Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases Commons^™

American Cochlear Implant Alliance Position Statement On Newborn Congenital Cytomegalovirus Screening, Megan Honor Pesch, Kevin David Brown, Amy L Birath, Gail J Demmler-Harrison, Cailtin Sapp, Anne Morgan Selleck, Alex D Sweeney

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

It is estimated that 1 in every 200 US newborns has congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV). Delayed identification of cCMV in newborns precludes timely intervention to mitigate sequelae of the infection such as hearing loss and other neurological complications. Newborn testing for cCMV enables appropriate diagnosis and intervention by multidisciplinary teams to properly manage the immediate sequelae of cCMV, avoid unnecessary additional testing that can result from delayed diagnosis, and monitor for future complications. It is the position of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance, the National CMV Foundation, and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery that universal newborn cCMV screening …

Outcomes In Pediatric Cholesteatoma, Katherine M Miller, Yi-Chun Carol Liu, Jaqueline E Weinstein, Michael S Cohen, David H Chi, Samantha Anne

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to evaluate the outcomes of surgical management options for cholesteatoma using a national database.

STUDY DESIGN: Database analysis of the Pediatric Health Information System database to identify children undergoing surgical intervention for cholesteatoma from October 2015 to December 2022.

METHODS: Patients were categorized by initial surgical modality: tympanoplasty (TM), tympanoplasty with canal wall-up tympanomastoidectomy (TM-CWU), and tympanoplasty with canal wall-down tympanomastoidectomy (TM-CWD). Group comparisons were done on number of surgical revisions and number of patients identified with recommendations for hearing aids.

RESULTS: A total of 6304 patients were identified in the database who …

A Rare Case Of A Malignant Proliferating Trichilemmal Tumor: A Molecular Study Harboring Potential Therapeutic Significance And A Review Of Literature, Mokhtar H Abdelhammed, Hanna Siatecka, A Hafeez Diwan, Christie J Finch, Angela D Haskins, David J Hernandez, Ya Xu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Malignant proliferating trichilemmal tumors (MPTTs), arising from the external root sheath of hair follicles, are exceptionally rare, with limited documentation of their genetic alterations. We present a case of a 64-year-old African American woman who initially presented with a gradually enlarging nodule on her posterior scalp. An initial biopsy at an outside hospital suggested metastatic adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of an uncertain origin. A subsequent wide local excision revealed a 2.0 cm tumor demonstrating characteristic trichilemmal keratinization, characterized by an abrupt transition from the nucleated epithelium to a laminated keratinized layer, confirming MPTT. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated diffuse p53 expression, …

Extreme Wrinkling Of The Nuclear Lamina Is A Morphological Marker Of Cancer, Ting-Ching Wang, Christina R Dollahon, Sneha Mishra, Hailee Patel, Samere Abolghasemzade, Ishita Singh, Vilmos Thomazy, Daniel G Rosen, Vlad C Sandulache, Saptarshi Chakraborty, Tanmay P Lele

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Nuclear atypia is a hallmark of cancer. A recent model posits that excess surface area, visible as folds/wrinkles in the lamina of a rounded nucleus, allows the nucleus to take on diverse shapes with little mechanical resistance. Whether this model is applicable to normal and cancer nuclei in human tissues is unclear. We image nuclear lamins in patient tissues and find: (a) nuclear laminar wrinkles are present in control and cancer tissue but are obscured in hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) images, (b) nuclei rarely have a smooth lamina, and (c) wrinkled nuclei assume diverse shapes. Deep learning reveals the presence …

Predicting Operative Mortality In Patients Who Undergo Elective Open Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair, Kyle W Blackburn, Susan Y Green, Allen Kuncheria, Meng Li, Adel M Hassan, Brittany Rhoades, Scott A Weldon, Subhasis Chatterjee, Marc R Moon, Scott A Lemaire, Joseph S Coselli

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background

We have developed a model aimed at identifying preoperative predictors of operative mortality in patients who undergo elective, open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair. We converted this model into an intuitive nomogram to aid preoperative counseling.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data from 2884 elective, open TAAA repairs performed between 1986 and 2023 in a single practice. Using clinical and selected operative variables, we built 4 predictive models: multivariable logistic regression (MLR), random forest, support vector machine, and gradient boosting machine. Each model’s predictive effectiveness was evaluated with the C-statistic. Test C-statistics were computed using an 80:20 cross-validation scheme with …

