Background: To investigate the effect of CANLPH score, a new inflammatory parameter, on prognosis in patients with Bell’s palsy (facial nerve paralysis). Methods: Fifty patients who were followed up with a diagnosis of Bell’s palsy at the….Hospital between January 2019 and November 2022 were included in the study. The files were examined retrospectively and age and gender information were recorded. The degree of facial paralysis of the patients at the time of admission and prognosis was determined using the House–Brackmann staging system. From the blood results taken before admission, C-reactive protein (mg/L), albumin (g/dL), neutrophil (cells/uL), lymphocyte (cells/uL), platelet (cells/uL), and hemoglobin (g/dL) values were recorded. Based on these values, the CANLPH score of each patient was calculated and the relationship between it and the prognosis of the disease was examined statistically. Results: There were 29 women (58%) and 21 men (42%) in the study. Although the ages of the patients ranged between 17 and 80, the average age was 50.4 Å} 17.2 years. According to the House-Brackmann score at the time of admission, 8 (16%) of the patients were grade 2, 16 (32%) were grade 3, 13 (26%) were grade 4, 12 (24%) were grade 5, and 1 (2%) was evaluated as grade 6. According to Kendall’s tau-c correlation analysis, a weak positive correlation was detected between CANLPH score and final grade (r = 0.319; P = .004). Conclusion: According to these results, a significant relationship was observed between the degree of House–Brackmann facial paralysis after treatment and the CANLPH score. Cite this article as: Alag.z S, Deniz O, Süslü T, Gündüz G, Delibaş V, Ozdas T. Predictive effect of CANLPH score on prognosis in Bell’s palsy patients. B-ENT. 2025;21(2):66-69.

Venous malformations (VMs) are the most common low-flow vascular malformations in the head and neck region. They can occur anywhere in the head and neck region, and rarely even occur endolaryngeally. Magnetic resonance imaging is crucial in the diagnosis and evaluation of the extensiveness of VMs and remains the gold standard imaging modality. Thanks to next generation sequencing, TEK, and PIK3CA mutations were recently identified as somatic mutations in VMs and may provide an opportunity to identify selected targeted therapies in addition to already existing modalities such as surgery and sclerotherapy. The mainstay of therapy for localized VMs remains surgery. In this case report, the excision of a PIK3CA mutated laryngeal venous malformation by TransOral Robotic Surgery is described. Cite this article as: Eecke MV, Coppens DAG, Kenis C, et al. Excision of a PIK3CA mutated laryngeal venous malformation by TransOral robotic surgery (TORS). B-ENT. 2025;21(1):43-47.

Necrotizing sialometaplasia (NS) is a rare, benign, self-limiting inflammatory disease of the salivary glands that can clinically and histopathologically mimic malignancy. It most commonly presents as a painful ulcer of the hard palate. The lesion is believed to be the result of ischemia of the salivary gland lobules with subsequent repair and metaplasia. Necrotizing sialometaplasia heals spontaneously and requires no treatment. This report demonstrates a case of NS in a 33-year-old female patient who presented with a bilateral, painful swelling of the hard palate that evolved into an ulcer a few days after surgery with laryngeal mask airway ventilation. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was attempted to enhance healing. Cite this article as: Bilotta G, Hendrickx K, Mariën S, Verbruggen A, Van Laer C. A case of necrotizing sialometaplasia after laryngeal mask airway ventilation. B-ENT. 2024;20(4):272-275.

Alongside the historical use of the microscope, endoscopic ear surgery has been developed for several years. Its advantages are now widely recognized, for example its wider view and its clear superiority to detect “hidden cholesteatoma”. However, its use remains restricted to some teams, and its indications and applications are still debated in the otologist community. This review of the literature presents advantages, results, and limitations of both approaches. Moreover, the article highlights current evidence of equivalence or superiority of one of the other approach according to the different otologic surgical procedures. However, more studies about endoscopic ear surgery are required with longer follow-up and larger sample size. Finally, authors proposed a decision-making tree to guide the ear surgeon to the best practice. Cite this article as: Grégoire A, Geerinck K, Van Damme J. Indications of endoscopic or microscopic approach in ear surgery according to current evidence from the literature. B-ENT. 2024;20(Suppl. 1):S21-S28.

Complications in endoscopic ear surgery and microscopic ear surgery can appear in both techniques. Whether complications occur more often in endoscopic ear surgery or microscopic ear surgery depends mostly on the skills and learning curve of the surgeon. Endoscopic ear surgery is a safe surgical technique with few reported complications hence the importance of understanding them to prevent and manage them. Nevertheless, intraoperative and postoperative complications may occur, including neurosensory deafness, direct injury to the ossicles, facial nerve palsy, labyrinth fistula, and dura injury. Cite this article as: Vilain J, Foulon I. Complications during endoscopic ear surgery. B-ENT. 2024;20(Suppl. 1):S1-S6.

