Surgical management of parapharyngeal space tumors: The role of cervical and lateral skull base approaches.

We conducted a retrospective study to analyze the role of the cervical and lateral skull base approaches in the surgical excision of parapharyngeal space (PPS) tumors. Our study population was made up of 34 patients-15 males and 19 females, aged 13 to 73 years (mean: 50.6)-who had presented to us with a PPS tumor during a 9-year period. The 34 cases included 23 benign tumors and 11 malignancies. The 23 benign tumors consisted of 11 pleomorphic adenomas, 5 schwannomas, 2 paragangliomas, 2 Warthin tumors, 1 oncocytoma, 1 hamartoma, and 1 osteochondroma. The 11 malignancies included 3 cases of recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma, 2 cases of mucoepidermoid carcinomas, and 1 case each of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma, liposarcoma, lymph node metastasis from nasopharyngeal carcinoma, lymph node metastasis from follicular thyroid carcinoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and cranial nerve (CN) X neurofibrosarcoma. Among the benign tumors, 14 were removed via the transparotid approach, 3 via the transcervical approach, 3 via the transcervical-transparotid approach, 2 via the petro-occipital-trans-sigmoid approach, and 1 via the Fisch type A infratemporal fossa approach. During postoperative follow-up, 5 of the 23 patients with a benign tumor exhibited facial nerve paresis, 2 developed CN IX to XII palsy, and 1 each developed Frey syndrome and CN X palsy. In the malignant tumor group, 4 of the 11 patients were treated via the transcervical-transparotid approach, 3 via the Fisch type C infratemporal fossa approach, 3 via the transcervical-transmandibular approach, and 1 via the transcervical-lateral petrosectomy approach. The neural deficits observed during the postoperative period were more extensive among the patients with a malignant tumor. We conclude that the transparotid and transcervical approaches were adequate for excising most benign tumors. For malignant tumors, large tumors, and tumors with skull base involvement and transcranial extension, the transparotid-transcervical, transcervical-transmandibular, infratemporal fossa, and petro-occipital-trans-sigmoid approaches were necessary.

Airway scleromas and their extensions.

BACKGROUND: Scleroma is a rare, chronic, granulomatous infectious disease of the respiratory tract mucosa which begins in the nose and spreads to the respiratory tract and adjoining structures. We report on the extensions and the management of 134 cases of scleroma in the Highlands region of Papua New Guinea. METHODS: The charts and treatment records of 134 scleroma cases were retrospectively reviewed from 1995 to 2013. The staging, extensions, treatment and results of treatment were reviewed and analysed. RESULTS: Of the 134 cases, 72 (53.7%) were females and the age ranged from 6 to 65 years. The disease was confined to the nose and nasopharynx in 71 (53.0%) cases. Extension of the disease from the nose to the Eustachian tube occurred in nine (6.7%) cases and into the middle ear in four (3.0%) cases. Further extensions to the larynx and trachea were seen in 17 (12.7%) cases each and the bronchus in three (2.2%) cases. Primary laryngoscleroma without involvement of the nose and nasopharyngeal stenosis without laryngeal involvement were managed in 11 (8.2%) and nine (6.7%) cases respectively. Others cases treated were ethmoid scleroma with proptosis and scleroma involving the upper lip in one (0.75%) case each. Ninety-nine (74.9%) patients were treated medically while 35 (26.1%) patients required surgery. Cure were achieved in 83 (61.9%) cases treated medically and 26 (19.4%) had successful surgical outcome. CONCLUSION: Scleroma begins in the nose and when not arrested, extends causing obstruction to the airway and cosmetic deformity which requires surgical intervention.

