Manejo endoscópico de fístulas del seno piriforme. Reporte de dos casos / Endoscopic management of piriform sinus fistula. Two cases report

Resumen Caso 1: Femenino de cuatro años de edad con absceso cervical izquierdo recurrente por fístula del seno piriforme izquierdo tratada finalmente con electrocoagulación endoscópica sin recidivas en más de siete meses. Caso 2: Masculino de seis años de edad con absceso cervical izquierdo recurrente por fístula del seno piriforme izquierdo tratado con electrocoagulación endoscópica sin recidivas en más de 6 meses. Discusión: Las fistulas del seno piriforme son poco comunes, resueltas en forma quirúrgica con amplias disecciones cervicales y en ocasiones con hemitiroidectomías. No suelen sospecharse sino hasta la recurrencia del cuadro. Aunque no todos los abscesos cervicales son por fístulas del seno piriforme, recomendamos descartarla en casos de recidiva sobre todo en el lado izquierdo del cuello; acompañando el drenaje con exploración endoscópica. De confirmarse el diagnóstico se ofrece tratamiento por electrocoagulación en la misma intervención con mejores resultados al evitar los riesgos que implica la resección extensa del tratamiento convencional. En nuestros casos usamos endoscopía flexible y electrocoagulación con resultados superiores en relación con el tratamiento quirúrgico convencional. Limitaciones: Solo se trata de dos casos, pero corresponden a una entidad poco frecuente. Valor: Se muestra como alternativa el tratamiento endoscópico con electrocoagulación con mejores resultados en relación con el manejo tradicional para los casos de fístula del seno piriforme en niños.

Abstract Case 1: A 4-year-old female with a recurrent left cervical abscess due to a left piriform sinus fistula finally treated with endoscopic electrocoagulation without recurrences for more than 7 months. Case 2: 6-year-old male with recurrent left cervical abscess due to left piriform sinus fistula treated with endoscopic electrocoagulation without recurrences for more than 6 months. Discussion: Piriform sinus fistulas are rare and are surgically corrected with extensive cervical dissections and occasionally hemithyroidectomies. They are not usually noticed as such until the recurrence. Although not all cervical abscesses are due to piriform sinus fistulas, we recommend ruling out in cases of recurrence, especially on the left side of the neck, accompanying by drainage with endoscopic exploration. If the suspicion is confirmed, electrocoagulation treatment is offered in the same intervention with better results by avoiding the risks involved in an extensive resection with conventional treatment. In our cases we use flexible endoscopy and electrocoagulation with better results compared to conventional surgical treatment. Limitations: These are only two cases, but they are rare. Value: Endoscopic treatment with electrocoagulation is shown as an alternative with better results in relation to traditional management for cases of piriform sinus fistula in children.

Piriform sinus hamartoma in children: a case report and literature review / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical manifestations and treatment of laryngopharynx hamartoma in children. Methods:The clinical data of a child with piriform sinus hamartoma treated in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. The age, gender, clinical manifestations, auxiliary examination, location of the tumor and surgical methods were analyzed. Results:The patient had a good prognosis after surgery, and no tumor recurrence was found after 1 year of follow-up. Conclusion:Laryngopharynx hamartoma is rare in children. It should be considered in children with laryngeal dysfunction and upper airway obstruction. Complete resection of the tumor is the key to postoperative recurrence.

The clinical value of recurrent laryngeal nerve dissection in the surgical treatment for congenital pyriform sinus fistula / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective:To explore the clinical value of recurrent laryngeal nerve dissection in the surgical treatment for congenital pyriform sinus fistula（CPSF）. Methods:The clinical data of 42 patients with CPSF were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were diagnosed and treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University. Results:During the operation, all patients' recurrent laryngeal nerves were dissected successfully, and fistulas were resected completely,no patients had complication of recurrent laryngeal nerve's damage.There were no recurrence cases during the 13 to 48 months of follow-up. Conclusion:The trend of congenital pyriform sinus fistula is closely related to recurrent laryngeal nerve, it's important to dissect the recurrent laryngeal nerve during the operation for congenital pyriform sinus fistula.

