Last 30 days of curated ENT research.

Altered Neural Pitch Encoding in Vestibular Schwannoma: Evidence From Frequency-Following Responses

Organ-on-a-Chip Technology in Otorhinolaryngology: Design Strategies and Applications in Mucosal Tissues and Head and Neck Cancer

Supraglottic airway vs. endotracheal tube for sinonasal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Clinical utility of LLMs in otology and neurotology: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Acquired Single-Sided Deafness - Patients Prefer Invasive over Non-Invasive Hearing Solutions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Olfactory Training and Patient-Centered Outcomes Beyond Smell: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Effects of Chin-Down Maneuver on Preventing Penetration/Aspiration in Adults with Mechanical or Neurogenic Dysphagia: A Systematic Review

Amygdala: Function and neural basis

A Scoping Review of Cost Analyses in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: Economic Trends, Cost Drivers, and Methodological Gaps

Voice Therapy in Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate: A Narrative Review

The Impact of the HeLa Cell in the Field of Otolaryngology: Honoring Henrietta Lacks

Electrode-Modiolar Distance as a Determinant of Cochlear Implant Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Suture Closure Technique to Minimize Raw Surface in Concha Bullosa Surgery

A systematic review and meta-analysis of new discovered maneuvers for the treatment of posterior canal BPPV

[Branchial cleft anomalies of the neck : Embryology, clinical presentation, and management]

Office-Based Transoral Ultrasonography in the Diagnostic Workup of Oropharyngeal Cancer

Transoral ultrasound of the palatine and lingual tonsils is a feasible office-based adjunct for evaluating suspected oropharyngeal cancer, though it requires substantial operator experience and patient cooperation.

Efficacy and safety of middle turbinate resection versus preservation during endoscopic sinus surgery in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Middle turbinate resection during ESS reduced synechiae (RR 0.35), ostial restenosis (RR 0.41), and polyp recurrence (RR 0.58) compared with preservation, but caused more postoperative bleeding (RR 2.24) with no difference in SNOT symptom scores, supporting an individualised rather than routine approach.

Outcome of myringoplasty and type 1 tympanoplasty in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Myringoplasty and type 1 tympanoplasty in children achieved an 85.8% tympanic membrane closure rate and mean air-bone gap improvement of 11.18 dB across 4658 ears, with recurrent perforation and postoperative infection rates of 11.5% and 11.6% respectively.

Clinicoepidemiologic Profile of Oral Kaposi Sarcoma in People Living With HIV: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

HIV-associated oral Kaposi sarcoma showed palatal involvement in 85% of cases and served as the sentinel HIV presentation in 44%. Since combination ART, palatal and gingival involvement has decreased but sentinel presentation has increased, underscoring its continued diagnostic relevance.

The Immunological Consequences of Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy: Myths, Evidence, and Unsolved Questions

Adenotonsillectomy causes transient drops in immunoglobulin and lymphocyte levels without compromising overall immune function, and reduces recurrent febrile episodes including in PFAPA syndrome. Long-term risks such as increased autoimmune or periodontal disease remain possible associations without established causality.

Short-acting versus long-acting tympanostomy tubes in the paediatric population: a systematic review and meta-analysis of duration in-situ and complications

Long-acting tympanostomy tubes remained in situ significantly longer than short-acting tubes but were associated with higher rates of complications including tympanosclerosis, persistent perforation, and otorrhoea in the paediatric population.

Real-world dupilumab treatment reduced healthcare resource utilization and medication use in patients with CRSwNP

In 1,016 CRSwNP patients, dupilumab initiation was associated with substantial reductions in oral corticosteroid use (68% to 29%), antibiotic prescriptions (65% to 32%), and sinus imaging and procedures in the following 12 months compared with baseline.

Thyroid and Parathyroid Dysfunction Following Larynx-Trachea-Thyroid-Parathyroid Allotransplantation

Serial endocrine monitoring after larynx-trachea-thyroid-parathyroid allotransplantation revealed thyroid and parathyroid dysfunction temporally associated with graft rejection in three of four recipients, while the rejection-free recipient maintained stable endocrine function. The authors recommend serial endocrine monitoring as a complement to conventional rejection surveillance, not as a standalone diagnostic tool.

Immune Profiles and Immunotherapy Efficacy in Sinonasal Malignancies: A Scoping Review

Anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors showed the most evidence for sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma, with limited data for other subtypes; tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte density, not PD-L1 expression, most consistently correlated with survival across sinonasal malignancies, while olfactory neuroblastomas were predominantly immune-cold.

Pediatric Laryngeal Tumors: A Systematic Review of Benign and Malignant Neoplasms

Persistent hoarseness, dyspnea, or dysphagia in children warrants consideration of laryngeal neoplasia; this systematic review found granular cell tumour and neurofibroma were the commonest benign lesions (treated mainly by endoscopic resection, 16% recurrence), while squamous cell carcinoma predominated among malignant tumours, with 12 deaths reported across 69 patients.

