Rhinoscleroma with orbital extension: CT and MRI.

We describe the MRI features of a rhinoscleroma with orbital extension. This benign bacterial and granulomatous lesion of the paranasal sinuses gave homogeneous low intensity on T2-weighted images and enhanced with gadolinium. It could simulate a malignant sinonasal tumour or a fungal sinusitis; the diagnosis must be considered in patients from endemic areas.

[Test of electrical stimulation of the round window. Diagnostic and prognostic value of the rehabilitation of total deafness by cochlear implant]. / Le test de stimulation électrique de la fenêtre ronde. Intérêt diagnostique et pronostique dans les indications de la réhabilitation des surdités totales par l'implant cochléaire.

The round window electrical stimulation (RWES) test has been performed in 708 cases of total deafness. Among them 244 have successfully benefited with a cochlear implant. Electrical Brain Stem Evoked (EBSE) potential elicited by this stimulation have been registrated in 283 cases, 113 of them during general anesthesia necessary in children. This test supplies the patient with a subjective sound sensation and/or EBSE in 93% of cases. The correlation between electrical data of this RWES test and clinical results of the cochlear implant is described. This test is discussed regarding the simple transtympanique promonotory stimulation test.

[Voluminous duplication of the cervical esophagus. Contribution of imaging]. / Volumineuse duplication de l'oesophage cervical. Apport de l'imagerie.

The radiologic imaging of esophageal cysts in adults is described. These rare cysts are often an incidental finding. They can lead to severe airway or digestive obstruction. Rare cases of rupture and haemorrhage are described. The authors report a case of cervical esophageal duplication, investigated by pharyngography, sonography, CT and MRI. A cystic mass located between the esophagus and trachea was depicted. Pharyngography and MRI showed the communication of the superior pole of the mass with the cervico-esophageal junction as a midline vertical tract. The upper extremity of the tract opened at the antero-medical portion of the retro-cricoïd region. The other diagnostic possibilities were excluded, especially fourth branchial pouch fistulae.

[Improvement of clinical results by digitalization of a single channel cochlear implant]. / Amélioration des résultats cliniques par la numérisation de l'implant cochléaire monosonic.

For 1973 we have been among the first to claim the multichannel cochlear implant superiority regarding single channel efficacy. However we actually thing that single channel cochlear implant is indispensable in case of total ossified cochlea, and very useful when efficacy/coast ratio must be considered. In order to narrow the gap between multi and single channel device efficacy, we used the new microprocessors possibilities to digitalize the analogic emietter of the single channel system, which we designed in 1987. Owing to a PC keyboard the new emietter allows the speech therapist to select the frequency band width of the input signal, and to determine the threshold level and the dynamic value as a function of six steps values of the stimulus wave frequency. These improvements supply the patient with a better speech intelligibility excepted for vowels discrimination. Comparison of clinical results obtained through the two analogic and digital systems are reported on 4 post lingually and 4 pre lingually deaf patients.

[Diagnostic strategy of acoustic neuroma. Evaluation of efficacy of auditory evoked potentials. Apropos of a series of 50 neuroma cases]. / Stratégie diagnostique du neurinome de l'acoustique. Evaluation de l'efficacité des potentiels évoqués auditifs. A propos d'une série de 50 neurinomes.

The authors carry out a retrospective study of the diagnostic procedures used in a series of 50 acoustic neuromas. AEP were performed for thirty-four neuromas at some stage of their history. The findings were perfectly normal for eight of them, which represents a sensitivity level of 76%. Various elements likely to account for this are put forward, then the role of AEP and MRI in the diagnostic strategy for neuroma is discussed in the light of this study. Finally, the authors emphasize the necessity to regularly evaluate the diagnostic methods in order to guarantee their quality and reliability.