Evaluation of subarcuate canal on CT images in the perspective of clinical basis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study to contribute to the field of morphometrics by including measurements of the SAC and SAF and their distances from surrounding structures, particularly for surgeons involved in retrosigmoid approach for internal acoustic meatus tumor surgery and cerebellopontine angle surgery. Although there is limited information in the literature regarding the role of the subarcuate fossa (SAF) and subarcuate canal (SAC), it has been suggested that the SAC may be a potential pathway for infection from the middle ear to the posterior cranial fossa, and cerebellar abscesses may have this origin. METHODS: For the images of our study, computerized tomography images of 118 individuals (59 females and 59 males) between the ages of 18-65 who applied to Bayindir Health Group. RESULTS: The width of the cranial opening of the subarcuate canal was determined as 44 ± 0.54 mm, width of the labyrinth opening of the subarcuate canal was determined as 60 ± 0.42 mm, Length of the subarcuate canal was determined as 8.79 ± 2.31 mm, width of the subarcuate canal was determined as 5.54 ± 1.75 mm, and depth of subarcuate fossa was determined as 1.67 ± 0.69 mm. The distance of the cranial opening of the subarcuate canal to the superior semicircular canal (SSC-SAC/C) was measured as 5.33 ± 1.81 mm, The distance of the labyrinth opening of the subarcuate canal to the superior semicircular canal (SSC-SAC/L) was measured as 3.90 ± .98 mm, length of the petrous part of the temporal bone medial to the anterior semicircular canal measured from the apex to the SSCD (PLM) was measured as 33.56 ± 0.42 mm. No statistically significant differences were found between the right and left sides. CONCLUSIONS: The morphometric measurements obtained in this study can provide useful information for neurosurgeons, neurotologist and otolaryngologists involved in retrosigmoid approach for internal acoustic meatus tumor surgery and cerebellopontine angle surgery, and for patients undergoing cochlear implant planning with a retrofacial approach.

Evaluation of the Sigmoid Sinus Morphology by Cone Beam Computed Tomography; Touchstone of the Posterior Cranial Fossa.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to analyze the relationship of the sigmoid sinus (SS) with the external auditory canal, facial nerve, and mastoid cells from an anatomic point of view, to define the position of the SS during transmastoid, translabyrinthine, retrosigmoid (lateral suboccipital) approaches, in tympanomastoidectomy and posterior cranial fossa surgery. METHODS: In this study, the morphologic structures associated with the sigmoid sinus were evaluated in cone beam computed tomography images taken between 2015 and 2022. The images of 68 men and 106 women, aged 18-65 years, obtained from the archive of Ankara University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology were analyzed. RESULTS: The most common SS pattern was type II, with a rate of 60.8% (n = 209); the second was type III, with 20.6% (n = 71); and the least common was type I, with 18.6% (n = 64). Although the distance between the horizontal line passing through the external auditory canal and facial nerve and the anterior contour of the SS was highest in type I (right, 7.26 ± 1.62; left, 7.44 ± 0.97), it was lowest in type III (right, 4.40 ± 1.50; left, 4.84 ± 1.16) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the importance of the SS position in surgery, with special reference to otologic, neurotologic, and posterior cranial fossa surgery. To avoid intraoperative complications, each patient should be evaluated preoperatively by appropriate radiologic methods.

A comparative study of two adenoidectomy technics for efficacy and safety: Conventional curettage adenoidectomy versus endoscopic microdebrider adenoidectomy.

PURPOSE: Conventional cold curettage adenoidectomy (CCA) is the most used method for Adenoidectomy. With the advances in surgical instruments, endoscopy assisted less invasive techniques are coming into use. Herein we compared CCA with endoscopic microdebrider adenoidectomy (EMA) in terms of safety and recurrence. METHODS: Patients who underwent adenoidectomy in our clinic between 2016 and 2021 years were included into the study. Study performed retrospectively. Patients operated with CCA accepted as GroupA and EMA as GroupB. Two groups compared for the recurrence rate and post-operative complications. RESULTS: We studied 833 children aged between 3 and 12 years (mean 4,2 years old), had adenoidectomy, including 482 male(57.86 %) and 351 female (42.14 %). There were 473 patients in GroupA, and 360 patients in GroupB. Seventeen patients (%3.59) in GroupA had reoperation for the recurrence of adenoid tissue. There was no recurrence in GroupB. Residual tissue, recurrent hypertrophy, and postoperative otitis media rates were higher in GroupA, and this was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Whereas ventilation tube insertion rates didn't differ significantly (p > 0.05). Although hypernasality rate at second week was slightly higher in GroupB, this was not statistically significant (p > 0.05), and in further period it resolved in all patients. No major complications were reported. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that EMA is a safer technique than CCA, and prominent postoperative complications like residual adenoid tissue, recurrent adenoid hypertrophy, and postoperative otitis media with effusion rates are lower.