The Trolley Problem of Perioperative Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer

KEYNOTE-689 showed perioperative pembrolizumab improved event-free survival in locally advanced head and neck cancer, but this review argues that neoadjuvant delays risk surgical escalation and functional morbidity, and that postoperative-only immunotherapy (NIVOPOSTOP) warrants consideration as a less disruptive alternative.

Styloid Process Elongation and Swallowing-associated Symptoms: A Scoping Review

Swallowing symptoms such as dysphagia, odynophagia, and foreign-body sensation are commonly reported with styloid process elongation, but no causal link is established. Existing studies relied on non-standardised symptom reporting rather than objective swallowing assessment.

Voice Rehabilitation After Early Laryngeal Cancer: A Narrative Review

Structured physiologic voice therapy (8–10 sessions combining breathing, relaxation, posture, and phonation exercises) improved voice-related quality of life and perceptual outcomes after radiotherapy or CO₂ laser microsurgery for early glottic cancer, though acoustic measures remained variable and gains attenuated over longer follow-up.

Clinical and Videostroboscopic Characteristics of Vocal Fold Nodules in Conservatory Students in Georgia: A Case Series

Conservatory vocal students with persistent nodule-related dysphonia who underwent phonomicrosurgery followed by structured voice rehabilitation showed clinical improvement in this 10-patient Georgian case series; all nodules appeared bilaterally at the anterior-middle third junction with incomplete glottic closure on videostroboscopy.

Delayed manifestation of infantile nystagmus following a vertigo attack

A vertigo attack in a 17-year-old unmasked previously silent infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS), with characteristic horizontal direction-changing nystagmus, rightward null point, and inverted optokinetic responses persisting unchanged over 4 years. Clinicians should consider latent INS when adolescents or adults present with persistent nystagmus following a vestibular event.

Management of Acquired Velopharyngeal Insufficiency in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Injection pharyngoplasty improved speech in 88% and swallowing in 71% of adults with acquired VPI, with a 5.2% adverse event rate, making it the most-used and effective intervention. Most cases followed head and neck cancer treatment or neurologic disease, though evidence remains limited by small sample sizes.

Cutaneous Leiomyosarcoma of the Head and Neck: Appreciation of a More Indolent Biological Behavior and Implications for Its Management

Cutaneous leiomyosarcoma of the head and neck carries a 3% metastatic rate at 10 years and 96–100% five-year disease-specific survival, making it far less aggressive than other leiomyosarcomas. Positive or close surgical margins are the key recurrence risk factor; adjuvant treatment is unsupported and surveillance can focus on physical examination alone.

[Nonimmunological systemic therapies in head and neck cancer : Cytotoxic, targeted, EGFR-directed, and supportive approaches at ASCO 2026]

No purely cytotoxic or targeted therapy established a new HNSCC standard at ASCO 2026; the strongest signals were oral metronomic chemotherapy plus ultra-low-dose nivolumab versus paclitaxel/carboplatin (10.3 vs. 6.2 months) and amivantamab achieving 47% response after platinum and PD-(L)1 failure.

The Use of Nebulization for Voice Across Different Vocal Demands: A Scoping Review

Saline nebulization showed the most consistent improvements in acoustic and auditory-perceptual vocal outcomes across studies, while systemic hydration produced less consistent results. Evidence remains too heterogeneous and methodologically limited to define an optimal nebulization protocol for voice rehabilitation.

Obesity, Weight Loss, and Facial Plastic Surgery

Obesity impairs wound healing in facial plastic surgery patients through pro-inflammatory states and microvascular dysfunction, while GLP-1 agonist-related weight loss creates new soft tissue challenges including facial fat deflation that surgeons must anticipate.

Thyroid Disease in the Era of Obesity and Glucagon-Like-Peptide-1 Agonists

Obesity and thyroid dysfunction have a bidirectional relationship affecting body weight, and GLP-1 agonists require ongoing scrutiny for thyroid malignancy risk; key perioperative considerations apply when thyroidectomy is planned in obese patients.

Conversion of posterior canal BPPV to lateral canal BPPV following the Epley maneuver

Posterior canal BPPV converted to lateral canal BPPV immediately after Epley maneuver in one patient, and was successfully resolved with a subsequent Baloh-Lempert maneuver. Clinicians should retest immediately post-maneuver to detect canal conversion before discharging the patient.

Early Distraction in Neonates With a Bioresorbable Plate for Bilateral Vocal Fold Immobility

Posterior cricoid distraction with a bioresorbable PLLA plate in two neonates with idiopathic bilateral vocal fold immobility resolved stridor and established full oral feeding within two weeks, avoiding tracheostomy and gastrostomy.

