4th European Congress of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.

Berlin, Germany, was the site of the 4th European Congress of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and the German Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (der Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf-und Hals-Chirurgie) from May 13 to 18. I was honored to be asked by Dr. Klaus Jahnke, congress president and president of the German Society of ORLHNS, to present a paper entitled, "Facial Nerve Tumors: A Report of 50 Cases." The European congress is patterned after the meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. This year, it was held in the impressive Internationales Congress Centrum Berlin, a huge, ultramodern convention facility. The quality of the scientific papers, exhibits, and posters was of the highest anywhere.

Europe, currently free of restrictive government and commercial restraints on medicine, offers the opportunity for medical innovation and the introduction and use of advanced new medical technology. Reports were given on the totally implantable hearing aid, which is manufactured and currently available to the German public (and paid for by the government). Also discussed were reports of more than 300 cases worldwide of a partially implantable hearing aid, which was developed and manufactured in the United States but is not currently available for general use here. The program included a wide range of other ENT subjects, including the latest on clinical genetics and endoscopic sinus surgery. Of particular interest was a scientific session on sleep apnea.

The venue in Berlin, with the still-unrepaired Kaiser Wilhelm Gedachtniskirche (the city's landmark church, which was extensively damaged during World War II), was especially interesting because of the great progress that has been made in incorporating the previously drab and depressed East Berlin into Western culture. We enjoyed the wonderful Berlin Symphony, a State Opera production of Mozart, and a river cruise to historically important Potsdam.

Of special interest was the monumental decision to hold the entire congress exclusively in English, with no translation whatsoever. As was pointed out during the closing ceremony by the congress's guest of honor, Prof. Dr. Deitrich Plester, all serious scientific meetings and publications in the foreseeable future will use the English language. How fortunate for those of us who regularly use English now. I offer my congratulations to Dr. Jahnke and the organizing committees for producing an outstandingly successful meeting.

JACK L. PULEC

Editor-in-Chief