Osseointegrated implants in patients with auricular defects: a case series study.

Several surgical solutions have been proposed for reconstruction of the auricle in patients whose ear is missing as a result of a traumatic accident, cancer resection, or a congenital condition. These include insertion of an autogenous rib cartilage framework or a porous polymeric material into an expanded postauricular pocket. Reconstruction with rib cartilage has given good results, but requires more than one surgical step and adverse events can occur at both the donor and acceptor site, while cases of prosthesis rejection have been described following application of polymeric prostheses with the expanded postauricular pocket technique. The use of a titanium dowel-retained silicone prosthetic pinna, fixed to temporal bone, has recently been proposed. This surgical technique is particularly indicated after resection of the pinna in cancer patients and in cases of traumatic auricular injury. Bone-anchored titanium implants provided the 15 patients in this study with a safe, reliable, adhesive-free method of anchoring auricular prostheses. The prostheses allowed recovery of normal appearance and all patients were completely satisfied with their reconstructions. No surgical complications, implant failures, or prosthetic failures were encountered.

Management of nasal septal perforation using silicone nasal septal button.

Nasal septal perforation may present with various symptoms: epistaxis, crusting, secondary infection, whistling and nasal obstruction. Perforation may be treated by conservative pharmacological treatment or closed by surgical approach. A useful alternative is mechanical obturation, achieved inserting a prosthesis. The present report refers to a study on 15 patients (10 male, 5 female, mean age 38.5 years) treated by insertion of a one-piece or two-piece silicone septal button (Xomed). In the follow-up period, insertion of the nasal button reduced epistaxis, eliminated whistling during inspiration, and reduced nasal obstruction and crusting around the margin of the perforation. Contraindications are presence of acute infection with osteitis, chronic septal disease (Wegener), neoplasia and extremely large perforations. The latest buttons appear to be superior to the conventional type on account of plasticity and adaptability which offer greater conformity to the septum. This study also reveals that the new septal button is well tolerated by patients.

Parathyroid cysts: description of two cases and review of the literature.

Parathyroid cysts are a relatively rare cause of neck swelling, and their anatomo-pathological and clinical features are still under debate. Two types of parathyroid cysts have been recognized: the non-functioning or essential forms, which are more frequent, and the adenomatous or functioning parathyroid cysts, which are rarer and cause hyperparathyroidism. Two cases of parathyroid cysts are reported and the treatment is described bearing in mind the various therapeutic procedures proposed in the literature. Attention is focused on pre-operative differential diagnosis from other masses, in the same area, and, to this end, the importance is stressed of assaying parathyroid hormone levels in the cystic fluid, obtained by fine-needle aspiration, and correlating these values with serum levels of the hormone.

The role of positron emission tomography (PET) in the management of cervical lymph nodes metastases from an unknown primary tumour.

Cervical lymph node metastases may be the initial manifestation of occult cancer. Despite a very exhaustive search, the primary site of approximately 2-10% of these tumours remain undetected. Evaluation of the patient includes: detailed physical examination of skin, upper airways (fiberoptic endoscopy), salivary glands and thyroid; fine-needle biopsy, multiple endoscopic biopsies, and imaging studies (ultrasonography, computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging). Recently, positron emission tomography scan has been demonstrated to be a useful diagnostic imaging study in these patients. The records of 11 patients were reviewed. End-points were the usefulness of positron emission tomography in the detection of an unknown primary tumour and/or distant metastatic disease. In 5 patients, positron emission tomography detected a primary lesion, confirmed pathologically and revealed distant metastases in 2 patients. Two cases were false-positive and 1 false-negative. In 3 patients no primary tumour was found after 3 years follow-up. In conclusion, positron emission tomography was not of any significant advantage in detecting occult primary tumour vs. computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging. Positron emission tomography, as "ab initio" total body examination, is important in detection of unsuspected distant diseases.

Unusual cases of cervical nerves schwannomas: phrenic and vagus nerve involvement.

Benign neurogenic tumors (neurilemmoma) arising from the cervical phrenic or vagus nerve are relatively rare. These lesions are benign, asymptomatic and incidentally found. We describe two cases considering different surgical techniques adopted. In the case of phrenic nerve schwannoma we performed a total excision of the tumor including the maternal nerve fiber to prevent tumor recurrence, also in regard to the already present hemidiaphragm palsy. On the other hand in second case, in which the vagus nerve was involved, we proposed a microsurgical approach by monitoring nerve function in order to minimize nerve damage.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the pharynx.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma of late adult life, but is relatively uncommon in the head and neck region. That region has been reported to be the origin of malignant fibrous histiocytoma in 3-10% of cases. Only one case of the tumor occurring in the pharynx has been reported. Histologically it is sometimes hard to distinguish this tumor from some sarcomas and pleomorphic carcinomas. The treatment of choice is a large surgical resection, while radiotherapy and chemotherapy are reserved for recurrences. The authors present a case of oropharyngeal malignant fibrous histiocytoma. The patient complained dysphagia and dyslalia progressively worsening in six months. Pharyngo-laryngoscopy revealed a mass of the left lateral wall of oro and hypopharynx. CT scan examination showed a capsuled mass which displaced but not involved the neck neurovascular structures; there was no evidence of linphonodal involvement. Transoral surgical excision of the mass was performed with the preservation of speech and swallowing. For more than 1 year postoperatively, there has been no evidence of the disease or metastasis.

[Neoplasms intrinsic to the cheek. Diagnostic and surgical approach]. / Neoformazioni intrinseche della guancia. Approccio diagnostico e chirurgico.

In the light of nineteen personal observations during the past ten years, the Authors remember at first the anatomy of the cheek then the diagnostic approach and the surgery management of this complex region. They specify the variety of cheek space lesions and the possibility of rare or malignant masses involving the cheek. They emphasize the aesthetic results with the different surgery approaches.

[Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the middle ear: description of a case with long-term survival]. / Il rabdomiosarcoma embrionale dell'orecchio medio: descrizione di un caso con sopravvivenza a lungo termine.

A case is described of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (E.R.) of the middle ear in a 4-year-old child; survival has been over 9 years. R.E. is the most common malignant tumor of the auricular region in children and is most often fatal due to locoregional extensions or secondary metastases carried through the bloodstream and lymphatic systems. The basis for treatment is a multidisciplinary approach to the disease: surgery with as broad an exeresis as possible; radiotherapy with tumor-killing doses of 5,500/6,000 rads; and polychemotherapy (Vincristina, Endoxan, Methotrexate). Such "aggressive" treatment often results in a high rate of morbidity with complications involving the blood, bones, eyes and meninx often requiring temporary suspension of treatment and prolonged hospitalization.

[Neurofibroma of the laterocervical space: 4 cases from our experience]. / I neurofibromi delle logge laterocervicali: quattro casi personali.

Four cases of neurofibroma located in the lateral neck spaces are reported. All had come to light upon clinical examination during the course of a few months. The clinical aspects of each are described and the particular difficulties in diagnosis and pre-surgical treatment are stressed. In fact, solitary neurofibromas must be distinguished from von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis. Modern radiology has made it possible for the authors to make a presumptive diagnosis in two of the four cases. Particularly in one case CT-scan confirmed the contemporary involvement of the intrarachidian space. This demonstrates that in such cases a multidisciplinary approach is desirable.