Estenosis faríngea secundaria a adenoamigdalectomía: ¿cómo la resolvemos? / Pharyngeal stenosis secondary to adenotonsillectomy: how do we solve it?

RESUMEN La estenosis faríngea es una complicación muy poco frecuente de la adenoamigdalectomía. Consiste en un estrechamiento de la vía aerodigestiva superior secundaria a la adhesión parcial o total de las estructuras que componen la orofaringe producto de una disección extensa al realizar amigdalectomía. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar tres casos clínicos tratamiento y correspondiente técnica quirúrgica. Se describen tres pacientes operados durante la edad preescolar de adenoamigdalectomía, que cursaron en el posoperatorio con estenosis faríngea. Todos presentaron roncopatía severa, respiración oral y resonancia hiponasal. La nasofibroscopía evidenció estrechez faríngea en distintos grados. A todos se les realizó resección del tejido cicatricial y faringoplastía con colgajo miomucoso y posterior rehabilitación con bulbo faríngeo. El uso de colgajos faríngeos posterior a la liberación de adherencias posadenoamigdalectomía permite aportar tejido sano a zonas cruentas, evitando la formación de nuevas adherencias y restituyendo la permeabilidad oronasal. El bulbo faríngeo es fundamental para mantener un apropiado lumen y manejo de la cicatrización en el posoperatorio. La técnica de colgajo faríngeo lateral, que interpone mucosa faríngea sana para la cobertura del lecho cruento, constituye una alternativa quirúrgica eficaz para resolver la estenosis faríngea posquirúrgica.

ABSTRACT Pharyngeal stenosis is a very rare complication of adenotonsillectomy. It is caused by a narrowing of the upper aerodigestive pathway secondary to the total or partial adhesion of the retropharyngeal structures as a result of extensive dissection during tonsillectomy. Our aim is to present three consecutive clinical cases of pharyngeal stenosis after adenotonsillectomy, discuss its treatment and corresponding surgical technique. We present three infants with adenotonsillectomy with postoperative pharyngeal stenosis. All had severe snoring, oral breathing and hyponasal resonance. The nasofibroscopy showed pharyngeal obliteration in several degrees. All patients underwent scar tissue resection and pharyngoplasty with myomucosal flap and subsequent use of pharyngeal bulb. The use of pharyngeal flaps after release of pharyngeal adhesions allows to provide healthy tissue to row areas, avoiding new postoperative adhesions and providing adequate oronasal permeability. The pharyngeal bulb is essential to maintain permeability and management of scarring in the postoperative period. The technique of lateral pharyngeal flap, which aims to interpose healthy pharyngeal mucosa to cover the bloody bed, is an effective therapeutic alternative to solve post-surgical pharyngeal stenosis.

Validación de un instrumento para medir la calidad de vida en niños con mucositis orofaríngea en tratamiento por cáncer / Validation of an instrument to measure the quality of life in children with oropharyngeal mucositis undergoing cancer treatment

Resumen Introducción: La mucositis orofaríngea (MO) es una de las principales complicaciones del tratamiento oncológico que reduce significativamente la calidad de vida (CV) del paciente. El objetivo fue traducir, adaptar de manera cultural y validar una nueva versión en español del instrumento Oropharyngeal Mucositis-Specific Quality-of-Life (OMQoL) en pacientes pediátricos. Métodos: Estudio transversal de validación, multicéntrico, realizado para la traducción y adaptación del OMQoL del inglés al español en pacientes de entre 8 y 16 años con MO. Se midió la confiabilidad mediante el Alfa de Cronbach; la validez del contenido y el constructo, con un análisis factorial exploratorio; y la validez convergente, con las correlaciones de las escalas para MO de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), la Oropharingeal Mucositis Assessment Scale (OMAS) y con el Pediatric Quality of Life-3 (PedsQL-3) módulo cáncer en español. Resultados: Participaron en el estudio 193 niños con una media de edad de 10.91 ± 2.38 años, de los cuales 101 (52.3%) fueron de sexo femenino. En esta muestra, 80 niños (41.5%) presentaron leucemia aguda linfoblástica y 111 (57.5%) presentaron MO grado 2 y 3. El análisis factorial resultó con cuatro dimensiones con cargas > 0.40. De los 31 ítems del OMQoL, seis fueron eliminados. El Alfa de Cronbach del OMQoL español fue de 0.954. Las correlaciones de Spearman (r) con las escalas de la OMS y OMAS fueron significativas (r = −0.720 y r = −0.689; p<0.01, respectivamente); con el PedsQL-3 módulo cáncer existió una moderada correlación (r = 0.426; p < 0.01). Conclusiones: La nueva versión del OMQoL en español demostró propiedades psicométricas adecuadas, y resulta un instrumento confiable y válido para medir la CV en niños con MO.

