False-Positive Cholesteatomas on Non-Echoplanar Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

ObjectivesTo investigate false-positive findings on non-echoplanar (non-EPI) diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) in patients under surveillance post-cholesteatoma surgery.Study design, setting, subjects, and methodsA retrospective review was performed on patients diagnosed with cholesteatoma who underwent surgical resection and were then followed by serial non-EPI DWI using half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin echo (HASTE) sequence. All patients had at least two annual follow-up imaging studies.ResultsFalse-positive findings were identified in four patients. The size of the suspected lesions was 4 to 12 mm. Otoendoscopy was used during all primary cases and Argon laser was used in one case. In all cases, the entire cholesteatoma was removed, and no residual disease was detected at the end of the procedures. One patient underwent revision surgery but only cartilage graft was found in the area of concern. All patients had stable or resolved hyperintense areas in the subsequent HASTE sequences.ConclusionFalse positive findings can occur with non-EPI DWI MRI and patients need to be counseled accordingly before revision surgery. Decreasing intensity and dimension of a suspected lesion and a positive finding in an area other than the location of the initial cholesteatoma may favor a false positive. If a false positive finding is suspected when the surgeon is confident of complete resection of the cholesteatoma, an MRI can be repeated in 6 to 12 months to assess changes in the dimension and intensity of the area of concern. Cartilage grafts may cause restricted diffusion on DWI sequences

Appropriate extent of surgery for aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease.

The current literature lacks strong guidelines regarding surgical management of patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), who present with the clinical triad of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP), bronchial asthma, and aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug intolerance. To further define the effectiveness of sinus surgery in treating AERD patients, this review article discusses current evidence regarding outcomes associated with more extensive surgery, the benefits of frontal sinus surgery on polyposis, and the role of Draf III intervention. Numerous studies suggest that Draf III frontal sinusotomy may be an efficacious early intervention due to increased neo-ostial patency and subsequent distribution of topical therapies. Future studies that further investigate the efficacy and safety of extensive surgery in AERD patients are warranted

Appropriate extent of surgery for aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease.

The current literature lacks strong guidelines regarding surgical management of patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), who present with the clinical triad of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP), bronchial asthma, and aspirin/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug intolerance. To further define the effectiveness of sinus surgery in treating AERD patients, this review article discusses current evidence regarding outcomes associated with more extensive surgery, the benefits of frontal sinus surgery on polyposis, and the role of Draf III intervention. Numerous studies suggest that Draf III frontal sinusotomy may be an efficacious early intervention due to increased neo-ostial patency and subsequent distribution of topical therapies. Future studies that further investigate the efficacy and safety of extensive surgery in AERD patients are warranted

Migraine Features in Patients With Isolated Aural Fullness and Proposal for a New Diagnosis.

ObjectiveTo compare the presence of migraine features between patients with isolated aural fullness (AF) who meet the diagnostic criteria for migraine headache and those who do not, and to propose diagnostic criteria for migraine-related AF based on our results.MethodsWe performed a retrospective study of patients presenting to a tertiary-care neurotology clinic between 2014 and 2020 with migraine-related AF. This was defined as isolated, prolonged aural fullness concurrent with migraine features once other etiologies were ruled out via examination, audiometry, and imaging. Migraine features were compared between patients meeting the diagnostic criteria for migraine headache and those not meeting the criteria.ResultsSeventy-seven patients with migraine-related AF were included. The mean age was 56 ± 15 years and 55 (71%) patients were female. Eleven (14%) patients fulfilled the criteria for migraine headache (migraine group). Of the 66 patients who did not meet the criteria (nonmigraine group), 17 (26%) met 4/5 criteria, and 32 (48%) met 3/5 criteria, for a total of 49 (74%) patients. The migraine and nonmigraine groups were only different in 5 of 20 features, including family history of migraine (p = 0.007), sound sensitivity (p < 0.001), mental fogginess (p = 0.008), visual motion sensitivity (p = 0.008), and light sensitivity (p < 0.001).ConclusionThere are minimal differences in the overall prevalence of migraine features between patients with migraine-related AF who meet and do not meet the diagnostic criteria for migraine. Our findings suggest that the criteria may be too stringent and exclude many patients from potentially benefitting from treatment with migraine prophylaxis

Tinnitus and Subjective Hearing Loss are More Common in Migraine: A Cross-Sectional NHANES Analysis.

