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Biomedical subjects

Evan R Reiter

Publications and source records attributed to Evan R Reiter.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Toxic effects on gustatory function.

A large number of substances and disease processes may impact the sense of taste. Toxic substances may cause taste dysfunction from their effects on the gustatory system from the salivary gland, to the taste bud, to the central neural pathways. A number of external toxins, including industrial compounds, tobacco, and alcohol, may adversely affect taste, most commonly through local effects in the oral cavity. Blood-borne toxins, such as medications and those present in autoimmune and other systemic disorders (e.g. renal or liver failure), have access to all parts of the gustatory system, and thus may exhibit varied effects on taste function. An understanding of these potential toxins and their impact on gustation will help physicians better recognize, and potentially limit the impact of such taste alterations on their patients.

Diabetes Complications↗
PubMed2006

Unusual paratracheal masses presenting with vocal fold paralysis.

Most paratracheal masses are of thyroid origin. We describe two cases of vocal fold paralysis that were caused by unusual paratracheal masses. In one case, a 35-year-old man was found to have a malignant lymphoma that originated in the mediastinum and extended above the clavicle. The other patient was a 53-year-old man with an enlarged left thyroid lobe, tumor invasion of the adjacent larynx and trachea, and multiple pulmonary nodules all due to adenoid cystic carcinoma. Unusual paratracheal masses presenting with vocal fold paralysis may mimic thyroid malignancies, thereby posing both diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Fine-needle aspiration cytology is often helpful in making a definitive diagnosis, but incisional biopsy is necessary in some cases.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Inpatient management of epistaxis: outcomes and cost.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate treatments for epistaxis. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective review of Nationwide Inpatient Sample (1998-2000). RESULTS: A total of 9778 admissions with admitting diagnosis "epistaxis" were identified. Among admissions involving 1 treatment, 454 (9.6%) received arterial ligation, 94 (2.0%) embolization, and 4188 (88.4%) nasal packing. There were no differences in length of stay, transfusions, complications, or deaths between groups (all P > 0.05). Mean total hospital charges were USD 6,282 for the packing group, USD 12,805 for the ligation group, and USD 17,517 for the embolization group; differences between ligation and packing groups, and embolization and packing groups demonstrated significance ( P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Nasal packing is used commonly for epistaxis that requires inpatient management. Although embolization and arterial ligation are associated with higher hospital charges, complications, transfusion rates, and lengths of stay are similar. Further studies are needed to quantify other outcome measures, such as recurrence rates and patient quality of life. SIGNIFICANCE: Nasal packing is associated with lower hospital charges and similar complication rates as arterial ligation or embolization.

Bandages↗
PubMed2005

Impact of duty hour limits on resident training in otolaryngology.

HYPOTHESIS: Implementation of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) duty hour standards has had limited effects on resident training in otolaryngology. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective survey of residents and residency program directors (PDs). METHODS: Surveys were mailed to residents and PDs in otolaryngology asking about compliance with ACGME duty hour standards and perceptions of changes brought on by the new regulations. RESULTS: : Surveys were returned by 53.5% of PDs and 29.9% of residents. A majority of PDs described changes made to achieve compliance as "minor;" this consisted most commonly of altering call structure, although some programs hired new support staff or faculty. Mean estimated costs for changes were $14,211. Residents reported working a mean of 67.5 hours per week. Among PDs and residents, only 60% to 70% reported always being in compliance with the main components of the duty hour standards. Residents were largely divided in their opinions as to whether the duty hour limits had led to improvements in patient care, resident education, fatigue, or errors, although most felt that improvement in resident morale had occurred. PDs were more negative because almost half disagreed that improvement had occurred in any of these areas. CONCLUSIONS: Compliance with ACGME duty hour standards remains challenging in otolaryngology. Neither residents nor PDs agree that implementation of the duty hour standards has led to the intended improvements in patient care or resident education, although most agree that resident morale has improved. Further study of objective patient care and educational outcome measures is indicated to validate the need for this change in residency training.

