[Topical liquid nasal gel, its anatomical distribution and transport]. / Distribución anatómica y transporte de un gel líquido tópico nasal.

The objectives of this study are: 1) to assess the anatomical distribution of a topical liquid nasal gel in patients with and without rhinitis using a metered dose nasal pump, and 2) to determine whether the distribution pattern is influenced by dosage and delivery technique. Thirty-nine volunteers were evaluated, 26 without nasal inflammation and 13 with rhinitis. Patients self-administered the nasal spray according to the specifications in one fossa and incorrectly in the other one (sniffing and double doses). The findings showed that the nasal gel delivered by spray did not penetrate beyond the inferior part of the middle turbinate, regardless of delivery technique (double dose with sniffing or single dose without sniffing) and the presence or absence of inflammation.

No morphometric abnormality recurrent laryngeal nerve in spastic dysphonia.

Spastic dysphonia is a disorder of phonation that is usually markedly improved by surgical resection of one recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN). In this study, biopsies of the RLN were obtained at surgery from nine patients with spastic dysphonia (disease group) and eight patients with laryngeal cancer (control group). The RLN was found to be composed of several nerve regions having characteristic fiber compositions. For the various nerve regions and for the whole nerve, we evaluated morphology, median fiber diameter, density, and size distribution of fibers. The morphologies of teased fibers were also evaluated. We found no significant differences between the nerves of the disease and control groups. Therefore, we were unable to verify previous reports of neuropathic abnormality of the RLN in spastic dysphonia.

Cervical nodal metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of unknown origin: indications for withholding radiation therapy.

The records of patients with pathologically confirmed metastatic squamous cell carcinoma involving cervical lymph nodes who were treated at the Mayo Clinic between January 1965 and December 1987 were reviewed. In 117 patients a primary tumor could not be discovered. Of these, 24 patients underwent curative resection of all gross disease by neck dissection or excisional biopsy. All 24 patients presented with unilateral adenopathy. Their median age was 63 years. Eighteen patients were men. Fourteen patients were in clinical stage N1; six, N2a; three, N2b; and one, N3. Six patients had grade 1 or 2 nodal metastases; 14, grade 3; and 4, grade 4. Gross or microscopic evidence of extracapsular tumor extension was noted in eight patients. All patients were followed until death or for a median of 8.5 years (range, 3.3-20.4 years). A squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract subsequently developed in only one patient (4%) within 5 years of operation. In six patients (25%), a recurrence developed in the dissected neck a median of 3 months (2.4 months-6.6 years) after operation. Five of these patients had extracapsular extension, and four had pathologic Stage N2a or higher neck disease. Both patients with pathologic Stage N1 disease who had recurrences in the dissected neck had extracapsular extension. Delayed, contralateral neck metastases in an undissected neck developed in two patients. The 5-year overall and cause-specific survivals for all 24 patients were 66% and 74%, respectively. Extracapsular extension was a predictor of neck recurrence, control of disease above the clavicles, cause-specific survival, and overall survival. Patients with pathologic Stage N1 neck disease with no extracapsular extension can be managed by surgery alone. Patients with pathologic Stage N2 or higher neck disease or extracapsular extension should be considered for postoperative, adjuvant radiation therapy.

Osteoma: an unusual cause of amaurosis fugax.

A 16-year-old white boy presented with a history of amaurosis fugax associated with an afferent pupillary defect, proptosis, discomfort of the left eye. Tomograms of the skull and of the orbit revealed a lobulated 4-cm ivory osteoma arising from the left ethmoid sinus and extending into the maxillary sinus and left orbit. After surgical extirpation, visual acuity returned to normal and the papilledema resolved after 4 months. This patient is 1 of 37 patients with osteoma of the paranasal sinuses or of the orbit (or of both) who underwent surgical treatment at the Mayo Clinic between the years 1948 and 1977. Twelve of these patients had orbital involvement, and only these patients had ocular signs and symptoms.

Reconstruction of the pharynx and upper esophagus after resection for cancer.

Construction of a new gullet after circumferential resection of the pharynx and upper portion of the esophagus for cancer is a major challenge to the head and neck surgeon. Techniques for reconstruction use cervical skin, adjacent pedicle flaps, and interposed visceral segments. Each technique has its place; none is ideal or free from complication or failure. Cure rates are poor, and unsolved problems remain. The quest for the perfect technique must continue, but the ultimate solution rests not with reconstruction techniques but with earlier diagnosis and elimination of the need for reconstruction.

