Many studies have focused on the relationship between hearing loss and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The mechanisms and causal relationship of this association are still partially unknown, and several theories have been proposed. The most accredited hypothesis is that peripheral hearing deprivation may lead to social isolation and subsequently to dementia. Another hypothesis supports the role of hearing loss on cortical processing, with an increased assignment of cognitive resources to auditory processing rather than to other cognitive processes; other theories suggest changes in the brain structure following reduced peripheral auditory stimulation, or a common cause to both conditions. These preliminary findings clearly delineate the importance of further research aimed at investigating hearing impairment in AD, to a) allow early detection of people with predisposition to AD, b) improve the quality of life in AD patients with hearing loss and c) possibly prevent the progression of the disease treating the hearing impairment. In this review paper, the authors discuss current evidence on the association between hearing impairment and dementia, the identification of peripheral and central auditory dysfunction in at-risk patients as a potential early indicator of incipient AD, and the clinical aspects and the management of patients with AD and hearing loss.

Occupational noise exposure accounts for approximately 16% of all disabling hearing losses, but the true value and societal costs may be grossly underestimated because current regulations only identify hearing impairments in the workplace if exposures result in audiometric threshold shifts within a limited frequency region. Research over the past several decades indicates that occupational noise exposures can cause other serious auditory deficits such as tinnitus, hyperacusis, extended high-frequency hearing loss, and poor speech perception in noise. Beyond the audiogram, there is growing awareness that hearing loss is a significant risk factor for other debilitating and potentially life-threatening disorders such as cardiovascular disease and dementia. This review discusses some of the shortcomings and limitations of current noise regulations in the United States and Europe.

Purpose Carcinosarcoma, also known as Spindle Cell Carcinoma (SpCC), is a rare type of malignant tumor. Generally, this type of pathology occurs in the urogenital tract, the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and mammary gland; in the larynx, SpCC represents only 2–3% of all malignancies. Due to its rarity, there is currently no generally acceptable treatment guideline for this disease. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature of SpCC of larynx and report epidemiologic, clinicopathologic and main therapeutic approaches for this entity. Methods A systematic literature review was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed and Scopus databases. For this review, the results were extrapolated in the period between January 1990 to September 2020. Data extraction was performed using a standard registry database. The clinical and pathological staging were recalculated according to the Eight Edition of AJCC Cancer Staging Manual and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Version 25.0. Results A total of 111 patients affected by laryngeal carcinosarcoma were included. From our review arises that surgery is the main treatment for primary laryngeal carcinosarcoma. In this way, various techniques such as minimally invasive laryngoscopy excision, laser CO2 cordectomy, partial laryngectomy (vertical and horizontal) and total laryngectomy. The role of radiotherapy is still controversial. The overall survival (OS) for T1 stage tumor at 5 years of follow-up is 82.9%, the OS for T2 and T3 tumor is 74% and 73.4%. The OS at 5 years of follow-up is 91.7% for supraglottic tumor, 69.3% for glottic tumor and 50% for transglottic site. Subglottic site is described in only 2 cases [12–13], so the OS at 5 years is not statistically significant. The 5-year overall survival in patients without lymph nodes involvement (N0) is 90.2%, 66.7% and 50%, respectively, for N1 and N2 lesions. Conclusion Primary laryngeal carcinosarcoma is a very rare malignancy. There are no clear guidelines in the management but in the literature, surgery is described as the best modality of therapy; radiation only can be a reasonable alternative with controversial efficacy. The most important prognostic factor is the nodal metastasis.

Salivary Bypass Tube is an important tool to prevent or treat some complications of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal surgery and its placement may prove difficult. In this article, we propose a new technique to simplify its management by using an Oral/Nasal Tracheal Tube Cuffed-Reinforced that allowed us to reduce operating times, complications related to prolonged general anesthesia, and the traumas on the tissues incurred during the forced positioning of the device with standard techniques.

Perineurioma (PN) is an uncommon benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor. For the rarity of this tumor in the oral cavity, otolaryngologists and oral surgeons might not be familiar with this entity. Perineuriomas are typically benign and complete excision is deemed adequate management. Thus, their histological recognition is mandatory to avoid unnecessary overtreatment. We report the clinicopathologic findings of an uncommon variant, the Extraneural Sclerosing PN, in an unusual and never described site, the tongue.