The Laryngoscope
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To develop a pediatric otolaryngology fellowship selection standardized letter of recommendation (SLOR). ⋯ To our knowledge, this is the first inquiry using an SLOR developed for otolaryngology. SLORs are an alternative to NLORs for fellowship selection that offers improved reliability and efficiency. Further investigation using SLORs in otolaryngology residency selection is merited.
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Comparative Study
Magnetic resonance imaging surveillance following vestibular schwannoma resection.
To describe the incidence, pattern, and course of postoperative enhancement within the operative bed using serial gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) following vestibular schwannoma (VS) resection and to identify clinical and radiologic variables associated with recurrence. ⋯ Persistent nonspecific radiologic enhancement within the postoperative field is common, making the diagnosis of tumor recurrence challenging. Factors including completeness of resection and baseline postoperative MRI findings provide valuable information regarding risk for recurrence, which may assist the clinician in determining an appropriate postoperative MRI surveillance schedule. Future studies using standardized terminology and consistent study metrics are needed to further refine surveillance recommendations.
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To describe the population of patients with malignancy affecting the ear canal and temporal bone. ⋯ Otologic surgery plays an important role in managing cancers that involve the ear canal, temporal bone, or lateral skull base. The specialty of otologic oncology is emerging as a defined area of practice.
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Review Case Reports
Detection of evolving injury to the brachial plexus during transaxillary robotic thyroidectomy.
Continuous intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) of transcranial electric motor evoked potentials (tceMEPs) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) has gained universal acceptance as an efficacious method for detecting emerging positional brachial plexopathy or peripheral nerve compression during spinal and shoulder surgery. This has implications for transaxillary thyroid surgery. ⋯ Given the potential for brachial plexus injury during robotic transaxillary thyroid surgery secondary to arm positioning, we recommend that continuous tceMEP and SSEP monitoring be considered during such procedures.
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To analyze the pattern of the upper airway obstruction in a large cohort of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients using sleep videofluoroscopy (SVF). ⋯ Even if multiplicity of obstruction pattern was most commonly associated with severe OSA, almost one third of mild OSA patients also showed multiple anatomic structures and levels of obstruction. Therefore, a precise evaluation for multiplicity of obstruction patterns should precede the decision of a treatment plan, regardless of disease severity.