Results of transantral orbital decompression in 428 patients with severe Graves' ophthalmopathy.

We reviewed records from 428 consecutive patients with severe Graves' ophthalmopathy to determine early and late results after transantral orbital decompression. Optic neuropathy was present in 217 (50.7%) patients. Post-operatively, 402 (89%) of 453 eyes with preoperative visual acuity worse than 20/20 improved or remained the same. Visual field scotomas improved or resolved in 245 (91%) of 269 eyes tested pre- and postoperatively. Preoperative papilledema resolved or improved in 99 (94%) of 105 eyes, and preoperative exposure keratitis improved or resolved in 178 (92%) of 195 eyes. Average proptosis reduction was 4.7 mm. Postoperatively, new diplopia developed in 74 (64%) of 116 patients who had no diplopia before orbital decompression, although 300 patients ultimately had strabismus surgery. At late follow-up (N = 293 patients), 226 (77%) had single vision and 44 (15%) had correction with prism. Complications included sinusitis (18 patients), lower eyelid entropion (38 patients), numb lip (23 patients), cerebrospinal fluid leaks (15 patients), and one frontal lobe hematoma (one patient). The average duration of follow-up was 8.7 years. Transantral orbital decompression effectively reduces proptosis and usually corrects optic neuropathy. In other circumstances, the benefits achieved and the side effects incurred must be carefully balanced for each patient before transantral orbital decompression is considered.

A controlled study of combined methotrexate, BCG, and INH therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

In a randomized prospective study of patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, treatment with MTX plus BCG and with MTX plus BCG plus INH produced no better response rate or survival time than treatment with MTX alone.

T3 glottic cancer: options and consequences of the options.

This report is a review of 106 Stage III glottic cancers treated surgically from January 1971 through December 1980. For analysis of recurrence and cause of death, the patients were assigned to four subgroups as well as considered as a single group. The subgroups were T3,N0, transglottic, all T3 glottic cancers regardless of prior treatment, and all T3 glottic cancers without prior treatment. Of the entire group, 8% either were not dead or had died of something other than cancer; 91% of patients with T3,N0 cancers without prior treatment either were alive or had died of another cancer. In the other subgroups the survivorship was between 80% and 91% with the exception of those with transglottic cancers. The findings in this study are discussed in light of the current controversies related to the stage of disease, particularly the issue of radical radiation with surgery for salvage for T3 glottic cancer.

The total rehabilitation of Graves' ophthalmopathy.

The concept of enlarging the orbital space in some patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy is usually acceptable. Controversial, however, are 1. the indications for enlarging the space, 2. the sequence of therapy that is most successful in restoring the eyes to near normal, and 3. the value of enlarging the orbital space and its relationship to non-surgical alternatives. Since 1669 a personal experience with more than 600 eyes in over 300 patients using the transantral route to orbital decompression has accumulated. From the surgical experience plus exposure to other non-surgically treated patients, a concept of total management of Graves' ophthalmopathy has evolved. The technical aspects of decompression through the sinuses are straight forward. The key to a satisfactory operation is a complete transantral ethmoidectomy; a less than complete ethmoidectomy will eliminate a predictable result. Transantral decompresssion as a single procedure will not successfully palliate all aspects of Graves' ophthalmopathy. Eye muscles and lid procedures in a timely sequence may be needed to complete rehabilitation. Perfect eyes are seldom obtained but the goal of satisfied patients is realistic. This essay will emphasize technical aspects, theoretical advantages, as well as pitfalls and limitations of the transantral orbital decompression.

Total pharyngolaryngectomy and cervical esophagectomy with jejunal autotransplant reconstruction: complications and results.

Eighteen patients underwent pharyngoesophageal reconstruction with a free jejunal autotransplant in a one-stage procedure after circumferential resection for cancer of the pharynx and cervical esophagus. Of these, six had minor complications (fistulas) and six had major complications including abdominal bleeding, cervical bleeding, graft failure, and one surgical death. The mean survival was 427 days after resection and reconstruction (range, 120 to 866 days). Ten patients died of their disease, and four died of other causes. The site of failure was local in five and distant in five. In view of this high complication rate and unimpressive survival rate, the use of other lower-morbidity reconstructive options or staged procedures may need to be considered in poor surgical candidates.

Positive Delphian lymph node: clinical significance in laryngeal cancer.

