High prevalence of self-reported shoulder complaints after thyroid carcinoma surgery.

Background: Shoulder complaints are frequently reported after surgical treatment for thyroid carcinoma. However, no specific literature on this topic is available for these patients and, hence, its impact on quality of life (QOL) is unknown and there are no known predictors of shoulder complaints in this specific patient population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of shoulder-related complaints and its relation to QOL and clinical characteristics after thyroid carcinoma surgery by means of a cross-sectional case control study in a tertiary referral center.

Outcomes of endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy with CO2 laser surgery: A retrospective study of 47 patients.

Background: Endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy (ECPM) using CO2 laser surgery presents a less invasive treatment technique when compared to transcervical cricopharyngeal myotomy.

Methods: Forty-seven patients who underwent ECPM from 2002 until 2013 were included in this study. Patient characteristics, and preoperative and postoperative outcome and complications were scored by retrospective chart review and by using the Deglutition Handicap Index (DHI).

Synkinesis assessment in facial palsy: validation of the Dutch Synkinesis Assessment Questionnaire.

The objective of this study is to validate an existing health-related quality of life questionnaire for patients with synkinesis in facial palsy for implementation in the Dutch language and culture. The Synkinesis Assessment Questionnaire was translated into the Dutch language using a forward-backward translation method. A pilot test with the translated questionnaire was performed in 10 patients with facial palsy and 10 normal subjects.

Quality of life assessment in facial palsy: validation of the Dutch Facial Clinimetric Evaluation Scale.

This study aimed at validating an existing health-related quality of life questionnaire for patients with facial palsy for implementation in the Dutch language and culture. The Facial Clinimetric Evaluation Scale was translated into the Dutch language using a forward-backward translation method. A pilot test with the translated questionnaire was performed in 10 patients with facial palsy and 10 normal subjects.

Recurrences after thyroglossal duct cyst surgery: Results in 207 consecutive cases and review of the literature.

Background: A thyroglossal duct cyst is the most common form of congenital anomaly in the neck. Surgical removal is very effective. However, in some cases, a cyst recurs.

Whisking recovery after automated mechanical stimulation during facial nerve regeneration.

IMPORTANCE Recovery from facial nerve transection is typically poor, but daily mechanical stimulation of the face in rats has been reported to remarkably enhance functional recovery after facial nerve transection and suture repair. This phenomenon needs additional investigation because of its important clinical implications. OBJECTIVE To determine whether automated mechanical stimulation of the whisker pad improves whisking recovery after facial nerve transection and repair in a rat model.

Progress against laryngeal cancer in The Netherlands between 1989 and 2010.

Cancer of the larynx is a frequently occurring head and neck cancer in The Netherlands. The main risk factors are smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. The aim of our study was to evaluate the progress against laryngeal cancer by studying trends in incidence, mortality and survival in The Netherlands.

[Treating age-related hearing loss: hearing aids are not very popular].

Presbycusis means the deterioration of hearing resulting from the ageing process. Presbycusis can greatly affect one's quality of life; impaired hearing restricts communication and untreated presbycusis could result in social isolation and even depression. Nevertheless, only a minority of elderly with impaired hearing use a hearing aid.

Nurse-patient communication in follow-up consultations after head and neck cancer treatment.

Background: Adequate provider-patient communication is viewed as an important aspect of good quality (cancer) care, supports patients' stress control, and can positively influence health outcomes.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe nurse-patient communication in 2 consecutive follow-up consultations after head and neck cancer, with or without a partner present.

Methods: This was a descriptive observational study of 17 video-recorded, coded, and analyzed consultations of 10 head and neck cancer patients and 6 partners.

A new custom moldable external neck brace (ENB 2.0) to improve hands-free speech in laryngectomized patients.

Objectives/hypothesis: The majority of laryngectomy patients fail to use a hands-free valve on a daily basis, mainly due to fixation problems of the adhesive baseplate housing. To support adhesive housings during hands-free speech a new external neck brace (ENB 2.0) was developed.

Computer-assisted assessment of ocular synkinesis: a comparison of methods.

Objectives/hypothesis: To define an objective, easy to perform, rapid method for the assessment of ocular synkinesis by employing both the Facial Assessment by Computer Evaluation software and a modification of the Glasgow Facial Palsy Scale.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Methods: Fifty normal subjects and 50 patients with known ocular synkinesis were studied.

A multicenter, prospective, clinical trial evaluating a novel adhesive baseplate (Provox StabiliBase) for peristomal attachment of postlaryngectomy pulmonary and voice rehabilitation devices.

Objectives/hypothesis: Assessment of a novel adhesive baseplate (Provox StabiliBase) for heat and moisture exchanger (HME) and/or automatic speaking valve (ASV) application.

Study Design: Prospective, clinical, multicenter trial.

Methods: This was a trial in laryngectomized patients comparing their usual adhesive with the trial adhesive.

Nurse-led follow-up care for head and neck cancer patients: a quasi-experimental prospective trial.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare conventional medical follow-up with follow-up containing additional nursing consultations regarding the psychosocial adjustment and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of head and neck cancer patients.

Methods: Using a quasi-experimental design, patients were enrolled consecutively into two groups. Experimental care covered six 30-min bimonthly nursing follow-up consultations during the first year posttreatment.

Clinical use of a neck brace to improve hands-free speech in laryngectomized patients.

