Secondary laryngeal tuberculosis revisited.

INTRODUCTION: Laryngeal tuberculosis is often misdiagnosed and is a highly contagious public health problem. The changing pattern of the clinical involvement of this disease poses a diagnostic challenge. The authors report four cases of laryngeal tuberculosis encountered in a short span of one month. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All the four patients who presented to us with hoarseness had underlying active lesions in the lung. In spite of that they presented with mainly laryngeal symptoms and a multitude of findings on laryngeal examination. A diagnosis could be established owing to a high index of clinical suspicion, and due consideration given to the chest findings and positive sputum examination. The patients showed an excellent response to antituberculous therapy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: This study underlines the varied nature of laryngeal tuberculosis and the importance of addressing the hoarseness of a patient at the earliest, for the prompt diagnosis of this infectious condition.

Stylalgia: A Missed Diagnosis.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: To study the occurrence of stylalgia in patients presenting with pain in the head and neck region and appropriate management options. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a hospital-based study. This study analyzed prospectively patients who presented to the otolaryngology outpatient department with complaints of throat pain, globus, neck pain, facial pain, odynophagia, throat pain associated with earache, and neuralgic pain, and were diagnosed with stylalgia and managed with styloidectomy or subjected to medical treatment. RESULTS: Out of 20 patients (4 males and 16 females), 14 patients became symptom-free, while 6 patients experienced relief of symptoms. There was no worsening of symptoms in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: The incidence of Stylalgia is higher in a female population. Elective management of patients after assessing the response to treatment, and then offering surgical management is of value for adequate patient care, prevention of unnecessarily delayed diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Prevalence and trends of human papillomavirus in oropharyngeal cancer in a predominantly north Indian population.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence in oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (SCC) remains variable and studies have estimated that up to 60% may be positive. METHODS: One hundred five treatment-naïve oropharyngeal SCC patients were included. HPV genotyping was done by consensus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse line-blot hybridization assay. HPV prevalence was co-related with sex, age, tobacco consumption, alcohol use, and high-risk sexual behavior. RESULTS: HPV prevalence was 22.8%. No significant associations were seen between tobacco or alcohol consumption with HPV status. The mean number of lifetime sexual partners and indulgence in high-risk sexual behavior was significantly more in patients who are HPV positive. There were no significant associations between the 2 groups with respect to the stage of the tumor. CONCLUSION: Results of this study confirms that patients who are HPV positive are younger, and with high-risk sexual behavior. We did not find any impact of smoking and alcohol consumption on HPV status.