Management of congenital dacryocystocele: report of 3 clinical cases.

This case study describes three newborns referred to our otolaryngologic service for investigating and treating a cystic dilatation of the lacrimal duct. These dilatations corresponded to unilateral or bilateral dacryocystoceles, with or without complications. The first newborn exhibited respiratory distress at birth and received early surgery and endoscopic marsupialization of intranasal and bilateral cysts. The second newborn did not show any signs of complications, and after conservative treatment for a week, the cyst spontaneously resolved. The third newborn was diagnosed in utero with ultrasonography, and the cyst resolved spontaneously during childbirth. These cases provided an opportunity to review the pathophysiology of this rare congenital lacrimal anomaly and to note responses to different therapeutic approaches. Indeed, these three cases illustrated three different management approaches, and allowed us to address the issue of prenatal diagnosis.

[Clinical case of the month. Sudden orbital cellulitis in the emergency unit]. / Le cas clinique du mois. Exophtalmie aiguë au service des urgences.

We report a case of infectious orbital cellulitis complicating a frontal sinusitis in a seventy-three-year-old patient. The onset of this orbital complication was sudden. A clinical examination and an orbital CT-scan allowed an early diagnosis. Despite an appropriate surgical and medical treatment, the patient retains an altered visual function. We consider the clinical causes and consequences of orbital cellulitis as well as their surgical indications.

Traumatic, iatrogenic, and spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak: endoscopic repair.

Over the past two decades, Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) leak repair has advanced from open invasive intracranial approaches to transnasal endoscopic ones that avoid the traditional morbidities of frontal craniotomy approaches--such as anosmia, intracranial haemorrhage or oedema, seizures, memory deficiencies, and behaviour disorders--reducing morbidity, reducing hospitalisation times and accelerating return to work, and therefore cutting indirect costs. The diagnosis of CSF rhinorrhoea is both clinical and radiological. The presence of CSF in clear nasal drainage should be established by analysis for CSF markers. Localisation of the leak site involves radiological investigation, mainly Computerised Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). In addition to suppressing symptoms, the main goal of the closure of CSF rhinorrhoea is to prevent ascending meningitis. The operative management of cerebrospinal fluid leak is advised in the following circumstances: persistent, posttraumatic CSF leaks after 4 to 6 weeks of conservative treatment; all cases of spontaneous CSF fistulae; cases with intermittent leaks; delayed posttraumatic leaks; cases of CSF leak with a history of meningitis; false CSF rhinorrhoea coming from the petrous bone via the Eustachian tube. The graft material used depends mainly on the authors' experience and did not significantly influence the success rate. The main steps in the surgical procedures do not differ as much from one author to the other: accurate localisation of the defect; creation of a raw surface around the defect to accept the graft and to help in the formation of synechiae to support the seal later; plugging of the defect with fat covered with fascia lata supported by absorbable gelatin and Merocel. The differences between the authors relate to the use of fluorescein to locate the defect, the importance of prophylactic antibiotherapy, the plugging materials, the technique of underlay or overlay grafting, the use of fibrin glue and the need for lumbar drainage. The success rate for endoscopic repair of CSF rhinorrhoea is high: approximately 90% at the first attempt. Recent reports in the literature highlight the group of patients with spontaneous idiopathic CSF leak as a group with specific attributes and treatment challenges.

Morphing in rhinoplasty: predictive accuracy and reasons for use.

A critical step in successful surgery is the precise definition of the surgical goals by both the patient and the surgeon. Much of the discussion between the surgeon and the patient is about managing expectations. Today's technology provides an easy way of forecasting the result of a rhinoplasty procedure, as long as surgeons themselves do the morphing. In a retrospective study of 133 rhinoplasty patients, we analysed the correlation between pre-operative morphing and surgical results. The match was good (identical or similar) in 85.7% of patients (n = 114), approximate in 11.3% of patients (n = 15), and poor in 3% (n = 4). There was a significant correlation with an increased need for adjunctive procedures or revision surgery when the match was approximate or poor. The approach also proved useful for careful pre-operative planning by the surgeon, requiring detailed facial analysis and the establishment of precise goals before surgery. Overly optimistic morphing is not recommended given the risk of raising false expectations.