Targeted Variant Assessments Of Human Endogenous Retroviral Regions In Whole Genome Sequencing Data Reveal Retroviral Variants Associated With Papillary Thyroid Cancer, Erik Stricker, Erin C Peckham-Gregory, Stephen Y Lai, Vlad C Sandulache, Michael E Scheurer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is one of the fastest-growing cancers worldwide, lacking established causal factors or validated early diagnostics. Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), comprising 8% of human genomes, have potential as PTC biomarkers due to their comparably high baseline expression in healthy thyroid tissues, indicating homeostatic roles. However, HERV regions are often overlooked in genome-wide association studies because of their highly repetitive nature, low sequence coverage, and decreased sequencing quality. Using targeted whole-genome sequence analysis in conjunction with high sequencing depth to overcome methodological limitations, we identified associations of specific HERV variants with PTC. Analyzing WGS data from 138 patients …

Distant Multilevel Spinal Metastasis Secondary To Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, R Parker Kirby, Sarah Kim, Lama M Abdurrahman, Alexander Kietzman, James Doan, David Hernandez

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas account for most head and neck malignancies. While multi-modality treatment may be offered for locally advanced cancer, distant metastasis still occurs in a significant number of patients. This paper aims to present a rare case of a patient who developed bony metastases in the cervical spine from a primary hypopharyngeal malignancy status post-laryngopharyngectomy. We report a case of a male patient presenting with acute-on-chronic hypercapnic and hypoxic respiratory failure with two months of dysphagia and weight loss. On arrival, a barium swallow revealed mucosal irregularity of the upper thoracic esophagus as well as narrowing …

Case Report: Contralateral Progression Of A Vestibular Schwannoma After Resection In A Patient With Neurofibromatosis Type 2, Ihika Rampalli, Collin William English, Tyler Lazaro, Benjamin Daniel Lovin, Sungho Lee, Andrew Tsao Huang, Ali Jalali, Kathleen Kelly Gallagher, Jacob J Mandel, Alex Daniel Sweeney, Akash J Patel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VS) are a distinctive feature of neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) that result in a serious reduction in the quality of life for patients. The growth rates of these schwannomas are variable, and the early detection of increased growth is fundamental for improving outcomes.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 17-year-old man with NF2 and bilateral VS presented with complete right facial paralysis and sudden right hearing loss less than 1 month after resection of a left VS. Imaging revealed rapid growth of the right VS with intratumoral hemorrhage, and the patient underwent urgent surgical resection with some …

P90rsk Pathway Inhibition Synergizes With Cisplatin In Tmem16a Overexpressing Head And Neck Cancer, Abdulkader Yassin-Kassab, Suman Chatterjee, Nayel Khan, Nathaniel Wang, Vlad C Sandulache, Eric H-B Huang, Timothy F Burns, Umamaheswar Duvvuri

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) constitutes one of the most common types of human cancers and often metastasizes to lymph nodes. Platinum-based chemotherapeutic drugs are commonly used for treatment of a wide range of cancers, including HNSCC. Its mode of action relies on its ability to impede DNA repair mechanisms, inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. However, due to acquired resistance and toxic side-effects, researchers have been focusing on developing novel combinational therapeutic strategies to overcome cisplatin resistance. In the current study, we identified p90RSK, an ERK1/2 downstream target, as a key mediator and a targetable signaling node against …

Outcomes After Bioprosthetic Versus Mechanical Mitral Valve Replacement For Infective Endocarditis In The United States, Katie J Hogan, Christopher B Sylvester, Matthew J Wall, Todd K Rosengart, Joseph S Coselli, Marc R Moon, Subhasis Chatterjee, Ravi K Ghanta

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective

In patients who underwent mitral valve replacement for infectious endocarditis, we evaluated the association of prosthesis choice with readmission rates and causes (the primary outcomes), as well as with in-hospital mortality, cost, and length of stay (the secondary outcomes).

Methods

Patients with infectious endocarditis who underwent isolated mitral valve replacement from January 2016 to December 2018 were identified in the United States Nationwide Readmissions Database and stratified by valve type. Propensity score matching was used to compare adjusted outcomes.

