About

Andrey Filimonov, MD, Phar.D, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He completed his MD in 2017 at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and earned his Pharm.D in 2013 from Rutgers - Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy. He holds medical licensure in New Jersey and is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology - Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. His professional focus is within the field of otolaryngology, and he is actively involved in clinical practice and education at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Further details about his specific research interests or contributions are not provided on the page.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Internal medicine
• Computer Science
• Radiology
• Microbiology
• Biology
• Nuclear medicine
• Surgery
• Virology
• Computational biology
• Human–computer interaction

Selected publications

• Facial Nerve Palsy in Malignant Otitis Externa Hospitalizations: Outcomes and Risk Factors

  Otolaryngology · 2026-01-08

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  OBJECTIVE: To provide a description of the occurrence of facial nerve palsy in hospitalizations for malignant otitis externa and to compare the demographic characteristics, hospital traits, comorbidities, and outcomes between patients with and without palsy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional database study. SETTING: 2016 to 2022 National Inpatient Sample (NIS). METHODS: Hospitalizations for malignant otitis externa were identified using ICD-10 diagnosis codes, and facial nerve palsy was identified using secondary diagnosis codes. Weighted discharge level rates of facial nerve palsy were calculated, and demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes were compared between patients with and without facial nerve palsy. RESULTS: 695 (12.4%) of 5,585 MOE inpatient stays involved facial nerve palsy. Stays involving palsy were significantly more likely to occur in older patients (71.16 ± 13.4 years vs 56.07 ± 21.1 years, P < .001), in men (70.7% vs 55.6%, P < .001), have a higher number of diagnoses (17.51 vs 13.2, P < .001) and chronic conditions (7.91 vs 7.01, P = .001) than stays without palsy. Diabetes with chronic complications, complicated and uncomplicated hypertension, and peripheral vascular disease were all significantly more common within the palsy group. Hospitalizations with a palsy diagnosis were associated with longer hospital stays, (7.80 ± 7.5 days vs 5.21 ± 6.8 days, P < .001), with smaller proportions of stays resulting in routine discharge. CONCLUSION: One in eight US inpatient stays for MOE involved facial nerve palsy, which was associated with older age, advanced comorbidities, longer hospitalizations, and increased care needs following discharge. These findings support the association of facial nerve palsy with heightened comorbidity burden.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Sinonasal Cholesteatoma Presenting Within the Maxillary Sinus: A Case Report

  Case Reports in Otolaryngology · 2026-01-01

  articleOpen access

  Objectives: Epidermal inclusion cysts are a common type of benign cutaneous cyst. When located in the mastoid cavity, they are more commonly known as cholesteatomas. However, it is extremely rare to be present within the paranasal sinuses, with 20 known cases involving the maxillary sinus. This is a case presentation of an epidermal inclusion cyst of the maxillary sinus, describing its clinical presentation, identifying pathological correlations, and highlighting the importance of early recognition and management. Study Design: A case report. Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records and pathology findings was performed. Results: A previously healthy 20-year-old male presented with several months of bilateral nasal obstruction refractory to medical therapy. Nasal endoscopy demonstrated a deviated septum and edema of the left middle meatus. Noncontrast computed tomography demonstrated opacification of the left maxillary sinus with bony expansion. Of note, there was the appearance of an ectopic tooth within the posterior aspect of the maxillary sinus. Surgical management included septoplasty and left endoscopic maxillary mega-antrostomy. Histopathologic examination of the left maxillary sinus contents was diagnostic of an epidermal inclusion cyst. There was improvement of symptoms and no recurrence or residual cyst during postoperative follow-up at 6 months. Conclusion: This case underscores the need to consider the extremely rare entity of an epidermal inclusion cyst within the differential diagnosis for chronic sinusitis and the need for careful review of imaging for surgical planning. Awareness of this presentation will facilitate accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of this rare disease.