Lateral Meatal Fossa, Lateral MeatalPad and the Compartmentalization of Bony External Ear Canal.

'Lateral meatal Fossa' and 'lateral meatal tissue pad', new anatomic landmarks on the lateral part of external bony ear canal posterosuperiorly just beneath the suprameatal spine which when identified and taken into consideration, may have a definite advantage in retroauricular approach to middle ear surgery. The bony external ear canal also may be divided in two parts as lateral and medial bony external ear canal. Therewithal tympanomeatal flap covering canal may be denominated to lateral tympanomeatal flap and medial tympanomeatal flap.

Tri-layer Tympanoplasty as a New Technique in High-risk Tympanic Membrane Perforations.

INTRODUCTION: The eradication of the middle ear disease is mentioned as the fundamental principle of tympanoplasty. The presence of some factors related to patient or disease itself forces the physician to classify the chronic ear disease as high-risk perforations. The aim of this study was to present a tri-layer tympanoplasty technique and its otological and audiological outcomes in the ears with high-risk perforations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was carried out on a total of 46 eligible ears that had chronic otitis media with high-risk perforations. Preoperatively, 17, 15, and 14 ears were reported with Sade classification grade 4 pars tensa retraction (Group 1), total or near-total tympanic membrane perforation (Group 2), and a history of ear surgery (Group 3), respectively. All the cases had tympanoplasty using the tri-layer technique at a tertiary center during 2008 and 2014. A review of the patients' chart showed that 46 patients underwent tri-layer tympanoplasty. Regarding the audiological outcomes, the comparison of pre- and post-operative results revealed mean air conduction level and mean air-bone gap (ABG) of 4 different frequencies in dB according to a new standardized format for reporting hearing outcome in clinical trials. RESULTS: The mean value of the follow-up period was reported as 29.22±3.23 months. Graft take rate was 93.4 % in all the cases, as well as 94.1%, 100%, and 85.7% in Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3, respectively. The mean values of ABG were improved from 35.17±6.64 to 23.52±10.4, 30.46±5.89 to 17.20±8.04, and 29.14±8.37 to 16.14±5.02 dB in Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3, respectively (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Tri-layer tympanoplasty is a reliable procedure in the surgical treatment of the chronic otitis media with high-risk re-perforations.

Mulberry hypertrophy and accompanying sinonasal pathologies: A review of 68 cases.

Mulberry hypertrophy occasionally coexists with sinonasal pathologies. There are very few reports in the literature on this clinical entity. We conducted a retrospective study to draw attention to this condition in the context of accompanying sinonasal pathologies. Our study group was made up of 68 patients-51 males and 17 females, aged 13 to 57 years (mean: 34.9)-who had been diagnosed with mulberry hypertrophy and at least one accompanying sinonasal pathology. All patients had a long-standing chronic discharge. Forty-nine of these patients (72.1%) had unilateral mulberry hypertrophy. The most common concomitant pathologies were chronic rhinosinusitis and ostiomeatal complex disease; others included septal deviation, nasal polyposis, allergic rhinitis, and concha bullosa. Thirty-six patients (52.9%) with varying degrees of choanal/nasal obstruction were operated on with endoscopic excision to treat the mulberry hypertrophy. In all, most patients underwent some sort of surgery to treat either the mulberry hypertrophy or the accompanying sinonasal pathology. Based on our findings, we suggest a clinical staging system to serve as a way to standardize management and guide future basic and clinical research.

Does amikacin treatment cause subclinical hearing loss in patients with cystic fibrosis?

