Research Labs
Pediatric Otolaryngology
About Anna Messner, MD
Currently ongoing research projects in pediatric otolaryngology include studies on congenital cytomegalovirus infection, ototoxicity, perioperative steroids in tonsillectomy patients, rhabdomyosarcoma, vocal cord paralysis, and Coblation tonsillectomy. In October, 2003 a NIH sponsored study with Dr. Anna Messner as a co-investigator in association with faculty from the Stanford Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease began screening 20,000 newborns for CMV infection. Those identified as positive will undergo regular hearing evaluations over the next 5 years to determine the epidemiology and disease burden of sensorineural hearing loss. Dr. Messner also is conducting studies on perioperative steroids in tonsillectomy patients, rhabdomyosarcoma, and vocal cord paralysis. Dr. Kay Chang is working with the Pediatric Oncology division to detect and eventually prevent ototoxicity in patients undergoing cisplatin/carboplatin chemotherapy. He is also conducting basic science research in prevention of cisplatin ototoxicity in his auditory physiology laboratory. A trial of Coblation tonsillectomy versus electrocautery tonsillectomy is currently ongoing under the direction of Dr. Chang.
