Current Otorhinolaryngology Reports

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize the current literature on allyship, providing a historical perspective, concept analysis, and practical steps to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion. This review also provides evidence-based tools to foster allyship and identifies potential pitfalls. RECENT FINDINGS: Allies in healthcare advocate for inclusive and equitable practices that benefit patients, coworkers, and learners. Allyship requires working in solidarity with individuals from underrepresented or historically marginalized groups to promote a sense of belonging and opportunity...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to summarize some of the recent research studies on healthcare disparities across various subspecialties within otolaryngology. This review also highlights the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on disparities and proposes potential interventions to mitigate disparities. RECENT FINDINGS: Significant healthcare disparities in care and treatment outcomes have been reported across all areas of otolaryngology. Notable differences in survival, disease recurrence, and overall mortality have been noted based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), insurance status, etc...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This paper outlines the challenges faced by people with smell and taste disorders (SATDs) and why patient advocacy is crucial in addressing these. It includes recent findings in identifying research priorities in SATDs. RECENT FINDINGS: A recent Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) conducted with the James Lind Alliance (JLA) has been completed and the top 10 research priorities in SATDs determined. Fifth Sense, a UK charity, has been working alongside patient and healthcare professions to drive awareness, education and research in this area...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review summarises the current literature regarding head and neck cancer-associated dysphagia. Up-to-date evidence for dysphagia outcome measurement for this population is provided, in addition to recent innovations that aim to prevent, reduce or remediate the common and debilitating side effects of treatment. RECENT FINDINGS: Both patient-reported outcomes and clinical measures are necessary to capture the multi-dimensional nature of swallowing...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is a novel treatment approach with disease-modifying and preventative benefits that are not shared with other strategies for treating allergic illnesses. It has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in children. This review provides the most recent information on AIT in children as well as any pertinent updates. RECENT FINDINGS: Although there is not a standard way to begin AIT, there are clear indications for AIT...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review was to summarize the current knowledge on parosmia and phantosmia and introduce support and treatment algorithms for the two qualitative olfactory disorders. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent literature regarding parosmia has revealed that patients with the disorder are mainly triggered by certain substances, including thiols and pyrazines. In 2015, the existing "olfactory training" regimen was improved to more effectively treat post-infectious olfactory loss and was named "modified olfactory training" (MOT)...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The goal of this narrative review is to educate clinicians regarding the foundational concepts, efficacy, and future directions of therapeutic vaccines for human papillomavirus (HPV)-mediated cancers. RECENT FINDINGS: Therapeutic HPV vaccines deliver tumor antigens to stimulate an immune response to eliminate tumor cells. Vaccine antigen delivery platforms are diverse and include DNA, RNA, peptides, proteins, viral vectors, microbial vectors, and antigen-presenting cells...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To provide a detailed overview of the investigations and core outcome measures for olfactory disorders. RECENT FINDINGS: Olfactory disorders can have a detrimental impact to the quality of life of patients. There are a wide range of causes of olfactory loss including sinonasal conditions, idiopathic, post-head trauma or infection. This review highlights the key investigations and reasoning for their use to clinically assess and research patients with olfactory disorders...

Purpose of Review: The aim was to synthesize key findings regarding the use of functional MRI (fMRI) to assess olfactory dysfunction (OD), and thus, to evaluate whether fMRI could be a reliable clinical diagnostic tool. Recent Findings: In response to olfactory stimulation, patients with quantitative OD display reduced activation in olfactory-related brain regions but also stronger activation in non-olfactory brain areas. Parosmic patients also seem to show both weaker and higher brain signals...

Purpose of Review: To summarise the current understanding of post-infectious olfactory dysfunction (PIOD) and provide a consensus on management of the condition through an evidence-based approach, critically reviewing the available management options. Recent Findings: New studies investigating the pathophysiology of PIOD in COVID-19 patients have found that in those with persistent symptoms there is an association with lower tissue perfusion in the orbital and medial regions of the frontal lobe...

