Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2012

Mentor:                       Dr. Pete Batra                      
Department:               Otolaryngology                     
Room number:           G8-246
Mail Code:                 9035
Phone number:          214-648-3104
E-mail:                        Pete.Batra@UTSouthwestern.edu
Project title:                “Quality of Life After Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Surgery for Sinonasal and Anterior Skull Base Tumors.”

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 012012-131

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): N/A           

Project Type:  Patient-based research

Brief Description of Project: This study will evaluate quality of life outcomes for patients who have undergone minimally invasive endoscopic surgery for sinonasal and anterior skull base tumors (“Skull Base Patients”) at UT Southwestern and its affiliated hospitals, and to compare these results to the quality of life outcomes obtained by other treatment methods.  The information gathered for this Study will be of two general types: (1) retrospective information from chart reviews of Skull Base Patients; and (2) prospective information from the Anterior Skull Base Questionnaire (ASBQ) (and Sinonasal Outcome Test-20 Questionnaire “SNOT-20”), if applicable) that Skull Base Patients will be requested to complete.  The ASBQ is a validated instrument that includes questions relating to quality of life, head and neck cancer, anterior skull base tumors, and postoperative morbidity.

From the retrospective chart review, data will be compiled, such as demographics, past medical history, symptoms, exam findings, prior treatment, complications, treatment modalities, tumor characteristics, Lund-Kennedy Scores, SNOT-20 results, and radiographic findings.  Prospectively, Skull Base Patients will be requested to complete the ASBQ (and SNOT-20, if applicable) to measure their quality of life.  The data from the retrospective chart review, ASBQ, and SNOT-20 will be analyzed to better understand quality of life outcomes for patients with sinonasal and/or anterior skull base tumors.

The medical student, Brian Harrow, will be involved in all aspects of this study—conducting the retrospective chart review, collecting prospective information from patients, analyzing the information, comparing results to the literature, and publishing the findings in a journal.