A Pilot Study of the Waterless Empirical Taste Test.

Objectives: This study was performed to test the clinical applicability of a new taste test-the waterless empirical taste test (WETT).

Methods: Sixty healthy volunteers and 20 patients with oral cancer were enrolled. They all received the conventional solution-based whole-mouth suprathreshold taste test (WMTT), which contained sucrose, citric acid, sodium chloride, and caffeine solutions for tastants, along with the WETT.

Complex Microbiome in Brain Abscess Revealed by Whole-Genome Culture-Independent and Culture-Based Sequencing.

Brain abscess is a severe infectious disease with high mortality and mobility. Although culture-based techniques have been widely used for the investigation of microbial composition of brain abscess, these approaches are inherent biased. Recent studies using 16S ribosomal sequencing approaches revealed high complexity of the bacterial community involved in brain abscess but fail to detect fungal and viral composition.

Treatment outcomes of unknown primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: Treatment modality of unknown primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) remains controversial.

Objectives: To evaluate the treatment outcomes and prognostic factors of unknown primary SCCHN.

Materials And Methods: Patients with unknown primary SCCHN from April 1995 to March 2013 were recruited retrospectively.

Saliva Pepsin Detection and Proton Pump Inhibitor Response in Suspected Laryngopharyngeal Reflux.

Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate the prediction value of saliva pepsin detection for an 8-week proton pump inhibitor (PPI) response in patients with a Reflux Symptoms Index (RSI) score ≥13, which indicates possible laryngopharyngeal reflux.

Study Design: Prospective individual single-cohort study.

Methods: Patients were recruited who had experienced chronic laryngopharyngeal symptoms (RSI score ≥13) for more than 3 months after excluding other etiologies.

Transoral robotic surgery for early T classification hypopharyngeal cancer.

Background: For hypopharyngeal cancer, transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has been reported as a new organ preserving treatment but outcomes are rarely reported.

Methods: From 2010 to 2013, 10 patients with early T classification pyriform sinus cancer were selected to receive TORS and conventional neck dissection. The clinical parameters, including rates of adjuvant radiotherapy, survivals, as well as organ and function preservation, were retrospectively analyzed.

Fetal Rhabdomyoma of the Right Tonsil with Polyp-Like Appearance.

Skeletal muscle neoplasms, in contrast to other groups of tumors, are almost malignant. The benign variant, rhabdomyoma, is distinctly rare. Rhabdomyomas can be classified generally into two types: cardiac and extracardiac.

Laryngeal electromyography-guided hyaluronic acid vocal fold injection for unilateral vocal fold paralysis: a prospective long-term follow-up outcome report.

Importance: Unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) is a common voice disorder that may cause glottal closure insufficiency with hoarseness of voice. Laryngeal electromyography (LEMG)-guided hyaluronic acid vocal fold (VF) injection has been proposed as a treatment option to improve glottal closure with a satisfactory short-term effect. To our knowledge, this study reports the first long-term follow-up result of this treatment modality.

Osteoradionecrosis of mandible bone in patients with oral cancer--associated factors and treatment outcomes.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the mandible bone in a large cohort of patients with oral cancer.

Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients with oral cancer and identified those with ORN of the mandible bone. Variables of patients with and without ORN were compared and associated factors were investigated by logistic regression model.

Risk factors of recipient site infection in head and neck cancer patients undergoing pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction.

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with infection at the recipient site of pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (PMMF) of head and neck cancer patients. We retrospectively reviewed head and neck cancer patients who underwent PMMF reconstruction and identified those with recipient site infection. Variables of patients with and without infection were compared and associated factors were investigated by logistic regression model.

Laryngeal electromyography and prognosis of unilateral vocal fold paralysis--a long-term prospective study.

Objectives/hypothesis: To confirm the value of using laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) to predict the long-term prognosis of unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP), and elucidate the adequate timing of LEMG.

Study Design: Prospective cohort prognosis study.

Methods: The LEMG data of 84 patients with UVFP were prospectively collected, and 81 patients received follow-up at least 6 months after symptom onset.

Influence of superior laryngeal nerve injury on glottal configuration/function of thyroidectomy-induced unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

Objective: Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury may induce unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP). During thyroidectomy, the most common cause of UVFP, the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN), is also at risk of injury. In the literature, the influence of SLN injury on glottal configuration and function in patients with UVFP remains controversial.

Carotid blowout in patients with head and neck cancer: associated factors and treatment outcomes.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with carotid blowout in the cervical portion of patients with head and neck cancer in a large cohort.

