Paranasal sinuses computed tomography findings in anosmia of COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: Olfactory dysfunction in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is poorly understood. Thus, mechanistic data are needed to elucidate the pathophysiological drivers of anosmia of COVID-19. METHODS: We performed the current study in patients who presented with anosmia and COVID-19 as documented by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay between April 1st and May 15st, 2020. We assessed for the conductive causes of anosmia with computed tomography (CT) of paranasal sinuses. RESULTS: 49 patients who presented with anosmia and positive PCR assay for COVID-19 were included. The average age was 45 ± 12.2 years. Complete anosmia was present in 85.7% of patients and 91.8% of patients reported sudden onset of olfactory dysfunction. Taste disturbance was common (75.5%). There were no significant pathological changes in the paranasal sinuses on CT scans. Olfactory cleft and ethmoid sinuses appeared normal while in other sinuses, partial opacification was detected only in some cases. CONCLUSION: We did not find significant mucosal changes or olfactory cleft abnormality on CT imaging in patients with anosmia of COVID-19. Conductive causes of anosmia (i.e., mucosal disease) do not seem play a significant role in anosmia of COVID-19.

A Short-term Comparison Between Result of Palisade Cartilage Tympanoplasty and Temporalis Fascia Technique.

INTRODUCTION: The use of cartilage as a grafting material has been advocated in cases where there is a high risk of graft failure, such as subtotal perforations, adhesive processes, and residual defects after primary tympanoplasties. The purpose of this study was to compare the graft acceptance rates and auditory outcomes of cartilage tympanoplasty operations using a palisade technique with those of primary tympanoplasty using temporalis fascia in a homogenous group of patients. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population included 54 patients who were operated on in two groups (palisade technique & temporalis fascia technique) with each group containing 27 patients. Patients with pure subtotal perforations (perforation of >50% of the whole tympanic membrane [TM] area), an intact ossicular chain, at least a one month dry period, and normal middle ear mucosa were included in the study. Grafts acceptance rates and pre- and post-operative audiograms were compared. The follow-up time was six months. RESULTS: Graft acceptance was achieved in all patients (100%) in the palisade cartilage tympanoplasty group and in 25 patients (92.5%) in the temporalis fascia group. This difference was not statistically significant (P= 0.15). Comparison of the increases in mean speech reception threshold, air-bone gap, and pure-tone average scores between both techniques showed no significant changes. CONCLUSION: Our experience with the palisade cartilage technique demonstrates that subtotal or total perforation at high risk for graft failure can be treated efficiently, and that a durable and resistant reconstruction of the TM with reasonable auditory function can be achieved.

Anatomical and histopathological profile of head and neck neoplasms in Persian pediatric and adolescent population.

BACKGROUND: Neoplasms of the head and neck region are relatively uncommon in childhood. The present study aimed to describe and compare the anatomical and histopathological distribution of head and neck neoplasms in Persian pediatric and adolescent population. METHODS: Patients who presented with primary head and neck tumors were included in this study. Orbital and skin tumors and neoplasms with secondary (metastatic) involvement of the head and neck were excluded from the study. Based on the data obtained from a tertiary referral hospital tumor registry and oncology department, a total of 152 benign and malignant neoplasms of the head and neck in patients aged 19 years or younger (99 boys), whom were reported to this institution between 2000 and 2007, were analyzed in this study. This number represented 10% of all pediatric and adolescent population. RESULTS: The patients' age at presentation was 1-19 years (median 12 years). The peak incidence was observed in the adolescent population (34.2% of patients). There were 136 (89.5%) malignant tumors and 16 (10.5%) benign neoplasms. Cervical lymph nodes, nasopharynx, sinonasal and salivary glands were the most frequent primary sites and accounted for 60% of all primary sites. Lymphomas [Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (30%), Hodgkin's disease (25%)], carcinomas (20%), and sarcomas (10.5%) were the most frequent histopathological types. CONCLUSION: The most frequent primary site, malignant histopathological type, and male-female ratio in our study were comparable with other reported series; however, the ratio of benign to malignant lesions is different from most studies.