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Background and Aim: Despite extensive research, the physiopathology and clinical course of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still not fully understood. It is not known why some COVID-19 patients develop pneumonia while others are asymptomatic or have only mild upper respiratory tract symptoms. The tonsils are an element of the immune system that provide first-line defense against microorganisms entering the body via the upper respiratory tract. This study aimed to evaluate the role of tonsils in preventing the development of COVID-19 pneumonia. Materials and Methods: The study included 198 patients aged 20-40 years who presented to the pandemic outpatient clinic, had confirmed COVID-19 infection, and had no comorbidities. The relationship between lung involvement and history of tonsillectomy was analyzed. Results: Of the 198 patients in the study, 108 were male, 90 were female, and the mean age was 34.7 years. Eighty-three (41.9%) of the patients did not have lung involvement and 115 (58.1%) had lung involvement. Twelve (10.4%) of the patients with lung involvement and 3 (3.6%) of the patients without lung involvement had a history of tonsillectomy. The prevalence of pneumonia did not differ statistically between the groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: Although there was no statistically significant relationship between COVID-19 pneumonia and tonsillectomy in this study, we observed that pneumonia developed in 80% of the 15 patients who underwent tonsillectomy. This suggests that greater caution in terms of lung involvement may be warranted for tonsillectomized patients with COVID-19.

Aim: Dizziness and vertigo are among the most common symptoms in otolaryngology, neurology and psychiatry clinics. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate anxiety sensitivity, depression and personality traits in patients who were followed up with chronic subjective dizziness.Methods: Fifty-one patients with dizziness complaints for at least 3 months and no history of peripheral vestibular disease were enrolled to the patient group, and 51 healthy controls were enrolled to the control group of this case-control study. Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) scale forms were applied to the patient and control groups by a psychiatrist.Results: There was no statistically significant difference in ASI-3 between the groups (P=0.119). In the patient group, the BAI values were found higher than the control group (P

The aim of the present study was to measure nasal mucociliary clearance (NMC) time in the patients with MS and to compare the findings with healthy population. Totally 97 individuals including 47 patients with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis and 50 healthy volunteers were enrolled into the study. Saccharin clearance test was performed on both groups and NMC time was measured. Data analysis was performed by SPSS version 24.0 statistics program (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA). Statistical tests were interpreted at p

Yazıcı, Haşmet (Balikesir Author), Object: To prepare a national guideline for Oto-rhinolaryngologist who treat allergic rhinitis patients Methods: The study was conducted by three authors, namely the writing support team. The support team made the study plan, determined the writing instructions, chose the subgroups including the advisory committee, the advisors for authors and the authors. A workshop was organized at the very beginning to explain the details of the study to the team. Advisors took the chance to meet their coworkers in their subgroups and determined the main headings and subheadings of the guideline, together with the authors. After key words were determined by the authors, literature search was done in various databases. The authors keep in touch with the advisors and the advisors with the advisory committee and the support group at every stage of the study. National and International published articles as well as the abstracts of unpublished studies, imperatively presented in National Congresses, were included in this guideline. Only Guideline and meta-analyses published in last seven years (2013- 2017) and randomized controlled studies published in last two years (2015- 2017) were included. After all work was completed by the subgroups, support team brought all work together and edited the article. Results: A detailed guideline about all aspects of allergic rhinitis was created. Conclusion: The authors believe that this guideline will enable a compact and up-to-date information on allergic rhinitis to healthcare professionals. This guideline is the first in the field of Otolaryngology in Turkey. It should be updated at regular intervals.

Objectives: Tinnitus is a condition that commonly affects individuals’ daily activities. We aimed to evaluate the anxiety sensitivity, levels of anxiety and depression, and personality traits of pa...

INTRODUCTION Nasal septal deviation (NSD) is one of the major causes of upper airway obstruction. Chronic hypoxia and hypercapnia due to NSD may affect the choroidal blood flow and may change the choroidal thickness (CT). In this study, the authors aimed to research the assessment of CT before and after septoplasty in patients with NSD. METHODS Ninety-two patients who underwent septoplasty surgery with the diagnose of nasal septum deviation and 58 patients for control group were enrolled to the study. CT values measured before and three months after septoplasty surgery. RESULTS CT values were subfoveal 272.51 ± 27.62, nasal 245.50 ± 21.22, temporal 248.35 ± 30.25 and subfoveal 232.09 ± 44.17, nasal 222.09 ± 38.82,temporal 227.12 ± 28.80 for the control and NSD groups, respectively (P

