Recovery of Smell and Taste in Patients With Persistent COVID-19-Related Hyposmia and Dysgeusia by Targeting Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction.

Purpose New-onset loss of olfaction and/or taste is now recognized among the hallmark symptoms of COVID-19. In most patients, these symptoms resolve completely and spontaneously within days. However, some patients experience persistent olfactory and gustatory dysfunction after COVID-19 resolution. We evaluated the efficacy of a treatment combining several therapeutic agents to target inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in patients with persistent hyposmia and dysgeusia. Methods This 12-month observational pilot study involved patients presenting with symptoms of hyposmia and dysgeusia 30 days after COVID-19 had subsided. The main objective was to evaluate the efficacy of a combination of systemic corticosteroids, a glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-based antithrombotic (mesoglycan), a diuretic, and a vitamin complex. The perceived extent of olfaction and taste impairment was assessed using an 11-point visual analog scale (VAS), where 0 = complete loss of olfaction/taste and 10 = complete recovery of olfaction/taste. Results Eighty-seven patients with post-COVID-19 hyposmia and dysgeusia were enrolled. At treatment start (T0), the mean VAS scores were 2.0 and 3.2 for olfactory and gustatory functions, respectively. Both functions appeared to improve progressively and significantly from T0 to 12 months. A shorter time between viral infection and the start of treatment was associated with a more pronounced recovery of both senses. Conclusions Combined systemic corticosteroid, GAG-based antithrombotic agent (mesoglycan), and diuretic may constitute an option for treating persistent hyposmia and dysgeusia associated with COVID-19. To ensure optimal recovery, early treatment start is recommended. The described treatment protocol deserves to be further evaluated.

Rare and massive odontogenic parakeratotic cyst treated by endoscopic sinus surgery: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Keratocystic odontogenic tumors are benign neoplasms of odontogenic origin with a potential for aggressive and infiltrative behavior. Many different treatments for this type of lesion have been reported. However, no common consensus has emerged to date regarding the most effective therapeutic approach. Cases of maxillary sinus giant keratocystic odontogenic tumors completely excised by enucleation or marsupialization via endoscopic sinus surgery are extremely rare, and, to the best of our knowledge, only one case has been described in the literature since 2005. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 24-year-old Italian man who came to our department with maxillary sinus region swelling, pain and left nasal obstruction. A massive keratocystic odontogenic tumor involving the right maxillary sinus and causing focal erosions of the bony walls was diagnosed. The keratocystic odontogenic tumor was removed as much as possible by a transnasal approach using endoscopic sinus surgery, which produced optimal surgical and prognostic outcomes. Follow-up is reported for an 8-year period. CONCLUSION: Conservative management in this case demonstrated good therapeutic efficacy with a low risk of recurrence. For injuries involving the maxillary sinus, the possibility of decompression or marsupialization by endoscopic sinus surgery should always be considered because it demonstrated the potential to lead to excellent results even after 8 years of follow-up in our patient. To our knowledge, no case report has described follow-up longer than 8 years for a maxillary sinus keratocystic odontogenic tumor treated with endoscopic sinus surgery.

Use of electrochemotherapy in a case of neck skin metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma: case report and considerations.

BACKGROUND: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common oral cavity malignant tumor. Surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy have been the major options for its treatment. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a novel local treatment successfully used in secondary or primary skin or subcutaneous tumors. This new cancer treatment is a modality in which a locally applied electrical field enhances cell membrane permeability, thereby allowing greater intracellular accumulation of a chemotherapeutic agent. METHODS: We report a case of a man affected by an ulcerated SCC. The man was treated with ECT with good results. RESULTS: In our case, ECT was successful in the management of extensive metastasis of SCC in clinical conditions, whereas other approaches were rejected. CONCLUSION: This case shows good clinical results; however, other studies are necessary to show that ECT should be considered as a promising treatment option.

Renal clear cell carcinoma and tonsil metastasis.

Renal cell carcinoma is the most common renal tumor in adults. Clear cell carcinoma represents 85% of all histological subtypes. In February 2012 a 72-year-old woman came to our department due to the appearance of massive hemoptysis and pharyngodinia. Previously, this patient was diagnosed with a renal cell carcinoma treated with left nephrectomy. We observed an exophytic, grayish, and ulcerated mass in the left tonsillar lodge and decided to subject the patient to an immediate tonsillectomy. Postoperative histology showed nests of cells with highly hyperchromatic nuclei and clear cytoplasm. These features enabled us to make the diagnosis of renal clear cell carcinoma metastasis. Only few authors described metastasis of renal cell carcinoma in this specific site.

Cricoarytenoid joint involvement in rheumatoid arthritis: radiologic evaluation.

Rheumatoid arthritis rarely involves the cricoarytenoid joint. The possible consequent symptom includes hoarseness, dysphagia, odynophagia, dysfunctional dysphonia, and acute dyspnea. Etiologic diagnosis is possible with high-resolution computed tomography, which can show spacing of the articular cartilage, density and volume alterations, and subluxation of the cartilage. However, these radiologic signs are not pathognomonic for rheumatoid arthritis, and they should be combined with anamnestic data.