Clinical Consensus Statement: Balloon Dilation of the Eustachian Tube – Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (free for a limited period)

Effect of Tinnitus Retraining Therapy vs Standard of Care on Tinnitus-Related Quality of Life: A Randomized Clinical Trial – JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Author Interview: Tinnitus Retraining Therapy vs Standard of Care and Tinnitus-Related Quality of Life (free audio)

Role of Tranexamic Acid in Reducing Intraoperative Blood Loss and Postoperative Edema and Ecchymosis in Primary Elective Rhinoplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis – JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery (free for a limited period)

A Perioperative Small Dose of Dexamethasone Enhances Postoperative Recovery by Reducing Volume and Inflammatory Contents in Wound Drainage After Thyroid Surgery: A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Prospective Study – World Journal of Surgery (free PDF)

Source: EvidenceAlerts

Evaluating Effectiveness of Nasal Compression With Tranexamic Acid Compared With Simple Nasal Compression and Merocel Packing: A Randomized Controlled Trial – Annals of Emergency Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Source: Topical Tranexamic Acid with Nasal Compression Controls Epistaxis – NEJM Journal Watch ($)

The etiology of Bell’s palsy: a review – Journal of Neurology (free)

Otitis Externa: Investigation and Evidence-Based Treatment – Deutsches Ärzteblatt International (free)

Clinical practice guidelines for the management of olfactory dysfunction – Auris Nasus Larynx (free)

Effect of PET/CT on Surgical Planning for Head and Neck Cancer – The ASCO Post (free)

Original Article: Multicenter Trial of [¹⁸F]fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Staging of Head and Neck Cancer and Negative Predictive Value and Surgical Impact in the N0 Neck: Results From ACRIN 6685 – Journal of Clinical Oncology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Relationship Between Poor Olfaction and Mortality Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Cohort Study – Annals of Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Poor olfaction linked to increased mortality in older adults – 2 Minute Medicine (free) AND Declining sense of smell linked to premature mortality – OnMedica (free) AND Why a smell test could become part of a regular doctor visit – Michigan State University (free)

Hypersalivation: update of the German S2k guideline (AWMF) in short form – Journal of Neural Transmission (free)

Role of tranexamic acid in nasal surgery: A systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials – Medicine (free)

Related: Systematic Review: Tranexamic Acid for Patients with Epistaxis (free)

Surgical management of intrathoracic goitres – European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology (free)

Active Surveillance of Low-Risk Thyroid Cancer – JAMA (free for a limited period)

“Individuals should also be aware that there are currently no head-to-head randomized trials that compared active surveillance of low-risk thyroid cancer with thyroid surgery, and that there remain uncertainties related to the risks and benefits of each approach.”

Otitis media with effusion in children: Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. A review – Journal of Otology (free)

Related Randomized Trials: Oral Steroids for Hearing Loss Associated with Otitis Media with Effusion in Children (free) AND Oral Steroids for Resolution of Otitis Media with Effusion in Children (free)

Endoscopic Management of Pediatric Cholesteatoma – Journal of Otology (free)

Eosinophilic Esophagitis—A Primer for Otolaryngologists – JAMA Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery (free for a limited period)

Ulcerated Lesions of the Oral Mucosa: Clinical and Histologic Review – Head and Neck Pathology (free)

HPV-Related Papillary Lesions of the Oral Mucosa: A Review – Head and Neck Pathology (free)

Perioperative analgesia for patients undergoing otologic surgery: An evidence‐based review – The Laryngoscope (free)

Management of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma: current perspectives – OncoTargets and Therapy (free)

Italian consensus for the classification and reporting of thyroid cytology: the risk of malignancy between indeterminate lesions at low or high risk. A systematic review and meta-analysis – Endocrine (free)

Tranexamic Acid (TXA) for Everything that Bleeds? – REBEL EM (free)

Related: Meta-analysis – Tranexamic acid: is it about time? (free study and commentaries) AND Randomized Controlled Trial: Tranexamic Acid for Hyperacute Primary Intracerebral Hemorrhage (free) AND Systematic Review: Tranexamic Acid for Patients with Epistaxis (free) AND Systematic Review: Antifibrinolytic drugs for treating primary postpartum haemorrhage (free) AND WHO Recommendation on Tranexamic Acid for the Treatment of Postpartum Haemorrhage (free) AND Effect of early tranexamic acid administration on mortality, hysterectomy, and other morbidities in women with post-partum haemorrhage (free) AND Effects of tranexamic acid on death, vascular occlusive events, and blood transfusion in trauma patients with significant haemorrhage (CRASH-2): a randomised, placebo-controlled trial (landmark trial on the subject)

