Hearing outcomes of vestibular schwannoma patients managed with 'wait and scan': predictive value of hearing level at diagnosis.

AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of both hearing level (at various frequencies) and speech discrimination for forecasting hearing outcome after a period of observation, in patients with vestibular schwannoma. SUBJECTS: Over a 33-year period, 1144 patients with vestibular schwannoma were allocated to 'wait and scan' management, with annual magnetic resonance imaging and audiological examination. Two complete pure tone and speech discrimination audiograms were available for 932 patients. RESULTS: The predictive value of initial hearing level better than 10 dB for forecasting hearing outcome after observation increased from 59 per cent at 250 Hz to 94 percent at 4000 Hz. At diagnosis, hearing level of 10 dB or better at 4000 Hz was found in only 18 of the 932 VS ears, while good speech discrimination was found in 159 patients (17 per cent). Of the latter patients, 138 maintained good hearing after observation. CONCLUSION: In vestibular schwannoma patients, good high frequency hearing and good speech discrimination at diagnosis are useful tools in predicting good hearing after observation.

Mobile, one stage, bilateral ear surgery for chronic otitis media patients in remote areas.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the results of mobile, one stage, bilateral ear surgery conducted in Greenland, where chronic otitis media with and without suppuration is prevalent. The study aimed to increase the number of operations conducted and to reduce the cost of ear surgery in remote areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was longitudinal and prospective, with a two-year follow up. Seventeen East Greenlandic patients with bilateral chronic suppurative otitis media or chronic otitis media were selected. Their median age was 16 years; 53 per cent were female and 47 per cent male. Hearing was assessed using median air conduction pure tone average gain, and the 'take rate' (i.e. the percentage of total ears with a closed perforation) was evaluated. RESULTS: All patients attended for follow up. Eighty-two per cent had at least one perforation closed, and the overall take rate was 65 per cent of the 34 ears. The median air conduction pure tone average gain after two years was 18 dB and 13 dB for the right and left ears, respectively. Fourteen patients (82 per cent) obtained an air conduction pure tone average hearing level of < or =25 dB in at least one ear. In total, 71 per cent of the patients were satisfied. There were no hearing hazards. CONCLUSIONS: The results of mobile, one stage, bilateral ear surgery conducted in Greenland for long-lasting chronic suppurative otitis media and chronic otitis media were acceptable and safe, and more ears underwent surgery at reduced cost compared with unilateral ear surgery.

Effect of diathermy on pain and healing in tonsillectomy, compared with other methods of haemostasis: a randomised study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare three methods of haemostasis used for 'cold steel' tonsillectomy, in terms of pain scores and morbidity. METHOD AND MATERIAL: Prospective, randomised, single-blinded, controlled clinical study. Three haemostasis methods were compared: compression of the tonsillar fossae with gauze packs; bipolar diathermy; and local anaesthesia then pack compression. The outcome measures were pain scores (derived from a visual analogue scale), peri-operative bleeding, and post-operative episodes of blood-stained saliva, consultation rate, tonsillar bed healing and days before return to regular diet. One hundred and five patients were included. RESULTS: Peri-operative bleeding was significantly reduced in the local anaesthesia group compared with the other two groups. Delayed post-operative tonsillar bed healing was noted in the diathermy group. No other significant differences were found between the three haemostasis groups, for any other outcome measures. The presence of blood-stained saliva was associated with higher pain scores. CONCLUSION: Diathermy and compression were associated with similar post-tonsillectomy morbidity.

Change in hearing during 'wait and scan' management of patients with vestibular schwannoma.

AIM: To evaluate hearing changes during 'wait and scan' management of patients with vestibular schwannoma. SUBJECTS: Over a 10-year period, 636 patients have prospectively been allocated to 'wait and scan' management, with annual magnetic resonance scanning and audiological examination. RESULTS: At the time of diagnosis, 334 patients (53 per cent) had good hearing and speech discrimination of better than 70 per cent; at the end of the 10-year observation period, this latter percentage was 31 per cent. In 17 per cent of the patients, speech discrimination at diagnosis was 100 per cent; of these, 88 per cent still had good hearing at the end of the observation period. However, in patients with even a small initial speech discrimination loss, only 55 per cent maintained good hearing at the end of the observation period. CONCLUSION: After comparing the hearing results of hearing preservation surgery and of radiation therapy with those of 'wait and scan' management, it appears that, in vestibular schwannoma patients with a small tumour and normal speech discrimination, the main indication for active treatment should be established tumour growth.

