Disease-Specific Vs Non-Specific Questionnaires on Septoplasty Outcomes.

Introduction: Validated questionnaires are a valuable tool in medical practice. The role of septoplasty in improving patients' non-nasal symptoms and their quality of life is still controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in outcome after septoplasty measured by a disease-specific questionnaire vs a general QoL questionnaire. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 patients underwent septoplasty and completed the SNOT-22 and the SF-36v2 questionnaires preoperatively and at 6 months post-op. Pre-op, post-op and variation for each domain in both questionnaires were calculated and compared with a measure of self-reported health transition (Question 2 of SF-36v2) and with the Minimal important difference (MID) for our sample. Results: SNOT-22 scores significantly improved for each specific question and for the total score. SF-36v2 showed a significant improvement in scores for mental domains (Mental Health, Role Emotional, and Vitality) but less so for the physical domains. MID for our sample was 4.2 points. Patients with variations greater than 4.2 in SNOT-22 total score (74%) revealed significantly better variations in Physical Function, General Health, Social Function and Vitality. Conclusions: Validated questionnaires are a fundamental tool for assessing outcomes of commonly performed surgeries in ENT. Disease-specific questionnaire showed improvement in scores for the majority of patients. The general QoL showed improvement only in Mental Domains. This may suggest that the impact of septoplasty in patient's general health might not be significant.

Tuberculosis as a differential diagnosis of salivary gland malignancy.

Mycobacterial infection of the salivary glands is extremely rare, even in endemic countries. Differential diagnosis with benign or malignant neoplasms is challenging, and treatment is often delayed. We describe the case of a 62-year-old female patient who presented with a 2-month-old complaint of a right preauricular painless swelling. An ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed, with a resulting lymphocytic infiltrate, without clear atypia. MRI demonstrated a lesion with ill-defined contours, described as probably malignant. Because of this mismatch in results, a core biopsy of the main lesion was performed, demonstrating granulomas with central necrosis, with no mycobacteria detected in PCR or culture. As the lesion continued to enlarge, a new biopsy was ordered, and this time Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected. Treatment with extrapulmonary tuberculosis therapy was initiated. The sensitivity of PCR and culture combined is only 73% in extrapulmonary tuberculosis. A systematic approach may prevent unnecessary surgical interventions.

Acute vestibular syndrome and hearing loss mimicking labyrinthitis as initial presentation of multiple sclerosis.

Acute vestibular syndrome is most often caused by vestibular neuritis or stroke, although demyelinating diseases may be responsible for 4% of all AVS episodes. The authors present the case of a previously healthy 17-year-old female patient complaining of spontaneous vertigo and right-sided hearing loss. Otoneurological examination suggested a peripheral vestibular cause and video head impulse test revealed a reduced vestibulo-ocular reflex gain. The presence of sensorineural hearing loss raised the suspicion of a central cause and prompted imaging evaluation. A brain MRI evidenced demyelinating lesions in the right middle cerebellar peduncle and the patient was ultimately diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

Foreign body ingestion: rare cause of cervical abscess.

INTRODUCTION: Foreign body ingestion is a frequent emergency occurrence. Serious complications, although rare, include pharyngooesophageal perforation, aorto-oesophageal fistula and deep neck infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of all cases of foreign body ingestion requiring hospitalization between 1989 and 2011, in a tertiary Hospital. Cases complicated by deep cervical abscess were selected and their clinical presentation, results of diagnostic exams, therapeutics and clinical evolution are presented. RESULTS: Among a total of 1679 cases, 319 were related to pediatric patients and 1360 to adults. Two cases were reported (0.12%): an adult, 41 years-old, with parapharyngeal abscess subsequent to fishbone ingestion, and a child, 13 months-old, with retropharyngeal abscess consequent to chicken bone ingestion. Complications appeared three and four days after foreign body removal, respectively. In both situations cervical computerized tomography scan with contrast and surgical drainage were accomplished; the child was also submitted to rigid esophagoscopy for residual foreign body removal and closure of the associated pharyngeal laceration. DISCUSSION: Deep cervical abscesses are an uncommon but possible complication of foreign body ingestion and constitute a diagnostic challenge, particularly in children. Previous oesophageal manipulation by flexible endoscopy may be considered a risk factor for such complication. Imagiological studies proved to be crucial for diagnosis and therapeutic planning. CONCLUSION: Although a rare complication, given a recent history of foreign body ingestion/removal and the presence of compatible symptoms, cervical abscesses should be taken into account, highlighting their potential morbimortality in the absence of an appropriate therapeutic approach.

IntroduçÉo: A ingestÉo de corpo estranho é um motivo frequente de recurso à urgência hospitalar. As complicações graves, embora raras, incluem perfuraçÉo faringo-esofágica, fistula aorto-esofágica e infecçÉo cervical profunda.Material e Métodos: Foram analisados, retrospectivamente, os casos de ingestÉo de corpo estranho com internamento num hospital terciário, entre 1989 e 2011. Seleccionaram-se os casos complicados por abcesso cervical profundo, descrevendo-se a semiótica, resultados de meios complementares de diagnóstico, terapêutica efectuada e evoluçÉo clínica.Resultados: Dos 1679 casos, 319 referentes a crianças e 1360 a adultos, reportam-se dois casos (0,12%): uma criança, 13 meses, com abcesso retrofaríngeo após ingestÉo de osso de frango e um adulto, 41 anos, com abcesso parafaríngeo após ingestÉo de espinha de peixe. As complicações manifestaram-se quatro e três dias após remoçÉo do corpo estranho, respectivamente. Em ambos foram efectuadas Tomografias Computorizadas cervicais com contraste e drenagem cirúrgica dos abcessos; a criança foi ainda submetida a esofagoscopia rígida para remoçÉo de corpo estranho residual e encerramento da perfuraçÉo esofágica associada.DiscussÉo: Os abcessos cervicais sÉo uma complicaçÉo possível da ingestÉo de corpo estranho e constituem um desafio diagnóstico, principalmente em idade pediátrica. A manipulaçÉo esofágica prévia por fibroscopia poderá ser considerada um factor de risco. A imagiologia (Tomografia Computorizada cervical com contraste ou Resson'ncia Magnética Cervical) foi essencial para o diagnóstico e o planeamento cirúrgico.ConclusÉo: Embora raros, perante a história recente de ingestÉo/remoçÉo de corpo estranho esofágico e a presença de sintomas compatíveis, os abcessos cervicais devem ser tidos em consideraçÉo, dado o potencial de morbilidade e mortalidade na ausência de uma abordagem terapêutica adequada.