Augmented reality-enhanced navigation in endoscopic sinus surgery: A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Objective: Endoscopic sinus surgery represents the gold standard for surgical treatment of chronic sinus diseases. Thereby, navigation systems can be of distinct use. In our study, we tested the recently developed KARL STORZ NAV1 SinusTracker navigation software that incorporates elements of augmented reality (AR) to provide a better preoperative planning and guidance during the surgical procedure.

Auricular reconstruction with polyethylene implants or silicone prosthesis: A single institution experience.

Auricular reconstruction is usually necessary in patients with congenital malformations, after traumatic ear amputations or in cases of neoplastic ear disease. Thirty-nine patients who underwent an auricular reconstruction with either silicon prosthesis (21 patients) or porous polyethylene (18 patients) between 2002 and 2013 were retrospectively analyzed at a tertiary academic institution. A total of 25 male und 14 female patients were included in the study.

Reduction of post-operative pain after tonsillectomy by a local mucosal flap - a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial on 100 adult patients.

Background: Tonsillectomy is one of the most frequent operations in otorhinolaryngology being associated with intense post-operative pain and an impairment of swallowing and speech.

Aims: To determine whether wound sealing with a local mucosal flap can improve patient rehabilitation.

Materials And Methods: The study was designed as a prospective, randomized, monocentric, controlled clinical trial including 100 patients.

Vitamin D deficiency in head and neck cancer patients - prevalence, prognostic value and impact on immune function.

Vitamin D deficiency is frequently observed in human cancer patients and a prognostic relevance could be shown for some entities. Additionally, it is known that vitamin D can stimulate the patients' antitumor immunity. However, valid epidemiological data for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients are sparse and functional studies on a possible connection between vitamin D and the patients' immune system are missing.

Prosthetic supply of facial defects: long-term experience and retrospective analysis on 99 patients.

Introduction: Defects in the head region may be caused by tumour treatments, injuries, as well as congenital malformations. The restoration of these defects that can be performed through reconstructive plastic surgery and/or prosthetic surgery occupies a high priority in the physical and psychological rehabilitation of the patient. The present study reports on long-term experience in supply of facial prosthesis.

Combined therapy for epistaxis by hereditary hemorrhagic teleangiectasia: A 3-year follow up study on 45 patients.

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a mutilating disease associated with the majority of patients with recurrent epistaxis episodes. The aim of this study was to present a single institution experience with patients treated for nasal epistaxis using a combination of Nd:YAG laser and argon plasma coagulation (APC) vs Nd:YAG laser alone, with a minimum follow-up of 3 years. 45 patients (21 men, 24 women) aged from 15 to 84 years with the diagnosis of HHT were treated in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery in Homburg/Saar between 10/2002 and 10/2012 because of epistaxis, using a combination of Nd:YAG laser and APC or Nd:YAG laser alone.

Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) of the head and neck: retrospective analysis of 81 patients.

The treatment of patients with cervical lymph node metastases without detectable primary tumor remains an important challenge, until today, no standard therapy is available. The present study investigated the multimodal treatment of patients with head and neck CUP syndrome (HNCUP) and their follow-up retrospectively. 81 patients with cervical lymph node metastases without a primary tumor were treated at the Departments of Otorhinolaryngology as well as Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology at the University of Saarland in Homburg, Germany in the period between 1991 and 2013.

Increase of Mast Cell-Nerve Association and Neuropeptide Receptor Expression on Mast Cells in Perennial Allergic Rhinitis.

Objectives: Mast cells (MCs) and nerves play an important role in allergic rhinitis (AR), but little is known about their crosstalk in AR. The aim of this study was to investigate MC-nerve interaction in the human nasal mucosa during AR.

Methods: The association between MCs and nerves, the expression of neuropeptide receptors (neurokinin 1 receptor [NK1R], neurokinin 2 receptor [NK2R], calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor [CGRPR], and MrgX2) on MCs, and protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) and tyrosine receptor kinase A (TrkA) on nerve fibres in the human nasal mucosa were investigated with immunofluorescence and real-time PCR.

Laser CO tonsillotomy versus argon plasma coagulation (APC) tonsillotomy: A retrospective study with 10-year follow-up.

Introduction: Tonsillotomy is increasingly gaining acceptance as the treatment for tonsillar hyperplasia resulting in obstructive symptoms. The aim of this study was to compare the long-term results of CO laser tonsillotomy with those of argon plasma coagulation (APC) tonsillotomy.

Methods: The data of 64 children, aged 2-10 years (mean 4.

Effect of 3q oncogenes SEC62 and SOX2 on lymphatic metastasis and clinical outcome of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Chromosome 3q26 amplification represents a frequent alteration in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). Overexpression of 3q26 encoded genes SEC62 and SOX2 was detected in various cancers, including HNSCCs, indicating their potential function as oncogenes. In our study, we elucidated the function of SEC62 and SOX2 in HNSCC patients, with a main focus on their effect on lymphatic metastasis and patient survival.

Retrospective analysis of laser vs other therapeutic modalities for laryngeal papillomatosis: European multicenter study.

Purpose: Laryngeal papillomatosis can be an aggressive and potentially life-threatening disease, affecting both children and adults. Local excision is the gold standard of treatment, but recurrences are frequently inevitable. The purpose of this study was to present the experience of three institutions with different therapeutic modalities and discuss them in relation with the relevant literature.

Epithetic nasal reconstruction for nasal carcinoma: retrospective analysis on 22 patients.

Advanced nasal cancers usually demand partial or total rhinectomy followed by radiotherapy. Reconstruction of the resulting defects can be achieved by means of reconstructive plastic surgery and/or epithetic surgery. The data of 22 patients who had been treated after nasal ablation by means of custom-made silicone nasal epithesis fixed by bone-anchored magnets between 2003 and 2014 were evaluated retrospectively.

