Radiologic findings in a carcinoma-associated laryngocele

Evaluating Quality, Credibility, and Readability of Online Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Information

OBJECTIVE

With over-the-counter hearing aids being recently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, the accuracy and usefulness of online information has not yet been examined. This study evaluates the quality, credibility, readability, and accessibility of online over-the-counter hearing aids education materials.

METHODS

Google was queried using the search term "over-the-counter hearing aids". The top 50 results were categorized into healthcare versus non-healthcare authored resources. The Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES) and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) tests were utilized to assess readability, whereas the Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose (CRAAP) test and DISCERN instruments were used to assess quality and credibility. The number of clicks taken to access relevant information on each website was used to assess accessibility.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in FRES or FKGL readability scores between healthcare and non-healthcare authored websites (p = 0.5548, p = 0.5981, respectively), but both readability scores were higher than that of the recommended reading level for patient education materials. There was no significant difference in CRAAP and DISCERN scores between both groups (p = 0.5746, p = 0.1699, respectively). The number of clicks did not significantly differ between healthcare and non-healthcare authored resources (p = 0.4932).

CONCLUSION

This study highlights poor readability and accessibility of virtual healthcare information regarding OTC hearing aids. Although credibility in articles authored by healthcare and non-healthcare professionals was adequate, readability was greatly compromised due to the written information exceeding the recommended United States reading level. Accessibility posed a similar issue, as many sites required multiple clicks to access product information.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA Laryngoscope, 2024.

Laryngoceles: Concepts of diagnosis and management

A laryngocele is an abnormal dilatation of the laryngeal saccule. It is a rare benign lesion of the larynx. Various modalities of treatment have been advocated for its management. We present our treatment results and outcomes of a series of cases of laryngoceles and discuss the concepts of their management. This study included patients with different laryngocele types. Patients with an internal laryngocele underwent endoscopic CO₂ laser resection, while those with a combined laryngocele underwent resection via a V-shaped lateral thyrotomy approach. Seven patients had an internal laryngocele, and 4 patients had a combined laryngocele. Hoarseness and neck swelling were the most common symptoms. The mean follow-up period was 8.5 months. None of the patients needed a tracheostomy either preoperatively or postoperatively, or had recurrence of laryngocele. We advocate the lateral thyrotomy approach for combined laryngoceles as it provides safe, precise, and complete resection under direct visualization via a single approach, while we favor the endoscopic laser approach for the internal ones as it allows resection of the entire lesion with minimal laryngeal trauma, less operative time, and a shorter hospital stay.

Laryngopyocele: Presenting with pressure symptom

Laryngocele is a rare, benign dilatation of the laryngeal saccule that may extend internally into the airway or externally through the thyrohyoid membrane. When it is secondarily infected, it is called laryngopyocele, which is even rarer. Many laryngoceles are asymptomatic; sometimes, they may cause a cough, hoarseness, stridor, sore throat and may present as a swelling on one or both sides of the neck. Laryngocele may be associated with supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma. Computed tomography scan is the most effective imaging method for diagnosis. Surgery is the treatment of choice. A case of large mixed laryngopyocele in a 75-year-old male is described together with surgical management and follow-up. A review of the literature is also presented.

Laryngopyocoele presenting with acute airway obstruction

A 66-year-old woman was transferred to the emergency department with a left-sided neck lump and fever. She was stridulous with reduced consciousness level and required immediate intubation to protect her airway. CT imaging showed a fluid-filled and air-filled lesion in the left side of the neck; the diagnosis was later confirmed as an infected laryngocoele. She underwent ultrasound guided drainage of the lesion with successful reduction of the neck lump. Following elective tracheostomy she was weaned from ventilation. Subsequent direct endoscopy and biopsy showed no evidence of malignancy or other lesion. She was discharged with permanent tracheostomy to be sustained until definitive surgical resection of the laryngocoele.

Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging appearances of cystic lesions in the suprahyoid neck: a pictorial review

Cystic lesions in the head and neck are important entities that are increasingly investigated by cross-sectional imaging. The patient usually presents with a neck swelling and, after initial clinical examination, an ultrasound scan may demonstrate the cystic nature of the lesion. Further imaging with CT and MRI are often necessary to elucidate the aetiology and deep extent of the lesion. This pictorial review describes and illustrates the typical appearances and locations of a range of cystic lesions in the suprahyoid neck on CT and MRI.

Laringocele: aspecto ultra-sonográfico - relato de caso

Laringoceles são lesões relativamente raras definidas como dilatações anômalas dos sáculos dos ventrículos laríngeos. A classificação usual divide a laringocele em interna, externa e combinada ou mista. Laringoceles internas são as que se localizam medialmente à cartilagem tireóidea e geralmente causam compressão nas bandas ventriculares levando a rouquidão e sintomas compressivos na via aérea. As externas se estendem através da membrana tireóidea, apresentando-se como massas cervicais, e as mistas são as que ocupam as duas regiões, podendo causar ambos os sintomas. O diagnóstico é geralmente feito por tomografia computadorizada e/ou laringoscopia. Apresentamos um caso de laringocele mista em que o diagnóstico foi sugerido no exame de ultra-sonografia, num paciente encaminhado com história de massa cervical.

Laryngeal amyloidosis: a rare cause of laryngocele

Laryngocele may be defined as an abnormal dilatation of the saccule of the ventricle and its pathogenesis is uncertain. We report a laryngocele caused by amyloidosis localized to larynx in a 60-year-old male patient. We would like to mention that amyloidosis should be evaluated in the etiology of patients diagnosed as having a laryngocele.

Congenital cystic masses of the neck: radiologic-pathologic correlation

Cervical congenital cystic masses constitute an uncommon group of lesions usually diagnosed in infancy and childhood. The most common congenital neck mass is the thyroglossal duct cyst. The diagnosis is easily established from the presence of a cystic lesion in the anterior midline portion of the neck. The vast majority of branchial cleft cysts arise from the second branchial cleft. They can occur anywhere from the oropharyngeal tonsillar fossa to the supraclavicular region of the neck. Cystic hygroma is the most common form of lymphangioma. In the neck, cystic hygromas are most commonly found in the posterior cervical space. They typically extend into adjacent structures without respecting the fascial planes. Dermoid and epidermoid cysts result from sequestration of ectodermal tissue. The floor of the mouth is the most common location in the neck. Cervical thymic cysts are very uncommon lesions and are found anywhere from the angle of the mandible down to the sternum. Laryngoceles are classified into internal, external, and mixed types and have a frequent association with laryngeal carcinoma.

Traumatic laryngocoele

This is the first reported case of a laryngocoele developing after laryngeal trauma. A 26-year-old man sustained a shotgun injury to his larynx. A large number of shotgun pellets was removed from his left vestibular fold. He subsequently developed a left-sided laryngocoele, probably due to fibrosis around the neck of the saccule. The laryngocoele was removed by an external approach.

Endoscopic management of a combined laryngocele

A 70-year-old women presented with hoarseness, foul sputum, and a softneck mass. Clinical and radiographic examination disclosed findings consistent with a combined internal and external laryngopyocele. Antibiotics, throat irrigations, and warm packs applied to the neck resulted in full resolution of the neck mass and subtotal regression of the supraglottic swelling. Endoscopic vestibulectomy was performed with a carbon dioxide laser; neither residual neck mass nor a tract leading to the extralaryngeal neck swelling was detected. The immediate and long-term clinical course has been uneventful. This report is the first description of the definitive endoscopic management of a combined laryngocele. The pathogenesis of the laryngocele and the rationale and technique for endoscopic management are discussed.