Features
Article: Head and Neck Cancer Patients Who Don't Drink or Smoke Have Worse Outcomes
Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who have no history of tobacco or significant alcohol use appear to be more likely to present with earlier disease and smaller initial T-stage, but have worse than expected outcomes.
Article: Prescription Drug Benefit Primer
This January, the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, created by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), took effect.
Article: Pills vs. Injections: Which Steroids Are Best for Sudden Hearing Loss?
It is agreed that sudden single-sided deafness is an emergency that is typically treated with corticosteroids.
Article: PET Not Ready for Routine Management of Head and Neck Cancer
The use of positron emission tomography (PET) is not sensitive enough to warrant routine use in post-curative chemoradiation therapy diagnosis of patients with node-positive head and neck cancer, according to researchers in the field.
Article: Chemoradiation vs. Surgery: Which is Better for Head and Neck Cancer?
While chemoradiation is becoming more common for managing head and neck cancers, some patients should have surgery as an initial treatment
Article: Bravo pH Monitoring System for Diagnosing Pediatric GERD
Diagnostic comfort and convenience, but cost and endoscopic placement complicate use
Article: Vestibular Testing Modalities Enter the Digital Age
Dizzy patients are among the most challenging, time-consuming cases that are seen in otolaryngologists' offices.
Article: At-Home Sleep Studies Less Expensive but Less Accurate
Sleep studies to detect obstructive sleep apnea can be performed in the patient's home—although the convenience and lower costs for performing the tests outside the laboratory are offset by a loss of accuracy.
Article: Report May Change Diagnosis, Management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Focus shifted from infection to inflammation in new report and practice parameters
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Departments
Article: Patients, Surgeons May Pay the Price for Cosmetic Surgery Tax
Several states have considered taxing cosmetic surgical procedures, and one has passed legislation requiring a 6% tax on such procedures.
Article: A Myth of Modern Medicine: 'There are 40 million Americans with No Access to Health Care'
In June of 2003, Maine enacted a law creating Dirigo Health, which is Maine's attempt to provide free or heavily subsidized health insurance coverage for the estimated 136,000 citizens who do not have health insurance.
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Columns
Article: A Look at National Health Spending
Spending growth has slowed, and docs are increasing practice volume and intensity to keep up
