Surgical Treatment of Recurrent Metastatic Parathyroid Gland Carcinoma.

AIM: We present the case of a 48-year-old male patient who underwent surgery for a recurrent metastatic parathyroid gland carcinoma in the patient's right paratracheal space of the neck. The patient had undergone surgery for lower right parathyroid gland carcinoma 28 months earlier. RESULTS: The metastases were resected en bloc with an ipsilateral central neck dissection and with the removal of the enlarged lower left parathyroid gland. After exploration of the remnant parathyroid glands we noticed that lower left parathyroid gland was macroscopically enlarged so we decided to remove it to prevent possible hypercalcemia in future and to also prevent possible recurrence of cancer or development of a new primary, considering the identical embryological origin of the lower parathyroid glands and possibility of synchronous, multiple tumors, which generally follow the same embryological origin if they occur. The patient was also treated with radiation therapy after the surgery. CONCLUSION: With the present surgical approach to recurrent metastatic parathyroid gland carcinoma, we aimed to prevent the recurrence of cancer or development of new primary and prevent or delay hypercalcemia in the future with all severe adverse metabolic states associated with high serum calcium levels.

Treatment Approach to Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma Tumor Thrombus in the Internal Jugular Vein and Brachiocephalic Vein.

Thyroid gland carcinoma causing tumor thrombus in the great veins of the neck and mediastinum is a rare condition with poor prognosis. Invasion of the internal jugular vein by thyroid gland carcinoma has been occasionally reported, but tumor thrombi extending to the great veins of the mediastinum are reported extremely rarely. We present a treatment approach in a case of follicular thyroid carcinoma intravascular tumor thrombus in the left internal jugular and left brachiocephalic vein.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

To assess the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) correlation with histopathologic and clinical characteristics of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and the impact of EGFR overexpression on patient survival. This retrospective study included 185 SCC patients treated at Clinical Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Split University Hospital Center between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2009. A statistically significant correlation (p < 0.001) was recorded between the level of EGFR expression and SCC histopathologic grade, stage, metastasizing potential, relapsing potential, and patient survival. Kaplan-Meier survival curve yielded a statistically significant difference (χ(2) = 75.05; p < 0.001) among the four patient groups with different levels of EGFR expression. The higher the level of EGFR expression, the poorer is the patient prognosis and survival. In our study, expression of EGFR as a biomarker showed a potential predictive value in laryngeal SCC.

The Epidemiological Characteristics of Hepatitis B in Croatia: The Results of the Prevention.

This study shows epidemiological characteristics and preventive measures implemented for the prevention and control of hepatitis B infections in Croatia. We analyzed the data from obligatory infectious disease reports and notifications of death due to infectious diseases, data on the hepatitis B infections in Croatia, and data collected by survey of the population. The average prevalence of the disease is 3.67 per 100,000 annually. All age groups are affected, but still a higher rate of the disease is found in the age groups from 15-19 and 20-29 years of age. Hepatitis B disease is 1.4 times more likely in men than in women. For the past 18 years, the average rate of mortality was 0.2%. The incidence of HbsAg-positive donors of blood is within the range of 0.65% in 1992 to 0.012% in 2011. The largest part of preventive measures implemented in Croatia against hepatitis B is predicted and required by legislation. The registrations of acute and chronic carriers of the virus are obligatory. High-risk groups have started being vaccinated since 1992. The obligatory vaccination of infants was introduced in the mandatory vaccination program in 2007. Routine testing of blood exclusively from voluntary donors for HbsAg presence is obligatory. The non-governmental organization "Help" created for intravenous drug users, along with the "Harm reduction" program implemented hepatitis B, C, and HIV/AIDS prevention program in 1995. In order to gain a better understanding of epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis B in Croatia, the specifics of its dynamics in small communities are required since the research of Croatian public health officials and researchers have shown that hepatitis B is spread in different ways.

