Search

This review summarizes existing vestibular schwannoma (VS) disease-specific and non-disease-specific patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) tools for quality of life (QoL) and audio-vestibular symptoms, compares QoL across treatment modalities, and discusses the potential role of psychological variables in QoL and recovery after surgical resection of VS. VS treatment success was previously assessed according to various factors such as the extent of tumor resection, facial nerve function, and hearing preservation. However, the literature demonstrates recent shifts away from using such physician-reported “objective” outcomes as benchmarks for success towards more patient-perceived “subjective” measures. A number of PROM tools have been developed to assess QoL and other measures in patients with VS. This has allowed us to better understand and quantify the impact of the disease and of the treatments on our patient population. However, there are important considerations to be made when applying PROM in clinical settings such as understanding the concept of Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID). The use of disease-specific PROMs, such as the PANQOL, as a primary outcome in VS research is encouraged. When doing so, PROM scales should incorporate the concept of MCID to distinguish statistically significant from clinically significant findings and should further investigate the role of non-medical variables, such as psychological variables, on QoL and recovery trajectories in patients with VS. Actual literature does not seem to indicate a clinically significant difference in patient-reported outcomes among treatment modalities.

Objectives Describe the effect of preoperative sudden hearing loss (SHL) on likelihood of hearing preservation (HP) after surgical resection of vestibular schwannoma (VS). Study design Retrospective chart review. Setting Tertiary referral center. Patients Adult patients (≥18 years) who underwent retrosigmoid VS resection for HP between February 2008 and December 2018 were reviewed. All patients had preoperative word recognition score (WRS) of at least 50%. Similarly, HP was defined as postoperative WRS of more than or equal to 50%. Regression analysis was used to describe the effect of SHL on HP, accounting for tumor size, and preoperative hearing quality. Interventions All patients underwent retrosigmoid VS resection for HP. Main outcome measures WRS of at least 50%. Results Of 160 patients who underwent retrosigmoid VS resection during the study period, 153 met inclusion criteria. Mean tumor size was 14.0 (±6) mm. Hearing was preserved in 41.8% (n = 64). Forty patients (26.1%) had a history of preoperative SHL. Among 138 patients (90.2%) in whom the cochlear nerve was anatomically preserved during surgery, HP was achieved in 61.8% of those with SHL (21 of 34) and 41.3% of those without SHL (43 of 104) (p = 0.0480). On univariate and multivariate analysis (accounting for tumor size and preoperative hearing quality), SHL was a significant positive predictor of HP (odds ratio 2.292, p = 0.0407 and odds ratio 2.778, p = 0.0032, respectively). Conclusion In patients with VS and retained serviceable hearing, SHL is an independent predictor of HP after retrosigmoid microsurgical resection when the cochlear nerve is preserved.

OBJECTIVES 1) Describe the effect of tumor size on facial nerve (FN) outcomes after microsurgical resection of vestibular schwannoma (VS).2) Describe the effect of surgical approach, preoperative radiation, and early postoperative facial function on long-term FN outcomes. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective analysis. SETTING Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS Adult (≥18 yr) patients underwent translabyrinthine or retrosigmoid VS resection by a single neurotologist and single neurosurgeon between February 2008 and December 2017. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Long-term FN outcomes (≥12 mo) according to House-Brackmann (HB) grade. RESULTS During the study period, 350 patients underwent VS resection, of whom 290 met inclusion criteria. Translabyrinthine surgery was performed in 54% (n = 158) and retrosigmoid in 45% (n = 131). One patient underwent a combined approach. Among patients who underwent retrosigmoid approach, none had a tumor more than 30 mm. Gross total resection was achieved in 98% (n = 283). Long-term HB1-2 function was achieved in 90% (n = 261). On univariate analysis, tumor size (per cm increase), history of preoperative radiation, and worse HB score at discharge predicted worse FN function. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size (per cm increase) and history of radiation were independent predictors of FN function. For patients with tumors less than 30 mm, multivariate analysis of tumor size and surgical approach was performed; tumor size remained predictive of worse FN function (odds ratio [OR] 2.362, p = 0.0035), whereas surgical approach was not significantly predictive (p = 0.7569). CONCLUSION Tumor size and history of radiation predict long-term FN function after VS resection. When accounting for tumor size, the translabyrinthine and retrosigmoid approaches yield equivalent FN results.