Consensus in rhinoplasty.

Reading textbooks or manuals about rhinoplasty techniques, the novice may be disconcerted by the multitude of different surgical manoeuvres, all intended to achieve the same result: a cosmetically appealing and functional nose. This article describes a survey of 30 rhinoplasticians that investigated, using a questionnaire with 51 items, current opinion and practice in rhinoplasty with the aim of identifying areas of consensus or disagreement. Only 16 questions in 51 (31%) identified a strong consensus, mainly in the areas of informed consent, lateral osteotomies, and the accuracy and predictability of some graft procedures (columellar strut, spreader graft). There was also a consensus about the rejection of some unusual procedures (electric-powered rasping of the dorsum, allopathic implants). However, no consensus was found in many domains, such as tip or columella management, resection of the dome, dome sutures, alar batten grafts, dorsal graft, nasal packing, pre-operative functional investigations, morphing, alar base reduction or the management of septal perforation. Our survey found a dramatic lack of agreement about rhinoplastic procedures, which remain highly dependent on the skill and experience of surgeons who favour the techniques with which they have achieved good results in the past. It also identifies a case for adopting, as in other fields of medicine, guidelines based upon consensual expert opinion and the evaluation of outcomes with appropriate and validated instruments.

Sinonasal involvement as a rare extraintestinal manifestation of Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease is a chronic idiopathic slowly developing transmural inflammation of the digestive system. It usually involves the small intestine and/or the area around the anus but can also affect the entire gastrointestinal tract anywhere from the mouth to the anus. Extra intestinal manifestations occur frequently and multiple organ systems may be affected: the skin, joints, spine, eyes, liver and bile ducts. In contrast, nasal manifestations are extremely rare and only a few cases have been reported up to date in the worldwide literature. The authors report two cases with nasal manifestations concomitant to intestinal Crohn's disease and go over the relevant literature on such an association.

Management of neck masses in adults.

Initial management of a neck mass in adults is a frequently encountered problem in ENT practice. The differential diagnosis with regards to clinical presentation, localization, imaging studies and cytology and/or histology is reviewed. An algorithm is provided to help the practioner.

Facial pain from visceral origin.

INTRODUCTION: Unilateral facial pain in the trigeminal area is known to be caused by a cancer in the superior lobe of the lung. CASE REPORT: A 65 year old male, heavy smoker, presented a permanent otalgia and a mandibular pain on the left side. These symptoms could not be relieved by common analgesics. All explorations for common etiologies were negative. After an episode of dyspnea, a left lung cancer was discovered. Thanks to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the patient's pain was improved. CONCLUSION: Referred facial pain is rare and can be explained by the invasion of the tenth nerve by an upper lobe lung tumor. In most cases, the patient presents a right otalgia and pain in the area of V3. The diagnosis can be delayed from 1 month to 4 years after the onset of the pain. Referred facial pain is improved by the treatment of the causal lung cancer.

Standard ENT clinical evaluation of the sleep-disordered breathing patient; a consensus report.

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) patients usually undergo an ENT clinical examination before any therapeutic decision. This clinical examination would be predictive about the occurrence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, cost effective, reproducible and would determine the sites of obstruction in the upper airways. To achieve this, ENT specialists from Belgium, representatives of academic hospitals in the country, have tried to establish an updated work-up in the clinical evaluation of the SDB patients. History, risk factors evaluation, excessive daytime sleepiness, static and dynamic evaluation of the upper airways (velopharynx aspect, tonsils grading, Mallampati score, Müller's maneuver, fiberoptic evaluation) have been standardized in a consensus report easily accessible to the vast majority of ENT specialists. This consensus must be understood as a clinical work-up to perform before the monitoring of breathing during sleep.