Sporadic endolymphatic sac tumor: its clinical, radiological, and histological features, management, and follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Sporadic endolymphatic sac tumor (ELST) is rare. We described the clinical, radiological, and histological features, treatment, and follow-up of ELST. METHOD: This was a retrospective analysis of 7 cases of sporadic ELST that were managed between 1993 and 2010. RESULTS: Twenty-five to 75 years was the age range of the patients. Subjective hearing loss and tinnitus were the most common presenting features. Five patients had total deafness and 2 had severe sensorineural hearing loss. The most common radiological feature was temporal bone destruction with tumor extension to cerebellopontine angle and posterior cranial fossa. Cholesterol or hemosiderin cysts around the tumor could be a characteristic feature. Major skull base procedures were performed in all 7 cases, and complete tumor excision was achieved in 6 of them. One patient needed a second surgery after she was referred to us after an incomplete first surgery. Recurrences were detected in 2 patients during follow-up; 1 of them received irradiation without minimal change to the tumor size and the second refused any treatment for the recurrence. Both of them are alive with disease. CONCLUSION: Early detection and radical surgical excision at first attempt give best results. Radiotherapy could be considered only in unresectable recurrences.

Transpalatal approach with pedicled palatal osteo-muco-periosteal flap.

BACKGROUND: In the conventional technique of transpalatal approach, the palatal mucoperiosteum is incised and widely elevated and hard palate bone is removed in piece meal and discarded. These technique lead to complications, namely, temporary or permanent palatal fistula, palatal scarring leading to palatal disfiguration and velopharyngeal incompetence. In this article we describe a new technique of doing palatotomy to avoid these complications. METHODS: A retrospective review of post-operative complications of 20 patients that underwent transpalatal approach by the conventional technique was performed. To avoid the complications encountered in these cases, a new approach was designed when the palatal mucoperiosteum on the pathological side was elevated partially, greater palatine artery was coagulated and palatal osteotomy was performed from the oral side. On the non-pathological side, hard palate was sectioned from the nasal side, thus preserving the ipsilateral palatal mucoperiosteum. The entire mucoperiosteum with attached hard palate was reflected orally as a single block which was pedicled on the greater palatine artery and palatal mucoperiosteum of the non-pathological side, thereby creating palatal osteo-mucoperiosteal flap. The flap was placed back at the end of the procedure. Eight patients were operated by this new technique. RESULTS: All 20 patients operated by the conventional transpalatal approach developed post-operative complications. In the eight patients operated by the new technique, no post-operative complications were encountered after 2 years' follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We found palatal osteo-mucoperiosteal flap an easy and safe way of preserving the hard palate mucoperiosteum and bone with its vasculature resulting in quicker healing and minimal functional impairment.

Intracranial spread of chronic middle ear suppuration.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to review the pathogenesis and the result of management of the intracranial complications of chronic middle ear suppuration. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of charts of 32 cases with intracranial complications due to chronic middle ear infection managed between 1993 and 2007. The symptoms, clinical findings, and medical and surgical management were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: There were 10 (31.2%) patients in the age group of 0 to 10 years, 9 (28.1%) patients in the age group of 11 to 18 years, and 13 (40.6%) patients older than 18 years. Males were involved twice as much as females. Among the 32 patients, 18 (56.3%) had a single intracranial complication, whereas 14 (43.7%) had multiple intracranial complications. Among all the intracranial complications in the 32 patients, otitic meningitis was the commonest intracranial complication and was seen in 14 (43.7%) patients; it was followed by lateral sinus thrombosis in 10 (31.2%), cerebellar abscess in 6 (18.7%), epidural abscess in 7 (21.8%), and perisinus abscess in 5 (15.6%). Other less common but serious intracranial complications encountered were cerebral abscess and interhemispheric abscess in 2 (6.2%) each, and subdural abscess, otitic hydrocephalus, and otogenic cavernous sinus thrombosis in 1 (3.1%) each. Upon admission, all patients received a combination of parenteral antibiotics. Canal wall down mastoidectomy was performed in all but 1 patient. In addition, lateral sinus was explored in 13 (40.6%) and cerebellar abscesses were drained in 5 (15.6%) patients. The overall mortality rate of 31.2% was found in our series. CONCLUSION: The prognosis was worse with delayed presentation because of overwhelming intracranial infection due to multiple pathways of extension from chronic otitis media. Infected thrombus in the dural venous sinus should be removed to prevent dissemination of septic emboli.

