Laryngopharyngeal reflux might play a role as an etiologic factor in Reinke's edema and vocal polyps.

Acoustic parameters can be used as indicators of treatment efficacy for laryngopharyngeal reflux disease.

Irrespective of preservation of the posterior branch of the great auricular nerve, sensory deficit improved over time. Therefore, preservation of the posterior branch of the great auricular nerve might not be necessary during parotidectomy.

In the revision ESS group, soft tissue and bone remodeling may be greater than in the primary ESS group.

Orbital apex syndrome (OAS) is a rare disease that presents with a complex of symptoms, including ophthalmoplegia, ptosis and visual loss. Due to the poor prognosis, making a prompt diagnosis and administering the appropriate treatment must be initiated without delay if OAS is suspected. We report here on a case of a patient with sphenoid fungal balls, and he presented with acute visual loss and ophthalmoplegia.

In conclusion, pedicled flap antropyloroplasty is an alternative surgical option for corrosive antral stricture. It can effectively widen the narrowed antrum and restore gastric tube length span for subsequent esophageal reconstruction.

No abstract

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to evaluate telomerase activity in peripheral whole blood from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients as a biomarker for diagnosis of HNSCC or detection of recurrence during follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS Telomerase activity was measured from peripheral whole blood extracts by telomerase repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) in HNSCC patients before and after surgery and in a control group. Sixty-two HNSCC patients and 42 control subjects were included. RESULTS Telomerase activity was found in 41 out of 62 (66.1%) HNSCC patients before surgery and in 8 out of 42 (19.0%) controls (p<0.001). Among 41 HNSCC patients who showed positive telomerase activity before surgery, 32 (78.1%) showed a conversion of telomerase activity to negative after surgery. In follow-up, 6 out of 8 (75%) showed conversion of telomerase activity from negative to positive after recurrence. Telomerase activity was changed to negative in 4 out of 6 (66%) recurred patients with positive telomerase activity after second surgery. CONCLUSION The telomerase activity in peripheral whole blood extracts of HNSCC patients might be a useful biomarker for detecting recurrence after treatment. Further study with larger sample size using a more sensitive detection method of telomerase activity is necessary to verify these results.