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Role of fine needle aspiration cytology in the management of thyroid neoplasm

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a useful procedure in the assessment of thyroid swellings. This retrospective study was done at King Abdul-Aziz University hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh. The objectives of this study were: to determine the cytological pattern...

New MRI technique assesses treatment response in skull base osteomyelitis

This paper describes another useful imaging technique to monitor Necrotising Otitis Externa (NOE). Echoplanar diffusion weighted magnetic resonance (DW MR) shows high signal on the ‘ADC map’ with active disease and this reduces in signal intensity as symptoms improve. This...

Storytelling is good for your memory

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) presents a challenging frontier in healthcare due to the limited availability of effective drugs. Despite its prevalence and potential progression to dementia, there remains a notable gap in pharmacological interventions targeting MCI. This month’s Editors’ Choice...

Chronic rhinosinusitis update

There is still a lack of awareness of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) despite its burden, calling for events such as the recent Global Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP) Awareness Day. Research findings from recent publications by Backaert et al have...

Recurrent seroma in cochlear implanted patients

Little is known about why some patients experience recurrent seromas over the implant package and in the absence of any cause, antibiotics are frequently prescribed as a precaution to protect the implant from infection. A tertiary referral centre selected five...

Difficult consultations with HPV-positive oropharnyeal cancer patients

The aetiological role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is well established, and its incidence has massively increased over the last decade, whilst the incidence of HPV-negative OPSCC is declining. Although we know that HPV-positive OPSCC...

Pharyngoplasty for palatal snoring

This prospective Belgian study looked at the benefits of barbed reposition pharyngoplasty in the management of patients with isolated unilevel palatal snoring. This technique involves using a barbed suture and repositioning the palatopharyngeal muscle in a more lateral and anterior...

Patient-reported outcome measures in septorhinoplasty

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are used increasingly in surgical research to quantify the efficacy of surgical interventions. This can help to fill an ‘evidence gap’ where healthcare rationing threatens particular treatments. Procedures aimed at improving quality of life, especially with...

Systemic steroid therapy for reduction of macrophage migration inhibition factor in the control of nasal polyposis

It is believed that macrophage migration inhibitory factor mediates inflammation by stimulating the release of other pro-inflammatory cytokines. The use of systemic steroids in control of nasal polyposis is an established treatment. In this study the authors have aimed at...

Does surgery work for acquired stenosis of the ear canal in the long term?

The surgical treatment of acquired post-inflammatory atresia of the external auditory canal (EAC), namely meatoplasty, is challenging with variable long-term outcome. This study looked at the clinical, audiological data, long-term outcome and patient satisfaction after performing meatoplasty. Sixteen patients were...

Balloon compared to FESS – long-term patient satisfaction

Balloon compared to FESS – long-term patient satisfaction This paper is the first controlled study of balloon sinoplasty’s long-term efficacy, with a follow-up extending over five years. There were 208 patients analysed and 88 recruited. Exclusions were nasal polyps grade...