Metaplastic Carcinoma of Breast - Squamous Variant.

Metaplastic carcinoma of breast is a rare neoplasm. Although it is a tumor of ductal type, the predominant component may have appearance other than the glandular pattern and usually runs an aggressive course.

Primary Pleomorphic Adenoma of External Auditory Canal.

Primary pleomorhic adenoma (Chondroid syringoma) arising from the external auditory canal is very rare and because of the unremarkable clinical presentation, the diagnosis is often made after microscopic examination. We reviewed the worldwide literature and found that only forty one cases have been previously reported. In this report, we describe one such unusual case. The treatment of choice is wide local excision without esthetic or functional disruption of surrounding structures, followed by careful long-term post-operative observation of the clinical course.

Lupus Vulgaris of external nose with septal perforation - A rarity in antibiotic era.

Lupus vulgaris (LV) is the commonest morphological variant of cutaneous tuberculosis. Case of LV of external nose extending to internal nose causing septal perforation is documented here. Histopathology of biopsy taken confirmed the diagnosis of LV. Patient responded well to Anti-tubercular therapy (ATT).

Giant retropharyngeal abscess secondary to tubercular spondylitis.

Chronic retropharyngeal abscess secondary to tubercular spondilitis is a rare phenomenon. Anatomical location of this abscess makes it a life threatening condition requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment thus preventing morbidity and mortality. Authors are documenting a case of tubercular spondylitis of cervical region in a 12-year old male child with huge retropharyngeal abscess extending to superior mediastinum. Clinically, patient had respiratory distress but no neurological deficit. USG (Ultrasonography) guided aspirate of abscess sent for microscopy and culture showed acid fast bacilli. Multiple USG guided aspirations under antibiotic and antitubercular cover (Category I) were done. Patient is doing well at three month follow-up.

Branchio-oto-renal syndrome.

Branchio-oto-renal syndrome (Melnick-Fraser syndrome) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by syndromic association of branchial cysts or fistulae along with external, middle & inner ear malformations and renal anomalies. Authors are reporting a 19 year male patient, who presented with profound deafness & low set "lop-ear" with right sided preauricular pit. USG abdomen revealed agenesis of the left kidney.

Tubercular Osteomyelitis of nasal bones A rare entity.

A case of tubercular osteomyelitis of nasal bones in a 10 year old child is being reported because of its extremely rare occurrence.

Giant cell reparative granuloma of the base of the skull presenting as a parapharyngeal mass.

Giant cell reparative granuloma is an infrequent non-tumoral lesion affecting the maxillary and mandibular bones and only rarely, the cranial bones. We report a case of giant cell reparative granuloma of the base of the skull in a 12-year-old female who presented with a parapharyngeal mass. Computerized Tomography (CT) showed the intracranial extension and destruction of surrounding bones.

Groundnut as the commonest foreign body of tracheobronchial tree in winter in Northern India. An analysis of fourteen cases.

In Northern India, in an institution like ours which receives quite a number of patients from surrounding rural areas, we found groundnut as the most common foreign body of tracheobronchial tree in children particularly in winter months of October to January. This article attempts to address the potential hazard of groundnut inhalation in children. In Northern India, in an institution like ours which receives quite a number of patients from surrounding rural areas, we found groundnut as the most common foreign body of tracheobronchial tree in children particularly in winter months of October to January. This article attempts to address the potential hazard of groundnut inhalation in children.

Wegener's granulomatosis: a case with laryngeal involvement.

A patient of Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) with laryngeal involvement and respiratory difficulty has been described. Direct laryngoscopic biopsy led to the diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis. The patient underwent a tracheostomy and was subsequently treated with cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids to which he responded.

Effect of adeno-tonsillectomy on hearing threshold and middle ear pressure.

Out of 50 children (100 ears) undergoing adeno-tonsillectomy, 34 ears had hearing threshold 20-50 dB (20 dB is normal) and 32 ears showed negative middle ear pressure of 100 to 400 mmH2O (100 mmH2O is normal). Post-operatively only 7 ears had hearing threshold of 20-30 dB and negative middle ear pressure of 100 to 200 mmH2O. Thus adenoidectomy improves eustachian tube functions.

Nasal mucociliary clearance & mucus pH in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Nasal mucociliary clearance (NMC) time and nasal mucus pH were studied in 50 patients suffering from diabetes mellitus and in a group of 50 healthy non-smokers and non-alcoholic controls. NMC time and pH values were found to be significantly increased in diabetics (NMC = 18.02 +/- 5.08 and pH = 7.96 +/- 0.75) as compared to controls (NMC = 7.49 +/- 1.06 and pH 6.43 +/- 0.67). The increase in NMC and pH was much more in patients having insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) (NMC - 20.87 +/- 4.71 and pH -8.38 +/- 0.56) than in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) (NMC - 15.16 +/- 3.67 and pH -7.53 +/- 0.687) and also when the duration of disease was more than 10 yr (NMC - 22.36 +/- 4.36 and pH -8.47 +/- 0.607). This impairment was attributed to osmotic diuresis with loss of water and electrolytes from all parts of the body and also small vessel abnormalities encountered in diabetes.

Tuberculosis of middle ear cleft.

Three cases of tuberculosis of middle ear cleft who presented with ear discharge, postaurale swelling post-aural fistula and facial nerve palsy in one case are reported. Audiometry showed conductive deafness in two cases and sensorineural deafness in one case. Roentgenograms revealed bony erosion of the mastoid bone in two cases and coalescence of mastoid air cells in one case. Modified radical mastoidectomy was done in all the three cases and histopathology of tissue removed on operation revealed tuberculosis. All the symptoms except facial nerve palsy improved and post-aural wound healed completely with anti-tubercular therapy. Early recognition and specific therapy may avoid these complications like fistula formation, facial nerve palsy and deafness and may well reduce the need for surgical procedure.