Orbitocranial resection for treatment of lacrimal gland malignant tumors with intracranial extension

Orbitocranial resection followed by chemoradiotherapy achieved disease-free survival at 66–69 months in two patients with lacrimal gland malignant tumours with intracranial extension; orbital reconstruction used temporalis fascia flap with split calvarial bone grafts and split-thickness skin grafting.

Complementary, Integrative, and Functional Medicine Approaches to the Obese Patient

Dietary, mind-body, probiotic, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Ayurvedic interventions all showed evidence supporting obesity management, alongside conventional pharmaceutical and surgical options, providing ENT surgeons with a structured overview of integrative approaches for obese patients.

Long-Term Oncologic Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Orbital Exenteration for Advanced Head and Neck Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Orbital exenteration for advanced head and neck cutaneous SCC yielded 5-year overall survival of 71% and 5-year disease-free survival of 52%, with a 39% complication rate and local recurrence strongly associated with positive margins.

Efficacy of Defibrinogenation Therapy for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Defibrinogenation therapy (batroxobin/ancrod) showed no statistically significant hearing improvement over controls in SSNHL, with a pooled odds ratio of 1.90 (95% CI 0.84–4.27) across 837 patients in 7 studies.

Reversal versus classic stapedotomy for otosclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Reversal and classic stapedotomy produced equivalent audiological outcomes, with no clinically meaningful difference in air-bone gap closure to ≤10 dB across 1,540 patients. Safety profiles were also comparable, though evidence certainty was low.

Platelet-rich plasma for post-tonsillectomy pain, haemorrhage, and wound healing: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Intraoperative PRP reduced post-tonsillectomy pain on days 1 and 3 compared to controls, but effects were heterogeneous and transient, and evidence did not support consistent benefits for haemostasis or wound healing.

Task force of the Brazilian Society of Otology and the Brazilian Academy of Neurotology: Menière's Disease

This Brazilian otology task force guideline concludes that Menière's disease is a multifactorial, heterogeneous condition where diagnosis remains primarily clinical using international criteria, with serial audiometry central to evaluation and electrophysiologic testing or MRI reserved for selected cases.

Extratemporal Facial Nerve: Surgical Landmarks, Risk Zones, and a Practical Framework for Safe Dissection

This review mapped the extratemporal facial nerve by region and fascial plane, finding that a plane-oriented framework reflects intraoperative anatomy more accurately than landmark-based descriptions alone, particularly in parotid and midface surgery where the nerve follows a superficial or unpredictable course.

Obesity, Weight Loss, and Perioperative Risk Assessment in Otolaryngology

Obese patients undergoing ENT surgery require tailored perioperative planning across airway management, anaesthetic strategy, and postoperative monitoring, with sarcopenic obesity identified as a distinct high-risk phenotype warranting specific attention.

The Relationship among Obesity, Intracranial Hypertension, and Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak

Obesity-driven intracranial hypertension underlies many spontaneous CSF leaks, and otolaryngologists should recognise pulsatile tinnitus and aural fullness as potential IIH presentations, as this diagnosis directly affects surgical planning and the need for ICP management.

Lifestyle Interventions and Otolaryngologic Care for Adults with Obesity or Overweight

Weight loss improves obstructive sleep apnea most robustly, but evidence also supports benefits across other obesity-related ENT conditions including chronic rhinosinusitis, otitis media, and laryngopharyngeal reflux; otolaryngologists should incorporate lifestyle medicine screening and referral pathways into routine practice.

The history of tinnitus: from ancient interpretations to contemporary neuroscience and neuromodulation

Understanding of tinnitus shifted from peripheral cochlear pathology to central network dysfunction, driving current neuromodulation treatments such as rTMS and bimodal stimulation. This historical review traced that conceptual evolution from ancient supernatural explanations through 19th-century otology to contemporary neuroscience.

Clinical utility of additional non-absorbable nasal packing after septoplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Adding non-absorbable nasal packing after septoplasty provided no reduction in bleeding or septal haematoma when transseptal sutures or splints were already used, and increased rates of headache, synechia, and postoperative pain. Routine non-absorbable packing is not supported once adequate septal stabilisation has been achieved.

[Chances and challenges in the prevention and treatment of early childhood hearing loss: the AWMF guideline on congenital CMV infection]

The 2025 German AWMF S2k guideline recommends that neonates with a failed repeat newborn hearing screen undergo CMV PCR (urine or saliva) by the end of the second to third week of life, enabling antiviral treatment within the first 30 days to reduce, stabilise, or prevent progression of cCMV-related hearing loss. Long-term audiological follow-up is essential given the risk of late-onset or progressive hearing loss.

Facial palsy after cochlear implantation: incidence, etiology, and treatment outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Facial nerve palsy occurs in approximately 1% of cochlear implantations and is reversible in nearly all cases, driven mainly by postoperative oedema or HSV/VZV reactivation. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment, with combined antiviral therapy accelerating recovery when started within 72 hours; surgical intervention is rarely needed.