[DR ALEKSANDAR DORSNER THE FIRST HOSPITAL OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGIST IN SPLIT AND DALMATIA]. / DR. ALEKSANDAR DORSNER - PRVI BOLNICKI OTORINOLARINOLOG U SPLITU I DALMACIJI.

Dr Aleksandar Dorsner (Trebinje, 1892 - Lima, 1967) was the first hospital otorhinolaryngologist in Split and Dalmatia. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in Prague in 1919, and specialized otorhinolaryngology in Graz and Vienna. He led and organized otorhinolaryngological service in Split Hospital from 1923 to 1934, and he also had a private practice. Temporarily he also worked outside Split in Dalmatian hinterland and in Sibenik, Zadar and Dubrovnik. Most frequently he performed the following otorhinolaryngological operations: tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies and operations of purulent middle ear inflammations with mastoiditis, nasal polyps, deviated nasal septum, maxillary sinus empyema and otorhinolaryngological trauma. In 1928 he became a member of Otorhinolaryngological section of Croatian Medical Chamber. He participated in the work of the first otorhinolaryngological congress of the former Yugoslavia in 1931, taken place in Zagreb. From 1928 he was a member of Oto-Neuro-Ophthalmological Society. From 1933 to 1937 he was a vice-president of the main board of Free Organization of Dalmatian Physicians in Split. In 1938 he left Split permanently and continued living with his family in Lima (Peru) where he died in 1967. He was an erudite. He lived for his profession which he liked very much and dedicated his life to. He is one of the most meritorious doctors in Split medical history, whom otorhinolaryngology service in Split Hospital started with.

Polypoid angiomyofibroblastoma tumor of nasal cavity: case report.

We report an extremely rare case and localization of polypoid angiomiofibroblastoma tumour, a case report and review of the world literature concerning angiomiofibroblastoma tumour. We present the case of a 74-year-old man who underwent left anterior and posterior ethmoidectomy with extirpation of tumour mass from left nasal cavity, epipharinx and left sphenoid sinus. The prognosis for this group of tumour is good and patient didn't receive any kind of therapy except surgical treatment. To our knowledge, this is a rare report in the world literature of polypoid angiomiofibroblastoma tumour of nasal cavity. This case indicates that angiomiofibroblastoma tumour of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses is a rare disease including its localisation which otolaryngologists should be aware of and one which should be included in the differential diagnosis of tumours involving sinonasal tract.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression with histopathologic and clinical characteristics of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and to assess the role of MMP-9 expression in patient survival. Study included 196 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx treated at ENT Department, Split University Hospital Centre, from January 1, 2000 till December 31, 2009. The level of MMP-9 expression showed a statistically significant correlation (p < 0.001) with the disease histopathologic grade, stage, metastatic potential, recurrence potential, and survival. Kaplan-Meier curve yielded a statistically significant survival difference (p < 0.001) among the three patient groups with different levels of MMP-9 expression. The survival curve clearly showed the MMP-9 expression as a predictor of survival to be significantly (p < 0.001) associated with survival. In this study, MMP-9 expression as a biological marker showed a potential predictive value in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Does life along the sea carry greater risk of thyroid cancer?

Aim of this study was to determine whether there are any differences between coastal and inland Dalmatia in incidence rates and clinical characteristics of thyroid cancer. Data on 651 persons who suffer from and have undergone surgery for thyroid cancer have been analysed. All patients lived in Dalmatia between 1997 and 2006. Data were collected via surveys, insight into medical histories and results of histopathological analysis. In Dalmatia, in the overall sample, there are no statistically significant differences in incidence between coastal and inland areas (chi2=3.03; df=1; p=0.082). Somewhat higher overall incidence has been recorded in the inland (8.5%000) than in the coastal Dalmatia (7.3%000). In the overall sample, in Dalmatia, women make up 81.4% of patients and papillary cancer accounts for 80.0% of all thyroid cancers. The ratio of papillary to folicullar cancer is 7.8:1 in coastal and 4.2:1 in inland Dalmatia. Papillary and medullary types are more common in the coastal area and follicular and anaplastic cancer types in the inland area and the differences are statistically significant (p>0.033). Epidemiological characteristics of thyroid cancer in coastal Dalmatia are in accordance with the characteristics of this cancer as described in iodine-sufficient areas: the most common type is papillary cancer, and the ratio of papillary to follicular is 7.8:1. Sex-wise, the coastal area records a higher ratio of male patients (1:3.8) than the inland area (1:7.1). There are no statistically significant differences in thyroid cancer incidence rates between coastal and inland Dalmatia. Epidemiological characteristics of thyroid cancer in inland Dalmatia are in some ways more similar to those of continental Croatia. This result could be the consequence of previous iodine insufficiency in inland Dalmatia.

