Schwannoma of nasal inferior turbinate in young male: a rare occurrence

A 12-year old boy presented to the ENT Department of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, Karachi, with a one year history of progressively increasing unilateral right sided nasal obstruction. He denied any other symptoms like that of rhinorrhea, epistaxis, facial pain, headache and any history of nasal trauma. After routine clinical examination, CT scan nose/PNS with contrast was advised and subsequently biopsy was done that revealed the mass to be as schwannoma. This was then removed via a lateral rhinotomy approach and the postoperative specimen again revealed the same. The boy was followed for 1-year and no recurrence is seen. He is still in the follow-up phase

Fibrous dysplasia of mandible

An elderly male presented to the ENT, Outpatient Department at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital [ASH] with a mass on the left side of the face and lower jaw for 8-9 years. It was of a tennis ball size. No treatment was sought by him during those years. A diagnosis of benign fibro-osseous lesion of the mandible was made. Later the histopathology proved the same. The first occurrence in a male gender and involvement of the mandible is uncommon

Comparison of three different ceruminolytic agents [soda-bicarbonate, almond oil and normal saline] with respect to their efficacy

To compare the efficacy of three ceruminolytic agents for cerumen impaction with respect to its ease of complete removal via suctioning or probe. A comparative prospective study. This study was conducted carried out at the outpatient department of ENT, Abbasi Shaheed hospital, Karachi from November 2010 to March 2011. A comparative prospective study of 75 adult patients with cerumen impaction in either or both of the ears carried out at the outpatient department of ENT, Abbasi Shaheed hospital, Karachi. The study was done after taking the consent of the patients. All the adult patients of age 18 years or greater, of either sex with the symptoms in the ear[s] because of cerumen which was hard/dry and difficult to remove were included in the study. Those of age less than 18 years and not having any symptomatology because of the cerumen or with soft wax which was easy to clear were not included in the study. The study was carried out from November 2010 till March 2011. the patients with problematic, difficult to remove cerumen or cerumen impaction with symptoms were divided in to three groups: Groups A, Group B and Group c; all having equal number of cases that is 25 each. In group A they were given soda-bicarbonate in glycerin based ear drops; in group B almond oil and group C the normal saline for instillation in ear. The doses and timings for drops were equal in all the group and it was 3 drops in the affected ear every 6-hourly for 1-week. They were councilled that the dose should not be missed and they have to lay down for 5 minutes so that drops are absorbed and does not come out of the ear. After one week they were called in the OPD, was compared with completeness of removal of impacted cerumen for the three groups. Ease and completeness of cerumen removal was 80% in group A, followed by 60% for group C and 20% for group B. We found soda-glycerin to be superior to almond oil and normal saline as ceruminolytic agent