ENTtoday: December 2021

Going Solo: Otolaryngologists Share the Benefits and Challenges of Private Practice

Private practice otolaryngologists say they are under pressure with stagnant reimbursement, increasing administrative burdens, and recruiting challenges.

How a Robust Social Media Presence Can Benefit Otolaryngologists and Their Patients

Patient education and outreach are compelling enough reasons to embrace social media, but they’re by no means the only ones.

New Imaging Techniques and Therapeutics May One Day Help Researchers Solve Hearing Loss

New imaging techniques using nanotechnology, as well as research advances in pharmaceutical treatments, may mean a wide range of solutions for hearing loss are within sight.

How New Healthcare Price Transparency Rules May Affect Your Otolaryngology Services at Hospitals

The goal of the regulation is to allow patients to understand the cost of a hospital item or service before receiving it.

Banning Unvaccinated Patients? Ethical Responsibilities Within the Context of COVID-19 Vaccination Controversies

Physicians now find themselves in the often uncomfortable position of advocating for the preventive health of patients in the context of a politicized public health response—vaccination.

How To: Catheter-Guided Basket Removal of a Difficult-to-Reach Pediatric Airway Foreign Body

Use of a bent flexible suction catheter to guide a urological wire basket during rigid bronchoscopy is a feasible technique for foreign body removal in the distal pediatric airway.

How To: Limit the Rate of Recurrence in Thyroglossal Duct Surgery

A thyroglossal duct cyst is one of the most common congenital anomalies of the midline neck.

Single Visit Surgery an Appealing Option for Tympanostomy Tube Placement in Children with Recurrent Acute Otitis Media

Single visit surgery for tympanostomy tube placement offers convenience and cost savings to family members, and marketing efforts promoting this option are effective.

Vocal Rest, Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercises Partially Mitigate Vocal Exertion Effects from Chronic Vocal Fatigue

Vocal exertion can result in chronic vocal fatigue, putting individuals at risk for voice disorders.

Concurrent Modified Barium Swallow Study and Esophagrams Superior to Either Alone in Diagnosing Dysphagia

Concurrent modified barium swallow (MBS) study and esophagrams may improve diagnostic accuracy, but they minimize additional studies.

Early Diagnosis, Treatment Essential in Acute Invasive Fungal Sinusitis in Patients with Recent COVID-19 Infection

Clinical suspicion of acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (AIFR) among COVID-19 patients and early management with antifungal therapy and surgical debridement is essential for better outcomes and higher survival.

Presence of Women at U.S. Head and Neck Society Meetings Has Increased but Disparity Persists

High-profile speaker roles at national meetings can provide women starting out with needed role modeling and mentorship and promote their careers.

Vocal Cord Leukoplakia Management Trends Include Advanced Surgical Techniques, Voice Preservation

Here’s what a detailed literature review related to the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of vocal cord leukoplakia reveal about oncologic outcomes, voice preservation, and current and emerging techniques.

Is Betahistine Effective in the Treatment of Ménière’s Disease?

Though some studies show benefit, high-quality data demonstrating the efficacy of betahistine in the treatment of MD is absent.

What Is the Optimal Imaging Modality for Parathyroid Adenoma?

Ultrasound, scintigraphy, 4D CT, and MRI all demonstrate utility when evaluating a patient with primary hyperparathyroidism.

Imaging in Cutaneous Melanoma: Which Test to Order and When?

Regarding staging for cutaneous melanoma, there is no evidence to suggest that imaging for distant metastasis should be performed for Stages I and II patients in the absence of localizing symptoms.

Letter from the Editor: Supply Chain, Labor Shortages, and Short Fuses

It remains a challenging time to be a physician, but I’m hopeful we’ll see the light sometime soon.