The Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire and its modified short version validation in adults and children with allergic rhinitis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop the Greek versions of the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire and Mini-Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire for adult and pediatric populations, discuss their differences and detect the impact of age and gender on quality of life questionnaire results. METHOD: Ninety-eight patients with allergic rhinitis participated. Quality of Life evaluation was made by two generic (Short Form-36 and Beck Depression Inventory) and two disease-specific questionnaires (Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire and Mini-Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire). Symptom evaluation was made by the Total 5 Symptoms Score assessment. RESULTS: Internal consistency and test-retest reliability of both questionnaires was high. Convergent validity showed statistically significant negative correlations of total Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire and Mini-Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire with overall Short Form-36 Health Survey score and positive correlations with Beck Depression Inventory and Total 5 Symptoms Score. Discriminative validity demonstrated statistically significant improvement for all instruments and all domains after treatment. Females presented highly significant increased scores. Patient age was positively correlated with total scores of Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire and Mini-Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire. The clinically significant improvement after treatment was higher among females than males, while it was independent of patient age. CONCLUSION: Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire and Mini-Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire proved to be valid and reliable methods of assessment of allergic rhinitis-related quality of life in children, adolescents and adults.

[Unilateral diseases of the maxillary sinus]. / Einseitige Erkrankungen der Kieferhöhle.

Unilateral diseases of the maxillary sinus are among the most common rhinologic diagnoses. The diversity of these diseases can represent a challenge for the treating physician. The spectrum ranges from harmless maxillary sinus cysts that seldom require treatment, to highly aggressive malignant tumors. Special attention should be given to the management of inverted papilloma. These benign tumors are characterized by high recurrence rates and the potential for malignant transformation. The key to minimizing recurrence is precise surgical intervention. Other unilateral maxillary sinus diseases such as the antrochoanal polyp and the fungus ball (aspergilloma) are also discussed in depth.

Symptomatic retropharyngeal space lipoma. A patient with Madelung disease.

BACKGROUND: Retropharyngeal space lipomas (RSL) are rare benign tumors of the head and neck region. They can, sporadically, occur as part of syndromic lipomatosis, such as Madelung disease. Symptoms are caused due to increasing pressure on surrounding structures. Description of case: We present a 64-year-old male patient with symptomatic RSL and symmetric lipomatosis, who was treated surgically. CONCLUSION: RSL can grow to a large size before becoming symptomatic. Their diagnosis and treatment can be challenging due to their anatomical site, diverse symptomatology, and diffuse growth pattern. Imaging is necessary for diagnosis. In the vast majority of cases, RSLs are treated surgically with a favorable outcome. HIPPOKRATIA 2020, 24(2): 91-93.

[Anteromedial maxillectomy for improvement of nasal breathing : Advanced procedure in surgery of the lateral nasal wall]. / Anteriomediale Maxillektomie zur Verbesserung der Nasenatmung : Erweiterte Verfahren in der Chirurgie der lateralen Nasenwand.

The aim of classical surgical correction for nasal breathing impairment is to harmonically extend the physiological space in the nose by an operation of the nasal septum and inferior nasal turbinate. In this way the airflow character should be maintained and the mucosa protected in order not to endanger the respiratory function of the nose. This article presents an operative approach developed stepwise a few years ago in which the different operative steps are carried out depending on the individual anatomical situation and the underlying mucosal disease. The focus is on partial anteromedial maxillectomy.

Posterior translacrimal approach to the maxillary sinus.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the view into the maxillary sinus using the posterior translacrimal approach compared with grade 3 antrostomy. METHODS: Grade 3 antrostomy followed by a posterior translacrimal approach was performed on four cadavers. The maximum intramaxillary view was documented endoscopically guided by electromagnetic navigation. Representative screenshots were evaluated in a blinded manner by three independent sinus surgeons. In addition, a prospective investigation of specific complications in the post-operative course of consecutive patients was performed. RESULTS: In the cadaver study, the posterior translacrimal approach provided a significantly better view into the maxillary sinus compared with grade 3 antrostomy. In the clinical study, only 1 out of 20 patients reported on a minor problem with lacrimal drainage at 6 months. CONCLUSION: The posterior translacrimal approach to visualising the maxillary sinus should be considered a strong alternative to more radical techniques.

