Oral Cysticercosis: A Case Series and Review of Literature.

The cysticercus is the larval form of the pork tapeworm. Oral cavity involvement of cysticercosis is rare but frequently reported from developing countries. This report presents 3 cases of oral cysticercosis involving the tongue and buccal mucosa in isolation. All 3 patients were treated with surgical excision and had an uneventful postoperative course. A brief review of the PubMed English-language literature search is presented. Oral cavity involvement with cysticercosis presents a diagnostic dilemma. Management is primarily surgical and carries an excellent prognosis.

Recurrent respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma of the nasal cavity.

Respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma (REAH) refers to a rare entity characterized by excessive proliferation of the normal glandular elements of the respiratory epithelium present as mass lesions in various body sites. The pathophysiology of the disorder is still debated. The condition can closely mimic inverted papilloma, adenocarcinoma, and nasal polyposis clinically, radiologically, and pathologically. However, distinction from the above disorders is important in view of the excellent prognosis associated with complete excision of REAH. Recurrence is uncommon with complete excision, and a high-risk pathologic transformation is not expected with this lesion. We report a case of recurrent REAH managed with repeat surgical endoscopic excision. The patient is disease free 4 years after re-excision of the lesion.

The Varied Presentations of Sinonasal Region Schwannomas: Apropos of Four Cases.

Schwannomas of the sinonasal compartment are rare benign neoplasms of peripheral nerve sheath origin and constitute ~ 4% of all head and neck schwannomas. The presentation may simulate a range of benign and intermediate grade pathologies. Management involves surgical excision via open or endoscopic approach. To describe the clinico-epidemiological characteristics and surgical outcomes in sinonasal region schwannoma patients operated at our institute. The study is a descriptive case series of patients with sinonasal region schwannomas treated at our institution. A retrospective search of electronic database of the Department of ENT and Head and Neck Surgeries and Department of Pathology was conducted from January 2013 to January 2019. The various demographic and clinical details of the patients were extracted. A total of four patients operated for sinonasal region schwannoma were identified. The involved sites were nasal dorsum, nasal cavity, pterygopalatine fossa and infratemporal fossa. The mild, non-specific symptoms resulted in patients ignoring their symptoms for a while initially and presenting late. The nasal dorsum lesion was revealed as a surprise during open rhinoplasty for correction of nasal deformity. Complete excision was achieved in all the cases and no recurrence has been noticed during the follow up (varying from 6 months to 6 years) till date. The diverse clinical manifestations and approaches to the treatment of schwannomas in this specific region are discussed. The surgical excision is the standard of care in dealing with these neoplasms. This series highlights the rarity of this pathology in the sinonasal area, diagnostic surprises and the decision making to choose the correct surgical approach for complete excision. Once excised completely, recurrence is not expected.

Chasing the culprit in shadow - Sinonasal mucormycosis in an immunocompetent host.

Rhino-orbital mucormycosis is an uncommon, rapidly progressive, fulminant, angio-invasive deep mycosis usually affecting individuals with underlying immunosuppression, the most common being diabetes mellitus. In such, the course may be fatal with dissemination. Early detection with control of underlying predisposing conditions is critical with respect to the prognosis. Rarely, mucormycosis may develop in an immunocompetent host, when its non-specific symptomatology and inconspicuous radiological findings may obscure its diagnosis. Any delay in treatment predisposes to multi-organ morbidity and potential mortality. We present an immunocompetent adult with no underlying predisposing illness who was harbouring invasive sinonasal mucormycosis causing orbital cellulitis. A high index of suspicion is mandatory.

Clinical Profile of Patients with Head and Neck Amyloidosis: A Single-Institution Retrospective Chart Review.

Introduction Isolated amyloidosis involving the head and neck is a rare entity. The pathophysiology of the localized disease appears to be distinct from that of the systemic counterpart. Systemic progression of the localized disease is unusual, and the prognosis of the localized form is excellent. Objective To describe the demographic and clinicopathological characteristics of patients presenting with localized head and neck subsite amyloidosis. Methods A retrospective chart review of the patients with head and neck amyloidosis identified by the electronic search of the electronic database of the Departments of Pathology and Otorhinolaryngology was performed. The various demographic and clinical data were tabulated. Results In total, seven patients (four females, three males) with localized head and neck amyloidosis (three supraglottic, three lingual and one sinonasal) were identified. Six patients had AL-amyloid deposits, and one patient had AA-amyloid deposits. Supraglottic involvement and that of the base of the tongue were treated surgically using CO2 laser, and these patients were disease-free at the last follow-up. The patient with sinonasal amyloidosis experienced symptom recurrence after six months of the functional endoscopic sinus surgery. All of the patients were screened for systemic amyloidosis with abdominal fat pad biopsy, and were found to be free of systemic spread. Conclusion Isolated head and neck amyloidosis, as opposed to systemic amyloidosis, has an excellent prognosis in terms of survival. Therefore, systemic amyloidosis should be excluded in all cases. The treatment of choice remains surgical excision; however, watchful waiting may be a suitable strategy for mild symptoms or for cases in which the disease was discovered incidentally.

Synchronous Parotid and Homolateral Submandibular Gland Pleomorphic Adenoma.