Abstract Background: Oropharyngeal mucositis (OM) is one of the primary complications arising during oncological treatment, which significantly reduces the patient's quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the use of a new Spanish version of the Oropharyngeal Mucositis-Specific Quality-of-Life instrument (OMQoL) for pediatric patients. Methods: A multicentric, cross-sectional validation study was conducted to translate and adapt OMQoL from English to Spanish for its use by children with OM aged 8-16 years. Reliability was measured using Cronbach's alpha; content and construct validity, in conjunction with exploratory factor analysis. The convergent validity, with the correlations of the scales for OM defined by the WHO, OMAS (Oropharingeal Mucositis Assessment Scale) and the PedsQL-3 cancer module in Spanish. Results: One hundred and ninety-three children with mean age of 10.91 ± 2.38 years participated in the study, out of which 101 (52.3%) were females. In this sample, 80 children (41.5%) suffered from acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 111 (57.5%) had grade 2 and 3 OM. The factorial analysis resulted in four dimensions with loads >0.40. Among the 31 items of the OMQoL, six were eliminated. Cronbach alpha of OMQoL-Spanish was 0.954. Spearman´s correlations (r) with the OMS and OMAS scales were significant (with r = −0.720 and r = −0.689; p < 0.01, respectively). Moderate correlation was observed with the PedsQL-3 cancer module (r = 0.426; p < 0.01). Conclusions: OMQoL-Spanish demonstrated adequate psychometric properties, resulting in a reliable and valid instrument for measuring QoL in children with MO.

Orofacial-cervical alterations in individuals with upper airway resistance syndrome / Alteração cérvico-orofacial em indivíduos com síndrome da resistência de via aérea superior

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Studies that assess the upper airways in sleep-related breathing disorders have been performed only in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome who seek medical attention. Therefore, in addition to the need for population studies, there are no data on the orofacial-cervical physical examination in subjects with upper airway resistance syndrome. OBJECTIVES: To compare the orofacial-cervical examination between volunteers with upper airway resistance syndrome and without sleep-related breathing disorders. METHODS: Through questionnaires, physical measurements, polysomnography, and otorhinolaryngological evaluation, this study compared the orofacial-cervical physical examination, through a systematic analysis of the facial skeleton, mouth, throat, and nose, between volunteers with upper airway resistance syndrome and volunteers without sleep-related breathing disorders in a representative sample of the adult population of the city of São Paulo. RESULTS: There were 1042 volunteers evaluated; 49 subjects (5%) were excluded as they did not undergo otorhinolaryngological evaluation, 381 (36%) had apnea-hypopnea index > 5 events/hour, and 131 (13%) had oxyhemoglobin saturation < 90%. Among the remaining 481 subjects (46%), 30 (3%) met the criteria for the upper airway resistance syndrome definition and 53 (5%) met the control group criteria. At the clinical evaluation of nasal symptoms, the upper airway resistance syndrome group had more oropharyngeal dryness (17% vs. 29.6%; p = 0.025) and septal deviation grades 1-3 (49.1% vs. 57.7%; p = 0.025) when compared to controls. In the logistic regression model, it was found that individuals from the upper airway resistance syndrome group had 15.6-fold higher chance of having nose alterations, 11.2-fold higher chance of being hypertensive, and 7.6-fold higher chance of complaining of oropharyngeal dryness when compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Systematic evaluation of the facial skeleton, mouth, throat, and nose, between volunteers with upper airway resistance syndrome and volunteers without sleep-related breathing disorders, showed that the presence of upper airway resistance syndrome is mainly associated with nasal alterations and oropharyngeal dryness, in addition to the risk of hypertension, regardless of gender and obesity.

