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Background: Intrathoracic goiters (ITGs) are usually managed by surgical excision, However, over recent years, non-surgical strategies are emerging as an alternatives for treating this condition. Methods: A systematic review of research published since 2017 in the PubMed database was conducted and a total of 39 articles were retrieved, along with methodological issues and future directions in the research on ITGs. Results: Several non-surgical treatments exist, including radio-iodine ablation (RIA) and mini-invasive approaches, such as transcervical microwave ablation (TcMA), transcervical radiofrequency ablation (TcRfA), or selective embolization of the thyroid arteries (SETA). Despite encouraging reports, their current use remains limited. Conclusions: Treatment of ITGs requires a multidisciplinary thyroid team, and when non-surgical options are chosen, patients need to be carefully selected, and their outcomes must be prudently considered and discussed with the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a common inflammatory disorder whose complex immunopathogenesis has yet to be fully elucidated. Endotype-2 CRSwNP is the most common form of disease where eosinophils are the main drivers of inflammation. Traditional treatments for CRSwNP have centered around intranasal or systemic corticosteroids and endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). However, recent advancements in targeted therapies have introduced novel biological agents that specifically target key inflammatory mediators such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13. These biologics offer promising options for patients with CRSwNP, particularly those who do not respond adequately to conventional treatments. Nonetheless, some patients do not satisfactorily respond to these drugs because of an insufficient blockade of the inflammatory process. The mast cell (MC) is another important (and somehow neglected) actor in the pathogenesis of CRSwNP, and the latest clinical and translational evidence in this field has been reviewed in the present paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Williams syndrome (WS) is a rather rare congenital disorder characterised by a series of cardiovascular, maxillo-facial and skeletal abnormalities. It sometimes displays otorhinolaryngological symptoms because of the relatively high incidence of secretory otitis media and hyperacusis, which may be present in up to 95% of patients. The present paper describes a case of WS associated with bilateral conductive hearing loss which was not related to secretory otitis media. Hyperacusis was, moreover, present in spite of the conductive deafness. Surgical or prosthetic treatment of hearing loss was delayed because of hyperacusis. Treatment of the hyperacusis by acoustic training, instead, yielded excellent, long-lasting remission of the symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (endo-DCR) is becoming a workhorse in the management of distal lacrimal duct obstruction. It yields success rates comparable to external DCR, with the advantage of no external scars. However, it requires multidisciplinary expertise and many uncertainties in terms of proper indications, technique, and perioperative management still exist., Methods: Systematic review of the literature in the last 5 years using PubMed and Google Scholar., Results: A total of 66 articles were included. Many technical modifications and surgical refinements have been proposed, but a formal comparison of the various techniques is hampered by methodological heterogeneity. The use of local anaesthesia and perioperative adjunctive techniques to reduce the risk of restenosis are also gaining popularity even if the level of evidence remains weak., Conclusions: Endo-DCR offers satisfactory clinical outcomes even though there are many grey areas that need to be addressed in future high-quality studies., (Copyright © 2024 Società Italiana di Otorinolaringoiatria e Chirurgia Cervico-Facciale, Rome, Italy.)

Background: Thyroid nodules are common findings during the diagnostic work-up in potential organ donors. A fast yet thorough assessment to rule out cancer is mandatory but their management remains heterogeneous among hospitals and the evidence in this field is scarce. We present our institutional experience and review the most recent literature on this topic., Methods: Retrospective case series and systematic review of the literature., Results: In the years 2000-2023, 47 total thyroidectomies were performed on potential brain-dead donors. Intraoperative frozen section (FS) revealed 6 cases (13.9%) of papillary carcinoma that led to organ discarding in 3 cases (6.9%). The mean operative time of the procedures was 42.75 min and no procurement-delaying complications were registered., Conclusion: Total thyroidectomy with an intraoperative FS is a sound method for assessing suspicious nodules before organ harvesting. Future randomized studies comparing its performance against fine needle aspiration biopsy are needed to define the most cost-effective and time-saving strategy., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)