To examine whether simple mobility assessments can predict functional limitations and length of hospitalization after acoustic neuroma (AN) resection.Prospective case series.A prospective clinical study of adult patients undergoing AN resection by either the translabyrinthine, retrosigmoid, or middle fossa approach was conducted at a tertiary center. Preoperative mobility assessments included the functional gait assessment (FGA) and the 10-m walk (10 MW). Postoperatively, the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care (AMPAC, at 48 hours), FGA, and 10 MW (at 1 week) were obtained. Demographic and medical data were collected.One hundred and thirty-eight patients were analyzed (mean age: 48.3 years, 68.8% female). Mean length of stay (LOS) was 3.1 days. The translabyrinthine approach was most commonly performed (48.6%). On regression analyses, preoperative FGA (P = 0.03) and 48-hour postoperative AM-PAC (P 0.001) independently predicted LOS, even after accounting for age, gender, body mass index, and tumor size. On receiver operating characteristic analysis, a preoperative FGA cut score of 25.5 predicted a protracted hospital stay (4 days) with a sensitivity of 77% and specificity of 50% (area under curve: 68.5).This study demonstrated that preoperative mobility assessments can predict functional limitations and LOS after AN resection. These objective tools can be used by clinicians to manage expectations and guide preoperative counseling in patients considering surgery.3 Laryngoscope, 131:644-648, 2021.

The pathophysiology of age-related hearing loss (ARHL), or presbycusis, involves a complex interplay between environmental and genetic factors. The fundamental biomolecular mechanisms of ARHL have been well described, including the roles of membrane transport, reactive oxygen species, cochlear synaptopathy, vascular insults, hormones, and microRNA, to name a few. The genetic basis underlying these mechanisms remains under-investigated and poorly understood. The emergence of genome-wide association studies has allowed for the identification of specific groups of genes involved in ARHL. This review highlights recent advances in understanding of the pathogenesis of ARHL, the genetic basis underlying these processes and suggests future directions for research and potential therapeutic avenues.

OBJECTIVES 1) Identify clinical factors associated with delayed facial palsy (DFP) after microsurgical resection of vestibular schwannoma. 2) Determine whether DFP predicts worse facial nerve (FN) outcomes. METHODS Adult patients (≥18 yrs) who underwent vestibular schwannoma resection between February 2008 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Postoperative House-Brackmann (HB) FN function was assessed on the day of surgery, daily during patients' inpatient admissions, and at postoperative clinic visits. Follow-up exceeded ≥12 months for all patients. DFP was defined as a decline (≥1 HB grade) in FN function (relative to the preoperative state) occurring between postoperative days 1 and 30. RESULTS Two hundred ninety-one patients were analyzed. Mean age was 51.5 years (±12.3) and mean tumor size 20.6 mm (±10.8). Immediate FP occurred in 61 (21%) patients, and DFP occurred in 112 (38%) patients. Tumor size was largest in patients with immediate FP (p

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) and quality of life (QOL) measurements relating to balance before and after vestibular schwannoma (VS) resection and to assess the role of preoperative FGA in predicting postoperative QOL. STUDY DESIGN A prospective clinical study of adult patients undergoing VS resection between September 2018 and December 2019. FGA was administered 1 week before and after surgery. Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality of Life (PANQOL) were administered preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively. SETTING Single tertiary center. PATIENTS Patients (age ≥ 18 years old) with VS undergoing microsurgical resection. Excluded were patient with previous surgery or radiation. INTERVENTION VS resection. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Primary outcome: correlation between FGA and QOL surveys. Secondary outcome: correlation between preoperative measurements of balance and postoperative PANQOL. RESULTS One hundred thirty-eight patients were analyzed (mean age: 48 years old, 65.9% female). The translabyrinthine approach was most commonly performed. Under multivariate analysis, preoperative FGA significantly correlated with preoperative PANQOL balance score (p

