[Thyroid papillary carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal cyst. Therapeutic treatment]. / Carcinoma papilar de tiroides con origen en quiste del conducto tirogloso: actitud terapéutica.

Cysts of the thyroglossal duct form the congenital, not odontogenetic, more frequent malformations of neck and head pathology. In percentage terms one percent developed a carcinoma, usually of good prognosis. This paper reports the case of a woman, 41, who was operated upon of a thyroglossal duct cyst and in the eradicated piece showed a papillary carcinoma invading neighbouring tissues. Treatment was completed, in a second time, with a complete thyroidectomy and a the papillary carcinoma was discovered. Some interesting aspects regarding diagnosis and treatment of this scarce entity are reviewed.

[Langerhans's cell histiocytosis in otorhinolaryngology]. / Histiocitosis de células de Langerhans en O.R.L.

Langerhans's cell histiocytosis (LCH) is an uncommon disease characterized by an accumulation of abnormal histiocytes, together lymphocytes and eosinophils in various organs and tissues. The head and neck are frequent sites of initial presentation. We present two cases of LCH with otorhinolaryngologic symptoms. Current recommendations for diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of LCH are also discussed.

[Salivary gland myoepithelioma]. / Mioepitelioma en glándulas salivares.

Myoepithelioma is a rare salivary gland tumor (less than 1%) which are usually located in parotid gland and minor salivary glands. Histology and immunohistochemical features of this tumors are reviewed. We report 2 cases arising in parotid and hard palate.

[Burkitt lymphoma of a palatine tonsil]. / Linfoma de Burkitt en amígdala palatina.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) comprise 7-10% of all malignant tumors in childhood. Early systems of classification (Rappaport, Luke-Collins) have been improved with the Working Formulation. NHL are classified into low, intermediate and high-grade disease. Head and neck manifestations of Burkitt's lymphoma are encountered in less than a quarter of the reported cases and usually present as cervical adenopathy. Parapharyngeal space and extranodal disease are unusual sites of involvement. We present a case of tonsillar lymphoma diagnosed with fine-needle biopsy and confirmed with excisional biopsy. Accurate staging (stage IV) and chemotherapy regimen was promptly begun. We review the clinical aspects, pathologic features and treatment of this disease.

[Parotid metastasis of liposarcoma of the lower limbs]. / Metástasis a parótida de liposarcoma de miembro inferior.

Distant metastasis affecting the parotid gland are a rare entity, with origin in most cases from cutaneous tumors of the head and neck, mainly melanoma and epidermoid carcinoma. Other histological types of metastasis and tumors originated from distant organs or sites are very rare and may be a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, for this reason, we consider it interesting for discussion. In this paper, we present the case of a patient with a metastatic tumor of the parotid gland secondary to a liposarcoma of the leg, extremely rare case, about which we have no found previous references in the literature.

[Anatomic features of the middle ear in the gerbil. Scanning electronic microscopic study]. / Aspectos anatómicos del oído medio del jerbo. Estudio con microscopia electrónica de barrido.

The surgical anatomy of the middle ear was studied in 20 adult gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) by microdissection and scanning electron microscopy. The most significant finding was a well pneumatized tympanic bulla, which facilitated the identification of useful anatomical landmarks for middle and inner ear dissection. The typical features of middle ear structures in the gerbil are described.

[The mucociliary function and the morphology of the nasal mucous membrane in laryngectomees compared with normal subjects]. / Función mucociliar y morfología de la mucosa nasal en laringectomizados comparadas con sujetos normales.

The laryngectomees offer a good model for investigating the effect of absence of nasal ventilation in humans. Two samples has been studied: one composed for 24 laryngectomees, the other one for 54 healthy men. The clearance mucociliar time, using the charcoal power method in both specimen, and a structural and ultrastructural morphological survey in 5 cases, before and after the laryngectomy, was carried out. Normal people have a mucociliar clearance mean time of 9.3 +/- 3.6 minutes and among laryngectomized this time is 11.1 +/- 5.5 minutes, with no statistically significative differences at all (p = 0.26). Morphological outcome of the inquiry shows by the 2nd week there is a marked change in the previously transitional epithel which becomes a good ciliated epithelial one, together with an increase in number of goblet cells, and the exhibition of great dynamism in the morphological changes happening in the nasal mucous membrane, in agreement with the stop of the nose ventilation.

Melanocytes in the stria vascularis and vestibular labyrinth of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus).

