ObjectiveTreatment advances have evolved to prolong the duration of life in lateral skull base tumor patients, but focus is now being placed more on quality of life. The aim of this study was to help elucidate the quality of life in participants following treatment for lateral skull base tumors.MethodA total of 21 participants agreed to take part in the study. Each completed a semistructured interview, focusing on quality of life following radiotherapy or surgical treatment for different lateral skull base tumor diagnoses. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, with a thematic analysis of the transcripts undertaken.ResultsFour overriding themes were identified and labeled: 1) perceptions of quality of life and coping strategies; 2) impact of specific symptoms on daily life activities; 3) initial recovery period posttreatment; 4) information surrounding treatment and administration. The majority of participants reported an indifferent or positive impact of treatment on quality of life, with various coping mechanisms such as adjustment, thinking positively, and selective attention used to deal with stressors. Many participants described frustration and concern at the lack of information surrounding management; however, others were aware of the risks of excessive information and tentative of receiving more.ConclusionAdjustment following treatment could possibly support the phenomena of cognitive adaptation or response shift. The positive role of social support and lack of information has highlighted the need for more support in this cohort of patients, but crucially within a patient‐centered holisitc framework. Implications for a tailored quality of life tool are discussed.

Reconstruction within the head and neck is challenging. Defects can be anatomically complex and may already be compromised by scarring, inflammation, and infection. Tissue grafts and vascularised flaps (either pedicled or free) bring healthy tissue to a compromised wound for optimal healing and are the current gold standard for the repair of such defects, but disadvantages are their limited availability, the difficulty of shaping the flap to fit the defect and, most importantly, donor site morbidity. The importance of function and aesthetics has driven advances in the accuracy of surgical techniques. We discuss current advances in reconstruction within oral and maxillofacial surgery. Developments in navigation, three-dimensional imaging, stereolithographic models, and the use of custom-made implants can aid and improve the accuracy of existing reconstructive methods. Robotic surgery, which does not modify existing techniques of reconstruction, allows access, resection of tumours, and reconstruction with conventional free flap techniques in the oropharynx without the need for mandibulotomy. Tissue engineering and distraction osteogenesis avoid the need for autologous tissue transfer and can therefore be seen as more conservative methods of reconstruction. Recently, facial allotransplantation has allowed whole anatomical facial units to be replaced with the possibility of sensory recovery and reanimation being completed in a single procedure. However, patients who have facial allotransplants are subject to life-long immunosuppression so this method of reconstruction should be limited to selected cases.

Introduction: 1–2% of head and neck malignancies are Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC). Disease relapse is common but occurs late. Treatment is surgical with post-operative radiotherapy when incomplete resection has occurred. Radiotherapy does not benefit overall survival and the literature is contradictory regarding its control of local disease.

A 34-year-old male was admitted to hospital for the suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis. He underwent haematological investigations and radiological tests which were compatible with this diagnosis. However, the lack of microbiological confirmation together with the rapid deterioration of clinical, radiological and functional status led towards the diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis. A computed tomographic guided biopsy and cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody test proved this positive. In an area where the incidence of tuberculosis is the highest in Europe, it should be emphasised that not all patients presenting with haemoptysis and foreign travel should be assumed to have tuberculosis.

We present the case of a 62-year-old woman who presented a histological diagnostic conundrum. The patient presented with a four year history of a slow growing painless papular lesion on her left nostril. On clinical examination, a firm, red lesion 15 mm in diameter was located just lateral to the left nostril, penetrating deeply beneath the alar base to involve the nasal sill. It was palpable from the inner aspect of the lip. Biopsy suggested the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma. This was compatible with the clinical appearance. However histological examination of the excised lesion showed that it was either a trichoblastoma or a trichoblastic carcinoma. A further specialist dermatopathologist opinion was sought. It concluded that the lesion was an aggressive trichoblastoma, or trichogenic tumour and the patient had postoperative radiotherapy to the area.

Aims: With the recent reconfiguration of medical training resulting from MMC, trainees in OMFS are entering the speciality with increasingly less dentoalveolar experience and much attention has focussed on this basic competency as a prerequisite to OMFS specialist training. The fundamentals of dentoalveolar surgery are learned initially in dental school with opportunities for postgraduate dentoalveolar experience now much reduced. Undergraduate dentoalveolar education has thus assumed a disproportionate importance in acquiring this surgical skill. This study aimed to examine the extent to which undergraduate dental students were satisfied with their dentoalveolar training and their relevant experience in the subject.

Introduction: Ultrasound (US), using high resolution transducers, has replaced scintography in the evaluation of thyroid morphology due to its greater sensitivity, thus facilitating the detection of asymptomatic small thyroid nodules. These so called thyroid “incidentalomas” have created a clinical dilemma as to their correct management. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of thyroid pathology in patients attending for US scans for other head and neck pathology.