Results

A weighted total of 4206 patients with infectious endocarditis underwent bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement (n = 3132) and mechanical …

Delays Starting Postoperative Radiotherapy Among Head And Neck Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Kelsey A Duckett, Mohamed Faisal Kassir, Shaun A Nguyen, Emily A Brennan, Bhishamjit S Chera, Katherine R Sterba, Chanita Hughes Halbert, Elizabeth G Hill, Jessica Mccay, Sidharth V Puram, Vlad C Sandulache, Russel Kahmke, Salma Ramadan, Brian Nussenbaum, Anthony J Alberg, Evan M Graboyes

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: Initiating postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) within 6 weeks (42 days) of surgery is the first and only Commission on Cancer (CoC) approved quality metric for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). No study has systematically reviewed nor synthesized the literature to establish national benchmarks for delays in starting PORT.

DATA SOURCES: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, we performed a systematic review of PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL.

REVIEW METHODS: Studies that described time-to-PORT or PORT delays in patients with HNSCC treated in the United States after 2003 were included. Meta-analysis of proportions and continuous measures …

Cocaine Use And Head And Neck Cancer Risk: A Pooled Analysis In The International Head And Neck Cancer Epidemiology Consortium, Mingyan Zhang, Chu Chen, Guojun Li, Alzina Koric, Yuan-Chin Amy Lee, Hal Morgenstern, Stephen M Schwartz, Erich M Sturgis, Paolo Boffetta, Mia Hashibe, Zuo-Feng Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Cocaine is an illegal recreational drug used worldwide, yet little is known about whether cocaine inhalation (smoking/snorting) increases the risk of head and neck cancer (HNC).

METHODS: The analyses were conducted by pooling data from three case-control studies with 1639 cases and 2506 controls from the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology Consortium. Epidemiologic data, including cocaine use histories, were obtained in face-to-face interviews. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using hierarchical logistic regression models.

RESULTS: Controlling for cumulative tobacco and alcohol use, we observed a weak positive association between cocaine use and HNC …

Patient Questions Surrounding Posterior Nasal Nerve Ablation For Chronic Rhinitis, Daniel Gorelik, Samuel E Razmi, Robert Kenneth Sims, Aatin K Dhanda, Masayoshi Takashima, Ella S Brissett, Nicholas R Rowan, Michael T Yim, Najm Khan, Meha G Fox, Omar G Ahmed

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: In-office ablation of the posterior nasal nerve (PNN) has emerged as an effective treatment option for chronic rhinitis patients. This study explored questions patients commonly search online regarding this therapy and the quality of content available.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of online search criteria and sources was performed with subsequent analysis of results.

SETTING: Search and data acquisition was in September of 2023.

METHODS: Most common search terms related to cryotherapy and radiofrequency neurolysis of the PNN were identified with associated People Also Ask (PAA) questions. Questions were categorized and organized into subtopics and sources evaluated using readability …

Relationship Between Clinical Measures Of Hearing And Clinical Measures Of Vestibular Function, Helen S Cohen, Haleh Sangi-Haghpeykar, J Connor Sullivan, Nathan Silver, Liam D Ferreira, Jen Li Dong, Alex D Sweeney, Angela S Peng

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: Patients often have basic audiometry (BA) but not objective diagnostic tests of the vestibular system (VNG) when complaining of symptoms of a vestibular disorder. The relationship of BA results to VNG results is unknown. This study sought to determine if BA scores are related to impaired VNG scores.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed electronic medical records at a tertiary care center, for patients seen between 2015 and 2021 who had had both a BA and a VNG (n = 651). BA subtests were pure tone averages, word recognition, and tympanogram. VNG subtests were cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, Dix-Hallpike …

Moving From Conventional To Adaptive Risk Stratification For Oropharyngeal Cancer, Vlad C Sandulache, R Parker Kirby, Stephen Y Lai

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) poses a complex therapeutic dilemma for patients and oncologists alike, made worse by the epidemic increase in new cases associated with the oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV). In a counterintuitive manner, the very thing which gives patients hope, the high response rate of HPV-associated OPC to conventional chemo-radiation strategies, has become one of the biggest challenges for the field as a whole. It has now become clear that for ~30-40% of patients, treatment intensity could be reduced without losing therapeutic efficacy, yet substantially diminishing the acute and lifelong morbidity resulting from conventional chemotherapy and radiation. At the same …

