Comparative Survival Function in Patients with Positive Surgical Margins Following Laryngectomy.

Aims: This study aims to make a comparative analysis of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall disease-specific survival (OS) in patients with laryngeal carcinoma. Materials and methods: The study was designed retrospectively. Sixteen patients with postoperative PSM and 30 with negative surgical margins (NSM) were included. Survival analysis and Long-Rank comparisons was performed for DFS and OS between groups. Results: PSM was a significant independent risk factor for loco-regional recurrence and disease-related mortality (p = 0.004, HR: 1.6, p = 0.002, HR: 3.2, respectively). DFS and OS were significantly longer in NSM group (p = 0.001 and 0.003, respectively). For PSM group, 2- and 5-year DFS rates were 57%; OS rates were 80% and 34% respectively. In NSM group, 2- and 5-year DFS rates were 96% and 83%; OS rates were found to be 96%. Conclusion: PSM had significant relation with poor prognosis.

Endoscopic Repair of Nasal Septal Perforations With Fascia Lata.

PURPOSE: Nasal septal perforation (NSP) consists of defects of mucosa, cartilage, and bone. Nasal septal surgery is by far the most common cause of NSP. Many surgical approaches have been described for NSP repair. In this study, the authors describe a novel technique for repairing all sizes of NSP using an only fascia lata graft. METHODS: The authors implemented a retrospective study design. Seventeen patients who underwent NSP repair between January 2016 and January 2019 were included to the study. Entire nasal surgical steps were performed under endoscopic view, harvested fascia lata graft is placed in tympanoplasty fashion after all edges of perforation is elevated and implantation bed is prepared. RESULTS: The mean size of the septal peforations were 18.52 ±â€Š4.17 mm horizontally, 11.52 ±â€Š3.42 mm vertically. The mean follow up period was 14.47 ±â€Š9.5 months (range: 2-36). In 15 of the 17 patients, total NSP closure was achieved (88,23%). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic close technique using fascia lata for nasal septal perforation closure is a safe and reliable technique with high success rate and it should be considered in patients with nasal septal perforation.

Superficial Parotidectomy Versus Partial Superficial Parotidectomy: A Comparison of Complication Rates, Operative Time, and Hospital Stay.

PURPOSE: The type and extent of surgery for benign parotid tumors are a subject of debate. We aimed to measure and compare hospital stay, operative time, and complication rates associated with superficial parotidectomy (SP) and partial superficial parotidectomy (PSP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all patients who underwent surgery for benign parotid gland tumors in our tertiary center between January 2006 and March 2014 and were followed up for at least 3 years. The predictor variable was the type of parotidectomy, and the main outcome parameters were operative time, hospital stay, and postoperative complications. The demographic characteristics (age and gender), clinical history, and preoperative findings were obtained from patient records. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Mann-Whitney U test, and χ2 test were used to analyze the data. P < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The sample was composed of 321 patients (184 men and 137 women) with a mean age of 54.0 ± 14.7 years (range, 18 to 87 years). Of these, 190 underwent SP and 131 underwent PSP. Pleomorphic adenoma was the most common tumor (83 patients, 53%), followed by Warthin tumor (50 patients, 32%). The mean hospital stay was 6.7 ± 2.3 days in the SP group and 4.8 ± 2.4 days in the PSP group (P < .001). The mean operative times in the SP and PSP groups were 134.0 ± 24.6 and 92.1 ± 21.9 minutes, respectively (P < .001). The overall complication rates were 21.6% and 12.2% in the SP and PSP groups, respectively (P = .031). No tumor recurrence was observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the SP group, the PSP group had shorter operative and hospital stay durations and fewer postoperative complications with a comparable recurrence rate. Therefore, PSP should be considered in suitable cases.

Application of Sal classification to parotid gland fine-needle aspiration cytology: 10-year retrospective analysis of 312 patients.

