Recovery of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Function With Neoadjuvant Treatment: Neural Characterization.

Objectives: Neoadjuvant targeted therapy has emerged as a promising treatment strategy for locally aggressive thyroid cancer. Its impact on tumor and adjacent tissues remains a nascent area of study. Here we report on a series of six subjects with locally advanced thyroid cancer and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) paralysis who experienced recovery of RLN function with neoadjuvant treatment and describe the morphologic and electrophysiologic characteristics of these recovered nerves.

Emerging Imaging Technologies for Parathyroid Gland Identification and Vascular Assessment in Thyroid Surgery: A Review From the American Head and Neck Society Endocrine Surgery Section.

Importance: Identification and preservation of parathyroid glands (PGs) remain challenging despite advances in surgical techniques. Considerable morbidity and even mortality result from hypoparathyroidism caused by devascularization or inadvertent removal of PGs. Emerging imaging technologies hold promise to improve identification and preservation of PGs during thyroid surgery.

Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Invasion by Thyroid Cancer: Laryngeal Function and Survival Outcomes.

Background: Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) invasion by thyroid carcinoma represents an advanced disease status with potentially significant co-morbidity.

Methods: In a retrospective single-center study, we included patients with invaded RLNs operated on while using nerve monitoring techniques. We studied pre-, intra-, and postoperative parameters associated with postoperative vocal cord paralysis (VCP); 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS); and 5-year overall survival (OS) in addition to two subgroup analyses of postoperative VCP in patients without preoperative VCP and based on source of RLN invasion.

Pediatric intraoperative nerve monitoring during thyroid surgery: A review from the American Head and Neck Society Endocrine Surgery Section and the International Neural Monitoring Study Group.

Children are more likely to experience recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury during thyroid surgery. Intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) may assist in nerve identification and surgical decision making. A literature review of pediatric IONM was performed and used to inform a monitoring technique guide and expert opinion statements.

Benign Intratracheal Thyroid: A Systematic Review of 43 Cases With Five New Case Reports.

Objective/hypothesis: To examine the clinical features of benign intratracheal thyroid (ITT) and their management strategies and outcomes.

Study Design: Case series study.

Methods: This systemic review was conducted in two international academic centers.

Intraoperative nerve monitoring in thyroid surgery: Analysis of recurrent laryngeal nerve identification and operative time.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of intraoperative nerve monitoring (IONM) by comparing the procedure times for thyroidectomies performed with and without IONM.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, controlled study was conducted on 32 patients (representing 41 nerves at risk) undergoing thyroidectomies carried out by two experienced head and neck surgeons (CC & WP). Sixteen thyroidectomies were performed without IONM (the "non-IONM group"), while 16 thyroidectomies were performed with IONM (the "IONM group").

Superior Laryngeal Nerve Signal Attenuation Influences Voice Outcomes in Thyroid Surgery.

Objectives/hypothesis: The objective was to identify whether injury of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) or changes in EBSLN parameters after dissection during thyroidectomies correlate with changes in voice quality postoperatively.

Study Design: Prospective multicenter case series.

Methods: A prospective multicenter study was conducted on patients undergoing thyroidectomies with intraoperative nerve monitoring.

Surgical impact of a dedicated endocrine surgeon on an academic otolaryngology department.

Objectives: Endocrine surgery is emerging as a dedicated subspecialty in otolaryngology. We assess the impact of an endocrine surgeon on an academic otolaryngology department's thyroid and parathyroid surgery volume.

Methods: A retrospective study of overall endocrine caseloads and resident case logs at a single academic center in the Midwest was performed.

Flexible model for patient engagement: Achieving quality outcomes and building a research agenda for head and neck cancer.

Background: This article describes the benefits of patient-driven research in the field of head and neck oncology, reviews lessons learned from establishing partnerships with patients and caregivers, and serves as a model for further patient-driven research endeavors.

Methods: Head and neck cancer survivors underwent training including that of effective communication and the basics of research methodology. They then drove the agendas for monthly meetings that included a multidisciplinary team of providers, facilitated by a physician champion (S.

INCIDENTAL THYROID NODULES: RACE/ETHNICITY DISPARITIES AND OUTCOMES.

Objective: Black patients have a significantly lower incidence of well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) compared to all other race/ethnic groups, while white patients appear to be at greater risk. This study examines incidental thyroid nodules (ITNs) to assess whether racial disparities in WDTC arise from a differential discovery of ITNs-perhaps due to socioeconomic disparities-or reflect true differences in thyroid cancer rates.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of all patients who underwent fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid nodules by our academic medical center's endocrinology division between January 2006 and December 2010.

Socioeconomic disparities and comorbidities, not race, affect salivary gland malignancy survival outcomes.

Objectives/hypothesis: This study sought to determine whether comorbidities, race, and socioeconomic factors affect 5- and 10-year survival outcomes for patients with salivary gland malignancies treated at a single large academic institution with a large African American population.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study was performed of all patients with salivary gland malignancies, from 1990 to 2015, at a large academic medical center.

Methods: Standard statistical analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis and Cox proportional hazard models.

Bony cochlear nerve canal stenosis and speech discrimination in pediatric unilateral hearing loss.

Objectives/hypothesis: To examine the relationship between bony cochlear nerve canal (BCNC) width, degree of hearing loss, and speech discrimination in children with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (USNHL).

Study Design: Retrospective chart review (case-control study).

Methods: Audiometric database was cross-referenced with radiologic database at pediatric tertiary care facility to identify children with USNHL and temporal bone computed tomography.

Resistance to noise-induced hearing loss in 129S6 and MOLF mice: identification of independent, overlapping, and interacting chromosomal regions.

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a prevalent health risk. Inbred mouse strains 129S6/SvEvTac (129S6) and MOLF/EiJ (MOLF) show strong NIHL resistance (NR) relative to CBA/CaJ (CBACa). In this study, we developed quantitative trait locus (QTL) maps for NR.