Accreditation↗
PubMed2005

Comparison of diagnostic findings using different olfactory test methods.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify discrepancies in the diagnosis of olfactory function that might exist when comparing results obtained from centers using different methods of olfactory testing. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study of 50 healthy adult volunteers and 25 adult patients with olfactory complaints. METHODS: Two test methods, the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) test widely used in the United States, and the Jet Stream Olfactometer (JSO) test used in Japan, were used to measure and categorize the diagnostic level of olfactory function (normosmia, mild hyposmia, moderate hyposmia, severe hyposmia, anosmia). Olfactory function was measured separately for each nostril. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation (rs = 0.788, P < .01, n = 150 nostrils) between diagnostic categories assigned by the CCCRC and JSO test methods. Diagnostic categories were identical for 66.7% of the nostrils tested, and in only 7.3% of the cases did the results differ by more than one category. For the anosmic and normosmic categories, test results were in agreement 91.7% of the time, whereas for the hyposmic categories (mild, moderate, and severe) results were in agreement only 22.2% of the time. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that when comparing clinical or research data obtained from centers using different olfactory test methods, subjects with diagnoses of anosmia or normosmia may be more reliably compared than those with different levels of hyposmia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Hazardous events associated with impaired olfactory function.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of olfactory-related hazardous events in patients with impaired olfactory function. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A university-based clinic for smell and taste disorders. PATIENTS: A total of 445 patients who underwent olfactory testing between 1983 and 2001. INTERVENTIONS: Patient interview, olfactory testing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) Frequency of olfactory-related hazardous events including cooking incidents (ie, burning pots or pans), undetected fires, undetected gas leaks, and ingestion of spoiled foods or toxic substances; (2) level of olfactory function (anosmia; severe, moderate, or mild hyposmia; or normosmia) as determined by olfactory testing. RESULTS: Olfactory testing revealed that 76% of patients had some degree of impairment; 30% had complete anosmia. Thirty-seven percent of patients with olfactory impairment but only 19% of patients without impairment experienced at least 1 olfactory-related hazardous event. Of the hazardous events reported by impaired patients, cooking-related incidents were most common, representing 45%, with ingestion of spoiled food (25%), inability to detect a gas leak (23%), and inability to smell a fire (7%) reported less frequently. There was a significant correlation between frequency of hazardous events and degree of olfactory impairment (Cochran-Armitage trend test, P<.001): at least 1 hazardous event was reported by 45.2% of patients with anosmia, 34.1% with severe hyposmia, 32.8% with moderate hyposmia, 24.2% with mild hyposmia, and 19.0% of patients with with normal olfaction by testing. CONCLUSION: Patients with impaired olfactory function are more likely to experience olfactory-related hazardous events than those with normal olfactory function.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed2004

Endoscopic transnasal management of intracranial foreign bodies.

Foreign bodies may be introduced into the paranasal sinuses or cranium through a variety of traumatic or iatrogenic events. A variety of open and, more recently, endoscopic approaches have been used for the removal of sinonasal foreign bodies. Intracranial foreign bodies, however, typically require retrieval via a craniotomy approach, which continues to carry significant perioperative risks. We describe the first reported case of an intracranial foreign body removed using the transnasal endoscopic approach with intraoperative image guidance. We discuss the preoperative evaluation required for this approach to be applied safely and successfully in properly selected cases.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Effects of head injury on olfaction and taste.

Traumatic events such as motor vehicle accidents, falls, or assaults can lead to dysfunction in olfaction or gustation. Mechanisms of posttraumatic olfactory dysfunction include direct injury to the sinonasal tract or olfactory epithelium, shearing effect on olfactory fibers at the cribriform plate, or brain contusion or intraparenchymal hemorrhage. Posttraumatic gustatory dysfunction is rare, but may occur as a result of direct injury to the tongue, injury to cranial nerves VII or IX, or brain contusion or hemorrhage. Evaluation of head-injured patients presenting with olfactory or gustatory complaints should include a thorough history, including assessment for pre-and posttraumatic chemosensory dysfunction and potential mechanisms of injury, complete head and neck examination including nasal endoscopy and cranial nerve testing, and focused radiographic imaging, usually CT of the sinuses and skull base. Formal olfactory and gustatory testing may be performed using various techniques, although in cases potentially involving litigation, methodologies able to detect malingering should be used. Treatable causes of chemosensory disturbance, most notably conductive olfactory losses caused by chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal obstruction, should be ruled out. In the event of neurosensory deficits, recovery may occur up to 12 to 18 months after the traumatic event. All patients should be counseled regarding the risks of their chemosensory deficits, and given suggestions for appropriate compensatory strategies.

