Skull Base Metastasis From Occult Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Skull base metastases are extremely rare. The authors report a case of a 65-year-old man who presented with a headache and diplopia secondary to a skull base metastasis from occult renal cell carcinoma. Since there were no other systemic metastases, radical nephrectomy and radiotherapy of the unresectable skull base location were performed. He subsequently received immunotherapy with sunitinib, everolimus, and sorafenib with local and systemic control of the disease after 53 months from surgery. When metastasis is unresectable radical nephrectomy and radiotherapy aimed at the metastasis may be of benefit improving quality of life. Immunotherapy may provide alternative treatment strategies improving the outcomes of patients affected by this rare pathology with historically poor prognosis.

Adult Laryngeal Ossified Hemangioma: Difficulties in Differential Diagnosis.

Adult laryngeal hemangiomas are uncommon and often poorly symptomatic. The authors describe a laryngeal hemangioma with acute airway obstruction and radiologic findings suggesting a chondrosarcoma-like neoplasm, while pathologic features were consistent with an ossified hemangioma. The presence of fields of bone metaplasia into a classical cavernous hemangioma is an unusual phenomenon which, to our knowledge, was never previously described in the larynx. Difficulties concerning the differential diagnosis and modality of treatment are also discussed.

Isolated Hypoglossal Nerve Palsy Mimicking a Base of Tongue Tumor.

Isolated paralysis of hypoglossal nerve is uncommon, generally being associated with other neuropathies. A careful differential diagnosis is necessary to recognize the underlying diseases, some of which can be life-threatening. The authors report a patient of an 80-year-old woman presenting with an isolated hypoglossal palsy, mimicking a tongue neoplasm. Through a careful clinical workup and thanks to the aid of the imaging, it was possible to identify the presence of signal alterations due to a subacute denervation of the affected hemitongue and to exclude the presence of a tumor. The patient was clinically diagnosed as isolated hypoglossal palsy, resulting from a thrombo-embolic accident involving the nerve along its course. The authors propose some useful means for the differential diagnosis and review the literature.

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma: comparison between endoscopic and open operative approaches.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) is a rare vascular and fibrous tumor that most commonly affects males in prepuberal and adolescent age. Traditionally, these tumors have been removed, after selective embolization, with the open surgical approach (degloving), but the interest in the endoscopic resection, especially for small tumors, has increased in recent years. To present our experience of JNA management, comparing the endoscopic approach and open/combined approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional, and descriptive study of 12 young men, ages between 9 and 19 years (mean: 13), suffering from nasopharyngeal angiofibroma and treated with open surgery (N = 6), with endoscopic excision (N = 5) or with combined approach (N = 1). We reviewed demographical data, clinical presentation, surgical approach as well as time of surgery, of hospitalization, need of blood transfusion during surgery, and complications occurred during hospitalization. RESULTS: All JNA patients were male. The average age at diagnosis was 13.7 years (range 9-19 years). Approximately, 8.3% were classified as Önerci I, 41.7% as Önerci II, and 50.0% as Önerci III. Preoperative embolization was carried out in all patients. All patients were submitted to primary surgical resection, and 2 of them required intraoperative blood transfusion. The overall recurrence rate was 8.3% and the cure rate was 100%. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that endoscopic approach gives excellent results in small and medium dimensions tumors, whereas open surgery remains a safe procedure for patients with larger tumors.

Giant Cervico-mediastinal Well-differentiated Liposarcoma.

Liposarcomas are rare entities and those located in the neck and mediastinum are exceptional. We report the case of a 58 year-old Caucasian male who presented with dysphonia, mild dysphagia to solids, dyspnoea at exertion and cough due to a giant mass of the neck originating from the deep cervical space at C6 vertebral level spreading into the posterior mediastinum. The lesion, that was associated with a right vocal cord palsy, caused severe lateral displacement of the trachea and oesophagus. The case has been managed by complete surgical resection through a combined cervical and thoracic approach associated with a tracheostomy due to the risk of bilateral recurrent nerve dysfunction at the end of the intervention. The tumour was diagnosed as a encapsulated low-grade liposarcoma. Six months after surgery the tracheostomy was closed. At 24 months clinical and radiological follow-up the patient is doing well and disease free.

