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Background: Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and septoplasty are commonly performed procedures without standardized postoperative pain regimens. There is reluctance to prescribe opioids for postoperative pain given their potential for abuse. Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been demonstrated to reduce or even obviate the need for opioid pain medications after otolaryngologic surgeries, but prospective validation is lacking. Methods: A randomized, controlled study comparing the efficacy of diclofenac sodium to hydrocodone/acetaminophen (APAP) after ESS with or without septoplasty was performed. Participants were given a 100‐mm visual analog pain scale (VAS) at postoperative days (PODs) 1, 2, 3, and 5 after ESS. Two‐sample t tests were used to compare pain scores between groups. Results: One hundred patients enrolled, and 74 patients provided pain scores to the survey. Pain was greatest for both groups on POD 1. Treatment with diclofenac sodium vs hydrocodone/APAP did not statistically impact pain scores at PODs 1, 2, 3, or 5. No cases of epistaxis requiring an emergency room visit or return to the operating room were noted during the study period. Conclusion: Diclofenac sodium may be non‐inferior to hydrocodone/APAP in treating pain after ESS with or without septoplasty in opioid naive patients without pre‐existing pain conditions. Further studies with larger samples are warranted to investigate the potential superiority of diclofenac to hydrocodone/APAP in certain patients after ESS and septoplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a relatively uncommon, neuroendocrine, cutaneous malignancy that often exhibits clinically aggressive features and is associated with a poor prognosis. It typically presents as a painless, rapidly enlarging, dome-shaped red or purplish nodule in a sun-exposed area of the head and neck or upper extremities. Our understanding of MCC has increased dramatically over the last several years and the pathogenesis continues to be an area of active research. The etiology is likely multifactorial with immunosuppression, UV-induced skin damage, and viral factors contributing to the development of MCC. The recent discovery of Merkel cell polyomavirus has allowed for at least one aspect of disease development to be much better understood. In most cases, treatment consists of wide local excision with adjuvant radiation therapy. The role of chemotherapeutics is still being defined. The recent advancement of knowledge regarding the pathogenesis of MCC has led to an explosion research into novel therapeutic agents and strategies. This review seeks to summarize the current body of literature regarding the pathogenesis of MCC and potential targets for future therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]