Postnasal drip and chronic cough in patients with chronic rhinitis treated with temperature-controlled radiofrequency neurolysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the contribution of postnasal drip (PND) and chronic cough (CC) to symptoms of patients with chronic rhinitis treated with temperature-controlled radiofrequency (TCRF) neurolysis of the posterior nasal nerve (PNN), and correlate PND and CC scores with components of the reflective total nasal symptom score (rTNSS).

METHODS

Pooled data from three prospective studies: two single-arm studies and the index active treatment arm of a randomized controlled trial. Adult patients with baseline rTNSS ≥6 were treated with TCRF neurolysis at nonoverlapping regions of the PNN. PND and CC symptoms were evaluated on a 0 (none) to 3 (severe) scale.

RESULTS

Data from 228 patients (57.9% women, 42.1% men) were included. The mean baseline rTNSS was 8.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.8-8.3), which decreased to 3.2 (95% CI, 2.9-3.5) at 6 months. At baseline, 97.4% of patients had PND and 80.3% had CC. Median baseline PND and CC symptom scores were 3 (interquartile range [IQR], 2-3) and 2 (IQR, 1-2), respectively. At 6 months, this decreased to 1 (IQR, 0-2) and 0 (IQR, 0-1), respectively, showing significant improvement from baseline (both p < 0.001). Spearman correlation coefficients with components of rTNSS (rhinorrhea, congestion, itching, sneezing) were 0.16 to 0.22 for CC and 0.19 to 0.46 for PND, indicating only a weak to moderate correlation.

CONCLUSION

PND and CC contribute to the symptomatology of chronic rhinitis and are significantly improved after TCRF neurolysis of the PNN. The inclusion of PND and CC symptoms in a chronic rhinitis assessment instrument could provide important additional information for the characterization of the disease state and outcomes after any therapeutic treatment.

Systematic review of the free thoracodorsal artery perforator flap for head and neck reconstruction

BACKGROUND

The thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flap has gained interest as a option for reconstruction of head and neck defects while minimizing donor site morbidity as compared to traditional workhorse flaps. The primary aim of this systematic review is to assess the postoperative outcomes and efficacy of this flap.

METHODS

Several databases were screened for relevant citations. The quality of studies and risk of bias were evaluated using the MINORS scoring system.

RESULTS

Twenty articles containing 168 patients undergoing at least one TDAP flap reconstruction met the inclusion criteria. There were no incidences of total flap failure and only 10 incidences of partial flap failure (5.95 %). Flap complications and donor site morbidity was low. The average MINORS score of the studies suggested a moderately high amount of bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on limited quality evidence, this review suggests that TDAP flap is a safe and feasible option for head and neck reconstruction with comparable success rates as other commonly used flaps, with low complication rate and donor site morbidity. Further large-scale studies are warranted.

Large mandibular mass with several floating teeth: granular cell ameloblastoma

Ameloblastomas are benign, locally aggressive, odontogenic epithelial neoplasms. We present a patient with a rare granular cell ameloblastoma. This is a case report and literature review conducted from July 2022 to the present. Our 52-year-old male patient presented to the clinic with a several month history of right lower lateral lip swelling and dental complaints. On imaging and physical exam, we noticed a large heterogenous, multiloculated, expansile lesion of the right mandible with several floating teeth. After incisional biopsy confirmed multicystic granular cell ameloblastoma, the patient underwent successful surgical resection and osteocutaneous fibula free-flap reconstruction. At the time of writing this report, 7 years after resection, the patient is alive with no evidence of recurrence. The recognition and treatment of mandibular lesions can represent significant clinical challenges, especially for rarely seen subtypes such as the granular cell ameloblastoma. Special consideration must be given for the identification and treatment of these neoplasms.