Surgical Management of Killian-Jamieson Diverticulum: A Systematic Review of Open and Endoscopic Outcomes

Both open and endoscopic surgery for Killian-Jamieson diverticulum achieved high clinical success (failure rate 3.5%) across 86 patients. Open surgery produced complete symptom resolution more often, while endoscopic treatment offered faster oral intake and shorter hospital stay, with no clear superiority of either approach.

Pathological characteristics rather than thyroid size predict incidental parathyroidectomy during thyroid surgery

Malignant thyroid pathology, multinodular goiter/nodular hyperplasia, and female sex independently predicted incidental parathyroidectomy in 1,049 thyroidectomy patients, while thyroid size parameters (nodule diameter, specimen weight, lobe dimensions) showed no consistent association.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Appiani and Zuma Maneuvers in Patients with Apogeotropic Horizontal Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Both the Appiani and Zuma maneuvers achieved similar single-session resolution rates for apogeotropic horizontal canal BPPV (68% vs 59%, P=.389). Patients aged ≥60 years were significantly more likely to require multiple treatment sessions (82% vs 47%).

Ten-Year Experience with Combined Hyperbaric Oxygen and Steroid Therapy for Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Retrospective Cohort of 332 Patients

Combined HBOT and systemic corticosteroids produced a mean 16.7 dB hearing gain in ISSNHL, with 43.5% of patients achieving ≥30% PTA improvement. Earlier treatment initiation, greater baseline hearing loss, and presence of tinnitus independently predicted better outcomes; hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease did not affect response.

Dupilumab as a Therapeutic Option in Chronic Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis: A Case-Based Observation

Dupilumab resolved refractory dilatory Eustachian tube dysfunction in four CRSwNP patients within 6 weeks, with audiometry and tubomanometry confirming middle ear function restoration, suggesting type 2 inflammation as a treatable driver of ETD.

Artificial intelligence-based prediction of cerebrospinal fluid leak in skull base surgery: a scoping review

AI models for predicting CSF leak in skull base surgery showed AUC values of 0.69–1.00 across nine studies, but none achieved independent external validation, limiting clinical applicability. Standardised outcomes and multicentre prospective validation are needed before these tools can inform surgical planning.

Middle ear cholesteatoma: biological basis, invasiveness heterogeneity, and challenges in severity assessment

Current cholesteatoma staging systems describe anatomical extension but fail to capture biological heterogeneity or invasive potential, limiting their ability to guide surgery or predict outcomes. The authors recommend future severity models integrate RANKL-driven osteoclast mechanisms, comprehensive anatomical involvement, and imaging findings.

The Effects of Positive Airway Pressure on the Middle Ear: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PAP therapy increased middle ear pressure by a pooled 51.4 daPa at 10 cmH₂O (dose-dependent, R²=0.95), with pressure transfer requiring swallowing. In patients with Eustachian tube dysfunction and TM retraction, PAP use improved retraction grade and pure tone average by 7.3 dB HL.

Pediatric Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease and Otitis Media With Effusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Pepsin was detected in middle ear effusions in 72.5% of children with otitis media with effusion or recurrent otitis media, with concentrations significantly higher than controls (Hedges' g = 1.92), supporting a link between laryngopharyngeal reflux and middle ear disease. Diagnostic heterogeneity limits firm conclusions about causality.

Videolaryngostroboscopy to Therapy Translational Framework: Bridging Laryngeal Imaging and Voice Therapy via Biomechanical Inference

This expert-consensus framework maps eight videolaryngostroboscopy findings to biomechanical targets and five specific voice therapy techniques (including semi-occluded vocal tract exercises and manual circumlaryngeal therapy) via a structured translation matrix. All proposed indices and thresholds are unvalidated clinical inferences requiring prospective testing before routine use.

Artificial Intelligence Decision-Making in Multidisciplinary Tumor Boards for Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review

ChatGPT-4 outperformed other AI models in therapy selection, recommendation quality, and explanatory capacity across head and neck cancer MDT decision-making tasks, but only 7 studies met inclusion criteria. Clinical accuracy, consistency, and transparency concerns mean current evidence does not support routine MDT integration.

The Application of Laser Technology in Cholesteatoma Surgery: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Laser-assisted cholesteatoma surgery showed no significant difference in residual disease rates or complications compared with conventional techniques (RR 0.53, P=0.406). Current evidence is too limited to support routine adoption, and larger trials are needed.

Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease of the Temporomandibular Joint Extending into the External Auditory Canal and the Middle Ear, Coexisting with Otosclerosis: A Case Report

Tumoral calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease of the TMJ can extend into the EAC and middle ear, confirmed by thin-film X-ray diffraction when histopathology is inconclusive. In this case coexisting otosclerosis precluded conventional hearing rehabilitation, and partial resection combined with bone-anchored hearing aid implantation successfully managed the mixed hearing loss.

