High signals in the affected inner ear on 3D-FLAIR MRI closely correlate with vestibular dysfunction and poor hearing recovery in patients with SSNHL, especially when the vestibular apparatus is involved.

Obese children with SDB had larger palatine tonsils than did normal-weight children with SDB. This finding suggests that larger palatine tonsils may have a greater effect on upper airway obstruction in obese than in normal-weight children with SDB.

We propose that the BCCG technique is a useful alternative method for ossiculoplasty, with proper patient selection.

Objectives The classical overlay tympanoplasty is technically difficult with some disadvantages and thus less popular. However, it is particularly useful for large, anterior perforations. In this study, we describe the technique of a modified overlay graft in the tympanoplasty coined as the swing-door overlay tympanoplasty and report its outcomes.Methods Retrospective review of patients undergoing the swing-door overlay tympanoplasty at a tertiary referral center between 2003 and 2016 was performed. Patient who had ossicular abnormality, previous tympanoplasty, and profound hearing loss were excluded. The surgical technique is described in detail. The outcomes were evaluated by the graft success rate, complication rate, and hearing results. The hearing level was determined by four pure-tone average at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. Air-bone gap closure was mainly assessed.Results A total of 306 patients (110 males and 196 females) were included. The mean age was 49.1±16.6 years. Follow-up periods ranged from 6 to 108 months with an average of 18.4 months. The overall graft success rate reached 98.4%. Five graft failures occurred with reperforation in three cases and lateralization in two cases. Postoperative complications occurred in 12 cases (3.9%). Air-bone gap changes (closures) were 7.8±12.8, 5.2±12.2, 5.7±10.2, and 6.0± 12.8 dB at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz, respectively (all P<0.001) with an average improvement of 6.2 dB. Postoperative airbone gap was closed to ≤20 dB in 86.9%.Conclusion The swing-door overlay tympanoplasty is a highly successful surgical technique suitable for all types of tympanic membrane perforations. This approach is technically easier than classical overlay tympanoplasty and affords an excellent graft success rate with satisfying hearing results.

The 20 patients consisted of 12 males and 8 females, ranging in age from 1 to 16 years, with a median age of 9.6 years at diagnosis. More than half of the patients presented with nasal obstruction as the primary symptom, and mean symptom duration to diagnosis was 5.4 months. Primary tumor sites included the paranasal sinuses alone in four patients, the nasal cavity alone in eight, and both in eight. Eight tumors were sarcomas and seven were lymphomas. The remaining tumors included three olfactory neuroblastomas and two primitive neuroectodermal tumors. The main treatment modality was chemotherapy rather than surgery. The overall survival rate was 52%, and patients with solid tumors survived significantly longer than those with lymphoma (p = 0.02).