A battery in the stenotic esophagus of a child with a congenital tracheoesophageal fistula.

A case of a three-year-old male child who was admitted to our hospital with the suspicion that he had swallowed a battery approximately one hour before admittance. The parents believed that it was a button-shaped lithium battery approximately 12 mm in diameter. A chest X-ray was taken immediately, and a battery was identified in the esophagus at the fifth thoracic vertebra. By reviewing the child's medical history, we found that the child had had surgery the day after birth due to congenital atresia of the esophagus and a tracheoesophageal fistula type III b. An esophagoscopy was performed one hour after admittance, and the battery was found to be partially past the scar from the first surgery. Because of that, the battery was pushed further toward the stomach, out of fear that retrieving the battery through the scarred section of the child's esophagus could damage the stenotic wall. Upon the next X-ray of the abdomen, the battery was observed in the stomach. The child was monitored, and X-rays were taken over the next several days. The battery was evacuated in stool eight days after it had been ingested.

Analysis of clinical parameters as predictors of hearing recovery in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of certain clinical parameters on likelihood of hearing recovery after SSNHL and to detect potential variables that predict its outcome. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in order to identify the clinical parameters which influence hearing recovery after SSNHL. Medical charts of 87 patients diagnosed with SSNHL and treated in the clinic from January 2015 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. The effects of several parameters on the success of the treatment were statistically evaluated. Such parameters studied were age, gender, the severity of hearing loss, audiometric curve pattern, the time treatment was initiated, and metabolic factors. RESULTS: Patient categorization according to tonal audiometric curve results statistically differed in terms of recovery (complete, partial, no recovery) (χ2 = 32.5; p< 0.001). There are 2× more diabetic patients in the group no recovery than in the group partial recovery (OR = 3.1; 95% CI 0.95‒10; p= 0.061), and 5.3× more than in the group complete recovery (OR = 10.4; 95% CI 2.3‒45; p= 0.002) (χ2 = 11.2; p= 0.004). There is a statistically significant correlation between onset of therapy and recovery on a scale of significance of 93% (χ2 = 5.3, p= 0.069). CONCLUSION: In our study tonal audiometry results, diabetes mellitus and onset of therapy were shown to be a statistically significant negative predictive factors for recovery. Results of pure tone audiometry suggest a flat profound curve is statistically associated with the no recovery rates, and a down sloping curve proved to be statistically associated with complete recovery rates. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 1.

[Epidemiological characteristics of thyroid cancer in Dalmatia, Croatia]. / Karcinom stitnjace u Dalmaciji: neke epidemioloske osobitosti.