Purpose of the Review: This study aims to summarize the current state of the art of how taste disorders are clinically best managed. Recent Findings: Taste disorders are distressing for the concerned patients since eating and drinking become bothersome or impossible. Apart from nutritional problems, quality of life is impaired. Still, diagnosis and treatment of taste disorders are elusive, and general knowledge about taste and its affection is little within the population and the medical community...

Purpose of Review: To provide an overview of psychophysical testing in olfaction and gustation. Recent Findings: Subjective patient report correlates poorly with objective assessment of olfaction and gustation. It is therefore important that clinicians and researchers perform psychophysical testing during chemosensory assessment. There are several validated psychophysical tests of olfaction and gustation, with ongoing developments accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The sinonasal tract is home to a uniquely heterogenous collection of malignant tumors. Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been detected in a number of these, but the virus' role as an oncogenic driver or coincidental finding remains unclear. We aim to highlight five sinonasal tumor types and synthesize the prevalence, etiologic role, and known clinicopathologic relevance of HPV in each. RECENT FINDINGS: The last decade has seen an expansion of investigation into HPV's oncogenic and prognostic significance within sinonasal malignancies...

Purpose of Review: The current COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the international paediatric otolaryngology community: we review its impact in clinical, resource, and human settings. Recent Findings: The SARS-CoV-2 virus, while generally mild in paediatric populations, has caused an increased incidence in severe croup, invasive fungal sinus disease, and multi system inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). The incidence of other common otolaryngology presentations such as otitis media and tonsillitis has decreased due to quarantine measures...

Purpose of Review: To summarize and review recent literature on the role of allergen immunotherapy in the setting of a worldwide pandemic. Recent Findings: At the start of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, most elective ambulatory patient care services, including allergen immunotherapy, were suspended. Now with medical practices reopening, allergists must establish plans and protocols for resuming care of allergy patients, including strategies for restarting allergen immunotherapy...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review briefly covers the history of stapedectomy, discusses the indications and problems encountered with revision surgery, and provides case examples with solutions. RECENT FINDINGS: Revision surgery is challenging and successful outcome even in the most experienced specialists is 45-71%, which is far less than that of primary surgery. SUMMARY: Careful evaluation of the reasons for reoperation, anticipation of the common problems, and patient education on reasonable expectations are all very important for success...

Purpose of review: Herein, we review current evidence and future directions of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in HPV-related head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) by describing published data and ongoing clinical trials. Recent findings: Although HNSCCs have shown response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in recurrent/metastatic disease, a limited number of patients benefit from this treatment. There is an expanding interest in clarifying the clinical benefit of immunotherapy in earlier stage disease setting including at initial presentation...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize and critically review the recent literature on novel treatments for olfactory disorders (OD). RECENT FINDINGS: Emerging therapies in the management of OD include multiple vitamins and supplements, biologics, neuromodulators, and intranasal agents. There is also an active investigation into treatments that harness the neuroregenerative properties of the olfactory epithelium, such as platelet-rich plasma and stem cell transplantation...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Tracheostomy in a child demands critical pre-operative evaluation, deliberate family education, competent surgical technique, and multidisciplinary post-operative care. The goals of pediatric tracheostomy are to establish a safe airway, optimize ventilation, and expedite discharge. Herein we provide an update regarding timing, surgical technique, complications, and decannulation, focusing on a longitudinal approach to pediatric tracheostomy care. RECENT FINDINGS: Pediatric tracheostomy is performed in approximately 0...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Present the state-of-the-art overview of laryngeal pacing for treatment of bilateral vocal fold paralysis. A minimally invasive unilateral pacing system and a fully implantable bilateral pacing system are currently in clinical trials. The relative advantages and disadvantages of each are discussed. RECENT FINDINGS: Research in functional electrical stimulation for the reanimation of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle has successfully translated from animal models to human clinical trials for unilateral pacing and bilateral pacing...