Complications and oncologic outcomes following elective neck dissection with salvage laryngectomy for the N0 neck.

Purpose: To investigate the difference in survival and complication outcomes between patients with a clinically and radiologically N0 neck who received an elective neck dissection at the time of salvage total laryngectomy compared to those who had salvage total laryngectomy alone.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 125 salvage total laryngectomy patients who were clinically and radiologically N0 preoperatively. Performance of an elective neck dissection and other factors were tested for associations with various postoperative complications, disease-free survival, and overall survival.

Risk factors for pediatric post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage.

Objectives: To determine pre-operative risk factors for post-tonsillectomy secondary hemorrhage in children, and quantify the magnitude of their risk.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective case-control study of all pediatric tonsillectomy patients experiencing post-operative bleeding from 2005 to 2010 in a community practice consisting of three fellowship-trained pediatric otolaryngologists were identified. The 91 cases were matched with 151 controls that underwent tonsillectomy by the same surgeon on the same day as each identified case.

Risk Stratification System for Oral Cancer Screening.

Oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer (oral cancer) is a deadly disease that is increasing in incidence. Worldwide 5-year survival is only 50% due to delayed intervention with more than half of the diagnoses at stage III and IV, whereas earlier detection (stage I and II) yields survival rates up to 80% to 90%. Salivary soluble CD44 (CD44), a tumor-initiating marker, and total protein levels may facilitate oral cancer risk assessment and early intervention.

The economic impact of vocal attrition in public school teachers in Miami-Dade County.

Objectives/hypothesis: Teachers are a known at-risk population for voice disorders. The prevalence and risk factors for voice disorders have been well studied in this population, but little is known about the associated economic cost. The purpose of this study is to assess the economic impact of voice dysfunction in teachers and understand the difference between the cost of absenteeism and presenteeism as a direct result of voice dysfunction.

Factors influencing botulinum toxin dose instability in spasmodic dysphonia patients.

Objective: Many patients with spasmodic dysphonia (SD) see consistent effects from botulinum toxin (BTX) injections of the same dose, whereas others require dosage changes over time. We sought to determine whether demographics (age and gender) or environmental factors (smoking) affect the long-term stability of BTX dosing in these patients.

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Coblation assisted endoscopic juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma resection.

To provide additional support for the use of coblation in the surgical treatment of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) tumors. Coblation radiofrequency has been recently described in endoscopic sinus surgery for polyp and tumor resection from the sinuses to the skull base. This is a case series from our institution in which we safely and successfully treated three adolescent boys with JNA using the coblation assisted technique.