This article describes the surgical treatment of superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome (SCDS) by isolating the dehiscence using transmastoid two-point canal plugging while preserving the high-frequency vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) of the affected semicircular canal. The superior semicircular canal is opened via a transmastoid approach anterior (as far from the ampulla as possible) and posterior to the dehiscence and then plugged with connective tissue and bone dust. In two clinical exemplary cases, vestibular testing showed that the VOR measured by video head impulse (vHIT) test was preserved (patient 1: gain preoperative 0.7, long-term postoperative 0.75; patient 2: gain preoperative 0.64, long-term postoperative 0.79; reduction of corrective saccades in each case) with a simultaneous reduction in pathologically increased amplitudes of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) and a significant improvement in clinical symptoms with almost complete freedom from symptoms. One possible explanation for preservation of the high-frequency VOR of the superior semicircular canal would be the deformability of the endolymphatic space described at high stimulation frequencies, which can lead to endolymph movements in the area of the ampulla with deflection of the cupula despite blockage of the semicircular canal.

There are various views in the literature regarding the influence of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) as a comorbidity on the occurrence of COVID-19 disease.

Treatment of patients with severe hearing loss or deafness using cochlear implants (CI) is nowadays clinical routine. In the Hannover Medical School alone, more than 500 patients are treated with CI annually, meaning that the pool of patients with CI increases significantly each year. Worldwide, there are over 1 million patients with a CI system; in Germany the figure is estimated at over 60,000. With such a huge number of CI patients, centralized annual routine follow-up of all patients in the implant centers is obviously not possible in the long term. Many patients would also like to reduce travel and time expenditures without missing out on the competencies of large hospitals. Simultaneously, the financial pressure exerted by health insurance providers is increasing, resulting in the requirement to provide treatment of the same or even heightened quality more efficiently. Telemedicine in the form of app-based aftercare can help to realize these goals and will play an increasingly important role in the future.

Electronically captured patient reports (electronic patient-reported outcomes, ePROs) are digital questionnaires filled out by cancer patients. Despite indications of improved clinical care, the integration of ePROs into clinical head and neck oncology is uncharted territory.

Ultrasound is today an essential element of otorhinolaryngology. During the course of (technical) development, fracture sonography has also gained increasing clinical and scientific interest. Sonography can already be used today as the imaging method of choice for isolated suspected fractures of the nasal or zygomatic bone. Sonography can also be helpful for immediate monitoring of repositioning. In the diagnosis of more complex fractures, however, cross-sectional imaging is still required. This article provides an overview of the possibilities and limitations of fracture sonography in the midface region and offers an introduction to the topic. The performance of the most important examinations is explained using images, and possible pitfalls are outlined.

The current article presents and explains methods for clinical examination of the vestibular system that have been used from the 1950s to the present day. It spans 230 years of clinical vestibular research, giving the reader a better overview and filling in the gaps in the history. Whilst only limited topographic regions could be examined in the early years, it is nowadays possible to collect objective results independently of patient compliance. Not only qualitative but also quantitative testing of the three semicircular canals and the otolith organs is now possible in clinical practice.

Thanks to our predecessors and technical progress, we can nowadays offer our patients a safe and modern paranasal sinus surgery. This article provides an overview of the historical development of paranasal sinus surgery in Austria and Switzerland and to shed light on the dynamic progress of this discipline in an international context. Paranasal sinus surgery has undergone significant change in recent decades, driven by rapid technological advances that have significantly improved surgical procedures and operative outcomes. While indications were originally limited to treatment of inflammatory diseases, today, endoscopic procedures cover interventions in the area of the anterior skull base, the orbit and sinonasal tumors. The concept of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) may seem simple, but the anatomic variability, especially in the area of the frontal sinus, as well as the wide spectrum and severity of diseases can be a challenge. Therefore, paranasal sinus surgery should not be a casual operation and should only be performed by well-trained surgeons to prevent disease recurrence as well as medical and economic follow-up costs. Standardized surgical training for aspiring paranasal sinus and skull base surgeons is critical. Preoperative planning through systematic analysis of CT images is an essential factor to achieve optimal results and to avoid intraoperative complications. The pathophysiological understanding of sinonasal disease and the recent developments of new drug therapies such as monoclonal antibodies also enable excellent results in the small subgroup of patients who do not benefit from a combination of surgical rehabilitation and long-term drug therapy. The dynamic development of endoscopic paranasal sinus surgery in recent decades shows the potential of the field for the coming decades.