Tiroiditis aguda supurada en una paciente con fístula del seno piriforme: presentación de un caso / Acute suppurative thyroiditis in a patient with a piriform sinus fistula: A case report

La tiroiditis aguda supurada es una entidad poco frecuente en pediatría; de origen infeccioso, cuya etiología más frecuente es bacteriana. Su presentación típica en niños es la aparición de una tumoración en la cara anterior del cuello, con signos de flogosis, dolorosa, caliente y eritematosa, que excursiona con la deglución, y puede o no estar acompañada de fiebre, disfagia o disfonía. En niños, las anomalías congénitas, principalmente la fístula del seno piriforme, predisponen a la infección de la glándula, por lo que es importante la resolución quirúrgica del defecto anatómico para prevenir las recurrencias. El diagnóstico rápido, basado en la clínica y los estudios por imágenes, es importante para comenzar en forma temprana con un tratamiento antibiótico adecuado.Se presenta una paciente de 3 años, previamente sana, con tumoración cervical izquierda dolorosa y asociada a fiebre. Durante la internación, se arribó al diagnóstico de tiroiditis aguda supurada secundaria a fístula de seno piriforme.

Acute suppurative thyroiditis is an infectious disease, uncommon in children, caused by various microorganisms, being bacteria the most frequently involved. The typical presentation includes the appearance of a tumor in combination with signs of swelling in the anterior aspect of the neck, which is painful on palpation and is associated with warmth and erythema. It usually moves with swallowing and the patient can suffer fever, dysphagia or dhysfonia. In children, congenital anomalies can lead to the gland's infection, and the surgical excision of them is important to prevent recurrency. A quick diagnosis, based on clinical manifestations and imaging studies, is necessary to install an adequate antibiotic treatment. We present the case of a 3-year-old patient, who was previously healthy, with a painful left cervical tumor associated with fever. During the hospitalization, we reached the diagnosis of acute suppurative thyroiditis caused by an underlying pyriform sinus fistula

Analysis on the effects of individualized surgical method for treating pyriform sinus fistula in children / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To explore the curative effects of individualized surgical method for treating pyriform sinus fistula (PSF) in children.Methods:A total of 43 PSF children treated in the Department of Pediatric Surgery of Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from June 2015 to November 2019 were selected, with 41 cases on the left side and 2 cases on the right side.There were 27 cases in the quiescent inflammatory infection stage and 16 cases in the acute inflammatory infection stage.According to patients′ condition, low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation, fistulectomy, abscess incision and drainage or combined operation were conducted.The postoperative complications and recurrence were observed.Results:Among 43 cases, there were 19 cases treated with low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation, 11 cases treated with low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation combined with abscess incision and drainage, 5 cases treated with low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation combined with fistulectomy, and 8 cases treated with fistulectomy.Four cases had postoperative hoarseness and recovered within 1-5 months.One case occurred pseudo healing after abscess incision and drainage, and healed after incision and debridement.Totally, 4 cases recurred, and the follow-up time was from 3 months to 57 months.Conclusions:Low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation has the advantages of minimally invasive, safe and effective, which provides a new treatment for PSF in children.Based on the condition of children, the choice of individualized treatment can significantly improve the curative effects.

