Kristian I. Macdonald

Eyelid and brow asymmetry in patients evaluated for upper lid blepharoplasty

IntroductionIn evaluation for blepharoplasty, patients often desire improved cosmesis and/or correction of visual field deficits. However, patients are usually unaware of eyelid or brow asymmetry. Furthermore, the prevalence of eyelid and brow asymmetry is infrequently reported in the medical literature.PurposeTo determine the prevalence of brow and eyelid asymmetry in patients evaluated for upper lid blepharoplasty.MethodsOne hundred consecutive patients evaluated for upper lid blepharoplasty were included in the study. Standard pre-operative photographs were taken of all patients using consistent background and photographic equipment. Two of the authors (KM & AM) independently recorded the margin pupil (MPD), central eyebrow (CED), nasal eyebrow (NED) and temporal eyebrow (TED) distances. To test the inter-observer reliability, the senior author (SMT) recorded the same measurements for 10% of randomly selected patients. We calculated 95% confidence intervals to compare symmetry between the right and left sides.ResultsOne hundred patients (94 female, mean age 57.7) were included in the study. The average MPD, CED, NED and TED distances were 0.55  mm (95% CI 0.45-0.65), 1.77  mm (95% CI 1.47-2.07), 1.34  mm (95% CI 1.14-1.54), and 1.78  mm (95% CI 1.50-2.06), respectively. Ninety-three percent of patients had at least one asymmetric measurement of greater than 1  mm. Seventy-five percent of patients studied had at least one measurement greater than 2  mm while 37 percent had at least one greater than 3  mm.ConclusionBrow and eyelid asymmetry is common in patients being evaluated for upper lid blepharoplasty. The facial plastic surgeon should identify and document facial asymmetry pre-operatively, and discuss it with prospective blepharoplasty patients. This will improve informed consent and patient expectations.

Squeeze Bottle versus Saline Spray after Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Pilot Multicentre Trial:

Background There is a need for controlled trials to guide the perioperative management of patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). The authors performed a pilot multicenter trial to compare two types of saline delivery devices in this population. Methods Patients were randomized to high volume saline irrigation with a squeeze bottle and low volume saline spray after ESS in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Surgeons were blinded to treatment, and one-month postoperative scores for sinonasal outcomes [Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22)] scale, nasal and sinus symptom score (NSS), and perioperative sinus endoscopy (POSE) scale were compared with preoperative scores. Results Nine centers provided data for 86 patients. All three outcomes measures improved significantly for both groups. Saline spray: SNOT-22 48.8 versus. 23.7, treatment effect 25.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.9-32.2), POSE 21.1 versus. 8.4, treatment effect 12.7 (95% CI, 9.2-16.1), and NSS 8.2 versus 5.0, treatment effect 3.1 (95% CI, 1.4-4.9) pre- and postoperatively, respectively (all p < 0.0001). Squeeze bottle: SNOT-22 49.5 versus 23.6, treatment effect 25.9 (95% CI, 20.3-31.6), POSE 18.6 versus 9.2, treatment effect 9.3, (95% CI 6.7-12.0), and NSS 9.0 versus 5.7, treatment effect 3.3 (95% CI, 2.3-4.3) pre- and postoperatively, respectively (all p < 0.0001). Analysis of variance did not identify a difference between the two treatment groups. Subgroup analysis based on preoperative disease severity did not change the nonassociation of saline bottle with outcome measures. Post hoc sample size calculation determined that 176 patients is required to detect an 8.9-point difference in SNOT-22 scores. Conclusion In this pilot multicenter trial examining patients with chronic rhinosinusitis undergoing ESS, both squeeze bottle and saline spray showed significant improvement in SNOT-22, POSE, and NSS scores at one-month postoperatively. Because the study was nonpowered, we cannot rule out a potential difference between the two treatment groups.

Chronic rhinosinusitis identification in administrative databases and health surveys: A systematic review

Much of the epidemiological data on chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are based on large administrative databases and health surveys. The accuracy of CRS identification with these methods is unknown.

Primary Osteosarcoma of the Skull Base Treated with Endoscopic Endonasal Approach: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Introduction Giant cell-rich osteosarcoma (GCRO) is a rare pathologic diagnosis, and most cases have involved the appendicular skeleton. We present a challenging diagnosis of GCRO of the skull base treated with an endoscopic endonasal approach. Case Presentation An 18-year-old female patient presented with acute monocular visual loss. Imaging revealed a large clival mass encasing the internal carotid arteries bilaterally with pituitary and optic nerve compression. The lesion was resected via a staged endoscopic endonasal approach and the patients vision normalized postoperatively. The final pathological diagnosis was challenging and, after consultation with multiple North American centers, was concluded as GCRO. The tumor recurred and further surgery was performed, followed by adjuvant chemoradiation. Conclusion We highlight diagnostic challenges of GCRO of the skull base, and describe, with intraoperative pictures, successful surgical resection via an endoscopic endonasal approach. Based on our literature review, this is the first published case report of GCRO of the skull base.

Does medical school research productivity predict a resident’s research productivity during residency?

