Incidence of Pediatric Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence and Inner Ear Anomalies: A Large Multicenter Review.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the pediatric incidence and association of superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) with inner ear (IE) anomalies. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Two tertiary referral centers. PATIENTS: Children less than 18 years who received a 0.5 mm or less collimated computed tomography study including the temporal bones between 2010 and 2013 for reasons including, but not limited to, hearing loss, trauma, and infection. INTERVENTIONS: Images were reformatted into Pöschl and Stenver planes. Five hundred three computed tomography studies (1,006 temporal bones) were reviewed by experienced, blinded neuroradiologists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of SSCD and IE anomalies. Patient age, sex, and diagnosis were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed to compare outcome measures among patient demographics. RESULTS: The incidence of SSCD was 6.2% (31/503) and an IE anomaly was 15.1% (76/503) of individuals. The incidence of SSCD with an IE anomaly was not significantly correlated (1.1%, 40/1,006; p = 0.23; LR = +1.29). The mean age of children with SSCD was lower (5.9 versus 9.8 yr; p = 0.002). SSCD incidence decreased with age (ages <2, 2-8, and 9-18 yr were 36.7%, 5.6%, and 3.2%; p<0.001) and SSC bone thickness nonsignificantly increased with age. Children with SSCD were commonly male (74.2%, p = 0.041). CONCLUSION: SSCD and IE anomalies are unlikely related. SSCD incidence is highest in children <2 years, with SSC bone increasing until 2 to 8 years of age. This supports the theory of a congenital precedent to SSCD, with overlying bone maturation occurring during early childhood. Age <2 years was a significant predictor of SSCD.

Characteristics of sleep apnea in infants with Pierre-Robin sequence: Is there improvement with advancing age?

OBJECTIVES: To investigate changes in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and central sleep apnea (CSA) in infants with Pierre-Robin sequence (PRS) with advancing age and after mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO). METHODS: Charts from 141 infants with PRS that presented to our tertiary-care children's hospital between 2005 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Forty-five patients received a polysomnogram (PSG) prior to surgical intervention. Linear regression was utilized to compare age at pre-operative PSG with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (OAHI), and central apnea index (CAI). We then analyzed a subset of 9 patients who underwent MDO with pre- and post-operative PSGs. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was utilized to examine differences in pre- and post-operative OSA and CSA scores. RESULTS: Forty-five patients received pre-operative PSGs. Of these, 80.0% demonstrated severe sleep apnea (AHI≥10), 68.9% demonstrated severe obstructive sleep apnea (OAHI≥10), and 55.6% demonstrated central sleep apnea (CAI≥1). There was no significant pattern of decrease in AHI, OAHI, and CAI with increased age up to 1 year. Among the 9 patients who underwent MDO with pre- and post-operative PSGs, significant reductions in AHI, OAHI, CAI, and percentage of total sleep time with arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) <90% and significant increases in SaO2 nadir were identified after MDO. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to previously examined literature in non-PRS patients, we did not find a decreased severity of central or obstructive sleep apnea with advancing age. Infants with PRS who underwent MDO demonstrated significant decreases in both obstructive and central apnea indices.

Adenotonsillectomy Normalizes Hormones and Urinary Electrolytes in Children With Nocturnal Enuresis and Sleep-Disordered Breathing.

OBJECTIVE: To assess (1) plasma levels of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and urinary levels of electrolytes in children with sleep disordered breathing (SDB), with or without nocturnal enuresis (NE), and (2) the effect of adenotonsillectomy (T&A) on urinary electrolytes and the secretion of ADH and BNP in children with NE and SDB. We previously reported post-T&A improvements in plasma levels of BNP and ADH in children with SDB and NE. However, the differences in plasma concentration of these hormones in SDB children with and without NE, and their relationships with urinary electrolytes, have not yet been addressed. METHODS: This prospective study compared concentrations of urinary electrolytes and plasma ADH and BNP in (1) children with SDB and NE (study group) and an age- and sex-matched control group of children with SDB without NE, and (2) the study group before and 1-month after T&A. RESULTS: Compared with the control group (n = 31), the study group (n = 37) exhibited significantly lower ADH (P = .04) and higher BNP (P = .009) plasma levels. The differences in urinary electrolytes were not significant. Post-T&A, the study group showed significantly decreased BNP (P = .018), urinary sodium-to-creatinine ratio (P = .02), and urinary calcium-to-creatinine ratio (P = .007) compared with the pre-T&A values. Post-T&A changes in urinary calcium were significantly correlated with changes in sodium excretion (P = .002) and in plasma levels of BNP (P <.001). CONCLUSION: The presence of NE is associated with altered ADH and BNP levels in children with SDB. T&A led to normalization of ADH and BNP, probably through a calcium- and sodium-dependent mechanism.

Adenotonsillectomy improves quality of life in children with sleep-disordered breathing regardless of nocturnal enuresis outcome.

BACKGROUND: Nocturnal enuresis (NE) and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) have both been associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The following were investigated: (1) whether tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy (T&A) significantly affect the HRQoL in children with NE and SDB, and 2) differences in HRQoL between children with NE persistence versus resolution post-T&A. METHODS: This was a prospective study comparing the HRQoL of children with SDB and NE (study group) pre- and 4 weeks post-T&A, and the HRQoL of children with SDB without NE (control group) (independent t-tests). HRQol was assessed using the Obstructive Sleep Apnea Quality of Life 18 questionnaire (OSAS-18), a validated measure containing five subscales that combine to create a total score. Individual items were scored on a Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (none of the time) to 7 (all of the time). Symptoms of SDB were evaluated using the validated Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ). Mixed ANOVA was conducted to evaluate changes in the measures between the wet and dry children post-T&A. Pre- and post-T&A change scores were calculated for both the PSQ and the OSAS-18. RESULTS: There were 30 children in the study group (18 male, mean age 9.07 years, SD 2.19), and 30 age-matched controls (16 male). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in regards to OSAS-18 total, PSQ total, BMI, diagnosis of snoring or OSAS on sleep study, or race. Overall, OSAS-18 and PSQ scores significantly improved in all children post-surgery (p < 0.001; p < 0.001, respectively), with no significant differences between dry and wet children post-T&A. The correlation between the pre- and post-T&A change scores on the OSAS-18 and PSQ was significant (r(29) = 0.58, p = 0.001), suggesting that a reduction in SDB symptoms post T&A is related to improved HRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: T&A significantly improved HRQoL in all children with SDB and NE, regardless of NE outcomes. These findings support recommendations for T&A in children with SDB with or without NE.