Endoscopic ear surgery is developing rapidly. This article aimed to review the rationale with advantages and disadvantages of endoscopic ear surgery compared to microscopic ear surgery as well as the current indications in the field of otology and neurotology, limitations, terminologies, and approaches. A review of the literature on PubMed was performed using the keywords “endoscopic ear surgery,” “ear surgery,” “endoscopy,” and “ear endoscope” to select relevant published articles. The main advantage of endoscopic ear surgery is an improved visualization of the surgical field. It provides a high-resolution, wider, and more magnified view of the middle ear and the ability to look “around the corners” to visualize otherwise “hidden areas.” Transcanal endoscopic ear surgery allows minimally invasive technique by transforming the external auditory canal into a natural access point to the middle ear. It also allows a better understanding of the middle ear physiology (the ventilation pathways and middle ear folds). Endoscopic ear surgery has, however, some disadvantages, with it being a 1-handed surgical technique as the main limitation. Other limitations are an easily impaired visual field by bleeding or fogging on the lens, a narrow surgical space, and a steep learning curve. Endoscopic ear surgery is a safe and effective technique and a valid alternative to the microscope. It allows for improved surgical visualization and the ability to look “around the corners” with minimally invasive access. It holds a great promise in otology, and the indications for endoscopic ear surgery are constantly evolving. Cite this article as: Levie C, Levie P. Base of endoscopic ear surgery. B-ENT. 2024;20(Suppl. 1):S29-S33.

Stapes surgery is traditionally based on microscopic approach. For several years, endoscopy developed from a combined approach as a complementary device to microscope to an exclusive transcanal approach in various fields of ear surgery. This article illustrates principles, surgical techniques, and results of transcanal endoscopic ear surgery for stapes surgery and comparison with microscopic approach through our experience and international literature, including surgical videos. Cite this article as: Ayache S, Di Laora A. Transcanal endoscopic stapes surgery. B-ENT. 2024;20(Suppl. 1):S7-S20.

Surgery for cholesteatoma is traditionally based on microscopic approach. For several years, endoscopy developed from a combined approach as a complementary device to microscope to an exclusive transcanal approach in various fields of ear surgery. The objective of this article is to present principles, surgical techniques, and results of endoscopy in cholesteatoma surgery. All principles of transcanal exclusive endoscopic ear surgery and combined approach as a complementary device to microscopy are presented. Surgical techniques are described through surgical videos and comments. Results are reported through a review of international literature. Endoscopic ear surgery in the treatment of cholesteatoma shows similar results to those of microscopic surgery according to residuals, recurrence, and hearing outcomes. Endoscopic surgery is a more complex 1-hand technique that requires time to be experienced and to have wide understanding of endoscopic ear anatomy, for dissection of anatomical space and ossicular chain, and for transcanal drilling techniques. Middle ear is the main surgical field for endoscopic ear surgery. Surgical strategy when cholesteatoma extends beyond posterior epitympanum depends on surgical experience in performing large atticotomy or microscope-assisted mastoidectomy. The question is not to decide whether endoscopy must substitute microscopy. The ear surgeon must be able to choose the best-suited technique for the patient. The use of one or another technique depends on the surgeon’s habits. Learning both endoscopy and microscopy allows the surgeon to adapt his surgical strategy. Cite this article as: Ayache S, Albera A. Transcanal endoscopic ear surgery for cholesteatoma: Royal belgian society of otorhinolaryngology. B-ENT. 2024;20(Suppl. 1):S53-S60.

Objective: We retrospectively investigated whether the dosage of prednisolone (PSL) affects the response rate in patients with idiopathic sud den sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). Design: Retrospective. Methods: A total of 159 patients diagnosed with initial ISSNHL and hospitalized between April 2007 and March 2021 at Yokosuka Kyosai Hospital were treated with systemic steroid therapy (SST) as a primary therapy and evaluated by pure-tone audiometry once a month. The cohort was comprised of 82 males and 77 females, with a mean age of 60.9 years old (range 16-83), consisting of 76 and 83 right and left ears, respectively. A total of 135 and 24 patients received SST with PSL dosage at 200 mg/day for 3 days with a 6-day taper and at 100 mg/day for 3 days with a 6-day taper, respectively. Results: In grades 1-2, there were no significant differences in the therapeutic response rates between the 2 groups; however, in grades 3-4, the response rate in the 200 mg PSL dosage group was significantly higher. We extracted dosage of PSL, age, time from onset to treatment, and vertigo as variables affecting the recovery rate, which was defined as the sum of the rate of complete recovery and marked improvement. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified age and vertigo as significant variables influencing the recovery rate. Conclusion: Systemic steroid therapy with more than 100 mg/day of PSL with a taper for ISSNHL may not increase therapeutic efficacy in a dose-dependent manner. Cite this article as: Hyakusoku H, Furukawa S, Aizawa Y, et al. An analysis of systemic steroid dosage in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. B-ENT. 2024;20(1):7-12.

Background: This retrospective, single-center study aimed to identify factors affecting the success rate of endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). Methods: A total of 891 eyes that underwent endonasal DCR were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate association analyses were performed to assess the impact of various factors on anatomical and functional success rates. Anatomical success was defined as patent lacrimal irrigation and well-formed osteotomy in nasopharyngoscopy, while functional success was defined as a Munk score of 0-1 after silicone tube removal. Results: Early removal of the silicone tube and use of absorbable nasal packing material were significantly associated with lower anatomical and functional success rates in univariate and multivariate analyses. Anatomical success rates were 59.56% with early removal of the silicone tube and 70.29% with absorbable nasal packing material. Similarly, functional success rates were 49.33% with early removal of the silicone tube and 62.10% with absorbable nasal packing material. The odds ratios of the anatomical success rate for early removal of silicone tube and using absorbable nasal packing material were 0.377 and 0.567, respectively (P < .001, P=.002). In addition, the odds ratio of the functional success rate was .257 and .523, respectively (P < .001, P=.001). Conclusion: Early removal of silicone tubes and absorbable packing material were identified as factors that negatively impact the functional and anatomical success rates of endonasal DCR. Cite this article as: Chae SB, Yang JW, Kim YJ. Factors influencing success rate of endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy. B-ENT. 2024;20(2):100-105.