Shared decision-making during surgical thyroid consultation.

Introduction: Shared decision-making (SDM) enables individually tailored treatment plans. This survey explored patients' and surgeons' perceptions of SDM in consultations on thyroid nodules. Furthermore, we aimed to explore possible discrepancies between the groups, identify factors influencing patients' perceived levels of SDM and evaluate decisional regret.

Survey of Danish Head and Neck Cancer Patients' Positions on Personalized Medicine, Gene Tests, and Personalized Follow-Up.

The field of personalized medicine (PM) has grown rapidly because of the "omics revolution", but PM may be difficult for patients to comprehend. This study sought to explore head and neck cancer (HNC) patients' positions and knowledge of PM, gene tests, and follow-up and to compare HNC patients' positions to a sample from a national Danish questionnaire. To do this, patients with prior HNC were invited to participate in a questionnaire.

Validating the virtual: a deep dive into ultrasound simulator metrics in otorhinolaryngology.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the validity of simulation-based assessment of ultrasound skills for thyroid ultrasound.

Methods: The study collected validity evidence for simulation-based ultrasound assessment of thyroid ultrasound skills. Experts (n = 8) and novices (n = 21) completed a test containing two tasks and four cases on a virtual reality ultrasound simulator (U/S Mentor's Neck Ultrasound Module).

Bacterial findings in patients referred to hospital for the treatment of acute tonsillitis with or without peritonsillar phlegmon.

Background: The vast majority of patients with acute tonsillitis (AT) are managed in general practice. However, occasionally patients are referred to hospital for specialized management because of aggravated symptoms and/or findings suggestive of peritonsillar involvement. No prospective studies have been conducted aiming to investigate the prevalent and significant microorganisms in this highly selected group of patients.

Frequency and malignancy rate of incidental focal salivary gland lesions identified by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the frequency and malignancy rate of incidental salivary gland lesions (ISGLs) in patients undergoing 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT).

Methods: Using a predefined algorithm, all descriptions of FDG-PET/CT scans performed in the North Denmark Region at the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Aalborg University Hospital from 1.12 2009 to 31.

Simulation-based surgical training needs in otorhinolaryngology.

Introduction: This study aimed to conduct a targeted needs assessment to identify and prioritise technical skills and procedures suited for simulation-based training (SBT) in private otorhinolaryngology (ORL) practice in Denmark, including mapping the learning environment related to implementation of SBT.

Methods: A panel of trainers and trainees in private ORL practice was recruited. Using the Delphi method, three rounds of surveys were conducted.

Clinical evaluation of antibiotic regimens in patients with surgically verified parapharyngeal abscess: a prospective observational study.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different antibiotic regimens for the treatment of parapharyngeal abscess (PPA) and characterize patients, who suffered potentially preventable complications (defined as death, abscess recurrence, spread of infection, or altered antibiotic treatment because of insufficient progress).

Methods: Sixty adult patients with surgically verified PPA were prospectively enrolled at five Danish Ear-nose-throat departments.

Results: Surgical treatment included internal incision (100%), external incision (13%), and tonsillectomy (88%).

Severe deep neck space infection caused by .

A 64-year-old woman was acutely referred to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Aalborg University Hospital due to rapidly progressing neck swelling, fever and dysphagia. Clinical examination revealed submental swelling, trismus and laryngeal inflammation. A contrast-enhanced CT scan showed infection in the deep neck spaces with multiple abscesses.

Microbiology of parapharyngeal abscesses in adults: in search of the significant pathogens.

We aimed to describe the microbiology of parapharyngeal abscess (PPA) and point out the likely pathogens using the following principles to suggest pathogenic significance: (1) frequent recovery, (2) abundant growth, (3) growth in relative abundance to other microorganisms, (4) percentage of the isolates recovered in both absolute and relative abundance, (5) more frequent recovery in PPA pus compared with tonsillar surface and tissue. Comprehensive bacterial cultures were performed on specimens obtained from adult patients (n = 60) with surgically verified PPA, who were prospectively enrolled at five Danish ear-nose-throat departments. The prevalent isolates (in PPA pus) were unspecified anaerobes (73%), non-hemolytic streptococci (67%), Streptococcus anginosus group (SAG) (40%), Corynebacterium spp.

DNA methylation biomarkers in peripheral blood of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. A systematic review.

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are often diagnosed in advanced stages. In search of new diagnostic tools, focus has shifted towards the biological properties of the HNSCC, and the number of different biomarkers under investigation is rapidly growing.

Objectives: The objective was to review the current literature regarding aberrantly methylated DNA found in peripheral blood plasma or serum in patients with HNSCC and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of these changes.

Clinical presentation and microbiology of acute salivary gland infections.

Introduction: Acute salivary gland infections (ASI) have been associated with poor outcome in elderly and postoperative patients. Perioperative care and treatment of co-morbidities have improved considerably, but most of our knowledge regarding ASI dates back several decades. The aim of this study was to describe the microbiology and treatment of ASI in a large post-millennial cohort.

Tonic-clonic seizures as first symptom of a disseminated supraglottic laryngeal cancer.

A 60-year-old man was found unconscious at work, without any signs of trauma. At the site, he presented with tonic-clonic seizures, central facial palsy and eye deviation. A CT scan of the cerebrum did not find bleeding or thrombosis, but contrast enhancement at the superior sagittal sinus and pathological cervical lymph nodes.

Low rate of co-infection in complicated infectious mononucleosis.

Introduction: It remains unclarified if bacterial co-infection is common in patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM) and acute tonsillitis and/or peritonsillar abscess (PTA). Recent studies suggest that Fusobacterium necrophorum is a prevalent pathogen in acute tonsillitis and PTA. We hypothesised that this anaerobe may play a significant role for the aggravated infection and the development of PTA among teenagers and young adults with IM.

Adherence to antibiotic guidelines in the treatment of acute pharyngeal infections.

Introduction: We aimed to investigate doctors' ad-herence to the local antibiotic guidelines for treatment of patients admitted with acute pharyngeal infections and to identify patient-related risk factors for non-adherence.

Methods: All patients with acute tonsillitis, peritonsillar abscess (PTA), and parapharyngeal abscess admitted to the Ear-Nose-Throat Department, Aarhus University Hospital, in the 2001-2014 period were included in the study.

Results: In total, 2,567 patients were hospitalised with acute pharyngeal infection.

Characteristics of CI children with complicated middle ear infections.

Objective: To describe cases of complicated middle ear infections in children with cochlear implants (CI), i.e., episodes of acute otitis media (AOM) and acute mastoiditis (AM), resulting in hospitalization.

Large laryngeal vascular malformation in a 5-year-old child.

A 5-year-old boy was admitted with stridor, which was initially interpreted as subglottic laryngitis. He had a history of prolonged hoarseness and his voice was deep for his age. The stridor persisted despite treatment with epinephrine inhalations and intravenous glucocorticoids.