As the year draws to an end, it gives me time to reflect on what a momentous year it has been for The Journal of Laryngology & Otology. Earlier this year, The Journal supported the publication of the fifth edition of the UK Head and Neck Cancer Guidelines, a truly collaborative, multidisciplinary project which guides clinicians on best practice in head and neck cancer, endorsed by leading national specialty associations involved in head and neck cancer care.Reference Paleri and Roland 1
Another collaborative effort on an international scale comes in this month's issue, with the publication of an article written by members and invitees of the International Head and Neck Scientific Group. 2 The group have studied and reported on the behaviour of adenoid cystic tumours arising in rare sites outside of the salivary glands, including the sinonasal tract, nasopharynx, lacrimal gland and external auditory canal. Of the 774 patients identified worldwide, only 5.3 per cent developed documented regional lymph node metastases. The authors conclude that elective neck dissection is not routinely indicated in most patients with these tumours. In addition, the behaviour of adenoid cystic carcinoma at these sites was shown to parallel its behaviour in major salivary glands.Reference Ali, Yeo, Magos, Dickson and Junor 3 , Reference Sood, McGurk and Vaz 4
Imaging of the Eustachian tube in real time has proven difficult up until now, both because of its anatomical orientation, and the dynamic nature of its open and closed states. A state-of-the-art technique reported by Jufas et al. in this month's issue overcomes some of the challenges associated with conventional computed tomography (CT) imaging of the Eustachian tube by applying a novel imaging modality known as four-dimensional (4D) CT.Reference Jufas, Deveau and Bance 5 This imaging technique provides a fourth dimension to CT sequences of the Eustachian tube (namely time), enabling dynamic imaging. Accompanying the article is a featured video demonstrating a 4D CT cine sequence of the Eustachian tube during a Valsalva manoeuvre (downloadable from: https://goo.gl/AzeLtO). This innovative technique may assist in the diagnosis of patients with abnormal Eustachian tube states, such as Eustachian tube dysfunction or patulous Eustachian tube. Another advantage includes its ability to monitor responses to newer treatments.Reference Jufas and Patel 6 – Reference Rodrigues, Waddell and Cook 8
An elegant study by Mahajan et al. in this month's issue measured various cardiopulmonary physiological parameters in 25 children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, both pre- and post-operatively.Reference Mahajan, Thakur, Azad, Mohindroo and Negi 9 The authors found that adenotonsillar hypertrophy affects cardiopulmonary function, which eventually becomes irreversible with time. Furthermore, the authors found significant improvements in pulmonary flow acceleration time, mean pulmonary arterial pressure and tricuspid regurgitation following adenotonsillectomy. The article argues in favour of early intervention in children with obstructive sleep apnoea secondary to adenotonsillar hypertrophy, in order to avoid the development of irreversible cardiopulmonary complications.
Also featuring in this month's issue, Stavrakas et al. continue the regenerative medicine theme and explore the role of platelet-rich plasma in otolaryngology,Reference Stavrakas, Karkos, Markou and Grigoriadis 10 , Reference Wormald, Fishman, Juniat, Tolley and Birchall 11 and Mudry et al. unleash some of the magic behind Blakesley and his ethmoid forceps one hundred years on.Reference Mudry, Lubbers and Pirsig 12
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed to the success of this year's journal, including all the authors, Editors, Assistant Editors, production staff, our publishing partners at Cambridge University Press and all other colleagues at The Journal for their hard work during 2016. Finally, we wish all of our readers a happy and successful 2017.