Programmed management in prenatal diagnosed pyriform sinus fistula: analysis of eight cases / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the clinical effect of applying the programmed management procedure in the prenatal diagnosis of pyriform sinus fistula(PSF).Methods:This study retrospectively enrolled eight fetuses with PSF who were managed according to the programmed management procedure for prenatal diagnosis of PSF, which was established in January 2016, in Guangzhou Women's and Children's Medical Center from January 2016 to October 2020. The procedure consisted of the detection of fetal neck cysts by prenatal ultrasound followed by further confirmation by MRI, evaluation of the degree of airway compression, indwelling gastric tube after birth, no oral feeding, complement of CT/MRI, and surgical treatment within a limited time after necessary preoperative examination. The prenatal diagnosis, postnatal treatment, and follow-up were summarized using descriptive analysis.Results:(1) Prenatal: The gestational age at the first detection of cervical cysts by prenatal ultrasound was (27.1±4.1) weeks and all the cysts were located on the left side. Prenatal MRI indicated that the largest cysts was (32.0±12.2) mm in diameter, and the tracheal transit index was (10.9±2.8) mm. (2) After birth: Among the eight children, five were males and three were females, with the gestational age of (38.0±0.9) weeks and birth weight of (3 020±459) g. One case was intubated during labor due to a intrauterine tracheal transposition index of 17.4 mm. All infants were not allowed for oral feeding. The median age at CT/MRI examination was 2.5 d (1-8 d), which revealed that the maximum diameter of the cysts was (40.6±6.9) mm and visible air bubbles in all cysts. The infection index before operation was not high and the age at operation was (8.6±2.3) d. All cysts were completely removed and the PSFs were ligated at a higher position, with the average operative duration of (95.0±19.6) min, and the postoperative duration of mechanical ventilation and hospitalization of 5 h (3-71 h) and (8.8±1.0) d, respectively. No complications such as hoarseness were reported. During the follow-up of 4 to 58 months through outpatient clinic and telephone, no recurrence were observed.Conclusions:The programmed management procedure can provide guidance for postnatal treatment of patients with a prenatal diagnosis of PSF, and help to achieve a successful treatment result.

Aspiration with or without lavage in the treatment of acute suppurative thyroiditis secondary to pyriform sinus fistula

ABSTRACT Objective There is currently no consensus regarding the optimal management of acute suppurative thyroiditis (AST) secondary to pyriform sinus fistula (PSF). To investigate the benefits and adverse events of aspiration with or without lavage for the treatment of AST secondary to PSF. Subjects and methods This was a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with AST secondary to PSF who were admitted at the Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between August 2012 and December 2018. Clinical information, procedural data, and imaging data were analyzed. Results Seven patients (five women; mean age, 16.9 ± 6.3 years; range, 8-26 years) were included. The patients most presented with anterior neck pain and swelling (n = 7), fever (n = 7), or odynophagia (n = 5). Six cases of AST occurred on the left side of the thyroid and 1 on the right. All patients had thyroid abscess. AST was diagnosed by ultrasound-guided needle aspiration cytology in all cases. PSF was diagnosed during the inflammatory stage in five patients and during the quiescent stage in two. All patients were treated with empiric antibiotics. Needle aspiration without lavage was performed in three cases. Needle aspiration with lavage was performed in four cases. Repeat aspiration was performed in three cases. All patients recovered completely, with no procedure-related complications. During 18.3 ± 7.8 months of follow-up, AST recurred in one case. Excision of the PSF was performed in another case. Conclusion Ultrasound-guided aspiration with or without lavage had a good treatment effect and without adverse events for the management of AST secondary to PSF.

Absceso retrofaríngeo por fístula congénita del seno piriforme en una adolescente / Retropharyngeal abscess due to a congenital pyriform sinus fistula in a teenager

Arch Argent Pediatr 2020;118(1):e81-e84 / e81Presentación de casos clínicosRESUMENLas fístulas del seno piriforme son anomalías poco frecuentes de los arcos branquiales. La forma de presentación más común en los niños y los adolescentes es la tiroiditis aguda supurada y/o los abscesos cervicales laterales recurrentes. Sin embargo, las fístulas se pueden manifestar de forma atípica. La rareza de esta patología y la presentación clínica atípica pueden demorar el diagnóstico, lo que aumenta el riesgo de infecciones recurrentes y complicaciones.Se presenta el caso inusual de una adolescente de 13 años con absceso retrofaríngeo debido a una fístula congénita del seno piriforme, tratada de forma exitosa mediante electrocauterización endoscópica.

