The Laryngoscope
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Comparative Study
Elective neck dissection and survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx.
The utility of elective neck dissection in the management of patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer who present without neck metastases remains controversial. The study addressed the question of whether elective neck dissection improves regional control and survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx presenting with T1/T2 node-negative disease. ⋯ Elective neck dissection reduces regional recurrence and may extend disease-free survival.
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Comparative Study Historical Article
Hearing loss in Union Army veterans from 1862 to 1920.
To examine the prevalence of hearing loss (HL) in Union Army (UA) veterans by year, birth cohort, and occupation, and to compare Civil War pension and contemporary disability programs by examining monthly dollar awards. ⋯ HL was a common disability among UA Civil War veterans, with noise exposure a likely etiology for the HL. The differing levels of compensation for HL may reflect differing perceptions on the incapacitating effects of HL.
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Comparative Study
Effectiveness of multilevel (tongue and palate) radiofrequency tissue ablation for patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
The primary objective is to determine the effectiveness of multilevel (tongue base and palate) temperature controlled radiofrequency tissue ablation (TCRFTA) for patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The secondary objective is to compare multilevel TCRFTA to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). ⋯ Multilevel (tongue base and palate) TCRFTA is a low-morbidity, office-based procedure performed with local anesthesia and is an effective treatment option for patients with OSAS. On average, abnormalities in daytime somnolence, quality of life, and reaction time testing demonstrated improvement from baseline and were normalized after treatment. Polysomnographic respiratory parameters also demonstrated significant improvement with multilevel TCRFTA.