Resumo Introdução: Estudos que avaliam a via aérea superior (VAS) nos distúrbios respiratórios relacionados ao sono (DRRS) foram realizadas somente em pacientes com Síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono (SAOS) que procuram o atendimento médico. Portanto, além da necessidade de estudos populacionais, não há dados sobre o exame físico cérvico-orofacial em indivíduos com Síndrome de Resistência das Vias Aéreas Superiores (SRVAS). Objetivos: Comparar o exame cérvico orofacial entre voluntário com SRVAS e sem DRRS. Método: Através de questionários, medidas físicas, polissonografia e avaliação otorrino-laringológica comparou-se o exame físico cérvico orofacial, através de uma análise sistemática do esqueleto facial, boca, faringe e nariz, entre voluntários com SRVAS e voluntários sem DRRS em uma amostra representativa da população adulta da cidade de São Paulo. Resultados: Avaliamos 1042 voluntários. Foram excluídos: 49 indivíduos (5%) que não realizaram avaliação otorrinolaringológica; 381 (36%) apresentaram índice de apneia e hipopnéia (IAH) > 5 eventos/hora e 131 (13%) apresentaram saturação da oxihemoglobina < 90%. Entre os 481 voluntários restantes (46%), 30 (3%) preenchiam os critérios estabelecidos para a definição de SRVAS e 53 (5%) que preenchiam os critérios do grupo controle. Na avaliação clínica dos sintomas nasais, o grupo SRVAS apresentou mais ressecamento orofaríngeo (17% vs. 29,6%; p = 0,025), desvio septal grau 1 a 3 (49,1% vs. 57,7%; p = 0,025), comparado ao controle. No modelo de regressão logística observamos que indivíduos do grupo SRVAS apresentaram uma razão de chance 15,6 vezes maior de apresentarem nariz alterado; 11,2 vezes maior de serem hipertensos e 7,6 vezes maior de se queixarem de ressecamento orofaríngeo quando comparados ao grupo controle. Conclusão: A avaliação sistemática do esqueleto facial, boca, faringe e nariz, entre voluntários com SRVAS e voluntários sem DRRS, mostrou que a presença de SRVAS está principalmente associada à alterações nasais e ressecamento orofaríngeo, além do risco de hipertensão arterial, independentemente do gênero e obesidade.

Immediate impact of rapid maxillary expansion on upper airway dimensions and on the quality of life of mouth breathers

OBJECTIVE: To assess short-term tomographic changes in the upper airway dimensions and quality of life of mouth breathers after rapid maxillary expansion (RME). METHODS: A total of 25 mouth breathers with maxillary atresia and a mean age of 10.5 years old were assessed by means of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and a standardized quality of life questionnaire answered by patients' parents/legal guardians before and immediately after rapid maxillary expansion. RESULTS: Rapid maxillary expansion resulted in similar and significant expansion in the width of anterior (2.8 mm, p < 0.001) and posterior nasal floor (2.8 mm, p < 0.001). Although nasopharynx and nasal cavities airway volumes significantly increased (+1646.1 mm3, p < 0.001), oropharynx volume increase was not statistically significant (+1450.6 mm3, p = 0.066). The results of the quality of life questionnaire indicated that soon after rapid maxillary expansion, patients' respiratory symptoms significantly decreased in relation to their initial respiratory conditions. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that RME produces significant dimensional increase in the nasal cavity and nasopharynx. Additionally, it also positively impacts the quality of life of mouth-breathing patients with maxillary atresia. .

