Serum soluble tumour necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand level and peripheral eosinophil count in patients with nasal polyposis.

BACKGROUND: Nasal polyposis is one of the most common inflammatory pathologies of the nasal cavity. Eosinophilic inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate soluble tumour necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand levels and eosinophil count in nasal polyposis patients. METHODS: The study was performed on 24 adult nasal polyposis patients and 24 age-matched healthy individuals. The patients had not received any medical or surgical treatment. Pre-operative computed tomography scans were assessed using the Lund-MacKay grading system, and soluble tumour necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand levels were measured with a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Compared with controls, eosinophil levels in nasal polyposis patients were increased (p = 0.024), but there was no significant difference in soluble tumour necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand levels (p = 0.529). The Lund-MacKay mean grading was 12.43 ± 6.9. There was no correlation between soluble tumour necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand level and Lund-MacKay grading and eosinophil count. CONCLUSION: There was no relationship between soluble tumour necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand level and blood eosinophil or clinical markers; however, soluble tumour necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand level remains of interest for future studies.

Submandibular lateral epidermoid cyst: imaging findings of a rare case.

Epidermoid cysts (EC) represent less than 0.01% of all oral cavity cysts. Lateral epidermoid cysts in the neck are very rare. A male patient aged forty-five had a complaint of painless swelling in the neck. A well-circumscribed hypo-echoic mass with internal echoes was detected in the right submandibular regionby ultrasonography. There were round areas inside the cyst with acoustic shadowing. The tissue hardness and the internal nature of the mass were evaluated with sono-elastography. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the mass's location and tissue properties in more detail. Magnetic resonance images revealed a well-circumscribed mass--hyperintense on T2-weighted images, hypo-intense on T1-weighted images--in the right submandibular region that had displaced the submandibular gland and mylohyoid muscle. There was no contrast enhancement in the mass on the contrast-enhanced fat-suppressed T1-weighted MR images. In this case report, we present the imaging features of a rare lateral EC in the submandibular region.

Castleman's disease (giant lymph node hyperplasia) of the neck: a case report.

Castleman's disease (giant lymph node hyperplasia) is an uncommon cause of neck mass. Its cause and pathogenesis are still unknown. Giant lymph node hyperplasia (GLH) usually presents as an asymptomatic solitary mass and can occur anywhere in the head and neck. Diagnostic test results are always inconclusive. Excision and histopathological evaluation are the only ways to make a definitive diagnosis. The disease is curable by surgical excision. A case of GLH presenting as a solitary neck mass in a 68-year-old man is reported. There has been no recurrence during about 7 months.

Congenital cholesteatoma of the mastoid region.

Congenital cholesteatoma may arise in the petrous apex, mastoid, middle ear, or external auditory canal. The least common site being the mastoid process. We present one case of primary mastoid cholesteatoma confirmed by clinical examination, surgical findings and radiological evaluation.

Normal configuration of the anterior commissure of the glottis on magnetic resonance imaging.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the normal width of the anterior commissure of the glottis by measuring its dimensions in patients who had no laryngeal disease on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but had unrelated cervical pathology. In all, 27 patients were studied. Axial images through the arytenoid commissure at the level of the vocalis muscle and/or vocal process of the arytenoid cartilage were magnified on MRI. The anteroposterior width of the anterior commissure was measured by using an electronic ruler having 1-mm marks. The average width of the anterior commissure was 1.59 +/- 0.6 mm, varying from a minimum width of 1 mm to a maximum width of 3 mm. The width was less than or equal to 2 mm in 25 patients (92.5%). Our results showed that all of the patients studied had measurable mucosal thicknesses at the level of anterior commissure > or = 1.0 mm.

Chondrosarcoma of the nasal septum.

Chondrosarcoma of the nasal septum is a rather uncommon tumour. Therefore, only limited numbers of cases have been described in the literature. This paper reveals one more case observed at the ORL department of Dicle University. In the present case, by using a transnasal and transpalatal approach, total resection of the tumour was performed in conjunction with postoperative radiotherapy.

The complications of chronic otitis media: report of 93 cases.

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence, mortality and morbidity of complications due to chronic otitis media (COM). During the nine-year period 1990-1999, 2890 cases of COM were reviewed, 93 (3.22 per cent) having 57 (1.97 per cent) intracranial complications (IC) and 39 (1.35 per cent) extracranial complications (EC). In three patients more than one complication was observed. Meningitis and brain abscess were common in the IC group. Subperiosteal abscess (mastoid and Bezold's abscess) was a common complication in the EC group. Cholesteatoma and granulation/polyp in the middle ear/mastoid were the major findings in both groups. Fifteen patients died from IC. Overall, the mortality rate was 16.1 per cent in all patients having complications, and in patients with IC it was 26.3 per cent. In all of the patients with complications, the morbidity rate was 11.8 per cent. Our study supports the finding that meningitis and brain abscess are the common complications of COM and the main reason for mortality.

The results of septal button insertion in the management of nasal septal perforation.

Nasal septal perforation may present with various symptoms. Perforations may be surgically closed or managed by obturation, inserting a prosthesis. We used a silicon septal button in the management of nasal septal perforation. In the follow-up period, although the insertion of the nasal septal button alleviated epistaxis, whistling during inspiration, and nasal obstruction, it could not control the production of crusting around the margin of the button.