Patient Navigation For Timely, Guideline-Adherent Adjuvant Therapy For Head And Neck Cancer: A National Landscape Analysis, Evan M Graboyes, Michelle Chappell, Kelsey A Duckett, Katherine Sterba, Chanita Hughes Halbert, Elizabeth G Hill, Bhishamjit Chera, Jessica Mccay, Sidharth V Puram, Salma Ramadan, Vlad C Sandulache, Russel Kahmke, Brian Nussenbaum, Anthony J Alberg, Electra D Paskett, Elizabeth Calhoun

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Aligned with the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Head and Neck Cancers, in November 2021 the Commission on Cancer approved initiation of postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) within 6 weeks of surgery for head and neck cancer (HNC) as its first and only HNC quality metric. Unfortunately, >50% of patients do not commence PORT within 6 weeks, and delays disproportionately burden racial and ethnic minority groups. Although patient navigation (PN) is a potential strategy to improve the delivery of timely, equitable, guideline-adherent PORT, the national landscape of PN for this aspect of care is unknown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: …

Recurrent Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinomas Maintain Anti-Tumor Immunity And Multinucleation Levels Following Completion Of Radiation, Patricia Castro, Germán Corredor, Can Koyuncu, Luke A Nordstrom, Michelle Tiji, Taylor Leavitt, James S Lewis, Anant Madabhushi, Mitchell J Frederick, Vlad C Sandulache

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) recurrence is almost universally fatal. Development of effective therapeutic options requires an improved understanding of recurrent OPSCC biology.

METHODS: We analyzed paired primary-recurrent OPSCC from Veterans treated at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center between 2000 and 2020 who received curative intent radiation-based treatment (with or without chemotherapy). Patient tumors were analyzed using standard immunohistochemistry and automated imaging of infiltrating lymphocytes and multinucleated tumor cells coupled to machine learning algorithms.

RESULTS: Primary and recurrent tumors demonstrated high concordance via p16 and p53 immunohistochemistry, with comparable levels of multinucleation. In contrast, recurrent tumors …

Multidimensional Biomarker Predicts Disease Control In Response To Immunotherapy In Recurrent Or Metastatic Head And Neck Squamous-Cell Carcinoma, Kevin C Flanagan, Jon Earls, Ian Schillebeeckx, Jeffrey Hiken, Rachel L Wellinghoff, Natalie A Lafranzo, Zachary S Bradley, Joey Babbitt, William H Westra, Raymond Hsu, Lincoln Nadauld, Howard Mcleod, Sean D Firth, Brittany Sharp, Josh Fuller, Vera Vavinskaya, Leisa Sutton, Ida Deichaite, Samuel D Bailey, Vlad C Sandulache, Matthew J Rendo, Orlan K Macdonald, Karim Welaya, James L Wade, Andrew W Pippas, Jennifer Slim, Bruce Bank, Steven J Saccaro, Xingwei Sui, Adil Akhtar, Savitha Balaraman, Steven E Kossman, Scott A Sonnier, Todd D Shenkenberg, Warren L Alexander, Katherine A Price, Charles L Bane, Jessica Ley, David N Messina, Jarret I Glasscock, Ezra E W Cohen, Douglas R Adkins, Eric J Duncavage

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: Anti-PD-1 therapy provides clinical benefit in 40-50% of patients with relapsed and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (RM-HNSCC). Selection of anti- PD-1 therapy is typically based on patient PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) which has low specificity for predicting disease control. Therefore, there is a critical need for a clinical biomarker that will predict clinical benefit to anti-PD-1 treatment with high specificity.

METHODS: Clinical treatment and outcomes data for 103 RM-HNSCC patients were paired with RNA-sequencing data from formalin-fixed patient samples. Using logistic regression methods, we developed a novel biomarker classifier based on expression patterns in the tumor immune …

Screening People On Standing Balance With Romberg Testing And Walking Balance With Tandem Walking, Helen S Cohen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The goal of this protocol is to inform readers about the exact procedures to use to perform two screening tests for vestibular disorders: tandem walking (TW) with eyes closed, also known as heel-toe walking, and the Clinical Test of Sensory Integration and Balance (CTSIB), which is also known as the modified Romberg. The study describes the steps for performing each test and each of the three CTSIB subtests so that the reader will be able to replicate the test conditions for use in the clinic, in the clinical laboratory, or in any other situation needing valid and reliable screening for …

