Patient-related and ENT-related predictive factors based on the pain experienced during flexible nasendoscopy.

Objectives/hypothesis: The objective was to explore the role of specific patient-related and operator-related factors in pain perception during flexible laryngoscopy, which is one of the most common ENT procedures.

Study Design: Monocentric, randomized, individual prospective study.

Methods: A total of 532 patients (145 men and 387 women), without any relevant ENT diseases, underwent laryngoscopy performed by otolaryngologists with various degrees of experience.

Transoral robotic resection of an ectopic tongue-base thyroid gland.

Lingual thyroid is an uncommon condition, often asymptomatic. Given its benign nature, every treatment should be well balanced in terms of advantages and local morbidity. When a treatment is planned, medical and surgical therapy should be weighed against each other.

Respiratory retraining therapy in long-term treatment of paradoxical vocal fold dysfunction.

Objectives: Paradoxical vocal fold dysfunction (PVFD) is a disorder in the larynx featuring involuntary adduction of the vocal folds during the inspiratory phase of breathing. The symptoms include acute episodes of dyspnea and bouts of coughing. To date, there is no universally acknowledged treatment for PVFD, though respiratory retraining therapy is the treatment of choice.

The role of high-resolution magnetic resonance in atypical and intractable benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: our preliminary experience.

Background: The diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is easy when typical nystagmus is present. However, diagnostic doubts arise when faced with cases presenting atypical features of the positional paroxysmal nystagmus as well as the clinical course and disease evolution.

Methods: A morphological evaluation of inner ear structures via high-resolution magnetic resonance (HR-MR) studies has been performed in 2 patients that did not respond to traditional therapeutic manoeuvres.

Scala vestibuli cochlear implantation in patients with partially ossified cochleas.

Partial cochlear obstruction is a relatively common finding in candidates for cochlear implants and frequently involves the inferior segment of the scala tympani in the basal turn of the cochlea. In such patients, the scala vestibuli is often patent and offers an alternative site for implantation. The current report describes two patients with such partial obstruction of the inferior segment of the basal cochlear turn, caused in one case by systemic vasculitis (Takayasu's disease) and in the other by obliterative otosclerosis.