Brain↗
PubMed2004

Hospital use in the treatment of sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate hospital use for treatment of sleep apnea. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective database review. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 1998 to 2000 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was searched for admissions with a diagnosis of sleep apnea. Records were examined for demographics, diagnoses, procedures, and complications. Data were analyzed to identify factors affecting length of stay (LOS) and charges. RESULTS: There were 5864 (0.03% NIS) admissions for sleep apnea. The sleep apnea group had lower mean age (43.1 vs. 47.2 years), higher percentages of males (71.6% vs. 41.0%) and African Americans (18.7% vs. 13.7%), and higher rates of obesity, hypertension, and anatomic airway diagnoses than the NIS population. Of sleep apnea group adults, 77.1% underwent a mean 2.3 procedures, whereas of those patients under 18 years of age, 60.8% underwent a mean of 1.2 procedures. Tracheotomy and procedures for hypopharyngeal airway compromise were used infrequently. Within the sleep apnea group, there were significant differences in LOS and charges on the basis of age, sex, race, payment method, procedures, and number of secondary diagnoses (all P <.05). Patients over 18 admitted for other diagnoses, but with secondary diagnosis of sleep apnea, had longer LOS (5.38 vs. 4.95 days) and higher charges (US dollars 16562 vs. US dollars 13928) than patients without sleep apnea. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital use for sleep apnea remains largely for surgical treatment of the disease. Procedures directed at hypopharyngeal obstruction are seldom used. Multiple factors including patient age, number of secondary diagnoses, and procedures affect LOS and charges. The presence of sleep apnea also increases charges and LOS in patients admitted for other diagnoses.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Isolated plexiform neurofibroma: treatment with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: To present a case of an unusual benign tumor of the tongue treated successfully with radiotherapy. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. METHODS: Retrospective chart review. RESULTS: A 60-year-old man presented with a painful submucosal lesion of the tongue base. Computed tomography showed an infiltrative soft-tissue mass involving the left base of the tongue. Operative biopsy revealed plexiform neurofibroma. Because of the patient's operative risk and the potential morbidity of surgical resection, he was treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT). His treatment was accomplished using a five-field arrangement treating exclusively the mass lesion to a total tumor dose of 60 Gy. After treatment, the patient's tongue pain resolved, and he noted minimal transient xerostomia. Serial follow-up radiographic examinations showed the base of tongue mass to be slightly smaller 4 months after treatment. The most recent follow-up magnetic resonance image reveals a further decrease in size of the mass. The patient is now over 3 years out from treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Solitary plexiform neurofibroma of the tongue base is a rare tumor. These benign neoplasms are usually treated with either observation or surgical excision. This case demonstrates that, when significant symptoms necessitate active management, these lesions may be successfully treated with minimal morbidity using 3DCRT. The ability of this technique to deliver a conformal radiation dose to the tumor volume while sparing the surrounding normal tissues may expand the application of radiotherapy in the treatment of these benign lesions of the head and neck.

Biopsy↗
PubMed2004

Adenoid cystic carcinoma: a pitfall in aspiration cytology of the thyroid.

While adenoid cystic carcinoma is not an uncommon tumor in the salivary glands, its occurrence in the larynx and trachea is rare. Extension of an adenoid cystic carcinoma of the larynx and trachea to the thyroid with manifestation as a thyroid nodule is extremely rare. However, this possibility always should be considered whenever there are cytologic features suggestive of adenoid cystic carcinoma in thyroid aspirates and when there is a history of adenoid cystic carcinoma in the trachea or larynx or in any part of the body.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Utility of tonsillectomy in 2 patients with the syndrome of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis.

OBJECTIVES: To review the various causes of period fever in childhood, including the syndrome of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA), and to examine the value of tonsillectomy in the treatment of PFAPA syndrome. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Urban and tertiary care referral children's hospital. PATIENTS: Two patients who underwent tonsillectomy for presumed recurrent adenotonsillitis were later diagnosed as having PFAPA syndrome. Intervention Tonsillectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Frequency of PFAPA symptoms before and after tonsillectomy. RESULTS: No difference was found in the frequency of PFAPA symptoms after tonsillectomy. CONCLUSION: Although a larger series of patients is required, our initial experience suggests that tonsillectomy is not always beneficial for patients with PFAPA syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Current treatment practices in obstructive sleep apnea and snoring.

PURPOSE: To determine current management strategies of otolaryngologists involved in the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Survey of practitioners regarding their workup and treatment of patients suspected of obstructive sleep apnea. RESULTS: Of 305 respondents, 280 actively treated patients with obstructive sleep apnea or snoring, form the basis for this study. Respondents were from assorted practice settings, from a diverse geographic background, and varied length of time in practice. Although 48% see more than 3 new outpatients a week for snoring or obstructive sleep apnea, only 46% routinely ask their patients about sleep problems, and 49 % fail to ask all of their patients with sleep apnea about sleep-related automobile accidents. Although most regularly use nasopharyngoscopy, a significant proportion seldom uses the Müller maneuver. Most tend to rely predominantly on whole-night polysomnography, rather than split night or home testing. Half of respondents offer their patients with simple snoring more than 1 method of treatment. Although many different surgical procedures are offered by most, only 28% of respondents offer patients any procedure aimed at airway obstruction at the base of tongue level. CONCLUSIONS: Otolaryngologists, with their unique expertise in airway management, need to be more vigilant for patients with sleep-disordered breathing. The hypopharynx fails to be frequently addressed by the respondents and could lead to inadequate treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Further research should seek to develop an evidence-based standard of care such that this disorder might be most effectively managed in the future.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Rosai Dorfman disease presenting as synchronous nasal and intracranial masses.

A 56-year-old woman with vertex headaches, new-onset seizure disorder, nasal obstruction, and hyposmia was found to have a dural-based intracranial mass as well as bilateral masses arising from the inferior turbinates and extending into the nasopharynx. The patient underwent endoscopic resection of the involved portions of the inferior turbinates, including the sizable nasopharyngeal component. Craniotomy was performed at a later date. Both pathologic specimens were consistent with extranodal Rosai-Dorfman disease. The patient showed resolution of all symptoms after surgery. Rosai-Dorfman disease, or sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy, is a rare entity usually presenting as cervical nodal disease. When extranodal disease of the head and neck is present, prompt recognition and conservative surgical management is the treatment of choice for this benign pseudolymphomatous entity.

Brain Diseases↗