Surgical consensus guidelines on sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in patients with oral cancer – Head & Neck (free)

Ethanol Ablation of the Thyroid Nodules: 2018 Consensus Statement by the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology – Korean Journal of Radiology (free)

Thyroidectomy Versus Medical Management for Euthyroid Patients With Hashimoto Disease and Persisting Symptoms: A Randomized Trial – Annals of Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Thyroidectomy Seems to Improve Quality of Life in Hashimoto Disease – NEJM Journal Watch (free) AND Thyroidectomy more effective than medication for Hashimoto disease with persisting symptoms – 2 Minute Medicine (free)

“Results are applicable only to a subgroup of patients with Hashimoto disease, and follow-up was limited to 18 months.”

Choosing Wisely Canada: Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question in Otolaryngology – Rhinology – Canadian Society of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery (free)

See complete lists of low-value practices: Choosing Wisely U.S. / Choosing Wisely UK / Choosing Wisely Australia AND Choosing Wisely Canada

Management of the Neck in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity and Oropharynx: ASCO Clinical Practice Guideline – Journal of Clinical Oncology (free)

Pathology of the carotid space – Insights into Imaging (free)

Clinical Guidelines on Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Children – Current Allergy and Asthma Reports (free for a limited period)

Note: if the above link is paywalled, try this one

Related Guideline: Clinical Consensus Statement: Pediatric Chronic Rhinosinusitis – Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (free)

Diagnostic Performance of Practice Guidelines for Thyroid Nodules: Thyroid Nodule Size versus Biopsy Rates – Radiology (free)

Related Guidelines: 2015 American Thyroid Association Management Guidelines for Adult Patients with Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer (free) AND Ultrasonography Diagnosis and Imaging-Based Management of Thyroid Nodules: Revised Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology Consensus Statement and Recommendations (free) AND ACR Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS): White Paper of the ACR TI-RADS Committee (free)

News Release: New WHO-ITU standard aims to prevent hearing loss among 1.1 billion young people – World Health Organization (free)

Report: Safe listening devices and systems: a WHO-ITU standard – World Health Organization and International Telecommunication Union (free PDF)

Toolkit: Toolkit for safe listening devices and systems – World Health Organization and International Telecommunication Union (free PDF)

Association of Thyrotropin Suppression With Survival Outcomes in Patients With Intermediate- and High-Risk Differentiated Thyroid Cancer – JAMA Network Open (free)

Commentary: Study Evaluates Thyroid Hormone Suppression For High Risk Thyroid Cancer – MedicalResearch.com (free)

“This study provides the justification for a randomized trial.”

Tonsillectomy in Children (Update) – American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (free)

News Release: Tonsillectomy in children: Update to guidelines for treating and managing care (free)

Commentaries: Updated Pediatric Tonsillectomy Guidelines Stress Watchful Waiting – NEJM Journal Watch (free) AND Guideline urges physicians to stop prescribing antibiotics, codeine for tonsillectomies – Healio (free registration required)

Adult Outpatients With Acute Cough Due to Suspected Pneumonia or Influenza – CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report (free)

See other recently published CHEST guidelines on the management of cough in specific populations: Classification of Cough as a Symptom in Adults and Management Algorithms (free) AND Clinically Diagnosing Pertussis-associated Cough in Adults and Children (free) AND Pharmacologic and Nonpharmacologic Treatment for Acute Cough Associated With the Common Cold (free) AND Cough Due to TB and Other Chronic Infections  (free) AND Chronic Cough Due to Gastroesophageal Reflux in Adults (free) AND Symptomatic Treatment of Cough Among Adult Patients With Lung Cancer (free) AND Cough in the athlete (free) AND Occupational and Environmental Contributions to Chronic Cough in Adults (free) AND Treatment of Unexplained Chronic Cough (free) AND Use of Management Pathways or Algorithms in Children With Chronic Cough (free) AND Management of Children With Chronic Wet Cough and Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis (free)