The promise of immunotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Squamous cell cancers of the head and neck (HNSCC) comprise a diverse group of malignancies that includes tobacco-related tumors in addition to an increasing number of human papillomavirus-associated cancers. Independently of cause, there is a growing body of evidence supporting that the immune system plays a pivotal role in HNSCC development, as tumor cells evade immunosurveillance by exploiting inhibitory checkpoint pathways that suppress anti-tumor T-cell responses. HNSCC cells have the ability to manipulate the immune system through a variety of different mechanisms, forcing it to promote tumor growth and spread. Over the last decade, discoveries in immunologic research resulted in increased understanding of complex interactions between HNSCC and the host immune system as well as T-cell regulatory mechanisms, promoting the development of a variety of novel immunotherapies. Following the availability of novel immunotherapeutic strategies, the challenge for clinicians is to understand how and in which clinical setting to use these agents in order to provide greater clinical benefit for patients. Combination of immunotherapies with standard treatment approaches also represents an evolving field of research. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of immune escape mechanisms in HNSCC, as well as current immunotherapy approaches under investigation.

Inflammatory pseudotumour of the maxillary sinus mimicking malignancy.

Inflammatory pseudotumours of the paranasal sinuses are rare entities and can be easily confused with aggressive malignant tumours. In this report we describe the characteristic behavior of inflammatory pseudotumours in the maxillary sinus. We present a case of a 47-year-old Caucasian woman, who presented in our ENT department because of progressive nasal obstruction, epistaxis, and epiphora. The clinical as well as the radiological findings suggested a maxillary sinus neoplasm, most probably of malignant nature. The histopathological examination showed an inflammatory pseudotumour of the maxillary sinus with polypoid structure and no signs of malignancy.

Adhesion molecules in cancer of the head and neck: role of dysadherin.

Dysadherin is a recently discovered cancer-related cell membrane glycoprotein that has an important role in tumor progression and metastasis. We are focusing on the role of dysadherin in E-cadherin downregulation, the different expression patterns of the molecule in cancer of the head and neck and its potential role as a molecular target for future applications in diagnosis, prognosis, and management of the disease.

Clinical outcomes of sinonasal inverted papilloma surgery. A retrospective study of 67 cases.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic sinus surgery has become popular for the management of sinonasal inverted papillomas (IP). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this report is to review our 13 years of experience in managing IPs. METHODS: Retrospective chart study. Sixty-seven patients with sinonasal IPs were treated in our department from 1991 to 2004. Seventeen were managed using an endonasal non-endoscopic approach, 39 endoscopically, 8 through external techniques, and the remaining 3 using a combined approach. RESULTS: After 1994, as we gained experience using endoscopic sinus surgery, most cases were treated endoscopically. In only 3 cases, where the tumour attachment site was in the lateral / anterior wall of the maxillary sinus and in the lateral wall of the frontal sinus, could the lesions not be accessed by extended endoscopic techniques, and an appropriate combination with external methods was required. The mean follow up period was 91 (range, 36-146) months. The recurrence rate was 59% using an endonasal non-endoscopic approach, 12.5% using an external incision, and 12.8% using endoscopic techniques. Average time to recurrence was 15 months. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that endoscopic sinus surgery for sinonasal IP is a viable approach, with a low rate of recurrence and minor morbidity. Complete tumour resection at the site of attachment, including a surrounding rim of normal mucosa and drilling the underlying bone, is the key to successful treatment when it is combined with the preservation of healthy tissue. Non-endoscopic endonasal surgery is no longer a treatment option because the recurrence rate is too high.