Neck masses confined to the submental space: our experience with 24 cases.

We conducted a study to identify the clinical and histopathologic features of masses confined to the submental space and to outline an approach to the diagnosis and treatment of these lesions. Our study population was made up of 24 patients-17 males and 7 females, aged 13 to 68 years (mean: 45.88 ± 8.48)-who had undergone surgery at our tertiary care center for the treatment of masses of the submental triangle. Our findings were based on a retrospective review of demographic data, signs and symptoms, diagnostic and therapeutic methods, histopathologic outcomes, and recurrences. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy and ultrasonography were performed on all patients as standard diagnostic procedures. Surgical excision was the mainstay of treatment, although abscesses were treated with local drainage and systemic antibiotics. Histopathology identified a wide variety of entities, including reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (n = 12), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 3), dermoid cyst (n = 3), abscess (n = 3), sarcoidosis (n = 1), hemangioma (n = 1), and lipoma (n = 1). The clinical picture was complicated by dental problems in 9 patients and by cheilitis in 2. During a follow-up of up to 74 months, no local recurrences were detected. We conclude that lesions of the submental space are most likely to occur secondary to local and benign pathologies of the head and neck. However, malignancies or systemic diseases must also be ruled out. Careful assessment of the oral cavity and nose is important, and treatment must be based on the underlying etiology.

Two cases with unusual mycetoma localizations in upper respiratory system.

Fungus balls or mycetomas are extramucosal and noninvasive accumulations of degenerating fungal hyphae. In head and neck they may localized most frequently in the paranasal sinuses, especially in the maxillary sinus. These indolent infections are mostly caused by Aspergillus spp. In this article, we present two rare fungus ball cases: one occurring in an automastoidectomy cavity of a temporal bone and the other in a concha bullosa. Typically, both patients admitted with vague symptoms consistent with chronic infection resistant to conventional antibacterial medication.

Approach to benign tumors of the palate: analysis of 28 cases.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 28 patients-15 men and 13 women, aged 17 to 71 years (mean: 41.6)-who had undergone surgery for the treatment of a benign tumor of the hard or soft palate. The most common chief complaint was a palatal mass, which was reported by 14 patients (50.0%). Tumors were more common in the hard palate than in the soft palate by a margin of 23 to 5 (82.1 to 17.9%; p = 0.001). The most common histopathologic diagnosis was pleomorphic adenoma, which occurred in 9 cases (32.1%). Most patients were treated with local excision with clear margins, which was sufficient in almost all cases, as there were only 2 recurrences, both of which occurred in men with a hard-palate pleomorphic adenoma. For these 2 patients, a wider excision and repair with palatal islet flaps was performed, and no further recurrence or malignant transformation was observed during follow-up. Two patients with a soft-palate hemangioma were treated with an intralesional steroid injection and radiofrequency ablation, which reduced the size of their lesion considerably.

Surgical outcomes for rhinogenic contact point headaches.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the surgical outcome in patients diagnosed as having rhinogenic contact point headaches (RCPH). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty-six patients (aged 17-58 years) with RCPH underwent mini functional endoscopic sinus surgery procedures. Patients' pain complaints were evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS) both pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS: All patients reported a decrease in the intensity of pain postoperatively. Nineteen patients (52.7%) reported complete relief. The difference between the preoperative (mean 8.62) and postoperative VAS pain scores (mean 2.11) was statistically very significant (p = 0.0000). No major complications were encountered. CONCLUSION: The removal of contact points in patients with RCPH is very effective in carefully selected patients.

Reconstruction of full-thickness nasal defect by free anterolateral thigh flap.

CONCLUSION: Because of minimal donor region morbidity, pliability, the presence of long and large caliber vessels, and lack of visible scar, the free anterolateral thigh flap provides an ideal option for restoration of full-thickness nasal defects. OBJECTIVE: Full-thickness nasal defect reconstruction requires internal nasal lining and external cover. In large defects, internal nasal lining replacement with traditional sources may not be expedient. We describe reconstruction of full-thickness nasal defects with free anterolateral thigh flap. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From August 2005 to July 2007, six patients with full-thickness nasal defects underwent nasal reconstruction using free anterolateral thigh flap. All defects resulted from tumor resections. Four patients had a basal cell carcinoma, one an epidermoid carcinoma, and the other patient had recurrent malignant fibrous histiocytoma. RESULTS: All flaps survived completely. The average hospitalization time was 3 days. No complication was observed.