Cartilage palisade tympanoplasty in sinus and tensa retraction cholesteatoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether reconstruction of the eardrum with palisade cartilage technique could prevent retraction of the new eardrum after surgery for sinus and tensa retraction cholesteatoma in children and to investigate the postoperative hearing. STUDY DESIGN: In 32 children aged 5 to 15 years, operated on from June 1995 to October 2000 for cholesteatoma (21 with sinus cholesteatoma and 11 with tensa retraction cholesteatoma) the eardrum was reconstructed with the palisade cartilage technique. Postoperatively, the children were seen as outpatients and were recently reevaluated with otomicroscopy, tympanometry, and audiometry. All patients (100%) were reevaluated on an average of 37 months (range 3-63 months). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative retractions, perforations, cholesteatoma recurrence, and hearing. RESULTS: At the final examination, posterosuperior retraction was observed in two patients, both operated on for sinus cholesteatoma with reconstruction of the ossicular chain. In those cases, the palisades were not placed in the posterosuperior drilling defect behind the interpositioned incus. All the patients had an intact tympanic membrane at the final follow-up visit. One small perforation was surgically closed during the observation period. No patients developed cholesteatoma during the follow-up period. The postoperative hearing was good, and the hearing did not deteriorate with increasing observation time. CONCLUSIONS: The palisade technique effectively prevented postoperative retraction of the eardrum. The postoperative hearing was good.

Cathamenial pneumothorax.

Cathamenial pneumothorax is a relatively low-frequency pathology (approximately 100 cases cited in the literature) characterized by recurrent pneumothorax episodes during the menstruation period. We report on a 34-year-old female patient who had recurrent pneumothorax that did not respond to chest drainage and whose presentation was directly related to the menstruation period. Our patient also had a significant clinical record for pelvic endometriosis. She underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic exploration (VATS) of the pleural cavity and dystrophic parenchymal blebs of the middle lobe were found. An atypical resection of the bollous tissue was performed and pleurodesis completed the intervention. During VATS no ectopic endometriosis foci or diaphragmatic fenestrations (widely considered as a possible cause of this clinical picture) were evidenced.

Goblet cell density in acute otitis media caused by Moraxella catarrhalis.

HYPOTHESIS AND BACKGROUND: Secretory otitis media is associated with a highly increased goblet cell density, confirming the secretory pathogenesis of this disease. Previous studies have shown that the middle ear goblet cell density, and thus the secretory capacity, are massively increased during experimental acute otitis media and at least 6 months thereafter, conceivably predisposing to the subsequent development of secretory otitis media. These studies used middle ear inoculation of either Streptococcus pneumoniae, nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae, or H. influenzae type b. The present study aimed at determining the goblet cell density during and after acute otitis media caused by Moraxella catarrhalis to clarify whether this bacterium induces an equivalently enhanced secretory capacity. METHODS: Twenty-five 25 rat middle ears were inoculated with M. catarrhalis. Five rats were killed on days 4, 8, 16, 60, and 180 after inoculation, followed by staining, dissection, and whole-mount embedding of the middle ear mucosae. The goblet cell density was determined by counting in 24 fields, covering the entire middle ear. RESULTS: In comparison with 25 normal middle ears, the goblet cell density was significantly increased in almost all counting localities, from day 4 and < or = 2 months after inoculation. The goblet cell density peaked on day 16, subsided thereafter, and in some areas reached a normal level 6 months after the acute incident. Mucosal areas containing goblet cells were consistently enlarged, thus leaving the middle ear with an increased secretory capacity during and 6 months after inoculation. CONCLUSION: The goblet cell density of the middle ear mucosa is increased during acute otitis media caused by M. catarrhalis and up to several months thereafter. This may predispose to the subsequent development of secretory otitis media. However, in comparison with acute otitis media caused by other bacteria, M. catarrhalis induced only modest changes in goblet cell density.

