With the recent results of large phase III trials, immuno-oncological concepts are moving into the focus of curative treatment for locally advanced head and neck cancers. In particular, perioperative immunotherapy-i.e., the combination of neoadjuvant and adjuvant checkpoint inhibition-has emerged as a promising approach to improve event-free survival. This article presents current strategies of neoadjuvant therapy and systematically compares neoadjuvant with purely adjuvant immunotherapy in the curative setting of HNSCC. It contrasts the current data from the KEYNOTE-689 study (perioperative pembrolizumab) with those from the NIVOPOSTOP trial (adjuvant nivolumab), analyzing study designs and endpoints, as well as differences in risk definitions, distant metastasis rates, and surgical implications. In addition, the article discusses the potential roles of pathological response and microenvironment-dependent immune activation in therapeutic decision-making. The aim is to provide a current overview of which immuno-oncological strategies are presently available in the treatment of head and neck cancers and to highlight the key questions that need to be addressed in future studies.

Individual cognitive abilities are increasingly discussed as a potential factor influencing the outcomes of cochlear implant (CI) treatment. In this context, the present study investigated a possible correlation between the secondary and post-secondary education of a large cohort of CI recipients and their speech comprehension. Other variables with a potential influence on the treatment outcome included age at implantation, the duration of hearing loss, and the treatment mode.

This case report describes a patient with localized laryngeal immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis. The larynx is one of the most common sites of manifestation of localized amyloidosis. Amyloidosis leads to benign, tumor-like lesions caused by the deposition of insoluble protein aggregates, so-called fibrils. The current patient presented with the main symptom of hoarseness. Amyloidosis is most commonly treated by surgical resection of the mass. However, depending on the extent and course of disease, other therapeutic approaches are also feasible, which are discussed in this review.

Assessments in undergraduate and graduate medical education are crucial for evaluating the competencies of learners. Assessments have both a control function (summative) and a feedback function (formative). This distinction is important, as the two aspects cannot easily be combined, and, therefore, it must be considered which function should be emphasized in each case.

Tumors of the parotid gland are rare and predominantly benign. The surgical management is challenging due to the close anatomical relationship to the facial nerve. Pleomorphic adenoma and cystadenolymphoma are among the most frequently occurring lesions. The surgical approach depends on the location, size and suspected diagnosis of the lesion. While radical surgical techniques were favored in the past, current practice emphasizes reducing surgical morbidity through less invasive resection methods. In this context, extracapsular dissection offers functional advantages over more extensive resections, with similarly low recurrence rates. Complications such as facial nerve palsy, salivary fistulas and Frey's syndrome occur less frequently with milder severity and are generally well-treatable, for example, with botulinum toxin. In selected cases, such as confirmed bilateral cystadenolymphoma, a conservative wait-and-scan approach may be considered as an alternative to surgery. The goal remains the complete resection of the lesion with maximum preservation of function.

Due to their high prevalence the management of thyroid nodules requires a particularly systematic approach. If the diagnostics reveal a suspected or confirmed thyroid cancer, in most cases surgical treatment remains the primary treatment option.

The field of otorhinolaryngology and head and neck surgery comprises both conservative and surgical domains. Specialist training is often followed by in-depth surgical specialization, in the past reflected by, among other things, continued education in "specialized surgical otorhinolaryngology." This qualification was discontinued, however, by the German Medical Association's reform of the continuing medical education (CME) regulations ([Muster-]Weiterbildungsordnung, MWBO, 2003). Although it is still possible to obtain additional certification in "plastic and esthetic surgery," another advanced surgical qualification in, for example, oncology, otology, or rhinology, is currently not possible within the scope of the WBO of the medical associations. It would not appear possible to implement additional (Sect. C of the WBO) or specialist (Sect. B) CME qualifications in the near future, despite the fact that surgical specialization-in light of the necessity of sustainable quality assurance (e.g., certified cancer centers, cochlear implantation facilities, skull base centers) or the fundamental changes to the healthcare landscape (hospital reform)-seems more important than ever. On the initiative of the German Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (DGHNO-KHC), and the German Academy of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology (DAHNO), a concept to enable expert certification is to be developed in collaboration with specialist working groups. This initiative initially addresses "head and neck surgical oncology" as well as perspectives for "oto- and lateral skull base surgery" and "rhino- and anterior skull base surgery." Relevant content is stored in a logbook. The goal is to present the applicants' expertise in "head and neck surgical oncology" analogously to international standards. The certificate can be used as evidence of individual oncosurgical skills, e.g., for other certification procedures. The practical implementation is carried out by an independent certification body (ClarCert GmbH) on behalf of the DGHNO-KHC in collaboration with the DAHNO and the Oncology Working Group. Applications for the expert certificate "head and neck surgical oncology" are now open for members of the DGHNO-KHC and the DAHNO.

Structured oral examinations (SOEs) are valid instruments to assess applied knowledge and reasoning skills (competency level 2). They bridge the gap between written examinations focusing on factual knowledge (level 1) and practical formats such as objective structured clinical evaluations (OSCEs) assessing performance skills (from level 3). Through standardized case vignettes, checklists, and defined scoring criteria, SOEs offer potential for enhanced objectivity, reliability, and comparability.

Objective assessment of surgical skills remains challenging due to informal, non-standardized formats. Simulation enables controlled evaluation. In otologic surgery, myringotomy with tube placement is a suitable standard procedure.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is often a consequence of head and neck cancer. It increases morbidity and mortality and thus influences the oncological outcome of the affected person. Therefore, modern oncological care of patients with head and neck tumors includes standardized dysphagia management. Early identification and diagnosis of a swallowing disorder are mandatory. The procedures can follow a two-stage approach: first, evidence-based screening to identify high-risk patients; second, instrumental swallowing diagnostic tests to scrutinize the individual pathophysiology as a relevant basis for management and rehabilitation. This review presents the current evidence on screening procedures for swallowing disorders in patients with head and neck cancer as well as an overview of established and innovative instrumental diagnostic methods.

Meniere's disease is frequently associated with psychogenic comorbidities such as anxiety, depression, and persistent dizziness in the sense of "persistent postural perceptual dizziness" (PPPD) or reactive psychogenic dizziness.

Prehabilitation is gaining increasing importance in the care of patients with head and neck cancer. While the positive effects of exercise therapy interventions are well established in other oncological entities, the prehabilitative use of physical activity in head and neck cancer has so far been largely limited to prevention and reduction of swallowing disorders. Targeted exercise therapy interventions to enhance physical and mental performance have rarely been implemented in these patients. This article shows which aspects of the disease can be addressed through appropriate training measures. Based on the evidence, it derives how exercise control can be implemented in practice using the FITT criteria (frequency, intensity, time, type).

Objective hearing test procedures are of great importance in the expert opinion, as their results cannot be manipulated by the person being examined and they increase the correctness, accuracy, diagnostic depth, and forensic quality of an expert opinion. According to the systematic of the ascending processes of hearing, they are divided into tympanometry to examine sound conduction and peripheral neuronal processing in the acoustic reflex; otoacoustic emissions (OAE) to assess the outer hair cells in the inner ear; and the broad field of acoustic evoked potentials (AEPs), which can be used to examine various aspects of neuronal excitation processing from the spiral ganglion to the auditory center. Of all objective methods, AEPs are the most versatile because they can be used to estimate hearing thresholds in air and bone conduction, detect aspects of maturation and deprivation, and assess functional aspects of retrocochlear hearing disorders that can only be examined and detected in this way. Sufficient audiometric knowledge and strict quality assurance are absolute prerequisites for the use of all objective procedures.