  PublisherDOI

• Otolaryngology Workforce Projections in the United States, 2021–2036

  Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology · 2025-05-24 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Objective: To analyze projections of otolaryngology workforce supply and demand in the U.S. from 2021 to 2036. Methods: Otolaryngology workforce projection data from the Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW), Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Health Workforce Simulation Model (HWSM), and National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (NCHWA) were collected and analyzed to project supply versus demand from 2021 to 2036. The adequacy of the projected otolaryngology workforce, measured as the supply-demand ratio, was the main outcome measurement. Results: In 2021, it was assumed that the supply of otolaryngologists matched the demand. From 2021 to 2036, the total otolaryngologist supply is projected to decrease from 11,800 full-time equivalents (FTEs) to 11,620 FTEs, a 1.5% decline, while total demand is projected to increase by 1050 FTEs (8.9% increase) to 12,850 FTEs. This projects a growing shortfall of 1230 FTEs, resulting in 90.4% workforce adequacy. The projected adequacy is geographically disparate, with 98% workforce adequacy in metropolitan areas versus 35.1% in nonmetropolitan areas by 2036. By this date, otolaryngology is projected to have the third highest rate of workforce adequacy (90.4%) among eight surgical specialties studied. Conclusion: Though the HRSA's HWSM predicts a minor shortfall in the otolaryngology workforce supply compared to demand by 2036, the impact on workforce adequacy is significant. Regional variations and scenario outcomes underscore the need for continued research to update these forecasts, which carry important implications for physicians, patients, and policymakers in addressing workforce disparities and ensuring equitable access to otolaryngologic care across the nation. Level of Evidence: 4.

  PublisherDOI

• Modified 5‐Item Frailty Index and Postoperative Outcomes Following Parotidectomy for Malignancy

  Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology · 2025-09-13

  articleOpen access

  ABSTRACT Objective Frailty is a predictor of poor outcomes following surgery for malignancy. Our study investigates the association between the modified 5‐item frailty index (mFI‐5) and postoperative outcomes following parotidectomy for malignancy. Study Design Cross‐sectional database study. Setting National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). Methods The 2005–2018 NSQIP was retrospectively queried for patients undergoing parotidectomy for malignancy. Cases were stratified by the modified 5‐item frailty index (mFI‐5), which was calculated by the presence of 5 comorbidities: hypertension requiring medication, diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure in the last 30 days, lung pathology, and functional health status. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify associations between mFI‐5 and demographic, comorbid, and complication variables. Results A total of 14,567 patients were identified and stratified by the mFI‐5. Univariate analysis showed an increasing incidence of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class, all comorbidities, and all complications with increasing mFI‐5 score ( p &lt; 0.001). Multivariable regressions showed increased odds of any surgical complication in patients with mFI‐5 ≥ 2 compared with mFI‐5 = 0 (aOR 2.56; 95% CI: 1.37–4.76, p = 0.011), as well as increased odds of unplanned readmission (aOR 4.02; 95% CI: 1.16–13.97, p = 0.032) and reoperation (aOR 6.61; 95% CI: 1.07–40.68, p = 0.042). Conclusion The mFI‐5 is associated with increased incidence of comorbidities and complications, as well as increased odds of surgical complications, unplanned readmission, and reoperation in patients undergoing parotidectomy for malignancy, independent of age and ASA class. The mFI‐5 can be utilized in the risk stratification of these patients.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• <scp>RADA</scp> ‐16 Reduces Postoperative Epistaxis After Inferior Turbinate Submucosal Resection

  The Laryngoscope · 2025-05-19 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVES: RADA-16 is a self-assembling peptide matrix with the ability to form a hydrogel structure, showing promise for improved wound healing and hemostasis. Our objective was to understand the utility of RADA-16 on postoperative bleeding rates following inferior turbinate submucosal resection (ITR) surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: Electronic health records of patients who underwent ITR surgery with a single surgeon from January 2020 to March 2024 were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine differences in postoperative epistaxis rates between RADA-16 and non-RADA-16 cohorts. Further analysis was performed to compare healthcare-associated costs. RESULTS: Our analysis included 985 patients who underwent ITR, of whom 571 received RADA-16 and 414 did not. Overall, 1.11% of patients experienced postoperative bleeding, 0.35% in the RADA-16 cohort and 2.17% in the non-RADA-16 cohort. Patients receiving RADA-16 had a significantly lower risk of postoperative hemorrhage (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.036-0.808, p = 0.026). Comparison of the two cohorts showed no significant difference in the prevalence of additional nasal surgery or bleeding disorders. The non-RADA-16 group was more likely to be on anticoagulation treatment (p < 0.001); however, no relationship between anticoagulant usage and bleeding episodes was observed. After cost-effectiveness analysis, we found the bleeding cost per patient was $379.74 for the RADA-16 group and $436.21 for the non-RADA-16 group (p = 0.36). CONCLUSIONS: RADA-16 is believed to improve wound healing and hemostasis. In our study, we found that patients receiving RADA-16 are less likely to experience epistaxis following ITR surgery.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Potential Cost Savings in Medicare Part D for Otolaryngologic Medications

  Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery · 2025-03-28

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Our study analyzes potential savings and losses for Medicare Part D using Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company (MCCPDC) as an alternative medication procurement method for the 75 most commonly prescribed medications by otolaryngologists in 2022. Monthly standard MCCPDC costs and imputed Medicare Part D monthly costs for each prescription medication were compared. Our results indicated heterogenous efficiency of sourcing medications through MCCPDC due to some potential cost savings but other substantial losses. 45.3% of the top 75 otolaryngologic prescription medications sorted by total spending were not available on MCCPDC, indicating the need for more affordable access to expensive medications. Additionally, antibiotics consistently displayed potential losses through MCCPDC procurement, suggesting Medicare's ability to achieve discount pricing for particular drug categories. Hence, providers should consider utilizing direct-to-consumer (DTC) models on a case-by-case basis, and future cost-saving investigations including additional DTC models should be conducted.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Machine Learning Predicts 30‐Day Readmission and Mortality After Surgical Resection of Head and Neck Cancer

  OTO Open · 2025-01-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Objective: To develop and validate a machine learning model to identify patients at high risk of 30-day mortality and hospital readmission using routinely collected health care data. Study Design: Prognostic predictive modeling and retrospective cohort study. The study was conducted in 2024 using data from 2006 to 2018, with at least a 30-day follow-up. Setting: The 2006 to 2018 National Cancer Database (NCDB). Methods: The study used deidentified NCDB data on 103,891 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients who underwent surgical resection. Machine learning models were trained on 80% of the data, tested on the remaining 20%, and evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC) and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis to identify key predictors for 30-day mortality and readmission. Results: Among 103,891 patients, 5838 (5.6%) were readmitted, and 829 (0.8%) died within 30 days. The median age was 62, 69% male, and 89% white. Predictors included demographic and clinical data from the NCDB. Five machine learning models were combined and achieved an AUC of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.77-0.83) for mortality prediction and 0.67 (95% CI: 0.65-0.68) for readmission prediction. SHAP analysis identified sex and urban-rural index as key predictors of mortality and readmission, respectively. Conclusion: Machine learning models can accurately predict mortality and readmission risks, offering insights into the most influential factors. With further validation, these models may enhance clinical decision-making in postsurgical care for HNSCC patients.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Cost Savings Analysis for Otolaryngologic Medications Using Direct‐to‐Consumer Models