INTRODUCTION: Aminoglycosides (AGs) have been widely used for potential life-threatening bacterial infections. Although AGs are well known for their ototoxic side effects, some AGs such as amikacin are considered less harmful to auditory functions; thus, auditory monitoring is mostly neglected during treatment with these drugs. OBJECTIVE: To reflect the potential auditory hazards of repeated amikacin use on the patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). METHOD: 32CF patients with prior exposure to at least 3 courses of amikacin (the CF group) and 35 non-CF patients visiting the outpatient clinic with any complaint other than hearing loss and no history of treatment with any AG(the control, or C group) were compared with pure-tone audiometry(PTA). The diagnosis of CF was made by Nanoduck sweat test. RESULTS: The average age of the participants were 8.25 ± 2.76 years in the CF group and 8.58 ± 2.00 years in the C group (ranging from 5 to 13 years). 29 (43.28%) of the cases were female and 38 (56.71%) were male. Clinical SNHL(sensorineural hearing loss) was detected in 4 of the 32 subjects in the CF group. None of the subjects in the C group exhibited clinical SNHL. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups with regard to presence or absence of clinical SNHL (p > 0.05). However, hearing levels of the CF group were around 20 dB(decibel) HL(hearing loss), whereas hearing levels of the C group were around 5 dB. This difference was statistically significant for the pure tone averages of both all frequencies and speech frequencies (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Repetitive exposure to AGs can cause permanent, although mild, sensorineural hearing loss. For prevention, hearing status of the patient should be closely monitored and treatment of choice should be precisely tailored according to the audiological evaluation. This is especially important in patients with CF who frequently experience medical conditions necessitating AGs use.

Modified Continuous Mucosal Connell Suture for the Pharyngeal Closure After Total Laryngectomy: Zipper Suture.

OBJECTIVES: Pharyngocutaneous fistula is a serious complication after total laryngectomy, and there are some risk factors stated in the literature. The surgical suture techniques are not studied so much. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of 'modified continuous mucosal Connell suture' on the incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy. METHODS: This is a retrospective case series study based at a tertiary center with 31 patients who underwent total laryngectomy between July 2011 and December 2013. Pharyngocutaneous fistula formation after total laryngectomy was evaluated with the patients who underwent modified continuous mucosal Connell suture for pharyngeal repair. RESULTS: Pharyngocutaneous fistula was observed in only one patient (3.2%) who had a history of previous radiotherapy, and it was spontaneously healed within 6 days by conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: We defined a new suture technique for the pharyngeal repair after total laryngectomy. This technique is a simple modification of continuous mucosal Connell suture. We named it as zipper suture. It is effective in the prevention of pharyngocutaneous fistula for pharyngeal reconstruction after total laryngectomy.

The effects of aminoguanidine, methylprednisolone, and melatonin on nerve recovery in peripheral facial nerve neurorrhaphy.

BACKGROUND: The medications may enhance the recovery after nerve paralysis. We aimed to evaluate the effects of aminoguanidine (AG), melatonin, and methylprednisolone on peripheral facial nerve neurorrhaphy. METHODS: The buccal branch of the facial nerve was transected and autografted in 32 New Zealand rabbits. Subjects were divided into 4 groups equally (AG, melatonin, methylprednisolone, and control). After the medical treatment latency and amplitude were measured with nerve conduction study at 3, 6, and 10 weeks. Then, coapted segments of nerve were examined microscopically. The groups were compared with each other. RESULTS: The latent period was shortened, and the amplitudes were increased in the AG group; the latent period was shortened, and the amplitudes did not show significant change in the melatonin group with the time. There were no significant differences between the amplitudes at 3 to 6 and 3 to 10 weeks in the methylprednisolone group, and the latent period was shortened. There was no significant difference between the amplitude values at 3, 6, and 10 weeks in the control group. In the histological examination, AG had the best influence on preventing myelin degeneration and reducing the accumulation of myelin debris. Considering the increase in collagen fibers, the best results were achieved in the melatonin group. The degree of myelin-axonal degeneration was higher in the methylprednisolone group. The degree of collagen fiber increase, axonal degeneration, myelin degeneration, and the accumulation of myelin debris were detected quite high in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Aminoguanidine and melatonin alone achieved an increase in regeneration after peripheral facial nerve neurorrhaphy, but methylprednisolone did not. The best healing was determined in the AG group.

The treatment of neck and parotid gland in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of face and forehead and the review of literature.

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of cervical lymph node metastases have a significant prognostic effect on the face and forehead skin cancers. We aimed to point out the importance of loco-regional treatment in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of face and forehead. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We present our experience with four cases that had squamous cell carcinoma of face and forehead skin. All cases had regional recurrence following 1-3 years after the primary treatment, but did not have local recurrence. DISCUSSION: Loco-regional lymphatic treatment for face and forehead skin squamous carcinomas has vital importance especially in the cases with high-risk factors for lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSION: Elective lymph node dissection of appropriate region(s) should be included in the treatment plan for cases which have one or more of high-risk factors for lymph node metastases and long-term follow-up should not be ignored.

