Ménière's disease often presents with aural fullness, for reasons that are currently not well understood. Transtympanic ventilation tube insertion has been historically used for the management of this symptom, though the nature and mechanism of effectiveness is unclear.

To give an overview of the data available on the effects of ventilation tube insertion on aural fullness in Ménière's disease.

The databases PubMed, Embase, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Central and Google Scholar were searched to identify relevant records. Records were subsequently analysed and data extracted.

Only two studies directly measured the effect of ventilation tube insertion on aural fullness, while three others measured it as a placebo to assess another treatment. Considerable heterogeneity was found amongst the studies, including conflicting conclusions.

There is a paucity of evidence investigating the effect of grommet insertion on aural fullness in Ménière's disease. This work directs future research into this topic.

Computed tomography is the standard pre-operative imaging modality for sinonasal papilloma. The complementary use of magnetic resonance imaging as an additional investigation is debated. This study aimed to establish whether magnetic resonance imaging can accurately detect tumour extent and is a useful adjunct to computed tomography.

A retrospective review was conducted on 19 patients with sinonasal papilloma. The interpretation of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans, by three clinicians, was conducted by comparing prediction of tumour extent. The perceived necessity of magnetic resonance imaging was compared between clinicians.

The addition of magnetic resonance imaging improved accuracy of pre-operative interpretation; specifically, this finding was significant in cases with frontal sinus involvement. Surgeons were more likely than a radiologist to request magnetic resonance imaging, particularly when computed tomography indicated frontal sinus disease.

Pre-operative combined magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography helped predict disease in the frontal sinus better than computed tomography alone. A close working relationship between the ENT and radiology departments is important for accurate tumour localisation.

To report the introduction and impact of non-medical prescribing, initiated to improve patient pathways for those presenting with dizziness and balance disorders.

The Southport and Ormskirk physiotherapy-led vestibular clinic sees and treats all patients with dizziness and balance disorders referred to the ENT department. Letters are triaged by an audiologist, who also performs an otological examination and hearing test; this is followed by an assessment with the independent prescriber physiotherapist. An ENT consultant is nearby if joint consultation is needed. Diagnoses, treatments and patient satisfaction were studied, with an analysis of the impact of medication management (stopping or starting medicines) on patients and service.

In 12 months, 413 new patients with dizziness and balance disorders had appointments. The most common diagnoses were benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and vestibular migraine. Eighty-four per cent of patients required self-management strategies, 50 per cent exercise therapy, 48 per cent medication management and 24 per cent a particle repositioning manoeuvre. Patient satisfaction was high (99 per cent).

Having an independent prescriber physiotherapist leading the balance clinic has reduced the number of hospital visits and onward referrals. Nearly half of all patients required medication management as part of their dizziness or balance treatment.

Inverted papilloma is the most common benign tumour affecting the nose. There is a high rate of recurrence and a potential of malignant transformation. This review article aimed to identify the best available management of this pathology today.

A systematic review of the current English-language literature was performed. Only original articles with a minimum follow up of one year and an average follow up of two years were included.

A total of 1385 patients from 16 case series were identified. The total recurrence rate for all patients was 11.5 per cent. Significantly lower recurrence rates were found for procedures using an attachment-oriented excision (recurrence of 6.9 per cent; p = 0.0001) and utilising frozen sections (recurrence of 7.0 per cent; p = 0.0001).

There is a general trend towards endoscopic surgery. There may be some benefit to the use of attachment-oriented surgery and frozen sections. Multi-centred randomised controlled trials are required.

There has been a shift towards conservative management of penetrating neck trauma in selected patients.

A retrospective case note review of the management of penetrating neck trauma (2007–2013) was undertaken at our large teaching hospital and compared against best-evidenced practice.

Sixty-three patients were admitted over six years. The incidence of penetrating neck trauma is reducing, contrary to our belief. Most cases were knife inflicted (33 out of 63), and of these most were attempted suicide. There was a high rate of negative findings for neck explorations under general anaesthesia (18 out of 22). Only nine cases had justification for general anaesthesia exploration according to best practice.

The rate of neck explorations under general anaesthesia has dramatically fallen, in line with best practice. The need for operative intervention in patients with penetration of the aerodigestive tract or a major vascular injury should be based on clinical features, and these have been shown to be reliable indicators prior to open exploration.

To create a ‘one-stop’ clinic in which assessment, diagnosis, treatment and therapies for most patients presenting with balance and dizziness disorders are delivered simultaneously.

Patients triaged via referral letters were selected to attend the balance clinic, which is led by specialist balance physiotherapists. Patients were seen by an audiologist, and a ‘balance’ ENT consultant was available for joint consultations when required. Further details of the clinic set up are discussed.

Over an 18-month period, 200 new ‘dizzy’ patients attended the clinic. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and labyrinthitis were the commonest diagnoses. Fifty per cent of all patients were discharged after a single clinic visit. Questionnaires showed that patient satisfaction was high.

The physiotherapy-led balance clinic has reduced patient waiting times to be seen, has a high level of patient satisfaction and is economically beneficial.

We evaluated use of the periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction diffusion-weighted imaging sequence, compared with conventional echo planar magnetic resonance imaging, in the detection of middle-ear cholesteatoma.

Sixteen patients awaiting second-stage combined approach tympanoplasty and three patients awaiting first-stage combined approach tympanoplasty underwent magnetic resonance imaging with both (1) the periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction sequence (i.e. non echo planar imaging) and (2) the array spatial sensitivity encoding technique sequence (i.e. echo planar imaging). Two neuroradiologists independently evaluated the images produced by both sequences. Radiology findings were correlated with surgical findings.

Seven cholesteatomas were found at surgery. Neither of the assessed imaging sequences were able to detect cholesteatoma of less than 4 mm. Rates for sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values are presented.

Decisions on whether or not to operate for cholesteatoma cannot be made based on the two imaging sequences assessed, as evaluated in this study. Other contributing factors are discussed, such as the radiological learning curve and technical limitations of the magnetic resonance imaging equipment.

To determine whether the caloric vestibular test causes significant changes in heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure.

Changes in heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure before and after caloric irrigation were compared with the degree of nystagmus (as measured by maximum slow phase velocity) and the patient's subjective dizziness (scored from 0 to 10). A cardiologist reviewed each patient's heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure changes. Patients' anxiety levels were also assessed.

Eighteen patients were recruited. There were no adverse events in any patient. There were no overall significant differences between the heart rate and mean arterial pressure before and after each irrigation. There was a significant correlation between the maximum slow phase velocity and patients' subjective dizziness scores.

Heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure are not significantly influenced by the caloric vestibular test. This preliminary study will enable patients with stable cardiovascular disease to be recruited for further risk determination.

We present the first reported case of a middle-ear lipoma presenting with facial nerve palsy. We review the available literature on middle-ear lipomas and alert the surgeon to the possibility of a lipoma occurring in this location.

A 33-year-old man presented to our unit with a right-sided, House–Brackmann grade two, lower motor neurone facial palsy. A computed tomography scan revealed abnormal soft tissue in the epitympanic recess, extending to the region of the geniculate ganglion. At middle-ear exploration, a lump of fatty tissue was found filling the anterior middle-ear cleft, juxtaposed to the horizontal portion of the facial nerve. The patient's facial palsy resolved within a few weeks of surgery.

Lipomas are a rare but real differential diagnosis of a mass in the middle ear. Early imaging is advised.