Journal Reviews

Narrow band imaging in the management of carcinoma of unknown primary

4 May 2021 | | Head and Neck, Rhinology / Sinus | carcinoma of unknown primary, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, narrowband imagin, transoral robotic surgery

This was a retrospective study to assess the utility of narrow band imaging (NBI) in the detection of a primary site in carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP). Patients with CUP who underwent transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and preoperative imaging with...

The Journal of Laryngology & Otology cover.

Modifying two-week wait protocol for suspected head and neck cancer patients during COVID-19

3 March 2021 | | Head and Neck | Head And Neck Neoplasms, Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of Head And Neck, COVID-19, Thyroid Neoplasms, Thyroid Nodule, Diagnostic Imaging, Histopathology

As healthcare workers, we are committed to ensuring that our patients continue to receive the optimum care that we are set up to deliver. However, the last year has shown that we need to be mindful of balancing this with...

Head & Neck journal cover.

Preventing major postoperative haemorrhage following TORS

3 March 2021 | | Head and Neck | arterial ligation, oropharyngeal hemorrhage, oropharyngectomy, postoperative hemorrhage, transoral robotic surgery

Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has become an increasingly utilised treatment modality in the management of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Postoperative haemorrhage, although uncommon, is a significant complication. To ameliorate this risk, transcervical ligation of branches of the external carotid...

Otolaryngology Clinics of North America journal cover.

Pain control for patients with chronic pain following surgery

3 March 2021 | | Head and Neck | Chronic pain, Opioid management, Opioids, Postoperative pain

There is an increasing number of patients with a background of chronic pain presenting to the otolaryngologist. Patients with chronic pain require extra consideration in postoperative pain control due to risk of tolerance and dependence. This article summarises postoperative management...

COVID-19 tracheostomies

3 March 2021 | | COVID-19, Head and Neck | COVID-19, ICU, resource management, tracheostomy

This is a review of tracheostomies completed by an OMFS Unit in London from 10 March to 18 May 2020. A total of 176 COVID-19 patients were admitted to intensive care, 72 of which required tracheostomy due to prolonged respiratory...

TMJ arthrocentesis

3 March 2021 | | Head and Neck | temporomandibular joint, temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis, temporomandibular joint disorders

This is a paper from Brazil where they attempted to clarify the volume required for an arthrocentesis to the temporomandibular joint. Nineteen cadavers had methylene blue injected into the upper joint space. Conventional arthrocentesis was then conducted with 300ml of...

B-Ent journal cover image.

PET-CT for malignant nasopharyngeal lesions

7 January 2021 | | Head and Neck, Rhinology / Sinus, Skull Base Surgery | Biopsy, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, PET/CT

This retrospective Turkish review of 92 patients aimed to determine the ability of fluorine 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax) on positron emission tomography/computerised tomography (PET/CT) to differentiate benign processes and malignant nasopharyngeal lesions. The authors retrospectively reviewed the...

British Skull Base Society Clinical Consensus Document on Management of Head and Neck Paragangliomas (HNPGLs)

7 January 2021 | | Head and Neck, Skull Base Surgery | paraganglioma, radiotherapy, surgery, treatment

All forms of HNPGLs should be managed by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) of core members from skull base otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, clinical genetics, oncology, endocrinology, vascular surgery, radiology and pathology. Extended members include neurosurgery, endocrine surgery, nuclear medicine,...

Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery cover

Functional considerations in reconstruction after laryngectomy

7 January 2021 | | Head and Neck, Laryngology / Swallowing / Voice, Maxillofacial Surgery, Speech and Language Therapy

With a plethora of different reconstructive options and techniques available after laryngectomy, it can be difficult to clearly see which give the lowest complication rates and best functional outcomes. This article aims to summarise the current evidence in swallowing and...

Head and Neck journal cover image.

Predicting the need for salvage laryngectomy

2 November 2020 | | Head and Neck | chemotherapy, head and neck cancer, machine learning, radiation therapy, salvage laryngectomy

The treatment of laryngeal cancer has seen a shift towards organ preservation strategies with non-surgical treatment offering equivalent survival outcomes. Nonetheless, salvage total laryngectomy (SLT) remains an important curative management option in cases of treatment failure or recurrence. The authors...

Brown classification of a maxillary defect and prognosis

2 November 2020 | | Head and Neck | Brown classification system, maxillary SCC, maxillectomy defects, prognosis

This is a retrospective study from Peking over the 10-year period, 2000-2010, for 137 patients with maxillary squamous cell carcinoma assessed. The overall survival rate was comparable with other studies at 64.8%. The most common Brown maxillary defect was 2b...

Fibula free flap virtual or freehand planning and the efficiency of surgery

2 November 2020 | | Head and Neck | CAD-CAM, computer aided surgery, fibula free flap, free flap, microvascular surgery, virtual surgery planning

This is a systematic review from surgeons in Italy and Florida where, from an initial 799 potentially relevant articles, only six could be included. Efficiency was assessed by the mean ischemia time which, for the virtual group, was 73.8 minutes,...