Methods: We reviewed patients with head and neck cancer and identified those with carotid blowout. Variables of patients with and without carotid blowout were compared and associated factors were investigated by logistic regression model.

Survival analysis of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma with simultaneous second primary tumors.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate of simultaneous second primary tumor (SPT) in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. The survival of patients with simultaneous SPT was also compared with patients without.

Methods: The presence of SPT was documented along with the patients' demographic data, tumor-related features, and survival status.

Laryngeal electromyography-guided hyaluronic acid vocal fold injection for unilateral vocal fold paralysis--preliminary results.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using an injectable needle electrode to guide hyaluronic acid (HA) vocal fold injection (VFI) during laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) for unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP).

Study Design: Prospective study.

Methods: From March to June 2010, 20 UVFP patients received LEMG examination at our clinic.

The association between surgical site infection and previous operation in oral cavity cancer patients.

We investigated the post-operative surgical site infection (SSI) rate in oral cavity cancer patients who had previous operation in the oral cavity region and compared it with that of patients without previous operation. We retrospectively reviewed over 1,000 chart records of oral cavity cancer patients from January 2004 to November 2010 and relevant data were collected. Statistical methods included descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and a multiple logistic regression model for investigating the relevant factors of post-operative SSI.

The basis of preoperative vocal fold paralysis in a series of patients undergoing thyroid surgery: the preponderance of benign thyroid disease.

Background: Preoperative vocal fold paralysis (VFP) is thought to be rare in patients with benign thyroid disease (BTD). In contrast with cases of malignancy, in which the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) should be severed, in patients with BTD and VFP the RLN can be preserved without threatening patients' lives. This study investigates the clinical features that enable identification of patients who have VFP associated with BTD.

Voice low tone to high tone ratio, nasalance, and nasality ratings in connected speech of native Mandarin speakers: a pilot study.

Objective: Voice low tone to high tone ratio (VLHR) is defined as the power ratio of a voice spectrum with a specific cut-off frequency. Previous studies have shown that there are significant correlations between VLHR and nasalance and hypernasality ratings in vowels. The correlation was investigated in this study using connected speech material.

Surgical site infection after preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: We investigated whether preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with increased surgical site infection (SSI) rate in patients with locally advanced oral cancer.

Methods: In this hospital-based study, we retrospectively reviewed over 2000 chart records of patients with oral cavity cancer from March 1994 to December 2007. Those who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy were identified and matched for age, sex, tumor classification, primary site, and reconstruction methods to hospitalized patients who did not receive chemotherapy.

Comparison between free flap and pectoralis major pedicled flap for reconstruction in oral cavity cancer patients--a quality of life analysis.

We aimed to compare the differences between free flap and pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (PMMF) for reconstruction in oral cavity cancer patients. Patients who received free flap or PMMF reconstruction after ablation surgeries were eligible for the current study. The patients' demographic data, medical history, and quality of life scores were collected and analyzed.

Migrating fish bone presenting as acute onset of neck lump.

We encountered a 62-year-old woman with a progressively worsening sore throat and a sharp lump located in her left upper neck, which appeared several hours before admission. After questioning, she underwent rigid esophagoscopy at a local hospital for suspected fish bone impaction but this gave a negative result. Unusual signs caused us to arrange a computed tomography scan, which showed that a foreign body had penetrated the left sternocleidomastoid muscle to the subcutaneous layer, with extensive emphysema in the neck.

Evaluation of hypernasality in vowels using voice low tone to high tone ratio.

Objective: The voice low tone to high tone ratio (VLHR) is defined as the power ratio of low frequency to high frequency energy obtained by dividing the voice spectrum with a specific cutoff frequency. In a previous study, VLHR correlated significantly with nasalance and perceptual rating of hypernasality for a single vowel. The methodology was optimized in this study by investigating the correlations among other vowels.

The association of lymph node volume with cervical metastatic lesions in head and neck cancer patients.

The aim of this study was to determine if volume of cervical lymph node measured via computed tomography (CT) could differentiate metastatic from benign lesions in head and neck cancer patients. We conducted a retrospective review of chart and images in a tertiary referring center in Taiwan. Patients with head and neck cancers underwent radical, modified radical or functional neck dissection were enrolled.

Prospective, randomized, controlled trial of tranexamic acid in patients who undergo head and neck procedures.

Objectives: To determine if tranexamic acid could reduce the drainage duration after head and neck procedures.

Study Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

Methods: Patients who underwent head and neck operations were included.