OBJECTIVES: To determine epidemiological characteristics of thyroid carcinoma in Dalmatia, and to compare the incidence rate in Dalmatia with that in Croatia. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective epidemiological study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Epidemiological indicators of thyroid carcinoma were compared between Dalmatia and Croatia as a whole, while some epidemiological indicators were compared with the characteristics of persons suffering from thyroid carcinoma in Croatia. The study included 651 persons suffering from and/or operated for thyroid carcinoma in Dalmatia between 1997 and 2006. Data were obtained from case histories, including the results of histopathologic analysis. The area of Dalmatia includes Zadar, Sibenik-Knin, Split-Dalmatia and Dubrovnik-Neretva counties (overall 861,060 inhabitants, surface 11,960 square kilometers). RESULTS: The incidence of thyroid carcinoma in Dalmatia ranged from 5.2 (1997) to 10.2 per 100,000 inhabitants (2006). The mean age adjusted incidence rate of thyroid cancer in the last 10 years was 8.1 in Croatia and 9.32 per 100,000 inhabitants in Dalmatia. All incidence rates observed (Europe and world-age standardized rates, crude incidence, incidence based on research) showed a rising trend and were significantly higher in Dalmatia than in Croatia. According to sex structure, in both study areas thyroid cancer affected predominantly women, who had four times more chances of falling ill. In Dalmatia, in the overall sample, women accounted for 81.4% of all patients. In Dalmatia, papillary thyroid carcinoma was diagnosed in 80.0% of the overall sample. The median age of newly diagnosed thyroid cancer patients was 50 in Dalmatia. There was no statistically significant sex difference in the prevalence of histologic types of thyroid carcinoma in Dalmatia (P=0.318). In both sexes, papillary carcinoma was the most common type, followed by follicular, medullary and anaplastic thyroid carcinomas. CONCLUSION: The incidence rate of thyroid cancer showed a rising trend and was significantly higher in Dalmatia than in Croatia. Epidemiological characteristics of thyroid gland carcinoma in Dalmatia were consistent with the reported characteristics of this carcinoma in iodine-sufficient areas: papillary carcinoma was prevalent and the papillary to follicular carcinoma ratio was 6.4:1.

[Comparative follow-up study of unselected male population with congenital defective color vision from inland and Mediterranean areas of Croatia]. / Komparativna studija pracenja kongenitalnih kolornih poremecaja vida neselektirane muske populacije kontinentalne i mediteranske Hrvatske.

AIM: The aim of this ten-year study (from the end of 1998 to the end of 2008) was to assess the prevalence of congenital dyschromatopsia in unselected healthy male population aged 15-45 from two Croatian regions, i.e. inland and Mediterranean parts of Croatia. Results collected in these two regions were compared and respective conclusions drawn. The results primarily referred to the prevalence of color vision disturbances and their differences according to the main color groups (dichromacy and anomalous trichromacy) and subgroups (protanopia, deuteranopia, protanomaly, deuteranomaly, and others). To our knowledge, no such a long-term study in a large population sample has been carried out in southeast Europe to date. METHODS: Color vision was examined after complete ophthalmologic examination in all subjects presenting for examination required for amateur driver license. Color vision examination was performed by use of pseudoisochromatic Ishihara tables, Nagel II anomaloscope and Panel D-15 color test at industrial medicine offices and ophthalmology departments in the two regions. There were 12,974 and 9,974 subjects in inland and Mediterranean Croatia, respectively. RESULTS: The results confirmed the hypothesis and clinical perception of a lower prevalence of color vision disturbances in southern parts, i.e. in Mediterranean Croatia (8.50%) as compared with inland Croatia (8.90%). The rate of dichromacy was higher in Mediterranean Croatia (2.40%), while the rate of anomalous trichromacy was greater in inland Croatia (6.93%). CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide better insight in the status of color vision disturbances and possible differences between the relatively close areas of north (inland) and south (Mediterranean) Croatia.

Q fever in Croatia: war-induced changes in epidemiological characteristics.

The article describes the epidemiological characteristics of Q fever in Croatia, during the period before and after the Homeland War. In the ten years prior to the Homeland War (1983-1992) 1053 cases of Q fever were recorded, 16.2% (171) of which on islands and in coastal areas. In the period after the Homeland War (1995-2008), a total of 654 cases was recorded, 59.9% (392) of which on islands and in coastal areas. In addition to reduced incidence, geographic distribution of the disease also changed. Before the war, the highest morbidity rate was recorded in the Sisak-Moslavina County. After the war, the Split-Dalmatia County recorded the highest morbidity rate because in the post-war period sheep from Bosnia and Herzegovina went to this county for winter grazing. The disease might be relevant to the Croatian Army and other armed forces that stay in Croatia as part of NATO forces.

