Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE: Establish the feasibility of a predictive validity study in sinus surgery simulation training and demonstrate the effectiveness of the Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Simulator (ES3) as a training device. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, multi-institutional controlled trial. SETTING: Four tertiary academic centers with accredited otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency programs. SUBJECTS: Twelve ES3-trained novice residents were compared with 13 control novice residents. METHODS: Subjects were assessed on the performance of basic sinus surgery tasks. Their first in vivo procedure was video recorded and submitted to a blinded panel of independent experts after the panel established a minimum inter-rater reliability of 80 percent. The recordings were reviewed by using a standardized computer-assisted method and customized metrics. Results were analyzed with the Mann-Whitney U test. Internal rater consistency was verified with Pearson moment correlation. RESULTS: Completion time was significantly shorter in the experimental group (injection P = 0.003, dissection P < 0.001), which, according to the rater panel, also demonstrated higher confidence (P = 0.009), demonstrated skill during instrument manipulation (P = 0.011), and made fewer technical mistakes during the injection task (P = 0.048) compared with the control group. The raters' post hoc internal consistency was deemed adequate (r > 0.5 between serial measurements). CONCLUSION: The validity of the ES3 as an effective surgical trainer was verified in multiple instances, including those not depending on subjective rater evaluations. The ES3 is one of the few virtual reality simulators with a comprehensive validation record. Advanced simulation technologies need more rapid implementation in otolaryngology training, as they present noteworthy potential for high-quality surgical education while meeting the necessity of patient safety

OBJECTIVE: We report a case of allergic fungal sinusitis causing bone erosion and diplopia. CASE REPORT: A 43-year-old man presented with a four-month history of increased nasal congestion and progressive diplopia. Clinical examination revealed bilateral nasal polyposis and a right lateral gaze deficit, consistent with a VIth cranial nerve palsy. Computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses demonstrated a large sellar mass with extensive bony erosion and both supra- and infra-sellar extension. An endoscopic approach to the sphenoid sinus, clivus and posterior cranial fossa with image guidance was performed, enabling surgical treatment involving nasal polypectomy, wide marsupialisation of the sphenoid sinus and removal of the extensive allergic fungal mucin. The patient awoke from anaesthesia with complete resolution of his diplopia. CONCLUSION: Otolaryngologists should be aware that approximately 20 per cent of patients with allergic fungal sinusitis demonstrate paranasal sinus expansion and bone erosion involving surrounding anatomical structures. Such patients may have clinical findings involving the orbit and cranial vault

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to compare the image quality and potential diagnostic accuracy of paranasal sinus CT scans generated by flat panel cone beam CT at three specific data acquisition times. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, single blinded analysis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eleven patients without previous radiologic evaluation were selected based on history and findings suspicious for chronic sinusitis. Each patient was scanned at three different acquisition times: 10, 20, and 40 seconds. A panel of neuroradiologists and otolaryngologists, blinded to the scan acquisition time, individually reviewed images and rated overall image quality and visualization of specific anatomic sites. Image noise values were also calculated. Techniques were compared with a Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed ranks test. RESULTS: Compared to the 10-second acquisition time, the 40- and 20-second acquisition time techniques had significantly better image quality (P < 0.05) and image noise (P < 0.05). No difference in image quality and image noise existed between the 20- and 40-second techniques. No difference in visualization of specific anatomic structures existed between any of the time techniques. CONCLUSION: The quality of flat panel CT imaging of the sinuses directly relates to scan time and thus radiation dose

Chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF) is a rare benign primary tumor which usually affects the metaphyses of the long bone of the lower extremities in childhood and young adults. Rarely, CMF occurs in the skull base and parasinuses, which may be difficult to distinguish from chondrosarcoma or chordoma and other tumors in the head. It is composed of chondroid, myxoid, and fibrous tissue growth in a lobular pattern, infrequently with calcifications. We report one case of CMF involving the sphenoid sinus mimicking a chondrosarcoma. The tumor mass showed calcifications on images and histology

OBJECTIVE: Obstructive sleep apnea events are more common in REM sleep, although there is no relationship between sleep phase and pharyngeal airway status. We studied the patency of the nasal airway during REM and non-REM sleep with the use of acoustic rhinometry. METHODS: Serial acoustic rhinometric assessment of nasal cross-sectional area was performed in 10 subjects, before sleep and during REM and non-REM sleep. All measurements were standardized to a decongested baseline with mean congestion factor (MCF). RESULTS: MCF in the seated position was 10.6% (+/-3.7) and increased with supine positioning to 16.2% (+/-2.3). In REM sleep, MCF was highest, at 22.3% (+/-1.7). In non-REM sleep, MCF was lowest, at 2.3% (+/-3.1). All interstage comparisons were statistically significant on repeated measures ANOVA (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: REM sleep is characterized by significant nasal congestion; non-REM sleep, by profound decongestion. This phenomenon may be attributable to REM-dependent variation in cerebral blood flow that affects nasal congestion via the internal carotid system. REM-induced nasal congestion, an indirect effect of augmented cerebral perfusion, may contribute to the higher frequency of obstructive events in REM sleep