BACKGROUND: The accuracy of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is controversial in parotid tumors. We aimed to compare FNAB results with the final histopathological diagnosis and to apply the "Sal classification" to our data and discuss its results and its place in parotid gland cytology. METHODS: The FNAB cytological findings and final histological diagnosis were assessed retrospectively in 2 different scenarios based on the distribution of nondefinitive cytology, and we applied the Sal classification and determined malignancy rate, sensitivity, and specificity for each category. RESULTS: In 2 different scenarios FNAB sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were found to be 81%, 87%, 54.7%, and 96.1%; and 65.3%, 100%, 100%, and 96.1%, respectively. The malignancy rates and sensitivity and specificity were also calculated and discussed for each Sal category. CONCLUSION: We believe that the Sal classification has a great potential to be a useful tool in classification of parotid gland cytology.

Unilateral Blindness After Septoplasty.

Septoplasty is a frequently performed procedure with mostly minor complications. Nevertheless, it may lead to serious complications.The authors present a 29-year-old patient admitted to their hospital 10 days after septoplasty in another institution. He suffered a total loss of vision immediately after the surgery.High-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a direct trauma of the optic canal and an inflamed and edematous optic nerve. Even though a successful endoscopic optic nerve was performed, the patient's loss of vision did not improve after the surgery.Blindness after septoplasty is an extremely rare but a devastating complication. There are only few patients that indicates the optic nerve injury caused by a direct trauma.

A dilemma at gray scale thyroid ultrasound: microcalcification or not? Differentiation with Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Imaging-Virtual Touch Imaging.

AIMS: To evaluate the capacity of virtual touch imaging (VTI) of the acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) techniquein the differential diagnosis of micro-echogenicities in thyroid nodules. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprised 28patients. Gray scale and ARFI displacement maps were used during ultrasound examination.In the same session, fine needleaspiration biopsy (FNAB) samples were obtained from the dominant nodule hav-ing micro-echogenicities. Two radiologists blinded to the FNAB results and clinical data of the patients evaluated these images and rated ARFI echogenicities according to the degree of shining points on the displacement maps and classified them as isohypoechogenic, isohyperechogenic, and obvious hyperechogenic. To differentiate between benignancy and malignancy, "a new sign" was defined as follows: in the ARFI maps obtained by VTI, iso-echogenic or hyper-echogenic appearance of micro-echogenic foci was evaluated as benignancy and hypo-echogenic appearance of micro-echogenic foci was evaluated as malignancy. RESULTS: The FNAB results indicated 14 cases and benign nodules in the other 14 cases. Interobserver agreement between the two radiologists was highly significant for the classification of the micro-echogenic foci (Kappa=0.659, p<0.001). When we reclassified the hyperechoic and isohyperechoic foci as "benign" and isohypoechoic foci as "malignant", the interobserver agreement between the two radiologists increased (Kappa=0.772, p<0.001). The evaluation of the first and second radiologists were highly concordant with the gold standard pathology results (Kappa=0.786, p<0.001 and Kappa=0.714, p<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: ARFI method with specific VTI features could be a very useful tool in the differentiation of malignant microcalcifications in thyroid nodules.

Puzzle-Formed Modified Turkish Delight for Nasal Dorsum Augmentation.

Structural deficiencies of the nasal dorsum are most commonly of congenital, traumatic, or iatrogenic etiology. Various grafts, including autografts, homografts, and synthetic materials, have been used to this end and are described in the literature.Autologous septal cartilage is the most commonly used graft material when limited augmentation rhinoplasty is planned. However, it is difficult to retain sufficient cartilage to allow of such augmentation in instances where most of the septal cartilage has been used. The authors place moderately crushed cartilage beneath a monolayer of surgicel when performing limited nasal dorsum augmentation. The aim of the present study is to describe authors' approach and its utility by reviewing other methods reported in the literature.

The Importance of Soft Triangle in Rhinoplasty.

