The paper by Harris et al.Reference Harris, Thomas and Passant¹ in this month's issue of The Journal of Laryngology & Otology examines the incidence of bony metastases in oropharyngeal cancer and the difference human papilloma virus (HPV) positivity makes to this. The emergence of HPV is well known, and the need for risk stratificationReference Hamilton, Khan, O'Hara and Paleri² and survival outcomesReference Kao and Ooi³ are of interest. Bony metastases are rare in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Harris and colleaguesReference Harris, Thomas and Passant¹ looked at 180 consecutive patients over 5 years, and found that the expression of p16 was associated with a significant incidence of bony metastasis in this cohort. This study seeks to answer a specific question and is an important addition to the literature.

The study by Arslan et al.Reference Arslan, Yıldızoğlu, Durmaz and Çetinkaya⁴ describes a simple and elegant method of improving the reliability and speed of performing anterior rhinomanometry. The authors describe preparing the nasal skin using benzoin tincture solution before placing foam tapes. This achieves better adhesion, shortens the procedure duration and significantly increases the test reliability.

Todt and colleaguesReference Todt, Mittmann, Ernst, Mutze and Rademacher⁵ examined the effects of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), at 1.5 T, in a small group of patients who were implanted with the new Vibrant Soundbridge^™ implant VSB 503, and found this to be free of the complications that they had previously encountered with the Vibrant Soundbridge 502 generation implants.Reference Todt, Wagner, Goetze, Scholz, Seidl and Ernst⁶ These complications included pain and transfer function from the floating mass transducer dislocations. Although a limited study, the new Vibrant Soundbridge type 503 generation device seems to offer better compatibility with MRI scanning. The number of patients who have received a Vibrant Soundbridge implant in the UK is small, but this is on the increase. As more and more situations arise where MRI becomes necessary in these implanted patients, information on MRI compatibility becomes more relevant and important.

On a different note, we would like to acknowledge our senior editor Robin Youngs, who has been an Editor of The Journal from 2005, and who retires from the editorship this month. Robin leaves The Journal in excellent shape; he has worked very hard to serve our readers, and to contribute to knowledge and the specialty. He was successful in all he undertook; the number of initiatives and innovations that he has been responsible for has enriched The Journal and the mission of the charity. This will remain his hallmark. We are delighted that he has accepted to be Editor Emeritus.