OBJETIVO: avaliar, por meio de tomografias, as mudanças em curto prazo nas vias aéreas superiores e na qualidade de vida em pacientes respiradores bucais, após expansão rápida da maxila (ERM). MÉTODOS: foram avaliados 25 pacientes respiradores bucais com atresia maxilar, com idade média de 10,5 anos, por meio de tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico (TCFC) e questionário padronizado de qualidade de vida submetido aos pais/responsáveis, antes e imediatamente após a ERM. RESULTADOS: a ERM promoveu uma expansão, de forma semelhante e significativa, tanto na largura do soalho nasal anterior (2,8mm, p < 0,001) quanto na largura do soalho nasal posterior (2,8mm, p < 0,001). No volume aéreo da nasofaringe e fossas nasais, houve aumento significativo (+1646,1mm3 p < 0,001); entretanto, no volume aéreo da orofaringe, houve aumento não significativo (+1450,6 mm3 p = 0,066). Os resultados do questionário de qualidade de vida indicaram melhora significativa na qualidade de vida dos pacientes após a ERM, em comparação ao questionário inicial. CONCLUSÕES: a ERM promoveu aumento dimensional significativo nas fossas nasais e na nasofaringe, bem como melhorou significativamente a qualidade de vida dos pacientes. .

Effects of chin advancement surgery in hyoid bone and tongue positions and in the dimension of the oropharynx

INTRODUÇÃO: a cirurgia de avanço de mento isolado tem sido cada vez mais indicada para a correção de deficiência anterior da mandíbula, harmonizando o perfil e gerando alterações funcionais. OBJETIVO: essa pesquisa teve a finalidade de avaliar os efeitos da cirurgia de avanço de mento no tamanho da orofaringe e nas posições do osso hioide e da língua. MÉTODOS: a amostra constou de 22 radiografias cefalométricas de perfil de 11 indivíduos que se submeteram à cirurgia de mentoplastia de avanço isolada. Dessas radiografias, 11 retratavam o período imediatamente pré-cirúrgico (T0) e 11 o pós-cirúrgico de, pelo menos, quatro meses (T1). As radiografias foram digitalizadas e transferidas para o programa Radiocef Studio 2.0, por meio do qual foram feitas as medições entre os pontos demarcados. RESULTADOS: verificaram-se diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre T0 e T1 quanto à posição do osso hioide e da língua no sentido horizontal e ao tamanho da orofaringe. O osso hioide se apresentou posicionado mais anterior em T1 (p = 0,01), assim como a língua, aumentando o tamanho da orofaringe (p = 0,01). CONCLUSÃO: houve aumento do espaço aéreo da orofaringe com o posicionamento mais anterior da base da língua, bem como a reposição do osso hioide anteriormente.

INTRODUCTION: Advancement genioplasty has been increasingly indicated for the correction of anterior mandibular deficiency as it balances the patient's profile and generates functional changes. OBJECTIVE: Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of advancement genioplasty in the oropharyngeal size and in the position of the hyoid bone and tongue. METHODS: The sample comprised 22 lateral cephalometric radiographs of 11 individuals who had undergone advancement genioplasty alone. Eleven of these radiographs depicted the immediate preoperative period (T0) and the other 11 the postoperative period after at least four months (T1). The radiographs were scanned and exported to the Radiocef Studio 2.0® software (Radio Memory Ltda., Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil). The landmarks were then identified and automatically measured by the program. RESULTS: The results showed statistically significant differences between the horizontal position of the hyoid bone and tongue and in the oropharyngeal size. The hyoid bone and tongue were repositioned anteriorly after surgery (p = 0.01), thereby increasing the dimension of the oropharyngeal airspace (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The oropharyngeal dimension increased as the tongue base and hyoid bone were repositioned more anteriorly.