Atypical presentation of congenital cholesteatoma in an adult case with good hearing result.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital cholesteatoma is thought to be caused by inadequate folding of the epidermoid formation inside the middle ear cleft. During development of the middle ear mucosa, stratified squamous epithelium accumulates in the embryonic life. Its typical appearance is a "pearl" beneath the anterosuperior quadrant of the tympanic membrane. PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report 28 years-old case with congenital cholesteatoma in the posterosuperior quadrant of middle ear cavity. The main complaint was the hearing loss which had developed slowly over several years. DISCUSSION: The case was surgically treated. Postoperative hearing result was satisfactory. CONCLUSION: Congenital cholesteatoma may occur in atypical locations and ages. Many authors prefer canal wall down tympanomastoidectomy. But it can also be treated successfully by intact canal wall tympanomastoidectomy with good hearing results.

Inlay butterfly cartilage tympanoplasty in the treatment of dry central perforated chronic otitis media as an effective and time-saving procedure.

The aim of this study is to compare the inlay butterfly transcanal cartilage tympanoplasty with the conventional underlay tympanoplasty. Operation time, pre- and postoperative hearing levels, successful closure rate of tympanic membrane (take rate) and long-term re-perforation in dry perforated chronic otitis media were evaluated. The study design consists of case series with a chart review. The study settings are tertiary referral center. Of the 72 patients (age range 14-57 years) with dry perforated chronic otitis media, 29 patients underwent inlay butterfly transcanal cartilage tympanoplasty (group 1) and 43 patients underwent conventional underlay tympanoplasty without mastoidectomy (group 2) between January 2010 and June 2012. The outcome measures were the duration of surgery, "take rate" at the 30th postoperative day and the audiometric results at the 45th postoperative day. Long-term re-perforation was evaluated at least postoperative 1 year. The graft take rate was 96.5 % in group 1 and 90.7 % in group 2 at the 30th postoperative day (p > 0.05). Mean air-bone gap was improved from 18.8 ± 8.09 to 11.9 ± 7.12 dB in group 1 and from 21.9 ± 7.32 to 11.6 ± 8.43 dB in group 2. The improvement of air-bone gap in both groups was statistically significant (p < 0.05) but the improvement between the groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The average duration of the surgery was 29.9 ± 5.38 min for inlay tympanoplasty group and 58.9 ± 12.1 min for underlay tympanoplasty group (p < 0.05). Two patients in group 2 had re-perforations after an initial take of the graft in 1-year follow-up period. Inlay butterfly transcanal cartilage tympanoplasty is a good choice in selected cases. Although this technique has the similar take rate and audiological results with conventional underlay tympanoplasty, it is a time-saving procedure.

Sinonasal anatomical variations: their relationship with chronic rhinosinusitis and effect on the severity of disease-a computerized tomography assisted anatomical and clinical study.

ABSTRACT: The anatomy of the sinonasal area has a very wide rage of anatomical variations. The significance of these anatomical variations in pathogenesis of rhinosinusitis, which is the commonest disease in the region, is still unclear. The aims of the study were to compare the rate of sinonasal anatomical variations with development and severity of chronic rhinosinusitis patients. CT scan of paranasal sinuses images of 99 individuals were retrospectively reviewed. 65 cases of chronic rhinosinusitis (study group) who had undergone endoscopic sinus surgery were compared with 34 cases without chronic rhinosinusitis (control group). Also in study group Lund-Mackay score of the sinus disease were calculated and compared to the rate of related anatomical variations. There were 74 (74.7 %) males and 25 (25.2 %) females with ages ranging from 13 to 70 years (mean 32.2 years). The anatomical variations recorded were: Septal deviation 47 (72.3) in study and 25 (73.5 %) in control group, concha bullosa 27 (41.5 %) in study and 18 (52.9 %) in control group, overpneumatized ethmoid bulla 17 (26.1 %) in study and 14 (41.1 %) in control group, pneumatized uncinate 3 (4.6 %) in study and 3 (8.8 %) in control group, agger nasi 42 (64.6 %) in study and 19 (55.8 %) in control group, paradoxical middle turbinates 9 (13.8 %) in study and 4 (11.7 %) in control group, Onodi cell 6 (9.2 %) in study and 2 (5.8 %) in control group, Haller's cells (infraorbital ethmoid cell) 9 (13.8 %) in study and 7 (20.5 %) in control group. None of these results were statistically significant between study and control group (p > 0.05). Lund-Mackay score (which was assumed to show the severity of the disease) of the maxillary, ethmoid and frontal sinus were calculated and compared to rate of septal deviation, concha bullosa, agger nasi cells. No significant correlation was conducted (p > 0.05). The results of study showed no statistically significant correlation between sinonasal anatomical variations and pathologies of the paranasal sinus. Also these anatomical variations did not increase the severity of pre-existing sinusitis significantly. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: This is a retrospective cohort study (2b).