Appropriateness Criteria for Surgery in the Management of Adult Recurrent Acute Rhinosinusitis – The Laryngoscope (free)

Proton pump inhibitors: Review of reported risks and controversies – Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology (free)

Related: Proton Pump Inhibitors: Review of Emerging Concerns (free reviews) AND Deprescribing Proton Pump Inhibitors (free guidelines and reviews)

NCCN Guidelines Insights: Thyroid Carcinoma, Version 2.2018 – Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (free)

Tranexamic acid for patients with nasal haemorrhage (epistaxis) – Cochrane Library (free)

Summary: Tranexamic acid to help treat nosebleeds (epistaxis) – Cochrane Library (free)

American Head and Neck Society Endocrine Section clinical consensus statement: North American quality statements and evidence‐based multidisciplinary workflow algorithms for the evaluation and management of thyroid nodules – Head and Neck (free)

The EANM practical guidelines for sentinel lymph node localisation in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma – European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (free)

The Impact of Goiter and Thyroid Surgery on Goiter Related Esophageal Dysfunction. A Systematic Review – Frontiers in Endocrinology (free)

Why the world is becoming more allergic to food – BBC (free)

Carotid blowout syndrome: modern trends in management – Cancer Management and Research (free)

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in the elderly: current insights – Clinical Interventions in Aging (free)

Oral steroids for hearing loss associated with otitis media with effusion in children aged 2-8 years: the OSTRICH RCT – Health Technology Assessment (free)

Source: EvidenceAlerts

Oral manifestations of autoimmune connective tissue diseases – Indian Journal of Rheumatology (free)

Current opinions for the management of asthma associated with ear, nose and throat comorbidities – European Respiratory Review (free)

Radiotherapy plus cisplatin or cetuximab in low-risk human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer (De-ESCALaTE HPV): an open-label randomised controlled phase 3 trial – The Lancet (free)

Commentaries: De-intensified treatment in human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer – The Lancet (free) AND Standard chemotherapy treatment for HPV-positive throat cancer remains the most effective, study finds – University of Birmingham (free)

Audiovestibular Symptoms in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases – Journal of Immunology Research (free)

Update on Vertigo in Autoimmune Disorders, from Diagnosis to Treatment – Journal of Immunology Research (free)

Incidence of indications for tonsillectomy and frequency of evidence-based surgery: a 12-year retrospective cohort study of primary care electronic records – British Journal of General Practice (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Most children who have their tonsils removed don’t benefit – The Conversation (free) AND Seven in 8 children’s tonsillectomies are unnecessary – University of Birmingham (free) AND ‘Too many children’ have tonsils removed unnecessarily – BBC (free)

European Position Statement on Diagnosis, and Treatment of Meniere’s Disease – The Journal of International Advanced Otology (free PDF)

Antibiotics for acute rhinosinusitis in adults – Cochrane Library (free for a limited period)

Summary: Antibiotics for sinus infection of short duration in adults – Cochrane Library (free)

“Considering antibiotic resistance, and the very low incidence of serious complications, we conclude there is no place for antibiotics for people with uncomplicated acute rhinosinusitis.”

A Review of HPV-Related Head and Neck Cancer – Journal of Clinical Medicine (free)

Earwax, Of All Things, Poses Unrecognized Risk In Long-Term Care – Kaiser Health News (free)

“Of all the indignities that come with aging, excessive earwax may be the most insidious… when it goes unrecognized, it can pose serious problems, especially for the 2.2 million people who live in U.S. nursing homes and assisted living centers.”

Oral steroids for resolution of otitis media with effusion in children (OSTRICH): a double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomised trial – The Lancet (free)

Invited commentary: Helping children with hearing loss from otitis media with effusion – The Lancet (free)

“Short-course oral prednisolone is not an effective treatment for most children aged 2–8 years with persistent otitis media with effusion but is well tolerated—findings from OSTRICH, the first placebo-controlled trial” (via @TheLancet see Tweet)

Reducing the burden of dizziness in middle-aged and older people: A multifactorial, tailored, single-blind randomized controlled trial – PLOS Medicine (free)

Source: EvidenceAlerts

Use of Oximetry to Determine Need for Adenotonsillectomy for Sleep-Disordered Breathing – Pediatrics (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Oximetry Results Help Determine Need for Adenotonsillectomy – Medscape (free registration required)

