Vestibular system dysfunction in patients after mild traumatic brain injury.

INTRODUCTION: In the literature there are some discrepancies concerning the occurrence of vertigo and disequilibrium, as well as the type of vestibular dysfunction in patients after mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the type of vestibular system dysfunction in MTBI patients after injury at baseline and 6-month follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From a group of 188 patients with vertigo/dizziness and balance instability after MTBI, prospective analysis in 50 patients with abnormal videonystagmography (VNG) were conducted. Anamnesis, otoneurological examination, self-assessed Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and VNG test were carried in each patient twice - at baseline and after 6 months. RESULTS: A significant improvement in the DHI total score (9.8 points, p<0.001) and in the subscales was found after 6 months. At baseline, VNG test showed the peripheral vestibular system dysfunction in 19 cases (38%), central vestibular dysfunction in 20 patients (40%) and mixed vestibular dysfunction in 11 cases (44%). After 6 months, the VNG records normalization was observed in 19 patients (38%), an improvement was significantly more frequently related to peripheral disorders, compared to central ones (p,0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients after mild traumatic brain injury, about one-fourth of them had vestibular system dysfunction with the same frequency of peripheral, central and mixed lesions in videonystagmography. Subjective post-traumatic symptoms and vestibular system dysfunction in patients after MTBI decrease after 6-month follow-up. However, more than half of patients still have abnormal VNG results, which indicate dysfunction of the central vestibular system.

[Fungal rhinosinusitis - still unsolved problem]. / Grzybicze zapalenie blony sluzowej nosa i zatok przynosowych - problem wciaz aktualny.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammatory disease affecting the nose and paranasal sinuses. Fungi are considered to be one of the pathogens responsible for some kinds of CRS. Fungal rhinosinusitis - the classifications schemes, the diagnostic criteria and methods of treatment are still being discussed. 338 patients underwent the endoscopic sinus surgery due to CRS in the Otolaryngology Department of the Medical University of Lodz in the years 2009-2011 (February). The histopathological examination revealed fungi only in three patients. The authors report three cases of patients with fungal rhinosinustis - the fungal ball of the sphenoid sinus in one patients, the fungal ball of the maxillary sinus in the second one and non-invasive fungal rhinosinusitis. The different classifications and diagnostic criteria are also presented. Based on the publications using updated diagnostic standards and sensitive techniques to detect fungi, a higher number of patients can now be diagnosed with fungal rhinosinusitis.

[Own experience in stapes revision surgery--analysis of indications]. / Retrospektywna analiza przypadków reoperacji w stapedotomiach i stapedektomiach--doswiadczenia wllasne.

AIM: Analysis of indications for stapes revision surgery in patients qualified for the secondary procedure at the Otosurgery Dept. Medical University of Lodz. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 25 cases of stapes revision surgery out of the 385 total treated surgically otosclerosis cases are discussed. RESULTS: In group A (patients after total stapedectomy) the following indications for the secondary surgical procedure were observed: 12 cases--platinum wire prosthesis displacement with ossicular chain discontinuity; 3 cases--perichondrium or adipose tissue atrophy; 2 cases of incudo-stapedial joint luxation. Group B was composed of 8 patients after stapedotomy (teflon piston operation, 0.6 mm). CONCLUSIONS: (1) The most common indication for the stapes revision surgery in patients after total stapedectomy were prosthesis displacement and necrosis of the long crus of the incus. (2) Obliteration of the stapes footplate after small fenestra operation was observed in our material to be the most frequent indication for the secondary stapes procedure.

[Does the material of stapes prosthesis influence hearing improvement in stapes surgery--retrospective analysis of 350 cases]. / Wplyw rodzaju protezki strzemiqczka na stopien poprawy sluchu w chirurgii strzemiaczka--analiza retrospektywna 350 przypadków.

AIM: Retrospective analysis of the post-op hearing results in stapes surgery using different types of materials for stapes prosthesis after 12 months follow up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The total number of 350 otosclerosis patients who underwent surgical treatment at the Otosurgery Department, Medical University of Lodz from 1980-2002. All patients included in the study were divided into 4 groups: group 1 (N=54)--Portmann's method interposition, group 2 (N=160)--stapes replaced with the Shea-type prosthesis, group 3 (N=60)--platinum wire prosthesis (Zini-type), group 4 (N=76)--teflon-piston operation (Fisch-type). RESULTS: The 12 months post-op mean value for air-bone gap (500, 1000, 2000 Hz) presented the following values: group 1-19 dB, group 2-15.9 dB, group 3-18.4 dB, group 4-13.5 dB. The percentage of patients with the mean air-bone gap value of 15 dB or less (500, 1000, 2000 Hz) has the following values in each group: group 1-75%, group 2-81.3%, group 3-83%, group 4-85%. CONCLUSIONS: 12 months post-op hearing results compared between the 4 studied groups showed statistically not significant differences. Our experience with teflon-piston prosthesis shows the lowest post-op mean value of the air-bone gap.

