Cervical osteophytes presenting as unilateral vocal fold paralysis and dysphagia.

Any process involving either the vagus nerve, its recurrent laryngeal branch or the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve may cause paralysis of the vocal fold. The most common cause is neoplasm. Clinically, the patients often present with a hoarse, breathy voice as well as symptoms of aspiration. The following represents a unique case of unilateral vocal fold paralysis and dysphagia caused by a degenerative disease of the cervical spine, resluting in extrinsic compression of the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

Endoscopic sinus surgery in previously irradiated patients.

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic sinus surgery in irradiated patients with absolute indications for sinus surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During 5 years at a tertiary referral center, more than 200 patients received irradiation to a field that included the paranasal sinuses. Complaints related to the sinuses are common in such patients and often include crusting and increased mucus drainage. Six patients presented with significant sinus infections in the absence of tumor recurrence and failed medical management. Additional problems included epiphora and nasal obstruction caused by cicatricial choanal stricture. Surgical interventions included ethmoidectomy, multiple osteotomies, debridement of scarred or devitalized tissue, and dacryocystorhinostomy. Outcome measures included intraoperative findings and complications, length of hospital stays, endoscopic assessments of the healing over 6 months post-operatively, and improvement or persistence of symptoms over 2 to 3 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Surgery can be technically difficult because of derangements of normal anatomy and dehiscence of important structures. Although bleeding problems, prolonged admission, and delayed healing were noted in certain cases, they did not result in long-term morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic sinus surgery has become an invaluable tool in the treatment of refractory sinusitis. Our literature review has revealed no information, however, regarding endoscopic sinus surgery in previously irradiated patients. Theoretically, such patients are at risk for healing problems and anatomic derangements, which could lead to complications. There is, nevertheless, a theoretical benefit to avoiding external approaches in patients who might heal poorly.

Skin metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

UNLABELLED: Distant metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) are most often to the lung, liver, and bone. SCCHN rarely metastasizes to skin sites. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the significance of skin metastases (SM) on the prognosis of patients with SCCHN. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients between 1987 and 1999 with SCCHN was conducted. Patients in whom SM developed were identified. Data pertaining to demographics, primary tumor staging, SM development, and outcome were investigated. RESULTS: In 798 consecutive patients diagnosed with SCCHN between 1987 and 2000, 19 developed SM. The average time of onset of the SM was 17.65 months. The average survival time was 7.2 months after the development of SM. The overall survival time of patients who developed SM from the initial presentation of the primary tumor was 24.85 months. The 1-year survival rate from the time of development of SM was 0%. CONCLUSIONS: Metastasis to skin sites is an uncommon feature of SCCHN. SM may represent the first clinical evidence of impending loco-regional recurrence or distant metastasis. The development of SM is an ominous sign associated with an extremely poor prognosis, similar to the development of distant metastasis at more typical sites. Both the development of SM and survival of patients developing SM are independent of primary tumor stage. Current treatment options of SM are limited in their efficacy.

Analysis of human papillomavirus in schneiderian papillomas as compared to chronic sinusitis and normal nasal mucosa.

Schneiderian papillomas (SPs) are tumours arising from the surface epithelium (schneiderian epithelium) of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Evidence points toward a viral etiology, specifically human papillomavirus (HPV). Although substantial data indicate HPV as a likely etiology, little is known about the role of HPV in benign nasal pathologies or in normal nasal mucosa. The objective of this study was to characterize the relationship between HPV and SP, chronic sinusitis (CS), and normal nasal mucosa. A case-control study was undertaken, matching patients with SP to patients with CS. Patients with normal nasal mucosa served as a control group. All patients had their tissues analyzed for the presence of various HPV subtypes using line blot assay. A total of 168 patients were identified (74 SP, 74 CS, 20 control). Of these, 70 (41.7%) had detectable deoxyribonucleic acid and 9 of 70 (12.9%) had detectable HPV of subtypes 6, 11, and 16. None had detectable HPV type 18. Significant differences were detected in the presence of HPV in the CS, SP, and control groups, as well as in the presence of low- versus high-risk subtypes among investigation and control groups. Significant differences exist in HPV infectivity among SP, benign nasal pathologies such as CS, and normal nasal mucosa. Human papillomavirus plays an important role, at least in part, in the development of SP, with types 6, 11, and 16 being more pivotal than other types. Line blot assay is a useful technique in identifying HPV in SP.

Premaxillary augmentation: adjunct to rhinoplasty.

