Within our cohort of patients residing in North Carolina, markers of disease severity (bone erosion and orbitocranial involvement) in AFRS were associated with lower income, rural counties, poor housing quality, and less health care access.

Objective Historically, narrative letters of recommendation have been utilized in selection of applicants for Otolaryngology residency programs. In the last two application cycles, our specialty adopted a standardized letter of recommendation (SLOR). The intent was to decrease time burden for letter writers and to provide readers with an “objective” evaluation of applicants. The objective of this study is to determine attributes in the SLOR that correlate with matching into a residency program. Study Design We performed a retrospective study using SLOR, USMLE Step 1 scores and match outcomes of applicants who applied to our institution for the 2013 and 2014 match cycle. Methods We included the following variables from the SLOR in the statistical analysis to determine which ones were associated with matching: patient care, medical knowledge, communication skills, procedural skills, research, initiative and drive, commitment to Otolaryngology, commitment to academic medicine, match potential and USMLE1 scores. Results We identified 532 applicants and 963 SLOR. In successful applicants, scores for patient care, medical knowledge, communication skills, initiative and drive, and match potential were statistically higher (p < 0.05). Scores for professionalism, procedural skills, research, commitment to Otolaryngology, commitment to academic medicine and USMLE Step 1 scores were not higher among successfully matched applicants. Conclusions While SLOR can save time for letter writers and provide an objective description of applicants, the utility of individual domains within the SLOR is questionable. Additionally, it is concerning that applicants’ professionalism and procedural skills are not correlated with matching in our specialty. Level of Evidence NA

CMF is a rare, benign neoplasm occasionally occurring in the head and neck. Surgical resection is often curative. CMF must be differentiated from chondrosarcoma, given the substantial differences in treatment.