Iranian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
Volume:35 Issue: 5, Sep-Oct 2023

The rate of olfactory loss related to COVID-19 was reported between 4-89 percent. There is no approved treatment for patients who experience anosmia after the mentioned infection. This systematic review aimed to assess the therapeutic effects of corticosteroids on anosmia in COVID-19 patients.

Databases including PubMed, ISI Web of Sciences, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. Databases were searched up to September 2022 to find out randomized controlled trials that assessed the effect of corticosteroids on post-COVID anosmia/hyposmia. Only studies published in the English language were entered in this review.

Among the six relevant trials with a total population of 712, one study administered the combination therapy of both systemic and nasal corticosteroids, while others used intranasal corticosteroids. No significant difference was observed between the intervention (IG) and control (CG) groups in terms of duration of improvement from anosmia (mean difference:-1.799). The pooled effect of self-rating olfactory scores was assessed at 2 weeks and at the end point of the studies which revealed no significant effect in favor of the IG (pooled effect in 2 weeks: 0.739; in the endpoint: 1.32). The objective evaluation with different tools indicated that IG obtained higher scores at the endpoint of treatment. The pooled results showed that the number of patients who recovered from anosmia is higher in IG compared to CG (Odds Ratio: 1.719).

It appears that the duration of corticosteroid therapy more than two weeks may be a considerable effect on the recovery of smell dysfunction in COVID-19 patients

The aim of this study was to investigate hearing outcome of stapes surgery, considering the post-operative air and bone conduction (AC&BC) changes, in a frequency specific approach.

This was a retrospective cohort study. A total of 245 ears (231 patients), who underwent Stapedotomy at our tertiary referral center in a period of 5 years were enrolled in the study. Pure tone audiometry (PTA) was evaluated preoperatively and one month postoperatively. AC, BC, and Air-bone gap (ABG) were documented. Moreover, one-year post-op PTA was also recorded for more than a quarter of the cases.

Overall, significant improvements were observed in AC thresholds with a mean AC gain of 20.44±13.64 dB. At higher frequencies the results were poorer (AC gain of 27 dB at 250 Hz vs 7 dB at 8000 Hz). ABG significantly improved at all frequencies after one month. BC thresholds were typically better after surgery. However, there appears to be a worsening trend in BC thresholds at frequencies higher than 2000 Hz. In 68 patients with 1-year follow-up, BC thresholds were slightly worse (but not statistically significant) at most frequencies, in comparison to the one-month results.

Stapes surgery significantly improves air and bone conduction hearing, particularly at lower frequencies. Nonetheless, there exists a potential for sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) at high frequencies. However, the changes are insignificant and not within the speech frequencies. Therefore, patients are typically satisfied with the hearing outcome of the surgery.

Rhinosporidiosis is an enigmatic disease with many unsolved queries right from taxonomy to treatment. This study has been done to understand the disease characteristics with a peek into the lesser known immunological aspects of it by studying the changes in levels of certain primarily cell-mediated immunity (CMI)-specific cytokines in rhinosporidiosis patients.A prospective observational study was performed. Detailed epidemiological and clinicoradiological assessment was done along with selected inflammatory and immunological markers. The tests for immunological parameters were done by ELISA and CLIA and data were compiled and analyzed using appropriate statistics.Disease showed male predominance and all patients gave a universal pond bathing history. Majority patients had O+ve blood group. Right side was affected most with nasal obstruction being commonest symptom. Nasal cavity was involved in majority of cases with inferior turbinate and meatus being sites of maximum occurrence and attachment. Nasopharynx, oropharynx were other involved sites. Extra-nasal sites included skin and parotid gland. Endoscopic and CECT findings were similar and confirmed intraoperatively. Tests for inflammatory markers showed no significant change in patients. Immunological markers -IL-6, TNF-beta- levels showed significant increase though no such increase was found with IFN-gamma levels.Rhinosporidiosis has a definite epidemiological and clinical-radiological profile. A clear association with exposure to contaminated water is present which could not be further associated with disease duration or recurrence. The immunological profile needs to be further investigated upon since it remains quite elusive.

