Olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions in 100 patients hospitalized for COVID-19: sex differences and recovery time in real-life.

Purpose: COVID-19 displays a variety of clinical manifestations; in pauci-symptomatic patients olfactory (OD) and gustatory dysfunctions (GD) may represent the first or only symptom. This topic is currently arousing great interest, and a growing number of papers are being published. Aim of this study is to investigate the timing of recovery from OD and GD in a real-life population hospitalized for COVID-19.

Pharyngocutaneous fistula following total laryngectomy: analysis of risk factors, prognosis and treatment modalities.

The aim of this study was to establish the incidence, risk factors, and the management of pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) after primary and salvage total laryngectomy. A retrospective, match-paired analysis of 86 patients who developed fistula after total laryngectomy was carried out and compared with a control group of 86 patients without fistula, randomly selected from a pool of 352 total laryngectomies, performed between January 1999 to October 2014. The overall incidence of PCF in the series was 24.

Dissection with harmonic scalpel versus cold instruments in parotid surgery.

Background: The harmonic scalpel (HS) has been used successfully in several head and neck surgical procedures. Some authors highlighted its advantages in reducing operative time, blood loss, and damages to surrounding tissue. In our study, we compared the results obtained during parotidectomy using the HS with the traditional approach to determine the benefits of the HS.

Detection of putative stem cell markers, CD44/CD133, in primary and lymph node metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. A preliminary immunohistochemical and in vitro study.

Objectives: Investigators hypothesized that cancer stem cells (CSCs) could play a role in determining cancer progression by metastasizing to cervical lymph node (N+) and then influencing prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) patients.

Design: To identify CSCs in HNSCCs and their clonogenic capacity.

Setting: In vitro study.

First bite syndrome as presenting symptom of parapharyngeal adenoid cystic carcinoma.

Introduction: First bite syndrome refers to the development of pain in the parotid region after the first bite of each meal.

Case Report: A man was referred to our institution with first bite syndrome as his only symptom. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head and neck revealed a deep lobe parotid mass in close contact with the external carotid artery.