Susceptibility tests of oropharyngeal Candida albicans from Egyptian patients to fluconazole determined by three methods

Candida albicans frequently cause oropharyngeal candidiasis in immunocompromised patients. As some of these isolates show resistance against azoles, the clinician is wary of initiating therapy with fluconazole (FZ) until a final susceptibility report is generated. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of rapid flow cytometry (FCM) and disc diffusion (DD) methods in comparison to reference microdilution (MD) of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) method for FZ. Thirty seven Candida albicans isolates were tested by the three methods. By both MD and FCM, 26/37 (70.3%) were sensitive with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ¡Ü 8¦Ìg/ml, 5/37 (13.5%) were susceptible dose dependant (S-DD) with MIC 16-32 ¦Ìg/ml and 6/37 (16.2%) were resistant with MIC ¡Ý64¦Ìg/ml. More than 92% of isolates susceptible to FZ by the MD were susceptible by the DD methods with good agreement (81.08%, P = 0.000). However, 4/5 isolates diagnosed as S-DD by MD were resistant by DD. Interestingly, the MIC by FCM at 4 h showed excellent agreement (95.59%, P = 0.000) to that obtained by MD method at 24 h. Overall, FCM antifungal susceptibility testing provided rapid, reproducible results that are valuable alternative to MD. The DD test is recommended as a simple and reliable screening test for the detection of susceptible Candida albicans isolates to FZ.

Effect of oral zinc sulphate in prevention of radiation induced oropharyngeal mucositis during and after radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancers

Mucositis is a disturbing side effect of radiotherapy treatment for head and neck cancer. To date, no effective modality for its prophylaxis and treatment has been found. We performed this study to evaluate the efficacy of oral zinc sulphate in delaying the onset of oral and pharyngeal mucositis and decreasing their severity. A total of 58 patients who were treated for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy were randomly assigned to receive oral zinc sulphate [220 mg] or an oral placebo 3 times a day during their radiotherapy course. Total radiation dose was 6000 cGy to 7000 cGy by conventional radiotherapy. Seventy nine percent of the patients also received concurrent chemotherapy. Oral and pharyngeal mucositis were scored according to an RTOG protocol. Time to onset of mucositis did not vary between the two groups. However, oral mucositis scores were less severe in the zinc group in weeks 4 to 6. The difference was statistically significant and the P values for weeks 4, 5 and 6 were 0.02, 0.007, and 0.012, respectively. Treatment interruptions in both groups were the same [four cases each] and all were due to dysphagia [pharyngeal mucositis]. Our results suggest that zinc is effective in reducing the severity of oral mucositis but not pharyngeal mucositis. Treatment interruptions were more frequently caused by pharyngeal mucositis which presented as dysphagia, rather than oral pain that was a manifestation of oral mucositis

Avaliação da sobrevida livre de doença de pacientes com recidiva loco-regional de carcinoma epidermóide de cavidade bucal e orofaringe submetidos a tratamento de resgate / Assessment of disease-free survival in patients with loco-regional recurrence of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx submitted to salvage treatment

OBJETIVO: A cirurgia de resgate é primeira opção terapêutica, principalmente nas lesões de estadio clínico inicial. O objetivo do estudo é avaliação da sobrevida livre de doença após resgate cirúrgico de tumores de cavidade bucal e orofaringe. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo de 276 pacientes tratados com cirurgia, sendo que 127 desenvolveram recidiva loco-regional. Noventa e sete pacientes eram de estadiamento clínico inicial e 178 de estadiamento clínico avançado. Vinte e cinco casos de lábio, 173 cavidade bucal e 78 de orofaringe. A radioterapia pós-operatória foi realizada em 121 pacientes com dose média de 60,8 Gy. RESULTADOS: Oitenta e nove pacientes foram submetidos a tratamento de resgate, sendo que 76 destes foram à cirurgia. As recidivas loco-regionais de cavidade bucal foram submetidas ao resgate cirúrgico em 65 por cento casos. A sobrevida livre de doença pós-cirurgia de resgate foi de 13 por cento nas recidivas até seis meses e 48 por cento nas recidivas após 12 meses de seguimento (p=0,0009). O tipo de resgate e o intervalo livre de doença foram fatores independentes de sobrevida na análise multivariada. CONCLUSÃO: A sobrevida livre de doença pós-resgate nos estadios clínicos iniciais (I e II) foi de 70 por cento.

