Two rare cases of head and neck tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease, which is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity and is still a serious health concern. The fact that extra pulmonary tuberculosis does not have specific examination and radiographic findings and that clinical findings vary depending on the organ in which it is detected cause diagnostic difficulties. The head and neck region is an uncommon site for tuberculosis and tuberculosis can localise in many different places of the head and neck region. In this article, the authors present a case of nasopharyngeal tuberculosis, which clinically mimics nasopharyngeal carcinoma and rare cutaneous tuberculosis of the pinna. A wide knowledge of head and neck tuberculosis, including the disease in the differential diagnosis and carrying out microbiological examinations are necessary for accurate diagnosis.

Evaluation of Lapatinib and Trastuzumab for Ototoxic Effects.

OBJECTIVE: Trastuzumab and lapatinib are widely used chemotherapeutic agents. Our aim in this study was to assess the possible ototoxicity of these chemotherapeutic agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight rats were divided into six groups: Group 1 (control, n=8) received intraperitoneal saline for 7 days. Group 2 (n=8) and Group 3 (n=8) received 10 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg single doses of intraperitoneal trastuzumab, respectively. Lapatinib was administered by oral gavage to Group 4 (n=8) at 100 mg/kg/day and to group 5 (n=8) at 300 mg/kg/day for 7 days. Group 6 (n=8) received only one dose of 10 mg/kg intraperitoneal trastuzumab; subsequently, Group 6 received one dose of lapatinib at 100 mg/kg/day by oral gavage for 7 days. Before any medication was administered, distortion product emissions (DPOAE) were obtained. DPOAE tests were performed again on the rats on day 7, after which the mastoid bullas were harvested. The apoptosis degree was evaluated by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) procedure. RESULTS: The lapatinib 300 and lapatinib+trastuzumab groups (p=0.008 and p=0.001, respectively) were significantly different from the control group according to the spiral ganglion TUNEL. Apoptosis in the organ of corti was statistically different compared with the control group in the lapatinib 100, lapatinib 300, and lapatinib+trastuzumab groups (p=0.035, p=0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). Trastuzumab induced damage in only the organ of corti; however, lapatinib induced damage in both the organ of corti and spiral ganglion. The degree of the damage in the organ of corti was high when trastuzumab and lapatinib were concomitantly used. Supporting this data, a reduction in DPOAE amplitudes was observed during the combined usage of the drugs. CONCLUSION: Administering trastuzumab and lapatinib causes ototoxic effects.

The effect of adenoid hypertrophy on tympanometric findings in children without hearing loss.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the effects of adenoid hypertrophy on negative middle ear pressure and diagnostic efficiency of tympanogram in the detection of otitis media with effusion in children without parental suspicion of hearing loss. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-six children (26 boys, 30 girls; mean age 5.9±2.2 years; range, 3 to 12 years) who underwent adenoidectomy were analyzed using otoscopy, nasal endoscopy, and tympanometry (before 1 week and 3 months after adenoidectomy). RESULTS: The median negative middle ear pressure before the adenoidectomy was significantly higher from after adenoidectomy (p=0.045). Type B tympanogram were detected in 13 of the 112 ears preoperatively. About 17.9% (n=20) of the ears with otitis media with effusion were confirmed by myringotomy. CONCLUSION: Our study findings suggest that the adenoid hyperthrophy is associated with increased negative pressure in the middle ear. We believe that it is necessary to perform the middle ear examination and tympanometry in children before adenoidectomy and in children without parental suspicion of hearing loss, even.