Identification of SEC62 as a potential marker for 3q amplification and cellular migration in dysplastic cervical lesions.

Background: Chromosome 3 amplification affecting the 3q26 region is a common genomic alteration in cervical cancer, typically marking the transition of precancerous intraepithelial lesions to an invasive phenotype. Though potential 3q encoded target genes of this amplification have been identified, a functional correlation of potential oncogenic function is still missing. In this study, we investigated copy number changes and the expression level of SEC62 encoded at 3q26.

Nd:YAG Laser Treatment for Extranasal Telangiectasias: A Retrospective Analysis of 38 Patients with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia and Review of the Literature.

Background/aims: Extranasal telangiectasias are common amongst hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) patients. Telangiectasias can be found at sites like the external nose, lips, oral cavity and fingers. Although not life threatening, they can be annoying for patients and lead to bleeding in some cases, necessitating treatment.

Noninvasive histological imaging of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas using confocal laser endomicroscopy.

Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is an imaging technique that uses miniaturized fiberoptic probes to allow real-time histological imaging of human tissue. An application of CLE in otorhinolaryngology has hardly been investigated so far. In our study, we analyzed the applicability of CLE to visualize cancerous and healthy tissue of the head and neck region.

Modifications of transaxillary approach in endoscopic da Vinci-assisted thyroid and parathyroid gland surgery.

Endoscopic surgery for treatment of thyroid and parathyroid pathologies is increasingly gaining attention. The da Vinci system has already been widely used in different fields of medicine and quite recently in thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Herein, we report about modifications of the transaxillary approach in endoscopic surgery of thyroid and parathyroid gland pathologies using the da Vinci system.

Novel modification of voice prosthesis.

The undesired dilatation of the tracheooesophageal shunt after surgical implantation of voice prosthesis is a typical complication of this procedure. Temporary removal of the prosthesis and reinsertion after a short period of time is a first-line therapeutical option aiming shrinkage of the shunt. Failure of this measure generally is an indication of revision surgery.

Customized individual applicators for endocavitary brachytherapy in patients with cancers of the nasal cavity, sinonasal region and nasopharynx.

Brachytherapy has become an established therapeutic regimen for primary, persistent, recurrent and metastatic tumour disease in the head and neck region. This study presents the authors' preliminary experience with intracavitary brachytherapy by means of an individual silicone applicator in the treatment of patients with nasal, sinonasal, orbital and nasopharyngeal cancer. Between January 2001 and January 2013, twenty patients with cancer of the nasal cavity, the paranasal sinuses and nasopharynx underwent surgery and intracavitary brachytherapy with the aid of an individually manufactured silicone applicator in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and in the Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology at the Saarland University Medical Center of Homburg, Germany.

Laser surgery for Zenker's diverticulum: European combined study.

Surgical intervention is the gold standard of treatment for Zenker's diverticulum. The aim of this study was to examine the role of laser surgery in a large number of patients with this pathological entity. The data of 91 consecutive patients treated due to Zenker's diverticulum with the aid of CO2 laser in three institutions (Homburg/Saar and Marburg, Germany/Athens, Greece) during the last 10 years were retrospectively analyzed.

Combination of p16(INK4a) /Ki67 immunocytology and HPV polymerase chain reaction for the noninvasive analysis of HPV involvement in head and neck cancer.

Background: High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been identified as a relevant risk for the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). As HPV status has also gained a role as a prognostic and predictive biomarker for this entity, there is a growing demand for valid HPV testing in HNSCC patients

Methods: Liquid-based cytological smears from 45 HNSCC and 20 control patients were collected and used for simultaneous immunocytochemical p16(INK4a) /Ki67 staining using a CINtec PLUS kit after the presence of tumor cells was verified in a Papanicolaou-stained slide. The same cytological suspension was used for the detection of HPV DNA by specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

A novel multipurpose modular mini-endoscope for otology.

Transtympanic access to the round window membrane (RWM) for drug delivery is in the focus of otology and has stimulated development of various endoscopes. These endoscopes are tasked to enable best visualization at a low diameter and to offer a working channel for various instruments. The specific aspect of sterilization is a major issue especially in regard to the diameter of the endoscope with its integrated working channel.

Endonasal modification of the frontal sinus drainage type IIb according to Draf.

The description of different endonasal drainage options (type I, II and III according to Draf) and their successful use in numerous patients has reached a milestone in frontal sinus surgery. We herein describe a modification of an endonasal frontal sinus drainage type IIb with the additional removal of the lower part of the frontal sinus septum without opening the frontal recess of the other side and without resection of the nasal septum. The modified endonasal endoscopic frontal sinus drainage type IIb was performed on 9 patients at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center, Homburg/Saar between 02/2011 and 6/2013 after having gained patients' consent.

Cervical lymphadenopathy: study of 251 patients.

Correct diagnosis of cervical lymphadenopathy is often a great challenge. The objective of this case study is to describe the distribution of the most common causes of unclear neck swellings presented in an ENT-Department and to evaluate the clinical history, examination and laboratory findings. In a retrospective study at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Homburg/Saar, 251 patients were enrolled with clinical and ultrasound signs of cervical lymphadenopathy as well as lymph node extirpation for histopathological evaluation.

A novel multipurpose mini-endoscope for frontal sinus endoscopy "sinus view".

Endoscopic frontal sinus surgery has been proven to enable the treatment of most frontal sinus pathologies but may be challenging for the surgeon in regard to the variable frontal sinus anatomy. Frontal sinus drainage identification and frontal sinus visualization are an essential part of successful frontal sinus surgery. We demonstrate a novel modular mini-endoscopic system for frontal sinus surgery.