Objectives 1) Describe the effect of tumor size on the likelihood of hearing preservation after retrosigmoid approach for resection of vestibular schwannoma (VS).2) Describe the effect of preoperative hearing status on the likelihood of hearing preservation. Study design Retrospective chart review. Setting Tertiary referral center. Patients Adult (18 years or older) patients underwent retrosigmoid VS resection and postoperative audiometry between 2008 and 2018 and had a preoperative word recognition score (WRS) of at least 50%. Patients with a history of neurofibromatosis 2, radiation, or previous resection were excluded. Interventions All patients underwent retrosigmoid VS resection with attempted hearing preservation. Main outcome measures WRS of at least 50%. Results Data from 153 patients were analyzed. Mean age was 50.8 (±11.3) years and mean tumor size 14 (±6) mm. Hearing was preserved and lost in 64 (41.8%) and 89 (58.2%) patients, respectively. Hearing preservation rates were higher for intrameatal tumors than for tumors with extrameatal extension (57.6% versus 29.4%, p = 0.0005). On univariate and multivariate regression analysis, tumor size (per mm increase) was a negative predictor of hearing preservation (odds ratio [OR] 0.893, p = 0.0002 and 0.841, p = 0.0005, respectively). Preoperative American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery Hearing Class was also predictive of hearing preservation (p = 0.0044). Class A hearing (compared with class B hearing) was the strongest positive risk factor for hearing preservation (OR 3.149, p = 0.0048 and 1.236, p = 0.0005, respectively). Conclusion Small tumor size and preoperative class A hearing are positive predictors of hearing preservation in patients undergoing the retrosigmoid approach for VS resection.

Modern imaging techniques allow early detection of small vestibular schwannomas (VSs) with minimal or no hearing impairment. While controversy surrounds the management of these tumors, given their benign nature and unpredictable natural history, microsurgical excision is the only modality that offers the opportunity to cure the tumor and preserve hearing. Hearing preservation in VS surgery may be accomplished via the middle fossa or retrosigmoid approaches. Appropriate patient selection and surgical approach is critical in achieving the best hearing outcomes. This article highlights the preoperative assessment, patient selection and prognostic factors, intraoperative monitoring of hearing, and surgical approaches to optimize hearing preservation during VS removal.

Tophaceous gout of the middle ear is a rare occurrence that presents as a granular white-colored mass. It is frequently misdiagnosed as cholesteatoma or tympanosclerosis in patients who otherwise may not manifest any clinical or biochemical signs of gout. While uncommon, it can lead to clinically significant disease such as conductive hearing loss. The present report describes 2 cases of middle ear gouty tophi initially mistaken for another entity. Both patients underwent surgery, and the diagnosis of gout was revealed after final histopathological analysis. A review of the literature is also presented.

OBJECTIVE To determine and itemize surgical costs associated with the translabyrinthine (TL), retrosigmoid (RS), and middle cranial fossa (MCF) approaches for microsurgical excision of vestibular schwannoma (VS). STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cost analysis study. SETTING Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS Thirty consecutive adult patients underwent microsurgical excision of VS by either TL, RS, or MCF approach (10 per approach). INTERVENTIONS Microsurgical excision of VS by one of the three major approaches. Medical and financial data were collected. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Total operating room time (minutes), skin-to-skin time (minutes), operating room cost ($US), and surgical supplies cost ($US). RESULTS The MCF approach was associated with the shortest skin-to-skin time (230.3 min, p

Functional neuroimaging can provide insight into the neurobiological factors that contribute to the variations in individual hearing outcomes following cochlear implantation. To date, measuring neural activity within the auditory cortex of cochlear implant (CI) recipients has been challenging, primarily because the use of traditional neuroimaging techniques is limited in people with CIs. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an emerging technology that offers benefits in this population because it is non-invasive, compatible with CI devices, and not subject to electrical artifacts. However, there are important considerations to be made when using fNIRS to maximize the signal to noise ratio and to best identify meaningful cortical responses. This review considers these issues, the current data, and future directions for using fNIRS as a clinical application in individuals with CIs. This article is part of a Special Issue entitledAnnual Reviews 2016.