Pyriform sinus fistulas are rare anomalies of the branchial arches. The most common form of presentation in children and adolescents is acute suppurative thyroiditis and/or recurrent lateral cervical abscesses. However, fistulas can manifest atypically. The rarity of this pathology and the atypical clinical presentation can delay the diagnosis increasing the risk of recurrent infections and complications.We present the unusual case of a 13-year-old teenager with retropharyngeal abscess due to a congenital pyriform sinus fistula successfully treated by endoscopic electrocautery

Long-term outcome of patients with pyriform sinus squamous cell carcinoma treated with planned preoperative (chemo-) radiotherapy plus laryngeal function sparing surgery / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective@#To analyze the long-term outcome of patients with pyriform sinus squamous cell carcinoma treated with planned preoperative (chemo-) radiotherapy plus laryngeal function sparing surgery.@*Methods@#Patients with stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ pyriform sinus squamous cell carcinoma treated with planned preoperative (chemo-) radiotherapy plus laryngeal function sparing surgery during 1999 to 2000 were retrospectively analyzed. Data including concurrent chemotherapy or not, postoperative pathological diagnosis, postoperative complications, recurrence and survival were collected. Twenty patients were treated with preoperative radiotherapy while 14 patients with preoperative chemo-radiotherapy.@*Results@#Among 31 cases of postoperative pathological diagnosed as pyriform sinus, 12 (38.7%) cases without tumor residue, 7 (22.5%) cases with severe radiation response and 12 (38.7%) cases with tumor residue. The 5-year cumulative local recurrence rate, regional recurrence rate and distant metastasis rate was 14.5%, 13.7% and 23.5%, respectively. Five-year cumulative overall survival rate and recurrence-free survival rate were 69.6% and 65.4%, respectively. Nine deaths were attributed to distant metastasis (8 cases) and regional recurrence (1 case).@*Conclusion@#Most patients with pyriform sinus squamous cell carcinoma acquire long-term survival after treated with planned preoperative (chemo-) radiotherapy plus laryngeal function sparing surgery, and distant metastasis is the main cause of death.

Comparative imaging studies of congenital pyriform sinus fistula using barium esophagography and CT / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To evaluate the value of barium esophagography and CT in the diagnosis of congenital pyriform sinus fistula (CPSF).Methods The preoperative radiographic data of 5 9 CPSF patients were analyzed retrospectively,which were confirmed by operation.5 5 patients underwent barium esophagography,and 5 7 patients underwent pre-and post-contrast CT scans.The images of barium esophagography and CT were analyzed and the positive diagnostic rates (PDR)between the two imaging modalities and among the different CT features were compared.Results Among the 5 9 patients,left fistula was found in 5 5 cases,right fistula was found in 2 cases and bilateral fistula in 2 cases.For the patients examined with barium esophagography,53 sinus tracts or fistulas from the pyriform in 52 patients(including 2 patients with bilateral fistula)were depicted.The other 3 patients had negative results.The overall PDR of barium esophagography was 93.0%(53/57).CT findings of CPSF included the narrowness of pyriform fossa,sinus tract or fistula in the neck,bubble sign medial to the superior pole of thyroid,low density in thyroid,thyroid morphologic change,and so on.For the 5 7 patients (including 2 patients with bilateral fistula)examined with CT.The PDR of narrowness of pyriform fossa was 44.1%(26/59),the PDR of sinus tract or fistula was 1 3.6%(8/5 9),the PDR of bubble sign medial to the superior pole of thyroid was 55.9%(33/5 9),the PDR of low density in thyroid was 1 6.9%(1 0/5 9),the PDR of thyroid morphologic change(defect sign of superior pole of thyroid)was 9 1.5%(54/5 9 ).And the total PDR of thyroid density or morphologic change was 94.9%(56/59).Conclusion Barium esophagography can be the main modality to diagnose CPSF because of its high PDR.Although the PDR of CT for direct sign(sinus tract or fistula)is not high,its PDR for indirect sign (thyroid density or morphologic change)is very high.So CT has great value for patients suspected of CPSF.

Empyema and mediastinal abscess in pyriform sinus fistula: A case report / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

@#Though notorious for its tendency to induce recurrent neck abscess, pyriform sinus fistula is of importance despite its rarity. It usually presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Because of post-infectious fibrosis, the embryologic origin of pyriform sinus fistula is difficult to appreciate in certain cases. Here we present a case with empyema and mediastinal abscess caused by pyriform sinus fistula and share our experience in the treatment of this patient.