[A case of renal clear cell carcinoma metastasis to the oropharynx]. / Przerzut raka jasnokomórkowego nerki do czesci ustnej gardla.

A rare case of 61-yrs-old male was reported, in whom distant metastasis from renal clear-cell carcinoma to the oropharynx had been diagnosed. It was presented as pedunculated tumor at the level of palatine tonsil, 11 months after nephrectomy, and treated by surgical excision. Other metastatic sites--pulmonary and skeletal had also developed and a patient died 16 months after the time of primary diagnosis.

[Bacteriological evaluation in chronic otitis media]. / Ocena bakteriologiczna w przewleklym zapaleniu ucha srodkowego.

INTRODUCTION: In chronic otitis media bacterial infection is often a cause of exacerbation in the clinical course and failure in treatment. The aim of the study was to investigate the incidence and profile of the aerobic bacterial flora in chronic otitis media and to determine the drug susceptibility of selected isolated bacteria. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The samples of 274 consecutive middle ear discharges taken from 228 patients with chronic otitis media were analysed (which constitutes 41.3% all bacteriological examinations made during 3 years). The smears were obtained using sterile cotton swabs, then incubated and identified. Drug susceptibility was determined by disc-diffusion method. RESULTS: Monocultures were observed in 77% and mixed infections in 17.5% of smears, no growth was found in 5.5%. The 308 pathogen isolates were recovered, among them--273 bacterial (88.6%) and 35--fungal (11.4%). Twenty five species of bacterial microorganisms were found, among them the most common isolates were Staphylococcus aureus--42.9% and Pseudomonas aeruginosa---19.8%. Rarely were recovered Acinetobacter spp.--4.1%, Proteus mirabilis--37%, Proteus vulgaris--3.3% and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus--1.5% of bacterial isolates. Among fungal pathogens (n=35) Aspergillus spp. was isolated in 37.1%, and Candida albicans--22.9% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Aerobic pathogens ---aphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were most frequently found microorganisms in chronic otitis media. (2) Mixed infections comprised only a 17.5% of all cultured cases of chronic otitis media. (3) Pseudomonas aeruginosa was highly susceptible in vitro to imipenem (100%), piperacillin-tazobactam (100%), ceftazidime (98%) and amikacin (89.7%), less susceptible to ciprofloxacin (77.6%) and much less susceptible to pefloxacin (33.6%) and cefotaxim (33.3%).

[Malignant neoplasms of external and middle ear]. / Nowotwory zlosliwe ucha zewnetrznego i srodkowego.

INTRODUCTION: Neoplasms of external and middle ear are rare, which cause several problems in diagnosis and therapy. The purpose of the study was to analyze retrospectively patients with malignant neoplasms of the ear. METHODOLOGY: The study was carried out on 53 patients treated for malignant ear neoplasms in single institution during 25 years (1978-2002). RESULTS: The most frequent neoplasm was squamous cell carcinoma--36 cases (67.9%), then basal cell carcinoma--9 cases (16.9%). Neoplasm primarily involved auricle in 26 patients (49.1%), external auditory canal in 15 patients (28.3%) and middle ear in 12 patients (22.6%). They were classified according to Stell and McCormick (1985) as follows: stage I--29 tumours (54.7%), stage T2--15 tumours (28.3%), stage T3--9 tumours (17%). Facial nerve paresis occurred in 15 patients (28.3%). The most often treatment modality was surgery--32 persons (60.4%), then surgery followed by radiotherapy--17 persons (32.1%). The characteristics of neoplasms related to the site of location were described. The difficulties in precise histopathologic diagnosis and extent of disease were pointed out. RESULTS: Neoplasms of external and middle ear constitute a group of various histopathological and clinical tumours, which differ in diagnostic difficulties, treatment and prognosis. A diagnosis was often made in advanced stages of neoplasms, especially for middle ear tumours, that diminished a possibility of effective treatment.