Course of olfaction after sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background: The influence of surgery on olfaction in patients who suffer from chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is still not fully understood. Most particularly, the time course of the recovery is poorly studied.

Methods: The prospective study describes the results of the Sniffin' Sticks identification test in 41 subjects before (V1), 2 weeks after (V2), and 6 months after (V3) endonasal sinus surgery (ESS).

Impact of combined FDG-PET/CT and MRI on the detection of local recurrence and nodal metastases in thyroid cancer.

Background: Suspected recurrence of thyroid carcinoma is a diagnostic challenge when findings of both a radio iodine whole body scan and ultrasound are negative. PET/CT and MRI have shown to be feasible for detection of recurrent disease. However, the added value of a consensus reading by the radiologist and the nuclear medicine physician, which has been deemed to be helpful in clinical routines, has not been investigated.

Correlation of skin test results and specific immunoglobulin E blood levels with nasal provocation testing for house-dust mite allergies.

Background: Allergen-specific immunotherapy for house-dust mite (HDM) allergies is associated with lower success rates when compared with similar treatments for other inhalant allergens, such as grass or birch. One reason might be the greater difficulty in diagnosing patients with assumed HDM allergies because symptoms occur perennially and may differ from those of a conventional allergic rhinitis.

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the different methods of diagnosis in patients with assumed HDM allergy.

Olfaction in chemotherapy for head and neck malignancies.

Objective: Systemic chemotherapy for different malignancies occurs alongside various side effects, including reduced sensory function. To date, little is known about the effect of chemotherapeutic agents on olfaction. The aim of this study was to provide new data about changes in sense of smell during chemotherapy among patients with advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region.