Volumetric Analysis of Nasopharyngectomy via Endoscopic Endonasal, Maxillary Transposition, and Lateral Temporal-Subtemporal Approaches.

OBJECTIVE: This project develops a computer model that allows volumetric analysis of the exposure afforded by an endonasal-endoscopic approach, maxillary transposition, and lateral temporal-subtemporal approaches during a nasopharyngectomy. The model will demonstrate idiosyncracies of these approaches, including sacrifice of normal tissues, ease of instrumentation, and gate of entry. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Computed tomographic scans of an anatomic specimen were used to create computer simulations of the endoscopic endonasal, maxillary transposition, and lateral temporal-subtemporal approaches for T1and T4 nasopharyngeal carcinoma; therefore, allowing assessment of their surgical corridor using Intuition, a software that allows a semiautomated computerized segmented volumetric analysis. RESULTS: The smallest volumes of tissue mobilization or removal were observed during the endoscopic-endonasal nasopharyngectomy. The volumes of tissue mobilization for the maxillary transposition approach were higher than those of lateral temporal-subtemporal approaches. CONCLUSIONS: This model adds to our understanding of select surgical corridors to the nasopharynx. It suggests that an endoscopic-endonasal approach requires less manipulation or resection of smaller volumes of normal tissue to expose a nasopharyngeal tumor than the lateral temporal-subtemporal and maxillary transposition approaches. It also, however, requires instrumentation through a smaller entry gate implying greater difficulty. Nonetheless, these factors should not be construed as superiority of one approach over the other. Factors that are important in the choosing of the surgical approach, such as surgeon's training and experience, invasion of neurovascular structures and method of reconstruction are not considered in this model.

Salpingopharyngeus myomucosal flap.

OBJECTIVES: Improvements in the efficacy of extended endonasal approaches to resect skull base pathologies have created the need for new reconstructive alternatives. Hereby, we describe a novel pedicled myomucosal flap that allows the reconstruction of dural defects in the lower clivus and craniovertebral junction or to cover the paraclival and petrous segments of the internal carotid artery. STUDY DESIGN: Anatomic description. Technical report. Feasibility. METHODS: We describe a myomucosal flap with a cephalic pedicle based on the salpingopharyngeus muscle and its vessels. Subsequently, using a cadaveric model, we harvested the flap and explored its potential for the reconstruction of various dural defects or to cover the internal carotid artery. RESULTS: Our study confirmed the feasibility of harvesting and transposing the myomucosal salpingopharyngeus (Dicle flap) flap for the reconstruction of inferior clival and craniovertebral junction defects or to cover the petrous and paraclival segments of the internal carotid artery. CONCLUSIONS: The Dicle flap is a feasible, reconstructive alternative for the reconstruction of select small- to medium-sized defects of the posterior and inferior aspects of the ventral skull base.

The effects of systemic, topical, and intralesional steroid treatments on apoptosis level of nasal polyps.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the apoptotic responses to systemic, topical, and intrapolyp injection of glucocorticoid with no treatment in nasal polyps. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized controlled study. SETTING: Tertiary training hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was performed on 48 patients with nasal polyposis in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology between 2008 and 2009. Patients were assigned to 1 of 4 groups of 12 patients. Group A was treated with oral methylprednisolone 1 mg/kg/d, and the dose was tapered gradually. Group B received 0.3 mL triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg/mL), which was injected into polyp tissue. Group C was treated with topical 55 µg triamcinolone acetonide 2 times daily for 1 month. Group D received no medication. Samples were collected endoscopically after the seventh day for groups A and B, the first month for group C, and the first visit for group D. Apoptotic indexes were determined using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling method. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in apoptotic index were found between each steroid-medicated group and the control group (P (D-A) = .0001; P (D-B) = .003; P (D-C) = .026) and between groups A and C (P (A-C) = .012). Group B did not differ significantly from either group A or C (P (A-B) = .11; P (B-C) = .75). CONCLUSIONS: The apoptotic index in nasal polyps treated with systemic, topical, and intrapolyp injection forms of glucocorticoids was higher than that in the control group. Systemic steroid treatment induced the most apoptosis.

The association between Helicobacter pylori and laryngopharyngeal reflux in laryngeal pathologies.

We conducted a study to determine the presence or absence of Helicobacter pylori and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in 43 previously untreated patients who had presented with a laryngeal lesion. Our aim was to determine if there was any association among H pylori, LPR, and laryngeal lesions. H pylori status was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays of biopsy tissue obtained during direct laryngoscopy. The presence or absence of LPR was determined on the basis of patients' reflux symptom index (RSI) and reflux finding score (RFS), which were based on their questionnaire responses and findings on endoscopic examination of the larynx, respectively. Patients with an RSI of 14 or more and/or an RFS of 8 or more were considered to have LPR. H pylori was present in 24 patients (55.8%) and absent in 19 (44.2%)-not a statistically significant difference. The prevalence of LPR was higher than the prevalence of H pylori; it was present in 30 patients (69.8%) and absent in 13 (30.2%). The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.01). We found no association between H pylori status and LPR status. Additionally, we analyzed two subgroups based on whether their lesions were benign or malignant/premalignant and found a significant relationship between LPR positivity and the presence of malignant/premalignant laryngeal lesions (p = 0.03). We found no association between H pylori status and either of the two subgroup categories.

Hydroxyproline levels in nasal polyps.

The aim of this study was to evaluate hydroxyproline levels in nasal specimens from patients with nasal polyps, and to examine hydroxyproline levels after nasal steroid spray and oral steroid treatments. This study was performed on 41 patients. The subjects were divided into four groups: no medication group (group A, n 11), oral methylprednisolone group (group B, n 8), topical steroid spray group (group C, n 8) and control group (group D, n 14). Nasal polyp samples were collected endoscopically. Healthy subjects were studied as a control group, and their nasal samples were taken during turbine reduction surgery. All samples were analyzed using the immunocytochemistry method. Hydroxyproline levels were investigated and compared with the control group. Mean hydroxyproline levels in groups A-D were 98.48, 24.20, 8.97 and 4.52, respectively. The hydroxyproline levels were significantly higher in group A compared with that of group D. The treatment that revealed significant decreases in hydroxyproline levels was group C. Although there was also a noticeable reduction in group B, there were no statistically significant differences between group B and group A. Our study revealed a significant correlation between nasal polyp and hydroxyproline levels. The hydroxyproline levels were significantly higher in nasal polyps. Both oral and topical steroid treatments decrease hydroxyproline levels in nasal polyps. Thus, in theory, steroid treatment can directly decrease hydroxyproline levels by inhibiting proline hydroxylase and indirectly by lowering the inflammatory process.