Recession of the premaxillary area is a relatively common deformity. Typically, it presents as a mild weakness of the central maxilla, but in certain instances, such as in the Black and Asian communities, it may be moderate to severe. This condition can be compounded by a narrow nasolabial angle, recessed alar bases, and sunken cheeks. To resolve this deficiency, a new design for premaxillary augmentation is suggested. A bat-shaped premaxillary implant is used for correction. The implant is introduced by means of an intranasal or intraoral approach, while the patient is under either local or general anesthesia. Thirty-three patients have been managed for premaxillary recession and have been corrected by premaxillary augmentation. Satisfactory cosmetic results have been achieved, with only a few minor complications.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal vestibule.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal vestibule is a rare disease. Most advocate radiotherapy as a primary treatment for early tumours, with surgery reserved for salvage. For advanced disease, combined therapy with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy is generally recommended. Fourteen patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal vestibule were reviewed. A classification of early versus late lesions was used. We achieved a 78% local regional control rate (minimum follow-up 3 years) in patients with early disease, with either radiotherapy or surgery as a primary modality of treatment. All patients with late disease recurred, requiring further surgical and/or radiation treatment. Only 20% of these patients were disease free at 2 years. Recurrent disease in either group, whether local or regional, carried a grave prognosis, with a 25% disease-free survival at 3 years.

Head and neck manifestations of Kawasaki disease.

Kawasaki disease, also known as acute infantile febrile mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, is a self-limited vasculitic disease of infants and young children. The cause of the disease remains uncertain. Within the constellation of signs and symptoms, there are numerous otolaryngologic manifestations. The following represents the largest series of patients in the otolaryngology literature, involving 155 confirmed cases of Kawasaki disease as treated at our institution during the last 10 years. The demographic data, clinical pictures of the typical and atypical forms of the illness, as well as the laboratory values, therapy and complications are discussed.

Unique characteristics of malignant schneiderian papilloma.

PURPOSE: To ascertain the characteristics unique to malignant schneiderian papilloma (MSP). METHODS: A case-control study of all schneiderian papilloma (SP) patients treated between 1978 and 1997 was conducted. Comparison was made between patients with MSP and patients with benign SP (BSP). RESULTS: A diagnosis of SP was made in 72 patients. Malignant changes, all of them the inverted papilloma subtype, were found in 8 of these patients. Three were diagnosed carcinoma in situ, and 5 were defined as invasive squamous cell carcinoma. At presentation, the MSP patients had significantly larger tumor spread into the ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses. The recurrence rate was significantly lower in SP patients treated with extensive surgical procedures. An association was found between the presence of malignant lesions and positive smoking history, subjective awareness of a nasal mass, and ethmoid and sphenoid sinus involvement. Also, histologic multicentricity was a feature more often seen in MSP than BSP and was a significant correlate with malignancy. CONCLUSION: The physician evaluating a patient with SP should be aware of the features described and of their possible association with a malignant lesion.

Fibromatosis.

Fibromatosis represents a diverse group of fibroproliferative tumours. Their behaviour and pathological qualities are situated in an intermediate position between benign and malignant disease. The following represents the pathological and radiological presentation of a 29-year-old female with fibromatosis.

Choanal and ileal atresia: a new syndrome or association?

Choanal atresia is a relatively common congenital malformation which is often associated with other anomalies. On the other hand, ileal atresia is very rare, mostly nonsyndromic and occasionally associated with other anomalies. The association of choanal and ileal atresia is unknown. Here we report the first instance of bilateral choanal atresia and ileal atresia in a full term male infant and describe the subsequent surgical treatment of both conditions. The association is unique and may represent a syndrome.

Endoscopic repair of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea: is it the treatment of choice?

Between 1991 and 1998, 12 patients with cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea were operated on using the intranasal endoscopic approach. The procedure was successful in 10 cases. The endoscopic approach failed in two patients who had larger bony defects and herniating meningoencephaloceles. This paper analyzes the case material with respect to the etiology and site of leakage. The value of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for preoperative localization of the leak is discussed. The technique of underlay fascia graft is described and discussion ensues regarding potential pitfalls that may lead to failure of leak closure.

Giant lipoma of the larynx: a case report and literature review.

Fewer than 15% of lipomas occur in the head and neck. To date, fewer than 100 cases of laryngeal lipoma have been reported in the literature. Typical clinical manifestations include dysphagia, dyspnea and hoarseness, as well as the presence of a smooth or pedunculated mass seen endoscopically and a low attenuation mass on computed tomography scan. Pathologic sections commonly reveal a tumor consisting of mature adipocytes, which is often encapsulated. Treatment of laryngeal lipoma varies from conservative total endoscopic removal to external surgical approaches. The following is a report of a single case of laryngeal lipoma, including pathologic and radiologic findings, as well as a review of the literature.

Acute airway obstruction in Hunter syndrome.

Hunter syndrome is one of the mucopolysaccharidoses, characterized by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme iduronate sulfatase. Among its physical manifestations, there are numerous head and neck signs, including characteristic facial features, macroglossia and short neck. The accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in the soft tissues of the head and neck can be associated with acute airway obstruction. We report a 7 year old boy with Hunter syndrome who developed acute airway compromise requiring an emergency tracheotomy. A review of the literature of airway management in patients with this disease is also presented.