Objective Compare intraoperative and postoperative outcomes of endoscopic and microscopic stapes surgery to provide objective evidence on whether the former is a better alternative than the latter. Methods We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis for studies that compared endoscopic stapes surgery with microscopic stapes surgery. Only studies that met predetermined criteria were selected and assessed for bias and quality. Primary outcomes were postoperative air–bone gap (ABG) and chorda tympani nerve injury. Secondary outcomes were average operating time, tympanic membrane (TM) perforation, and postoperative taste disturbance, pain, and dizziness. We calculated pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for dichotomous outcomes and weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% CI for continuous outcomes. A confidence interval starting above 1.0 was considered as statistically significant. I2 and χ2 tests were used to quantify statistical heterogeneity. We used funnel plots to look for publication bias and performed a sensitivity analysis. Results Six nonrandomized cohort studies were eligible. The primary outcomes were ABG < 10 dB: OR = 1.80 (95% CI: 0.96 to 3.38), ABG = 11 dB to 20 dB: OR = 1.49 (95% CI: 0.76 to 2.93), ABG > 20 dB: OR = 2.51 (95% CI: 0.77 to 8.22), and chorda tympani injury: OR = 3.51 (95% CI: 1.55 to 7.93). Secondary outcomes were taste: OR = 2.36 (95% CI: 1.01 to 5.51), average operation time: WMD = 0.14 (95% CI: −11.69 to 11.98), TM perforation: OR = 1.70 (95% CI: 0.44 to 6.58); pain: OR = 0.84 (95% CI: 0.36 to 1.96), and dizziness: OR = 2.15 (95% CI: 0.94 to 4.89). Conclusions Endoscopic stapes surgery is a valid alternative to the microscope. Level of Evidence 2a Laryngoscope, 130: 2019–2027, 2020

Background Endoscopic type I tympanoplasty was originally introduced in the 1990s, and the extensive spread of this practice can be easily observed. The conventional technique performed involves the repair of a tympanic membrane perforation, and is defined as microscopic type I tympanoplasty. Objective of Review The aim of this study was the comparison of postoperative outcomes of both the endoscopic and the microscopic type I tympanoplasty. Type of Review We conducted a meta‐analysis in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Search Strategy A systematic literature search was performed in the databases of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Clarivate Analytics‐Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, World Health Organization Library, and Scopus by inserting, ‘myringoplasty OR (tympanoplasty AND perforation)’ into the search query. We applied only a ‘human’ filter. We excluded non‐English studies. Additional records were identified by checking the references of relevant studies. Evaluation Method Comparative studies were included in our analysis. We calculated the pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for dichotomous outcomes and weighted mean difference (WMD) with a 95% CI for continuous outcomes. Additionally, we assessed the risk of bias and estimated the quality of evidence for each outcome. Results Our systematic search yielded 16 studies (involving 1179 interventions), eligible for analysis. The pooled graft uptake rate (OR: 1.21, CI: 0.82‐1.77; I2 = 0.0%), the postoperative hearing results (WMD = −1.13; 95% CI: −2.72‐0.45; I2 = 78.1%) and the operation time (WMD = −21.11; 95% CI: −42.60‐0.38; I2 = 99.3%), were all comparable amongst the two techniques. In contrast, the endoscopic type I tympanoplasty outperforms when regarding the pooled canaloplasty rate (OR = 7.96; 95% CI: 4.30‐14.76; I2 = 0.0%, P = 1.000) and features an increase in desirable cosmetic results (OR = 19.29; 95% CI: 11.37‐32.73; I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.839), when compared with the microscopic approach. Conclusions Based on our meta‐analysis, the surgical outcomes of endoscopic type I tympanoplasty in terms of graft uptake rate, postoperative hearing results and operation time were comparable to the microscopic type I tympanoplasty. In regards to cosmetics, an increase in desirable results was achieved in the endoscopic group, particularly the incidence of canaloplasty which proved to be significantly lower.

Objective To statistically analyse the hearing thresholds of two cohorts undergoing stapedotomy for otosclerosis with two different prostheses. Method A retrospective study was conducted comparing NiTiBOND (n = 53) and Nitinol (n = 38) prostheses. Results Average follow-up duration was 4.1 years for NiTiBOND and 4.4 years for Nitinol prostheses. The post-operative air–bone gap was 10 dB or less, indicating clinical success. The p-values for differences between (1) pre- and post-operative values in the NiTiBOND group, (2) pre- and post-operative values in the Nitinol group, (3) pre-operative values and (4) post-operative values in the two groups were: air–bone gap – p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.631 and p = 0.647; four-frequency bone conduction threshold – p = 0.076, p = 0.129, p < 0.001 and p = 0.005; four-frequency air conduction threshold – p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.043 and p = 0.041; three-frequency (1, 2 and 4 kHz) bone conduction threshold pre-operatively – p = 0.639, p = 0.495, p = 0.001 and p = 0.01; and air conduction threshold at 4 kHz: – p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.03 and p = 0.058. Conclusion Post-operative audiological outcomes for NiTiBOND and Nitinol were comparable.

Syncope as a presentation for head and neck cancers is extremely rare. We report a case of a man in his 50s presenting with syncope and a left-sided neck mass. The diagnosis of syncope was secondary to a neck mass compressing the carotid body. After biopsy, it was found to be a metastatic papillary thyroid cancer for which the patient underwent a total thyroidectomy and neck dissection. We describe a workflow protocol for investigating patients presenting with syncope and associated neck mass. The work-up for such patients should include general, cardiological and otolaryngological-specific investigations.

Absztrakt: Az eosinophil otitis media az utóbbi évtizedben került a kutatók és a klinikum látóterébe; jellemzője a középfülben termelődő, eosinophil granulocytákkal telített mucosus, nehezen eltávolítható váladék és az asthma bronchiale, valamint a krónikus rhinosinusitis társulása. A betegség egyelőre kevéssé ismert a klinikumban, emiatt nincsenek információk a pontos előfordulási gyakoriságáról sem. A kórkép nem gyógyítható, de kezelésére beváltak az intratympanalisan használható szteroidkészítmények, melyek azonban csak enyhébb fokú betegség esetén vezetnek eredményre. A súlyosabb gradusú eosinophil otitis media dobüregi granulációs szövet képződésével és idegi halláscsökkenéssel is járhat, ami sebészi eltávolítást és per os szteroidkezelést is igényel. Fontos felhívni a figyelmet a kórkép létezésére, mert a megfelelő diagnózis felállítása után az időben elkezdett kezeléssel elkerülhető lehet az életminőséget rontó fülváladékozás, felülfertőződés és az idegi halláscsökkenés. A jelen közleményben a szerzők a nemzetközi szakirodalom áttekintésén túl saját esetbemutatásokon keresztül demonstrálják a betegség enyhe és súlyos fokú változatának kezelési lépéseit. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(41): 1769–1775.