Prevalence and characteristics of HPV infection in oropharyngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this prospective study was to analyze the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection status and its impact on the outcome in a consecutive series of patients affected by oropharyngeal cancer. METHODS: The specimens of consecutive subjects surgically treated for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were obtained. Samples were collected by broom-type cell sampling devices and they underwent the Roche Linear Array HPV Genotyping Test to identify the presence of HPV types. RESULTS: In all, 52 patients were enrolled. The presence of HPV was detected in 13 samples, with HPV type 16 as the most frequently encountered type. Statistically significant associations were found between HPV-positive patients and a higher tumor grading (P < 0.05), and between HPV-positive patients and a higher number of negative prognostic factors (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas with a higher tumor grading is strongly linked to HPV16 infection.

Delayed carotid pseudoaneurysm: a life-threatening complication after endoscopic sinus surgery.

Internal carotid artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare but potentially lethal complication of sinus surgery. We present 2 cases of delayed carotid pseudoaneurysm development after internal carotid laceration during functional sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis to emphasize the need to follow up the patients with profuse bleeding perioperatively and to identify when to suspect iatrogenic vascular malformations.

Total nasal prosthesis after resection of a recurrence of skin carcinoma on a forehead flap in a post-rhinectomy site.

The nose is the most common site for facial skin cancer; nonmelanoma skin cancers are the most common tumors of this region. Median and paramedian forehead flaps have been proposed for nasal defects greater than 2.5-3 cm in diameter. The aim of this study was to describe a peculiar case of a recurrence of a squamous cell carcinoma in a forehead flap of a post-rhinectomy site managed by a fabrication of a total nasal prosthesis as salvage procedure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case in the scientific literature of a recurrence of a squamous cell carcinoma in a forehead flap of a post-rhinectomy site; this peculiar clinical report adds knowledge in the complex field of nasal reconstruction.

Intraoral transposition of pedicled temporalis muscle flap followed by zygomatic implant placement.

Despite the recent advances of sophisticated reconstructive surgical techniques, management of maxillectomy defects continues to be challenging. For a selected group of patients, who cannot sustain a sophisticated microsurgical reconstructive procedure, a prosthetic obturator is indicated to separate the oral cavity from the sinonasal cavities. After the development of the osseointegration concept, dental implants have proven to be indicated for the rehabilitation of patients who underwent maxillectomy. Recently, surgeons can use a computer-assisted software package, which enables them to insert implants after a detailed analysis of the residual bone. For some patients with limited amount of residual maxillary bone, unusual surgical sites such as the zygomatic complex have been tested. We introduce a successful 2-step surgical procedure using a pedicled temporalis muscle flap and zygomatic implant placement to reconstruct a maxillary defect after oncological resection.

[Hydrological indications in the therapy of pharyngitis]. / Indicazioni idrologiche nella terapia delle faringiti.

Pharyngitis is an inflammatory disease of the mucosal and submucosal structures of the throat. Infection may or may not be a component of the disease. Pharyngitis is one of the common illness for which patients visit primary care physicians. Most of them are diagnosed by clinical evaluation and usually respond to treatment with antibiotics, but exceptions occur when pharyngitis is caused by non bacterial inflammatory processes like virus, mycoses, reflux of gastric juices, tobacco or alcohol abuse. In these cases, as alternative and preventive, could be indicated the thermal therapy. For many centuries thermal waters have been used in the treatment of chronic inflammations of the upper respiratory airway, such as pharyngitis, with good results. Different thermal waters are currently used, in particular sulfur or sulfur- salty- bromine-, iodine- or sulfur-sulfate-bicarbonate-carbonate alkaline or sulfur-arsenical-ferruginous, normally utilized by inhalation or irrigation or aerosol-therapy. The principal pharmacological activity of these waters is connected to the concentrations of H2S, halogens (Iodine e Bromine), sulfates, arsenic and the level of radioactivity, concerning their antimicrobial power and the mucolytic effect of sulphur.