Does chronic exposure to lacrimal fluid predispose for periorbital basal cell carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is not only the most common cutaneous malignancy but also the most common form of cancer seen in all body. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the most important etiologic factor and thus BCCs occur most frequently on the sun-exposed areas of the body. Approximately 5-10% of BCCs occur in periocular region, especially, in lower eyelid and inner canthus. Despite this common occurrence, inner canthus is a relatively light-protected zone where UVR cannot easily access. Tear fluid is a known irritant of the skin. Prolonged exposure to tear in epiphora leads to chronic irritation of the skin; and repetitive trauma induced by the patient due to itching of the area. We believe that lacrimal fluid contact in, especially, chronic epiphora patients may have a contributive effect in the development of periorbital BCC.

Lacrimal sac removal made easy by methylene blue in endoscopic dacrocystorhinostomy.

Endonasal dacrocystorhinostomy (DCR) has gained interest in the last decade. Especially when a novice surgeon is performing the surgery, difficulty in identification of the lacrimal apparatus may complicate the procedure. We investigated the efficacy of methylene blue (MB) solution as a marker for lacrimal sac (LS) in endoscopic DCR. A total of 24 endoscopic DCR cases were performed (16 primary and 8 revision cases). During surgery, LS was irrigated with MB solution. Following lacrimal bone removal, medial wall of the LS is seen with a bluish hue. When the sac is dissected, the epithelium of the LS, which is heavily stained with MB contrasts with the surrounding nasal mucosa and therefore tailoring of the extent of the LS mucosa removal is facilitated. The follow-up period of the patients was 23 +/- 7.5 months. Of the 24 cases operated, only one case needed a re-operation. Use of MB solution is effective in both identifying LS and distinguishing it from surrounding nasal mucosa in DCR.

Occult anterior skull base defect without rhinorrhea as a cause of recurrent meningitis.

BACKGROUND: We present a case of recurrent meningitis in a patient with an occult skull base defect and without clinically or radiologically demonstrable rhinorrhea. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 34-year-old female patient presented with headache, fever, and cervical pain and was diagnosed with acute purulent meningitis. Her medical history revealed another meningitis episode following an upper respiratory tract infection 4 years before. She did not have any rhinorrhea complaint. Nasal endoscopy and computerized tomography with metrizamide failed to demonstrate any subclinical rhinorrhea. However, a bony defect in the cribriform plate and a submucosal nasoseptal collection of cerebrospinal fluid behind an intact septal nasal mucosa were detected in computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging studies. An endoscopic repair of the defect at the anterior cranial fossa was performed with a composite middle turbinate graft. CONCLUSION: We suggest that even if anamnesis and radiological evaluation do not confirm rhinorrhea, dehiscence of bony roof and additional submucosal collection of fluids should be investigated in patients with recurrent meningitis.

Preservation of the mastoid aeration and prevention of mastoid dimpling in chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma surgery using hyaluronate-based bioresorbable membrane (Seprafilm).

