Preoperative Voice Characteristics in Thyroid Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Thyroid surgery outcomes have evolved from mortality control strategies to morbidity control measures. Most vocal outcomes research in thyroid surgery are focused on recurrent nerve anatomic and functional preservation. However, there are likely multiple causes of vocal dysfunction in thyroid patients. We prospectively analyzed preoperative patients with thyroid disease to define preoperative vocal characteristics of this population. OBJECTIVE: Quantify vocal and laryngeal baseline conditions in thyroid surgical patients. METHODS: Prospective study of preoperative stroboscopy findings and vocal function assessing the correlation between thyroid disease, compressive symptoms, baseline vocal conditions and laryngoscopy results. RESULTS: Vocal quantitative scores were positive for dysphonia in 36% of patients and the Vocal Handicap Index confirmed either slight or Moderate impairment in most patients. Stroboscopy results were abnormal in 60% of cases with no diagnoses of immobility. Correlation was established for diagnosis of cancer and the absence of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: These results point to a multifactorial cause for vocal impairment in thyroid surgery patients. Research on vocal impairment in thyroid surgery should not be centered exclusively on recurrent nerve neuromonitoring and functional preservation, but also on other variables that may contribute to vocal change in thyroid disease and surgery.

Maxillary Sinus Kaposi Sarcoma: Case Report in an HIV-Negative Patient with Thymoma.

INTRODUCTION: Kaposi sarcoma is an angioproliferative disorder that requires infection with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) for its development. The majority of cases are associated with HIV infection or other immunocompromising conditions. Thymomas are occasionally associated to cytopenia, which may alter the patients' immune responses. METHODS: Case report using clinical records. RESULTS: Case report of a 46-year-old male patient diagnosed with thymoma and myasthenia gravis. The patient was referred to an otolaryngology consultation with complaints of facial pain in the right malar region, interpreted as an acute sinusitis. Following examination, an expansive maxillary sinus mass was found, and endoscopic surgery was undertaken. After careful investigation, it was diagnosed as a Kaposi sarcoma. CONCLUSIONS: It is thought to be the first described case of a maxillary sinus Kaposi sarcoma in an HIV-negative patient. Thus, this entity has to be considered in the differential diagnosis of sinus masses, even in non-HIV patients.