Critical look at the surgical approaches of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma excision and "total maxillary swing" as a possible alternative.

OBJECTIVES: We critically analyzed different surgical approaches used for the excision of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (NPA) at our hospital in a 10-year period and proposed "total maxillary swing" as a possible alternative approach. METHODS: Retrospective review of the clinical and operative records was done regarding 39 cases of NPA that were surgically managed from 1995 to 2005. The duration of the surgical procedures, amount of blood loss and transfusion, time to recurrence, frequency of recurrence, functional and cosmetic deformity, and complications of all surgical procedures were thoroughly analyzed. These parameters were compared with total maxillary swing, a new approach recently being used by us, for the one-time excision of NPA. RESULTS: A total of 61 operations including revision surgeries for recurrences were done in the 39 cases of NPA. Conventional surgical approaches were performed in 37 cases, and the total maxillary swing approach was used in 2 cases. This new approach provided a wider surgical exposure for complete tumor resection and better hemostasis without any recurrence or major functional deformity, which were seen with some of the conventional approaches. CONCLUSIONS: We found total maxillary swing to be a relatively safe alternate approach for the resection of NPA. We removed the entire tumors in a wider surgical field under the microscope with reduced blood loss and minimal complications or chance of recurrences.

Sporadic acoustic neuroma in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: Sporadic acoustic neuroma, usually occur between the ages of 40 and 70 years, are very rare in children. We review the experiences of 10 cases of sporadic (non-NF2) acoustic neuromas in pediatric patients. METHOD: During last 26 years 2000 skull base procedures were performed in the Otorhinolaryngology Unit of the Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo. Among these almost 900 cases were acoustic neuromas. Only 10 were at or under the age of 18 years. RESULTS: The age of the youngest patient in our series was 12 years. Deafness were the commonest presentation and were seen in eight patients. It varied between 10 and 65 dB sensorineural hearing loss. Among these eight cases, two patients have sudden onset of hearing loss. Two patients presented with dizziness. The duration of complaints were between 2 months and 5 years in these patients. The diameter of the tumors varied widely with minimum of 10 mm to maximum up to 60 mm. Five patients each underwent resection of the tumor by translabyrinthine and retrosigmoid approach, respectively. The minimum postoperative follow-up was 3 years and maximum was 22 years in our series. Postoperatively seven cases the facial nerve recovered to grade I, and one each to grade II and grade VI of House-Brackmann classification. All five cases who underwent retrosigmoid approach had moderate (40 dB) to total sensorineural hearing loss postoperatively. The youngest patient with largest tumor diameter of 60 mm developed transient hemiparesis in the immediate postoperative period and he recovered fully in due course. CONCLUSION: We found preservation of facial nerve function is more easier than hearing in this group of patients.

Complications of chronic suppurative otitis media and their management.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this is to determine the incidence of otogenic complications of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) and its management. STUDY DESIGN: The authors conducted a retrospective study. METHODS: The study was conducted at the tertiary referral and teaching hospital. An analysis was made about the clinical and operative findings, surgical techniques and approaches, the overall management and recovery of the patients. The data were then compared with the relevant and available literature. RESULTS: Of the 70 cases, 47 (67%) had a single complication, of which eight (11%) had intracranial and 39 (56%) had extracranial complications. Twenty-three (33%) had two or more complications. The commonly encountered intracranial complications were otitic meningitis, lateral sinus thrombosis, and cerebellar abscess, which were seen in 13 (19%), 10 (14%), and 6 (9%) cases, respectively. Among the extracranial complications, mastoid abscess, postauricular fistula, and facial palsy were encountered in 26 (37%), 17 (24%) and 10 (14%) patients, respectively. Surgeries were the main mode of treatment for these conditions. According to severity, we found four different types of the lateral sinus involvement. Three patients with otitic facial palsy failed to regain full facial function despite surgery. A total of nine patients with the diagnosis of otitic meningitis, lateral sinus thrombosis and interhemispheric abscess expired. It constituted the mortality rate of 13% in our study. CONCLUSION: CSOM complications, despite its reduced incidence, still pose a great challenge in developing countries as the disease present in the advanced stage leading to difficulty in management and consequently higher morbidity and mortality.