With the availability of high-resolution computed tomography (CT), a great deal of attention has been paid to the anatomy of the paranasal sinuses. But while investigators have focused on the osteomeatal complex and its relation to chronic rhinosinusitis, there has been little discussion of the superior turbinate. Although a few anatomic studies have tried to quantify pneumatization of the superior turbinate, the prevalence of this finding on radiography is not well addressed in the literature. We prospectively studied 100 consecutively presenting patients who underwent coronal CT of the paranasal sinuses (200 sides) for the evaluation of symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis at an academic tertiary referral center to determine the prevalence of pneumatization of the superior turbinate. We found evidence of pneumatization in 44 of the 200 sides, for a prevalence of 22%. In all, pneumatized superior turbinates were found in 27 patients (27%)-bilaterally in 17 (17%) and unilaterally in 10 (10%)

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS:: The role of fungal pathogens in the etiology of nasal polyposis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether there was a correlation between the presence of Alternaria-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E antibodies, eosinophilic inflammation, and the development of nasal polyps. STUDY DESIGN:: Prospective study. METHODS:: Serum and nasal tissue homogenates from 21 patients with manifestations of chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps were compared with specimens from 13 chronic sinusitis patients without polyps and 8 healthy controls. The Phadia ImmunoCAP and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to quantify levels of total IgE and Alternaria-specific (IgE, IgG, and IgA) antibodies. Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and tryptase levels were measured in tissue homogenates, whereas the inflammatory response was evaluated using tissue eosinophil counts in tissue samples. RESULTS:: Serum analysis revealed no difference in the levels of total IgE and Alternaria-specific IgE, IgG, and IgA antibodies between the study groups. In contrast, the levels of Alternaria-specific IgE in tissue with polyps were significantly higher than in nonpolyp tissue. Increases in total tissue IgE paralleled increased levels of Alternaria-specific IgG and IgA antibodies in chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps as compared with control groups. A positive correlation was found between Alternaria-specific IgE and ECP in tissue. Increased mean levels of ECP corresponded to increased eosinophil counts in the group of patients with polyps. CONCLUSIONS:: Alternaria-specific IgE and eosinophilic inflammation in nasal tissue correlates with the incidence of nasal polyps irrespective of specific IgE antibodies in serum. Together, the correlation between the local immune responses and the eosinophilic inflammation in nasal polyps suggests a possible role of Alternaria in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis

OBJECTIVES: To establish discriminant validity of the endoscopic sinus surgery simulator (ES3) (Lockheed Martin, Akron, Ohio) between various health care provider experience levels and to define benchmarking criteria for skills assessment. DESIGN: Prospective multi-institutional comparison study. SETTING: University-based tertiary care institution. PARTICIPANTS: Ten expert otolaryngologists, 14 otolaryngology residents, and 10 medical students. INTERVENTIONS: Subjects completed the ES3's virtual reality curriculum (10 novice mode, 10 intermediate mode, and 3 advanced mode trials). Performance scores were recorded on each trial. Performance differences were analyzed using analysis of variance for repeated measures (experience level as between-subjects factor). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Simulator performance scores, accuracy, time to completion, and hazard disruption. RESULTS: The novice mode accurately distinguished the 3 groups, particularly at the onset of training (mean scores: senior otolaryngologists, 66.0; residents, 42.7; students, 18.3; for the paired comparisons between groups 1 and 2 and groups 1 and 3, P = .04 and .03, respectively). Subjects were not distinguished beyond trial 5. The intermediate mode only discriminated students from other subjects (P = .008). The advanced mode did not show performance differences between groups. Scores on the novice mode predicted those on the intermediate mode, which predicted advanced mode scores (r = 0.687), but no relationship was found between novice and advanced scores. All groups performed equally well and with comparable consistency at the outset of training. Expert scores were used to define benchmark criteria of optimal performance. CONCLUSIONS: This study completes the construct validity assessment of the ES3 by demonstrating its discriminant capabilities. It establishes expert surgeon benchmark performance criteria and shows that the ES3 can train novice subjects to attain those. The refined analysis of trial performance scores could serve educational and skills assessment purposes. Current studies are evaluating the transfer of surgical skills acquired on the ES3 to the operating room (predictive validity)