ABSTRACT
Abstract Introduction Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was first described in December 2019 in China leading to a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. It was named by the World Health Organization as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and it garnered unprecedented attention from public health researchers around the world, and studies analyzing chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as a possible therapy have arisen in the last 2 months. Objective To review the literature and describe updated facts about the ototoxicity of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, an important side effect that can be present in patients with COVID-19 treated with these drugs. Data Synthesis The most typical treatment regimen is 5 days of hydroxychloroquine at daily doses of 400 to 600 mg. There is no randomized clinical trial that can prove so far the efficacy of this medication, and few studies have evaluated adverse events potentially linked to their use in patients with COVID-19. While there is no concrete evidence on the incidence of ototoxicity using chloroquine in the short term, we need to consider that, as a pandemic disease, millions of patients with COVID-19 may receive this treatment, and ototoxicity can be a possible adverse event. Conclusion Despite the urgent global situation caused by the COVID-19, the risk of irreversible hearing loss may outweigh the unproven benefit of using hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, especially in patients with mild forms of COVID-19, who may be cured with supportive treatment. The potential hearing loss that can be caused by these medications may advise against their use in COVID-19 patients.
ABSTRACT
Abstract Introduction Neuroendocrine adenomas of the middle ear (NAME) are uncommon causes of middle ear masses. Mostly limited to case reports and small series, the literature is poor in providing an overall assessment of these tumors. Objective To review the current literature about all aspects of the disease, including its etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment. Data Synthesis The pathogenesis of adenomatous tumors of the middle ear is not clear yet. One potential explanation is that an undifferentiated pluripotent endodermal stem cell may still be present in the middle ear mucosal surface, and may be the origin of the tumors. It typically appears as a nonspecific retrotympanic mass. The average age of onset for the disease is the fifth decade, and the most common clinical symptom is conductive hearing loss. Malign behavior is rare. There are numerous differential diagnoses of NAME. The final diagnosis depends on microscopic findings. The preoperative evaluation should include the use of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The adjunctive therapy of middle ear adenomatous tumors with radiotherapy, chemotherapy or somatostatin analogs is generally not recommended. Conclusion There is still much debate on pathogenesis and classification of NAME. Saliba's classification is currently the most complete and preferable one. Aggressive surgical procedure with ossicular chain excision is the gold standard treatment. Followup with physical and radiological exams is mandatory, particularly if the first procedure was conservative, without the removal of the encased ossicles.
ABSTRACT
Esthesioneuroblastoma is an uncommon malignant tumor of the nasal vault. Treatment consists of craniofacial resection. As endoscopic techniques have advanced, this approach has been recommended to avoid morbidity and to reduce costs. AIM: To evaluate outcomes in patients with esthesioneuroblastoma treated by an endoscopic technique. METHODS: A prospective study of patients diagnosed with esthesioneuroblatoma and treated by an endoscopic technique. The literature over the past 20 years was reviewed for an update on the pathology. RESULTS: We present 4 patients, 3 males and 1 female, staged according to Kadish and Dulguerov. All were treated surgically with endoscopic techniques, followed by radiotherapy. One patient was also submitted to neck dissection and chemotherapy because of regional metastasis. There were no significant postoperative complications. The mean hospital stay was 3 days; one patient stayed in the ICU for 24 hours after surgery. Follow-up is recent; so far there are no recurrences. CONCLUSION: Esthesioneuroblastoma is a potentially curable malignancy. Endoscopic techniques help reduce hospital costs and decrease the morbidity. Adequate margins of healthy tissue are obtained with endoscopic resection, as with craniofacial resection. The literature suggests that outcomes after endoscopic resection are similar to those of the conventional external approach.
Estesioneuroblastoma é uma neoplasia incomum de linhagem epitelial. Seu tratamento convencional baseia-se na ressecção craniofacial. Técnicas endoscópicas tem sido preconizadas em sua terapia com o intuito de diminuir morbidades e custos. OBJETIVO: Relatar a experiência na abordagem terapêutica do tumor com uso de endoscópio. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Estudo prospectivo de pacientes com diagnóstico de Estesioneuroblastoma submetidos a tratamento endoscópico. Fez-se revisão de publicações relacionadas ao tumor. RESULTADOS: Apresentamos quatro pacientes, sendo 3 homens e 1 mulher, estadiados de acordo com Kadish e Dulguerov. Foram submetidos a ressecção endoscópica com margem e terapia adjuvante (radio ou quimioterapia). Não se observaram complicações pós-operatórias significativas. O tempo médio de internação foi 3 dias e um paciente permaneceu em observação no CTI por 24 horas. O seguimento é recente e não há relato de recidivas. CONCLUSÃO: Estesioneuroblastoma é um tumor maligno potencialmente curável. O uso da técnica cirúrgica endoscópica nasal traz consigo menor morbidade ao paciente (período de internação e tempo cirúrgico menor) e custos hospitalares diminuídos. Possibilita a ressecção da neoplasia com margens comparáveis à cirurgia convencional. Os resultados em longo prazo descritos na literatura são semelhantes ao tratamento convencional. Nosso seguimento ainda é recente para concluir algo sobre prognóstico.