Acute airway obstruction from a laryngeal lymphangioma in a child.

Lymphangiomas present commonly in the head and neck region with over 90% of lesions diagnosed before 2 years of age. These lesions have rarely been reported as a cause of acute upper airway obstruction and to date, there are very few reports in the literature documenting the presence of lymphangiomas in the larynx. We present the case of a previously asymptomatic 13-year-old girl with Joubert's syndrome, who presented with acute airway obstruction while undergoing extubation for a routine dental procedure. Near-complete obstruction of her supraglottis from a lymphangioma necessitated tracheotomy to secure the airway. The diagnostic work-up and management of this patient and her post-operative course are discussed. This case illustrates the insidious presentation of a laryngeal lymphangioma and emphasizes the management options for such patients.

Inflammatory patterns of allergic and nonallergic rhinitis.

Rhinitis is a chronic condition of the nasal mucosa that affects a large segment of the population. The symptoms of rhinitis occur in a variety of sinonasal conditions, which may be broadly classified as allergic (seasonal or perennial) or nonallergic (infectious or a number of noninfectious etiologies) based on the presence or absence of atopy. The cytokine profile and inflammatory patterns underlying these two conditions vary because of certain differences in their pathophysiology as discussed in this review.

Clinical manifestations of sinonasal pathology during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Pregnancy may confer a number of conditions related to the head and neck. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical manifestations of sinonasal pathology that occur during pregnancy. METHODS: Thirty-three pregnant patients were evaluated for the occurrence of rhinorrhea, congestion, epistaxis, or acute sinusitis during the first trimester of pregnancy, controlling with 28 women of child-bearing age. A visual analogue scale was used to grade the severity of each symptom. Statistical analysis was carried out to assess for significant differences in the prevalence and severity of symptomatology between cases and controls. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, there was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of congestion, epistaxis, rhinorrhea, or acute sinusitis. There was no statistically significant difference in the severity of any presenting symptom between pregnant and control group patients. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy is not associated with an increased prevalence or severity of nasal symptomatology during early pregnancy. The influence of hormonal changes on nasal physiology during pregnancy is discussed with a view toward safe management.

Outcome analysis of endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis in patients having Samter's triad.

A study was conducted to assess outcome analysis in acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) triad patients after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). The control group consisted of patients with chronic sinusitis, with or without asthma, who had also undergone ESS. The study group contained 18 patients with the classic triad who were compared with 22 controls. The study was conducted in retrospective fashion highlighting clinical presentation, radiologic evaluation, surgical findings, and recurrence rate of nasal polyps. Although both groups had a relatively similar age of onset of symptoms, the symptomatic picture was different in the two groups. Radiologic evaluation of the nose and paranasal sinuses revealed more extensive involvement of the sinuses in ASA triad patients. Furthermore, ASA triad patients underwent a greater number of repeat operations. This review suggests that ASA triad patients respond less well to surgical intervention and that other treatment modalities should perhaps be explored.

One-year outcome analysis of functional endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess treatment results in patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis, with evaluation of prognostic indicators of success and failure. METHOD: The study included 393 patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis over a 4-year period. The diagnosis of chronic sinusitis was based on ongoing symptomatology for greater than 3 months and the presence of mucosal disease on computerized tomography (CT). A retrospective analysis was done looking at patient data, presenting symptoms, CT findings, operative reports, pathology reports, and outcome at 6- and 12-month follow-up. The prognostic significance of selected factors was evaluated using chi-square analysis. RESULTS: A positive history for asthma, allergy, and ASA triad was present in 29.5%, 34.6%, and 10.9% of patients, respectively. Previous sinus surgery was done in 31.9%, and 15.7% of patients were smokers. The most common presenting complaint was nasal congestion/obstruction, followed by facial pain/headaches and olfactory disturbance. A positive outcome was achieved in 80.5% of patients at 6 months and in 69.7% at 12-month follow-up. Revision surgery within a year was needed in 4.1% of patients. Factors affecting outcome included asthma, smoking, polyposis, previous surgery, and pansinusitis. CONCLUSIONS: Extent of disease, as reflected by polyposis, pansinusitis, and premorbid history, is the most important determinant of outcome. Concomitant changes in ciliary motility secondary to asthma or smoking further impede surgical outcome. Future studies focusing on the disease process of chronic sinusitis are needed.

Otolaryngologic manifestations of neurofibromatosis in children.

OBJECTIVE: Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a genetic disease with a wide variety of clinical manifestations. Eight patients with otolaryngologic manifestations of NF are presented. This represents 4.9% of all NF patients currently registered at the NF clinic at the Montreal Children's Hospital. METHODS: Clinical manifestations are divided into cosmetic and functional categorizations. RESULTS: Five patients presented with cosmetic deformities, the most common being an enlarging facial mass. Three patients presented with functional impairments, the most common being hearing loss and airway obstruction. Radiologic findings include the presence of plexiform neurofibromas and airway obstruction. Management was individualized to improve cosmesis and/or function. In the literature, the incidence of head and neck manifestations in patients with NF varies between 14% and 37%. Cosmetic lesions include pigmentary changes (café-au-lait spots), prominent neurofibromas, and osseous lesions. Functional deficits include hearing loss, speech and voice abnormalities, airway obstruction, dysphagia, facial paresis, lip incompetence, and impaired mastication. Diagnosis of NF-1 (classic von Recklinghausen's disease) and NF-2 (bilateral acoustic schwannomas) can be made using specific criteria. Management of patients with NF is individualized depending on the cosmetic deformity, functional impairment, and/or malignant potential of tumours. NF is progressive and has no cure. Prognosis depends on individual clinical manifestations, surgical resectability, and the potential for sarcomatous degeneration. CONCLUSION: This study provides a unique classification of the otolaryngologic findings in NF, giving the otolaryngologist an operable framework for diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.