Disorders of the External Ear-A Historical Perspective.

This article provides a historical overview of disorders of the external ear, focusing on advances in technology, pharmacology, and education that have been beneficial. While the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions involving the external ear canal and auricle continue to evolve, it remains to be seen how the latest challenges will be met.

Evolution of Eustachian tube surgery.

Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is a common condition that lacks a widely accepted treatment. Attempts to address ETD surgically have spanned several centuries and have often fallen short of success. It is probable that occult anatomic position, unclear function, and misunderstood physiology have contributed to the delayed development of effective interventions for ETD.

Ethical challenges in geriatric care.

The growth of the elderly population presents numerous challenges to the practicing otolaryngologist. This commentary reviews some of the issues that come up in dealing with geriatric patients, reiterates some classic ethical principles, and looks to some philosophers who have addressed relevant issues over the past centuries. It is based on a presentation "Ethical Challenges in Geriatric Otolaryngology," delivered at the annual meeting of the American Society of Geriatric Otolaryngology on April 30, 2008.

Satisfaction and gender issues in otolaryngology residency.

Objective: To evaluate the otolaryngology residency experience with attention to operative experience, career guidance, and gender.

Study Design And Setting: Otolaryngology residents were anonymously surveyed by mail about their residency experience. The 22-item survey was scored on a 5-point ordinal Likert scale.

Otolaryngology residents' objectives in entering the workforce.

Objectives: To determine the priorities of current otolaryngologists-in-training in considering their first employment opportunities.

Study Design: Twenty-one-item survey measuring the importance of various first job issues, with all items scored on a five-point Likert-type ordinal scale.

Methods: The resident membership of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery was anonymously surveyed by means of mail-in questionnaires.

Hodgkin's disease of the head and neck in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.

Introduction: Hodgkin's disease can occur in immunocompromised patients. However, the head and neck manifestations of Hodgkin's disease in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients remain ill defined. The aim of this study was to describe Hodgkin's disease of the head and neck in HIV-infected patients and compare it with noninfected patients.