Fístulas del seno piriforme congénitas: reporte de 4 casos y revisión de la literatura / Congenital pyriform sinus fistula: report of 4 cases and review of the literature

Resumen Introducción: Las fístulas del seno piriforme, originadas desde el tercer o cuarto arco branquial, son entidades poco frecuentes. Se pueden presentar como aumento de volumen cervical, fístula cervical, absceso cervical, tiroiditis abscedada y/o disfonía. Objetivo: Reportar 4 casos tratados en nuestro hospital y revisión de la literatura. Discusión: Frente a un cuadro clínico compatible, se debe realizar estudio endos- cópico y de imágenes. El manejo quirúrgico sigue siendo el de mejores resultados, pero se han desarrollado terapias endoscópicas y combinaciones de estas con buenos resultados. Conclusión: El diagnóstico requiere un alto índice de sospecha clínica. La cirugía abierta se mantiene como el gold standard, sin embargo, en población pediátrica estaría indicada la resolución endoscópica debido a la alta morbilidad de la cirugía tradicional.

Introduction: Pyriform sinus fistula is a rare cervical branchial anomaly derived from the third and fourth branchial arch. Pyriform sinus fistula should be considered in children presenting enlarged neck mass, fistula, abscess, thyroid infection and/or dysphonia. Objective: We here report 4 cases treated in Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile and review of the current literature on pyriform sinus fistula. Discussion: When clinical presentation is compatible with pyriform sinus fistula, endoscopic and imaging techniques are required. Surgical outcomes are better, although endoscopic therapies and combination of both surgery and endoscopy have also reported good outcomes. Conclusion: Diagnosis is made based on signs and symptoms and a high index of clinical suspicion. Open surgery is gold standard, however in pediatric population endoscopic resolution should be considered to reduce the high morbidity of traditional surgery.

Clinical anatomic study on the segment and adjacent of tract of congenital pyriform sinus fistula / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective@#To investigate the anatomic tract of congenital pyriform sinus fistula (CPSF).@*Methods@#A total of 90 patients with CPSF undergoing open surgery between August, 2007 and March, 2017 at the Department of Guangdong General Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.@*Results@#The tracts of all the fistulas actually walked far different from those of theoretical ones. A whole fistula may be divided into 4 segments according to adjacent anatomy of CPSF. The posterior inner segment to the thyroid cartilage was initial part of the fistula. It originated from the apex of pyriform sinus, then piercing out of the inferior constrictor of pharynx inferiorly near the inferior cornu of the thyroid cartilage (ICTC), and descended between the lateral branch of the superior laryngeal nerve and the recurrent laryngeal nerve. The ICTC segment was the second part of the fistula, firstly piercing out of the inferior constrictor of pharynx and/or cricothyroid muscle, and then entering into the upper pole of thyroid. The relationship between fistula and ICTC could be divided into three types: type A (medial inferior to ICTC) accounting for 42.2% (38/90); type B (penetrate ICTC) for 3.3% (3/90); and type C (lateral inferior to ICTC) for 54.5% (49/90). The internal segment in thyroid gland was the third part of fistula, walking into the thyroid gland and terminating at its upper pole (92.2%, 83/90) or deep cervical fascia near the upper pole of thyroid (7.8%, 7/90). The lateral inferior segment to thyroid gland was the last part of the fisula, most of which are iatrogenic pseudo fistula, and started from the lateral margin of thyroid gland.@*Conclusions@#CPSF has a complicated pathway. Recognition of the tract and adjacent anatomy of CPSF will facilitate the dissection and resection of CPSF in open surgery.