Guidelines of Polish National Societies Diagnostics and Treatment of Thyroid Carcinoma. 2018 Update – Endokrynologia Polska (free PDF)

Primary Imaging Test and Appropriate Biopsy Methods for Thyroid Nodules: Guidelines by Korean Society of Radiology and National Evidence-Based Healthcare Collaborating Agency – The Korean Society of Radiology (free)

Chinese Society of Allergy Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis – Allergy Asthma & Immunology Research (free)

Association Between Portable Music Player Use and Hearing Loss Among Children of School Age in the Netherlands – JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Portable music players tied to hearing loss in kids – Reuters (free) AND Portable Music Player Use Linked to Hearing Loss in Children – MPR (free)

Hearing loss in adults: assessment and management – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (free)

Managing patients with chronic cough: challenges and solutions – Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management (free)

See also recently published CHEST guidelines on the management of cough in specific populations: Classification of Cough as a Symptom in Adults and Management Algorithms (free) AND Pharmacologic and Nonpharmacologic Treatment for Acute Cough Associated With the Common Cold (free) AND Cough Due to TB and Other Chronic Infections  (free) AND Chronic Cough Due to Gastroesophageal Reflux in Adults (free) AND Symptomatic Treatment of Cough Among Adult Patients With Lung Cancer (free) AND Cough in the athlete (free) AND Occupational and Environmental Contributions to Chronic Cough in Adults (free) AND Treatment of Unexplained Chronic Cough (free) AND Use of Management Pathways or Algorithms in Children With Chronic Cough (free) AND Management of Children With Chronic Wet Cough and Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis (free)

Cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract: assessment and management in people aged 16 and over – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) (free)

Association of Long-Term Risk of Respiratory, Allergic, and Infectious Diseases With Removal of Adenoids and Tonsils in Childhood – JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery (free for a limited period)

Commentaries: Tonsillectomy in childhood raises risk of respiratory diseases – OnMedica (free) AND Tonsillectomy, Adenoidectomy in Childhood Tied to Long-Term Health Risks – Physician’s First Watch (free) AND Tonsillectomy Risks May Outweigh Benefits – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)

Once-a-Week Versus Once-Every-3-Weeks Cisplatin Chemoradiation for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer: A Phase III Randomized Noninferiority Trial – Journal of Clinical Oncology (free)

Commentary: Once-Weekly vs Every-3-Week Cisplatin Chemoradiation in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer – The ASCO Post (free)

Recurrent spontaneous vertigo with interictal headshaking nystagmus – Neurology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: New Type of Vertigo Identified – American Academy of Neurology (free) AND Neurologists Identify New Type of Vertigo – MPR (free) AND New Type of Treatable Vertigo Identified – Medscape (free registration required) AND New Type of Spontaneous Vertigo Identified in Korea – MedPage Today (free registration required)

The burden of allergic rhinitis and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis on adolescents: a literature review – Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (free)

Commentary: Impact of Allergic Rhinitis, Rhinoconjunctivitis on Adolescents “Far-Reaching” – MPR (free)

NCCN Guidelines Insights: Head and Neck Cancers, Version 1.2018 (free)

Grommets (ventilation tubes) for recurrent acute otitis media in children – Cochrane Library (free)

Summary: Grommets for children with recurring acute middle ear infections – Cochrane Library (free)

Residential proximity to livestock farms is associated with a lower prevalence of atopy – Occupational & Environmental Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Living near a farm could help prevent allergies – UPI (free) AND Atopy less common in adults living near a livestock farm – OnMedica (free) AND Just living close to livestock might lower allergy risk – Reuters (free)

Diagnosis and treatment of hypoparathyroidism: a position statement from the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism – Archives of Endocrinology and Metabolism (free)

Postoperative Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy Versus Postoperative Radiotherapy in High-Risk Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: The Randomized Phase III TROG 05.01 Trial – Journal of Clinical Oncology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: No Chemo Benefit for Head and Neck Skin Cancer – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND No benefit of adding chemotherapy to postop radiation in cutaneous SCCHN – medwireNews (free)

Summary: U.S. Preventative Services Task Force – Screening for Thyroid Cancer: Recommendation Statement – American Family Physician (free)

