International Multicenter Study of Clinical Outcomes of Sinonasal Melanoma Shows Survival Benefit for Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Potential Improvements to the Current TNM Staging System.

 Sinonasal mucosal melanoma (SNMM) is an extremely rare and challenging sinonasal malignancy with a poor prognosis. Standard treatment involves complete surgical resection, but the role of adjuvant therapy remains unclear. Crucially, our understanding of its clinical presentation, course, and optimal treatment remains limited, and few advancements in improving its management have been made in the recent past.

Safe surgical training: evaluation of a national functional endoscopic sinus surgery model simulation course using the Kirkpatrick evaluation model.

Background: Simulation is a rapidly developing field in modern undergraduate skills education and postgraduate surgical training.

Aim: We aim to evaluate simulation training as a tool for higher surgical training in functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) using the Kirkpatrick evaluation model.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study in which a qualitative survey and multiple-choice questionnaire were distributed to otolaryngology trainees pre- and post-FESS training course using simulation models.

The Effect of the 2021 Irish Cyber-Attack on Otolaryngology Outpatient Non-attendance at a Model 4 Hospital in the Post-COVID Era.

Aim This study investigates the rate of non-attendance at ENT outpatient appointments in the post-COVID era and the effect of the 2021 Irish cyber-attack on non-attendance. Methods A retrospective review of the rates of non-attendance in a post-COVID pre-cyber-attack era wherein patients received an automated text message reminder about their appointment was compared to a post-cyber-attack era wherein the text message reminder system was disabled. In addition, these were compared with rates of non-attendance prior to when the reminder system was introduced.

Clinical outcomes, Kadish-INSICA staging and therapeutic targeting of somatostatin receptor 2 in olfactory neuroblastoma.

Introduction: Olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) is a rare cancer of the sinonasal region. We provide a comprehensive analysis of this malignancy with molecular and clinical trial data on a subset of our cohort to report on the potential efficacy of somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2)-targeting imaging and therapy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 404 primary, locally recurrent, and metastatic olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) patients from 12 institutions in the United States of America, United Kingdom and Europe.

Management of Temporal Bone Malignancy in Ireland.

 Lateral temporal bone malignancy remains a challenging rare disease. We report 17 years of multidisciplinary care of these tumors with univariate and multivariate analyses of key prognostic indicators for consideration in contemporary oncological management.  This is a retrospective cohort study.

COVID-19 pandemic: Effects and evidence-based recommendations for otolaryngology and head and neck surgery practice.

The 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly contagious zoonosis produced by SARS-CoV-2 that is spread human-to-human by respiratory secretions. It was declared by the WHO as a public health emergency. The most susceptible populations, needing mechanical ventilation, are the elderly and people with associated comorbidities.

Changing Trends in the Management of Esthesioneuroblastoma: Irish and International Perspectives.

 Evaluation of the changing trends in esthesioneuroblastoma in an Irish context and review of management options nationally to clarify the best current therapeutic approach by comparing with international research on this uncommon malignancy.  Retrospective review.  Tertiary referral center.

Performance of an automated, remote system to detect vocal fold paralysis.

Objectives: The aim of this project was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of an automated, remote system for correctly identifying vocal fold paralysis.

Methods: Consecutive patients presenting for vocal analysis at the Beaumont Hospital Voice Clinic were enrolled in this prospective, blinded study. Control patients were enlisted from routine otolaryngology clinics.

Evaluation of the impact of addition of PET to CT and MR scanning in the staging of patients with head and neck carcinomas.

The addition of whole body positron emission tomography (PET) to the investigation of patients with newly diagnosed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) was assessed over a 6-month period. Staging investigations included laryngoscopy, oesophagoscopy, CXR, CT and MRI. In addition, all patients had an extended-field (whole body) FDG-PET scan and were restaged.

Telephony-based voice pathology assessment using automated speech analysis.

A system for remotely detecting vocal fold pathologies using telephone-quality speech is presented. The system uses a linear classifier, processing measurements of pitch perturbation, amplitude perturbation and harmonic-to-noise ratio derived from digitized speech recordings. Voice recordings from the Disordered Voice Database Model 4337 system were used to develop and validate the system.

Validation of the Composite Laryngeal Recurrence Staging System.

Background: The Composite Laryngeal Recurrence Staging System (CLRSS) has been described recently as an improved alternative to the retreatment TNM system (rTNM) for staging patients with recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The objectives of this study were to validate the CLRSS and compare its use with the rTNM system.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of 67 patients with recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma who had their initial treatment between 1980 and 1992.

Development of a new head and neck cancer-specific comorbidity index.

Background: Most patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma are older and may have coexistent or comorbid diseases.

Objectives: To determine the prognostic impact of individual comorbid conditions in patients with head and neck cancer, to combine the individual comorbid conditions to form a new a head and neck-specific comorbidity instrument, and to compare it with the Modified Kaplan-Feinstein Index to determine if the new disease-specific instrument offers any improvement in survival prediction over a general comorbidity index.

Design: Retrospective review of medical records.