Definition, classification and reporting of Menière's disease and its symptoms.

This review describes the practicalities of using both the inner Ear Profile to define hydrops labyrinthi, and the American Academy of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) guidelines to define Meniere's disease. The requirement for standardisation is stressed since either system alone may be inadequate. It is suggested that the Inner Ear Profile could be adapted to the AAO-HNS criteria to create a unified method of evaluation.

Neurofibroma of the vagus nerve in the head and neck: a case report.

A case of a tumor of the vagus nerve, showing typical features of a neurofibroma, is presented. The natural history is reviewed, and several technical investigations, with particular reference to the contributions of magnetic resonance imaging and immunohistochemical techniques in the differential diagnosis, are discussed.

Tympano-ossicular allografts following J. Marquet: the evaluation of a school.

The experience with 1.645 transplantation procedures by ENT surgeons, trained in tympano-ossicular allograft technique following J. Marquet, is reported. The grafts originated from different tissue banks. The anatomical and functional results one year postoperatively were analysed. There appeared to be no statistical differences between tissue banks, nor between surgeons. Contrary to the anatomical results, functional differences existed between allograft tympanoplasties and some types of allograft tympano-ossiculoplasties. It was concluded that the routine use of allograft tympano-ossiculoplasty offers a major tool in otological surgery and that it is the method of choice by the ENT surgeons trained by the School of J. Marquet.

[The contribution of oto-vestibular studies in the diagnosis of vertebrobasilar insufficiency--(VBI)]. / Plaats van het oto-vestibulair onderzoek in de diagnostiek van vertebro-basilaire insufficiëntie--(VBI).

The high incidence of oto-vestibular complaints in patients presenting vertebro-basilar insufficiency (VBI) is emphasized. In some studies up to 90% of the patients are complaining from dizziness, oscillopsia or tinnitus. The indications of the oto-vestibular evaluation and its importance in the diagnosis of VBI is discussed. The authors lay stress on the fact that the Romberg test is not valuable as a vestibular functional screening test, but that only a full oto-vestibular evaluation will contribute to the diagnosis of VBI.

The use of fluoroquinolones in chronic otitis suppurativa.

The present review covers fluoroquinolone usage in chronic otitis suppurativa (COS) in case of chronic otitis media, cholesteatoma, radical mastoid cavity infection and chronic or relapsing otitis externa. A total of six publications were included in the final evaluation. Enoxacin was effective in 35%; ciprofloxacin (five publications) was used in 82 patients with 67% effectivity in otitis externa and otitis media and 61% effectivity in radical mastoid cavity infection. No serious adverse reactions were reported. The promising efficacy of otitis media and otitis externa and safety profile needs further confirmation in double blind prospective clinical studies, that will provide a firm basis for changing the current treatment schedules of COS.

Ciprofloxacin in oral treatment of ear infections.

In a pilot study 29 cases of suppurative otitis were treated with ciprofloxacin. Acceptable clinical results were obtained in case of chronic otitis media without cholesteatoma and in case of otitis externa. Cholesteatoma and mastoid cavity cases gave no satisfactory results. Guidelines are proposed to define the specific indications and place of this drug in suppurative otitis.