Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND: Inferior turbinate (IT) hypertrophy and adenoid hypertrophy are both causes of pediatric nasal obstruction. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this survey was to study nasal obstruction evaluation and management among pediatric otolaryngologists with respect to IT and adenoid hypertrophy. METHODS: A questionnaire with embedded clinical videos was sent electronically to American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology members. RESULTS: A total of 435 questionnaires were sent, and 75 were completed. Respondents were presented with scenarios that involved a 7-year-old child with nasal obstruction unresponsive to medical therapy, and the respondents were asked to choose a surgical plan, either IT reduction, adenoidectomy, or combined IT reduction and adenoidectomy. Three questions described the extent of IT and adenoid obstruction in text form, although three questions included a video of the child's nasal endoscopy. In questions with perceived or stated IT hypertrophy, the respondents chose to perform IT reduction significantly more frequently when the perceived or stated adenoid hypertrophy was less severe (p < 0.0001 for video and p = 0.039 for written questions). CONCLUSION: The decision to perform IT reduction in children is inversely related to the extent of adenoid hypertrophy. Future studies on pediatric IT surgery should include objective descriptions of the IT and adenoid in study subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To describe this institution's experience with and the long-term outcomes of early type 1 thyroplasty for unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) following surgery on the aortic arch. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review with telephone questionnaire. SETTING: Academic tertiary care center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Three hundred forty-eight patients with UVFP following surgery on the aortic arch since 1999 were identified; 40 were available for follow-up. The number of revision procedures following initial thyroplasty was ascertained, and the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) was administered by telephone. The hypothesis that early thyroplasty produced voice outcomes and revision rates comparable to injection laryngoplasty was established prior to the initiation of data collection. RESULTS: Six out of the 40 patients (15%) required revision thyroplasty following their initial procedure. Mean VHI of all patients was 36.0 (SD, 27.2). Mean VHI was significantly different in the 18 to 39 age group (13.1) when compared to the 40 to 59 (51.8) and 60+ (37.7) age groups (P = .013). Mean follow-up since initial thyroplasty was 46.5 months (SD, 42.2). CONCLUSIONS: In the setting of aortic arch surgery with injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve, early thyroplasty produces voice outcomes comparable to those achieved in the literature with repeated injection and delayed thyroplasty and can be considered in select populations.

Patients with marker-positive central nervous system (CNS) germ cell tumors are typically monitored for tumor recurrence with both tumor markers (AFP and b-hCG) and MRI. We hypothesize that the recurrence of these tumors will always be accompanied by an elevation in tumor markers, and that surveillance MRI may not be necessary. We retrospectively identified 28 patients with CNS germ cell tumors treated at our institution that presented with an elevated serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tumor marker at the time of diagnosis. We then identified those who had a tumor recurrence after having been in remission and whether each recurrence was detected via MRI changes, elevated tumor markers, or both. Four patients suffered a tumor recurrence. Only one patient had simultaneously elevated tumor markers and MRI evidence of recurrence. Two patients had evidence of recurrence on MRI without corresponding elevations in serum or CSF tumor markers. One patient had abnormal tumor markers with no evidence of recurrence on MRI until 6 months later. We conclude that in patients with marker-positive CNS germ cell tumors who achieve complete remission, continued surveillance imaging in addition to measurement of tumor markers is indicated to detect recurrences.