Objectives: An unusual left parapharyngeal ganglioneuroma case was discussed in the context of diagnostic difficulties, surgical tricks and Horner syndrome as a main surgical complication. Methods: The patient presented with a painless neck mass. Fine needle aspiration did not give any clue regarding diagnosis. The mass was removed totally by a challenging surgery. Results: Histopathology revealed ganglioneuroma. Horner syndrome occurred after surgery. Conclusion: Due to the scarcity of ganglioneuromas and the lack of specific signs and symptoms, it is often difficult to reach a definitive diagnosis prior to pathological examination. Ganglioneuromas should be considered in differential diagnosis of cervical neck masses located medial to main neurovascular structures. The patients should be warned of the possible complication of Horner syndrome.

Amaç: Ses ve sesini kullanarak iletişim kurabilmesi, insanoğlunu diğer tüm canlılardan ayıran en önemli özelliklerinden biridir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, adenoidektomi ve adenotonsillektomi ameliyatı yapılan hastalarda ameliyat öncesi ve sonrası ses analizlerinin yapılarak adenoid ve tonsil hipertrofisinin ses özellikleri üzerine etkilerinin incelenmesidir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya adenoidektomi ameliyatı endikasyonu konulmuş yaşları 8 ile 17 arasında 15 hasta ve adenotonsillektomi ameliyatı endikasyonu konulmuş yaşları 8 ile 24 arasında 15 hasta olmak üzere toplam 30 hasta dahil edilmiştir. Hastalara ait akustik veriler operasyondan bir gün önce ve operasyondan 3 hafta sonra aynı hekim tarafından ve sabit ortam koşullarında ses korumalı bir odada kaydedildi. Ses kayıtlarına ait akustik parametreler Praat yzılımı kullanılarak kişisel bir bilgisayarda değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Çalışma grubundaki tüm hastalar (n=30) ve kız hastalar zamana göre tüm ses kayıtları analiz edildiğinde preoperatif ve postoperatif ses parametrelerindeki değişiklikler istatistiksel olarak anlamlıdır (p

Concha bullosa (CB) is among the most common anatomic variations of sinonasal anatomy. Although usually asymptomatic, CB can occasionally cause nasal obstruction or headache. Obstructions within the mucociliary transport system can develop into a mucocele or mucopyocele. A 48-year-old female, with a history of progressive headache and nasal obstruction, was referred to our department. Paranasal sinus tomography revealed a nasal mass in the left nasal cavity resembling a mucopyocele in the middle turbinate. Under general anesthesia, the purulent material was aspirated, and the lateral part of the left turbinate was resected. Mucopyoceles are common within the paranasal sinuses, but uncommon with CB; thus, they should be considered in patients with a large hyperemic nasal mass.

Background: We measured postoperative anxiety in patients who underwent transseptal suturing or nasal packing after septoplasty. Materials and Methods: Transseptal suturing was performed on Group 1 patients and nasal splints with airway were placed after septoplasty in Group 2 patients. Postoperative 48-h anxiety levels of both groups were measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) clinical assessment scale, prior to removal of nasal packing in Group 2. Results: Transseptal suturing was performed after septoplasty in 28 patients and nasal packing in 34 patients. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory clinical assessment state (STAI-S) and trait (STAI-T) instruments were used to measure postoperative anxiety. The STAI-S scores were found 35.00 in the transseptal suturing group and 43.8 in the nasal packing group; the difference was found significant (p < 0.05). The STAI-T scores were found 42.6 in the transseptal suturing group and 45.7 in the nasal packing group; the difference was not found significant (p > 0.05). The rate of minor hemorrhage was found 10.7% in Group 1 patients. Conclusions: Transseptal suturing is simple and reliable when performed after septoplasty. The technique is painless and comfortable, and reduces patient anxiety (compared to that associated with nasal packing) with only a minor increase in operating time and hemorrhage.