During mastoidectomy a hollow-cavity is formed within the mastoid bone after its cortex and air cells are removed. Postoperatively, the aerated cavity is usually filled with soft tissues. Also it is not so uncommon to see cases with retraction of the mastoid area skin into the cavity causing a cosmetic problem termed as mastoid dimpling. In order to achieve an aerated mastoid cavity and minimizing the mastoid dimpling, an adhesion barrier was utilized to prevent fibrous tissue formation within the cavity. Twenty-one patients with middle ear and/or mastoid cholesteatoma, who underwent tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy (canal wall-up) with staged procedures, were included in the study. The mastoid cavity was tented and covered with an adhesion barrier (hyaluranic acid and carboxymethylcellulose, Seprafilm, (Seprafilm, GENZYME Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA) at the end of the surgery. Postoperatively, in two cases serohemorrhagic fluid collected between the adhesion barrier membrane and the subcutaneous tissues requiring drainage. Second stages were performed 4-6 months after the first stage. Two residual cholesteatoma cases were present. Patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years after the second stage. Mean follow-up was 2 years and 5 months. No wound infection was encountered postoperatively. Late follow-up of minimum 2 years after the second surgery revealed cosmetically acceptable retroauricular area with no dimpling. Mild retraction in two cases and two micro-central perforations in the neotympanic membrane were found. CT scans obtained both prior to the second stage and at the end of the second year of second stage revealed fully aerated mastoid cavities covered with periosteum in its natural position. Mastoid cortex plasty with seprafilm offers a rapid and effective solution to the preservation of mastoid space and the preservation of the contours of the mastoid bone.

Mesenchymal stem cells in iatrogenic facial nerve paralysis: a possible role in the future.

Iatrogenic facial nerve paralysis is one of the major and drastic complications of ear surgery. We report a case of a 20-year-old female patient with simple chronic otitis media who underwent mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty. During the mastoidectomy process the facial nerve was unintentionally destroyed, leaving a gap of 8-10 mm in the third segment of the intratemporal facial nerve. The nerve was repaired with a nerve cable graft obtained from the vicinity. On the 42nd day, autologous mesenchymal stem cell transplantation was performed after facial nerve trauma. The patient's facial nerve paralysis has recovered from House-Brackmann grade VI to IV within a week and then to III in the fifth month. The rapid, postoperative progress, and the early follow-up results are discussed. This case represents the first bone marrow stem cell application in a peripheral nerve, namely the facial nerve.

Effects of adenoidectomy in children with symptoms of adenoidal hypertrophy.

The purpose of this study was to compare the preoperative symptoms of children who had adenoid hypertrophy with postadenoidectomy symptoms. Sixty children undergoing adenoidectomy were included in this prospective uncontrolled study at the Farabi Hospital of Karadeniz Technical University, an academic tertiary medical center. The symptoms of each child were described by their parents. Adenoidectomy with myringotomy alone or with tympanostomy tube placement was performed in all children. Two months after the operation, the children were re-evaluated for remaining or residual symptoms. Nasal obstruction, mouth breathing, snoring, hearing loss and nasal discharge were present preoperatively in 55 (91.6%), 51 (85%), 50 (83%), 28 (46%) and 45 (75%), respectively. We found that 53 of 60 children (88.3%) completely recovered from their preoperative symptoms. Of the remaining seven patients, four had persistent nasal obstruction, five mouth breathing, three snoring and two hearing loss. We also noted that the parents of 53 of 60 children were satisfied after the operation. Adenoidectomy provided significant relief and improvement of preoperative presenting symptoms, and it also showed a high rate of parent satisfaction.

Prevalence and risk factors of otitis media with effusion in Trabzon, a city in northeastern Turkey, with an emphasis on the recommendation of OME screening.

This cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the prevalence and risk factors for otitis media with effusion (OME) in Trabzon, a city in northeastern Turkey, and evaluate the need for screening for OME in the normal population. In kindergartens, daycare centers, public and private schools in the rural and central areas of Trabzon, 1,077 children aged between 5 and 12 years were examined. OME prevalence was 11.14% (120/1,077). Young age, attendance at kindergarten/daycare, low economical status, the mother's working status (housewife), history of snoring and acute otitis media, antibiotic use in the previous 3 months and active upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) were found to be the risk factors for OME. A history of hearing loss reported by the parents and teachers was found significant in the diagnosis of OME despite the low predictive value. When the parents suspected that their child had experienced hearing loss (in 36 cases), they did not refer them to a healthcare facility. To conclude, the approach to OME in developing countries should be more interventional as healthcare coverage is usually low and behavioral factors such as the demand for healthcare is poor.

Oral teratoma: a case report and literature review.