[Prognostic factors for definitive hypoparathyroidism following total thyroidectomy]. / Factores pronósticos de hipoparatiroidismo definitivo tras tiroidectomía total.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Hypocalcaemia, transient in most cases, is the main complication after thyroid gland surgery with regard to functional impairment of the parathyroid glands or other reversible factors. Sixty-seven patients who underwent thyroidectomy were evaluated to identify potential clinical, pathological and surgical factors that might be predictive for frank hypocalcaemia following total thyroidectomy. METHODS: Serum samples were taken preoperatively and postoperatively to measure total calcium levels. Patients' plasma calcium levels were recorded post-operatively along with such factors as age, gender, thyroid function, definitive pathology-based diagnosis, accidental removal and auto-transplantation of parathyroid glands, re-intervention to identify risk factors for the development of definitive hypoparathyroidism (DH). All comparisons were made between patients with hypocalcaemia and normal levels of post-operative calcaemia. RESULTS: Transient acute hypocalcaemia was identified in 25 of 67 patients (43.3 %). DH was identified in 8 (11 %) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that the only risk factor for DH was a calcium level of less than 7.5 mg/dL within the first 24 hours following surgery; this is a reliable, inexpensive and rapid parameter that is highly predictive of the onset of HD. No statistical significant associations were detected with other factors such as thyroid function, histology, accidental removal or autotransplantation of parathyroid glands, thus it is possible to state that careful manipulation of the parathyroid to preserve the periglandular vascularization is of vital importance to ensure correct post-operative functionality.

Role of radiotherapy in the treatment of cervical lymph node metastases from an unknown primary site: retrospective analysis of 113 patients.

PURPOSE: The management of patients with cervical lymph-node metastases from unknown primary site (UPS) remains a matter of discussion. This study aimed to analyze the results and prognostic factors in a series of patients treated with radiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Data from 113 patients who presented with cervical lymph nodes metastases from UPS treated from 1980 to 2004 were reviewed. Eighty-seven patients (77.0%) were squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Ninety-one patients were treated with curative and 22 with palliative intent. Fifty-nine of 113 patients (52.2%) received surgery followed by radiotherapy and 54 of 113 (47.8%) received radiotherapy alone. Radiotherapy was delivered to the neck and pharyngeal mucosa in 67 patients and to the ipsilateral or bilateral neck in 45 patients. Twenty-one patients (18.5%) also received chemotherapy. RESULTS: The 5-year overall survival rates were 40.7% for the entire group and 46.6% for the SCC subgroup. The occurrence of the occult primary was observed in 23 of 113 patients (20.3%), 19 (82.6%) within the head and neck region. At multivariate analysis, treatment with curative intent and extensive irradiation of bilateral neck and pharyngeal mucosa were favorable prognostic factors for the whole series, and treatment with curative intent, extensive irradiation of bilateral neck and pharyngeal mucosa, and absence of extracapsular spread were favorable prognostic factors for the SCC subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cervical lymph node metastases from UPS have a similar prognosis to those affected by other head and neck malignancies. Curative treatment strategies including neck dissection and extensive irradiation by three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy resulted in significantly better outcomes.

[Deep neck infections: a retrospective study]. / Le infezioni profonde del collo.

A retrospective study was carried out on 79 patients with deep neck infections (DNI) admitted to our Department between 1990 and 2005 in order to review our experience with DNI and verify if diabetic and immunocompromised patients have more aggressive infections and poorer prognosis. Demographics, clinical presentation, etiology, site of infection, associated systemic diseases (26.6%-21/79), microbiology, treatment and complications were considered.

Contralateral cervical lymph node metastases in pyriform sinus carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: We designed a retrospective study to evaluate the incidence of contralateral neck metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Sixty-three patients with strictly unilateral squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus who underwent bilateral neck dissection at the time of primary surgery were included in this study. The medical records of all patients were reviewed. A multivariate statistical analysis was performed, considering some clinical and histologic parameters of T stage and N stage in relation to contralateral neck metastases. RESULTS: Contralateral neck metastases were histopathologically confirmed in more than 20% of the cases examined (13 out of 63 patients), of whom 3 were clinically staged as N2c, 2 N2b, 5 N2a, 2 N1 and 1 N0. The percentage of occult contralateral neck metastases was 77% (10/13 cases). Poorly differentiated tumors (P= .02) and the involvement of the lateral wall (P= .036) showed a statistically significant correlation with stage pN2c. Also T size and ipsilateral N stage were associated with the presence of contralateral neck metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that elective bilateral neck dissection is recommended in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the pyriform sinus. EBM RATING: C-4.

Voluminous Myoepithelioma of the Minor Salivary Glands Involving the Base of the Tongue.

