Journal Reviews archive for September 2015
Head and neck cancer recurrence: a prospective analysis
The ‘cancer journey’ is synonymous for many individuals worldwide with frequent post-treatment hospital visits where the spectre of possible recurrence hangs over the consultation. This is a prospective analysis of 401 follow-up visits in Melbourne, Australia looking at follow-up in...
Nursing care for ENT patients
Increasingly within the UK, issues related to bed availability can lead to ENT patients receiving care away from previously well-established specialist wards. This is a cause for concern in many institutions and the authors looked to assess this. They demonstrated...
Differences in timbral cues’ perception between teenagers with cochlear implants and those with normal hearing
The authors aimed to assess timbral cues’ perception of teenagers with cochlear implants and compare it to the respective perception of normally hearing teenagers. Thirty-four teenagers were included in the study, nine Korean adolescents with cochlear implants and 25 adolescents...
Do modern multiple microphones with beamforming facility really help implantees?
In this study the authors aimed to assess the benefit beamforming multiple microphones provide to implantees. Speech reception thresholds were assessed in different situations; fixed masking noise from eight loudspeakers around the subject at 0°, ±45°, ±90°, ±135° and 180°...
Transnasal oesophagoscopy in head and neck cancer: an update
The role of transnasal oesophagoscopy (TNE) in the management of head and neck cancer patients is evolving. Until 1990, oesphagoscopy required specialist endoscopists, general anaesthesia or sedation. This review succinctly summarises updates in the evidence for TNE in: i) Screening...
Management of the neck in maxillary sinus carcinomas
Primary malignant tumours of the sinonasal tract account for less than 10% of head and neck cancers, of which the maxilla is the second most common subsite and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most prevalent histological type. Maxillary SCCs...
Voice issues in transgender individuals
Recently, former decathlete and TV personality, Bruce Jenner, admitted that he is transgender, thereby becoming the most famous and vocal advocate for transgender issues. Transgender refers to female to male or male to female identification. In either case, voice modification...
Gum as a thickening agent in dysphagia management
Foods and fluids are commonly thickened with starch based thickeners in the management of dysphagia to prevent aspiration. Now gums are gaining popularity as thickeners as they are resistant to salivary amylase. This study compared the effect of human saliva...
Swahili speech development in pre-school children
This study describes the speech development of 24 typically developing first language Swahili speaking children between the ages of three and five years 11 months in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and was motivated by the 2013 position paper drafted by...
Perceptions in facial ageing
A determinant of a youthful face is based on how facial aesthetic units flow together. Facial ageing results in surface and subsurface structural changes. These factors contribute to the position of bony landmarks, formation of wrinkles and lines and variability...
Scalp reconstruction a new algorithm
Reconstruction of the scalp after acquired defects remains a common challenge for the reconstructive surgeon, especially in light of a history of radiation to the area. Wound healing by secondary intention or with a wound vacuum assisted closure are viable...
Microvascular surgery - does size matter
Success rates for microvascular free tissue transfer performed for head and neck reconstruction are currently very high. As the recipient vessel diameter decreases, questions of reliability and ease of access are raised. This retrospective analysis looked at 89 flaps in...