Experience of diagnosis and treatment for congenital pyriform sinus fistula / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective@#To evaluate the imaging features, clinical presentation, operative methods complication and the surgical outcomes of the congenital pyriform sinus fistula(CPSF). @*Methods@#The clinical data of 185 patients with CPSF treated from January 2013 to October 2017 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were analyzed retrospectively. @*Results@#The lesions were predominantly on the left side(170/185). Among 185 cases, 146 cases received endoscopic coblation cauterization, 27 cases had traditional open surgery, 8 cases underwent endoscopic coblation cauterization plus traditional open surgery, 2 cases for endoscopic chemocauterization, and 2 cases for endoscopic electrosection. Twenty-eight cases recurred, with a recurrence rate of 15.1%. Postoperative hoarseness occurred in 22 cases, disappeared within 0.5-6.0 months later. @*Conclusions@#Patients with a history of recurrent cervical abscess should be highly suspect the existence of CPSF. Endoscopic coblation cauterization is a kind of surgical method with minimal injury, with low recurrence rate and low operative risk.

Misdiagnosic analysis and treatment of pyriform sinus fistula in children / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective@#To discuss the misdiagnosis of pyriform sinus fistula and to better understand this kind of illness.@*Methods@#The analysis was based on twenty-eight patients with congenital pyriform sinus fistula aged from 11 months to 14 years, with the median age of 5 years, and who were surgically treated from January 2013 to January 2017 in Kunming Children′s Hospital.Twenty patients were misdiagnosed in other hospital.After the routine examination of neck ultrasound and enhanced CT, internal fistula was found by self-retaining laryngoscope, traced by methylene blue, and excised by high ligation.@*Results@#Twenty patients were misdiagnosed.The misdiagnosis time ranged from 6 months to 3 years.Under self-retaining laryngoscope, piriform fossa fistula were found in all patients.Nineteen fistula were found in the left and 1 in the right.The fistula in patients was unilateral.Seven cases were misdiagnosed as suppurative lymphadensitis, undergone abscess incisional drainage many times.Three cases were misdiagnosed as thyroglossal duct cyst and performed excision of thyroglossal duct cyst.One case was treated by extended Sistruck operation again because the doctor considered that excision of middle segment of hyoid bone was not enough and the fistula was not ligated completely.One case was misdiagnosed as second branchial cleft fistula on the right side of the neck.Nine cases were misdiagnosed as hyroid-associated diseases including 2 cases suppurative thyroiditis, 2 cases subacute thyroiditis and 5 cases thyroid neoplasms.Among them, 2 cases underwent partial thyroidectomy.All the patients were treated with high ligation of fistula under general anesthesia.The operation was smooth, and no hoarseness, bucking and pharyngeal fistula occurred after the operation.Postoperative follow-up time ranged from 12 months to 4 years and the median follow-up was 18 months without recurrence.The diagnosis was confirmed pathologically.@*Conclusions@#Pyriform sinus fistula in children was uncommon and easily misdiagnosed in clinic.The majority of physician including some otolaryngologists were lack of understanding of the disease.It should be regarded as one of the important differential diagnosis of neck mass in children.Children with recurrent left neck infection and/or abscess should be highly suspected.Self-retaining laryngoscopic examination can make a definite diagnosis and high ligation of the fistula through the external neck approach can achieve good therapeutic effect.

Manejo endoscópico de anomalías del cuarto arco branquial: reporte de tres casos / Endoscopic management of anomalies of the fourth branchial arch: report of three cases

Las anomalías de cuarto arco branquial corresponden a una entidad patológica infrecuente. Para su manejo existen distintas alternativas terapéuticas siendo una de ellas la cauterización endoscópica. Reportamos 3 casos de senos de cuarto arco branquial tratados mediante cauterización endoscópica en el Hospital Regional de Concepción luego de una revisión de fichas clínicas de todos los pacientes con diagnóstico de anomalías de cuarto arco branquial. Se identificaron tres casos de senos de cuarto arco branquial. Todos corresponden a pacientes de sexo masculino que presentaron cuadro de absceso cervical, diagnosticándose 2 de ellos al presentar recurrencia. Todos fueron tratados mediante cauterización endoscópica de la apertura fistulosa en seno piriforme. Estas anomalías representan vestigios de un trayecto que se origina desde el vértice del seno piriforme. La cauterización endoscópica presenta una serie de ventajas con tasas de recurrencia similares a la cirugía abierta de cuello, menores tasas de complicaciones y costo económico. Las anomalias de cuarto arco branquial constituyen una patología infrecuente y el diagnóstico requiere alta sospecha clínica. El manejo endoscópico ha demostrado ser una alternativa segura y efectiva con menor tasa de complicaciones.