Inner ear melanocytes are mainly present in the cochlea, vestibular organ, and endolymphatic sac, but their exact biological function has not been determined. In this investigation, we study the pigment cells in the membranous labyrinth of the gerbil. The inner ear melanocytes of M. unguiculatus show an irregular dendritic shape with cytoplasmic processes. These cells are disposed following the distribution of strial marginal and vestibular dark cells that have an important metabolic activity. Gerbil inner ear melanocytes are characterized by the presence of melanosomes, which are homogeneously dense organelles, of variable size and shape, that are surrounded by a membrane. In these cells, the Golgi apparatus plays a important role in melanin synthesis. When melanocytes were incubated in L-DOPA solution, the vesicles and cisterns of the Golgi apparatus exhibited a positive tyrosinase reaction. An interesting observation is the relation between melanocytes and inner ear capillaries. Sometimes, near to sensory vestibular areas, the melanocytes were in contact with Schwann cells and with myelinated fibres of vestibular nerve. The ultrastructural findings of this investigation are consistent with the hypothesis that melanocytes may have functional significance in the inner ear.

Sudden deafness and cerebellar tumour.

We report the case of a female patient who presented with sudden deafness as the first symptom of a cerebellar tumour which was not localized strictly in the cerebellopontine angle and did not show direct compression on the extrabulbar portion of the VIIIth cranial nerve. The clinical picture contained a number of signs and symptoms typical of cerebellar involvement. Surgical intervention restored the hearing and caused the symptoms to disappear. We also review the association between tumours and sudden deafness in the literature.

[Pharyngeal lipoma]. / Pharyngeal lipoma.

We present a 40-year-old male patient with a lump in the parapharyngeal space protruding in the oro- and hypopharynx and obstructing the airway. Diagnosis lipoma. The pathology is reviewed and the surgical approach is commented upon.

[Subglottal stenosis as the initial manifestation in Wegener's disease]. / Estenosis subglótica como primera manifestación de la enfermedad de Wegener.

A 21-year-old man with 3-month history of hoarseness and dyspnea was suspected to have Wegener's granulomatosis with initially appearing in the trachea. In spite of unspecific biopsies, the clinicopathological picture and the high titles of anticytoplasmic autoantibodies (ACPA) confirmed the diagnosis. The early treatment with cyclophosphamide impeded the evolution to graver systemic forms of the disease.

[Graphic recording of the maxillary ostium permeability]. / Registro gráfico de la permeabilidad del óstium maxilar.

Currently we practise salpingography for evaluating Eustachian tube permeability. In a similar mode, we describe a technique of graphic search, with impedianciometry, of patency in the osteomeatal complex, after puncture and placing Foley's catheter in the maxillary sinus. In several cases without opening, we make topical treatment though catheter. For this technique, we propose the term of infundibulography.

[Castleman's lymphoma of the neck]. / Enfermedad de Castleman en el cuello.

We present a case of Castleman's disease (hyaline-vascular type) localized in the neck, confirmed by histopathological examination. A review of the illness is also reported.

[The butterfly-like type of myringoplasty. Our experience]. / Miringoplastia tipo mariposa: nuestra experiencia.

The attempts for closing tympanic perforations has been a matter of concern between the otologists since past times. BANZER, in 1640, tried to seal them with pork bladder; YEARSLEY, in 1850, was the first to use a fragment of cotton wool to patch them up; BERTHOLD, in 1878, used skin grafts; and BLAKE, in 1887, did the same with papier patches. From 1950 onwards, owing to the spreading of optical devices, the utilization of several materials become generalized. Although independently of the followed technique high rates of closures were recorded, it seems advisable to stablish a procedure joining good results and the easiness of placement of the piece and, specially, to avoid the general anesthesia. In our Department the butterfly-like method of myringoplasties is practised in certain cases. The procedure is based in that of STROUD. The results are not better as those gained through classics but it is worth because of the advantages of application and the accuracy of placement.

[Complications of therapeutic embolization of juvenile angiofibroma of the nasopharynx]. / Complicaciones en embolización terapéutica del angiofibroma de nasofaringe juvenil.

We report two cases of major complications in therapeutic embolization of juvenile angiofibromas. We discuss no permanent and major complications of this procedure. A brief review of this illness is also presented.

[Treatment of sudden deafness: our experience]. / Tratamiento de la sordera brusca: nuestra experiencia.

The sudden deafness is a common pathology with unilateral affectation and unknown etiology. Nowadays, the treatment is not completely clarified. We compare a urografin-CO2 treatment with CO2 as a single therapy.