Different approach for surgery of stapes: Comparison microscopic and endoscopic approach.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to discuss the different surgical approach, functional hearing results, which are applied to patients operated with a diagnosis of otosclerosis in our clinic. METHODS: This study includes 92 ears of 84 patients who were operated with the diagnosis of otosclerosis. Air bone gap was calculated before and after the operation in all patients. In addition, endoscopic and microscopic methods can be compared and statistically tested whether there is a difference in air bone gap averages and surgical success. Of the 92 ears operated, 56 were right (61%) and 36 were left (39%). Otosclerosis was detected bilaterally in 61 patients (73%) and unilaterally (27%) in 23 patients. The duration of follow-up ranges from 6 month to ten years, on average 28 months. RESULTS: In the microscopic operation group, the air pathway measurement was mean 55.58 dB preoperatively and mean 38.42 dB postoperatively, with a mean decrease of 17.16 dB determined. The decrease between the preoperative and postoperative air pathway values was determined to be statistically significant (t:7.20, p < 0.001). In the microscopic operation group, the air-bone gap value was mean 30.50 dB preoperatively and fell by 15.90 dB to 14.60 dB postoperatively. In the endoscopic group, the air-bone gap value was mean 32.32 dB preoperatively and fell by 13.51 dB to 18.81 dB postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Stapes surgery is a successful method with high success rate and low complication rates in the treatment of otosclerosis. The success rate of endoscopic and microscopic stapes surgery is similar. However, endoscopic stapes surgery is specific and difficult otological surgery that must be performed by surgeons specialised on this subject.

An Evaluation of Clinicopathological Factors Effective in the Development of Central and Lateral Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) constitutes more than 90% of newly emerging differentiated thyroid cancers. Lymph node metastasis is often seen in PTC. There is a high risk of central metastasis in the presence of clinicopathological factors such as extrathyroidal extension, multifocality and lymphovascular invasion. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinicopathological features that are effective in the development of lymph node metastasis. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective examination was made of the records of patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer and followed up in our clinic. Patients with and without lymph node metastasis were compared in respect of demographic features such as age, gender, pathology, histopathology, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, lymphovascular invasion, multifocality, capsule invasion, extrathyroidal extension and bilaterality. RESULTS: Lymph node metastasis was determined in 52 of 419 papillary thyroid cancers. In the logistic regression analysis, a statistically significant relationship was determined between cervical lymph node metastasis and age <45 years (p < 0.001, OR:4.193), lymphovascular invasion (p < 0.001, OR:7.762), capsule invasion (p < 0.002, OR:3.054), extrathyroidal extension (p < 0.001, OR:6.450) and bilaterality (p < 0.001, OR: 0.217). CONCLUSION: The risk of cervical lymph node metastasis was determined to be high in the presence of clinicopathological factors such as extrathyroidal extension, multifocality and lymphovascular invasion. Although lymph node metastasis does not clinically develop in all patients, knowing the risk factors related to lymph node metastasis can contribute to the evaluation of prophylactic central neck dissection in high-risk patients and follow-up of the patient in respect of recurrence.

Pepsinogen identification in the middle ear fluid of children with otitis media with effusion.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the presence and concentration of pepsin/pepsinogen in middle ear fluid and to discuss the potential mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of this condition. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 33 children (21 boys, 12 girls; mean age 5.7±2.4 years; range 3 to 13 years) diagnosed with otitis media with effusion and scheduled for operation were enrolled into the study. Fluids aspirated from the middle ear were assessed for the presence of pepsinogen and albumin and blood samples were drawn simultaneously for comparison. RESULTS: Mean pepsinogen concentration was statistically significantly higher in middle ear fluids compared with serum samples (262.4 ng/mL [range: 211.7 ng/mL - 301.1 ng/mL] versus 102.6 ng/mL [range: 80.7 ng/mL - 134.5 ng/mL], respectively) (p<0.001). On the other hand, mean albumin concentration was significantly lower (1.1 g/dL [range: 0.01 g/dL - 9.5 g/dL] versus 5.8 g/dL [range: 0.9 - 9.5 g/dL], respectively) (p<0.001). The highest pepsinogen concentration was detected in patients with purulent effusion (275.3 ng/mL). CONCLUSION: Our findings support the theory of gastro-esophageal reflux related pepsinogen transition to the middle ear and indicate that pepsinogen may a reliable biochemical marker for the assessment of gastro-esophageal reflux.

[The effect of operation success on middle ear ventilation in patients with nasal septal deviation]. / Nazal septum deviyasyonlu hastalarda ameliyat basarisinin orta kulak ventilasyonu üzerine etkisi.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the effect of septal deviation causing nasal obstruction and septal surgery on middle ear ventilation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients over 18 years of age (6 females, 19 males; mean age 24.7±6.1 years; range 18 to 38 years) who underwent septoplasty due to septal deviation with a normal baseline ear function were included in the study. Nasal obstruction was evaluated preoperatively and at three months postoperatively using visual analog scale and nasal obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE) scale. Tympanometric tests were performed preoperatively and on seventh day, in the first month and third month postoperatively. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the mean NOSE score (p=0.00). The mean preoperative NOSE score was 55.5±16.4, while the mean postoperative (at 3 months) NOSE score was 19.0±7.7. The difference in preoperative and postoperative (at 3 months) NOSE scores was statistically significant (p=0.00). In the comparison of the preoperative and postoperative tympanometry results, no statistically significant difference was observed in middle ear pressures (p=0.375). There was no statistically significant relationship between postoperative NOSE scores and middle ear pressures (r=-0.10; p=0.943). CONCLUSION: Our study results showed that the success of septoplasty operation and operation success does not affect the ventilation and pressure of the middle ear significantly.