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Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM)

This review article describes the surgical technique of transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) for the piecemeal removal of tumours of the upper aerodigestive tract using carbon dioxide laser. This technique gained acceptance after Wolfgang Steiner published his paper on the treatment...

Which patients are suitable for surgery in recurrent head and neck cancer?

Currently, radiotherapy and chemotherapy is the most common modality used in the management of primary head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Unfortunately, around 50% of patients experience disease recurrence (rHNSCC). Surgery is therefore often used as a salvage treatment....

The many uses of human amnion

Human amnion has historically been the focus of much myth and superstition. To be born with the ‘caul’ intact was considered lucky and the caul was often manufactured into clothing. In 1910 foetal membranes were first used in skin transplantation...

Intraoperative MRI use during pituitary tumour resection

This article provides an overview of intraoperative MRI (iMRI) use in transphenoidal surgery (TSS) for pituitary tumours. Traditionally imaging of the surgical field during surgery involves intraoperative fluoroscopic imaging or neuronavigation which help to avoid injury to critical structures but...

Salivary gland blues…

Intravenous methylene blue is a well-described method to assist in intraoperative localisation of parathyroid glands. The technique does come with challenges as anybody will know who has had to run adjacent to a theatre-bound trolley to ensure that the infusion...

Canal wall down with obliteration of cavity for paediatric cholesteatoma

The authors present evidence that canal wall down (CWD) surgery with primary obliteration is an effective way to treat paediatric cholesteatoma. Fifty-eight ears were operated on and follow-up was for five years on average. Residual cholesteatoma rate was 9.9% with...

Endoscopic stapes surgery - pearls and pitfalls

Endoscopic ear surgery has gained popularity in recent years with wide panoramic visualisation of the operative field one of its key strengths. This article summarises the approach, set-up and outcomes of patients undergoing endoscopic stapes surgery. A key step during...

Navigate me there, to my new CAT

Transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES) has gained momentum with its close-up high definition wide-angled views. Skeptics point out single-handed operating in a 2D view. The authors made use of navigation and augmented reality (AR) to present an additional minimal access...

Listening to families - the essential app for families of Deaf children

The National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) has recently launched an app designed to support families with children affected by hearing loss throughout their childhood. This app was developed in response to the community’s demand for expert-guided information presented in a...