Added value of 3T MRI and the MRI-halo sign in assessing resectability of locally advanced pancreatic cancer following induction chemotherapy (IMAGE-MRI): prospective pilot study.

Background: Restaging of locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) after induction chemotherapy using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) imaging is imprecise in evaluating local tumor response. This study explored the value of 3 Tesla (3 T) contrast-enhanced (CE) and diffusion-weighted (DWI) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for local tumor restaging.

Methods: This is a prospective pilot study including 20 consecutive patients with LAPC with RECIST non-progressive disease on CE-CT after induction chemotherapy.

No COVID-19 in Patients With Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL).

Background: Various case reports have described sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in patients with the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Our aim was to determine the incidence of COVID-19 in patients with SSNHL.

Methods: All consecutive patients with audiometric confirmed SSNHL between November 2020 and March 2021 in a Dutch large inner city teaching hospital were included.

Performance with robotic surgery versus 3D- and 2D-laparoscopy during pancreatic and biliary anastomoses in a biotissue model: pooled analysis of two randomized trials.

Background: Robotic surgery may improve surgical performance during minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy as compared to 3D- and 2D-laparoscopy but comparative studies are lacking. This study assessed the impact of robotic surgery versus 3D- and 2D-laparoscopy on surgical performance and operative time using a standardized biotissue model for pancreatico- and hepatico-jejunostomy using pooled data from two randomized controlled crossover trials (RCTs).

Methods: Pooled analysis of data from two RCTs with 60 participants (36 surgeons, 24 residents) from 11 countries (December 2017-July 2019) was conducted.

Self-monitoring of the tympanic membrane: An opportunity for telemedicine during times of COVID-19 and beyond.

The interest for telemedicine has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic because of the risk of infection. Recently, commercial companies started selling digital USB-otoscopes (DUO) that can be connected to a mobile phone. These DUOs are inexpensive (costing approximately $6-35 each) and make it possible to visualize the whole tympanic membrane.