Machine Learning Driven Index Of Tumor Multinucleation Correlates With Survival And Suppressed Anti-Tumor Immunity In Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients, Can F Koyuncu, Mitchell J Frederick, Lester D R Thompson, Germán Corredor, Sirvan Khalighi, Zelin Zhang, Bolin Song, Cheng Lu, Reetoja Nag, Vidya Sankar Viswanathan, Michael Gilkey, Kailin Yang, Shlomo A Koyfman, Deborah J Chute, Patricia Castro, James S Lewis, Anant Madabhushi, Vlad C Sandulache

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVES: Matching treatment intensity to tumor biology is critical to precision oncology for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. We sought to identify biological features of tumor cell multinucleation, previously shown by us to correlate with survival in oropharyngeal (OP) SCC using a machine learning approach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hematoxylin and eosin images from an institutional OPSCC cohort formed the training set (D

RESULTS: MuNI correlated with overall survival. A multivariable nomogram that included MuNI, age, race, sex, T/N stage, and smoking status yielded a C-index of 0.65, and MuNI was prognostic of overall survival (2.25, 1.07-4.71, 0.03), …

Deployment Of Cisplatin In Veterans With Oropharyngeal Cancer: Toxicity And Impact On Oncologic Outcomes, Ola Soliman, David C Wilde, Jan O Kemnade, Anita L Sabichi, George Chen, Albert Chen, Samantha N Little, Andrew T Huang, David J Hernandez, Vlad C Sandulache

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: Cisplatin forms the backbone of systemic chemotherapy treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). The ideal cisplatin dosing regimen remains yet to be fully defined for achieving optimal efficacy and toxicity profiles in patients with comorbidity.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed oncologic and toxicity data for patients with OPSCC treated at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center between 2000 and 2020 who initiated curative intent, definitive chemo-radiation with one of three single agent regimens: high dose (HD) cisplatin, low dose (LD) cisplatin or cetuximab.

RESULTS: Patients with HPV-associated tumors and nonsmokers demonstrated improved overall and disease-free survival along …

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Prevalence And Disproportionate Cancer Burden Among Us Veterans, Smrithi Chidambaram, Su-Hsin Chang, Vlad C Sandulache, Angela L Mazul, Jose P Zevallos

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This cross-sectional study examines the rate of HPV vaccination and the number eligible for this vaccination among younger veterans and civilians.

A Scoping Review Of Randomized Clinical Trials For Pain Management In Pediatric Tonsillectomy And Adenotonsillectomy, Michael C Shih, Barry D Long, Phayvanh P Pecha, David R White, Yi-Chun C Liu, Emily Brennan, Mariam I Nguyen, Clarice S Clemmens

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVES: To examine the volume, topics, and reporting trends in the published literature of randomized clinical trials for pharmacologic pain management of pediatric tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy and to identify areas requiring further research.

DATA SOURCES: PubMed (National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health), Scopus (Elsevier), CINAHL (EBSCO), and Cochrane Library (Wiley).

METHODS: A systematic search of four databases was conducted. Only randomized controlled or comparison trials examining pain improvement with a pharmacologic intervention in pediatric tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy were included. Data collected included demographics, pain-related outcomes, sedation scores, nausea/vomiting, postoperative bleeding, types of drug comparisons, modes of administration, …

Expert Consensus Statement: Management Of Pediatric Persistent Obstructive Sleep Apnea After Adenotonsillectomy, Stacey L Ishman, Stephen Maturo, Seth Schwartz, Margo Mckenna, Cristina M Baldassari, Mathieu Bergeron, Boris Chernobilsky, Zarmina Ehsan, Lisa Gagnon, Yi-Chun Carol Liu, David F Smith, Jeffrey Stanley, Habib Zalzal, Nui Dhepyasuwan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: To develop an expert consensus statement regarding persistent pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) focused on quality improvement and clarification of controversies. Persistent OSA was defined as OSA after adenotonsillectomy or OSA after tonsillectomy when adenoids are not enlarged.

METHODS: An expert panel of clinicians, nominated by stakeholder organizations, used the published consensus statement methodology from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery to develop statements for a target population of children aged 2-18 years. A medical librarian systematically searched the literature used as a basis for the clinical statements. A modified Delphi method was used to distill expert …

A Retrospective Study Of The Relationship Between Hypertension And Vestibular Disorders In Middle-Aged Women With And Without Hiv, Helen S Cohen, Michael W Plankey, Deanna Ware

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Patients often conflate the problem of lightheadedness from hypertension (HTN) and vertigo from a vestibular impairment, describing both problems as dizziness. The goal of the study was to learn if there is a relationship between measures of vestibular function and blood pressure.