Teratomas are true neoplasms composed of tissues from all three germinal layers. They have an unknown origin and eccentric microscopic appearance. Teratomas arising from the oral cavity are rare in the newborn; only 13 cases have been reported in the literature. We describe a male neonate with an oral teratoma originating from the anterior hard palate that was successfully treated with surgery.

Sialolithiasis of an accessory parotid gland.

We report a case of sialolithiasis of an accessory parotid gland in the cheek demonstrated by computed tomography and sialography. The accessory parotid gland was located anterolateral to the masseter muscle and was isolated from the main parotid gland. The calculus developed from this accessory parotid gland, and the main parotid gland was free of sialolithiasis and inflammation. To our knowledge, this is the first report concerning sialolithiasis in an accessory parotid gland. The calculus was removed without facial nerve injury or salivary fistula via a peroral approach.

Bilateral hypoglossal schwannoma: a radiologic diagnosis.

A 53-year-old woman presented with a complaint of a sore throat. Examination showed a left-sided atrophy of the tongue. Upon protrusion, the tongue deviated to the left, suggestive of a unilateral hypoglossal nerve palsy. Computed tomography revealed enlarged hypoglossal canals. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated bilateral hypoglossal canal masses, with enhancement following gadolinium administration. Magnetic resonance angiography and MRI with fat suppression revealed nonvascular masses in both hypoglossal canals. Radiological diagnosis of bilateral hypoglossal nerve schwannoma was made and the patient was scheduled for MRI monitoring with six-month intervals. The size of the masses and the clinical manifestations remained unchanged during a two-year follow-up period.

Acquired and congenital internal carotid artery anomalies in two cases: an important threat for the otolaryngologist.

Diseases of the extracranial portion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) are rarely seen in the otolaryngology practice. We report two different pathologies of the ICA, which presented with otolaryngological symptoms. The first case was a 70-year-old woman with symptoms of chronic pharyngitis. On physical examination, a pulsatile mass at the right posterolateral oropharynx was identified. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a tortuous ICA. No treatment was offered. The second case was a 75-year-old woman with a two-month history of upper neck mass. She did not have any additional complaints and her physical examination was normal except for the mass. Doppler ultrasonography showed a high fluid flow within the mass. Digital angiography demonstrated an ICA aneurysm. Because the patient refused any surgery, antiplatelet treatment was started.

Otolaryngologic aspects of tetanus.

Tetanus is considered a major health problem in the developing and under-developed countries, with approximately 1 million new cases occurring each year. We have evaluated the tetanus patients and their presenting complaints, the clinical findings and their relations to the head and neck region along with the frequency of otolaryngological findings and their correlation to the prognosis of this highly mortal disease. There were a total of 37 patients with generalized tetanus diagnosed and treated between 1991 and 2001. There were 25 women and 12 men with a mean age of 55+/-15.6 years. The most common presenting symptom was trismus, followed by neck pain, dysphagia, generalized pain and facial muscular contractions. Wound evaluation revealed that 72.9% of the patients had tetanus-prone wounds, and 27% had either no obvious wounds or a wound considered to be trivial by the patient. Only 62% percent of the patients had sought medical attention immediately after being injured. Three patients in our series were admitted to the otolaryngology clinic with upper aerodigestive tract symptoms. A comparison of complaints with clinical findings revealed a significant lack of correlation, emphasizing that complete physical examination must be performed when evaluating patients with trismus, dysphagia and neck pain. Tracheotomy was performed in 21 cases. There was a direct correlation between the clinical stage and the requirement of tracheotomy. Wound debridment was performed, and antibiotherapy, tetanus toxoid vaccine and immunoglobulin were administered. The mortality rate was 59.4% (22/37). Shorter incubation periods and periods of onset and a higher grade of disease were significantly related to high mortality rates ( P=0.001). It is important to realize the fact that instead of looking for tetanus-prone wounds, one should be on the lookout for tetanus-prone patients. Consequently, on the part of the otolaryngologist, there should always be a high index of suspicion, and concerning patients with trismus or subacute progressive dysphagia, the possibility of tetanus must be borne in mind.