Objectives/Hypothesis Trigeminal sensation (TS) within the nasal cavity is important for the perception of nasal airflow. The objective of this study is to examine whether impaired TS contributes to the sensation of nasal obstruction in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Study Design Prospective case-control study conducted in a tertiary referral rhinology clinic. Methods Cases consisted of CRS patients with subjective nasal obstruction, not previously treated with oral corticoids. Controls consisted of patients without CRS. Neither group demonstrated obvious anatomical obstructions. Both groups underwent peak nasal inspiratory flows (PNIF), olfactory testing (quick eight-item odor identification test), and trigeminal testing (lateralization task using eucalyptol and odorless solvent). Results A total of 28 subjects (14 CRS patients and 14 controls) were recruited. Analyses revealed no statistical differences in age (P = .93), gender (P = .47), or PNIF (P = .82) between the two groups, but they differed in Lund-Mackay scores (P < .001). There was no significant difference in olfactory testing (P = .15). CRS patients had significantly lower scores on trigeminal lateralization testing than controls (P = .007). Linear regression revealed that Lund-Mackay scores contributed a significant amount of variance to trigeminal lateralization scores, controlling for age and sex (F = 5.93, P = .004, R2 = 0.43). Conclusions This is the first study to demonstrate that patients with CRS have lower TS than healthy controls. Our results suggest defective TS could play a role in the sensation of nasal obstruction in CRS. Level of Evidence 3b. Laryngoscope, 2016

Radioactive iodine (RAI) remnant ablation in low-risk papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is controversial. Current patient selection guidelines recommend the use of postoperative stimulated thyroglobulin (stim-Tg), neck dissections, and sonography but fail to include sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between SLNB status and postoperative stimulated thyroglobulin as a surrogate marker of clinical outcome.Retrospective chart review of low-risk PTC patients who underwent a total thyroidectomy with SLNB at the McGill Thyroid Cancer Center. SLNBs were obtained using methylene blue dye. Biochemical measurements were acquired between 4 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Statistical analyses were performed using logistic regression models and receiver operating characterisitc (ROC) curves. A P-value.05 was considered significant.Ninety-six patients were included in this study. The positive SLNB rate was 14.6%. The mean postoperative Tg level was 1.41 μg/L. There were no significant correlations between the SLNB and the covariates analyzed (age, gender, histology, tumor size, and thyrotropin levels). Patients with negative SLNB were significantly more likely to have a lower stim-Tg (P.0001). When postoperative Tg was analyzed as a categorical variable, a threshold of1 μg/L was significantly associated with a negative SLNB, with a sensitivity and specificity (determined by ROC curves) of 0.86 and 0.88, respectively.There exists a correlation between SLNB and postoperative Tg. This creates the possibility of a new approach to RAI administration among low-risk PTC patients incorporating SLNB to the current guidelines.

Objectives (1) To compare the accuracy of 2 previously validated mobile-based hearing tests in determining pure tone thresholds and screening for hearing loss. (2) To determine the accuracy of mobile audiometry in noisy environments through noise reduction strategies. Study Design Prospective clinical study. Setting Tertiary hospital. Subjects and Methods Thirty-three adults with or without hearing loss were tested (mean age, 49.7 years; women, 42.4%). Air conduction thresholds measured as pure tone average and at individual frequencies were assessed by conventional audiogram and by 2 audiometric applications (consumer and professional) on a tablet device. Mobile audiometry was performed in a quiet sound booth and in a noisy sound booth (50 dB of background noise) through active and passive noise reduction strategies. Results On average, 91.1% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 89.1%-93.2%) and 95.8% (95% CI, 93.5%-97.1%) of the threshold values obtained in a quiet sound booth with the consumer and professional applications, respectively, were within 10 dB of the corresponding audiogram thresholds, as compared with 86.5% (95% CI, 82.6%-88.5%) and 91.3% (95% CI, 88.5%-92.8%) in a noisy sound booth through noise cancellation. When screening for at least moderate hearing loss (pure tone average >40 dB HL), the consumer application showed a sensitivity and specificity of 87.5% and 95.9%, respectively, and the professional application, 100% and 95.9%. Overall, patients preferred mobile audiometry over conventional audiograms. Conclusion Mobile audiometry can correctly estimate pure tone thresholds and screen for moderate hearing loss. Noise reduction strategies in mobile audiometry provide a portable effective solution for hearing assessments outside clinical settings.