Considering the inconsistent results regarding the association between the severity and duration of olfactory dysfunction (OD), and the viral load in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, we aimed to conduct this study. This is a prospective cohort study in which COVID-19 patients were evaluated for the initial cycle threshold value (Ct values) measured by the nasopharyngeal samples along with olfactory function measured by the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) within 2 months of COVID-19 onset.Among 309 COVID-19 patients who were included in this study, 108 (34.9%), 112 (36.2%) and 89 (28.8%) were normosmic, hyposmic, and anosmic, respectively based on the UPSIT. The severity of COVID-19 and the rate of hospitalization were higher in anosmic patients (p<0.0001, and p<0.0001, respectively). Moreover, significant associations between the initial Ct value and the severity of OD at admission and follow-ups were detected (p<0.0001 and p<0.0001, respectively). Anosmic patients had higher Ct values in comparison with hyposmic (approx. 3-fold) and normosmic (approx. 12-fold) patients. The recovery rate after one- and two-month follow-ups was 47% and 84%, respectively. At the follow-ups, OD-recovered patients significantly had lower Ct values (mean Ct value: 27.79 ± 2 and 28.21 ± 2.08) in comparison with those who have not recovered yet (mean Ct value: 30.19 ± 3.36, and 33.6 ± 3.37) (p<0.0001, and p<0.0001, respectively).Ct value seems to be a significant factor not only in predicting OD severity in COVID-19 patients but also in the OD recovery duration. This finding may be helpful to investigate the underlying mechanisms of OD in COVID-19 patients.

The active vitamin D metabolites have anticancer effects on many human neoplasms. The vitamin D receptors have been detected in salivary glands tissue. This study aimed to evaluate the serum level of vitamin D in patients with malignant and benign salivary gland tumors.In this retrospective and cross-sectional study, 151 participants, including 42 patients with benign, 42 malignant salivary gland tumors, and 67 healthy subjects, participated. The serum level of vitamin D was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The mean serum level of vitamin D was 42.7 ng/mL in patients with benign tumors, 40 ng/mL in malignant tumors, and 36.7 ng/mL in the control group. There was no significant difference between the mean vitamin D level and vitamin D status in patients with salivary gland tumors and normal controls (P=0.2). There was a significant positive correlation between vitamin D level and age in the control group (P=0.04).The results showed a high prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in salivary gland tumors and normal subjects, with no significant difference. Therefore, the serum level of vitamin D might not play a significant role in the pathogenesis of these tumors, similar to many human cancers. However, further prospective studies are recommended focusing on specific tumors and considering other interventional factors.

Since 20% of the patients with sensorineural hearing loss have confirmed radiographically inner ear malformation, this study aimed to compare the incidence rate of intra and postoperative complications of cochlear implantation amongst the patients with or without inner ear malformations. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the medical record of 954 patients who had undergone cochlear implantation. Seventeen patients had inner ear malformations and were selected as the case group, and 25 patients with normal inner ear were selected as the control group. Patient’s information; including intraoperative complications, post-operative complications and neural response telemetry (NRT) immediately after the surgery were recorded. Finally, the collected data were analyzed, using the SPSS software, version 21.According to the CT-scan findings, the most observed internal ear abnormality was the temporal bone Mondini in 8 patients (47%), and the next inline was the common cavity at a frequency of (23.52%). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) gusher was detected in 11 patients (64.7%) of the case group, which was significantly higher than the other group. This includes mild CSF gusher in 7 cases (41.17%) and severe CSF gusher in 5 cases (29.41%). Interestingly, no significant post-operative complications were observed in either group, minor side effects were limited and not significantly different.In conclusion, despite the limitations of cochlear implantation surgery amongst patients with inner ear malformation with potential risk of early or late complications, it can still be recommended as an appropriate procedure to acquire hearing as well as auditory and speech perception.

Irradiation to treat head and neck cancer, causing chronic tissue damage, is associated with the development of vascular disease. Interest has risen over the effects of radiotherapy on major vessels, due to its high morbidity and mortality rate. However, small-vessel disease has been poorly studied and described.

Case Report:

We present a case of a patient with bilateral necrosis of the anterior third of the tongue, occurring 3 years after chemoradiotherapy treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth. Contrast-enhanced CT scan showed multiple areas of stenosis concerning both external carotid arteries and their branches, and total opacification of lingual arteries. Conservative management was performed, with auto-amputation on the fifth day, which allowed healing by secondary intention.

Necrosis of the tongue appears as a rare late complication of radiotherapy, possibly due to its acceleration effect on the atherosclerosis process. Following small-vessel disease, one can assume a higher potential risk of major-vessel disease, highlighting the importance of a routine assessment and prophylaxis of thrombotic events.

The majority of nasopharyngeal cysts are asymptomatic and rare. Nevertheless, these lesions are rarely discovered during regular endoscopies and imaging tests. An upper nasopharyngeal Thornwaldt cyst is a benign, mucosal congenital cyst. Even less frequently, they can cause unexplained sinonasal symptoms such as rhinorrhea, vision problems, and nasal blockage.

Case Report:

 Here, we report a case with new-onset hearing loss after the coronavirus infection, in which his imaging investigation showed a nasopharyngeal mass.

After covid-19 infection we should consider branchial Cyst and Thornwaldt Cyst in a high-risk patients. On the other hand, the progressive hearing loss after covid-19 can occur due to activation of this kind of cysts.