Sebaceous Carcinoma of the Middle Ear: A Case Report.

Here we present the first case of sebaceous carcinoma of the middle ear. We discuss the treatment course and post treatment results after 11 years of follow up. We further summarize the available literature of sebaceous carcinoma of the temporal bone, which prior to this case was exclusively limited to the external auditory canal. Laryngoscope, 134:3769-3772, 2024.

External auditory canal foreign body removal: management practices and outcomes.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of external auditory canal foreign body removal attempts by health care practitioners and to explore outcomes of patients with unsuccessful initial removal attempts. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: A case series of patients presenting with external auditory canal foreign body to the emergency department of the authors' institution (Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center) over a 3-year period was studied retrospectively. Medical records were reviewed, and information including age at presentation, type of foreign body, side of presentation, length of time in place, signs and symptoms at presentation, management practices, and outcomes was recorded. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-two patients with a diagnosis of external auditory canal foreign body were identified. Emergency personnel successfully managed 67% of patients using direct visualization techniques, and 33% required otolaryngological consultation. Otolaryngologists used otomicroscopy with standard otological instruments as their mainstay of management. Analysis of successfully managed emergency department cases revealed that 82% of foreign bodies were irregularly shaped objects with soft, graspable parts. Conversely, 72% of foreign bodies in otolaryngology referrals were firm, rounded objects such as beads and beans. Analysis of patients referred to otolaryngologists revealed a requirement for removal under anesthesia of 19%. Patients with a history of one or more removal attempts before emergency department evaluation universally failed further direct visualization techniques. A disproportionate number of these patients eventually required operative intervention and/or had tympanic membrane perforation. Patients with a history of previous removal attempt(s) who were referred directly to otolaryngologists were more likely to be successfully managed without general anesthesia. CONCLUSION: Emergency room personnel successfully manage the majority of patients with foreign bodies of the external auditory canal. For patients with firm, rounded objects, direct otolaryngology consultation without further manipulation should be strongly considered. Patients who have had previous removal attempts should not undergo further manipulation in the emergency department but rather should be referred directly to an otolaryngologist.

Plasma cell tumors of the skull base: four case reports and literature review.

Four patients (mean age, 46 years; range, 28 to 60) with skull base plasmacytomas are presented along with a review of the literature examining the progression of anterior and central skull base plasma cell tumors to multiple myeloma. The primary sites were the nasopharynx, orbital roof, sphenoid, and clivus. Three patients presented with extensive local spread of tumor. Two patients were diagnosed with multiple myeloma and treated with chemotherapy. Patients with an isolated plasmacytoma were treated with external beam radiation. A partial or complete response to therapy was seen in all four cases. Skull base plasma cell tumors are uncommon with only a limited number of published reports. Previous literature demonstrates that nasopharyngeal extramedullary plasmacytomas have a lower rate of progression to multiple myeloma than other sites. Patients with clivus, sphenoid, and petrous apex-based plasma cell tumors appear to have a higher risk of developing multiple myeloma than patients with plasma cell tumors involving the nasopharynx.

Cutting edge: anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy in rheumatoid arthritis inhibits memory B lymphocytes via effects on lymphoid germinal centers and follicular dendritic cell networks.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is mediated by a proinflammatory cytokine network with TNF at its apex. Accordingly, drugs that block TNF have demonstrated significant efficacy in the treatment of RA. A great deal of experimental evidence also strongly implicates B cells in the pathogenesis of RA. Yet, it remains unclear whether these two important players and the therapies that target them are mechanistically linked. In this study we demonstrate that RA patients on anti-TNF (etanercept) display a paucity of follicular dendritic cell networks and germinal center (GC) structures accompanied by a reduction in CD38+ GC B cells and peripheral blood memory B cell lymphopenia compared with healthy controls and RA patients on methotrexate. This study provides initial evidence in humans to support the notion that anti-TNF treatment disrupts GC reactions at least in part via effects on follicular dendritic cells.