Squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar remnant--clinical presentation and oncological outcome.

BACKGROUND: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tonsil is the most common malignant tumour of the oropharynx. Paediatric tonsillectomy is one of the most commonly performed procedures in Otorhinolaryngology. SCC of the tonsil remnant (SCCTR) in a previously tonsillectomised patient is rare. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients with SCCTR presenting to the Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Unit January 2000 to December 2007. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty patients with tonsil SCC were identified. Ten (4%) of these had previously undergone tonsillectomy in childhood. Nine patients underwent radical treatment including surgery, radiotherapy and in four cases concomitant chemotherapy. Eight patients are alive with no signs of recurrence with follow-up of a minimum of 24 months. One has been lost from follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should be aware that SCC can arise from a tonsillar remnant. SCCTR has similar oncological outcomes as tonsillar tumours.

Good correlation between original and modified House Brackmann facial grading systems.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Subjective scales of facial function were plagued with reporting variations until the House-Brackmann scale was described in 1985. Despite its utility, weaknesses were identified, including noninclusion of synkinesis phenomena and insensitivity to segmental weakness. Therefore, the scale was recently revised to address these weaknesses. The objective of this investigation was to determine agreement between the original and the updated House-Brackmann scales. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. METHODS: Fifty consecutive new facial paralysis patients underwent standardized facial videography while performing facial movements. Video clips were scored by three independent facial nerve clinicians. The time it took to produce a score for each method was tracked. Interobserver correlations were calculated, and comparisons were made between scores by using the original and modified House-Brackmann scales. RESULTS: : Interobserver correlation was high for both House-Brackmann scales. Overall scores were in excellent agreement (difference of 0.1 ± 0.5, no statistical difference), although the modified scale took substantially longer to calculate (120 seconds ± 20 seconds vs. 30 seconds ± 10 seconds, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: We found substantial grading correlation between the original and the newly modified House-Brackmann scales. Because of specific zonal and synkinesis scoring, the modified scale took longer to score.

Delayed presentation of a swallowed partial denture.

We report a unique case of a young patient who accidentally swallowed his partial denture and alarmingly only presented to our ear, nose and throat (ENT) department 4 weeks later despite several previous presentations to primary and secondary care. The partial denture was successfully removed under general anaesthetic using direct laryngoscopy following admission. He was discharged on a normal diet 6 days later after oesophageal perforation was excluded using a contrast swallow.

Partial adenoidectomy by suction diathermy in children with cleft palate, to avoid velopharyngeal insufficiency.

OBJECTIVES: Adenoidectomy is indicated for the relief of paediatric nasal obstruction, sleep-disordered breathing and otitis media with effusion (OME). Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) is a rare complication. The main risk factor is the presence of pre-existing velopharyngeal closure-impaired mechanisms, including submucosal or overt cleft palate. Despite possible benefits, adenoidectomy is frequently withheld in such children to avoid VPI. This study aims to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of partial adenoidectomy using suction diathermy in children who previously underwent overt cleft palate repair during infancy, to allow selective resection of tissue and symptom resolution without producing VPI. METHODS: Since 1994, 18 patients with previously corrected overt cleft palate have undergone partial adenoidectomy at this centre, for the treatment of nasal obstruction or sleep-disordered breathing, with or without OME. Three had existing VPI following their cleft correction surgery. Selective resection of the adenoid was performed transorally under indirect vision, using a malleable suction coagulator. This allowed exposure of the posterior choanae, leaving the remaining adenoid bulk intact. RESULTS: Patients were followed up at 4 weeks, and subsequently at regular intervals (total follow up 30-180 months, median 92 months), including perceptual speech assessment in all cases. All demonstrated symptomatic improvement with respect to the original indications for surgery. None developed worsening hypernasal speech or other features of VPI, and there were no cases of symptomatic adenoidal re-growth. CONCLUSIONS: Partial adenoidectomy, employing a variety of methods, has been used successfully in children with submucosal cleft palate. This study demonstrates the safe and effective use of suction diathermy to enable partial adenoidectomy in children who have previously undergone surgical correction of overt cleft palate, allowing symptom resolution without producing VPI.

The fist model for nasal packing.

Epistaxis is a common ear, nose and throat emergency. A variety of nasal packs are available to control the bleeding by tamponade. Training of junior doctors to insert nasal packs is difficult when dealing with a bleeding patient. We discovered a readily available and simple model to enable trainees to learn the method of nasal packing.