A manual of Eustachian tube function tests-illustration of representative test results obtained from healthy subjects and typical disorders with suggestion of the appropriate test method of choice.

In the 19th century, Politzer devised a method to measure passage of the Eustachian tube (ET) by pressurizing the nasopharyngeal cavity, which marked the beginning of the ET function test. Since then, various examination methods have been developed. While ET function testing is important, recent advancements in diagnostic imaging and treatments have renewed interest on its importance.

Frequency-dependent hearing outcomes with or without preservation of intact ossicular articulations.

Objective: To determine the frequency-specific benefits of ossicular chain preservation compared to performing disarticulations and reconstructions in transmastoid facial nerve decompression surgery in patients with an intact ossicular chain.

Methods: A retrospective chart review (January 2007 and June 2018) of patients undergoing transmastoid facial nerve decompression on the intact middle ear for severe facial palsy at a tertiary referral center. Surgery was performed with ossicular chain disarticulation on an as-needed basis using either ossicular chain preservation (without ossicular disarticulation), incudostapedial separation, or incus disarticulation technique.

Acoustic neuromas associated with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Background: Several studies have reported sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) as an initial symptom of acoustic neuromas (ANs).

Aims/objectives: We aimed to retrospectively evaluate the incidence of SHL and the associated rates of post-treatment improvement in patients diagnosed with ANs.

Materials And Methods: We analysed the clinical data of 686 patients with ANs and examined tumour size, correlation with hearing loss, number of episodes of SHL, extent of auditory recovery, and associated audiogram patterns.

Intratympanic steroid therapy for Bell's palsy with poor prognostic results.

In Bell's palsy, electrodiagnosis by electroneurography (ENoG) is widely used to predict a patient's prognosis. The therapeutic options for patients with poor prognostic results remain controversial. Here, we investigated whether early intervention with intratympanic steroid therapy (ITST) is an effective treatment for Bell's palsy patients with poor electrodiagnostic test results (≤ 10% electroneurography value).

Imaging manifestations on sequential magnetic resonance imaging in pharyngolaryngeal involvement by varicella zoster virus.

Clarifying temporal changes in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a good chance to understand the pathology of neural lesions; however, such information is scarce in varicella zoster virus (VZV) neuropathies for the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves. Here, we present the changes in sequential MR images of such a pathology over a period of 12 months from symptom onset.A 27-year-old woman with difficulty in swallowing and hoarseness due to a palatal palsy and arytenoid fixation on the left presented 2 days after onset.

Facial and hearing outcomes in transmastoid nerve decompression for Bell's palsy, with preservation of the ossicular chain.

Objectives: Facial nerve decompression is a salvage treatment for Bell's palsy patients for whom a poor prognosis is anticipated with standard medical treatment. The transmastoid approach is a frequently performed approach, but it remains unknown if this surgery is effective when the ossicular chain is preserved. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of facial nerve decompression using the transmastoid approach in Bell's palsy.

Clinical characteristics, the diagnostic criteria and management recommendation of otitis media with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (OMAAV) proposed by Japan Otological Society.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a form of necrotizing vasculitis with few or no immune deposits. It primarily affects small and medium blood vessels. AAV is classified into three categories, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangitis (EGPA), and two major ANCAs, proteinase 3 (PR3)-ANCA or myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA are involved in their pathogenesis.

Data for temporal facial nerve recovery in Ramsay Hunt syndrome following intratympanic steroid therapy.

This article contains data related to the research article entitled "Concurrent treatment with intratympanic dexamethasone improves facial nerve recovery in Ramsay Hunt syndrome" (Akira Inagaki, Toshiya Minakata, Schiyo Katsumi, Shingo Murakami) [1]. This data article reports the protocol for a clinical trial investigating the benefit of intratympanic steroid therapy on facial recovery in Ramsay Hunt syndrome and temporal facial recovery. The data included in this article are as follows: inclusion and exclusion criteria, the treatment protocol of steroids and antiviral therapies, facial recovery as assessed by the House-Brackmann scale in all enrolled patients, House-Brackmann scores in patients with a poor electrophysiological result, and House-Brackmann scores after propensity score matching.

Concurrent treatment with intratympanic dexamethasone improves facial nerve recovery in Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

Objective: To determine whether early intervention with intratympanic steroid injections, known as concurrent intratympanic steroid therapy (ITST), is an effective supplement to systemic steroid therapy for moderately-severe to severe Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

Methods: Forty-six patients with Ramsay Hunt syndrome (House-Brackmann grade IV or higher) who received either concurrent ITST with standard systemic steroid therapy (ITST group, n = 12) or standard systemic therapy alone (control group, n = 34) with antivirals starting within 7 days of onset. Patients in the concurrent ITST group received the standard systemic dose of prednisolone (410 mg in total) and intratympanic dexamethasone (16.

An Unusual Tumor of the Ear: Pilomatricoma in a Middle-Aged Woman.

Pilomatricoma is a benign tumor arising from hair follicle matrix cells, presenting as an asymptomatic, firm, slow growing, mobile, superficial skin nodule typically in children. This lesion with an atypical clinical presentation is frequently misdiagnosed as other skin lesions and even as malignant entities regardless of detailed cytological, imaging examinations; the site of occurrence is one of the keys to accurate diagnosis. Here, we present a case of pilomatrixoma involving the ear, the cymba conchae of the auricle, which is an extremely rare site for the lesion in a 52-year-old woman.

