 444 SES and 444 control sinuses. In patients who received SES vs controls, collective odds ratios (ORs) for postoperative need for intervention, surgery, and oral steroid were 0.45 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.33-0.62; p < 0.001), 0.30 (95% CI, 0.18-0.52; p < 0.001), and 0.58 (95% CI, 0.40-0.84; p = 0.004), respectively. In addition, collective ORs for frontal sinus ostia (FSO) patency, moderate-to-severe adhesion/scarring, and increase in polyp score were 2.53 (95% CI, 1.61-3.97; p < 0.001), 0.28 (95% CI, 0.13-0.59; p < 0.001), and 0.42 (95% CI, 0.25-0.74; p = 0.002), respectively. Collective mean differences for FSO/ethmoid inflammation and FSO diameter were -10.86 mm (p < 0.001) and +1.34 mm (p < 0.001), respectively.ConclusionAggregate evidence suggests that SES can improve ESS outcomes by reducing rates of postoperative intervention and recurrent polyposis and inflammation, while promoting FSO patency. All included and analyzed studies were industry-sponsored and ruling-out publication bias was not possible. Future independent and nonsponsored studies to further evaluate SES's long-term efficacy are warranted.