A Foreign Body (Toothbrush) in the Esophagus of a Patient with Hiatal Hernia.

Toothbrush ingestion is rare and most commonly seen in patients with psychiatric comorbidities and in young women with a medical history of eating disorders who try to induce emesis. Long ingested objects, such as a toothbrush, cannot pass the gastrointestinal tract spontaneously and require endoscopic removal or even a surgical approach in cases of unsuccessful endoscopic removal or complication development. We present a case of a 71-year-old male with hiatal hernia without psychiatric or neurological comorbidity who accidentally ingested a toothbrush during oral hygiene routine. After X-ray confirmation, the toothbrush was removed endoscopically.

Analysis of clinical parameters as predictors of hearing recovery in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Abstract Objective: To investigate the impact of certain clinical parameters on likelihood of hearing recovery after SSNHL and to detect potential variables that predict its outcome. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in order to identify the clinical parameters which influence hearing recovery after SSNHL. Medical charts of 87 patients diagnosed with SSNHL and treated in the clinic from January 2015 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. The effects of several parameters on the success of the treatment were statistically evaluated. Such parameters studied were age, gender, the severity of hearing loss, audiometric curve pattern, the time treatment was initiated, and metabolic factors. Results: Patient categorization according to tonal audiometric curve results statistically differed in terms of recovery (complete, partial, no recovery) (x2 = 32.5; p< 0.001). There are 2× more diabetic patients in the group no recovery than in the group partial recovery (OR = 3.1; 95% CI 0.95-10; p = 0.061), and 5.3× more than in the group complete recovery (OR = 10.4; 95% CI 2.3-45; p = 0.002) (χ2 = 11.2; p = 0.004). There is a statistically significant correlation between onset of therapy and recovery on a scale of significance of 93% (χ2 = 5.3, p= 0.069). Conclusion: In our study tonal audiometry results, diabetes mellitus and onset of therapy were shown to be a statistically significant negative predictive factors for recovery. Results of pure tone audiometry suggest a flat profound curve is statistically associated with the no recovery rates, and a down sloping curve proved to be statistically associated with complete recovery rates. Level of evidence: Level 1.

Traumatic displacement of a maxillary primary canine tooth into the middle nasal concha presenting as chronic facial pain: a case report.

The case of a 32-year-old woman who sustained a nasal bone fracture and dental trauma at the age of 9 is described in this article. Misdiagnosis of the dental displacement into the middle turbinate at the initial examination led to chronic facial pain. The cause of the pain was incorrectly diagnosed or misinterpreted by several medical specialists, including an otolaryngologist, neurologist, physiatrist, ophthalmologist, internist, radiologist, oral surgeon, dentist, and the patient's family physician. Finally, 23 years after the dental trauma, a multislice computed tomogram revealed that the primary maxillary canine was dislocated into the right middle nasal concha. The tooth, which had become embedded into necrotic, inflammatory tissue, was removed by endoscopic surgery, which resulted in full resolution of the patient's pain.

The influence of selective vitamin D receptor activator paricalcitol on cardiovascular system and cardiorenal protection.

The ubiquitous distribution of vitamin D receptors in the human body is responsible for the pleiotropic effects of vitamin D-receptor activation. We discuss the possible beneficial effects of a selective activator of vitamin D receptor, paricalcitol, on the cardiovascular system in chronic heart failure patients and chronic kidney patients, in light of new trials. Paricalcitol should provide additional clinical benefits over the standard treatment for chronic kidney and heart failure, especially in cases of cardiorenal syndrome.

Incidence of acute angle-closure attacks in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia.