  The Laryngoscope · 2025-03-19

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Rapid growth of prescription medication spending has contributed to Medicare accounting for 32% of total national health spending on retail prescription medications as of 2021 [1, 2]. Out-of-pocket (OOP) costs and monthly premiums for beneficiaries remain high due to restrictions on Medicare's negotiation power [3]. In response, direct-to-consumer (DTC) approaches have evolved to increase price transparency and reduce intermediaries. By analyzing savings through DTC methods, expansion of Medicare's negotiation power to match lower prices and utilization of alternatives to traditional routes for sourcing Medicare Part D prescription medications could be employed. Using the 10 most prescribed and expended-on medications by otolaryngologists in 2022, this study examines potential savings if three DTC methods (Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company [MCCPDC], GoodRx, and SingleCare) act as procurement substitutes to traditional Medicare prescription drug sources. These three large and popular companies were specifically selected to encompass both cost-plus-pricing models (MCCPDC) and coupon-based discounts (GoodRx and SingleCare), offering diverse approaches for cost reductions. Data was utilized from DTC websites and 2022 Medicare Part D files, with analyses performed on Microsoft Excel. Medications only with singular known forms and accessible listings on at least one DTC website were included to prevent unclear delineation in the Medicare Part D database that would hinder direct comparison [4]. Quantity was held at the smallest count common among the three platforms, typically 1- or 30-count. Potential cost savings were determined by multiplying the difference of imputed monthly costs for the lowest unit price of drugs between the three companies with the total reported 2022 30-day prescriptions in Medicare Part D. 2022 Medicare prices were adjusted using the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost data to estimate 2024 prices. When sorted by the most frequently filled prescriptions, the following 6 medications show total potential savings of $47,129,391.53 if MCCPDC, GoodRx, or SingleCare were to be used by Medicare Part D as the direct source of prescription medications: Fluticasone Propionate—Flonase ($22,450,486.03), Azelastine HCL—Optivar ($11,764,242.03), Azelastine HCL—Astelin ($11,109,460.47), Mometasone Furoate—Nasonex ($1,479,453.81), Omeprazole ($188,128.86), and Levothyroxine Sodium ($137,620.33). The following 4 medications show total potential losses of −$28,138,705.29: Ofloxacin—Floxin (−$21,137,120.77), Amoxicillin/Potassium Clavulanate (−$5,939,329.05), Azithromycin (−$538,423.70), and Cephalexin—Keflex (−$523,831.77) (Table 1). When sorted by prescriptions accounting for the highest expenditure, the following 8 medications show total potential savings of $48,866,237.58: Fluticasone Propionate—Flonase ($22,450,486.03), Azelastine HCL—Optivar ($11,764,242.03), Azelastine HCL—Astelin ($11,109,460.47), Mometasone Furoate—Nasonex ($1,479,453.81), Dexlansoprazole ($1,171,407.62), Azelastine/Fluticasone ($565,438.43), Omeprazole ($188,128.86), and Levothyroxine Sodium ($137,620.33). The following 2 medications show total potential losses of −$27,076,449.82: Ofloxacin—Floxin (−$21,137,120.77), Amoxicillin/Potassium Clavulanate (−$5,939,329.05) (Table S1). MCCPDC and coupon models aim to bypass administrative inefficiencies and pharmaceutical middlemen to achieve affordable prices for consumers, warranting specialty-specific investigations regarding the efficiency of choosing such DTC models [5]. Similar studies have shown annual potential savings of $141.5 million in ophthalmologic drugs, $661.8 million in oncologic drugs, $1.29 billion in urologic drugs, and $8.6 billion on medications across all primary subspecialties [3, 6-8]. Our findings suggest that potential savings under MCCPDC, GoodRx, or SingleCare procurement for some otolaryngologic medications may be offset by significant losses for others, underscoring the complexity of transitioning entirely to a direct-to-consumer model. As previous studies have discussed, the efficiencies of discount options are heterogeneous, with a lack of universal applicability across all medications [4]. In particular, our results showed that antibiotics generally were less expensive within Medicare Part D rather than DTC platforms. This discrepancy may be influenced by Medicare Part D plans leveraging various factors to receive more discounts for particular medication categories within drug distribution models, such as rebates and volume-based discounts [9]. Neither of the platforms was consistently the most affordable across the most commonly filled medications, as indicated in Table 1, with MCCPDC being the most affordable for 4 medications, GoodRx for 2 medications, and SingleCare for 4 medications. In addition, neither of the platforms was consistently the most affordable across the medications accounting for the highest spending, as indicated in Table S1, with MCCPDC being the most affordable for 3 medications, GoodRx for 2 medications, and SingleCare for 5 medications. Hence, providers should consider the hybrid integration of DTC sources for select prescription workflows and discuss these options with patients to improve adherence by reducing financial barriers [3]. Comparison between the three DTC methods was not studied as publicly available listings of DTC medications are not typically amenable to high-quality statistical analysis, warranting additional analysis to determine the most cost-effective model. Study limitations include the exclusion of multiple-form medications due to a lack of specificity within the Medicare Part D files, and pricing calculations subject to fluctuations of time and market. Furthermore, alternative distribution companies, such as warehouse clubs (i.e., Costco and Sam's Club), may reduce costs for the consumer due to streamlined implementation challenges and procurement, but these clubs often do not allow customers to accurately view pricing online without an active membership account, complicating cost savings analysis, and were therefore excluded [10]. Analysis of DTC platforms as an alternative for Medicare Part D's sourcing of otolaryngology medications is of ever-growing importance in light of increased government spending on prescription medications. Our study suggests a multifaceted approach, where combinations of procurement methods are considered to maximize cost efficiency. Further research is needed to explore integrations of DTC platforms into Medicare's sourcing strategies. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Table S1. Savings profile for the top 10 otolaryngologic medications meeting inclusion criteria by total 2022 Medicare Part D spending. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Evaluation of Large Language Models' Concordance With Guidelines on Olfaction

  Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology · 2025-03-22

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  ABSTRACT Objective To assess the concordance of artificial intelligence (AI)‐generated information with the 2022 International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Olfaction (ICAR‐O). Methods Forty‐two guidelines were extracted from the ICAR‐O. Each guideline was converted into a question, which was presented to ChatGPT version 4.o and Google Gemini. Concordance was deemed an agreement between the AI response and the clinical recommendation. Credibility was granted if the AI platform provided a credible resource. Accuracy was graded on a Likert scale (0: entirely inaccurate information, 1: mix of accurate and inaccurate information, 2: entirely accurate information). Statistical analysis was performed. Results A total of 84 responses were generated. The mean accuracy of the ChatGPT and Gemini responses was 1.85 and 1.48 out of 2, respectively, indicating that the responses contained a mix of accurate and inaccurate information. ChatGPT responses were significantly more accurate than Gemini responses ( p = 0.001). Of the ChatGPT responses, 78.57% ( N = 33) were concordant with the ICAR‐O guidelines and 100% ( N = 42) cited a credible resource. Of the Gemini responses, 66.67% ( N = 28) were concordant and 97.62% ( N = 41) cited a credible resource. There were no significant differences in concordance ( p = 0.22) or credibility ( p = 0.31) between the AI platforms. Conclusion ChatGPT provided more accurate information than Gemini on olfaction. However, overall, both platforms did not consistently align with clinical guidelines. AI platforms require further evaluation before clinical implementation or use as educational adjuncts. Level of Evidence N/A.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Definitive Local Therapy in cM1 Major Salivary Gland Cancer

  Otolaryngology · 2025-09-12 · 1 citations

  article

  OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of surgical resection and radiotherapy on overall survival (OS) in clinically distantly metastatic (cM1) major salivary gland cancer (MSGC). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: The 2006 to 2020 hospital-based National Cancer Database. METHODS: The 2006 to 2020 National Cancer Database was queried for patients with cM1 MSGC undergoing chemotherapy. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression models were implemented. RESULTS: Of 700 patients satisfying inclusion criteria, 219 (37.8%) underwent chemotherapy alone (ie, no local therapy), 159 (27.4%) underwent low-dose chemoradiotherapy (CRT), 56 (9.7%) underwent high-dose CRT, 47 (8.1%) underwent surgical resection + chemotherapy, 47 (8.1%) underwent surgical resection + low-dose CRT, and 52 (9.0%) underwent surgical resection + high-dose CRT; 5-year OS was 10%, 12%, 34%, 25%, 23%, and 28%, respectively (P < .001). Patients undergoing surgical resection underwent high-dose radiotherapy more frequently (N = 53, 36.1% vs N = 56, 12.9%) but multiple-agent chemotherapy less frequently (N = 105, 62.5% vs N = 363, 75.3%) than those not undergoing surgical resection (P < .005). Compared with chemotherapy alone, surgical resection + chemotherapy (aHR 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53-0.86), high-dose CRT (aHR 0.55, 95% CI 0.41-0.73), and immunotherapy (aHR 0.49, 95% CI 0.35-0.69) were associated with higher OS on multivariable Cox regression (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: A minority of patients with cM1 MSGC underwent surgical resection or high-dose CRT. Despite the high rate of PSM, surgical resection was associated with higher OS than chemotherapy alone. High-dose CRT was associated with the highest OS. Definitive local therapy may benefit select patients with cM1 MSGC. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Jean Anderson Eloy

  Neurological Surgery

  61 shared

• Aman M. Patel

  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

  52 shared

• Soly Baredes

  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

  37 shared

• Lucy Revercomb

  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

  32 shared

• Jacob S. Brady

  University of Washington

  24 shared

• Wayne D. Hsueh

  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

  24 shared

• Richard Chan Woo Park

  Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

  20 shared

• Ariana L. Shaari

  Thyroid Head and Neck Cancer Foundation

  20 shared

Education

• M.D.

  Rutgers

  2017

• Other

  Rutgers - Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy

  2013