[Diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia]. / Diagnostik und Therapie der Dysphagie.

Most swallowing problems can be treated, although the treatment depends on the type of dysphagia. A multidisciplinary team of surgeons, phoniatrists, and speech-language therapists is necessary to develop the appropriate treatment strategy. A thorough medical history, clinical investigation of the swallowing muscles, and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing with foods of different consistencies help to decide whether swallowing exercises alone are sufficient, or whether an additional pharmacologic or surgical treatment is needed to prevent aspiration, malnutrition, and dehydration.

[The physiologic and the pathologic swallowing process]. / Der physiologische und der pathologische Schluckvorgang.

It is estimated that 5 million people in Germany currently suffer from swallowing disorders. Due to increasing life expectancy and the good outcome of very premature infants, this number is expected to increase. Swallowing normally occurs in four phases, and for each phase there are diagnostic tools to assess whether the problem is anatomic-organic or functional. A detailed case history is followed by clinical examination of the cranial nerves, the orofacial region, the swallowing reflex, and pharyngeal and esophageal transit. Attention is also paid to age-related changes in the swallowing process, nasal regurgitation, retention at the base of the tongue or in the hypopharynx, and signs of aspiration.

[Myositis proliferans. Differential cervical space-occupying lesion diagnosis]. / Myositis proliferans. Eine Differenzialdiagnose zervikaler Raumforderungen.

Myositis proliferans is a rare and benign pseudosarcomatous tumour of soft tissue. In most cases it is found in the region of the shoulder and arm and its occurrence in the region of the neck is described in literature in 16 cases in all. For the ear, nose and throat specialist it is an important differential diagnosis in contrast to malignant tumours. In this report we present the cases of two patients, who were suffering from painful cervical swelling that had been increasing for some days. The problems inherent in the diagnosis of this illness are discussed. Due to its rapid growth the tumour is generally falsely diagnosed and radically removed. Therefore, in appropriate case history, this possibility should be considered and excluded in order to prevent the patient from unnecessary radical operation. In addition to clinical symptoms, imaging and trial excision are suitable.

[Schwannoma of the tongue]. / Das Schwannom der Zunge.

BACKGROUND: Schwannoma, in the English literature mostly called neurilemmoma, are well known in the ear-nose-and-throat-medicine as benign tumors of the nerve-sheath, for example as neuroma of the acoustic nerve. They are seldom found at other peripheral nerves of the head. The localisation in the tongue has so far only been described in some individual cases. CASE REPORT: We present a case of a 28-year-old woman with a schwannoma of the tongue, measuring 4.0 x 2.2 x 3.2 cm. The case history and the radiological investigations suggested a malignant tumor. During the operation the lump revealed itself as being encapsulated. Under the histological examination it was discovered to be a Schwannoma. CONCLUSIONS: We would like to add a further case of a schwannoma of the tongue to the so far published cases, thus allowing this possibility to be considered in general diagnosis.