Ten-year (2009-2019) epidemiological study of head and neck, salivary glands and upper aerodigestive tract cancers, and overall survival outcomes in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Background: Head and neck, salivary glands and aerodigestive tract cancers (HNACs) rank sixth in cancer incidence in Australia, posing significant public health and economic challenges. However, data on HNACs in the Northern Territory (NT) are lacking, crucial for healthcare planning.

Objective: This study aims to analyse HNACs epidemiology, risk factors and survival outcomes in the NT, focusing on Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Tele-otology for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Living in Rural and Remote Areas.

Objective: To evaluate a referral-based, tele-otology service in rural and remote areas of the Northern Territory, Australia.

Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was performed of a tele-otology service in 93 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities (2011 to 2019). Assessments included face-to-face examinations performed by Clinical Nurse Consultants and audiologists, and asynchronous reviews performed by otolaryngologists.

Establishing a telehealth model addressing paediatric sleep health in remote and rural Northern Territory Australia: Overcoming the distance barrier.

Aim: This study examined the outcomes of a telehealth model for sleep health assessment among Indigenous and non-Indigenous children residing in remote and regional communities at the Top End Northern Territory (NT) of Australia.

Methods: Video telehealth consultation, that included clinical history and relevant physical findings assessed virtually with an interstate paediatric sleep physician was conducted remotely. Polysomnography (PSG) and therapeutic interventions were carried out locally at Darwin, NT.

Inter-rater agreement between 13 otolaryngologists to diagnose otitis media in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children using a telehealth approach.

Introduction: Telehealth programs are important to deliver otolaryngology services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in rural and remote areas, where distance and access to specialists is a critical factor.

Objective: To evaluate the inter-rater agreement and value of increasing levels of clinical data (otoscopy with or without audiometry and in-field nurse impressions) to diagnose otitis media using a telehealth approach.

Design: Blinded, inter-rater reliability study.

An Artificial Intelligence Computer-vision Algorithm to Triage Otoscopic Images From Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children.

Objective: To develop an artificial intelligence image classification algorithm to triage otoscopic images from rural and remote Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Study Design: Retrospective observational study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Otitis media guidelines for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children: summary of recommendations.

Introduction: The 2001 Recommendations for clinical care guidelines on the management of otitis media in Aboriginal and Torres Islander populations were revised in 2010. This 2020 update by the Centre of Research Excellence in Ear and Hearing Health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children used for the first time the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Main Recommendations: We performed systematic reviews of evidence across prevention, diagnosis, prognosis and management.

Outcomes of primary myringoplasty in indigenous children from the Northern Territory of Australia.

Aim: To report the surgical and audiological outcomes of myringoplasty (Type I tympanoplasty) in Indigenous Australian children living in remote and regional communities in northern Australia.

Method: An observational cohort study, with prospective recording of the details of surgery. Audiological outcomes were collected independently, and these data were integrated in the present study.

Povidone-iodine ear wash and oral cotrimoxazole for chronic suppurative otitis media in Australian aboriginal children: study protocol for factorial design randomised controlled trial.

Background: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a significant health issue affecting Aboriginal Australians. Long-term hearing loss can cause communication problems, educational disadvantage, and social isolation. Current standard treatment for CSOM in our region is twice daily dry mopping of the pus from the ear canal followed by instillation of ciprofloxacin antibiotic ear drops for up to 16 weeks, or until the discharge resolves for a period of 3 days.

Malignant otitis externa in Australian Aboriginal patients: A 9-year retrospective analysis from the Northern Territory.

Objective: In the Australian Aboriginal population, type 2 diabetes occurs at a much higher prevalence, with a much younger age of onset of the disease and its complications. Despite the clear association with malignant otitis externa, no previous studies have examined malignant otitis externa in this population. This study explores the pattern of malignant otitis externa amongst Australian Aboriginal patients in the Northern Territory.

Insular carcinoma arising on a background of follicular carcinoma, thyrolipomatosis and amyloid goitre.

A 67-year-old man was referred with a history of a right-sided neck lump and dysphonia, secondary to a lesion in the thyroid gland. After undergoing a total thyroidectomy, he was found to have an exceedingly rare combination of follicular carcinoma, insular carcinoma, thyrolipomatosis and an amyloid goitre in his thyroid gland. He subsequently underwent further radioactive iodine ablation and has been in remission.

Disseminated melioidosis in the head and neck.

A 35-year-old man was admitted to an intensive care unit with unilateral facial swelling and septic shock after multiple presentations to the emergency department with non-specific unilateral pain over the parotid area. A CT scan of his neck showed diffuse right-sided facial soft tissue infection, mastoid effusion and temporal lobe cerebritis. The upper lobes of his lungs had cannonball lesions that were suggestive of septic lung metastases.

Myiasis of the ear: a review with entomological aspects for the otolaryngologist.

Objective: Myiasis is the infestation of live humans (or animals) by fly larvae. Although the diagnosis is relatively straightforward, how to best treat aural myiasis has not been well described in the literature. This comprehensive literature review, therefore, was performed to identify current management principles in aural myiasis, especially with regard to the causative fly family.

Are trainees being adequately taught myringoplasty? A prospective study of Eastern Deanery otolaryngology trainees' surgical experience.

Reviewing surgical training is an important function of a modern ENT unit, even more so following recent reform of postgraduate medical training in the UK. We have developed a tool to review otology training of Eastern Deanery trainees by constructing a middle ear surgery data base and use a commonly performed procedure, myringoplasty, to illustrate its function. Three hundred and ninety-three myringoplasty operations were identified between March 2002 and March 2006, of which 307 were included in this study as having had a myringoplasty alone uncomplicated by another middle ear procedure.

A novel use of photo messaging in the assessment of nasal fractures.

We evaluated a new method of assessing patients referred to the otolaryngology department with nasal injury. Patients possessing a mobile phone with built-in camera took an image of their face and sent it to the department for assessment. A decision was then made as to whether the patient needed further consultation or treatment.

A prospective randomised controlled trial comparing Merocel and Rapid Rhino nasal tampons in the treatment of epistaxis.

A prospective study was performed to compare the efficacy and patient tolerance of Merocel and Rapid Rhino nasal tampons in the treatment of epistaxis. A total of 42 patients were studied. There was no significant difference between the two types of pack in efficacy or patient discomfort with pack in situ.