Prevalence and etiology of vertigo in adult rural population.

A survey on 10.000 adults between the age of 20 and 79 years out of a total population of 66.186 persons in rural settlements under the inrisduction of Union Territory of Chandigarh between June 1993 to June 1995 was conducted to find out the prevalence and various causes of vertigo. In general community, in rural population, we found that more people suffer from non-otologic vertigo rather than otologic vertigo. We found overall prevalence of vertigo in rural adult community to be 0.71%. Vertigo secondary to cardiovascular disease was most common and prevalent in 0.32% of population. Neurologic disease accounted for vertigo in 0.14%, metabolic disease in 0.09% and otologic disease 0.08%. Miscellaneous disorders were present in remaining 0.08% of population studied. To the best of our knowledge this study represents the first population based survey of prevalence of various causes of vertigo in general community in adult rural population.

Kimura's Disease - report of a case masquerading as a parotid tumor.

Kimura's Disease is a part of an ill- defined spectrum of vascular lesions of the subcutis. It is a benign chronic inflammatory condition producing subcutaneous tumour like nodules chiefly in the head and neck region with predilection for periauricular areas. It is characterised histologically by dense fibrosis, lymphoid infiltration, vascular proliferation and eosinophilia. The condition has a preponderance in the for eastern countries. It is extremely uncommon in Indian subcontinent. There has been no reported case from the Indian subcontinent in the English Literature. We report such a rare case in which the condition presents as parotid masses. We also present its CT, MRI & histopathology features and a brief review of literature.

CT findings in involvement of the paranasal sinuses by lepromatous leprosy.

The role of nasal infection in the transmission of leprosy has been extensively studied. Leprosy can affect the paranasal sinuses due to mucosal continuity and bacillaemia. This prospective study was performed on 25 untreated patients with lepromatous leprosy. 5 mm contiguous axial and coronal CT sections of paranasal sinuses, on soft tissue and bone windows, were obtained in all patients. Each sinus was examined for mucosal thickening, soft tissue densities and bony outlines. Representative biopsies were taken from ethmoid sinus to confirm the radiological diagnosis in 12 patients with multiple paranasal sinus involvement. Ethmoid aircells were involved in 20 patients (80%). Maxillary, frontal and sphenoid sinuses showed abnormalities in 12, four and three patients, respectively. The ethmoid biopsy showed involvement by lepromatous leprosy in seven of 12 patients (58.3%). Involvement of paranasal sinuses is common in lepromatous leprosy and is of considerable epidemiological significance.

Temporosphenoid giant cell tumour.

Only a few cases of Giant Cell tumours of temporal and sphenoid bones have been documented in English literature. Concurrent temporoshenoid location is extremely rare for a Giant Cell Tumour. These locally aggressive bonedestructive tumours usually have a fairly predictable pat-tern of spread. We present here a case of Temporosphenoid Giant Cell Tumour that exhibited an unusual pattern of spread. This tumour was removed in a single stage without any untoward sequelae. A brief review of literature is included.

Study of ethmoid sinus involvement in multibacillary leprosy.

The nasal mucosal involvement in lepromatous leprosy is well recognized. Currently interest has centred around the involvement of paranasal sinuses in leprosy. They act as a reservoir and constant source of reinfection to the nasal mucosa. In the present prospective study 25 untreated patients with multi-bacillary leprosy were included. Clinical examination, computed tomography (CT) scan of paranasal sinuses, ethmoid sinus endoscopy and biopsy were carried out in all patients, to investigate the involvement of the paranasal sinuses in leprosy. Ethmoid sinus involvement was noted in 20 patients on CT scan. Bilateral involvement was more common (65 per cent). Anterior ethmoids were more commonly affected (65 per cent). On ethmoid sinus endoscopy abnormal mucosa was noted in 17 patients (68 per cent). Ethmoid sinus biopsy was confirmative in 16 patients (64 per cent). Statistically significant correlation was found between CT findings, sinus endoscopy and sinus biopsy findings.

Ligation of the internal jugular vein in venous hum tinnitus.

Vascular anomalies, extracranial and intracranial arteriovenous malformations as well as glomus jugulare tumour are well known causes of pulsatile tinnitus. Of late, benign intracranial hypertension has been stated to be a more common cause. However, tinnitus arising from and within the internal jugular vein has been reported only infrequently. Previously known as cephalic bruit and essential objective tinnitus, the venous hum tinnitus presents as pulse synchronous unilateral objective tinnitus. Ligation of the internal jugular vein appears to be a successful treatment. Two cases are presented.