Side effects and complications of velopharyngeal surgery.

Although velopharyngeal surgery is generally safe, complications are not uncommon. This article reviews the major complications occurring in the postoperative period and the severe late complications such as velopharyngeal incompetence and nasopharyngeal stenosis. Most of these complications can be prevented by a careful operative technique and preoperative evaluation. We also emphasise the frequency of minor modifications of voice, swallowing, taste and velopharyngeal function.

Surgical treatment of the sleep-disordered breathing patient; a consensus report.

Sleep disordered breathing patients may undergo surgical treatment after history, clinical examination and polysomnographic study if they demonstrate upper airway obstruction. This article focus on the surgical treatment designed for these patients. Sino-nasal surgery, rhinopharyngeal procedure, velopharyngeal procedures (Uvulopalato-pharyngoplasty, Laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty, Radiofrequency tissue volume reduction) as well as base of the tongue procedures were discussed among a panel of Belgian ENT specialists offering their experience in this field. Algorithm on corrective surgery as well as guidelines for postoperative management are proposed in the management of sleep disordered breathing patients.

Juxtapapillary subretinal pigment epithelial polypoid pseudocysts associated with unilateral tilted optic disc: case report with clinicopathologic correlation.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the unique preoperative appearance, successful postoperative clinical course, and histopathologic features of a cluster of progressively enlarging pseudocysts that arose at the temporal margin of a unilateral tilted optic disc. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. METHODS: Clinical observation, color fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography, as well as routine histologic and immunohistochemical studies of tissue removed by subretinal surgery. RESULTS: Subretinal surgical excision of the lesions resulted in retinal reattachment with improved postoperative visual acuity. Histologic examination disclosed a cluster of fluid-filled polypoid pseudocysts lined by small vessels of choroidal origin lying beneath the basement membrane of the overlying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). CONCLUSIONS: We postulate that buds of small vessels of choroidal origin grew through or around the edge of Bruch's membrane at the temporal margin of the tilted optic disc and then passed under the juxtapapillary RPE. Ensuing leakage of proteinaceous fluid from these vessels eventuated in formation of a cluster of polypoid pseudocysts and subsequent localized papillomacular retinal separation with visual loss. The lesions were amenable to subretinal surgical removal with restoration of visual acuity.

Minimally invasive endoscopic management of malignant sinonasal tumours.

A large retrospective study from two belgian institutions of 78 patients who underwent minimally invasive endoscopic management for malignant sinonasal tumors from, 1992-1999 is presented. We attempt to assess the results of this less invasive approach. The spectrum of disease included adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, olfactory neuroblastoma and other malignant tumors. All patients were treated primarily for cure. 66 patients were operated on by a purely endoscopic technique, while 9 patients had a simultaneous neurosurgical and endoscopic approach, and 3 a limited orbital approach. 16 patients (20.5%) presented with local recurrence, 6 patients (7.7%) sustained distant metastases and 7 patients (9%) presented simultaneous local recurrence and distant metastases. The 2-years and 5-years survival rates of the whole group were respectively 73.1% and 52.3%, while the adenocarcinoma group exhibits a significantly better prognosis than other histological types with 2-years and 5-years survival rates of 89.8% and 63.8%. Patients who could be treated purely endoscopically had a significantly better survival in comparison to patients treated by an external and endoscopic approach. Morbidity was minimal and the local control rate as well as survival rates were comparable to literature data. Endoscopic resection was adequate, providing clear margins and en bloc removal in most cases. Our results encourage us to use this minimally invasive approach in selected cases as a reliable alternative to the systematic use of an exclusively external approach.

[Physiology of the upper airways]. / Physiologie de la voie aérienne supérieure.