Executive Summary of the Clinical Practice Guideline on Tinnitus Update

The updated AAO-HNS guideline on persistent, bothersome tinnitus in adults recommends thorough clinical evaluation to exclude treatable underlying causes, distinguishes subjective from pulsatile and objective tinnitus, and directs management toward evidence-based interventions for tinnitus associated with sensorineural hearing loss.

Plain Language Summary: Clinical Practice Guideline: Tinnitus Update

The 2026 updated AAO-HNSF tinnitus guideline recommends evidence-based approaches to diagnosing and treating tinnitus in adults 18 and older, emphasising structured management pathways to improve care quality.

Clinical Practice Guideline: Tinnitus Update

The AAO-HNS tinnitus guideline update recommends CBT, hearing aids, and cochlear implant evaluation (when audiologically indicated) for persistent bothersome tinnitus, while advising against routine pharmacotherapy (antidepressants, anticonvulsants, anxiolytics, or intratympanic medications) and neuroimaging without specific concerning features.

AI-enabled nystagmus analysis in vestibular assessment: Current evidence and future directions

AI-based nystagmus analysis (mainly CNNs applied to VNG/VOG recordings) showed promise for BPPV classification and nystagmus detection, but across 15 studies validation was predominantly internal, reporting was heterogeneous, and no system had been prospectively evaluated in routine clinical pathways.

Automated Question-and-Answer-Based Speech-In-Noise Hearing Test Using a Large Language Model

The AI-administered CHAT speech-in-noise test, using synthetic speech and large language model scoring, showed reliability (±3.6 dB) and validity (AUC 0.97, SRT-PTA correlation 0.86) comparable to human-recorded tests, supporting unsupervised remote hearing assessment.

Mohs vs. Wide Local Excision for Early-Stage (AJCC 0-II) Cutaneous Head and Neck Melanoma: A Meta-Analysis

Mohs micrographic surgery showed consistently lower local recurrence rates than wide local excision for early-stage cutaneous head and neck melanoma (1.7% vs 6.3% for melanoma in situ; 1.3% vs 8.8% for Stage I–II), with less upstaging and fewer secondary procedures, though no difference reached statistical significance.

Affective nonverbal vocalizations and implications for cochlear implants: A scoping review

Cochlear implant users show compressed affective perception of nonverbal vocalizations (laughs, cries, screams) with reliance on envelope cues, but only one study has examined this with acoustic analysis. In typical listeners, affective perception depends on combinations of acoustic cues that vary by call type, with amplitude modulation (30–150 Hz) most consistently linked to salience in screams.

Quality of Life in Children Who Are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing and Their Families-A Scoping Review

QoL research in children with hearing loss aged 0–7 years is inconsistent in definitions, outcome measures, and psychometric validation, with cochlear implant recipients overrepresented and mild, moderate, and unilateral losses largely unstudied. Family-centred early intervention effects on QoL were almost entirely absent from the literature.

Solitary laryngeal plasmacytoma treated by TOMES: Case report and review of the literature

Solitary laryngeal plasmacytoma was successfully resected using transoral microelectrode surgery (TOMES) in a 60-year-old man, with no recurrence at follow-up. TOMES offers a minimally invasive alternative to radiotherapy when airway patency is threatened.

Voice Outcomes Following Thermal Ablation for Thyroid Nodules: A Systematic Review

Thermal ablation for thyroid nodules carried a pooled vocal cord palsy rate of 1.4%, with permanent palsy rare (0.05%), though inconsistent pre- and post-procedural laryngoscopy across studies likely underestimates true rates. Routine objective laryngeal assessment before and after ablation is recommended for accurate complication detection and patient counselling.

Voice-Related Outcomes Among Patients With Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis

TMD was associated with voice symptoms and abnormal voice findings in multiple studies, including reduced loudness, increased antiresonance, and lower cepstral peak prominence, with severity of voice impairment correlating with TMD severity. Methodological heterogeneity and cross-sectional designs prevent causal conclusions.

Petrous Apex Mucocele: A Case Report and Literature Review

Petrous apex mucocele presenting with diplopia, facial paresthesia, and headache was successfully treated via endoscopic endonasal transclival marsupialization with a mometasone furoate-eluting stent to maintain drainage patency, with no intracranial complications on postoperative imaging.

The metabolic matrix hypothesis of recurrent BPPV: Otoconia-otolithic membrane-endolymph fragility

Recurrent, bilateral, or multicanal BPPV may reflect systemic metabolic fragility of the otoconial unit rather than isolated mechanical displacement, with vitamin D deficiency, estrogen withdrawal, osteoporosis, insulin resistance, and microvascular insufficiency proposed as convergent pathways; the authors suggest a metabolic workup to complement repositioning maneuvers in this subset.

Hearing Screening Among Underserved US Adults: A Scoping Review of Modalities and Determinants

Community-based and CHW-led screening with primary care integration and provider encouragement improved hearing screening uptake in underserved US adults, while cost, stigma, and limited education remained key barriers. Consistent guidelines and cross-provider partnerships were identified as priorities to close screening gaps.