Background Management decisions are not straightforward when the Ultrasound Guided Fine Needle Aspiration (USFNA) demonstrates a Bethesda score of either category III or IV, and a diagnostic hemi-thyroidectomy or a repeat USFNA (r-USFNA) could be performed. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of r-USFNA in the management of indeterminate thyroid nodules by evaluating the likelihood of obtaining a definite diagnosis. Methods We reviewed the medical records of all patients with thyroid nodules between 2011 and 2015 at the Jewish General Hospital (Montreal, Canada). Three hundred fifty-one patients who had undergone a surgical procedure (hemi or total thyroidectomy) and a diagnosis of B3 or B4 on the primary USFNA (p-USFNA) were included in the study. Ninety-six of the included patients also had a repeat USFNA prior to the surgery. Demographic data, type of procedure, and McGill Thyroid Nodule Score (MTNS) were obtained from the medical records. Malignancy rates were calculated based on the final surgical histopathology report. Results Upon r-USFNA, an average 76 % of patients did not change Bethesda categories, 7.4 % downgraded to a benign category. The results showed that, on an average 17.3 % of patients with p-USFNA of B3 and 20 % of patients with p-USFNA of B4, upgraded to a malignant or suspicious for malignancy category, thus changing the clinical management to total thyroidectomy. Our data demonstrates that r-USFNA facilitates choosing the correct surgery of total thyroidectomy in about 20 % of nodules that have upgraded from B3/B4 to a more definite malignant category. Conclusions r-USFNA in patients with indeterminate diagnoses (B3 or B4) increases categorization into more definite categories. Approximately 20 % of patients are found to have malignant thyroid nodules and suspicious for malignancy thyroid nodules upon repeating the biopsy, hence a diagnostic hemi-thyroidectomy was avoided and a more definitive surgery could be performed. Furthermore, repeat USFNA results in a fewer number of hemi-thyroidectomy and completion thyroidectomy procedures.

In patients with laryngeal cancer, pretreatment diagnosis of cartilage invasion often warrants a surgical or a bimodal treatment. Controversy exists on whether laryngeal cartilage sclerosis on computed tomography (CT) scan is a sign of tumor invasion. Our objective is to evaluate locoregional, laryngectomy-free, disease-specific, and overall survival in patients with laryngeal cancer with or without laryngeal cartilage sclerosis treated with primary radiation therapy.Historical cohort study.Tertiary referral university center.All laryngeal cancer patients treated with primary radiation therapy between 2002 and 2007 were included. Patients with and without laryngeal cartilage sclerosis on CT scan were identified. Patient, tumor, and treatment data were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using Kaplan-Meier survival analyses and Cox proportional-hazards regression.One hundred eleven patients were included for analysis. Seventy-nine patients were classified as T1 or T2, and 32 patients were classified as T3 or T4. Twenty-three percent of patients had any laryngeal cartilage sclerosis, and 77% of patients had no sclerosis. On univariate and multivariate analyses, there was no statistically significant difference between patients with or without sclerosis. Results did not vary when studying each cartilage separately.Laryngeal cancer patients with cartilage sclerosis on CT scan do not have significantly different survival than patients without sclerosis. Validation of these results prospectively is warranted.

Trigeminal sensation (TS) within the nasal cavity is important for the perception of nasal airflow. The objective of this study is to examine whether impaired TS contributes to the sensation of nasal obstruction in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).Prospective case-control study conducted in a tertiary referral rhinology clinic.Cases consisted of CRS patients with subjective nasal obstruction, not previously treated with oral corticoids. Controls consisted of patients without CRS. Neither group demonstrated obvious anatomical obstructions. Both groups underwent peak nasal inspiratory flows (PNIF), olfactory testing (quick eight-item odor identification test), and trigeminal testing (lateralization task using eucalyptol and odorless solvent).A total of 28 subjects (14 CRS patients and 14 controls) were recruited. Analyses revealed no statistical differences in age (P = .93), gender (P = .47), or PNIF (P = .82) between the two groups, but they differed in Lund-Mackay scores (P.001). There was no significant difference in olfactory testing (P = .15). CRS patients had significantly lower scores on trigeminal lateralization testing than controls (P = .007). Linear regression revealed that Lund-Mackay scores contributed a significant amount of variance to trigeminal lateralization scores, controlling for age and sex (F = 5.93, P = .004, R(2) = 0.43).This is the first study to demonstrate that patients with CRS have lower TS than healthy controls. Our results suggest defective TS could play a role in the sensation of nasal obstruction in CRS.3b. Laryngoscope, 126:E174-E178, 2016.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of the pretreatment inflammatory markers platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with HNSCC at McGill University Health Center from 2000 to 2011 (273 patients were retained). Hematologic parameters were recorded within 4 weeks of diagnosis. Mortality and recurrence rates were compared according to various PLR and NLR thresholds.Of the total patients, 20.5% died and 11.0% had disease recurrence. PLR170 was associated with higher mortality (p = .008). The subgroup with a combination of PLR170 and NLR ≤3.0 was associated with higher T classification and highest mortality (43%). NLR above 4.2 predicted higher rates of recurrence (p.0001). The NLR/PLR combination was at least as good as TNM staging in predicting survival.PLR is an independent predictor of mortality; NLR is an independent predictor of recurrence in HNSCC. These parameters might be used to identify advanced stages rapidly and economically.