Anomalies of the fourth branchial arch correspond to an uncommon pathological entity. There are different therapeutic alternatives being one of them the endoscopic cauterization. We report 3 cases of fourth branchial arch anomalies treated by endoscopic cauterization in the Regional Hospital of Concepción. Review of clinical records of all patients with diagnosis of fourth branchial anomalies operated by endoscopic cauterization at the Regional Hospital of Concepción. Cases: Three cases of fourth branchial arch sinus were identified. All of them were male patients who presented with a cervical abscess, diagnosing 2 of them when they recurred. All 3 cases were treated by endoscopic cauterization of the fistulous opening in the piriform sinus. These anomalies represent vestiges of a path that originates from the apex of the piriform sinus. Endoscopic cauterization presents a number of advantages with recurrence rates similar to open neck surgery, with lower complication rates and economic cost. Fourth branchial anomalies constitute an uncommon pathology and the diagnosis requires high clinical suspicion. Endoscopic management has proven to be a safe and effective alternative with a lower rate of complications.

Piriformeplastia associada à rinoplastia aberta / Pyriform plasty associated with open rhinoplasty

Introdução: A respiração bucal ou mista desde a infância, por fatores alérgicos que causam hipertrofia de cornetos e adenoides ou desvio septal traumático no parto ou por traumas na primeira infância, provoca incorreto desenvolvimento da face com o palato ogival, crescimento excessivo da crista maxilar, alterações na arcada dentária e hipomaxilismo, por falta de aeração dos seios paranasais. O septo com limitado espaço para de crescer empurra o arcabouço osteocartilaginoso cranialmente, originando a giba nasal com desvios do septo, comprometendo a respiração nasal. Método: A piriformeplastia mediante incisão no sulco gengivolabial permite amplo acesso à crista maxilar e ao palato ogival. A crista maxilar é desgastada com broca e o palato é modelado ou pode ter sua cúpula removida subperiostealmente. Resultados: A rinoplastia aberta facilita a abordagem e a fixação dos enxertos alargadores para tratar as alterações da válvula interna e prevenir retrações cicatriciais ao nível da gaiola cartilaginosa, além dos enxertos estruturais na columela para projeção e evitar retração cicatricial neste nível. A abordagem aberta permite também a simetrização das estruturas nasais, que possibilita o tratamento das laterorrinias num tempo único e a correção da válvula nasal externa por meio dos enxertos específicos. A piriformeplastia permite ainda a abordagem mais abrangente das alterações nasais estéticas e funcionais. Conclusão: A rinoplastia aberta é por nós preferida dada a facilidade de fixação dos enxertos, bem como dos enxertos alargadores para tratamento das alterações da válvula interna com o objetivo de prevenir futuros problemas respiratórios.

Introduction: Mouth or mixed breathing since childhood that is due to allergy factors causing turbinate hypertrophy and adenoids, or traumatic septal deviation at childbirth or first trauma in childhood leads to the impairment of facial development, including ogival palate, excessive growth of the maxillary crest, changes in the dental arch, and small jawbone. Mouth or mixed breathing may be due to the lack of aeration of the paranasal sinuses. A septum with limited space for growing pushes the osteocartilaginous framework cranially, originating from the nasal hump with septal deviations and gibbus. Consequently, this hampers nasal breathing. Method: Pyriform plasty by incision in the gingivolabial sulcus allows broad access to the maxillary crest and ogival palate. The maxillary crest is worn out with a drill, and the palate is modeled or may have its dome subperiosteally removed. Results: Open rhinoplasty facilitates the approach and fixation of graft reamers to treat changes in the internal valve and prevents scar reactions at the level of the cage cartilage grafts and structure of the columella to project and prevent a cartilaginous scar retraction at this level. The open approach also enables the symmetrization of nasal structures, which allows the treatment of bent nose at a single time, and correction of nasal valve by using external grafts. Moreover, pyriform plasty is a more comprehensive approach to nasal aesthetic and functional nasal alterations. Conclusion: Our preferred techniques are open rhinoplasty, given the ease of graft fixation, and use of reamer grafts to treat changes in the internal valve to prevent future respiratory problems.