Storytelling in Medical Terminology: The Myths, Tales, and Pop Legends of Otolaryngology

Common ENT eponyms such as labyrinth, Ondine's curse, cherubism, and Andy Gump deformity trace their origins to mythology, folklore, religion, and popular culture. This review argued these narrative roots function as effective mnemonics and that understanding their cultural origins enhances anatomical and clinical recall in surgical education.

Radiation-Associated Lymphedema in Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Radiation-associated lymphedema affected nearly half of head and neck cancer patients (pooled prevalence 49%), with clinically significant grade ≥2 lymphedema occurring in 32%, supporting routine surveillance and early referral for lymphedema management in post-radiotherapy survivorship pathways.

Efficacy and Safety of Cisplatin Versus Carboplatin for Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Cisplatin and carboplatin showed comparable overall survival, progression-free survival, and most toxicity outcomes in HNSCC across 1044 patients in this meta-analysis; a modest 5-year locoregional recurrence-free survival advantage for cisplatin rested on only two studies. Carboplatin remains a reasonable alternative when comorbidities limit cisplatin use.

Biomaterials and Biological Therapies in Tympanic Membrane Regeneration: Systematic Review and Perspective

Platelet concentrate derivatives showed the most consistent results for promoting closure of chronic tympanic membrane perforations among reviewed biomaterials and biological therapies; evidence for hyaluronic acid, silk fibroin, growth factors, and serum remains limited across 83 clinical studies.

Recurrence of intraparotid facial nerve schwannoma: A case report

Intraparotid facial nerve schwannoma recurred following subtotal resection, highlighting the importance of long-term surveillance after nerve-preserving surgery. Complete excision risks facial nerve injury, making planned subtotal removal with monitoring a recognised management strategy.

Pretreatment Health-Related Quality of Life and Survival in Head and Neck Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Worse pretreatment quality of life — particularly physical, role, social, and global QoL scores — independently predicted higher mortality in head and neck cancer patients, with each 10-point decline in physical functioning associated with a 16% increase in mortality risk. These domains warrant routine pretreatment assessment to guide supportive-care prioritisation.

Automated pure tone audiometry (PTA) in the assessment of hearing loss in pediatric populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies

Automated PTA showed high specificity (0.88) but only moderate sensitivity (0.75) for detecting hearing loss in children, making it a reasonable initial screening tool in resource-limited settings but not a replacement for formal diagnostic audiometry. Performance was less reliable in children under 7 years and varied with noise levels, hardware, and calibration.

Does nasal surgery alter vocal resonance? the acoustic impact of rhinoplasty, septoplasty, and turbinoplasty - a systematic review and meta-analysis

Septoplasty increased nasalance scores for nasal phonemes by a pooled 17.2 percentage points (95% CI 15.0–19.4), while rhinoplasty produced variable higher-formant changes and turbinoplasty intermediate effects. Evidence certainty was low to very low, but preoperative counselling about voice changes is advisable, especially for professional voice users.

Progressive Hearing Loss in Childhood - A Prognostic Factor Systematic Review

Congenital CMV, enlarged vestibular aqueduct, platinum-based chemotherapy, and radiotherapy were identified as exploratory prognostic factors for progressive childhood hearing loss, but evidence was too heterogeneous for definitive conclusions. High-quality multivariable prognostic models are needed to guide personalised surveillance.

Taste loss and aging

Older adults show progressive taste threshold elevation and reduced suprathreshold sensitivity across all taste qualities, with the degree of loss varying by taste quality, specific compound, stimulation site, and sex. Comorbidities and polypharmacy compound biological aging-related taste decline.

Surgical Indications for Type II Thyroplasty in Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia: A Scoping Review

Type II thyroplasty with titanium bridges produced durable voice improvement in adductor spasmodic dysphonia, with VHI-10 scores dropping from ~28 to 4–14 and sustained benefit up to 8.4 years at low revision rates (2–7%). Surgical eligibility should be standardised around confirmed diagnosis, symptom chronicity, and prior conservative therapy trial.

The Role of Saliva in Swallowing: A Systematic Review

Higher salivary flow rates correlated with increased spontaneous swallowing frequency in healthy adults, and lower substance P levels were associated with dysphagia across several patient groups, but findings were inconsistent across studies. Heterogeneous methodology prevented firm conclusions about saliva's role in swallowing biomechanics.

Perioperative complications in children with obesity undergoing adenotonsillectomy: A systematic review

Obese children undergoing adenotonsillectomy had higher rates of perioperative respiratory complications, longer hospital stays, and greater rates of unplanned admission compared to healthy-weight peers, supporting preoperative risk stratification and closer postoperative monitoring in this population.

