Laryngeal foreign body mimicking croup.

Foreign body aspiration can be a fatal problem in all groups of ages. However, it is a leading cause of accidental deaths in children. Especially in the pediatric age group, diagnosis can be delayed because of various challenges. Children younger than 3 years carry the highest risk, as they are inclined to explore objects with their mouths. In most cases of inhaled foreign body, a positive history of aspiration is obtained. We are reporting a case of laryngeal foreign body that is mistreated for 1 week as a croup syndrome.

Malignant otitis externa.

OBJECTIVE: Malignant external otitis is a severe infection of the external auditory canal and skull base, which most often affects elderly patients with diabetes mellitus. This disease is still a serious disease associated with cranial nerve complications and high morbidity-mortality rate. Malignant otitis externa requires urgent diagnosis and treatment. The most effective treatment is to control the diabetes and to fight infection with the proper antibiotic and debridement necrotic tissue; sometimes, aggressive surgical management is done. We present our 5-year institutional experience in the management of this disease. The aim of this study was to present our experience with the management of malignant otitis externa. METHODS: All patients' records with malignant otitis externa during the last 5 years (2007-2012) were retrieved and reviewed. Diabetes mellitus profile, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ear swab for culture and sensitivity, computed tomography, and scintigraphy using technetium 99 and gallium 67 were investigated for all patients. RESULTS: During the last 5 years (2007-2012), 10 patients with the diagnosis of malignant otitis externa were admitted to our clinic for investigation and treatment. There were 7 men and 3 women, all between 64 and 83 years of age, with severe persistent otalgia, purulent otorrhea, granulation tissue in the external auditory canal, and diffuse external otitis, and there were 4 patients with facial nerve palsy. Nine patients were confirmed to have a diabetes, and 4 of these 9 cases just had chronic renal failure and underwent dialysis; the remainder 1 case had no diabetes mellitus, but with chronic renal failure on dialysis. Ear swabs for culture and sensitivity usually revealed Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Local debridement and local and systemic antibiotic treatment were sufficient to control the disease. Facial nerve decompression was done in facial paralysis. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was performed in facial nervy palsy cases. CONCLUSIONS: Malignant otitis externa is still a serious disease associated with cranial nerve complications and high morbidity-mortality rate. The most effective treatment is to control the diabetes and to fight infection with the proper antibiotic, debridement necrotic tissue, and sometimes aggressive surgical management. Monitoring of therapy response is done through normalization of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, control of diabetes mellitus, and improvement of computed tomography and radioisotope scanning.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the parotid gland.

An inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, previously known as an inflammatory pseudotumor, is an uncommon neoplasm. This tumor, which has characteristic morphologic and immunohistochemical features, is mostly seen in the lung. We present a rare case of an inflammatory myofibroblastic pseudotumor of the parotid gland. A 45-year-old woman presented with a 4-month history of a swelling in her right parotid region. A partial parotidectomy with preservation of the facial nerve branches was performed. The incidence of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor in the parotid gland is low, and local resection is currently the best treatment. A prolonged postoperative follow-up period is necessary for patients with inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor. Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor of the parotid gland is discussed with a brief literature review.

Primary marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the larynx.

Extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas limited to the larynx are rare, accounting for less than 1% of all laryngeal neoplasms. The most common site of development of primary laryngeal lymphomas is the supraglottic region. In most cases, the presenting symptoms are hoarseness, dysphagia, dyspnea, and cervical lymphadenopathy. In these cases, larynx lymphoma was the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type and located in the supraglottic area.

Rapidly progressive thyroid mass: amyloid goiter.

Amyloidosis is a disease of unknown etiology characterized by the accumulation of an amorphous proteinaceous material in various organs and tissues of the body. Amyloid goiter is an exceedingly rare pathologic condition due to massive amyloid infiltration of the thyroid tissue. Amyloid goiter occurs in association with both primary and secondary systemic amyloidosis, more commonly in the latter. Preoperatively, it simulates a multinodular goiter, and surgical intervention is often necessary to establish a diagnosis and to relieve compressive symptoms of a neck mass. We present the case of an 85-year-old female patient who presented with a rapidly enlarging goiter. Histologic examination confirmed amyloid goiter.

Pleomorphic sarcoma of the neck.

The case of a 68-year-old woman who had a big mass (plemorphic sarcoma) in the back of the neck and treated with surgical resection is presented. Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the neck is rare, although it is among the most common soft tissue sarcomas in adults. The primary mode of therapy is surgery, but because of high rates of local and distant recurrence radiation, therapy should be added to decrease local relapse. Malignant fibrous histiocytoma is discussed with a brief literature review.

Unusual manifestations of bilateral carotid artery dissection: Dysphagia and hoarseness.