Reconstruction of the pharynx after ablative cancer surgery is challenging. Restoration of function and esthetics is at the forefront. There is currently no gold standard for reconstruction. The workhorses for free flap reconstruction are the radial free forearm flap or the anterolateral thigh flap. For medium size defects the free lateral arm flap is an excellent alternative.

Due to the association with the causal human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) infection, oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is now separated into two distinct entities depending on HPV16 positivity. More recent data show a diversified picture of the importance and prevalence of the surrogate parameter p16 (discordance) for a definitive HPV16 association, which varies worldwide. In the context of preventive options, vaccination is of major importance and HPV screening of healthy people of less importance. The current CME article excerpts parts of the new German S3 guideline on diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and aftercare of oro- and hypopharyngeal cancer (version 1.0, March 2024; Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in Germany [AWMF] registration number 017-082OL).

Malignancies of the nasopharynx (NPC), the (para)nasal cavities, the salivary glands, and the thyroid gland are distinct to head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) in the oro-/hypopharynx and larynx in terms of etiology, tumor biology, and the therapeutic concept.

At the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), several important studies on radiotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) were presented. There were two Chinese phase III trials on treatment escalation for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibition with camrelizumab after induction chemotherapy and cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy (RCT) in the DIPPER trial reached the primary endpoint of improved event-free survival (EFS) but did not improve overall survival (OS). Simultaneous and adjuvant administration of the angiogenesis inhibitor endostar in addition to cisplatin-based RCT for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma led to a significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) and OS. Another major focus was on treatment optimization and deintensification for oropharyngeal cancer (OPC): using intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT), a phase III trial demonstrated noninferiority in definitive RCT for OPC compared to photon-based intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). In adjuvant treatment of human papillomavirus-positive (HPV+) OPC, the long-term results of the E3311 phase II study confirmed that individually deintensified radiotherapy is feasible. Lee et al. showed with the results of a phase II study that HPV+ OPC might be treatable with chemoradiotherapy to a total dose of only 30 Gy if no hypoxia is detected in the F‑fluoromisonidazole positron-emission tomography-computed tomography (F-MISO-PET) scan. Both the deintensified treatment of HPV+ OPC as well as additive immune checkpoint and angiogenesis inhibition in chemoradiotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma require further studies before they can be recommended in clinical practice.

This article describes the surgical treatment of superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome (SCDS) by isolating the dehiscence using transmastoid two-point canal plugging while preserving the high-frequency vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) of the affected semicircular canal. The superior semicircular canal is opened via a transmastoid approach anterior (as far from the ampulla as possible) and posterior to the dehiscence and then plugged with connective tissue and bone dust. In two clinical exemplary cases, vestibular testing showed that the VOR measured by video head impulse (vHIT) test was preserved (patient 1: gain preoperative 0.7, long-term postoperative 0.75; patient 2: gain preoperative 0.64, long-term postoperative 0.79; reduction of corrective saccades in each case) with a simultaneous reduction in pathologically increased amplitudes of vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) and a significant improvement in clinical symptoms with almost complete freedom from symptoms. One possible explanation for preservation of the high-frequency VOR of the superior semicircular canal would be the deformability of the endolymphatic space described at high stimulation frequencies, which can lead to endolymph movements in the area of the ampulla with deflection of the cupula despite blockage of the semicircular canal.

Age-appropriate speech development is a primary aim of the rehabilitation of children treated with cochlear implants (CI). Various assessment tools are available, including the speech development test for 2‑year-olds (SETK-2). All tests are normalized to normal-hearing children; additionally, results are evaluated according to age and the duration of CI (hearing age). The present study presents current practices and evaluates them as far as is possible.

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) is an umbrella term for various self-report instruments used to assess subjective health-related impressions and treatment success from the patient's perspective. In psychosomatic medicine, PROMs are often used to record subjective symptoms, psychosocial distress, and changes in health status, particularly in patients with comorbid (affective) disorders and frequent contact with physicians, but also in preventive health care and to monitor the effectiveness of treatment. In otolaryngology (ENT), self-report questionnaires (PROMs) are used, among other things, to assess the impact of hearing, speech, swallowing, and breathing disorders on patients' quality of life. Such scientifically validated tools make it possible to better understand the needs and priorities of patients and to integrate them into clinician-patient communication and treatment to promote individual, patient-centered care. Three dimensions for the assessment of subjective health-related experiences (depression, anxiety, stress) with corresponding instruments for the German-speaking area for use in clinical and research settings are presented in more detail, specifically for otolaryngology.