Is routine histopathological analysis of nasal polyposis specimens necessary?

Our objective is to evaluate the incidence of unexpected pathologies in routine nasal polyposis specimens and necessity for histopathological evaluation of nasal polyps. A retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent nasal polyposis surgery between January 2004 and June 2010 were reviewed. The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of patients with bilateral nasal polyposis. Group 2 consisted of patients with unilateral nasal polyposis. One hundred and seventeen patients (81 male, 36 female) were involved in this study. The mean age was 44.9 ± 17.7 years, ranging between 18 and 72 years. Group 1 consisted of bilateral nasal polyposis specimens. Eighty-five patients were identified with bilateral nasal polyposis. From these 85 patients, no specimens present any evidence of occult pathology on histopathological examination. Group 2 consisted of unilateral nasal polyposis specimens. There were two cases of allergic fungal sinusitis, two of inverting papilloma, one of mucocele, one of plasmacytoma, one of hemangioma, one of esthesioneuroblastoma, and one of schwannoma. Final histopathology of the remaining 23 patients was consistent with inflammation and/or nasal polyposis. We think that in cases of unilateral polyps histopathological examination of the entire material is mandatory. However, routine histological examination of bilateral nasal polyposis may possibly not be necessary in cases where the clinical assessment very clearly has not disclosed any unusual or suspicious signs.

Shepard grommet tympanostomy tube complications in children with chronic otitis media with effusion.

The objective of this study was to determine tympanostomy tube complications in children with chronic otitis media with effusion who were treated with Shepard grommet tympanostomy tube insertion. This tube type was selected as it is the most commonly used one in our clinic. The medical records of 162 ears of 87 children (52 male and 35 female) were reviewed retrospectively. The children were between 3 to 16 years old (mean age = 8.1 +/- 3.1). The patients were followed up 6-66 months (mean 23.3 +/- 14.9 months) after tympanostomy tube insertion. We reviewed age, sex, time to tube extrusion and complications. In all patients the indication for surgery was chronic middle ear effusion. Otorrhea occurred in nine ears (5.6%). Granulation tissue was seen in two ears (1.2%). Complications after tympanostomy tube extrusion included myringosclerosis (34.6%), persistent perforation (5.6%), atrophy (23.5%), retraction (16.7%) and medial displacement of tubes (1.2%). The average extrusion time was 8.5 +/- 4.6 months (range 1-24) for Shepard grommet tympanostomy tubes. Complications of tympanostomy tube insertion are common. Myringosclerosis, tympanic membrane atrophy and otorrhea are the most frequently appearing complications. But they are generally insignificant and cosmetic. Consequently, in the majority of these complications there is no need for any management.

Otitis media with effusion: recurrence after tympanostomy tube extrusion.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence rate of recurrence of otitis media with effusion (OME) in children after tympanostomy tube extrusion and the relationship between recurrence and tube retention time was investigated. Also relationship between recurrence rate and initial age of tube insertion was analysed. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case series of patients who had tympanostomy tube insertion. METHODS: A total of 91 children (169 ears) were reviewed. Ears of children divided into three groups according to retention time of tympanostomy tubes. Group I: tympanostomy tube retention time less than 6 months. Group II: tympanostomy tube retention time 6 months to 12 months. Group III: tympanostomy tube retention time 12 months or more. RESULTS: OME recurrence rate after tube extrusion was 20.7% in the study. The longer the tympanostomy tube retention time was the lower was the recurrence rate of OME. The comparison of the three groups indicated that recurrence rates were higher in group I (36.54%), than in group II (17.74%) and in group III (9.1%). There were statistically significant differences in recurrence rates between group I and group III, and between group I and II (p<0.05, p<0.05). However, the difference in recurrence rates between group II and group III was statistically not significant (p>0.05). In the preschool age group and school age group, the recurrence rates were 5.5% and 15.4%, respectively. There was no significant difference between these two groups (p>0.05). OME recurrence was observed in 9.9% of males and in 11% of females. There was no significant difference in recurrence rates between males and females (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: After extrusion of tympanostomy tube, children should be followed-up regularly for recurrence of OME. The shorter the retention time of tympanostomy tubes was the higher was the recurrence rate. For the treatment of OME the ideal type of tubes should have the lowest complication and recurrence rates. Further studies are needed to ascertain the relationship between the incidence of OME and optimal tympanostomy tubes duration of tube stay in tympanic membrane. Therefore, new studies with larger series are necessary to investigate the correlation between the recurrence rates and different tympanostomy tubes after extrusion of tubes.