Failed Deglutitive Upper Esophageal Sphincter Relaxation Is a Risk Factor for Aspiration in Stroke Patients with Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We attempted to examine the relationship between abnormal findings on high-resolution manometry (HRM) and videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) of the pharynx and upper esophageal sphincter (UES), and to identify the risk factors for aspiration. METHODS: We performed VFSS and HRM on the same day in 36 ischemic stroke patients (mean age, 67.5 years) with dysphagia. Pressure (basal, median intra bolus, and nadir), relaxation time interval of the UES, and mesopharyngeal and hypopharyngeal contractility (as a contractile integral) were examined using HRM. The parameters of VFSS were vallecular residue, pyriform sinus residue, vallecular overflow, penetration, and aspiration. The association between the parameters of VFSS and HRM was analyzed by the Student's t test. RESULTS: Three (8.3%) and 4 (11.1%) stroke patients with dysphagia had pyriform sinus residue and vallecular sinus residue, respectively, and 5 (13.8%) patients showed aspiration. Mesopharyngeal and hypopharyngeal contractile integrals in patients with residue in the pyriform sinus were significantly lower than those in patients without residue in the pyriform sinus (P < 0.05). Relaxation time intervals in patients with aspiration were significantly shorter than those in patients without aspiration (P < 0.05), and multivariate regression analysis revealed a shorter relaxation time interval as the main risk factor for aspiration (OR, 0.03; 95% CI, 0.01–0.65; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Manometric measurements of the pharynx and UES were well correlated with abnormal findings in the VFSS, and a shorter relaxation time interval of the UES during deglutition is an important parameter for the development of aspiration.

A Case of Venous Malformation of the Pyriform Sinus Treated with Ethanol Sclerotherapy

We describe a case of venous malformation of pyriform sinus in 63 year-old patient, discovered incidentally. Venous malformation are the most common vascular malformations to arise in the head and neck. However venous malformation of the hypopharynx in the adult papulation are rare. The author performed successfully ethanol sclerotherapy for venous malformation of pyriform sinus, so we present the case with a review of the related literatures.

Value of modified Killian′s method in diagnosis of congenital pyriform sinus fistula / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective@#To investigate the feasibility and significance of modified Killian(MK) method in the clinical diagnosis of congenital pyriform sinus fistula(CPSF) by electronic laryngoscopy.@*Methods@#The following examinations were performed for 30 suspected cases of CPSF, including the traditional electronic laryngoscopy, MK examination(modified Killian position+ head rotation+ the Valsalva maneuver), barium swallow X-ray(BSX) and CT , and a prospective comparison among them were done. Patients were divided into two groups according to their age: young age group(≤14 years old) and older age group (>14 years old). The results of MK examination from the patients were analyzed and the positive diagnostic rates (PDR) between groups were compared by using χ2 tests.@*Results@#Sinuses in 20 of 30 patients were depicted from pyriform sinus in BSX, and the PDR was 66.7%(20/30). The PRD of CT was 83.3%(25/30). The presence of air bubbles around the upper lobe of the thyroid gland or at the inferomedial edge of cricothyroid joints, morphological changes of thyroid grand as well as pseudo-fistula formation on lower neck were detected clearly on CT. Comparing to the traditional electronic laryngoscopy, the effect of exposing piriform fossa fistula by MK examination is significant(χ2=17.05, P<0.05), with the PDR of 13.3%(4/30) and 76.7%(23/30) respectively. Nevertheless, comparing to BSX and CT, there were no statistically significant differences in the effect to diagnose CPSF (χ2=0.31, χ2=0.10 respectively, P>0.05). The PDR of MK in older group is significantly higher than younger group(χ2=6.68, P<0.05).@*Conclusions@#MK examination can clearly reveal the hypopharyngeal anatomical structure and detect the sinus of CPSF .It could be a safe, feasible, convenient and economical method as an application in preoperative diagnosis and follow-up examination of clinical suspected CPSF.