[Prostatic mucinous adenocarcinoma. Report of a new case and review of the literature]. / Adenocarcinoma mucinoso de próstata. Presentación de un nuevo caso y revisión de la literatura.

OBJECTIVE: To present an additional case of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the prostate gland. The histochemical and immunohistochemical findings demonstrating its prostatic origin are presented and the literature is reviewed. METHODS/RESULTS: A 53-year-old male with no previous symptoms or signs presented for a prostatic examination. DRE was normal and PSA was 35 ng/ml. A prostate biopsy demonstrated adenocarcinoma of the prostate with a Gleason score of 3 + 3. Complementary studies were negative. The patient was submitted to radical prostatectomy. Anatomopathological analysis of the surgical specimen demonstrated a prostatic mucinous adenocarcinoma. At one-year follow-up, the patient is alive and disease-free and PSA values have returned to normal. CONCLUSIONS: Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the prostate is a rare anatomopathological variant whose natural history and prognosis are not well-known. This tumor type generally does not respond to any treatment and is hormone-resistant.

[Vestibular schwannoma. A new interpretation of tumor growth]. / Vestibularisschwannomer. En ny fortolkning af vaekstresultater.

INTRODUCTION: The goal of the present paper was to investigate the growth of vestibular schwannoma (VS). MATERIAL AND METHOD: A series of 123 patients with 127 tumours were allocated to the wait and scan group in the period 1973 to 1999. The material was updated three times medio 1993, medio 1996 and medio 1999. Via the Danish national register, data on whether the included patients were alive or dead were collected medio 1999. Three sets of growth results were obtained. RESULTS: The results medio 1993 revealed: tumour growth in 94 tumours (74%), no growth in 23 tumors (18%) and negative growth in 10 tumors (8%). Medio 1996 the results changed to: tumour growth in 104 tumors (82%), no growth in 15 tumours (12%) and negative growth in eight tumours (6%). The growth figures changed again in medio 1999 to: tumour growth in 108 tumours (85%), no growth in 11 tumours (9%) and negative growth in eight tumours (6%). However, the results may also be interpreted in another way: 52 patients (42%) are alive, tumour growth did not demand any intervention, 23 patients (19%) died due to non-tumour related causes and 35 patients (28%) were previously treated and alive by the termination of the third observation period. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that tumour growth is time dependent, surgery at diagnosis is the ultimate solution, however the current study provides a number of arguments in favour of the wait and scan policy.

[Vestibular neurectomy in the treatment of Meniere's disease]. / Neurectomia nervus vestibularis i behandling af morbus Ménière.

INTRODUCTION: A brief history of vestibular neurectomy is given. This treatment was introduced in Denmark by us, based upon our large experience with translabyrinthine removal of vestibular schwannomas. MATERIAL: Includes all patients (43 operations in 42 patients) who had section of the vestibular nerve performed in the period from 1980 to 1996. Mean age was 51 years and the postoperative observation period varied from 2 to 15 years, mean 6.4 years. RESULTS: The vertigo was under control in 88% of the patients. Fourteen patients developed some imbalance after surgery caused by the abolished vestibular function in the ear involved. Thirty-nine patients indicated satisfaction with the operation, 92% retained their preoperative hearing. Only few and slight complications were seen, including two re-operations for CSF leaks and a slight transient facial nerve paresis. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The results are in accordance with those obtained by other authors, and retrosigmoid section of the vestibular nerves is an effective treatment of vertigo refractory to other treatment modalities. In order to reduce the patients' worries about undergoing an intracranial intervention it is important to inform the patients and patients' associations about the good results obtained by this treatment and in particular to inform about the very few complications. Due to the limited number of patients needing this treatment, and the need for surgical experience in order to maintain the favorable results, centralization of the treatment is mandatory.