This literature review addresses the attempted interventions for the management of oral submucous fibrosis. The literature supports the use of several medical interventions, including micronutrients, antioxidants, proteolytic enzymes, immune modulators (mainly steroids), and agents to promote blood flow. However, the numbers of reported randomized controlled trials are limited. Therefore, no recommendation can be made for any specific intervention. Until now, no single molecular pathway has been identified that is either necessary or sufficient for the development of fibrosis. This has been a bar for any molecular-targeted therapies. Because areca nut (an ingredient of betel quid) plays a major etiologic role in oral submucous fibrosis, cessation of areca nut use remains pivotal in the management of this disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the developmental status of young children with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) as measured by the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) and to evaluate improvement after treatment. METHODS: The ASQ-3 was completed at entry, 3 months and 6 months after adenotonsillectomy or adenoidectomy. The questionnaire consists of 30 items that assess five domains: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving and personal-social. Domain scores were compared with normative values: abnormal >/=2 SDs and borderline >/=1 but <2 SDs below the mean. RESULTS: 80 children, mean (SD) age 3.0 (0.94) years, 62.5% male, 77.5% African American, were enrolled. Median (range) apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 12.6 (1.4-178.5). At entry, 22 (27.5%) children scored in the abnormal range in at least one developmental area and an additional 23 (28.8%) had at least one borderline score. A generalized linear model including gender, AHI, maternal education and prematurity showed that only prematurity was an independent predictor of at least one abnormal or borderline entry score (likelihood ratio test p < 0.001). Adjusting for covariates and excluding children with a history of prematurity, the prevalence of at least one abnormal or borderline score (based on 112 observations of 70 children) was estimated at 49% (95% CI [37, 62]) at baseline; 34% (95% CI [17, 56]) at 3 months; and 22% (95% CI [10, 41]) at 6 months. Post-hoc pairwise comparison of time points showed the baseline versus 6-month difference to be statistically significant (p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: The 27.5% baseline prevalence of abnormal ASQ scores in children with SDB indicates it is a risk factor for developmental delay. Significant improvements in score classifications were found 6 months after surgery.

Tympanic paragangliomas (TP) arise in the middle ear along the course of Jacobson's or Arnold's nerve. These lesions can vary from small masses on the cochlear promontory to tumors that extend into the mastoid and external auditory canal. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice for TP with very low-recurrence rates. The various surgical approaches for TP are adapted to the configuration of individual tumors to provide adequate exposure to the margins of the tumor in the mesotympanum, hypotympanum, and mastoid. Using these surgical approaches in combination with meticulous dissection and hemostasis with adjunctive tools such as laser and micro-bipolar instruments allows for safe and effective resection of these vascular tumors from within the confines of the tympanic cavity

Laryngeal paragangliomas are rare tumors that arise from 3 superior and 1 inferior paraganglia within the larynx. They present as painless, submucosal masses that become symptomatic after they surpass a critical size. At this point, hoarseness followed by dysphagia becomes evident. These tumors are rarely familial and rarely, if at all, malignant. Diagnosis is made by a thorough head and neck examination. On laryngoscopy, the most common finding is a submucosal mass in the false vocal fold. Imaging reveals a rather round mass with clear margins. The lesion is hyperintense on imaging. Delineation from nerve sheath tumors can be accomplished by somatostatin receptor imaging. No biopsy is needed to treat these tumors as all laryngeal submucosal tumors require surgery. Transoral laryngeal biopsy is discouraged because of subsequent profuse bleeding and unnecessary disruption of the overlying mucosa. Transcervical excision via a lateral laryngotomy is the procedure of choice for supraglottic paragangliomas. It can be accomplished with minimal blood loss, complete extirpation, and no tracheotomy. Embolization is unnecessary because supraglottic paragangliomas are rarely larger than 3 cm without obstructing the patient's airway. The blood supply to these tumors is through the laryngeal branch of the superior thyroidal artery, which is controlled during the excision. Patients with infraglottic paragangliomas are rare and are best approached through laryngofissure. Patients can expect rapid recovery, no significant blood loss, and minimal, if any, temporary dysphagia

The vast majority of paragangliomas are benign. It is unclear what percentage is malignant but it has been estimated between 6% and 10% of those reported. Despite their distinct radiologic and pathologic appearance, there is no reliable way to distinguish benign from malignant paragangliomas preoperatively. There are no absolute pathologic criteria for malignancy. The accepted criteria for determining malignancy preoperatively are spread to regional lymph nodes or distant metastasis.There are predictors of malignancy. They include location of the paraganglioma (vagal paragangliomas are malignant more often than any other paraganglioma), pain as a presenting symptom, recent rapid growth, and the succinate dehydrogenase B subunit mutation. The 5-year survival rate for malignant paraganglioma has been estimated to be around 60%. As the presence of lymph node metastasis could be the only sign of malignancy, it is recommended that lymph nodes be removed during the resections of these tumors. In the case of paragangliomas presenting in the neck, levels II and III are easily approached and should be sampled. In cases where there is preoperative involvement of lymph nodes by paraganglioma, a modified neck dissection is indicated. It should address minimally levels II through IV