The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of acute angle-closure attacks among residents of the Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia, during a 6-year period. In this retrospective, interventional case series study, hospital records of 53 consecutive patients (33 female, mean age 71.7 +/- 16.6 and 20 male, mean age 66.2 +/- 23.2) with acute angle-closure attacks, treated at University Department of Ophthalmology, Split University Hospital Center, Split, Croatia, from January 2002 to December 2007 were reviewed. The annual incidence of acute angle-closure attacks was 2 cases per 100,000 (95% CI, 0-3.4). The incidence of acute angle-closure was 0.6 (95% CI, 0-1.4) cases/100,000 per year. The incidence of acute angle-closure glaucoma was 1.5 (95% CI, 0-2.8) cases/100,000 per year. The incidence was 1.5 (95% CI, 0-3.4) cases/100,000 per year in males and 2.3 (95% CI, 0-4.6) in females. Nine (17%) patients were treated by medicamentous therapy, peripheral iridectomy was performed in 19 (36%) patients and laser iridotomy in 16 (30%) patients, whereas nine (17%) patients underwent filtering surgery. Median time between the onset of symptoms to presentation at the hospital was two days (range 1-21 days). There was no statistically significant association between the acute angle-closure attacks and seasonal variation (chi2-test = 4.6; p = 0.20). In conclusion, the number of patients with acute angle-closure attacks in the Split-Dalmatia County is relatively small; however, the significant incidence of acute angle-closure glaucoma could pose a social and health care problem in the County.

Iodine intake and epidemiological characteristics of thyroid cancer: comparison between inland and littoral Croatia.

The aim of the study was to determine epidemiological characteristics of thyroid cancer in Dalmatia and Slavonia, to analyze regional differences in its incidence, and to determine whether iodine intake had an impact on the incidence. This epidemiological study was based on data published by the Croatian National Cancer Registry (CNCR) in the Croatian Health Service Yearbook and CNCR Bulletin. Data on 651 thyroid cancer patients operated on in Dalmatian hospitals between 1997 and 2006 were analyzed. Control group consisted of thyroid cancer patients operated on in Slavonia (N = 498). Incidence rates recorded in Dalmatia were compared with those in Slavonia. Iodine intake was measured in elementary schoolchildren in the Split-Dalmatia and Osijek-Baranya Counties. Iodine excretion levels were measured in 131 children. In the 10-year period, the mean age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) of thyroid cancer was 9.32 per 100,000 inhabitants in Dalmatia and 6.02 in Slavonia. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Incidence rates (World ASR, European ASR, crude incidence rate and research rates) showed an increase and were significantly higher in Dalmatia than in Slavonia. Patient sex structure showed the disease to be 4 times more common in women than in men. In Dalmatia sample, women accounted for 81.4% of all patients and papillary cancer accounted for 80.03% of all thyroid cancers. Median age of new patients was 50 in Dalmatia and 48 in Slavonia. Papillary cancer accounted for 63.7% of all patients in Slavonia. Follicular thyroid cancer accounted for 20.9% of patients in Slavonia and 12.4% in Dalmatia. Epidemiological characteristics of thyroid cancer in Dalmatia were found to be consistent with the characteristics of this cancer in iodine-sufficient areas: papillary carcinoma was the most common type and the papillary to follicular ratio was 6.4:1. Follicular cancer accounted for 12.4% of the total number of patients. In Slavonia, the papillary form predominated, the papillary to follicular ratio was 3:1, and follicular cancer accounted for 20.88% of all patients. Median urinary iodine excretion in elementary schoolchildren was 23.6 microg/dL in the Split-Dalmatia County and 28.1 microg/dL in the Osijek-Baranya County. The difference was not statistically significant (P < 0.050). In conclusion, the average iodine intake levels in Dalmatia and Slavonia were not the cause of the high thyroid cancer incidence in the 1997-2006 period. Improved thyroid cancer diagnosis may be one of the causes of the increased thyroid cancer incidence in Dalmatia.