ENT mucormycosis. Report of 4 cases.

OBJECTIVES: Mucormycosis is an opportunist infection usually affecting immunocompromised patients. It is rare and often fatal. The pathogen is filamentous fungus of the mucorales order. Studies discuss the clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of ENT mucormycosis, insisting on early clinical diagnosis, laboratory data not being contributive within satisfactory time limits. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study included 4 patients with ENT mucormycosis diagnosed over a 13-year period, from January 2000 to December 2012. RESULTS: The study included 2 male and 2 female patients, aged from 3 to 77 years. Two patients were diabetic. There were 2 cases of sinonasal mucormycosis and 2 of otologic involvement. Diagnosis was founded on anatomopathologic and mycologic examination. A fatal issue occurred in 1 case with otocerebral involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Otorhinolaryngologic mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection, which needs to be borne in mind. Rhinocerebral lesions are the most common clinical manifestations. Involvement of the ear is very rare. Diagnosis is often difficult, but should be as early as possible. Treatment, initiated urgently, associates antifungal treatment, surgical resection and control of risk factors. The prognosis remains in all cases severe.

Myoepithelioma of the vallecula: a case report.

Myoepitheliomas are rare and generally benign neoplasms that account for fewer than 1% of all salivary gland tumors. A myoepithelioma neoplasm is almost entirely composed of myoepithelial cells and is most frequently located in the parotid gland and in the minor salivary glands of the hard palate. We report an extremely rare case of myoepithelioma of the vallecular region in a 65-year-old woman and describe this tumor's clinical peculiarity, diagnostic and therapeutic considerations, and prognosis.

[Cervico-facial hydatidosis. Report of 17 cases]. / L'hydatidose cervico-faciale. A propos de 17 cas.

BACKGROUND: Cervico-facial hydatid cyst is rare. It accounts for 1 % of echinococcosis locations. AIM: To describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of cervico-facial hydatid cysts based on our clinical experience and data in the literature. METHODS: A retrospective study was made concerning 17 patients with cervico-facial hydatid cyst treated surgically over a 25-year period from 1982 to 2006. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 27 years (range 2-79). Hydatid cyst localization was: cervical muscle (7 cases), thyroid gland (5 cases), parotid gland (2 cases), cervico-thoracic (1 case), larynx (1 case) and cheek (1 case). Hydatic origin of the cyst was suspected for 6 patients (35.3 %) preoperatively. Surgical treatment was used in all cases and adapted to each case. Diagnosis was always confirmed by macroscopic aspects and pathology. CONCLUSION: Hydatid cysts are rarely found in the cervico-facial region, even in highly endemic zone. The manifestation of symptoms depends on the location and the size of the cyst. Positive diagnosis can be difficult during preoperative period. Exclusively surgical treatment is indicated, ideally for total pericystic resection without rupture.