Objective: 1) To retrospectively assess the usefulness of preoperative thyroglobulin (Tg) levels in predicting sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy (SLNB) status. 2) To evaluate the correlation between preoperative Tg levels and the overall number of positive SLNs. 3) To compare primary tumor (T) classification in patients according to SLNB outcome.Method: Data from patients operated for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC) at the McGill University Thyroid Cancer Center were collected from January 2007 to January 2012. Statistical analyses were performed using a Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test, a Pearson correlation coefficient and a Pearson χ2 test.Results: Preoperative Tg levels and SLNB results were available in 74 patients (51 negative and 23 positive SLNBs). Mean preoperative Tg levels for negative and positive SLNB groups were 105.2 and 85.9 ng/mL, respectively, yielding no statistically significant difference (P = .143). Moreover, no statistically significant correlation was found between Tg levels ...

To determine the prevalence of underlying lower airway inflammatory conditions in children who underwent rigid bronchoscopy (RB) for a suspected foreign body aspiration (FBA) in the tracheobronchial tree and to identify the characteristics of patients who could benefit from a trial of antiasthma treatment prior to undergoing a diagnostic bronchoscopy.Retrospective chart review.Children with suspected FBA in the tracheobronchial tree who underwent RB at the Montreal Children's Hospital (2001-2009).Patient characteristics such as clinical, radiologic, and bronchoscopic findings on presentation, as well as prior use of inhaled bronchodilators or corticosteroids, were analyzed. A p value.05 was considered significant.Use of inhaled bronchodilators or corticosteroids, signs, symptoms, and radiologic and bronchoscopic findings on presentation.Fifty-five children underwent an RB for suspected FBA. Foreign bodies were found in 36 subjects. Asthmatics were significantly more likely to have a negative bronchoscopy than nonasthmatics (80.0% vs 30.0%, p.05). Otherwise, clinical and radiologic findings were not significantly different in these two groups. The median time between the suspected choking event and the first otolaryngology evaluation was 14 days in asthmatics (range 5 hours-90 days), whereas it was 16 hours in nonasthmatics (range 0.5 hours-120 days).A conservative approach cannot be justified in suspected asthmatic children with possible FBA, in whom the indications for diagnostic bronchoscopy must be tailored to each patient to ensure a timely diagnosis.

Objective: Determine the prevalence of asthma in children who underwent rigid bronchoscopy (RB) for a suspected foreign body aspiration (sFBA) in the tracheobronchial tree, and to identify characteristics of patients who could benefit from a trial of anti-asthma treatment prior to undergoing a diagnostic bronchoscopy.Method: Retrospective chart review of children with sFBA in the tracheobronchial tree who underwent RB at the Montreal Children’s Hospital (2001-2009). Patient characteristics such as delay between initial choking episode and first otolaryngology evaluation, clinical findings, radiologic findings, bronchoscopic findings, and history of asthma were analyzed.Results: A total of 55 children underwent a RB for sFBA. Foreign bodies (FB) were found in 36 of these, one of which was asthmatic (2.78%, P < .05). In the 19 children who had a negative bronchoscopy (no FB), four were asthmatics (21.1%, P < .05). The mean time from the suspected initial choking event to the first otolaryngology evaluation ...