ObjectivesTo investigate whether migraine is independently associated with tinnitus and subjective hearing loss (HL) in a large national database.MethodsThe de-identified 1999 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database was retrospectively queried for subjects aged 18 to 65. HL and tinnitus were subjectively reported by subjects.ResultsA total of 12,962 subjects (52.9% female) with a mean age of 38.1 ± 14.6 years were included. This consisted of 2,657 (20.5%), 2,344 (18.1%), and 2,582 (19.9%) subjects who had migraine, subjective-HL, and tinnitus, respectively. In patients with tinnitus or subjective-HL, migraine was reported in 35.6% and 24.5%, respectively. Migraineurs were more likely to have subjective-HL (25.0% vs. 16.6%, p < 0.001) and tinnitus (34.6% vs. 16.9%, p < 0.001) compared to the nonmigraineurs. This corresponded to migraine having an odds ratio of 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-1.7, p < 0.001) and 2.2 (95% CI 2.0-2.4, p < 0.001) for subjective-HL and tinnitus, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, subjective-HL (odds ratio [OR] = 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.4, p = 0.003), tinnitus (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.9-2.3, p < 0.001), and neck pain (OR = 4.0, 95% CI 3.6-4.5, p < 0.001) were more common in migraineurs. Among migraineurs, a higher proportion of those with tinnitus also had subjective-HL compared to those without tinnitus (40.0% vs. 15.3%, p < 0.001), and a higher proportion of those with subjective-HL also had tinnitus compared to those without HL (58.1% vs. 27.3%, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThis study suggests an independent association between migraine with subjective-HL and tinnitus. Otologic migraine, which is the effects of migraine on the ear, may be partly responsible for the link between HL, tinnitus, neck pain, and migraine

Tinnitus and Subjective Hearing Loss are More Common in Migraine: A Cross-Sectional NHANES Analysis.

ObjectivesTo investigate whether migraine is independently associated with tinnitus and subjective hearing loss (HL) in a large national database.MethodsThe de-identified 1999 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database was retrospectively queried for subjects aged 18 to 65. HL and tinnitus were subjectively reported by subjects.ResultsA total of 12,962 subjects (52.9% female) with a mean age of 38.1 ± 14.6 years were included. This consisted of 2,657 (20.5%), 2,344 (18.1%), and 2,582 (19.9%) subjects who had migraine, subjective-HL, and tinnitus, respectively. In patients with tinnitus or subjective-HL, migraine was reported in 35.6% and 24.5%, respectively. Migraineurs were more likely to have subjective-HL (25.0% vs. 16.6%, p < 0.001) and tinnitus (34.6% vs. 16.9%, p < 0.001) compared to the nonmigraineurs. This corresponded to migraine having an odds ratio of 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-1.7, p < 0.001) and 2.2 (95% CI 2.0-2.4, p < 0.001) for subjective-HL and tinnitus, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, subjective-HL (odds ratio [OR] = 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.4, p = 0.003), tinnitus (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.9-2.3, p < 0.001), and neck pain (OR = 4.0, 95% CI 3.6-4.5, p < 0.001) were more common in migraineurs. Among migraineurs, a higher proportion of those with tinnitus also had subjective-HL compared to those without tinnitus (40.0% vs. 15.3%, p < 0.001), and a higher proportion of those with subjective-HL also had tinnitus compared to those without HL (58.1% vs. 27.3%, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThis study suggests an independent association between migraine with subjective-HL and tinnitus. Otologic migraine, which is the effects of migraine on the ear, may be partly responsible for the link between HL, tinnitus, neck pain, and migraine