Head and neck space infections.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence, causes, management, and complications of the different head and neck space infections in a Melanesian population. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We conducted a retrospective study in a tertiary referral and teaching hospital. RESULTS: Of the total 103 patients with deep neck space infections (DNSI), odontogenic causes and suppurative lymphadenitis were responsible in 62 (60%) patients. A wide range of DNSI was encountered in our series. Ludwig's angina was the most commonly encountered infection seen in 38 (37%) patients, whereas prevertebral abscess was only seen in 1 (1%) patient. A combination of surgical drainage and medical treatment was the main mode of treatment. Nine (8.7%) patients with DNSI with upper airway obstruction underwent tracheostomy; 9 (8.7%) patients with DNSI succumbed to their infection. CONCLUSION: DNSI needs early detection and aggressive management in order to evade dreaded complications.

Ear, nose and throat foreign bodies in Melanesian children: an analysis of 1037 cases.

OBJECTIVE: Occurrence of foreign bodies (FBs) in ear, nose and throat (ENT) in children are not uncommon in clinical practice. We described our experience with ENT foreign bodies in Melanesian children. METHOD: The study was carried out at the tertiary referral center which is also a University teaching hospital. The 15-year period from 1990 to 2004, 1037 cases of ENT foreign bodies were managed. The clinical, operative and follow up data of these patients were collected from available clinic cards and admission charts. A retrospective analysis was made with these data. RESULTS: Foreign bodies in the external auditory canal constituted 711 (68.6%) cases. It was followed by nose in 258 (24.9%), pharynx in 26 (2.5%), esophagus in 21 (2.0%) and laryngotracheobronchial (LTB) tree in 21 (2.0%) cases. Innumerable varieties of foreign bodies were removed from the ear. The common ones were stones in 277 (39.0%), seeds in 142 (20.0%), plastic ornament beads in 70 (9.8%) and cotton in 48 (6.8%) cases. Six hundred and thirteen (86.2%) of them were removed under microscope at the clinic without any complications. The difficult ones in uncooperative children were removed in the operation theatre. They numbered 98 (13.8%). The nasal foreign bodies were exclusively limited up to the age of 12 years. Common nasal foreign bodies were foam in 54 (20.9%), seeds in 51 (19.8%), stone in 28 (10.9%) and ornament beads in 24 (9.3%) cases. Two hundred and forty-six (95.3%) of them were removed in the clinic. Only 12 (4.7%) were removed in the operation theatre. Fishbone was the commonest (23, 90.2%) foreign body encountered in the pharynx of the children. Coins were the exclusive esophageal foreign bodies in children and all were removed in the operation theatre under general anesthesia. In the LTB tree the FBs were mostly localized to the right main bronchus which occurred in 11 (52.4%) cases. This was followed by the trachea in four (19.1%) cases. The different types of FBs encountered were coffee beans in eight (38.0%), peanuts in five (23.8%), plant seeds in three (14.2%) cases. We encountered two mortalities in these LTB FB patients. CONCLUSIONS: Otolaryngological foreign bodies in children are common. For early diagnosis a high index of suspicion has to be maintained by pediatric otolaryngologist.

Postmastoidectomy pneumocephalus: case report.

Chronic otitis media, unlike trauma, seldom leads to the development of tension pneumocephalus. Rarely, it occurs as a complication of mastoid surgery. A Melanesian woman sought treatment for loss of speech, hemiparesis, and headache 4 weeks after undergoing canal-down mastoidectomy for cholesteatoma. The tension pneumocephalus was decompressed urgently by aspirating air via a cannula through the burr hole, and the mastoid cavity was obliterated. She recovered completely. Twelve additional patients with postmastoidectomy pneumocephalus reported in the literature are reviewed.