[Undifferentiated oat-cell tumor of the larynx. Case report]. / Carcinoma indiferenciado de células pequeñas (oat cell) de la laringe. A propósito de un caso.

The oat-cells tumor is a neuroendocrine growth belonging to the APUD system, sitting regularly in the lung and very rarely in the larynx. Biologically its behaviour is extremely aggressive and must be managed as a systemic disease. The up-to-date treatment is the radiotherapy associated with chemotherapy. The paper deals with one of these tumors of laryngeal site and a review of the bibliography is done.

[Cervical dissection in laryngeal cancer: our experience of 15 years]. / Vaciamientos ganglionares cervicales en el cáncer de laringe. Nuestra experiencia de quince años.

A retrospective study was made of surgery with cervical dissection in 640 patients with laryngeal carcinoma treated from 1976 to 1991. Cervical dissection was carried out in 386 of 640 patients with laryngeal carcinoma treated surgically. Of a total of 496 cervical dissections performed, there were 173 unilateral functional, 88 bilateral functional, 67 unilateral block, 13 bilateral block, and 27 bilateral block dissections with contralateral functional dissection. The relations between tumor stage (T) and nodal involvement (N), type of dissection and T, type of dissection and N, laryngeal surgery and neck dissection, clinical and histological N, N+ and histologic type, extracapsular spread, number of recurrences, and their relation with T and N, and the relation between N+ and type of neck dissection were studied.

[Spontaneous middle ear meningoencephalic herniation. 2 case reports]. / Herniación meningoencefálica espontánea en oído medio: a propósito de dos casos.

Two cases of idiopathic brain herniation into the middle ear without previous surgery are reported. Brain herniation is an unusual pathology, usually related to middle ear surgery. The idiopathic appearance of this disease is the secondly most frequent cause. Its origin is believed to be related to a congenital defect of tegmen timpani. Two elements, both rare, are emphazised: the spontaneous bilateral presentation in one of the cases, and the CSF leak as an initial symptom. We present a review of the literature, describing epidemiology results and the main accepted etiology theories. We discuss the diagnosis and treatment methods: magnetic resonance imaging and surgery.

[Tympanoplasty using cartilage: 3 years of experience]. / Timpanoplastia con cartílago: 3 años de experiencia.

We present our results in a timpanoplasty technique using autologous cartilage, in a retrospective study of 71 cases within 3 years. We used this technique in revision surgery, large perforations, severe retractions, and atrophic membranes. 32% of cases needed ossicular chain reconstruction. A complete closing of the membrane was obtained in 86% of cases, while 14% remained re-perforated or discontinued between cartilage pieces. These results are comparable to other studies using cartilage graft with several techniques. These results encourage us to continue using this technique in order to acquire more experience and a better knowledge about the efficacy of this technique.

[Pharyngocele]. / Faringocele.

Pharyngocele is a lateral pharyngeal wall herniation located in the pyriform recess or at the vallecula. It is a rare condition and the patient complains of dysphagia, lateral cervical mass which increases in size with the Valsalva maneuver, and other symptoms of the upper digestive way. The elective diagnostic study is pharyngoesophageal swallow. We present the case report of a patient who had acute respiratory failure due to supraglottic mass occupation. The explorations are discussed and the case report is compared with those few reported in the literature.

[Why does a mastoidectomy cavity become suppurative? Our experience and revision of the literature]. / Por qué supura una cavidad de mastoidectomía? Nuestra experiencia y revisión de la literatura.

The main goal for performing surgery for chronic otitis media is to eliminate the disease and improve hearing whenever possible. Persistent drainage of a mastoid cavity means failure of surgery and of achieving the goal. In this study, we present our department's attitude for suppurative mastoid cavities as well as the reasons that do not allow adequate control of them.

Herniación meningoencefálica espontánea en oído medio: a propósito de dos casos / Spontaneous middle ear meningoencephalic herniation: report of two cases

Presentamos y comentamos dos casos de herniación cerebral en oído medio sin antecedente quirúrgico conocido. La herniación cerebral es una entidad poco frecuente y generalmente asociada a cirugía del oído medio previa. La aparición espontánea de este cuadro constituye la segunda causa más frecuente y su origen se cree asociado a un defecto congénito del tegmen timpani. Destacan en este caso dos particularidades: la presentación bilateral en uno de los casos, y la clínica de otolicuorrea como primer síntoma, ambas infrecuentes. Hemos realizado una revisión de la literatura sobre este tema, describiendo los datos epidemiológicos y las teorías etiopatogénicas más aceptadas. Se discuten los métodos de diagnóstico y tratamiento de esta entidad, aceptando la resonancia magnética y la cirugía como los de elección, respectivamente (AU)

Two cases of idiopathic brain herniation into the middle ear without previous surgery are reported. Brain herniation is an unusual pathology, usually related to middle ear surgery. The idiopathic appearance of this disease is the secondly most frequent cause. Its origin is believed to be related to a congenital defect of tegmen timpani. Two elements, both rare, are emphazised: the spontaneous bilateral presentation in one of the cases, and the CSF leak as an initial symptom. We present a review of the literature, describing epidemiology results and the main accepted etiology theories. We discuss the diagnosis and treatment methods: magnetic resonance imaging and surgery (AU)

Timpanoplastia con cartílago: 3 años de experiencia / Timpanoplasty using cartilage: 3 years of experience

Presentamos nuestros resultados con la técnica de timpanoplastia con cartílago, en un estudio retrospectivo de 71 oídos intervenidos a lo largo de 3 años. Indicamos esta técnica en reintervenciones, grandes perforaciones, retracciones severas y membranas atróficas. En un 32% de los casos fue precisa la reconstrucción de cadena. Se logró un cierre completo del 86%, con un 14% de reperforaciones o defectos entre los fragmentos de cartílago. Estos resultados nos alientan a profundizar en el uso del cartílago en esta cirugía y la adquisición de más experiencia para valorar en su justa medida la eficacia de esta técnica (AU)

We present our results in a timpanoplasty technique using autologous cartilage, in a retrospective study of 71 cases within 3 years. We used this technique in revision surgery, large perforations, severe retractions, and atrophic membranes. 32% of cases needed ossicular chain reconstruction. A complete closing of the membrane was obtained in 86% of cases, while 14% remained re-perforated or discontinued between cartilage pieces. These results are comparable to other studies using cartilage graft with several techniques. These results encourage us to continue using this technique in order to acquire more experience and a better knowledge about the efficacy of this technique (AU)

¿Por qué supura una cavidad de mastoidectomía? Nuestra experiencia y revisión de la literatura / Why does a mastoidectomy cavity suppurate? Our experience and revision of the literature

El objetivo principal de la cirugía de la otitis media crónica es eliminar la enfermedad y mejorar la audición siempre que sea posible. La supuración persistente de una cavidad de mastoidectomía supone un fracaso de la cirugía e impide que estos objetivos se alcancen. En el siguiente trabajo, presentamos la actitud de nuestro servicio ante las cavidades de mastoidectomía supurante y así mismo exponemos cuáles son las causas que impiden el adecuado control de la misma (AU)

The main goal for performing surgery for chronic otitis media is to eliminate the disease and improve hearing whenever possible. Persistent drainage of a mastoid cavity means failure of surgery and of achieving the goal. In this study, we present our department's attitude for suppurative mastoid cavities as well as the reasons that do not allow adequate control of them (AU)