Self-reported Hearing Difficulty and Risk of Accidental Injury in US Adults, 2007 to 2015 – The JAMA Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Trouble hearing? It could increase your risk of an injury – Brigham and Women’s Hospital, via ScienceDaily (free) AND Hearing Loss May Make You Accident Prone – The New York Times (free)

Clinical Practice Guideline: Hoarseness (Dysphonia) – American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (free)

See also: Executive Summary

Indications for the Surgical Management of Benign Goiter in Adults – Deutsches Ärzteblatt international (free)

Common oral complications of head and neck cancer radiation therapy: mucositis, infections, saliva change, fibrosis, sensory dysfunctions, dental caries, periodontal disease, and osteoradionecrosis – Cancer Medicine (free)

Review: The incidental thyroid nodule – CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians (free)

Current Approaches to Epistaxis Treatment in Primary and Secondary Care – Deutsches Ärzteblatt international (free)

Recent advances in the biology and therapy of medullary thyroid carcinoma – F1000 Research (free)

Snap, crackle and pop: when sneezing leads to crackling in the neck – BMJ Case Reports (free)

Commentaries: Man Ruptures His Throat By Stifling A Big Sneeze, Prompting Doctors’ Warning – NPR (free) AND Here Is What Can Happen If You Hold In A Sneeze – Forbes (free)

The 2017 Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology – Thyroid (free)

Commentary: Thyroid Nodules: Bethesda System Update Changes Clinical Practice – Medscape (free registration required)

Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines on the Treatment of Adults With Vestibular Schwannomas: Executive Summary – Neurosurgery (free)

Association of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss With Risk of Cardiocerebrovascular Disease: A Study Using Data From the Korea National Health Insurance Service (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Sudden Deafness May Flag CVD Risk – MedPage Today (free registration required)

Prevalence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Surgeons and Interventionalists: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis – JAMA Surgery (free)

Author Interview: Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Surgeons and Interventionalists (free)

Commentary: Work-Related Musculoskeletal Injury Common in Surgeons, Interventionalists – Medscape (free registration required)

Association of Gastroesophageal Reflux With Malignancy of the Upper Aerodigestive Tract in Elderly Patients – JAMA Otolaryngology-Head &Neck Surgery (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: GERD Associated With Increased Risk of Malignancy of the Upper Aerodigestive Tract – MedicalResearch (free) AND First-of-its-kind study of upper aerodigestive cancers – MedicalXpress (free) AND Chronic Heartburn Tied to Higher Odds for Head, Neck Cancers – Drugs.com (free)

Hearing aids make communication easier for people with mild hearing loss – NIHR Signal (free)

See original article: Hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss in adults – Cochrane Library (link to abstract – $ for full-text) AND Summary: Hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss in adults (free) AND Commentary: Hearing aids: evidence, equity and rationing – Evidently Cochrane (free)

Association of Age-Related Hearing Loss With Cognitive Function, Cognitive Impairment, and Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis – JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Hearing loss may be a risk factor for dementia – Reuters (free) AND As hearing fades with age, dementia risk may rise – MedicalXpress (free)

Association of Neurocognitive Deficits With Radiotherapy or Chemoradiotherapy for Patients With Head and Neck Cancer – JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Head and neck cancer survivors have long-lasting cognitive problems – Reuters (free) AND Thinking Abilities May Decline After Treatment For Head and Neck Cancers – MedicalResearch (free)

Topical Tranexamic Acid Compared With Anterior Nasal Packing for Treatment of Epistaxis in Patients Taking Antiplatelet Drugs: Randomized Controlled Trial – Academic Emergency Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Topical TXA in Epistaxis – R.E.B.E.L.em (free)

Radiation Therapy for Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: American Society of Clinical Oncology Endorsement of the American Society for Radiation Oncology Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline – Journal of Clinical Oncology (free)

Human Papillomavirus Testing in Head and Neck Carcinomas: Guideline From the College of American Pathologists – Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine (free PDF)

Neurofeedback for Tinnitus Treatment – Review and Current Concepts – Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (free)

European Thyroid Association Guidelines for Ultrasound Malignancy Risk Stratification of Thyroid Nodules in Adults: The EU-TIRADS – European Tyroid Journal (free)

Related guideline: ACR Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS): White Paper of the ACR TI-RADS Committee – Journal of the American College of Radiology (free PDF)

Use of Larynx-Preservation Strategies in the Treatment of Laryngeal Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update – Journal of Clinical Oncology (free)

A Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Patients With Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Recommendations on the Type and Timing of Rehabilitation – Global Spine Journal (free)

Le Fort Fractures: A Collective Review – Bulletin of Emergency and Trauma (free)

Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the evaluation of potentially malignant disorders in the oral cavity – Journal of The American Dental Association (free)

More Than a Sore Throat: Evaluation and Management of Retropharyngeal Abscess in the Adult – emDocs (free)

SEOM clinical guidelines for the treatment of head and neck cancer – Clinical and Translational Oncology (free)

Pharmacologic Treatment of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis: Synopsis of Guidance From the 2017 Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters – Annals of Internal Medicine (free)

Sinusitis Mimics: ED-relevant pearls and pitfalls – emDocs (free)

NICE Guideline: Sinusitis (acute): antimicrobial prescribing (free)

News release: Antibiotics should not be used to treat the majority of sinus infections, NICE says (free)

Radiation Therapy for Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: American Society of Clinical Oncology Endorsement of the American Society for Radiation Oncology Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline (free)

Olfactory Dysfunction Predicts Subsequent Dementia in Older U.S. Adults – Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Elderly Who Have Trouble Identifying Odors Face Risk of Dementia – NewsWise (free) AND Poor Sense of Smell May Signal Impending Dementia – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free) AND Sniffing out dementia with a simple smell test – Medical News Today (free)

News release: Draft Guideline: Most common ear infections should not be treated with antibiotics, says NICE (free)

Commentaries: Common ear infections don’t need antibiotics, health watchdog says – The Guardian (free) AND Antibiotics not recommended for acute otitis, says NICE (free)

Olfaction and incident Parkinson disease in US white and black older adults – Neurology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Parkinson’s: Sniff test could predict risk up to a decade earlier – Medical News Today (free) AND Can a Smell Test Predict Parkinson’s? – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND Scratch-and-sniff test could predict Parkinson’s even earlier – Michigan State University, via EurekAlert (free) AND Parkinson’s Disease May Be Diagnosed With Smell Test 10 Years Before Symptoms – Medical Daily (free)

Rapid Recommendations: Corticosteroids for sore throat: a clinical practice guideline – The BMJ (free text and infographic)

See also other Rapid Recommendations from The BMJ (all free)

Spanish Consensus for the Management of Sinonasal Tumors – Acta Otorrinolaringologica (free)

Current Advances in Thyroid Cancer Management. Are We Ready for the Epidemic Rise of Diagnoses? – International Journal of Molecular Sciences (free)

Meniere’s Disease and Vestibular Migraine: Updates and Review of the Literature – Journal of Clinical Medicine Research (free)

Clinical Practice Guideline: Evaluation of the Neck Mass in Adults – American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (free)

See also: Executive Summary (free) AND News Release (free)

Commentaries: Neck Mass in Adults: Guideline for Evaluation Provides Framework for Timely Diagnosis – NewsWise (free) AND Guidelines Issued on Evaluating Neck Masses – Physician’s First Watch (free)

Public Reporting of Surgical Outcomes: Surgeons, Hospitals, or Both? – JAMA Forum (free)

A Comparison of Alkaline Water and Mediterranean Diet vs Proton Pump Inhibition for Treatment of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux – JAMA Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery (free)

Commentaries: Dietary Approach Found as Effective as Medications for Treating Type of Reflux Disease – The JAMA Network (free) AND Treating Reflux With Diet – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)

A small retrospective cohort study suggests a plant-based, Mediterranean-style diet may be as effective as medication.

Natural History and Tumor Volume Kinetics of Papillary Thyroid Cancers During Active Surveillance – JAMA Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery (free for a week)

Author interview audio: Natural History and Tumor Volume Kinetics of Papillary Thyroid Cancers (free)

Commentaries: Findings Support Use of Active Surveillance for Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Cancer – The JAMA Network (free) AND Many People Can Delay Treatment For Thyroid Cancer, Study Finds – NPR (free)

European Thyroid Association Guidelines regarding Thyroid Nodule Molecular Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology Diagnostics – European Thyroid Cancer (free)

Malignant Otitis Externa: Diagnosis and Treatment – emDocs (free)

Familial Cancers of Head and Neck Region – Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research (free)

Pediatric airway surgery – Journal of Thoracic Disease (free)

Effect of Oral Prednisolone on Symptom Duration and Severity in Nonasthmatic Adults With Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infection: A Randomized Clinical Trial – JAMA (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentaries: Oral Steroid Does Not Reduce Lower Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms in Nonasthmatic Adults – JAMA Network (free) AND No Benefit for Oral Steroids in Lower Respiratory Tract Infection – Medscape (free registration required) AND Don’t use steroids for chest infections, GPs advised – Pulse (free)

In patients with acute respiratory infection, without evidence of pneumonia or asthma, the addition of corticosteroids did not reduce symptom duration or severity.

