Expression of concern: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology (2019) 276:1095–1100 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-019-05305-y

The Editors-in-Chief would like to alert readers that concerns have been raised that the data used in the original article belong to the University Hospital in Brussels and that authorization to use this data for publication was not given. The journal has conducted an investigation in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. Unfortunately, we have not been able to confirm or refute whether the data were collected at the University Hospital in Brussels or at Minia University Hospital or whether appropriate authorization to use the data was given. The matter is currently under investigation by the Ethics Committee of the University Hospital in Brussels and the ENT division of the Medical School at Minia University. Consequently, readers are advised to interpret the details of this article with caution. The authors Mostafa Ismail, Ahmed A. Abdelaziz and Mohab Darwish do not agree to this editorial expression of concern.