Pathogenesis of attic cholesteatoma: clinical and immunohistochemical support for combination of retraction theory and proliferation theory.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to provide support for a combination of the retraction and proliferation theories of acquired cholesteatoma. BACKGROUND: There is clinical evidence for formation of a retraction, but there is a lack of explanation for the transition from a retraction pocket to an active and expanding attic cholesteatoma. METHODS: Epidemiologic studies on the incidence of attic retractions and follow-up studies on patients with attic retractions were performed. Additionally, expression of proliferation marker and analysis of basement membrane were studied in samples of attic cholesteatoma. RESULTS: The prevalence of attic retractions was between 14% and 25% of investigated ears. In children with manifest secretory otitis, there were some attic cholesteatomas and 5% to 6% severe retractions. Some of them became precholesteatomas, requiring treatment and controls. Immunohistochemistry of attic cholesteatomas showed that proliferating keratinocytes were very often seen within epithelial cones growing toward the underlying stroma. These growth cones exhibited focal discontinuities of the basement membrane, especially in areas of intense subepithelial inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: As a possible explanation based on clinical and immunohistochemical findings, the authors propose a four-step concept for the pathogenesis of cholesteatoma that combines the retraction and proliferation theories: (a) the retraction pocket stage; (b) the proliferation stage of the retraction pocket, subdivided into cone formation and cone fusion; (c) the expansion stage of attic cholesteatoma; and (d) bone resorption.

A new pathogenesis of mesotympanic (congenital) cholesteatoma.

OBJECTIVES: To introduce a new, acquired pathogenetic theory of mesotympanic cholesteatoma behind an intact eardrum in children and to present some doubts on congenital pathogenesis. STUDY DESIGN: Literature review. METHODS: The incidence and origination of mesotympanic cholesteatoma in children were thoroughly analyzed in the world literature and correlated to the histopathological studies on human middle ear epithelia and to epidemiological studies on secretory otitis, tubal occlusion, and acute suppurative otitis media. RESULTS: The new, acquired theory is based on the fact that that the place of origin of the anterosuperior mesotympanic cholesteatoma is the area of the malleus handle and malleus neck, and of the posterosuperior cholesteatoma, the long process of the incus. During the common pathological conditions there is a great risk of retractions and adhesions of the eardrum to these ossicles. After subsequent loosening of the retracted eardrum some cells of the keratinized squamous epithelium may be left behind and become included into the tympanic cavity, eventually causing an inclusion cholesteatoma. Four basic mechanisms of inclusions are proposed and the presence of great dynamics in middle ear disease in children, with high incidence of tubal dysfunction, retractions, secretory otitis, and acute suppurative otitis, is documented, making the acquired pathogenesis probable. The place of origin does not fit with the congenital pathogenesis of epithelial formation localized on the lateral wall of the eustachian tube close to the annulus. The origination around the malleus and incus fits better with the proposed acquired pathogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: There are no definitive proofs for the acquired pathogenesis of the mesotympanic cholesteatoma, nor is there experimental research to prove or disprove it. Mesotympanic cholesteatoma, congenital cholesteatoma, acquired pathogenesis of mesotympanic cholesteatoma, cholesteatoma in children, cholesteatoma behind intact eardrum.

Preliminary results of a new delivery system for gentamicin to the inner ear in patients with Meniere's disease.

Intratympanic gentamicin therapy has gained some clinical popularity in the treatment of vertigo associated with Meniere's disease. This therapeutic modality offers some advantages over traditional surgical treatment. The vestibulotoxic effect of gentamicin is well documented, but there is no general agreement about the dose needed to control vertigo attacks without affecting hearing. In the current preliminary study 27 patients with Meniere's disease refractory to medical management were treated by small doses of gentamicin delivered via microcatheter in the round window niche and administered by an electronic micropump. The patients received a total dose of 0.24-90 mg. The effect on vestibular symptoms resulted in the cessation of vertigo in the 22 patients, control of drop attacks in 4 of 6, and release of aural pressure and fullness in 2 of 4. Significant hearing loss (anacusis) occurred in six patients, slightly related to the flow rate in the pump setting. Different explanations for the loss of hearing are presented. The new delivery system for gentamicin appears to be effective in controlling vertigo, but with an unacceptable negative effect on hearing. The effectiveness and the safety of this new delivery system must be investigated further in controlled studies. However, it opens up the possibility of future novel ways of treating inner ear diseases, such as sudden deafness and tinnitus, as well as for the protection, repair, and regeneration of inner ear sensory cell function in damage due to aging, noise, toxic substances, immune reactions, etc.