The association between pediatric general emergency department visits and post operative adenotonsillectomy hospital return.

PURPOSE: To define the association between pre-operative general emergency department visits, gender, and pre-operative diagnosis with post-operative emergency department return following adenotonsillectomy. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of 1468 pediatric patients who underwent adenotonsillectomy at a tertiary pediatric hospital between 2011 and 2013. RESULTS: There was a significant relationship between patients who visited the ED pre-operatively, 25% (N=96) returned to the ED post-procedure, compared to 10% who did not have a pre-operative ED visit. There was an overall significant relation between having a pre-operative visit (χ(2)=53.6, df=1, p<0.001), female gender (female=56.9%; male=43.1%; χ(2)=4.2, df=1, p=0.04), and having a preoperative diagnosis of recurrent strep tonsillitis (OSA and RST=18%; RST=17.5%; OSA=11.8%; χ(2)=12.8, p=0.002) and having a post-operative ED visit. CONCLUSION: Generalized pre-operative visits along with gender and diagnosis of recurrent streptococcal tonsillitis were found to be positively associated with post-operative ED visits for common post-operative complaints.

Treatment of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the subglottis with KTP laser: a case report.

Although inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are seen in the lower respiratory tract in the pediatric population, few cases occurring in the larynx have been reported in the literature. Treatment of choice is complete surgical excision because of risk of recurrence. We describe a case of pediatric subglottic IMT presenting with progressive hoarseness and symptoms of persistent reactive airway treated with potassium titanyl phosphate laser. We also enumerate the number of pediatric cases of IMT that occur in the larynx and subglottis compared with those which occur in the upper respiratory tract, specifically the trachea and bronchi. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of respiratory tract IMT excision using a potassium titanyl phosphate laser and the second reported case of a pediatric laryngeal IMT showing anaplastic lymphoma kinase-1 immunoreactivity.

Why does adenotonsillectomy not correct enuresis in all children with sleep disordered breathing?

PURPOSE: We analyzed the outcome of nocturnal enuresis after adenotonsillectomy in children with sleep disordered breathing. We also evaluated differences in demographic, clinical, laboratory and polysomnography parameters between responders and nonresponders after adenotonsillectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively evaluated children 5 to 18 years old diagnosed with sleep disordered breathing (snoring or obstructive sleep apnea syndrome) on polysomnography and monosymptomatic primary nocturnal enuresis requiring adenotonsillectomy to release upper airway obstruction. Plasma antidiuretic hormone and brain natriuretic peptide were measured preoperatively and 1 month postoperatively. RESULTS: Sleep studies were done in 46 children and 32 also underwent blood testing preoperatively and postoperatively. Mean ± SD patient age was 8.79 ± 2.41 years and the mean number of wet nights weekly was 6.39 ± 1.26. Polysomnography revealed obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in 71.7% of patients and snoring in 28.3%. After adenotonsillectomy 43.5% of patients became dry. Preoperative polysomnography findings indicated that responders, who were dry, had significantly more arousals and obstructive apnea episodes but fewer awakenings than nonresponders, who were wet. Significant increases in plasma antidiuretic hormone and significant decreases in plasma brain natriuretic peptide were seen in all children with no difference between responders and nonresponders. No difference between the groups was noted in age, gender, race, body mass index, constipation, preoperative number of wet nights weekly or type of sleep disordered breathing. CONCLUSIONS: Nocturnal enuresis resolved after adenotonsillectomy in almost half of the children with sleep disordered breathing. Those who became dry had more frequent arousal episodes caused by apnea events than those who remained wet.

Utility and cost analysis of cholesteatoma histopathologic evaluation.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To evaluate the correlation between the surgeon's intraoperative findings and histopathologic diagnosis of cholesteatoma specimens and the associated health care cost in requesting pathologic evaluation. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart analysis. METHODS: Chart data were collected at a tertiary neurotology referral center from patients undergoing tympanomastoidectomy for chronic otitis media, with specimens submitted for pathologic review between 2010 and 2011. Correlation between the surgeon's intraoperative findings and the pathologic diagnosis was evaluated using a kappa statistic. Cost analysis for pathologic consultation was also reviewed. RESULTS: A Cohen's kappa value of 0.93 (P < .01) was found between the surgeon's intraoperative findings and pathologic diagnosis. Using accepted kappa magnitude guidelines, there is perfect agreement between the surgeon's intraoperative findings and pathologic diagnosis of cholesteatoma after tympanomastoidectomy. The average cost for microscopic evaluation of cholesteatoma (current procedural terminology code 88304) as estimated per 2012 Medicare reimbursement rates is $61.95. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of concern for other pathology, intraoperative findings of cholesteatoma are adequate to confirm diagnosis in patients undergoing tympanomastoidectomy for chronic otitis media without the use of histopathology. The increased cost of routine cholesteatoma histopathologic evaluation should be considered in future health care cost-containing measures, as clinical utility appears to be low. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.