Magnetic resonance imaging of the internal auditory meatus for vestibular schwannoma in ENT practice: a retrospective analysis with literature and guidelines review.

Objectives: Magnetic resonance imaging scans of the internal acoustic meatus are commonly requested in the investigation of audio-vestibular symptoms for potential vestibular schwannoma. There have been multiple studies into protocols for requesting magnetic resonance imaging for vestibular schwannoma, but none have been reported based on UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines for investigating audio-vestibular symptoms. This study intended to identify the local magnetic resonance imaging detection rates and patterns of vestibular schwannoma, and to audit the conformity of scan requests with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, with a review of relevant literature.

A Systematic Review of Antibiotic Prescription for Acute Otitis Externa.

Background: There is a perception among ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeons that oral antibiotics are over-prescribed for acute otitis externa (AOE), and the potential for topical therapy as first-line treatment is not fully realized in primary care. We evaluated the prescription rate of topical and oral antibiotics for AOE in primary care and in patients referred to the ENT emergency clinic.

Methods: A systematic review was performed by searching the MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases between January 1990 and October 2020.