The effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on the final outcome of patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of the combination of systemic steroids (SS) and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss were allocated into 2 groups: the control group received Dexamethasone IV (SS) and the therapy group received Dexamethasone IV combined with 15 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (SS + HBOT) as initial treatment. Hearing assessment was performed at the admission to hospital and 3 months after the onset of treatment. Siegel's criteria were used to evaluate the hearing outcomes. Prognostic factors were identified by linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Hearing improvement rate was 64 % in the therapy group and 56 % in the control group, difference which was not statistically significant (p = 0.369). Furthermore, when patients of each group were categorized into 5 subgroups by disease severity (mild, moderate, moderate to severe, severe, profound), differences in treatment outcome between the subgroups of the same severity were not significant. A descending type audiogram curve was proven an unfavorable prognostic factor in both groups, as it led to a significantly lower hearing gain (30 dB) compared to other curve shapes (b = -29.10, 95 % CI = -56.39, -1.82). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to systemic steroids caused no significant hearing improvement, despite a mild tendency toward a greater improvement rate within the combination group. More prospective randomized trials with larger series of patients could shed even more light on the effectiveness of combination therapy (SS + HBOT) in patients affected by SSNHL.

Factors affecting the outcome of adenoidectomy in children treated for chronic otitis media with effusion.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this cohort was to determine potential risk factors, concerning the effectiveness of adenoidectomy in the treatment of chronic otitis media with effusion in children. METHODS: Ninety six children with chronic otitis media with effusion treated with adenoidectomy were enrolled in this study. A thorough medical history was taken, including family history of otologic disease, parental smoking habits and breast feeding history. Radiographic palatal airway size was measured preoperatively, whereas the presence of allergy was also investigated. All patients were, postoperatively, followed up for a period of two years, in three month intervals. Disease course was classified as "complete remission", "improvement" or "consistence", in every postoperative evaluation, according to strictly established criteria. RESULTS: Children's age proved to be a significant factor in the postoperative outcome of adenoidectomy, as a treatment of chronic otitis media with effusion, especially when comparing patients being over and under the fifth year of age. Also, the presence of allergy, family history of otologic disease and palatal airway size, all proved to influence postoperative outcome in a statistical significant way (p<0.05). On the other hand, child's sex, passive smoking, breast feeding and previous acute otitis media infections did not seem to alter the efficacy of adenoidectomy. CONCLUSION: Adenoidectomy remains a cornerstone in the treatment of chronic otitis media with effusion in children. Results document that young age, presence of allergy predisposition, otologic family history and small palatal airway can be important drawbacks and should be intensively sought for and taken into account, during treatment planning.

Sinonasal glomangiopericytoma treated with preoperative embolisation and endoscopic sinus surgery.

Sinonasal glomangiopericytoma is a benign rare tumour of pericytes that accounts for less than 0.5% of all sinonasal tumours. It is an indolent tumour with a macroscopic appearance of common inflammatory polyps. We report the case of a 55-year-old male who presented with right nasal obstruction. CT and MRI examinations demonstrated a soft-tissue mass that obstructed mainly the right nasal cavity. Biopsy revealed glomangiopericytoma. The tumour was treated with preoperative embolisation followed by complete endoscopic resection. Very few cases have been reported to be treated in this way.

A rare case of a spontaneous neck hematoma in a patient with type 1 neurofibromatosis.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is a genetic disorder that affects one in 3000 individuals. Although NF-1 notably involves nerves and connective tissue, vascular involvement in large series is estimated to range from 0.4% to 6.4%. Jugular vein involvement in these patients is rare. Spontaneous neck hematomas and hemorrhages are also unusual. We present a case of a NF-1 patient with a spontaneous neck hematoma with possible leakage from the left internal jugular vein, presenting as a lateral neck mass. The fragility of the vein wall and the surrounding tissue led patient to a severe intraoperative bleeding. Pathological examination revealed degenerated neurofibroma which was in contact with or infiltrated the vein wall. ENT and other clinicians should be aware of this potentially fatal entity considering that it may present as a lateral neck mass.

Laryngeal schwannoma as an acute airway presentation.

A schwannoma is a neurogenic tumour arising from nerve sheaths. Between 25% and 45% of schwannomas occur in the head and neck region. Schwannomas of the larynx are extremely rare. They usually occur in women during the fourth and fifth decades of life. We present a case of a laryngeal schwannoma in a 76-year-old patient with acute stridor, hoarseness and dysphagia. Laryngeal conservation surgery was performed without the need for a tracheostomy. One year later, the patient remains symptom-free with no evidence of recurrence. Clinical presentation, diagnosis and management are discussed and the literature is reviewed.

Giant submandibular gland mucocele as a complication of previous sialolith removal.

Mucoceles are common lesions of minor salivary glands. Mucoceles of the major salivary glands including the submandibular gland are extremely rare, but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of submandibular space swellings. We present a rare case of a 25-year old man, who was diagnosed with a submandibular gland mucocele and had a history of sialolithiasis and intraductal sialolith excision, as well as numerous evacuating punctures and needle aspirations of the mass. The cyst was surgically excised and the specimen included the sublingual gland, in order to prevent recurrence. No postoperative complications were noted.

Repair of Temporal Bone Encephalocele following Canal Wall Down Mastoidectomy.

We report a rare case of a temporal bone encephalocele after a canal wall down mastoidectomy performed to treat chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma. The patient was treated successfully via an intracranial approach. An enhanced layer-by-layer repair of the encephalocele and skull base deficit was achieved from intradurally to extradurally, using temporalis fascia, nasal septum cartilage, and artificial dural graft. After a 22-month follow-up period the patient remains symptom free and no recurrence is noted.