How I Do It: Endoscopic Conservative Septoplasty Based on the Bony Frame Concept

Endoscopic conservative septoplasty using a 30° scope targeted bony deformities while preserving quadrangular cartilage, correcting nasal deviation with improved visualisation and a reduced tissue footprint compared to conventional approaches.

Speaking the same anatomical language: standardizing laryngeal nerve terminology matters in anatomy and medicine

Recurrent laryngeal nerve is the correct internationally accepted term per both Terminologia Anatomica and Terminologia Neuroanatomica; inferior laryngeal nerve should be abandoned, as that designation is reserved for vascular structures.

Tinnitus and hearing outcomes following stapes surgery in otosclerosis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Stapes surgery resolved or improved tinnitus in approximately 77% of otosclerosis patients with preoperative tinnitus (48% disappearance, 29% alleviation), with pooled TFI scores falling significantly postoperatively; only 4% reported worsening. Whether tinnitus relief is driven by hearing improvement or independent mechanisms remains unclear.

Normal Pregnancy and Voice: A PRISMA-ScR Scoping Review of Laryngeal and Vocal Outcomes

Pregnancy reduced maximum phonation time and worsened subjective voice function more consistently than it altered acoustic measures such as fundamental frequency, jitter, or shimmer. Vocal fold edema and reduced motility were most prominent in the third trimester, and singers reported decreased vocal range and timbre changes.

Comparison of auditory perception between behavioural and objective MAPs in cochlear implant users: a systematic review

ESRT-guided cochlear implant mapping tended to produce better auditory perception than behavioural mapping in children, prelingually deaf patients, and short-term CI users, though all 26 included studies were low quality and heterogeneous.

Implantation of a transcutaneous, bone-anchored, piezoelectric bone conduction hearing aid on the squama temporalis

Supraperiosteal placement of the Osia system over the squama temporalis (rather than standard mastoid positioning) achieved stable implant fixation and significant hearing improvement while reducing cosmetic contour deformity, offering an alternative for patients with previously operated or absent mastoid bone.

[Preventive approaches in phoniatrics and musicians' medicine-voice physiology and vocal health curriculum content during the training of vocal students]

A structured 30-unit curriculum covering voice physiology, vocal hygiene, and disorder prevention was proposed as a compulsory component of undergraduate singing programmes, with ongoing CPD recommended for both singers and their treating clinicians including ENT and phoniatricians.

Toward accessible hearing care: A systematic review of low-cost portable otoacoustic emission devices and measurement advances

Portable and low-cost OAE devices, including smartphone-connected probes and wireless earbuds, showed sensitivities of 100% and specificities of 88–90% in three diagnostic studies, but most systems lack independent clinical validation. Standardised calibration and larger trials are needed before these tools can reliably replace conventional clinical OAE systems in low-resource settings.

Low-gain hearing aids for individuals with normal hearing thresholds: a scoping review of listening-related outcomes

Low-gain hearing aids improved subjective listening outcomes in adults and children with listening difficulties despite normal thresholds, particularly when SNR-enhancing features were used, but showed mixed or negative effects in those without listening difficulties.

The Role of Cochlear Anatomy in Hearing Preservation After Cochlear Implantation in Adults: A Systematic Review

Deeper electrode angular insertion depth correlated with worse hearing preservation after cochlear implantation (pooled r = 0.23), while longer cochlear duct length and larger cochlear volume showed the most consistent associations with better outcomes, though all findings were rated very low certainty.

Bilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis and Complete Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum in New Born

Bilateral vocal cord paralysis and complete corpus callosum agenesis co-occurred in a preterm neonate, representing the first reported case of this combination and posing significant diagnostic and airway management challenges.

Time to Rethink Pathology Reporting in Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma

Routine morphology remains the diagnostic cornerstone for adenoid cystic carcinoma, but selective immunohistochemical markers (MYC, p63, B7-H4, TROP2, Nectin-4) added in high-risk cases improved biological stratification and identified patients eligible for targeted therapy trials.

Differences in the Evaluation and Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea by Sex: A Systematic Review

Female OSA patients presented at older age and higher BMI than males, while males had greater neck circumference and higher AHI; these sex-based differences in presentation risk delayed diagnosis in women using male-derived diagnostic criteria.

Audiologic Assessment of Tinnitus: Integrating Contemporary Clinical Practice and International Guideline Recommendations

Tinnitus assessment should combine comprehensive hearing evaluation, validated outcome measures (e.g., Tinnitus Functional Index), and screening for hyperacusis, psychological distress, and sleep disturbance, as psychoacoustic measures alone do not reliably indicate severity.

Cochlear Implants for Radiation-Induced Hearing Loss in Nasopharyngeal Cancer: A Systematic Review

Cochlear implantation after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma was safe and effective across 69 ears, with audiometric improvement in 91% and low intraoperative and postoperative complication rates, even after a mean of 6.5 years of profound hearing loss.

