Exploring tonsil pathology in PTEN hamartoma syndrome: a cohort study.

Background: PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome (PHTS) comprises a group of genetic disorders with varied clinical presentations, including macrocephaly, developmental delay, and increased cancer susceptibility. Recent reports have highlighted the occurrence of tonsil-related issues in PHTS.

Methods: Clinical data focusing on tonsil-related pathology and tonsillectomy details (indications, histology and post-operative complications) were collected from 53 patients with PHTS.

Risk-reducing surgery for individuals with cancer-predisposing germline pathogenic variants and no personal cancer history: a review of current UK guidelines.

Identifying healthy carriers of germline pathogenic variants in high penetrance cancer susceptibility genes offers the potential for risk-reducing surgery. The NHS England National Genomic Test Directory offers germline and somatic testing to patients with certain cancers or rare and inherited diseases, or, in some cases, to their relatives. This review summarises current UK guidelines for risk-reducing surgical interventions available for individuals with no personal history of cancer, who are determined to carry germline pathogenic variants.

The Hospital Frailty Risk Score and outcomes in head and neck cancer surgery.

Objective: This study aimed to assess if the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) could predict outcomes for older people undergoing head and neck procedures.

Design: A retrospective cohort study of patients admitted between April 2008 and February 2020, undergoing head and neck procedures defined as major resections using procedural codes.

Setting: The analysis was performed using data from the NHS Secondary Uses Service (SUS) electronic database.

Key steps to reduce the aerosolized risk related to total laryngectomy in COVID-19 era: A case report.

Laryngectomy surgery is a highly aerosolizing procedure, and we document the key steps, including the addition of a novel Perspex shield, which can be enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce risk to the patient and healthcare professional.

Composite poorly differentiated mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the thyroid and follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Report of a case and review of the literature.

Mucoepidermoid variant of thyroid carcinoma is a rare and complex disease. Securing a diagnosis and formulating an evidence-based treatment plan is challenging. A case report of a patient with the dual pathology of a composite mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the thyroid and a follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma with malignant metastasis is presented in this article.

Staging and treatment of oropharyngeal cancer in the human papillomavirus era.

Background: Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is staged using the TNM system. Human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive tumors have improved prognosis, despite presenting at advanced stage. Optimal treatment and stratification of HPV-positive patients are not clearly defined.

Ophthalmoplegia secondary to raised intracranial pressure after unilateral neck dissection with internal jugular vein sacrifice.

Background: Neck dissection is commonly performed in the management of head and neck malignancy and may involve internal jugular vein (IJV) sacrifice. Potential complications include intracranial hypertension. This is well documented after bilateral neck dissection, although only scattered reports exist after unilateral IJV sacrifice.

Getting the basics right-staging in head and neck cancer.

The cornerstone of oncology literature and therefore medical practice is the ability to compare outcomes of treatment modalities for different stages of cancer. The head and neck represents a complicated anatomical region with multiple tumour sites and sub-sites. Modern management necessitates accurate staging to allow meaningful discussion between all members of the multidisciplinary team.

Do otolaryngology out-patients use the internet prior to attending their appointment?

The Internet has become a very important source of health information. We wanted to determine otolaryngology patients' access to, and use of, the Internet as a medical information resource, to identify factors that make patients more likely to use it, and to determine how useful they find this information. A questionnaire survey was completed by patients while waiting for their consultation in the out-patient department of the Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital in London.

Assessing day-case septorhinoplasty: prospective audit study using patient-based indices.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety, efficacy and acceptability to patients of day-case septorhinoplasty. Twenty-nine patients undergoing elective septorhinoplasty in a dedicated teaching hospital day-case unit were asked to complete day surgery questionnaires (DSQ) at six weeks post-operatively. Details of surgery performed, demographic data, readmission rates and complications were collected prospectively.

Tissue engineering and ENT surgery.

Tissue engineering is the development of biological substitutes for the repair and regeneration of damaged tissues. We explain the principles of this emerging field of biotechology. The present and potential applications of tissue engineering technologies in ENT surgery are then reviewed.