The Posterior Auricularis Muscle as Superficial Landmark for the Sigmoid Sinus and Transverse-Sigmoid Sinus Junction: An Anatomical Study.

Objective: Neuronavigation systems coupled with previously reported external anatomical landmarks assist neurosurgeons during intracranial procedures. We aimed to verify whether the posterior auricularis muscle (PAM) could be used as an external landmark for identifying the sigmoid sinus (SS) and the transverse-sigmoid sinus junction (TSSJ) during posterior cranial fossa surgery.

Methods: The PAM was dissected in 10 adult cadaveric heads and after drilling the underlying bone, the relationships with the underlying SS and TSSJ were noted.

An anatomical study of the sigmoid sinus artery: Application to the transmastoid approach.

Introduction: We aimed to investigate the morphological features of the artery that traverse the sigmoid sinus's lateral surface and to discuss this structure's clinical relevance.

Methods: Ten sides from five cadaveric Caucasian heads were used for gross anatomical dissection to investigate the morphological features of the sigmoid sinus artery (SSA), and additional five sides were used for histological observation.

Results: The SSA was found on eight out of ten sides (80%).

Epiglottic Epidermoid Cyst: Cadaveric Case Report and Clinical-Surgical Applications.

An epidermoid cyst is lined with stratified squamous epithelium with a lumen filled with fluid, in most cases. Such cysts can occur anywhere in the body; however, they are rarely found on the epiglottis (0.54%).

The sublingual branch of the lingual nerve: Anatomical study and suggestion for a new terminology.

The lingual nerve carries somatosensory fibers from the anterior two-thirds of tongue. The parasympathetic preganglionic fibers arising from the chorda tympani also travel with the lingual nerve in the infratemporal fossa to synapse in the submandibular ganglion to innervate the sublingual gland. However, only a few studies have investigated the specific nerve that innervates the sublingual gland and surrounding tissue i.

Transosseous Veins of the Temporal Bone: Connection Between Middle and Posterior Cranial Fossa Venous Structures.

Background: The veins and dural venous sinuses of the skull base are important to understand in terms of imaging findings, diagnoses, and surgery. However, to date and to the best of our knowledge, the transosseous veins of the petrous part of the temporal bone have not been studied.

Methods: Ten latex-injected adult cadaveric specimens (20 sides) were dissected to identify the intraosseous and transosseous veins.

Middle Fossa Encephaloceles Treated via the Transmastoid Approach: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.

Background: Middle fossa (MF) encephaloceles are rare lesions resulting from herniation through defects in the tegmen tympani or mastoideum. Underlying etiologies and clinical presentations are variable. Surgical goals include fistula obliteration, resection of nonfunctioning parenchyma, and dehiscence repair.

Incidence of Developing Contralateral Ménière's Disease in Patients Undergoing Transmastoid Labyrinthectomy for Unilateral Ménière's Disease.

Objectives: To analyze the incidence of developing contralateral Ménière's disease (MD) in patients who undergo labyrinthectomy for vestibular dysfunction in unilateral MD.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Participants And Methods: Adult patients with a diagnosis of MD who underwent surgical labyrinthectomy with minimum follow-up of 12 months were included.

Diagnostic yield of MRI of the brain and IAC in patients with neurotologic complaints.

Objectives: Quantify number of MRI scans obtained in a tertiary neurotology practice and identify likelihood of pathologic findings.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary neurotology center.

Hydroxyapatite cement cranioplasty following translabyrinthine approach: Long-term study of 369 cases.

Objective: To report the authors' experience with hydroxyapatite cement (HAC) cranioplasty and analyze the material's long-term safety and efficacy in repairing translabyrinthine skull-base defects by examining adverse events, specifically cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks and surgical site infections.

Study Design: Retrospective case-control study (primary study arm); prospective cross-sectional study of patients not examined within the last 5 years (secondary arm).

Setting: tertiary-care neurotology private practice and academic practice (two centers).

Is MRI Equal to CT in the Evaluation of Thin and Dehiscent Superior Semicircular Canals?

Objective: Can magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnose abnormally thin and dehiscent superior semicircular canals (SSCs) that traditionally rely on evaluation by computed tomography (CT) imaging?

Study Design: Retrospective clinical study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Patients: Adults who underwent both MRI and CT of the temporal bones over the past 3 years.

Does electrocautery damage cochlear implants?

Objectives: 1) Evaluate the effects of monopolar cautery on cochlear implant devices. 2) Determine whether voltage fluctuations within the cochlear implant adversely affect the cochlear implant devices

Study Design: Two Med-El cochlear implants modified to record voltage difference from the apical and proximal electrodes were implanted into an unembalmed, fresh cadaver. Cautery was applied to the ipsilateral pectoralis major muscle and ipsilateral temporalis muscle at bipolar, monopolar coagulation, and monopolar cut settings of 50 W.

The Hubble Constant.

I review the current state of determinations of the Hubble constant, which gives the length scale of the Universe by relating the expansion velocity of objects to their distance. There are two broad categories of measurements. The first uses individual astrophysical objects which have some property that allows their intrinsic luminosity or size to be determined, or allows the determination of their distance by geometric means.

The relationship of age and radiographic incidence of superior semicircular canal dehiscence in pediatric patients.

Objective: To determine if age affects radiographic incidence of superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) in pediatric patients.

Study Design: Retrospective case review.

Setting: Tertiary children's hospital.

Cochlear trajectory in pediatric patients.

Objectives/hypothesis: As cochlear implantation increases, surgeons are noting possible anatomical differences in pediatric population. Outcome objectives were to study pediatric temporal bone anatomy using high-resolution temporal bone imaging, and analyze the anatomical differences in group 1 (<12 months) versus group 2 (1-4 years) versus group 3 (5-10 years) versus group 4 (10-18 years).

Study Design: Retrospective chart and radiologic review.

Facial swelling in a sickle cell patient.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is characterized as a chronic hemolytic anemia with vaso-occlusive crises that result in multisystem organ damage. Bone marrow is one of the more common sites of these crises, presumably due to marrow hypercellularity that impairs blood flow- leading to regional hypoxia and subsequent infarction. Infarcts of facial bones are considered an uncommon complication of SCD.

The Hubble Constant.

I review the current state of determinations of the Hubble constant, which gives the length scale of the Universe by relating the expansion velocity of objects to their distance. In the last 20 years, much progress has been made and estimates now range between 60 and 75 km s Mpc, with most now between 70 and 75 km s Mpc, a huge improvement over the factor-of-2 uncertainty which used to prevail. Further improvements which gave a generally agreed margin of error of a few percent rather than the current 10% would be vital input to much other interesting cosmology.