Impact of fungal infection in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis

Mycoses of the nose and the paranasal sinuses occur more frequently than has been assumed. Aspergill us fumigatus is definitely the most common fungus reported as infections agents in the paranasal sinuses. In this study, 43 patients presented with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps were subjected to surgery by functional endoscopic sinus surgery [FESS]. Tissues obtained from the ethmoides were cultured for possible fungus. The culture was positive in 19 cases. Fungal infection was common in patients with nasal polyposis [52%] than those with chronic rhinosinusitis [35%]. Genus Aspergillus was the commented [8 cases], followed by Cladosporium [6 cases], other genera were also isolated

Induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy in the management of locally advanced cancer larynx

This study was performed on 24 patients aiming to determine the efficiency and toxicity of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy. They received three cycles of platinol, leucovorin and 5-flurouracil, followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy using cisplatin 20 mg/m2 weekly. After induction therapy only, 2 patients showed a complete clinical response, while 18 patients showed a partial response and 4 remained with progressive disease. After completion of chemoradiotherapy, 85% of the patients showed a complete remission clinically, endoscopically and by histopathological study, while 4 patients showed a partial response and underwent palliative laryngectomy

Composite homograft for tympanoplasty and tympanomastoid surgery

Preserved homologous septal cartilage covered by temporalis fascia had been used to reconstruct the posterior meatal wall in 10 cases [group I]. Group II included other 10 cases with tympanic membrane retraction. The retracted segment is excised, silastic sheet is spread, the defect is repaired with slice of cartilage and two layers of fascia, between which the handle of malleus had been sandwiched. An air-bane gap of less than or equal to 30 db was obtained in 70% of the first group and in 90% of the second group. Homologous cartilage grafts can be expected to remain as functional and durable components and supply firm support to the canal and tympanic membrane, preventing retraction at the grafted site