Longitudinal perioperative pain, neuromusculoskeletal complications and quality-of-life assessment in partial parotidectomy.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the pain, neuromusculoskeletal complications, and quality of life (QoL) in patients who had undergone partial parotidectomy (PP) for benign parotid tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients were evaluated before (T0) and at 1 week (T1) and 1 month (T2) after surgery. The patients were assessed for cervical range of motion (ROM), neck pain (NRS), neuropathic pain (DN4), neck disability (NDI), facial disability (FDI), and the presence of facial neuropathy, and QoL. RESULTS: Twenty patients were included. A slight decrease was noted in cervical ROM, mild neck pain and disability were seen in T1. The DN4 score markedly increased at T1 (4.25) compared to T0 (0.1). Then it declined to 1.95 at T2. While there was no neuropathy in any of the patients at T0, it was present in 3 patients at T1. However, all improved at T2. QoL was negatively affected at T1 but showed improvement at T2. There was a significant correlation between NRS and NDI, FDI. CONCLUSION: Neuromusculoskeletal problems and impaired QoL may develop in patients who have undergone PP. It would be beneficial to evaluate these patients using a multidisciplinary approach and inform them before surgery.

Promoter region mutations of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of TERT promoter region mutations in tumor samples of patients with squamous cell carcinoma at different sites of the head and neck region and correlate it with patients' clinicopathologic data. STUDY DESIGN: Mutations in promoter region of the TERT gene were analyzed with polymerase chain reaction-based direct sequencing method using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor samples of 189 HNSCCs. TERT promoter region mutations were assessed in terms of age, gender, location, smoking, alcohol consumption, and overall survival. RESULTS: TERT promoter region mutations were detected in the oral cavity (75%); larynx (8.4%), hypopharynx (16.6%), and oropharynx (0%). TERT promoter region mutations are associated with younger age and female gender and have a reverse relationship with smoking and alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS: We found statistically significant higher rates of TERT promoter region mutations in tumor samples of patients with squamous cell carcinoma in the oral cavity compared with other locations in the head and neck region.

A rare case in childhood: Pott's puffy tumor developing secondary to frontal sinus osteoma.

Pott's puffy tumor is a rare and serious complication of frontal sinusitis, characterized by the development of osteomyelitis and subperiostal abscess in the frontal bone. Paranasal sinus osteomas are benign osteoblastic tumors, usually seen in the 3rd and 4th decades of life. In this report, we present a case of Pott's puffy tumor due to frontal sinus osteoma in an adolescent male patient. In the literature, we found no similar case in the pediatric age group and we wanted to emphasize the development of Pott's tumor as a rare complication of chronic or recurrent sinusitis and draw attention to the fact that paranasal sinus osteomas may be the underlying cause.

The effects of systemic, topical, and intralesional steroid treatments on apoptosis level of nasal polyps.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the apoptotic responses to systemic, topical, and intrapolyp injection of glucocorticoid with no treatment in nasal polyps. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized controlled study. SETTING: Tertiary training hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was performed on 48 patients with nasal polyposis in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology between 2008 and 2009. Patients were assigned to 1 of 4 groups of 12 patients. Group A was treated with oral methylprednisolone 1 mg/kg/d, and the dose was tapered gradually. Group B received 0.3 mL triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg/mL), which was injected into polyp tissue. Group C was treated with topical 55 µg triamcinolone acetonide 2 times daily for 1 month. Group D received no medication. Samples were collected endoscopically after the seventh day for groups A and B, the first month for group C, and the first visit for group D. Apoptotic indexes were determined using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling method. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in apoptotic index were found between each steroid-medicated group and the control group (P (D-A) = .0001; P (D-B) = .003; P (D-C) = .026) and between groups A and C (P (A-C) = .012). Group B did not differ significantly from either group A or C (P (A-B) = .11; P (B-C) = .75). CONCLUSIONS: The apoptotic index in nasal polyps treated with systemic, topical, and intrapolyp injection forms of glucocorticoids was higher than that in the control group. Systemic steroid treatment induced the most apoptosis.

Comparison of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and uvulopalatal flap in Turkish military personnel with primary snoring.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the surgical results of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) and uvulopalatal flap (UPF) procedures in the treatment of primary snoring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two study groups were formed and UPPP and UPF procedures were performed. All patients were stratified according to the modified Friedman staging system. Patients with tonsil size 2-4, palatal position scale grade 2, and body mass index lower than 30 were enrolled in the study. The success of surgical procedures was evaluated by applying a snoring questionnaire and Epworth sleepiness scale preoperatively and 90 days after the operation. Patients were followed for postoperative pain and other complications. RESULTS: Snoring was relieved in 85% of UPPP and in 83.3% of UPF patients 90 days after the operation. Postoperative pain complaint was more prominent in the UPPP group and mean duration of pain was significantly longer compared with the UPF group. CONCLUSIONS: Despite similar success rates in the short-term, we can say that the UPF procedure is more practical and comfortable when compared to the UPPP in the military setting.