Audiovestibular Symptoms in Patients With Idiopathic Hypertrophic Pachymeningitis: Systematic Literature Review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hypertrophic pachymeningitis is an infrequent inflammatory disease resulting in thickening and fibrosis of the dura mater. In most cases, the cause in unknown and is called idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis (IHP). Audiovestibular symptoms are infrequent and the pathogenesis is still unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature review of cases with IHP and vestibular symptoms from 2000 to February 2020 was performed. PRISMA Checklist was followed and PubMED database, Web of Science and Cochrane library were searched. We report a case of an adolescent with a diagnosis of vestibular neuritis in the context of IHP attended in our clinic. RESULTS: We reviewed 5 articles related to IHP and vestibular disorders. A total of 7 cases (5 women and 2 men), with ages between 27 and 68 years with IHP were found. They all had audiovestibular symptoms. In contrast to our patient, uni or bilateral neurosensorial hearing loss was reported in all cases. Furthermore, there is no other case report published describing the association between IHP and vestibular neuritis. High dose steroids improved symptoms in 85.7% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Vestibular symptoms in IHP are uncommon and the pathogenesis is still debatable. Entrapment of nerves in the internal auditory canal and secondary neuronal damage could be suspected as the main cause of hearing and vestibular loss.

Audiovestibular symptoms in patients with idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis: Systematic literature review. / Manifestaciones audiovestibulares en pacientes con paquimeningitis hipertrófica idiopática: Revisión sistemática de la literatura.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hypertrophic pachymeningitis is an infrequent inflammatory disease resulting in thickening and fibrosis of the dura mater. In most cases, the cause in unknown and is called idiopathic hypertrophic pachymeningitis (IHP). Audiovestibular symptoms are infrequent and the pathogenesis is still unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature review of cases with IHP and vestibular symptoms from 2000 to February 2020 was performed. PRISMA Checklist was followed and PubMED database, Web of Science and Cochrane library were searched. We report a case of an adolescent with a diagnosis of vestibular neuritis in the context of IHP attended in our clinic. RESULTS: We reviewed 5 articles related to IHP and vestibular disorders. A total of 7 cases (5 women and 2 men), with ages between 27 and 68 years with IHP were found. They all had audiovestibular symptoms. In contrast to our patient, uni or bilateral neurosensorial hearing loss was reported in all cases. Furthermore, there is no other case report published describing the association between IHP and vestibular neuritis. High dose steroids improved symptoms in 85.7% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Vestibular symptoms in IHP are uncommon and the pathogenesis is still debatable. Entrapment of nerves in the internal auditory canal and secondary neuronal damage could be suspected as the main cause of hearing and vestibular loss.

Head and neck cancer screening in patients eligible for liver transplantation. / Cribado de cáncer de cabeza y cuello en pacientes candidatos a trasplante hepático.

INTRODUCTION: Liver transplantation is the only alternative treatment in patients in end-stage liver function. In many cases the need for liver transplantation is a consequence of the toxic effects of alcohol. The aim of our study was to determine if patients who are candidates for a liver transplant require a systematic exploration of the head and neck to rule out malignant lesions in this area. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All the candidates for a liver transplant, between 2011 and 2017, were included in our study. All of them underwent a systematic exploration of the head and neck by an otolaryngologist to rule out malignancy of the head and neck. RESULTS: A total of 141 patients were included in our study. In 2 of them (1.3%) a carcinoma of the head and neck was detected (one of the oropharynx and the other of the larynx). Both patients were asymptomatic from an ENT point of view. They were treated with chemoradiotherapy. One of them died during follow-up due to the appearance of a metachronous lung tumour. The other is free of disease 2 years after diagnosis but without having been transplanted. Both patients had a history of smoking and high alcohol intake. CONCLUSIONS: In patients who are candidates for a liver transplant who have a history of smoking and / or high alcohol intake, a pretransplant head and neck study including pharyngo-laryngeal fibroscopy is indicated.