BackgroundResearch productivity is an important component of the CanMEDS Scholar role and is an accreditation requirement of Canadian Otolaryngology training programs. Our objective was to determine if an association exists between publication rates before and during Otolaryngology residency.MethodsWe obtained the names for all certified Canadian Otolaryngologists who graduated between 1998 and 2013 inclusive, and conducted a Medline search for all of their publications. Otolaryngologists were subgrouped based on year of residency graduation and the number of articles published pre-residency and during residency (0 or ≥1). Chi-squared analyses were used to evaluate whether publications pre-residency and year of graduation were associated with publications during residency.ResultsWe obtained data for 312 Canadian Otolaryngologists. Of those 312 graduates, 46 (14.7%) had no identifiable publications on PubMed and were excluded from the final data analysis. Otolaryngology residents had a mean 0.65 (95% CI 0.50-0.80) publications before residency and 3.35 (95% CI 2.90-3.80) publications during residency. Between 1998 and 2013, mean publication rates before and during residency both increased significantly (R2 = 0.594 and R2 = 0.759, respectively), whereas publication rates after residency graduation has stagnated (R2 = 0.023). The odds of publishing during residency was 5.85 times higher (95% CI 2.69-12.71) if a resident published prior to residency (p < 0.0001). The Spearman correlation coefficient between publications before and during residency is 0.472 (p < 0.0001).ConclusionResidents who publish at least one paper before residency are nearly six times as likely to publish during residency than those who did not publish before residency. These findings may help guide Otolaryngology program selection committees in ranking the best CaRMS candidates.

Development and validation of an administrative data algorithm to identify adults who have endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis

BackgroundThis was a diagnostic accuracy study to develop an algorithm based on administrative database codes that identifies patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) who have endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).MethodsFrom January 1st, 2011 to December 31st, 2012, a chart review was performed for all hospital-identified ESS surgical encounters. The reference standard was developed as follows: cases were assigned to encounters in which ESS was performed for Otolaryngologist-diagnosed CRS; all other chart review encounters, and all other hospital surgical encounters during the timeframe were controls. Algorithm development was based on International Classification of Diseases, version 10 (ICD-10) diagnostic codes and Canadian Classification of Health Interventions (CCI) procedural codes. Internal model validation was performed with a similar chart review for all model-identified cases and 200 randomly selected controls during the following year.ResultsDuring the study period, 347 cases and 185,007 controls were identified. The predictive model assigned cases to all encounters that contained at least one CRS ICD-10 diagnostic code and at least one ESS CCI procedural code. Compared to the reference standard, the algorithm was very accurate: sensitivity 96.0% (95%CI 93.2–97.7), specificity 100% (95% CI 99.9–100), and positive predictive value 95.4% (95%CI 92.5–97.3). Internal validation using chart review for the following year revealed similar accuracy: sensitivity 98.9% (95%CI 95.8–99.8), specificity 97.1% (95%CI 93.4–98.8), and positive predictive value 96.9% (95%CI 93.0–99.8).ConclusionA simple model based on administrative database codes accurately identified ESS-CRS encounters. This model can be used in population-based cohorts to study longitudinal outcomes for the ESS-CRS population.

Quality indicators for the diagnosis and management of chronic rhinosinusitis: Quality indicators for chronic rhinosinusitis

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has been identified as a high‐priority disease category for quality improvement. To this end, this study aimed to develop CRS‐specific quality indicators (QIs) to evaluate diagnosis and management that relieves patient discomfort, improves quality of life, and prevents complications.

Temporary Frontal Paralysis Secondary to Blunt Trauma Frontal Sinus Fracture

Frontal sinus fractures (FSF) are relatively uncommon and can be challenging for trauma surgeons to manage. Patients with FSF typically present with facial swelling, pain, and nasofrontal ecchymosis. Here we present a rare case of a patient with FSF and anterior table fracture where the main presenting symptom was bilateral frontal paralysis. We outline our management strategy and review the current literature in regard to management of FSF.

Glomangiopericytoma simulating an intracavernous meningioma.

Background: Glomangiopericytoma is an uncommonly encountered tumor of the nose and paranasal sinuses, accounting for <0.5% of all sinonasal tumors. Extension of these lesions to the anterior or middle cranial fossa is rare. When this occurs, diagnosing glomangiopericytoma is extremely challenging, as it is often confused with other anterior skull base tumors. Case Description: We report a case of a giant glomangiopericytoma localizing into the cavernous sinus in a 48-year-old female who presented with mild left-sided ptosis for 48 months. The lesion simulated an intracavernous meningioma on preoperative imaging. An expanded endoscopic endonasal approach was used to debulk the portion of the lesion in the medial compartment of the cavernous sinus. Postoperatively, the patients ptosis resolved completely, and no new deficits were sustained. Conclusion: This is the only case of glomangiopericytoma localizing solely to the cavernous sinus reported to date.

Bilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis and Cervicolumbar Radiculopathy as the Presenting Paraneoplastic Manifestations of Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review

Introduction. Bilateral vocal cord paralysis (BVCP) is a potential medical emergency. The Otolaryngologist plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of BVCP and must consider a broad differential diagnosis. We present a rare case of BVCP secondary to anti-Hu paraneoplastic syndrome. Case Presentation. A 58-year-old female presented to an Otolaryngology clinic with a history of progressive hoarseness and dysphagia. Flexible nasolaryngoscopy demonstrated BVCP. Cross-sectional imaging of the brain and vagus nerves was negative. An antiparaneoplastic antibody panel was positive for anti-Hu antibodies. This led to an endobronchial biopsy of a paratracheal lymph node, which confirmed the diagnosis of small cell lung cancer. Conclusion. Paraneoplastic neuropathy is a rare cause of BVCP and should be considered when more common pathologies are ruled out. This is the second reported case of BVCP as a presenting symptom of paraneoplastic syndrome secondary to small cell lung cancer.