Effect of Oral Dexamethasone Without Immediate Antibiotics vs Placebo on Acute Sore Throat in Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial – JAMA (free)

Multimedia: Author Interview (free) AND JAMA Report Video (free)

Commentaries: Study Examines Effectiveness of Steroid Medication for Sore Throat – The JAMA Network (free) AND Corticosteroids for sore throat: a mixed bag of results – Clinical Advisor (free)

Source: ACP Journal Club ($)

Dexamethasone increased complete symptom resolution at 48 hours (35.4% vs 27.1%), but not at 24 hours. Trade-offs between the benefits and risks of dexamethasone in this situation are uncertain.

Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Care Guideline: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Endorsement of the American Cancer Society Guideline – Journal of Clinical Oncology (free)

Guideline: First Clinical Consensus and National Recommendations on Tracheostomized Children of the Brazilian Academy of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology (ABOPe) and Brazilian Society of Pediatrics (SBP) (free)

Analysis of Plasma Epstein–Barr Virus DNA to Screen for Nasopharyngeal Cancer – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Quick Take Video Summary: EBV DNA Screening for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (free)

Commentaries: Can a ‘liquid biopsy’ detect cancer and save lives? – STAT (free) AND Liquid Biopsy Passes Test for Nasopharyngeal Cancer – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND Early Detection of Nasopharyngeal Cancer With EBV DNA – Medscape (free registration required) AND Plasma Epstein–Barr virus DNA useful for nasopharyngeal carcinoma screening – 2 Minute Medicine (free)

Review: Impairments of Speech Comprehension in Patients with Tinnitus-A Review – Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (free)

Surgical Guidelines for Perioperative Management of Older Adults: What Geriatricians Need to Know – Journal of The American Geriatrics Society, via Medscape (free)

Effectiveness of Tympanostomy Tubes for Otitis Media: A Meta-analysis – Pediatrics (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

Commentary: Weigh Risks/Benefits of Tympanostomy Tubes: Researchers – Medscape (free registration required)

Source: EvidenceAlerts (free resource to find articles of interest)

“Tympanostomy tubes improve hearing at 1 to 3 months compared with watchful waiting, with no evidence of benefit by 12 to 24 months”

Review: Noise-induced and age-related hearing loss:  new perspectives and potential therapies – F1000 Research (free)

Clinical Review: Treatment Challenges of Group A Beta-hemolytic Streptococcal Pharyngo-Tonsillitis – International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology (free)

Review: Adenomatous Tumors of the Middle Ear: A Literature Review – International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology (free)

Review: Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation: Updates on Innovative Devices and Techniques – Korean Journal of Radiology (free)

Early Hearing Detection and Vocabulary of Children With Hearing Loss – Pediatrics (free)

Commentary: Early Detection Improved Vocabulary Scores in Kids with Hearing Loss – MedPage Today (free registration required)

Review: Management of the temporomandibular joint in inflammatory arthritis: Involvement of surgical procedures – European Journal of Rheumatology (free)

Review: Diagnosis and Treatment of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia – The Ochsner Journal (free)

Personal Sound Amplification Products vs a Conventional Hearing Aid for Speech Understanding in Noise – JAMA (link to abstract – $ for full-text)

The Jama Network – For the Media: Certain OTC, less expensive hearing aids provide benefit similar to conventional hearing aid (free)

Commentaries: Less Expensive Hearing Devices May Work as Well as Traditional Hearing Aids – Physician’s First Watch (free) AND Study Boosts Case for OTC Hearing Aids – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND OTC Hearing Devices Effective Alternative for Some, Study Shows – Medscape (free registration required)

“Some over-the-counter sound amplification devices are nearly as effective as prescription hearing aids, according to a small JAMA study” (from Physician’s First Watch)

