Developing Script Concordance Test Items in Otolaryngology to Improve Clinical Reasoning Skills: Validation using Consensus Analysis and Psychometrics.

Background: Script concordance testing is widely practiced to foster and assess clinical reasoning. Our study aimed to develop script concordance test (SCT) in the specialty of otolaryngology and test the validation using panel response pattern and consensus index.

Materials And Methods: The methodology was an evolving pattern of constructing SCTs, administering them to the panel members, and optimizing the panel with response patterns and consensus index.

A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Study on the Efficacy of Different Modes of Topical Application of Nasal Anesthetics in the Diagnostic Nasal Endoscopy Procedure.

Introduction In the current otorhinolaryngology practice, technology has always been an essential part. Therefore, diagnostic nasal endoscopy (DNE) has become a vital examination in today's practice. In order to visualize the nasal cavity in a systematic manner without any discomfort to both patient and doctor, the nose should be well anesthetized and decongested.

Hedgehog inhibitors with and without adjunctive therapy in treatment of locally advanced basal cell carcinoma.

Background: Hedgehog inhibitor therapy (HHIT) is considered first-line treatment for locally advanced, unresectable basal cell carcinoma (laBCC). HHIT often results in a partial response, which requires adjunctive therapy (AT) post HHIT. We present real-world data for laBCCs undergoing HHIT ± AT.

The utility of initial staging PET-CT as a baseline scan for surveillance imaging in stage II and III melanoma.

Background: This study evaluates the utility of whole-body PET-CT for the initial staging and subsequent surveillance imaging of patients with completely resected stage II and stage III melanoma.

Methods: A single-center, retrospective review of patients who received perioperative whole-body PET-CT from January 1, 2005 to December 1, 2019 within three months of initial melanoma diagnosis was performed.

Results: Of 258 total patients with completely resected melanoma who had a PET-CT within 3 months after their melanoma diagnosis, 113 had stage II and 145 had stage III melanoma.

Higher BMI, But Not Sarcopenia, Is Associated With Pembrolizumab-related Toxicity in Patients With Advanced Melanoma.

Background/aim: To determine whether BMI and sarcopenia were related to treatment-limiting toxicity or efficacy of pembrolizumab treatment in melanoma patients.

Patients And Methods: Medical records for melanoma patients undergoing pembrolizumab treatment at Duke University from January 2014 to September 2018 were reviewed. Pre-treatment measurements such as BMI were collected.

Retreatment with talimogene laherparepvec for advanced melanoma.

Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) is a genetically modified oncolytic herpesvirus approved for the treatment of unresectable, locoregionally advanced and recurrent melanoma. There is little relevant literature in the context of retreatment with T-VEC. We reviewed four patients aged 71-87 years old with stage IIIB-IV melanoma at treatment who were rechallenged with T-VEC after experiencing recurrence of locoregional disease or prior treatment-limiting toxicity.

Diagnostic delay for head and neck cancer in South India: A Mixed-methods Study.

Background: Early diagnosis is an important aspect of quality of cancer care.Analysis of the diagnostic delays and the reasons for delay helps to plan strategies to improve cancer care.

Objectives: To determine the primary, secondary, and total diagnostic delay of patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer and to explore the reasons for the delay from the patient perspective.

Validity and Reliability of Tamil translated University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire for Head and Neck Cancers.

Background: Quality of life is an important outcome measure used both in research and patient care across all cultural healthcare settings.

Objective: This study is aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of interviewer-administered Tamil translated University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire (Version 4) in a setting with low literacy.

Methods: The study was done in a tertiary care teaching institute in Puducherry, South India.