Vestibular schwannoma growth: the continuing controversy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the growth of vestibular schwannoma (VS) in a series of 123 patients with 127 tumors allocated to the "wait and scan" group in the period 1973-1999. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of prospectively registered data on all patients with VSIE from the entire country who were allocated to the wait and scan group. METHOD: Clinical charts, audiometric data, and neuroradiological images were reviewed and tabulated for age, hearing level expressed as speech reception threshold (SRT) and speech discrimination score (SDS), maximum extra-canalicular tumor extension, and possible changes in tumor diameter. The material was updated three times (in June 1993, June 1996, and June 1999). Via the Danish national register, data on whether the included patients were alive or dead were collected in 1999. RESULTS: The tumor growth, growth rate, and growth patterns were calculated in three periods 1973 to 1993 (mean observation period, 3.4 y), 1973 to 1996 (mean observation period, 3.8 y), and from 1973 to 1999 (mean observation period, 4.2 y). By termination of the first period, 94 tumors (74%) exhibited measurable growth, 23 tumors (18%) no measurable growth, and 10 tumors (8%) revealed negative growth. By the end of the extended observation period, tumor growth was observed in 104 tumors (82%), no tumor growth in 15 tumors (12%), and negative growth in 8 tumors (6%). Subsequent to the third observation period, growth was observed in 108 tumors (85%), no growth in 11 tumors (9%) and negative growth in 8 tumors (6%). However, the results may also be interpreted in another way: 52 patients (42%) were alive at the time of writing, tumor growth did not demand any intervention, 23 patients (19%) died as a result of non-tumor-related causes, and 35 patients (28%) were previously treated and alive by the termination of the third observation period. CONCLUSION: Depending on the observation period, three sets of growth results were obtained. The long observation period, updating and re-updating the results, gave us the opportunity for a de novo interpretation of the results and the long-term consequences of the wait and scan policy. Combined with other factors, the achieved results should be considered when timing of surgery is to be decided.

Vestibular neurectomy.

A brief history of the vestibular neurectomy is given. This treatment modality was introduced in Denmark by us, using the experiences obtained by the use of translabyrinthine treatment modality for vestibular schwannoma surgery. This paper presents our experiences with this type of surgery (translabyrinthine, retrolabyrinthine and retrosigmoid vestibular nerve section) from 1980 to 1996, including 43 operations in 42 patients. The patients had all been treated with conventional methods without success and were all severely handicapped by their attacks of vertigo. The mean age was 51 years, postoperative observation time between 2 and 15 years, with a mean of 6.4 years. The vertigo was controlled in 88% of the patients, while postoperative imbalance occurred in 14 patients, mainly due to the ablation of the vestibular labyrinth and not by episodic vertigo. A total of 39 patients indicated that they were satisfied with the operation. Six patients were deaf before surgery and 92% of the remaining patients retained their preoperative hearing. Postoperative complications were few, including two re-operations for CSF leaks, one patient with a slight transient facial nerve paresis and one transient VI nerve paresis. The results compare favorably with results from other authors. Retrosigmoid vestibular nerve section is an effective treatment modality to be offered to patients in whom other modalities have failed. Information about the efficacy and leniency of the treatment should be given to the patient's organization in order to diminish the fear of an intracranial intervention. Surgical experience is necessary in order obtain good results, the number of patients needing the operation is small and centralization of the treatment is mandatory.

Incidence of vestibular schwannoma in Denmark, 1977-1995.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the incidence rate of vestibular schwannomas (VS) (acoustic neuromas) in Denmark. BACKGROUND: The worldwide incidence rates of VS vary from 1 to 20 cases per million population per year. METHODS: The nationwide and population-based age-specific, sex-specific, and calendar year-specific incidence rates of VS in Denmark between 1977 and 1995 are presented. Information on cases of VS was obtained from the Danish Cancer Registry and a clinical database situated at the University Hospital of Gentofte. A total of 795 cases were reported during the period of the study. RESULTS: The incidence rate increased from 5 cases per million population per year in 1977-1981 to 10 cases in 1992-1995; the increase was from 5 to 11 cases among women and 5 to 9 cases among men. The age-specific incidence rates show that VS is rarely diagnosed in persons under 30, but the incidence rate appears to increase among women after menopause. CONCLUSION: The overall incidence rate of VS increased linearly during the study period, probably owing to the introduction of more precise diagnostic procedures, increased awareness among physicians and patients of the symptoms of VS, improved registration of benign tumors in Denmark, and the use of data from two sources.