METHODS: This retrospective study consisted of women who participated in a longitudinal study of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and a control cohort of age-matched women without HIV. We used data from the point in time when participants were tested for vestibular functions with bi-thermal caloric tests and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials; the data also included …

Factors Affecting Adherence To Intranasal Treatment For Allergic Rhinitis: A Qualitative Study, Meha G Fox, Lauren M Cass, Kevin J Sykes, Emily L Cummings, Scott N Fassas, Rohit Nallani, Josh B Smith, Alexander G Chiu, Jennifer A Villwock

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: To determine the facilitators of and barriers to adherence to use of intranasal pharmacotherapy (daily intranasal corticosteroids and/or antihistamine, and nasal saline irrigation [NSI]), for allergic rhinitis (AR).

METHODS: Patients were recruited from an academic tertiary care rhinology and allergy clinic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted after the initial visit and/or 4-6 weeks following treatment. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using a grounded theory, inductive approach to elucidate themes regarding patient adherence to AR treatment.

RESULTS: A total of 32 patients (12 male, 20 female; age 22-78) participated (seven at initial visit, seven at follow-up visit, and 18 at both). Memory …

Pediatric Otolaryngology Trends In Patient Care Volume During Covid-19: A Survey Study, William R Pellegrini, Anna H Messner, Jessica R Levi

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

PURPOSE: To assess changes in outpatient clinic, inpatient consult, and operative volumes among pediatric otolaryngologists in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online questionnaire was distributed to 535 active members of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology from April 21, 2020, to May 4, 2020. The questionnaire assessed operative and clinical volumes during a two-week period between April 6, 2020, to April 20, 2020, while restrictions on elective surgery were in place, as compared to an average two-week period before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESULTS: Both outpatient clinic and inpatient consult visit volume decreased significantly …

Oral Gauze For Bleeding Control In Perioral And Perinasal Dermatologic Surgery, Riyad N H Seervai, Jose A Cervantes, Ikue Shimizu, Ida F Orengo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The use of oral gauze is a quick, cheap, and effective method of preventing bleeding into the patient's mouth during dermatologic surgery. We recommend this technique combined with appropriate positioning for lesions in the perioral and perinasal regions. Similar approaches may be applied for the prevention of bleeding into the ear canal during facial/periauricular surgery.

Relationship Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea And Balance On Computerized Dynamic Posturography, Meha G Fox, Helen S Cohen, Haleh Sangi-Haghpeykar, Masayoshi Takashima

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) leads to chronic sleep deprivation. The relationship between OSA and balance is poorly understood.

AIM/OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine if OSA adversely affects standing balance.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Adults with a clinically indicated polysomnogram (PSG) diagnostic of OSA, who were not on therapy, were recruited from an academic tertiary care referral clinic. Subjects completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS), and the STOP-BANG questionnaire (SBQ). Their balance was tested with the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) of computerized dynamic posturography (CDP).

RESULTS: Sixteen subjects participated in the study, including three with …

Risk And Incidence Of Head And Neck Cancers In Veterans Living With Hiv And Matched Hiv-Negative Veterans, Angela L Mazul, Christine M Hartman, Yvonne M Mowery, Jennifer R Kramer, Donna L White, Kathryn E Royse, Suchismita Raychaudhury, Vlad C Sandulache, Sarah T Ahmed, Jose P Zevallos, Peter A Richardson, Andrew G Sikora, Elizabeth Y Chiao

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Persons living with HIV/AIDS have a higher incidence of virus-related and tobacco/alcohol-related cancers. This study is the first to estimate the effect of HIV versus HIV-negative veterans on the risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma incidence in a large retrospective cohort study.

METHODS: The authors constructed a retrospective cohort study using patient data from 1999 to 2016 from the National Veterans Administration Corporate Data Warehouse and the VA Central Cancer Registry. This cohort study included 45,052 veterans living with HIV/AIDS and 162,486 HIV-negative patients matched by age, sex, and index visit (i.e., HIV diagnosis date or clinic …