OBJECTIVE: Salvage surgery is the first therapeutic option for recurrent tumors of the mouth and oropharynx, mainly in early stage tumors. This study intends to evaluate the disease free survival interval after salvage treatment for recurrent tumors of the mouth and oropharynx. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 276 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth and oropharynx treated with surgery. One hundred and twenty seven patients developed loco-regional recurrence. Ninety-seven were staged as early tumors and 178 as advanced ones. The tumor site was the lip in 25 cases, oral cavity in 173 and oropharynx in 78. Postoperative radiotherapy was indicated in 121 cases with a mean dose of 60.8Gy. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients underwent salvage treatment (surgery in 76 patients). Loco-regional recurrences were treated with salvage surgery in 65 percent of cases. Disease free survival after salvage surgery was 13 percent in cases with recurrences diagnosed up to 6 months and 48 percent in those who recurred after 12 months of follow-up (p=0.0009). Modality of salvage treatment and the disease free interval were independent variables of survival in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: In cases clinically staged as I and II, the disease free survival in five years after salvage treatment was 70 percent.

Unusual oropharyngeal foreign body

We present an unusual case of foreign body [sewing needle] in a young man, who swallowed it with bolus of food. It penetrated through soft palate into parapharyngeal space, detected with image intensifier and removed successfully. Postoperative course remained uneventful

Leech infestation in oro-pharynx

Leech can infest human as ecto- and endoparasite. Endoparasitism occurs most commonly in respiratory passage usually by drinking contaminated water. The most likely manifestations of endoparasitism are haemoptysis, haematemesis, dyspnoea or blood stained saliva. We present a case of leech infestation in oropharynx in a young soldier resulting in haematemesis and blood stained saliva. High index of suspicion must be entertained if patient belong to some rural population where aquatic leeches are commonly found and presenting with such symptoms particularly unexplained bleeding from throat and or blood stained saliva

Candida spp en pacientes VIH/SIDA / Candida spp in patient VIH/SIDA

La candidiasis es la infección fúngica más frecuente en pacientes VIH seropositivos y con SIDA, siendo C. albicans la especie que predomina. En estos pacientes, la candidiasis se manifiesta más comúnmente como orofaringitis, con una incidencia que oscila entre 45 por ciento y 95 por ciento de todos los casos. En Venezuela son pocos los reportes que existen acerca de esta entidad en pacientes VIH/SIDA, por lo cual uno de los objetivos de esta investigación fue evaluar este aspecto. Se estudió una cohorte de 402 pacientes con VIH/SIDA con o sin orofaringitis y con o sin tratamiento antifúngico. Las especies de Candida más importantes aisladas fueron: C. albicans (80,41 por ciento), C. tropicalis (8,78 por ciento), C. glabrata (4,90 por ciento), C. dubliniensis (3,26 por ciento). Se evaluó la susceptibilidad de los diferentes aislados a las drogas antifúngicas con el método de la NCCLS y el método de los pozos de difusión. El 37,5 por ciento C. albicans provenientes de pacientes con tratamiento antimicótico fueron resistentes al fluconazol (resistencia secundaria) y 23,95 por ciento mostraron también resistencia al itraconazol (resistencia cruzada). Los ailados obtenidos se tipificaron a través de la reacción en cadena de la polimera (RAPD) y se estableció la que la misma representa una técnica útil para diferenciar Candida spp. En esta cohorte de pacientes evaluados, las características clínicas y demográficas son similares a las reportadas mundialmente, y que desde la introducción del TARGA, la frecuencia de las infecciones por Candida spp disminuyó. Hasta la presente fecha, en Venezuela no se había reportado el hallazgo de C. dubliniensis (3,26 por ciento).