Recurrence of attic cholesteatoma: different methods of estimating recurrence rates.

One problem in cholesteatoma surgery is recurrence of cholesteatoma, which is reported to vary from 5% to 71%. This great variability can be explained by issues such as the type of cholesteatoma, surgical technique, follow-up rate, length of the postoperative observation period, and statistical method applied. The aim of this study was to illustrate the impact of applying different statistical methods to the same material. Thirty-three children underwent single-stage surgery for attic cholesteatoma during a 15-year period. Thirty patients (94%) attended a re-evaluation. During the observation period of 15 years, recurrence of cholesteatoma occurred in 10 ears. The cumulative total recurrence rate varied from 30% to 67%, depending on the statistical method applied. In conclusion, the choice of statistical method should depend on the number of patients, follow-up rates, length of the postoperative observation period and presence of censored data.

Middle fossa approach in vestibular schwannoma surgery. Postoperative hearing preservation and EEG changes.

When the middle fossa (MF) approach was introduced in Denmark, we were concerned about the possible risk to the temporal lobe caused by the retraction of the lobe when exposing the internal acoustic meatus. EEG recordings were therefore obtained prospectively before (21 patients) and after MF tumor removal (all 23 patients operated from 1989 to 1997). Only three patients had normal EEG recordings before and after surgery, while 86% had induction, or worsening, of focal and paroxystic activity, even at the last follow-up (median 3.5 years). Sixteen patients operated prospectively via the translabyrinthine (TL) also had pre- and postoperative EEG and served as a control group. Only minor EEG changes were found in this group. In neither group did the patients display any clinical neurological signs (seizures). At the latest evaluation the facial function was reduced in 8 patients (35%) with 6 patients going 1 step up the scale, 1 patient 2 steps up and 1 patient 3 steps up (from HB-1 to HB-4). The integrity of the facial nerve was maintained in all patients. Postoperatively, 10 patients (44%) had useful hearing (hearing class A and B) on the operated side. Four patients had anacusis and an additional 4 patients were reduced to hearing class D with very low PTA and SDS. In total, 9 patients (39%) retained their preoperative hearing class, while 14 patients (61%) had impairment in their hearing class. In conclusion, EEG changes (low frequency activity and IEA) may be provoked or worsened as part of the middle cranial fossa procedure. The mechanism is not fully known, but may reflect peroperative pressure on the temporal lobe. EEG changes are fewer and lighter in translabyrinthine-operated patients. The practical clinical implications of the possibility of developing EEG changes, even without clinical signs, are potentially serious, and must be included in the information given to the patients before surgery.

Vestibular schwannoma growth--long-term results.

The growth of vestibular schwannoma (VS) was investigated in a series of 123 patients with 127 tumours during 3 periods: 1973 to 1993 (mean observation period 3.4 years), 1973 to 1996 (mean observation period 3.8 years) and 1973 to 1999 (mean observation period 4.2 years). Three sets of growth results were obtained. At the end of the first period, 94 tumours (74%) exhibited measurable growth, 23 tumours (18%) no measurable growth and 10 tumours (8%) negative growth. Tumour growth was observed in 104 tumours (82%), no tumour growth in 15 tumours (12%) and negative growth in 8 tumours (6%) at the end of the extended observation period. Growth was observed in 108 tumours (85%), no growth in 11 tumours (9%) and negative growth in 8 tumours (6%) subsequent to the third observation period. However, the results can be interpreted in another way: 52 patients (42%) are alive, tumour growth required no intervention; 23 patients (19%) died due to non-tumour-related causes; and 35 patients (28%) were previously treated and alive by the end of the third observation period. Together with other factors, the results reported here should be considered when timing of surgery is to be decided.