Patency of the upper airways is maintained by an adjustable balance between the level of tonic and phasic upper airway dilator muscle activity and closing forces generated by inspiratory negative pressure, gravity and surface tension. During sleep, dilator muscle tone is decreased, producing elevated respiratory resistances. During exercise, increased ventilation is normally associated with combined oronasal breathing. Various receptors are implicated to maintain an adequate level of respiratory resistances.

[Physiology of deglutition]. / Physiologie de la déglutition.

Swallowing physiology and sucking reflex together with their significance are reviewed. The intra-oral events in children and adults are described.

[Physiopathology of mouth breathing. Snoring and apnea]. / Physiopathologie de la respiration buccale. Ronflements et apnées.

Oral breathing causes changes in pulmonary mechanics as well as in the pressure of arterial blood gases. In response to increased nasal obstruction oro-nasal breathing occurs. The level of oro-nasal partitioning maintains an adequate level of respiratory resistance. Sleep disordered breathing, although not only related to oral breathing, is a common disorder. When upper airway resistance is increased limitation of flow occurs. Snoring indicates a mild degree of reduced airflow. Sleep apnea occurs when upstream pressure falls below a critical pressure (Pcrit). The mechanisms are reviewed.

Traction diverticulum of the hypopharynx following anterior cervical spine surgery. Case report and review.

Pharyngeal complications due to anterior cervical spine surgery (ACSS) are not rare. We describe the case of a traction diverticulum of the hypopharynx after ACSS, a complication that has not yet been reported. We discuss the possible mechanism. A review of the complications of ACSS that are of interest to the otolaryngologist is included.

[Therapeutic maxillary expansion]. / Expansion thérapeutique du maxillaire.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of rapid maxillary expansion on nasal airflow studies and mouth breathing habit. 15 children aged from 5 to 12 years underwent rapid palatal expansion for orthodontic abnormalities. Otolaryngologic evaluation, computerized active anterior rhinomanometric measurements and oral myo-functional disorder examination were obtained before treatment, 2 months after expansion and after a retention period of approximately 10/12 months. Based on this multidisciplinary judgment and confirmed by the rhinomanometric values two groups could be distinguished: a group of predominantly mouth breathers where the nasal airway resistance had an average decrease of 34% and a group of predominantly nasal breathers where the nasal airway resistance had an average decrease of less than 5%. From the initial 8 predominantly mouth breathers before treatment only 2 remained clinically unchanged. From these results it was concluded that for the 15 children involved in this study rapid maxillary expansion affected the nasal airway patency in a way tailored to the initial deficiency and had a significative effect on the respiratory mode.

Computed tomography of metastatic cervical lymph nodes. A clinical, computed tomographic, pathologic correlative study.

A retrospective comparative study of 63 neck dissections was undertaken to evaluate further the accuracy of high-resolution computed tomography (CT) in the detection of nodal metastases, as previous studies have indicated a trend toward the superiority of CT scanning over palpation. The respective values of neck examination, CT scanning, and histopathologic examination were assessed in 51 patients with head and neck cancer who underwent a total of 63 neck dissections. The overall agreement between clinical examination findings and histopathologic findings was 92% vs 81% for CT scanning. A retrospective analysis of the CT findings failed to reveal greater accuracy. We found nodes measuring 10 mm or more with central low density always to be malignant. Because CT scanning seems to offer little advantage over palpation in the nonirradiated neck, it should not be regarded as an essential tool in the staging of nodal disease. After radiation therapy, as neck dissection is only performed because of clinical or radiologic suspicion, CT scanning is of utmost importance.

[Unusual use of myocutaneous pedicled grafts in cervico-facial cancer]. / Utilisation inhabituelle des lambeaux myo-cutanés pédiculés en cancérologie cervico-faciale.

The principle, the technique and the usual uses of pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps in head and neck oncology are called again. Three examples of unusual use are described: reconstruction of the tongue after total glossectomy with preservation of the larynx, mediastinal tracheostomy, pharyngo-esophageal reconstruction with muscle flap alone after total laryngo-pharyngectomy.