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma originating from the frontal sinus.

Primary lymphoma of the paranasal sinuses is a rare entity. Most cases are reported to occur in the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses as well as the nasal cavity. Primary involvement of the frontal sinus is very rare. We report a 68-year-old man with a diagnosis of B-cell lymphoma (non-Hodgkin lymphoma) originating from his frontal sinus.

Topical bupivacaine compared to bupivacaine infiltration for post-tonsillectomy pain relief in children: a prospective randomized controlled clinical study.

The objective of this study is to compare the topical administration of bupivacaine hydrochloride, saline and bupivacaine hydrochloride infiltration on post-tonsillectomy pain in children. Sixty children undergoing tonsillectomy were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomized into three groups using sealed envelopes. Group 1 (n = 20) received topical 0.5 % bupivacaine hydrochloride, group 2 (n = 20) received topical 0.9 % NaCl (saline), and group 3 (n = 20) received 0.5 % bupivacaine hydrochloride infiltrated around each tonsil. Pain was evaluated using McGrath's face scale. Pain scores in topical bupivacaine hydrochloride group was significantly lesser than the topical saline group at 5th, 13th, 17th and 21st hours, until the 6th day (p < 0.017). Moreover, pain scores of topical bupivacaine hydrochloride group was superior to bupivacaine hydrochloride infiltration group at 5th, 13th, 17th hours and 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th day (p < 0.017). There were significantly lesser morbidities in topical bupivacaine hydrochloride than saline group in 1st and 4th day (p < 0.017). Topical administration of bupivacaine hydrochloride proved to provide more efficient pain control than bupivacaine hydrochloride infiltration.

Repositioning of the caudal septal dislocations with notching and suturing the cartilage to the nasal spine.

We aim to define a cartilage reshaping and repositioning technique for caudal septal dislocations, with the logic of adapting the smoother tissues to the stiffer structures. The study was designed retrospectively with the patient charts and photographic analysis. Thirty-six patients who had septal surgery in a septoplasty or an open approach septorhinoplasty operation and meet the inclusion criteria were evaluated for the study. Postoperative success of the technique was based on preoperative and postoperative photographic analysis by two independent otorhinolaryngologists. The estimators classified 33 cases as near complete, 3 cases as improved but persisting caudal septal deviation, and any cases with no change. The improvement of the degree of reconstruction was near complete about 87% in septoplasty and 95% in septorhinoplasty groups, and 92% for all patients. In this study, we present a caudal septal repositioning maneuver which achieves a stable anchorage between postero-caudal septal cartilage and nasal spine. Septal cartilage is notched and fixed to nasal spine with two simple independent sutures as lock and key model. We define this maneuver as riding spine technique. It is an anatomic re-orientation between the septum and nasal spine for caudal septal deviations and subluxations.

Relationships between clinical behavior of laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas and expression of VEGF, MMP-9 and E-cadherin.

The biological mechanisms of cancer and associations with behavior of tumours need to be studied to understand progression and determine appropriate treatments. Here we investigated expression of VEGF, MMP-9 and E-cadherin in laryngeal SCCs and their relations with clinical behavior. This prospective study was based on 38 surgical specimens from patients with primary laryngeal SCC and data recorded in their cards. Expression of the three factors in tumor tissue was examined using immunohistochemistry and correlations with clinical parameters of primary tumors, regional lymph node metastases, stage of disease, histopathologic differentiation, and vascular/cartilage invasion were investigated. Regarding the cases with positive MMP-9 expression, the difference between well and moderately/poorly differentiated tumors was statistically significant. However, differences between early stage (stage I and II) and late-stage (stage III and IV) tumours, and between positive and negative for pLN metastasis were not. No significant relationship between positive VEGF and tumor differentiation or stage was apparent, but E-cadherin levels significantly differed between well and moderately/ poorly differentiated tumours and with the presence of pLN metastasis. E-cadherin staining did not vary between MMP-9 positive and negative cases. In conclusion, MMP-9 may be a negative predictor of differentiation in laryngeal SCC, while E-cadherin is a predictor of differentiation and nodal metastases. Even if the difference between VEGF expression and tumor stage was not statistically significant, it seems that there exists some relationship, which might be clarified with a greater number of cases.