Agranulocitose e tonsilite associadas ao uso de metimazol

O tratamento do hipertireoidismo com drogas antitireoidianas pode provocar, em 0,2 a 0,3 por cento dos casos, um importante efeito colateral: a agranulocitose. As complicações infecciosas decorrentes desta condição afetam principalmente a orofaringe, sendo a tonsilite uma de suas manifestações. No presente trabalho, é relatado o caso de uma paciente do sexo feminino, com 33 anos, apresentando odinofagia e febre resistentes à vários antibióticos. A paciente era portadora de hipertireoidismo e estava em uso de metimazol há dois meses. Com o diagnóstico de angina agranulocítica, foi suspensa a droga e iniciado tratamento com ciprofloxacina, sintomáticos e estimulador de colônias granulocíticas, além de fluconazol. A paciente evoluiu satisfatoriamente, recebendo alta dez dias após o início do tratamento. Quinze dias depois, uma tireoidectomia total foi realizada. O objetivo deste relato é ressaltar a importância de se conhecer os efeitos colaterais dos medicamentos, advertir os pacientes sobre os mesmos e alertar os médicos quanto à necessidade de se avaliar o paciente como um todo, investigando sobre outras doenças existentes e medicamentos em uso.

Endoscopic excision of the antrochoanal polyp

To evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopic excision of the antrochoanal polyp and its role in decreasing the recurrence rate. Retrospective. Medical records of thirty patients with antrochoanal polyp [ACP] diagnosed and treated at King Abdulaziz University Hospital [KAUH] in Riyadh between January 1996 and December 2002 were retrospectively studied. Factors such as gender, age, presenting complaints, findings, pathology, management and recurrence rates were included in this study. Out of thirty patients, 17 were male and their ages ranged from six to 45 years with a mean age of 17.37 years. Nasal obstruction was the most common presenting symptom. Endoscopic transnasal removal of ACP was performed in 25 patients as primary surgery. Revision endoscopic removal was done in three patients and two of those who had failure of revision surgery had combined transcanine and endonasal endoscopic removal. All candidates had follow up from nine to 42 months with mean average time of 24 months. Recurrence was confirmed in five patients [four of them after primary surgery and one patient after revision surgery]. However those who underwent combined approach had no recurrence. Endoscopic approach compared to previous modalities of treatment has the capability to ensure complete removal of the ACP and decrease its rate of recurrence. Its safety in children is considerable in capable hands. Power instrumentation with combined transcanine and middle meatal antrostomy approach is another way to deal with difficult cases and those with recurrence

Does the Oropharyngeal Fat Tissue Influence the Oropharyngeal Airway in Snorers? Dynamic CT Study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine if snorers have a narrower oropharyngeal airway area because of fat infiltration, and an elevated body mass index. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten control subjects and 19 patients that snored were evaluated. We obtained 2-mm-thick axial CT scan images every 0.6 seconds during expiration and inspiration at the same level of the oropharynx. We selected the largest and the smallest oropharyngeal airway areas and found the differences. From the slice that had the smallest oropharyngeal airway area, the thickness of the parapharyngeal and subcutaneous fat was measured. The measurements from the left and right side were added together and single values for parapharyngeal and subcutaneous fat tissue thickness were then found. RESULTS: The conventional measure of body mass index was significantly higher in the snorers (p 0.05). CONCLUSION: We concluded that the oropharyngeal fat deposition in snorers is not an important factor, and it does not predispose a person to the upper airway narrowing.

Histo-pathological study of the oropharynx in snoring and obstructive sleep apnea patients

