It has been suggested that vascular loops in the cerebellopontine angle and internal auditory canal are involved in the etiology of audio-vestibular symptoms. Several studies have focused on the compression of the eighth cranial nerve by vascular loops but have yielded contradictory results regarding their clinical significance. The aim of this study was to investigate whether vascular loops in this region correlate with audio-vestibular symptoms and which loop features – if any – can potentially lead to symptom manifestation. This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. We performed on PubMed a literature search from November 2005 to October 2020. The search strategy included the following keywords (“vascular loops” OR “AICA loops” OR “vascular compression syndrome”) AND (“hearing loss” OR “tinnitus” OR “vertigo”). Fifteen studies were eligible and included in the analysis. Overall, the studies encompassed a total of 11,788 patients included in this review. The significantly larger group of patients (70%), in which no correlation of symptoms with vascular loops was found, suggests that vascular loops are probably anatomic variations in a substantial majority of cases with an uncommon subset causing some audio-vestibular symptoms. Even within the papers claiming a correlation, there is a multitude of symptoms that did not correlate with vascular loops. It has been suggested by most authors that magnetic resonance imaging should be performed to exclude the role of a vascular loop in the etiology of audio-vestibular symptoms only when vascular compression syndrome is suspected based on clinical indications and not routinely. Further studies would be useful in order to detail the relationship between the vascular structures and the nervous system.

Background: Laryngopharyngeal reflux may affect people of any age; still, most of the accumulated knowledge concerns adults, and evidence regarding pediatric populations remains relatively restricted. This study aims to review the most recent and emerging aspects of pediatric laryngopharyngeal reflux from the last ten years. It also attempts to identify gaps in knowledge and highlight discrepancies that future research should urgently address. Methods: An electronic search of the MEDLINE database was conducted, limited to January 2012 through December 2021. Non-English language articles, case reports, and studies that concerned a purely or predominantly adult population were excluded. The information from the articles with the most relevant contribution was initially categorized by theme and subsequently synthesized into a narrative form. Results: 86 articles were included, of which 27 were review articles, eight were surveys, and 51 were original articles. Our review systematically maps the research done in the last decade and provides an updated overview and the current state-of-the-art in this subject. Conclusions: Despite discrepancies and heterogeneity in accumulating research, evidence gathered so far endorses a need for refining an escalating multiparameter diagnostic approach. A step-wise therapeutic plan appears to be the most reasonable management approach, starting with behavioral changes for mild to moderate, uncomplicated cases and escalating to personalized pharmacotherapy options for severe or nonresponsive cases. Surgical options could be considered in the most severe cases when potentially life-threatening symptoms persist despite maximal medical therapy. Over the past decade, the amount of available evidence has been gradually increasing; however, its strength remains low. Several aspects remain markedly under-addressed, and further adequately powered, multicenter, controlled studies with uniformity in diagnostic procedures and criteria are urgently needed.

Retropharyngeal space lipomas (RSLs) comprise a group of very uncommon head and neck benign, soft tissue tumors that originally grow in the retropharyngeal space. They can develop as individual tumors or in the context of syndromic lipomatosis. Symptoms usually arise as expanding RSLs exert pressure on adjacent structures, and clinical manifestations are often atypical and overlapping. Given the rarity of this diagnosis, current evidence is scarce, providing a rather fragmented picture. A literature search was conducted in all major medical databases, without time limitations. Tumors were considered RSLs if a benign lipomatous tumor appeared to develop originally in the retropharyngeal space. Cases with syndromic lipomatosis that demonstrated at least one such tumor involving the retropharyngeal space were included. A total of 52 publications concerning 79 eligible cases were found. Two of these cases concerned patients with Multiple Symmetrical Lipomatosis. A male predominance was found (61.5%, n = 48). Dysphagia (65.2%, n = 43) was by far the most common symptom, followed by snoring (37.9%, n = 25), dyspnoea (34.8%, n = 23) and dysphonia (30.3%, n = 20). The most used imaging modality was Computed Tomography (CT) (64.1%, n = 41). Surgery was the treatment in 73 cases (93.6%). The transcervical was the most selected approach (50.7%, n = 37), followed by the transoral approach (38.4%, n = 28). Complete recovery was reported, following treatment, in 60 cases (75.9%). Retropharyngeal space lipomas are benign tumors with a higher prevalence in male patients. Dysphagia is the most common symptom. Imaging is necessary for diagnosis, with CT scanning being usually sufficient as a single modality test. More than half of the patients in the literature are treated via an external approach. Diminishing of symptoms and full postoperative recovery is the most common outcome.