[Head and neck paragangliomas: An interdisciplinary challenge]. / Kopf- und Halsparagangliome: Eine interdisziplinäre Herausforderung.

BACKGROUND: Current treatment strategies for head and neck paragangliomas are moving away from radical resection and toward surgical tumor reduction, in order to preserve function and reduce morbidity. Radiotherapy modalities are alternative primary treatment options. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A PubMed search of the relevant literature on genetics and treatment of head and neck paragangliomas was conducted. RESULTS: The rapid progress made in genetic research was mainly triggered by two factors: firstly, the establishment of central registries for paraganglioma patients and secondly, the availability of next-generation sequencing methods. Exome sequencing and a gene-panel sequencing approach have already been successfully applied to paraganglioma syndromes. The latter method in particular is rapid and cost-effective, and may soon replace complex genotyping algorithms. The literature provides good evidence that diversified modern treatment options are available to realize individual treatment concepts for almost all paraganglioma manifestations. Generally, small and symptomatic tumors should be completely resected, particularly in younger patients. Considering the patient's age, symptoms, morbidity risk, and comorbidities, larger tumors should be surgically treated in a function-preserving manner. In these cases, primary radiotherapy is an equivalent alternative option. A "wait and scan" strategy is possible in selected cases. DISCUSSION: The potential morbidity of surgical treatment must be weighed against the expectable quality of life. Comprehensive consultation with the patient about possible treatment modalities is mandatory. Treatment decision making should involve a multidisciplinary team of experts.

Echinococcosis mimicking autoimmune or malignant bile duct disease.

Indeterminate strictures of the bile ducts are common diagnostic dilemmas in gastroenterology, and differential diagnosis includes inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is rarely considered as a differential diagnosis, although it is endemic in the Northern hemisphere. In this case report on a 50-year-old male patient, the lack of cystic lesions or calcifications on CT, and suggestive ERCP findings made a hilar cholangiocellular carcinoma the most probable differential diagnosis, and only explorative laparotomy provided the definite diagnosis of AE. AE should therefore be included in the differential diagnosis of indeterminate biliary strictures even in the absence of typical stigmata in imaging studies.

Case report: ectopic pancreas with pseudocyst and pseudoaneurysm formation.

Ectopic pancreas is a rare congenital anomaly. It is usually asymptomatic, or presents with non specific gastrointestinal symptoms. We describe here a case of ectopic pancreas in the gastric antrum, with pseudocyst and pseudoaneurysm formation. This entity has not been reported previously in the literature.

[Invasive aspergillosis of the skull base with orbit infiltration]. / Invasive Aspergillose der Schädelbasis mit Orbitaspitzensyndrom.

BACKGROUND: [corrected] Aspergillosis of the paranasal sinuses is subdivided into noninvasive and invasive types, depending on invasion of the tissue. The invasive form often occurs in immunodeficient patients and can be divided further into granulomatous, chronic invasive, and acute fulminating forms. CASE REPORT: We report the clinical course of an immunosuppressed 64-year-old male with invasive aspergillosis originating from the sphenoid sinus with infiltration of the orbit and intracranial extension into the cavernous sinus. The patient was referred to our hospital with loss of vision, ptosis, and ophthalmoplegia of 3-month duration. Additionally he suffered from diabetes mellitus II and kidney failure after kidney transplantation. After CT scanning, endonasal sinus debridement and decompression of the orbit were carried out immediately. Histology revealed invasive aspergillosis. Postoperatively, both systemic and local antimycotic therapy and antibiotic treatment were performed. According to recommendations of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Society, cerebral abscess is a certain indication of hyperbaric oxygenation. We decided to attempt therapy for that as well. The patient died 3 weeks after surgical intervention due to carotid dissection. CONCLUSION: Invasive aspergillosis of the paranasal sinuses and the skull base of immunsuppressed patients is usually lethal because of intracranial complications. Therefore, fast diagnosis using CT and MRI and surgical and antimycotic therapy are necessary.