INTRODUCTION: Pleomorphic adenomas are benign neoplasms of salivary glands. The simultaneous homolateral occurrence of these tumors in salivary glands is exceedingly rare. CASE REPORT: An adult female presenting to our OPD with the swelling of right-sided preauricular and submandibular regions was diagnosed with the pleomorphic adenoma based on fine needle aspiration cytology. The patient was subjected to the excision of both swellings under general anesthesia. Postoperative facial nerve functions were within normal limits and final histopathology confirmed pleomorphic adenoma involving both the sites. A pertinent detailed literature review of English and non-English studies was indicative of only nine such cases. CONCLUSION: Simultaneously occurring pleomorphic adenoma involving homolateral parotid and submandibular glands is a rare phenomenon that should be kept in mind when examining the swelling of the unifocal salivary gland.

Medication Error- A Case Report of Misadventure with Methotrexate.

Methotrexate is an antimetabolite drug with antineoplastic and immunomodulatory properties, useful as an antineoplastic agent in various haematological and solid tumours. MTX toxicity can occur because of accidental ingestion/overdose by the patient or because of prescription error. The toxic effects manifest as severe mucositis or as organ damage (bone marrow depression, renal/hepatic injury). The toxicity usually results from parenteral overdose or repeated chronic drug ingestion. Acute high dose ingestion does not result in MTX toxicity because of saturable absorption kinetics. We present a case of MTX toxicity occurring as a result of prescription error resulting in repeat daily dosing of the drug, and the challenges associated with the management of the same, in a patient with multiple comorbidities. The present case emphasizes on a note of caution on the part of the prescriber and the suggestions regarding the measures which can be taken to avoid MTX toxicity. Keywords: drug overdose; Methotrexate; mucositis; pancytopenia.

Clinical Profile of Patients with Head and Neck Amyloidosis: A Single-Institution Retrospective Chart Review

Abstract Introduction Isolated amyloidosis involving the head and neck is a rare entity. The pathophysiology of the localized disease appears to be distinct from that of the systemic counterpart. Systemic progression of the localized disease is unusual, and the prognosis of the localized form is excellent. Objective To describe the demographic and clinicopathological characteristics of patients presenting with localized head and neck subsite amyloidosis. Methods A retrospective chart review of the patients with head and neck amyloidosis identified by the electronic search of the electronic database of the Departments of Pathology and Otorhinolaryngology was performed. The various demographic and clinical data were tabulated. Results In total, seven patients (four females, three males) with localized head and neck amyloidosis (three supraglottic, three lingual and one sinonasal) were identified. Six patients had AL-amyloid deposits, and one patient had AA-amyloid deposits. Supraglottic involvement and that of the base of the tongue were treated surgically using CO2 laser, and these patients were disease-free at the last follow-up. The patient with sinonasal amyloidosis experienced symptom recurrence after six months of the functional endoscopic sinus surgery. All of the patients were screened for systemic amyloidosis with abdominal fat pad biopsy, and were found to be free of systemic spread. Conclusion Isolated head and neck amyloidosis, as opposed to systemic amyloidosis, has an excellent prognosis in terms of survival. Therefore, systemic amyloidosis should be excluded in all cases. The treatment of choice remains surgical excision; however, watchful waiting may be a suitable strategy for mild symptoms or for cases in which the disease was discovered incidentally.

Assessment of olfactory status in allergic and non-allergic rhinitis patients.

A study undertaken to assess the olfactory acuity in allergic (group I) and non-allergic rhinitis (group II) patients in comparison with age and sex matched controls (group III). Patients presenting with atleast three of the five cardinal symptoms of rhinitis i.e. rhinorrhoea, sneezing, itching, headache and nasal obstruction were grouped as non-infective rhinitis and further divided into allergic rhinitis (group I, n = 20) and non-allergic rhinitis (group II, n = 20) based on nasal smear cytology positivity or negativity for eosinophils respectively. Detailed Ear, Nose and Throat examination was carried out in both the groups and peripheral blood samples were analysed for total, differential leukocyte and absolute eosinophil counts using standard techniques. In all the three groups the olfactory thresholds for 5 odorants i.e. musk (M), formalin (F), camphor (C), asafoetida (A, 10% aqueous solution) and oil of peppermint (P, 20%) were evaluated for testing musky, pungent, camphorous, putrid and minty odours respectively by the method described by Elsberg and Levy for quantitative olfactometry. The results indicated elevation of olfactory thresholds (delta %, calculated taking control values as 100%) for 4 or 5 odorants in group I and group II patients respectively as compared with controls (group I: delta % for P--89.6%; M--116.4%; A--55.8%; P < 0.001; C--73.1%; P < 0.02; F--26.6% N.S.; group II: P--96.9%; M--99.3%, P < 0.01 for both; A--66.8%; C--102.7%, P < 0.001; F--42%, P < 0.05). In the non allergic rhinitis group the magnitude of the olfactory loss was more severe except for the odorant musk. Further interpretations as per gender based specificities revealed more severe olfactory loss in males of both the groups for the odorants peppermint and musk and moderately severe olfactory loss for formalin and camphor as compared to females. However, for the odorant asafoetida females showed greater olfactory loss than males in both the groups (delta % 73.38% versus 52% in group I and 81.29% versus 69.7% in group II).