ABSTRACT
This case report details an unusual presentation of unilateral tympanic membrane discoloration in a 10-year-old girl. The mysterious black discoloration was explored by various medical specialties, revealing a complex diagnostic journey due to the lack of evidence for this specific finding. Initially, the patient consulted her primary care physician after inserting a graphite pencil into her left ear canal, but without associated symptoms, she was considered to have returned to her baseline. The abnormal discoloration on the left tympanic membrane was first observed 10 months later, following diagnoses of two episodes of otitis media, otitis externa, and a middle ear effusion over three separate visits. By this time, the patient had been seen by four different medical professionals. The lesion was described as "a blackish discoloration in the posterior superior quadrant of the unperforated tympanic membrane near the umbo." This report underscores the need for thorough evaluation and consideration of atypical presentations when encountering unusual tympanic membrane discolorations.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Due to the importance of evidence-based research in plastic surgery, the authors of this study aimed to assess the accuracy of ChatGPT in generating novel systematic review ideas within the field of craniofacial surgery. METHODS: ChatGPT was prompted to generate 20 novel systematic review ideas for 10 different subcategories within the field of craniofacial surgery. For each topic, the chatbot was told to give 10 "general" and 10 "specific" ideas that were related to the concept. In order to determine the accuracy of ChatGPT, a literature review was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane. RESULTS: In total, 200 total systematic review research ideas were generated by ChatGPT. We found that the algorithm had an overall 57.5% accuracy at identifying novel systematic review ideas. ChatGPT was found to be 39% accurate for general topics and 76% accurate for specific topics. CONCLUSION: Craniofacial surgeons should use ChatGPT as a tool. We found that ChatGPT provided more precise answers with specific research questions than with general questions and helped narrow down the search scope, leading to a more relevant and accurate response. Beyond research purposes, ChatGPT can augment patient consultations, improve healthcare equity, and assist in clinical decisionmaking. With rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), it is important for plastic surgeons to consider using AI in their clinical practice to improve patient-centered outcomes.
ABSTRACT
A thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) is a fluid-filled mass in the neck resulting from the persistence of a duct from fetal development that typically regresses spontaneously. When it persists, it is most often removed in a surgical procedure known as a Sistrunk operation. This case study presents the intriguing case of an eight-year-old boy who presented to an otolaryngology clinic with both a recurrence of his TGDC, as well as several postoperative complications, after the Sistrunk operation was performed. After the initial procedure resulted in an incomplete removal of the TGDC, the patient was referred to Interventional Radiology for sclerotherapy. After several rounds of this treatment technique the cyst remnants still persisted along with their associated symptoms. Due to the very low likelihood of a recurrence being observed after surgical removal with subsequent sclerotherapy, the reappearance of the cyst raised several clinical questions. This report underscores the significance of a thorough evaluation and consideration of unique presentations when confronted with recurrent TGDCs.