The soft triangle is a basic, yet delicate and vulnerable, subunit of the nose that is under-rated both academically and surgically. The soft triangle is located at the apex of the nostril, at the point where the dermis is in direct contact with dermis that contains no intervening subcutaneous tissue and it may be unintentionally harmed during rhinoplasty.The authors suggest using a modified incision and closure and filling with significantly or severely crushed cartilage to prevent notching and to provide support for the soft triangle. The more the authors understand the nature of the soft triangle, the more they will be able to obtain superior surgical results in the nasal tip area.

The Benefit of a Complete Cephalic Trim and the Importance of the Scroll Area.

Cephalic trimming of the lower lateral cartilage (LLC) of the nose is often performed to refine a broad nasal tip in the horizontal dimension. The focus of cephalic trimming remains the preservation of the width of the lateral crura and the cartilage remnant at the cephalic end of the LLC is usually left intact, which leads to inadequate cephalic trimming.The authors suggest that cephalic trimming should continue all the way to the cephalic end of the LLC and no remnant cartilage should be left in the scroll area. This would make it possible to reduce the bulk of the nasal tip in an acceptable manner. Trimming of the whole cephalic side of the LLC would disrupt the scroll area, allowing authors to assess rhinoplasty as a 2-stage surgical procedure: that is, nasal tip and middle vault.In conclusion, complete cephalic trimming without leaving any remnant cartilage in the scroll area is necessary for adequate nasal tip refinement, and disruption of the scroll area allows the rhinoplasty to be compartmentalized to achieve more desirable results in the middle vault and the nasal tip.

Clinical features of deep neck infection: analysis of 77 patients.

OBJECTIVES: This retrospective study aims to detect the prognostic factors which affect the duration of hospital stay and evaluate the complications which develop in patients with deep neck infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 77 patients (40 males, 37 females; mean age 42.4±20.1 years; range 11 to 88 years) treated with a diagnosis of deep neck infection in our clinic between November 2006 and November 2012. Patients' demographic and clinical features were analyzed to detect their associations with development of complications and hospitalization time. RESULTS: Odontogenic origin and submandibular localization were the most frequently observed clinical appearance. Of eight patients (10.4%) who developed serious complications, two (2.6%) died. Age, comorbidity, presence of anemia alone, Ludwig's angina and retropharyngeal involvement were associated with increased rate of complications (p<0.05); while sex, antibiotic usage prior to admittance and primary location of infection were not related (p>0.05). Submandibular localization and absence of leucopenia reduced the risk of complications (p<0.05). The mean duration of hospital stay was 12.9±8.7 days (range 2-59 days). Age, presence of comorbidity and development of complications extended the hospitalization period (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In spite of the improvements in diagnosis and treatment, deep neck infection may be an important cause of mortality if complications develop. Comorbid anemia, Ludwig's angina and retropharyngeal involvement were identified as the strongest predictors in terms of development of complications. Duration of hospital stay extended in patients who developed complications.

Radiofrequency versus electrocautery for inferior turbinate hypertrophy.

AIM: The aims of this study were to compare radiofrequency tissue reduction (RFTR) and electrocautery (EC) techniques by assessing preoperatively and 8 weeks postoperatively the visual analog scale (VAS), inspiratory peak flowmetry (IPF), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volume measurement of the inferior turbinate and to see whether EC still stands as a valid treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy. METHODS: A total of 36 patients were included in the study. An equal number of patients were chosen randomly from 2 groups. Inferior turbinate volumes measured by MRI, IPF, the VAS, and the Sinonasal Outcome Test-20 were used to determine the efficacy of treatment and to compare the 2 groups. RESULTS: Postoperative IPF increase, VAS score decrease, and Sinonasal Outcome Test-20 score decrease were statistically more significant in the EC group, compared with the RFTR group. Although statistically not significant, postoperative inferior turbinate MRI volume decrease was more evident in the EC group when compared with the RFTR group. CONCLUSIONS: Both RFTR and EC techniques could be used as an effective treatment of choice for inferior turbinate hypertrophy, and EC technique is superior to RFTR technique to achieve high efficiency.