The significance of metastatic cancer in the Delphian lymph node in patients with laryngeal carcinoma has not been thoroughly discussed. Between 1960 and 1985, we identified 20 cases of histologically proven metastasis to the Delphian node. In 12 of these patients with glottic cancer (T1-T3), the neck was clinically negative but a positive Delphian node was discovered at partial or total laryngectomy; in 6 patients, ipsilateral neck metastasis developed. Eleven of the 20 patients have died from their laryngeal cancer. The frequency of neck metastasis or death, or both, from cancer is unusually high in patients with a positive Delphian node.

Respiratory distress after recurrent laryngeal nerve sectioning for adductor spastic dysphonia.

Adductor spastic dysphonia is a voice sign associated with various neurologic and psychologic disorders. Treatment of spastic dysphonia in selected patients is unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve sectioning. Except for voice change or, in some patients, return of phonatory spasticity, there have been no long-term sequelae or complications of this treatment. We describe three patients with adductor spastic dysphonia who underwent recurrent laryngeal nerve sectioning and who, 3 to 38 months later, suffered respiratory distress that required tracheostomy. The respiratory distress in all three patients was due to episodic jerky vocal cord hyperadductions that caused stridor during inspiration and expiration. These repetitive laryngospasms during respiration and phonation were progressive. Two patients needed an arytenoidectomy to achieve a useful voice, and all three required a permanent tracheostomy to alleviate inspiratory laryngeal obstruction.

Use of anticytoplasmic autoantibodies in the diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis with subglottic stenosis.

Subglottic stenosis is one of the lesser known manifestations of Wegener's granulomatosis and poses great difficulty in confirming the diagnosis. We present the use of the anticytoplasmic autoantibodies (ACPA) blood test, which has been shown to be highly specific for Wegener's granulomatosis, for corroboration of Wegener's granulomatosis in a patient with subglottic stenosis for whom tissue biopsies were nondiagnostic. The ACPA test and the presentation, diagnosis, and management of subglottic stenosis due to Wegener's granulomatosis are discussed. Otolaryngologists must be aware of the varied manifestations of Wegener's granulomatosis and the availability of the ACPA blood test as an aid in confirming the diagnosis.

Radiographic assessment of squamous cell carcinoma of the temporal bone.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the temporal bone usually presents with tumor and edema occluding the external auditory canal. Accurate evaluation of the extent of such a tumor is therefore difficult. Assessment of these tumors and subsequent surgical management depends primarily on the preoperative radiographic findings. This paper discusses the evolution of the radiographic assessment of carcinomas of the ear canal. Certain cases have been selected to demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of the radiographic studies in use. Mastoid x-ray views and petrous tomograms have been the standard methods of studying these lesions. Their interpretation, however, often exaggerates or underestimates the true extent of these carcinomas. Early and later generation computed tomography (CT) scans offered improvement in determining tumor involvement but still did not give the needed detail for surgical planning. High-resolution CT scanning of the petrous bones now offers the surgeon excellent views of these tumors. This paper places special emphasis on this technique and also discusses indications for operability.

Supraglottic larynx and its pathology as studied by whole laryngeal sections.

The need for additional data regarding the behavior of carcinomas of the supraglottic larynx was recognized during attempts to identify candidates for supraglottic laryngectomy. The crux of the matter was whether supraglottic carcinomas remain confined at the supraglottic larynx. If some do not, can these exceptions be detected preoperatively? Information gained from whole-organ study of 40 larynges with such tumors showed that most tumors do remain confined to the supraglottic larynx; however, there are exceptions, and these are usually high-grade tumors. Preoperative biopsy demonstrating undifferentiation in a tumor suggests a potential for atypical behavior. Patients with these high-grade lesions are not candidates for supraglottic laryngectomy. Fortunately, most supraglottic carcinomas are well-differentiated, behave in a typical manner, and fulfill the expectations gained from the preoperative mucosal appearance. Supraglottic laryngectomy is, therefore, feasible and successful in carefully selected candidates. The conclusions of this study are the following: 1. Most supraglottic cancers behave as expected, being typically well-differentiated tumors that remain confined to the supraglottic larynx. 2. Exceptions to such behavior are exemplified by tumors manifesting submucosal extension some distance away from the main tumor mass, tumors invading the thyroid cartilage, second primaries, and tumors disseminating emboli away from the main tumor. 3. Present preoperative diagnostic measures still fail to detect tumors with atypical behavior. Subsequent supraglottic laryngectomy in patients with such tumors would, therefore, leave residual tumor. 4. Carcinomas exhibiting atypical behavior are characteristically undifferentiated and aggressive. 5. The epiglottis and pre-epiglottic space are easily invaded by supraglottic cancer. The pre-epiglottic space is removed during either supraglottic or total laryngectomy. 6. The thyroid cartilage is an excellent barrier to the spread of supraglottic cancers. Tumors that invade it penetrate the anterior commissure first. 7. The pitfalls in the selection of candidates for supraglottic laryngectomy are assessment problems in which the tumor mass makes it difficult to see its full mucosal extent. Inadequate biopsy may also fail to detect a tumor. 8. In the preoperative assessment of a patient with supraglottic carcinoma, supraglottic laryngectomy is contraindicated if the biopsy does show high-grade differentiation and if the tumor is situated near the petiole. 9. Undetected extension submucosally to the level of the glottis will result in some failures with conservation surgery of the larynx.

