[Abscess of cavum and ophthalmoplegia secondary to malignant external otitis]. / Absceso de cavum y oftalmoplejía secundarios a otitis externa maligna.

We present a rare case of ophthalmoplegia, labyrinthitis and abscess of cavum secondary to skull base osteomyelitis by malignant external otitis. Since symptoms persisted in spite of antibiotic therapy, surgical drainage using a transnasal endoscopic approach was performed.

[Sphenopalatinum foramen: an anatomical study]. / Estudio anatómico del orificio esfenopalatino.

INTRODUCTION: The position of the sphenopalatine artery is essential for the endoscopic treatment of severe posterior epistaxis. This artery passes through its own foramen, which has a wide range of locations and anatomic relations. OBJECTIVE: To carry out a descriptive osteological study on the sphenopalatine foramen area. Its anatomy, size, position and relations with turbinates and choanae are described, as well as the existence of accessory foramina. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Exploration and anatomical study was carried out in 32 human hemi-crania. RESULTS: The area between middle and superior meatus was considered the most common location of the sphenopalatine foramen in 56.24% of the cases (18 specimens), followed by the superior meatus, with 37.5% (12 hemi-skulls). The foramen was located in middle meatus in just two cases. We found accessory foramina in 50% of the cases, most commonly positioned below the middle meatus. The ethmoidal crest appeared in every skull, producing an anterior osseous projection on the sphenopalatine foramen. CONCLUSION: There are variations in position, number and anatomic relations that may cause changes in the sphenopalatine artery orifice and its branches into the nasal fossa. The ethmoidal crest, located on the anterior side of the sphenopalatine foramen, can be considered a permanent landmark to find the foramen.

[Anterior ethmoidal artery at ethmoidal labyrinth: Bibliographical review of anatomical variants and references for endoscopic surgery]. / La arteria etmoidal anterior en el laberinto etmoidal: Revisión bibliográfica sobre variantes anatómicas y referencias para la cirugía endoscópica.

INTRODUCTION: The anterior ethmoidal artery (AEA) has a trajectory with multiple anatomical variations. In addition, there are no clear references to locate it, so it is easy to produce an iatrogenic lesion. The goal of this study was to carry out a bibliographical review to analyse variants and endoscopic reference reports in the scientific literature. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A review in Medline and Embase data bases was carried out, looking for AEA-related anatomical and radiological studies. After the revision, the principal study results, together with several distances and angles useful for locating the AEA, are presented in this study. RESULTS: There were 13 main articles that analysed a total of 1388 AEA. It was absent from 2 to 14%. It was identifiable in computed tomography (CT) between 95 and 100%. It was located between the second and third ethmoidal lamella in 74.2% and at the skull base level in 66.6%. Ethmoidal sinuses pneumatisation was related to AEA location at the skull base. Between 83 and 85.3%, it was found at the suprabullar recess. CONCLUSIONS: CT is useful for presurgery planning. AEA are more frequent between the second and third lamella and at skull level. Ethmoidal pneumatisation and Keros grades could be predictive factors for AEA relationship with the skull base level. The AEA, the axilla of the middle turbinate and the superomedial edge of the nose are in a straight line, being a simple and useful reference in endoscopic sinus surgery.

CO2 laser surgery of supraglottic carcinoma: our experience over 6 years.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The study goal was to analyze the oncologic and functional outcomes of transoral laser microsurgery in the treatment of carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 53 patients were included in this retrospective review between 2000 and 2006. The follow-up period was more than 2 years and the mean follow-up for all patients was 49 months. RESULTS: Tumour extension was as follows: T1 in 12 (22.6%), T2 in 37 (69.8%) and T3 in 4 (7.5%). Forty-seven patients (88.7%) had neck dissections. Nineteen patients (35.8%) received adjuvant radiotherapy. Kaplan-Meier estimates for disease-specific survival were 80%, 74.11% and 65%, at 2, 3 and 5 years, respectively. The overall functional laryngeal preservation rate was 90.56%. (48 of 53), and local control 81.13%. During follow up, 13.2% of patients developed local recurrence, 11.3% regional recurrence and 5.7% loco-regional recurrence. Patients started swallowing early after surgery, with a mean time of 5.83 days, and the mean hospital stay was 14.69 days. Complications included 20.75% who suffered pneumonia and 11.32% with bleeding. Only one patient (1.88%) received total laryngectomy due to the impossibility of swallowing. CONCLUSIONS: With careful selection of patients, laser supraglottic laryngectomy is a safe and effective treatment for cancer of the supraglottic larynx.