Head and Neck Cancer Care in Patients with Obesity: Practical Considerations from Diagnosis to Adjuvant Therapy

Obesity complicates head and neck cancer management across the entire care pathway, and clinicians should anticipate pitfalls including limited physical examination reliability, imaging constraints, operative challenges, and delays to adjuvant radiotherapy or systemic therapy rather than treating obesity as incidental to core oncologic planning.

Bariatric Surgery, Medical Weight Loss, and the Upper Aerodigestive Tract

Weight loss via bariatric surgery or medical therapy improves OSA severity but does not guarantee remission, and carries ENT-specific risks including reflux, chronic cough, and patulous Eustachian tube dysfunction. Otolaryngologists should factor in the method, magnitude, rate, and durability of weight loss when evaluating and counselling patients.

[Special tumor entities : New results at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting]

Across rare head and neck tumours, 2026 ASCO data supported biomarker-driven treatment selection, with early signals for MYB degradation, NOTCH inhibition, and B7-H4 antibody-drug conjugates in adenoid cystic carcinoma, cadonilimab plus chemotherapy prolonging PFS in post-immunotherapy nasopharyngeal cancer, and cemiplimab investigated alongside radiotherapy in cutaneous SCC.

Current status of 3D-printed human ossicles: a systematic review

Micro-CT or cone-beam CT combined with stereolithography or PolyJet printing produced the most realistic 3D-printed ossicle models, though the stapes remained poorly reproduced across studies. Inconsistent reporting of replication methods limits comparison between techniques.

Lakehouse-Driven Surgical Databases: Scoping Review and Implementation of a Free Flap Database

A lakehouse architecture combining cloud-native data processing and large language models automatically identified free flap cases, extracted operative note data, and classified outcomes across multiple dimensions in real time as cases entered the EHR. No existing surgical database implementations combined all these architectural features, and key challenges remain around LLM validation standards and translating clinical expertise into computational logic.

Nerve-Sparing Prelacrimal Medial Maxillectomy for Repair of Sphenoid Lateral Recess Meningocele

Nerve-sparing prelacrimal medial maxillectomy provided direct endoscopic access to sphenoid lateral recess meningoceles while preserving the vidian and maxillary nerves, enabling effective multilayer reconstruction with minimal neurovascular morbidity.

Post-tonsillectomy Respiratory Complications in Children With Obesity: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Obese children had nearly twice the odds of post-tonsillectomy respiratory complications compared to non-obese peers (OR 1.86), but this risk was confined to the PACU; those who cleared the PACU without complications appeared safe for discharge rather than inpatient admission.

Effect of selected components of aural rehabilitation delivered in-person versus guided internet-based modalities on quality of life in adults with hearing loss: a systematic review and meta-analyses

Both in-person and internet-based aural rehabilitation improved hearing-related QoL in adults with acquired hearing loss, with in-person showing a medium effect size and internet-based a small but significant effect; only internet-based delivery showed a significant improvement in general health-related QoL.

Long-Term Impedance Trends Over 10 Years Following Cochlear Implantation: A Retrospective Comparative Analysis

Cochlear implant electrode impedance varied significantly by design and patient age over 10 years, with basal electrodes showing the most heterogeneous patterns and childhood recipients having higher overall impedances than adults. Lateral-wall and perimodiolar arrays differed in apical and basal impedance trajectories, supporting electrode-specific and age-specific long-term programming strategies.

Surgery After Thermal Ablation of Thyroid Nodules: A Systematic Review of Surgical Risk, Strategy and Pathological Findings

Prior thermal ablation increased operative difficulty and adhesion severity compared with primary thyroidectomy, though permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and hypoparathyroidism rates remained low across 150 reported cases. Surgical specimens after ablation used as primary PTC treatment frequently showed residual tumour and nodal metastases, with oncological follow-up largely absent.

Structure-guided mapping of ototoxicity-related proteins: drug entry, damage amplification, cell death execution, and endogenous otoprotection

Ototoxic drugs damage the inner ear through four converging molecular layers—entry (TMC1/2, OCT2, CTR1), stress amplification (NOX3, CDK2), cell death execution (Bax, calpains, caspases), and failed endogenous protection (HSPs, PINK1, sirtuins)—and effective otoprotection requires precise target modulation rather than simple inhibition.

Surgery and the role of biologics in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps: A narrative review

ESS with topical corticosteroids remains first-line for severe CRSwNP unresponsive to medical therapy, while biologics offer adjunctive or alternative treatment for type 2-dominant disease, with prior complete surgery associated with better disease control when biologics are used.

The Economics of Intraoperative Parathyroid Hormone Monitoring for Parathyroid Surgery: A Scoping Review of Cost Analyses and Economic Evaluations

Existing economic evaluations of intraoperative PTH monitoring in primary hyperparathyroidism surgery are methodologically poor, with high risk of bias and inconsistent reporting, leaving its cost-effectiveness genuinely unresolved—equal numbers of studies showed cost reductions and cost increases.