Surgical salvage after radiation for laryngeal cancer.

From January, 1962, through December, 1973, 1,084 patients with cancer of the intrinsic larynx were treated at the Mayo Clinic. Of the 1,084 patients, 136 were retreated after radiation therapy failed to cure their cancer (105 glottic, 30 supraglottic, and one subglottic cancers). Recurrence of glottic cancer was generally recognized later than recurrences in the supraglottic area; likewise, glottic cancers were more advanced at recurrence than supraglottic growths. When feasible, conservation surgery was carried out on both glottic and supraglottic growths. Unfortunately, many growths were too advanced for conservation surgery by the time recurrence was recognized. The concept of "radiate-and-watch" for early glottic and supraglottic cancers is designed to save larynges. The concept is not supported by this study.

Neoplasms of the vagus nerve.

A tumor of the vagus nerve often is discovered unexpectedly at operation. We report 36 of these rare neoplasms in 35 patients. The majority of the tumors presented as a mass in the upper cervical or parapharyngeal region. Usually the mass was asymptomatic. The following types and frequencies of neoplasms of the vagus nerve were noted: paragangliomas, 50%; neurilemmomas, 31%; neurofibromas, 14%; and neurofibrosarcomas, 6%. Surgical resection, with preservation of the vagus nerve when possible, is the treatment of choice. The clinical features, diagnosis, management, and prognosis of the tumors are presented. Special problems that occur with vagal neoplasms include postoperative dysfunction, catecholamine secretion, and intracranial or skull-base extension.

Lymphoepithelioma (undifferentiated carcinoma) of the laryngohypopharynx.

Lymphoepithelioma (World Health Organization type 3, undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharyngeal type) is an extremely rare cancer in the laryngohypopharyngeal regions. We found reports of only 6 such tumors in the English language medical literature; 1 of the 6 was from our institution. We report four additional cases seen at the Mayo Clinic. Radiotherapy controlled disease at the primary site in three of the four cases. The neoplasm has a propensity for early, widespread dissemination. Three of our four patients died of extensive visceral and nodal metastases. One patient has survived eight years without a recurrence.

Verrucous carcinoma of the larynx.

Verrucous carcinoma, because of its oftentimes unusual clinical appearance, may be misdiagnosed if there is not good communication between the surgeon and the pathologist. We have reviewed our series of 20 cases of verrucous carcinoma from 1964 through 1974 and have analyzed the results of our therapy. We have concluded that verrucous carcinoma is a slow-growing, locally invasive lesion that does not metastasize to the cervical lymph nodes. Radiation therapy does not seem to be an effective method of treatment; the recurrence rate is high. Conservative laryngeal surgery is the preferred method of treatment in these patients and should prevent loss of life and spare laryngeal function.

Neck dissection: is it worthwhile?

Data on 1,048 neck dissections in 881 patients were studied to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment in controlling cervical metastasis. Of the 881 patients, 74.5% were treated by surgery alone, and most of the remainder had either planned preoperative or postoperative radiation to the primary site and the entire neck. Planned preoperative or postoperative radiation was defined as the delivery of 4,000 rads or more to the entire neck 123 days before (preoperative) or after (postoperative) neck dissection. In these groups, most patients received more than 5,000 rads. Ninety-six patients received preoperative radiation that did not satisfy these criteria and were grouped separately. The group with neck dissection alone had recurrence rates in the dissected side at 2 years of 7.5, 20.2, and 37.4%, respectively, for No, N1, and N2 staged necks. There were no differences in recurrence rates for the groups with radiated necks in the stage II (N2) necks compared with each other or with the group having surgery alone. Most recurrences, when they occurred in the neck, were manifest by 2 years. Mean follow-up in the entire study was 3.5 years. Two patients were lost to follow-up and were presumed to have died from cancer. When compared with pathologic staging, clinical staging was imprecise in one-third of the cases.