Myoepithelioma is an extremely rare tumour subtype and diagnosis is based on a wide variation of cellular morphology. FNAC specimens do not always suffice for a definitive differential diagnosis which depends on histology and immunohistochemistry of the lesion. Case Presentation. A 54-year-old female came to our attention with dysphagia and dyslalia of 6-month standing. Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) examination revealed a voluminous mass on the right portion of the base of her tongue, where postcontrast T2-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) evidenced a hyperintense lesion. The fine-needle aspiration specimen taken for cytology was not diagnostic, as a differential diagnosis between myoepithelioma and a malignant neoplasm of the salivary glands necessitates parameters that cytology alone cannot provide. Therefore, the whole lesion was excised by diode laser through a transoral approach. Histology and immunohistochemistry of the completely excised lesion confirmed a myoepithelioma.

Percutaneous Sclerotherapy With OK-432 of a Cervicomediastinal Lymphangioma.

The present study reports a case of percutaneous sclerotherapy of a giant cystic cervicomediastinal lymphangioma using OK-432. To the best of our knowledge, percutaneous sclerotherapy of a mediastinal lymphangioma using OK 432 has not previously been reported in the English literature.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma identified after Sistrunk procedure: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Thyroglossal duct cysts represent the most common congenital cervical malformations. Carcinomas arising in the thyroglossal duct cysts are rare neoplasms characterized by a relatively non aggressive behavior with rare lymph node spread. Approximately 1% of thyroglossal cysts contain a carcinoma. The most frequent histological type is papillary carcinoma, accounting for about 80% of cases. Currently, most authors agree about their primary origin ex novo from ectopic thyroid tissue in the cyst. In most cases the diagnosis of thyroglossal duct carcinoma (TDC) is not made until histopathological examination has been performed on a resected cyst without any suspected clinical sign of malignancy. The definition of the correct surgical treatment for these carcinomas is still controversial; most authors maintain that resection of a TDC with the Sistrunk procedure can be considered oncologically adequate when dealing with a differentiated carcinoma without extracapsular invasion and/or lymph node metastases and with a normal thyroid. We present two cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma identified after resection of a thyroglossal cyst according to the Sistrunk procedure and managed with different surgical approaches according to the different sites of the tumors. In addition, we discuss appropriate therapeutic strategies in light of the most recent data in the literature.

[External otitis]. / L'otite esterna.

Otitis externa is one of the most common diseases in ORL practice, during summer; the treatment of otitis externa may be simple and easy or protracted and frustrating, also with fatal outcome. Many local factors may interfere with the normal defences against infections in the external auditory canal. Removing or dissolving the cerumen by water or other instruments eliminates an important barrier to infections: its acids inhibit the growth of bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and fungi (Aspergillus). Also skin abrasions or irritation, allergic diseases and many systemic condition like anaemia, vitamin deficiency, endocrine disorders (diabetes) and various forms of dermatitis cause a lower resistance to infections in external auditory canal. Even if the prognosis remains benign in the majority of cases, important complications could appear like: malignant otitis externa, facial nerve paralysis, tympanic bone osteomyelitis, pericondrytis. Successful treatment depends on a proper diagnosis and therapy: the most important factor in the treatment is repeated debridement of the external auditory canal by the physician. The use of Castellani' Tintura rubra, hydroalcoholic solution of phenic fuchsin, can be very effective for bacteria and mycotic eradication. Culturing of ear canal infection could be performed on the second or third visit if the otitis externa is not responding to therapy. Complication are not frequent, but malignant otitis externa can be mortal. Dermatological consultation is often necessary for correct diagnosis.

[Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis]. / Tubercolosi rinofaringea.

Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis is a rare condition and, sometimes, associated with a cervical lymphadenopathy. The authors report a case of an isolated nasopharyngeal tuberculosis in a 69-year-old female with otological symptoms. The case is remarkable because of its coming in a non-endemic zone for the tuberculosis, and because of its probable persistence by many years.

[Amoxicillin in tonsillectomy: preliminary data on the evaluation of serum and tissue concentrations]. / L'amoxicillina nella tonsillectomia: dati preliminari sulla valutazione delle concentrazioni sieriche e tessutali.

Amoxicillin was administered to 50 patients with chronic recurrent tonsillitis waiting for tonsillectomy. Group A (N=16) received 2.2 g of amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid with intravenous injection 10 minutes before tonsillectomy Group B (N=34) was treated with 3 doses of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid administered orally the day before surgery, plus one oral administration 2 hours before tonsillectomy. Antibiotic doses were established on patient's weight using maximum suggested. The measures were, estimated in serum and in tonsils using High Performance Liquid Chromatography, (HPLC). The data show better efficacy of intravenous administration than oral administration.