Objectives/hypothesis: Time of adherence of adhesive baseplate housings to the neck of a laryngectomized patient is one of the main problems that account for the low number of laryngectomy patients who benefit from hands-free speech. An external neck brace (ENB 1.0) was introduced to support peristomal fixation of adhesive baseplates.

Accelerated radiotherapy with carbogen and nicotinamide for laryngeal cancer: results of a phase III randomized trial.

Purpose: To report the results from a randomized trial comparing accelerated radiotherapy (AR) with accelerated radiotherapy plus carbogen inhalation and nicotinamide (ARCON) in laryngeal cancer.

Patients And Methods: Patients with cT2-4 squamous cell laryngeal cancer were randomly assigned to AR (68 Gy within 36 to 38 days) or ARCON. To limit the risk of laryngeal necrosis, ARCON patients received 64 Gy on the laryngeal cartilage.

Expression of EGFR under tumor hypoxia: identification of a subpopulation of tumor cells responsible for aggressiveness and treatment resistance.

Purpose: Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and tumor hypoxia have been shown to correlate with worse outcome in several types of cancer including head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma. Little is known about the combination and possible interactions between the two phenomena.

Methods And Materials: In this study, 45 cases of histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck were analyzed.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma and a clinically negative neck: the value of follow-up.

Background: In squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (SCCOC), regular follow-up comprises 5 years of prescheduled visits, irrespective of tumor stage/classification and/or treatment. We analyzed our standard treatment and follow-up protocol in patients with a preoperative clinically negative neck (cN0) in SCCOC.

Methods: This is a retrospective chart analysis.

SDHAF2 (PGL2-SDH5) and hereditary head and neck paraganglioma.

Purpose: Hereditary head and neck paraganglioma (HNPGL) syndromes are associated with mutations in the SDHD(PGL1), SDHC(PGL3), and SDHB(PGL4) genes encoding succinate dehydrogenase subunits. We recently described mutations in a previously uncharacterized human gene, now called SDHAF2, and showed that this was the long-sought "imprinted" PGL2 gene. Here, we present a new branch of the Dutch SDHAF2 (PLG2-SDH5) family.

Discharge advice in cancer patients: posttreatment patients' report.

Background: Cancer patients are presented with advice and instructions during treatment and at discharge. Most recommendations aim at relief of physical problems, psychosocial well-being, and patients' health care behaviors. Patients often struggle to incorporate advice into daily life, and this influences symptom relief, quality of life, and even longevity.

Endoscopic carbon dioxide laser diverticulostomy versus endoscopic staple-assisted diverticulostomy to treat Zenker's diverticulum.

Background: The 2 most frequently used endoscopic methods to treat Zenker's diverticulum are staple-assisted and CO(2) laser esophagodiverticulostomy.

Methods: The study centered around a retrospective evaluation of 107 patients with Zenker's diverticulum who were treated endoscopically by CO(2) laser (n = 72) or staple-assisted diverticulostomy (n = 35).

Results: Patients in the staple-assisted group had a shorter duration of postoperative hospitalization, attributed to earlier oral intake, than patients in the CO(2) laser group.

Clinical aspects and treatment of primary tracheal malignancies.

Conclusions: Selecting patients that are candidates for surgical treatment is important in the work-up of patients with tracheal cancer. Toward this goal, centralization of care concerning tracheal tumors is advised. Centralization may increase long-term survival and decrease operative morbidity and mortality even further.

External beam radiotherapy with endocavitary boost for nasopharyngeal cancer: treatment results and late toxicity after extended follow-up.

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term outcome after treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and assess late toxicity in a multidisciplinary clinic.

Methods And Materials: A retrospective analysis of 117 patients treated for nasopharyngeal cancer in a single institute between 1985 and 2002 was performed. Fifty-one long-term survivors were evaluated for late toxicity by a multidisciplinary team comprising a radiation oncologist, otolaryngologist, neurologist, and oral and maxillofacial surgeon.

The management of thyroid carcinoma invading the larynx or trachea.

Objectives/hypothesis: To describe the controversies in the management of thyroid carcinoma invading the airway.

Study Design: Contemporary review of literature; level of evidence: 5.

Results: Invasion of the larynx or trachea by thyroid carcinoma is uncommon and often identified at the time of operation, when the surgeon must decide the extent of resection.

An external neck brace to support the peristomal fixation of an automatic stoma valve (ASV): 3D stereophotogrammetrical assessment.

Conclusion: The external neck brace (ENB) is a new concept in the improvement of peristomal fixation of an automatic stoma valve (ASV), which was evaluated with a new imaging method. The addition of the ENB to the Flexiderm (FLD) and Xtrabase (XB) adhesives significantly reduced absolute mean differences between the speech and the non-speech conditions.

Objectives: After total laryngectomy, peristomal fixation problems of adhesives and stoma valves are still the main reasons for the relatively small number of patients that actually use an ASV on a daily basis.

[Descending necrotizing mediastinitis: the need for early diagnosis and aggressive treatment].

Three patients developed descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM): a 44-year-old man due to poor dental status; a 54-year-old women due to a throat infection, 6 weeks after a tooth extraction; and a 30-year-old man a few days after a tooth extraction. Presenting symptoms were dyspnoea, fever, trismus, cervical oedema, and pain. The first two patients had multiple drainage of the cervical region and mediastinum in combination with pathogen-specific antibiotics.