Indications for Surgical Management of Hyperparathyroidism: A Review – JAMA Surgery (free)

Antiplatelet Therapy in Patients With Coronary Stents Undergoing Elective Noncardiac Surgery: Continue, Stop, or Something in Between? – JAMA (free)

ACR Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS): White Paper of the ACR TI-RADS Committee – Journal of the American College of Radiology (free, and legal, PDF via Unpawall)

Commentary: New ultrasound scoring system for thyroid nodules to reduce unnecessary biopsies – University of Alabama at Birmingham, via EurekAlert (free)

Steroid injections into the inner ear may be safe for treating Ménière’s disease – NIHR Signal (free)

Original article: Intratympanic methylprednisolone versus gentamicin in patients with unilateral Ménière’s disease: a randomised, double-blind, comparative effectiveness trial – The Lancet (free)

Invited commentary: Ménière’s disease: damaged hearing but reduced vertigo – The Lancet (free)

NCCN Guidelines Insights: Head and Neck Cancers, Version 2.2017 (free)

Practice Guidelines for Preoperative Fasting and the Use of Pharmacologic Agents to Reduce the Risk of Pulmonary Aspiration – Anesthesiology, via Medscape (free registration required)

Internet-Based Vestibular Rehabilitation for Older Adults With Chronic Dizziness: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Primary Care – Annals of Family Medicine (free)

See also: Balance retraining tool used in the study (free)

Commentaries: Online Rehabilitation Program Reduces Chronic Dizziness – Medscape (free registration required) AND Online Intervention Could Reduce Chronic Dizziness – Physician’s First Watch (free)

Screening for Thyroid Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement – JAMA (free)

Editorial 1: The USPSTF Recommendation on Thyroid Cancer Screening: Don’t “Check Your Neck” (free)

Editorial 2: Cancer Screening, Overdiagnosis, and Regulatory Capture (free)

Editorial 3: How to Look for Thyroid Cancer (free)

Commentaries: No Symptoms, No Thyroid Screening, Says USPSTF – Medscape (free registration required) AND Don’t Screen For Thyroid Cancer, Task Force Says – NPR Health News (free) AND USPSTF Says No to Thyroid Cancer Screening – MedPage Today (free registration required)

The USPSTF recommended against screening for thyroid cancer in asymptomatic adults with “grade D” recommendation (Grade D = “The USPSTF recommends against the service. There is moderate or high certainty that the service has no net benefit or that the harms outweigh the benefits”).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 2017 – JAMA Surgery (free) (RT @jankluytmans and @CIDRAP_ASP see Tweet)

Invited commentary: Surgical Site Infection Prevention – What We Know and What We Do Not Know – JAMA Surgery (free)

Commentary: ‘Long-Awaited’ CDC Guidelines on SSI Prevention Released – Medscape (free registration required)

Related: Global guidelines on the prevention of surgical site infection 2016 – World Health Organization (free)

Mortality Trends After a Voluntary Checklist-based Surgical Safety Collaborative – Annals of Surgery (link to abstract – free PDF available)

Sources: Global Health NOW Newsletter (free) AND South Carolina Hospitals Saw Surgery Deaths Drop After Implementing WHO Checklist – AJMC News (free) AND A simple checklist prevents deaths after surgery, a large new study suggests – The Washington Post (a few articles per month are free)

See also: WHO Surgical Safety Checklist – World Health Organization (free) AND A Surgical Safety Checklist to Reduce Morbidity and Mortality in a Global Population – New England Journal of Medicine (free)

ACR Appropriateness Criteria Adds Topics, Covers More Clinical Variants Than Ever Before (free)

Browse Appropriateness Criteria Topics (free)

Source: Newswise

This comprehensive guide from American College of Radiology (ACR) covers 230 topics with more than 1,100 clinical indications and has just been updated. It is a very useful resource for doctors in all specialties to guide which exam is most appropriate in each clinical situation.

Prevention of everolimus-related stomatitis in women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer using dexamethasone mouthwash (SWISH): a single-arm, phase 2 trial – The Lancet Oncology (link to abstract – $ required for full-text)

See also: SWISH Four Times a Day to Keep Oral Mucositis Away – Medscape (free registration required)

This simple and inexpensive treatment resulted in a more than ten-times reduction in the incidence of grade 2 or higher stomatitis.