Dissection of the carotid artery can occur intracranially or extracranially, although dissections tend to affect extracranial segments of the arteries much more commonly than intracranial segments. Carotid artery dissection (CAD) is most common in middle-aged women. Although not completely known, the main risk factors related to carotid artery dissection are genetic and environmental factors, traumatic events, cervical manipulation, migraine, recent infections, hyperhomocysteinemia, and hereditary connective tissue disorders. Although some cases of bilateral internal CAD have been reported, spontaneous bilateral dissections are rare. Prolonged hoarseness is usually due to using the voice either too much, too loudly, or improperly over an extended period of time. Disorders leading to dysphagia may affect the oral, pharyngeal, or esophageal phases of swallowing. In this study we report on a patient with bilateral CAD who presented to our clinic with dysphagia and hoarseness.

Laryngotracheal reconstruction at relapsing polychondritis.

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is characterized by chronic, recurrent episodes of inflammation with eventual degeneration of cartilaginous tissues including the ears, nose, larynx, trachea, and so on. Tracheobronchomalacia and airway stenosis may be seen in RP. In this report, we describe 3 female patients presenting with progressive dyspnea owing to laryngotracheal involvement of RP who underwent laryngotracheal reconstruction.

Schwannoma of the hard palate.

About half of all neurogenic tumors are seen in the head and neck region. The types of neurogenic tumors must be distinguished. Schwannomas originate from Schwann cells of the neural sheath and are solitary, well-encapsulated, slow-growing adjacent to the parental nerve but extrinsic to the nerve fascicles.Approximately 25% to 45% of all schwannomas are seen in the head and neck region and are found rarely in the oral cavity. Most of the intraoral schwannomas are located in the tongue. Other less common locations are the buccal mucosa, palate, base of the mouth, gingiva, and lips.In this study, we report a rare case of schwannoma of the hard palate, which was excised intraorally.

Intraglandular toxoplasmic lymphadenitis of the parotid gland.

Most preauricular masses are parotid neoplasms; however, some infectious and inflammatory causes may exhibit similar presentation. Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide parasitary disease. The clinical presentation of toxoplasmosis is mostly asymptomatic and may include subfebrile fever, fatigue, and lymphadenopathy. Only 13 clinical reports of intraglandular toxoplasmic lymphadenitis have been previously reported in the English literature. A careful history and examination with appropriate investigations, including immunoglobulin G avidity assay, will frequently provide the diagnosis of intraparotid toxoplasmosis. Surgery might therefore have been delayed or avoided depending on a satisfactory clinical improvement in consequence of proper medical treatment.

Management of paragangliomas in otolaryngology practice: review of a 7-year experience.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Paragangliomas of the head and neck are highly vascular lesions originating from paraganglionic tissue located at the carotid bifurcation (carotid body tumors), along the vagus nerve (vagal paragangliomas), and in the jugular fossa and tympanic cavity (jugulotympanic paragangliomas) and should be considered in the evaluation of all lateral neck masses. The aim of this study is to review an institutional experience in the management of these tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients with 27 paragangliomas were treated in our institution during a period of 7 years (2000-2007). There were 15 women (57.6%) and 11 men (42.4%) with a mean age of 33.5 years. A painless lateral neck mass was the main finding in 16 patients (61.5%). There was no evidence of a functional tumor. Carotid angiography was performed on all of our patients (100%) to define the vascular anatomy of the lesion. Twenty-two paragangliomas (of the 25 operated paragangliomas; 88%) underwent selective embolization of the major feeding arteries. We performed surgery on 24 (92.3%) patients. Two patients were treated with radiotherapy. RESULTS: Most lesions were paragangliomas of the carotid bifurcation (n = 14 [51.8%]), whereas 6 patients were diagnosed with jugular (22.2%), 1 with a vagal (3.7%), 1 with a tympanic paraganglioma (3.7%), 2 with jugulotympanic paraganglioma (7.4%), and 1 with laryngeal paraganglioma (3.7%). In 1 patient (3.8%), bilateral paragangliomas in the carotid bifurcation were detected. There was an evidence of malignancy in all cases (3.8%). Preoperative embolization has proven successful in reducing tumor vascularity in approximately 22 (of 25 who accepted surgery; 88%) paraganglioma patients. The common preoperative complication was vascular injury, which occurred in 6 (23%) of 26 patients; the main postoperative complication was transient cranial nerve deficit in 4 (15.3%) of 26 patients; and a permanent Horner syndrome was documented in 2 patients (7.6%). Cerebrospinal fluid leak occurred in 1 patient (3.7%). Postoperatively, stroke was occurred in 1 patient (3.7%). Two patients with jugular paraganglioma were treated with irradiation because of skull base extension with significant symptomatic relief. CONCLUSIONS: The primary therapeutic option for paragangliomas is complete excision of tumor with preservation of vital neurovascular structures. Combined therapeutic approach with preoperative selective embolization followed by surgical resection is the safe and the effective method for complete excision of the tumors with a reduced morbidity rate.