Nasal obstruction in a 14 year old girl caused by a huge middle turbinate mucocele appearing radiologically as an inverted papilloma.

Introduction: We present a case of a fourteen year old girl who presented with a large intra-nasal mass to the ENT team at a district general hospital in the UK. Presentation of case: The girl presented predominantly with nasal obstruction and some symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Imaging revealed a large lesion abutting the skull base and causing bony remodelling with marked septal deviation. Based both on CT and MRI imaging, the reporting (non-head and neck) radiologist suggested inverted papilloma as a differential diagnosis. Intra-operative exploration in fact revealed a very large left middle turbinate mucocele extending to the left frontal sinus. The mass was excised endoscopically without complications. Discussion: Although concha bullosa of the middle turbinate of the nose are common, development of a mucocele within them is far less common and for such a mucocele to develop to this size in a child is extremely rare. The egg shell lining of the lesion can be a tell-tale sign of their aetiology when taken alongside other radiological factors. This case highlights challenges in radiological diagnosis of intra-nasal masses in children, which can lead to delays and increased anxiety. Conclusion: When assessing nasal masses in children it is important to keep a wide differential due to the challenges of diagnosis. A close conversation should be had with local head and neck radiologists and, of course, where there is a unilateral nasal mass tissue sampling is essential and may be taken as part of a full excision where clinically indicated.

Surgical management of obesity: what you need to know.

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic and official figures demonstrate a rising prevalence, both in the UK and globally. Increasingly, there is a recognised place for surgical intervention in carefully selected patients, but there is limited understanding of the pathway and process among non-specialist clinicians. This article summarises the available guidelines and literature on the surgical management of obesity for hospital physicians, surgeons and GPs. The focus is on appropriate referral criteria, key bariatric procedures, postoperative management and, most importantly, the complications of surgery and how to recognise them.

Perioperative Management of Nasal Septal Perforation: A Case Series and Review.

Nasal septal perforation is a prevalent pathology, and its successful treatment remains a significant challenge. Surgical closure is complex, and there are a plethora of accounts of various surgical techniques within the existing literature. Much less has been written about perioperative considerations, which are arguably just as important. This article therefore focuses predominantly on the pre and postoperative management of patients with septal perforation. By drawing both on the existing literature and a series of 64 cases managed over several years by our department, this review aims to consolidate guidance on patient selection, timing of surgical intervention, postoperative splinting, use of antibiotics, and patient advice. It is clear that the size of the perforation (relative to the size of the septum), health of surrounding mucosa, and the systemic health and age of the patient remain essential considerations in patient selection and operative timing. Internal and external splints are widely used to good effect, but the role of nasal packing is less clear-cut. This article suggests packing, but with an increasing preference for NasoPore over BIPP (bismuth iodoform paraffin paste). Use of prophylactic antibiotics remains controversial. The complete closure rate for the series presented here was 81.3%, with an average perforation diameter of 15.1 mm (range: of 6-32 mm), and that for perforations with a diameter below 22 mm was 97.9%.