Leech infestation is a very rare phenomenon in humans. It mostly occurs in humans when rural untreated water is drunk or while swimming in streams or lakes. When leeches adhere to the mucous membrane, they ingest blood. Thus, they can sometimes cause severe anemia that may require blood transfusion. We report a case that was referred to emergency service with bleeding in the floor of the mouth. A 10-year-old child was referred to the emergency service of a city hospital with a complaint of swelling in the floor of the mouth and spitting of blood. The patient was promptly taken to the operating room. Using local anesthesia, a surgical incision was made, and a moving, dark brown foreign body was removed from the floor of the mouth and identified as a leech. Leech endoparasitism should be considered as a cause of unexplained anemia due to bleeding from the throat. Accordingly, leech infestation must be considered in differential diagnosis when a patient complains of spitting of blood, hoarseness, or dysphagia.

Objectives. To detect the prevalences of Alloiococcus otitidis, as well as Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoni ae, and Moraxella catarrhalis in children with chronic otitis media with effusion (OME) and to simultaneously investigate the colonization of these bacteria in the nasopharynx and palatine tonsils of these patients. Methods. The study included 34 pediatric patients with OME, and 15 controls without OME. In the study group, A. otitidis, H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae , and M. catarrhalis were investigated in the samples obtained from middle ear effusions (MEE), nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) and tonsillar swabs (TS), using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and conventional culture methods. Only the samples obtained from NPS and TS were studied with the same techniques in the control group. Results. A. otitidis was isolated only in MEE and only with multiplex PCR method. A. otitidis, S. pneumoniae, M. catarrhalis, H. influenzae were identified in 35%, 8.8%, 8.8%, and 2.9%, respectively, in 34 MEE. A. otitidis was not isolated in NPS or TS of the study and the control groups. Conclusion. The prevalence of A.otitidis is high in children with OME and A.otitidis doesn’t colonize in the nasopharynx or tonsil.

Objective Nasal polyps (NP) are a chronic inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa; their etiology is suspected to involve oxidative stress. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) are biomarkers used especially in the early diagnosis and follow-up of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to assess levels of serum GDF-15, BNP, and IMA in patients with NP and to compare them with those of healthy subjects. Methods This was a prospective study enrolling 41 patients with NP and 48 healthy controls, all aged 18–65 years and referred to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, between January 2014 and February 2015. After a 12-h fast, venous blood (3 mL) was drawn and centrifuged (3000 rpm, 10 min) to collect serum. Blood samples were drawn before endoscopic sinus surgery in the NP group. Serum GDF-15, BNP, and IMA levels were measured. Results GDF-15, BNP, and IMA levels of patients with NP were statistically significantly higher than in controls and GDF-15 values were higher than the normal upper limit. GDF-15, BNP, and IMA levels were significantly correlated in both groups. Conclusions As GDF-15 is a marker of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, our finding of increased serum GDF-15 in patients with NP supports the hypothesis that its pathogenesis involves chronic inflammation and oxidative stress.

This study assessed the audiometric results of revision surgery in patients on whom previous canal wall up tympanoplasty had been performed for chronic otitis media without cholesteatoma, and investigated reasons for hearing improvement failure which required revision surgery.Seventy-two patients (49 females, 23 males; mean age 35.4+/-12.9 years; range 11 to 64 years) suffering from chronic otitis media without cholesteatoma, who had intact canal wall up tympanoplasty and revision surgery due to bad hearing results between March 2004 and September 2009, were evaluated retrospectively. After evaluation of patients' files, operative and audiological records, findings during the surgery, postoperative follow-up, audiometric results before revision surgery and the results in the last control after revision surgery were analysed.Preoperative mean air-bone gap (ABG) decreased in all patients from 31.2 dB to 19.9 dB after followed up for mean 26.7 months. Air-bone gap values below 20 dB were 67%, below 30 dB were 83%, hearing gain above 10 dB was found to be 58%. Comparision of pre- and postoperative ABG values of the patients revealed statistically significant difference (p0.001). In addition to hearing loss, the reasons for revision surgery were mucosal disease relapse in 10 patients, graft perforation in 43 patients, otorrhea control in 15 patients. Findings during revision surgery were relapse of mucosal diseases in 15 patients, insufficient mastoidectomy in six patients, problems related to prosthesis in 29 patients, ossicular limitations (brid, hyalen and granulation) in 30 patients, and ossicular necrosis in six patients. The decision for four patients was changed from canal wall up tympanoplasty to canal wall down tympanoplasty. Postoperative total hearing loss developed in one case.The most important problem in revision of tympanoplasty patients with hearing loss is related with stabilisation of columella. To get successful hearing results, it is important to control disease and provide a stable and safe continuity between the tympanic membrane and vestibule.