ENTtoday
  • Home
  • COVID-19
  • Practice Focus
    • Allergy
    • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
    • Head and Neck
    • Laryngology
    • Otology/Neurotology
    • Pediatric
    • Rhinology
    • Sleep Medicine
  • Departments
    • Issue Archive
    • TRIO Best Practices
      • Allergy
      • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
      • Head and Neck
      • Laryngology
      • Otology/Neurotology
      • Pediatric
      • Rhinology
      • Sleep Medicine
    • Career Development
    • Case of the Month
    • Everyday Ethics
    • Health Policy
    • Legal Matters
    • Letter From the Editor
    • Medical Education
    • Online Exclusives
    • Practice Management
    • Resident Focus
    • Rx: Wellness
    • Special Reports
    • Tech Talk
    • Viewpoint
    • What’s Your O.R. Playlist?
  • Literature Reviews
    • Allergy
    • Facial Plastic/Reconstructive
    • Head and Neck
    • Laryngology
    • Otology/Neurotology
    • Pediatric
    • Rhinology
    • Sleep Medicine
  • Events
    • Featured Events
    • TRIO Meetings
  • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • Triological Society
    • Advertising Staff
    • Subscribe
  • Advertise
    • Place an Ad
    • Classifieds
    • Rate Card
  • Search

Is Comprehensive ASNHL Screening Always Needed?

by Sue Pondrom • September 3, 2010

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version

What are the costs and diagnostic yield of screening patients presenting with asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL)?

You Might Also Like

No related posts.

Explore This Issue
September 2010

Background: The magnitude of workup on a patient with ASNHL of an uncertain onset or chronic nature is a problem commonly encountered by otolaryngologists. The typical comprehensive workup includes a number of expensive tests, including a battery of serologic testing and radiographic imaging. Despite the extensive and costly testing available, the etiology of the ASNHL often remains unclear.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review

Setting: Patient charts from New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and University of Minnesota

Synopsis: Of 2,130 patient charts reviewed, 247 met the criteria, which included diagnostic imaging and serum laboratory values. Positive rate was determined for each diagnosis.

To estimate cost-benefits, the authors calculated the average cost for identifying a patient with a positive result. A total of 462 diagnostic tests were performed. The total lab cost was $18,276, compared to the total imaging cost of $246,600.

Of the 247 patients, only six (2.4 percent) were identified with treatable pathology. The image cost for identifying a positive patient was $61,650 based on MRI, compared to the lab cost of $1,142.

Bottom line: Due to the high cost and low yield of MRI among patients presenting with ASNHL, it should be reserved for those presenting with either a high index of suspicion based on clinical symptoms and findings or a serial audiogram showing progression of the ASNHL.

Citation: Wilson YL, Gandolfi MM, Ahn IE, et al. Cost analysis of asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss investigations. Laryngoscope. 2010;120(9):1832-1836.

—Reviewed by Sue Pondrom

Filed Under: Literature Reviews, Otology/Neurotology Tagged With: ASNHL, asymmetrical sensorineural hearing loss, costs, screeningIssue: September 2010

You Might Also Like:

The Triological SocietyENTtoday is a publication of The Triological Society.

The Laryngoscope
Ensure you have all the latest research at your fingertips; Subscribe to The Laryngoscope today!

Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology
Open access journal in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery is currently accepting submissions.

Classifieds

View the classified ads »

TRIO Best Practices

View the TRIO Best Practices »

Top Articles for Residents

  • Do Training Programs Give Otolaryngology Residents the Necessary Tools to Do Productive Research?
  • Why More MDs, Medical Residents Are Choosing to Pursue Additional Academic Degrees
  • What Physicians Need to Know about Investing Before Hiring a Financial Advisor
  • Tips to Help You Regain Your Sense of Self
  • Should USMLE Step 1 Change from Numeric Score to Pass/Fail?
  • Popular this Week
  • Most Popular
  • Most Recent
    • The Dramatic Rise in Tongue Tie and Lip Tie Treatment
    • Rating Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Severity: How Do Two Common Instruments Compare?
    • Neurogenic Cough Is Often a Diagnosis of Exclusion
    • What Happens to Medical Students Who Don’t Match?
    • Complications for When Physicians Change a Maiden Name
    • The Dramatic Rise in Tongue Tie and Lip Tie Treatment
    • What Happens to Medical Students Who Don’t Match?
    • Rating Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Severity: How Do Two Common Instruments Compare?
    • Vertigo in the Elderly: What Does It Mean?
    • Neurogenic Cough Is Often a Diagnosis of Exclusion
    • Why We Get Colds
    • Are the Jobs in Healthcare Good Jobs?
    • What Really Works in Functional Rhinoplasty?
    • Is the Best Modality to Assess Vocal Fold Mobility in Children Flexible Fiberoptic Laryngoscopy or Ultrasound?
    • Three Primary Treatment Strategies Show No Differences in Swallow Outcome for Patients with Low- to Intermediate-Risk Tonsil Cancer

Polls

Do you have physician assistants in your otolaryngology practice?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • Polls Archive
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Preferences

Visit: The Triological Society • The Laryngoscope • Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology

Wiley
© 2023 The Triological Society. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN 1559-4939