Journal Reviews
Effects of age on neuro-physiological processing of speech at brainstem level
Degenerative changes associated with ageing may affect processing of spectral and temporal cues in speech at cortical and subcortical levels, even though these individuals may have normal audiometric thresholds. These changes are more likely to be picked up by speech...
Are imaging studies necessary in uncomplicated headaches?
Over-imaging is one of the banes of modern medicine. One may argue that in this litigious atmosphere it is safer to get an MRI done rather than not. Despite the recommendations of the American Headache Society and the American College...
Options for the endoscope and acquired cholesteatoma
This was a thought-provoking article examining the reasons why the authors believe that the endoscope is enabling an improved understanding of acquired cholesteatoma and its management. They describe in depth the ventilation pathways of the middle ear, and how they...
How useful is AHI?
There is a growing unease in the sleep medicine world about the usefulness of the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI). Most of our objective evidence about obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is in some way related to the AHI, and the respiratory physicians...
Sentinel nodes and UADT tumours
This is the review of a multicentre study to set practical guidelines for sentinel node techniques (SLN) in upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) squamous cell carcinomas including classical and extended indications. SLN biopsies are strictly indicated in patients with clinically and...
Which patients are more likely to have postoperative pulmonary complications after major head and neck?
Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) following major head and neck surgery are frequently encountered. Indeed, surgery in the head and neck area itself has been identified as a risk factor for these complications. Microvascular reconstruction is a widely accepted and proven...
First signs of late nodal metastases
This is a retrospective review of 65 patients who had late metastases during follow-up after initial curative treatment. They analyse the detection methods of palpation, ultrasound, CT and subjective symptoms. Palpation detected the nodes in 31 patients, ultrasound in 17,...
Drinks in Newcastle, Australia
This paper assesses patients presenting with oral and maxillofacial trauma over a 13-year period spanning January 2003 to December 2015. During this period of time, in March 2008, trading hours and conditions of service were restricted within the Newcastle central...
Rates of tonsillitis increase as rates of tonsillectomy reduce
This retrospective study sought to determine the effect of reduced rates of tonsillectomy in England and Wales, over a 13-year period, on rate of hospital admissions for the complications of acute tonsil infection (acute tonsillitis and quinsy), and hospital bed-day...
Sublingual house dust mite immunotherapy
House dust mite immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis was shown to be effective in trials with a relatively small number of participants. The authors of this study performed a multicentre double-blind randomised controlled trial to investigate effects of house dust mite...
Transnasal endoscopic repair of CSF leaks
This Italian study was a retrospective review of 110 consecutive patients who underwent repair of their CSF leak via the transnasal endoscopic approach from 2003 to 2013. All surgery was performed by the same primary surgeon and patients with a...
Wearable sensors for assessment of vestibular disorders
This prospective preliminary study describes the use of commercially available wearable inertial sensors (Mobility LabTM) in assessing the functional ability of individuals with vestibular disorders. Traditionally the Romberg’s, Tandem Walking and Fukuda’s Stepping tests were used to clinically evaluate individuals...
