Cochlear Implantation by Veria Technique in Abnormal Cochlea: Our Experience.

This study describes the clinical profile, operative findings, surgical technique, type of implant and complications encountered in implantation of abnormal cochlea by the transcanal (veria) technique in a tertiary care centre. This is a retrospective study done amongst 337 patients who underwent cochlear implantation by veria technique between January 2013 to August 2023. Based on pre-operative imaging with high-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging the cochleovestibular malformations in this study were classified according to Sennaroglu classification and the cochlear ossification was graded from I to IV. Amongst the 337 patients who underwent cochlear implantation during the study period there were 79 cases (23.4%) with abnormalities of cochlea. This included 45 patients (13.4%) with congenital malformations, 20 patients (5.9%) with cochlear fibrosis and 14 patients (4.2%) with cochlear ossification. The commonest cochlear malformation was Incomplete Partition 2 which was present in 21 patients (46.7%). The other common malformations were cochlear hypoplasia (31.1%), Incomplete Partition 1(13.3%) and common cavity (8.9%). Out of the 20 patients with cochlear fibrosis, 17 patients had fibrosis only in the basal turn. Out of the 14 patients with cochlear ossification 8 patients (57.1%) had a grade 1 ossification, 2 patients (14.3%) had a grade 2 ossification and 4 patients (28.6%) had a grade 3 ossification. One of the patients required re-exploration for correcting the placement of electrode. The type of implant were chosen depending on individual malformation or length of ossification and fibrosis. In the past, inner ear anomalies were considered as a contraindication for cochlear implantation however it is now possible to implant most of these abnormal cochlea by careful planning, a modification of the surgical technique and the type of electrode used.

Surgical Management of Pulsatile Tinnitus due to Sigmoid Sinus Diverticulum and Dehiscence - A Technical Note.

Pulsatile tinnitus (PT) is the perception of an auditory sensation without an external source and in synchrony with the heartbeat. One of the most common cases of PT is bony anomalies of the sigmoid sinus, including dehiscence or diverticula. This case report describes a 26-year-old female patient who presented with pulsatile tinnitus caused by sigmoid sinus diverticula and dehiscence, which was successfully treated with cortical mastoidectomy with diverticula closure using pedicled temporalis fascia and resurfacing of the dehiscence with autogenous bone pate along with bone cement. We recommend thorough clinical and radiological workup to rule out other possible causes of PT before surgical intervention. In addition, we would like to highlight the surgical technique using pedicled temporalis fascia that we have used in our patient, which is easily reproducible and offers successful outcomes.

Aspergillus infections of lateral skull base: a case series.

PURPOSE: While extensive research with accurate classification has been done in mycoses of the paranasal sinuses and anterior skull base, a similar understanding of lateral skull base fungal pathologies is lacking due to relative rarity and diagnostic difficulties. We introduce a series of eleven cases and two different invasive entities of Aspergillus temporal bone diseases-fungal skull base osteomyelitis (SBO)/malignant otitis externa (MOE) and chronic invasive granulomatous fungal disease (CIGFD). METHODOLOGY: A retrospective observational study was conducted at the neuro-otology unit of a tertiary care referral center between July 2017 and November 2022. Diagnosed cases of lateral skull base osteomyelitis with atypical symptoms and lack of response to culture-directed antibiotics were evaluated for fungal origin. Patient data, including history, laboratory findings, serum galactomannan assay, CT and MRI imaging findings, clinical examination findings, and co-morbidities, were analyzed. The treatment course and response were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 11 cases were included in the study. Of these, 9 were cases of Aspergillus-induced skull base osteomyelitis (SBO) and 2 of Aspergillus-induced chronic invasive granulomatous fungal disease (CIGFD). CIGFD presented with persistent ear discharge and slowly progressive post-aural swelling, while all patients of fungal SBO had lower cranial nerve palsies. CIGFD responded to excision and antifungals, while SBO responded well to conservative anti-fungal treatment. CONCLUSION: In cases of lateral SBO not responding to antibiotic therapy, the possibility of fungal etiology should be considered. Aspergillus spp. seems to be the major fungal pathogen.

The Outcomes and Surgical Nuances of Minimally Invasive Parotid Surgery for Pleomorphic Adenoma.

Benign parotid tumors follow an indolent course and present as slow-growing painless swelling in the pre-and-infra-auricular areas. The treatment of choice is surgery. Though the gold standard technique is Superficial Parotidectomy, Extracapsular Dissection (ECD) is an alternative option with the same outcome and decreased complications. This study discusses our experience with extracapsular dissection and the surgical nuances for better results. A retrospective study of histologically confirmed cases of pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland, who underwent Extracapsular dissection between September 2019 and March 2023, was done. The demographic details, clinical characteristics, and outcomes were evaluated. There were 33 patients, including 16 females and 17 males, with a mean age of 32.75 years. All cases presented as slow-growing painless swelling for a mean duration of 5 years. Most of the tumors (94%) were of size between 2 and 4 cm, with few tumors more than 4 cm. All underwent extracapsular dissection with complete excision. There was only one complication (seroma) and no incidence of facial palsy in our experience with ECD. The goal of a benign parotid surgery is the complete removal of the tumor with minimum complications, which could be achieved with ECD, which has good tumor clearance and lesser rates of complications with good cosmesis. Thus, this minimally invasive parotid surgery could be a worthwhile option in properly selected cases.