Nasal irrigation with isotonic or hypertonic saline can improve mucociliary clearance time in various nasal pathologies. However, these solutions should be selectively prescribed rather than used based on anecdotal evidence. Further studies should be conducted to develop a protocol for standardised use of saline solution irrigation in various nasal pathologies.

Nasal surgery is frequently performed. Predictors of surgical outcome in terms of chemosensory function are not clear. A total of 64 patients were included in this prospective study (41 men, 23 women; age range 22-67 years). Prior to surgery, patients received a detailed otorhinolaryngological examination including nasal endoscopy, and CT scans used to establish the Lund-Mackay score. Olfactory function was analyzed using a custom-built odor identification test which allowed separation of chemosensory function into "olfactory" and "trigeminal" portions. Retest was performed 6 months after surgery. In terms of the sense of smell, nasal surgery produced the highest success rates in women, high degree of polyposis, and aspirin-intolerance. Neither age, presence of asthma, nor the number of preoperative surgical interventions had a significant impact on the outcome of surgery in terms of chemosensory function. Although "trigeminal scores" changed to a lesser degree than "olfactory scores", the present results indicated that nasal surgery may also improve trigeminal function, although this needs further corroboration. Improvement of olfactory function following nasal surgery appears to last, on average, for at least 6 months. While the present results may be seen as an encouraging step towards the description of more detailed prognostic factors related to nasal surgery, results from the present investigation also point towards the idea that nasal polyposis is due to a multifactorial process that, so far, is not adequately addressed by current research. Future work is needed to identify further predictors of postoperative outcome in terms of olfactory function.

We studied the incidence of Frey s syndrom e and facial contour deformity in two groups of patients who had undergone supe rfic ial parotidectomy. One group was made up of 12 patients who were randomized to undergo reconstruction ofthe surgical defect with a sternocleidomastoid muscle jlap; the other 12 patients did not receive a jlap. All 24 patients were evaluated via a short questionnaire, the starch-iodine test, and a visual examination. On the questionnai re, none of the 24pati ents said they experienced abnormalfa cial sweating, flu shing, or warmth while eating, although 6 of the 12 patients in the nonjlap group had a mildly positive starch-iodine test. No patient in the flap group had a positive test. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was seen between the two groups with respect to cosmetic results.

Chlorhexidine gluconate and benzydamine hydrochloride mouth spray, added to standard antibiotic treatment, significantly alleviate the intensity of clinical signs in patients with streptococcal pharyngitis. Further research is needed using larger sample sizes or alternative control groups.

This national survey confirmed the elevated prevalence of AR in Turkey. Our findings may contribute to the formulation of the public health policy and development of preventive and therapeutic strategies for AR in eastern Europe.

A total of 4125 volunteers participated in the study; 2200 were female and 1925 were male. On the basis of self-reporting, 23.1% of the study population was considered to have AR (males 22.3%, females 23.8%). On the other hand, the prevalence of physician-diagnosed AR was 20.1% (males 19.7%, females 20.4%). The prevalence of self-reported AR was 23.8% in the urban and 18.4% in the rural areas.

Sialolithiasis is one of the most common diseases of salivary glands in middle-aged patients. Sialoliths are localized in submandibular glands in nearly 80% of the reported cases and they are classified as ‘giant’ in case any dimension exceeds 15 mm. Giant sialolith in submandibular gland is a rare disorder. Here, an unusual case of giant sialolith in submandibular gland is reported. A 42-year-old man referred with complaints of recurrent pain and swelling in the left submandibular area. Computerized tomography revealed a calcified mass of 42 × 17 mm size within the submandibular gland. Excision was performed in the submandibular gland and a giant sialolith of 35 mm length localized in the body of the gland was detected. The postoperative period was uneventful and the patient fully recovered.

Adenoid vegetation may cause nasal discharge that is not necessarily due to sinusitis. We could not find any supportive data for the statement "The greater the adenoid tissue, the more extensive the sinusitis."