Concurrent Treatment With Intratympanic Dexamethasone for Moderate-Severe Through Severe Bell's Palsy.

Objective: To determine whether early intervention with intratympanic steroid injection, known as concurrent intratympanic steroid therapy, is effective as a supplement to systemic steroid therapy for treating moderate-severe to severe Bell's palsy.

Design: An open-label historical control trial.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Clinical and Radiological Characteristics of Malignant Tumors Located to the Cerebellopontine Angle and/or Internal Acoustic Meatus.

Objective: Metastatic lesions to the internal auditory meatus (IAM) and/or the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) are rare and may appear like a vestibular schwannoma (VS). We herein raise the issue of the diagnosis and treatment of nine malignant cases of the CPA and IAM among three referral centers in France and Japan. The aim of this study was 1) to report malignant lesions of the CPA, their diagnosis and treatment, 2) to review the literature, 3) to propose criteria of suspicion for malignant tumors of the CPA.

Calcium-Sensing Receptor Is Functionally Expressed in the Cochlear Perilymphatic Compartment and Essential for Hearing.

Maintaining Ca homeostasis in lymphatic fluids is necessary for proper hearing. Despite its significance, the mechanisms that maintain the cochlear lymphatic Ca concentrations within a certain range are not fully clarified. We investigated the functional expression of calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), which plays a pivotal role in sensing extracellular Ca concentrations for feedback regulations.

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of facial nerve swelling in patients with severe Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

Objective: In Ramsay Hunt syndrome, contrast enhancement of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging seen in the affected facial nerve in the majority of cases, but its clinical significance has not been well investigated to date. The aim of this study was to elucidate the clinical significance of this imaging sign by quantitively investigating the correlation between the signal increase and swelling of the facial nerve. We also investigated the temporal change in this sign and its correlation with recovery.

Developmental delays assessed using the Enjoji Scale in children with cochlear implants who have intellectual disability with or without autism spectrum disorder.

Objective: Intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are common among children who are candidates for cochlear implants. However, the implications of these comorbidities for cochlear implant placement have been not fully established. This study sought to identify these implications by comparing developmental delays among children with these conditions.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome associated with solitary nucleus, spinal trigeminal nucleus and tract, and vestibular nucleus involvement on sequential magnetic resonance imaging.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is an acute peripheral facial nerve paralysis typically accompanied by erythematous vesicular lesions of the auricular skin. The etiology is considered to be geniculate ganglionitis due to reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Encephalitis is a rare but serious complication of VZV reactivation.

The inflammatory pseudotumor presenting periodic acid-Schiff-positive inclusions with acute unilateral facial nerve palsy.

Although most acute peripheral facial palsies can be attributed to Bell's palsy, other factors, such as infection, trauma, and neoplasm, can cause facial palsy as well. Among these, facial nerve tumors are rare but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of facial palsy. Palsies due to facial nerve tumors usually present with slow onset but occasionally present as acute episodes.

An improved system for grading and treating tinnitus.

Objective: Tinnitus is an auditory sensation that can cause discomfort or even pain. Because patients with tinnitus frequently have psychological problems, self-reporting of the severity of tinnitus is unreliable. We developed a new grading system and practical protocol for the systematic treatment of tinnitus that accounts for its severity, patients' psychological problems, and the frequency of catastrophic episodes.

Postoperative Headache after Undergoing Acoustic Neuroma Surgery via the Retrosigmoid Approach.

To estimate the duration of postoperative headache after surgery for acoustic neuroma and the effects of age, sex, tumor size, extent of tumor resection, type of skin incision, surgical duration, hearing preservation, and postoperative facial nerve palsy. This retrospective review analyzed clinical data from 97 patients who had undergone surgery for unilateral acoustic neuroma via the retrosigmoid approach >1 year previously. We investigated whether patients had headache at hospital discharge and during attendance at outpatient clinics.

Clinical features and treatment outcomes of otitis media with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (OMAAV): A retrospective analysis of 235 patients from a nationwide survey in Japan.

Objective: We aimed to analyze clinical features and treatment outcomes of otitis media caused by antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), i.e. otitis media with AAV (OMAAV).

A Pilot Study on the Efficacy of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on the Manifestations of Ménière's Disease in Patients with Concomitant Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on Ménière's disease patients with concomitant obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), since recent reports suggest OSAS may cause dysfunction of the vestibular system.

Study Design: Prospective study using CPAP administered to patients diagnosed with "Definite Ménière's disease" according to the guidelines of the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery and combined with OSAS.

Setting: University hospital.

Pharmacological correction of gating defects in the voltage-gated Ca(v)2.1 Ca²⁺ channel due to a familial hemiplegic migraine mutation.

Voltage-gated ion channels exhibit complex properties, which can be targeted in pharmacological therapies for disease. Here, we report that the pro-oxidant, tert-butyl dihydroquinone (BHQ), modulates Ca(v)2.1 Ca²⁺ channels in ways that oppose defects in channel gating and synaptic transmission resulting from a familial hemiplegic migraine mutation (S218L).

Developmental alterations in the biophysical properties of Ca(v) 1.3 Ca(2+) channels in mouse inner hair cells.

Prior to hearing onset, spontaneous action potentials activate voltage-gated Cav 1.3 Ca ( 2+) channels in mouse inner hair cells (IHCs), which triggers exocytosis of glutamate and excitation of afferent neurons. In mature IHCs, Cav 1.