Obstructive sleep apnea [OSA] is characterized by repetitive episodes of upper airway occlusion during sleep. The purpose of this work is to study the histopathological alterations of the oropharyngeal tissues in patients with snoring and OSA. The study was carried out on two groups of patients, selected from ENT outpatients clinics of Al-Azhar University hospitals from November 2001 to June 2002. The first group, includes 30 patients, 10 snorers and 20 with OSA. They underwent uvulopalatopharyngoplasty [UPPP] and the pharyngeal specimens were taken from the distal soft palate [uvula, anterior and posterior pillars]. The second group, [control] includes 7 persons with chronic tonsillitis and underwent tonsillectomy and the control pharyngeal specimens were taken from very small parts of the anterior and posterior tonsillar pillars excised during tonsillectomy. The study revealed that obstructive sleep apnea patients were commonly obese, male, and older than the other patients. Histopathological examination showed extensive edema in the lamina propria of the distal soft palate in snorers and OSA patients and also, extensive fatty infiltration in these patients which may play a role in etiopathogenesis of OSA. There was a significant correlation between the degree of pharyngeal fatty infiltration and, the apnea index and the neck circumference but no, significant correlation with the body mass index was found. Vascular engorgement, interstitial haemorrhage, chronic inflammatory cell infiltration, and glandular hyperplasia were observed in a portion of patients with snoring and OSA, and in some controls, also lymphangectasia was found in 3 obese patients with severe OSA. So, these pathologic changes may reflect the sequel of airway obstruction rather than its cause

Cricopharyngeal myotomy in neurogenic oropharyngeal dysphagia

Cricopharyngeal myotomy as an independent procedure has been performed on fourteen patients with a variety of neuromuscular disorders, suffering from neurogenic oropharyngeal dysphagia in the interval between 1994-1997. All of them were referred from a neurophysician or physiatrist after failure of improvement by medical treatment. The selection of patients for operation was based mainly on clinical evaluation and simple exclusion criteria without manometric studies. There was dramatic improvement in twelve, with recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and temporary pharyngeal fistula in two patients. No mortality was recorded. We conclude that cricopharyngeal myotomy is a simple, safe and effective procedure with acceptable morbidity. It should be considered as a rehabiliation procedure for patients with dysphagia due to various neurologic disorders based on simple, clinical exclusion criteria without the need for the tedious, time consuming and expensive manometric studies

Avaliaçäo citológica da orofaringe de mulheres portadoras do HPV genital / Cytological evaluation of the oropharynge in carriers women of genital HPV

O Vírus do Papiloma Humano (HPV) na mucosa oral das mulheres com lesoes clínicas ou subclínicas do condiloma nos órgaos genitais foi pesquisado através de esfregaço citológico da cavidade bucal. Para a análise, empregou-se coloraçao de Papanicolaou e técnica de imunoperoxidase. A casuística constou de 51 pacientes com diagnóstico clínico e histológico de HPV genital, atendidas no período de agosto de 1994 a julho de 1995. A idade média das pacientes foi de 22,5 anos, sendo que a média das idades na primeira relaçao foi de 17,4 anos. Destas mulheres, 60 por cento tiveram mais que três parceiros sexuais na vida, e a prática do sexo oral foi relatada em 45 por cento dos casos. O sexo anal, apesar da dificuldade em sua abordagem, foi relatado em 35 por cento dos casos. As lesoes genitais com HPV apresentaram-se nas formas clínicas e subclínicas em 86 por cento e l4 por cento dos casos, respectivamente: na vulva, 53 por cento; no colo, 14 por cento; na vagina, 6 por cento e mais de um local, 27 por cento. No nível de orofaringe, sinais citológicos como discariose, binucleaçao, paraceratose foram interpretados como suspeitos da presença do HPV, ocorrendo em 65 por cento dos casos. Evidências conclusivas desta infecçao estiveram presentes em 6 por cento dos casos analisados e, em 29 por cento das vezes, nao houve qualquer suspeita ou evidência citológica do HPV na mucosa orofaríngea. A paciente com lesao clínica de HPV genital apresentou evidência ou suspeita de HPV oral mais freqüente que as pacientes com lesao subclínica. O estudo serviu para mostrar que o vírus do papiloma humano pode estar presente na orofaringe de mulheres portadoras de HPV genital, mesmo nao havendo lesoes clinicamente detectáveis na mucosa oral.

Proposta de uma escala de pontuaçäo para o exame orofacial / Proposal of the scale of punctuation from orofacial examination

A partir do exame orofacial, os autores mostram uma tabela dividida em 6 tópicos na qual cada item foi pontuado para permitir a quantificaçäo dos resultados e estudos estatísticos