Parapharyngeal Space Tumors: Our Experience.

Para-pharyngeal space (PPS) tumors include an heterogeneous group of neoplasms, accounting for approximatively 0.5-1.5% of all head and neck tumors. Management of these neoplasms requires a careful diagnostic workout and an appropriate surgical approach to obtain good outcomes associated with minimal aesthetic drawbacks. In this study we investigated clinical onset, histologic features, surgical treatment outcomes, peri operative complications and follow up of 98 patients treated for PPS tumors in our Centre between 2002 and 2021. Furthermore, we reviewed our preliminary experience of preoperative embolization of hyper vascular PPS tumors trough SQUID12, an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers (EVOH) which exhibits many advantages over other embolic agents, due to its better devascularization rate and lower risk of systemic complications. Our data support the hypothesis that transoral surgery scenario should be significantly revised, as it could represent a valid treatment for tumors located in lower and prestyloyd portion of PPS. Moreover, SQUID12, a novel embolization agent, may be a very promising choice for PPS hyper vascularized tumors, ensuring higher devascularization rate, safer procedures and lower risk of systemic dispersion compared to traditional Contour treatment.

Secondary cytomegalovirus infections: How much do we still not know? Comparison of children with symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus born to mothers with primary and secondary infection.

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection can follow primary and secondary maternal infection. Growing evidence indicate that secondary maternal infections contribute to a much greater proportion of symptomatic cCMV than was previously thought. We performed a monocentric retrospective study of babies with cCMV evaluated from August 2004 to February 2021; we compared data of symptomatic children born to mothers with primary or secondary infection, both at birth and during follow up. Among the 145 babies with available data about maternal infection, 53 were classified as having symptomatic cCMV and were included in the study: 40 babies were born to mothers with primary infection and 13 babies were born to mothers with secondary infection. Analyzing data at birth, we found no statistical differences in the rate of clinical findings in the two groups, except for unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) which was significantly more frequent in patients born to mother with secondary infection than in those born to mother with primary infection (46.2 vs. 17.5%, P = 0.037). During follow up, we found a higher rate of many sequelae (tetraparesis, epilepsy, motor and speech delay, and unilateral SNHL) in the group of children born to mothers with secondary infection, with a statistical difference for tetraparesis and unilateral SNHL. Otherwise, only children born to mothers with primary infection presented bilateral SNHL both at birth and follow up. Our data suggest that the risk of symptomatic cCMV and long-term sequelae is similar in children born to mother with primary and secondary CMV infection; it is important to pay appropriate attention to seropositive mothers in order to prevent reinfection and to detect and possibly treat infected babies.

Laryngeal Cancer, HPV DNA vs E6/E7 mRNA Test: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: The reported range of involvement of human papillomavirus (HPV) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is wide because of the methods used to detect HPV. DATA SOURCES: A computerized Medline study was carried out using the following as key words: "Papillomavirus Infections"[Mesh] and "Laryngeal Neoplasms"[Mesh]. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Studies that were included were written in English and reported results of HPV DNA with RNA in laryngeal SCC. RESULTS: There were six reported HPV mRNA extraction. Among these studies, Lewis et al reported that out of the 31 cases analyzed, only 2 were HPV DNA+ and of these only 1 was mRNA HPV+ (3%). Halec et al reported 102 cases of which 32 were HPV DNA+ cases and of which only 6 were mRNA+ (5%). Chernock et al reported 76 cases of which 13 were HPV DNA+ cases and of which 4 were mRNA+ (5%). Masand et al reported 8 cases of which 1 was HPV DNA+ case and none was mRNA+. Gheit et al reported 43 cases of which 4 were HPV DNA+ cases and of which 2 were mRNA+ (4%). Castellsagné et al reported 1042 cases of which 59 were HPV DNA+ case and of which 51 were mRNA+ (4.8%) CONCLUSIONS: When determining the role of HPV in laryngeal SCC, evidence of HPV DNA warrants further examination for E6/E7 mRNA as simple assays such as p16 are nonspecific in laryngeal SCC. Further studies of HPV and its role in laryngeal SCC are warranted.

Congenital epulis of the newborn: difficult to diagnose but easy to treat. A case of unusual size.

The epulis or giant cell granuloma is a benign tumor of the connective tissue of the gingival mucosa frequent in an advanced period of life but much more rare in its congenital form. We present the case of a female newborn, otherwise healthy, presenting with a giant swelling protruding from her mouth and originating from upper left alveolar ridge. The size of the mass has created great anxiety in parents and pediatricians, however this clinical presentation suggested us a diagnosis of congenital epulis with a differential diagnosis of teratoma. We perform surgical resection of the mass under general anesthesia, through diathermy. There wasn't blood loss and postoperative recovery was uneventful. A definite diagnosis of giant congenital epulis was disclosed by histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis. Although it has not been yet clarified the etiology of this tumor and the role of hormonal influences on its appearance and development and despite have been reported cases of spontaneous regression, the treatment of choice is the early surgical excision. Nevertheless, particularly in the small centers, due to the rarity and large size of presentation, the diagnosis is often delayed or wrong, exposing so the newborn parents to useless days of waiting and anxiety In our opinion all pediatricians and surgeons should be aware of this malformation and of its simple, safe and effective surgical treatment, considering the excellent prognosis of this rare disease.

Elastofibroma: management and surgical outcome.

Elastofibroma is a benign slow-growing neoplasm of soft tissues, originally defined Elastofibroma dorsi because of the typical localization in the connective tissue placed between the bottom corner of the scapula and the chest wall. From 1990 to 2013 at our center, 115 patients underwent elestofibroma surgical removal, including 2 bilateral and one relapsed. For all the patients ultrasound preoperative examination was requested, sometimes with a diagnosis of lipoma or fibrolipoma because of the rarity of this type of lesion and therefore the lack of experience of the radiologists. In all 115 patients the lesion was detected and removed, only in 7 cases it was necessary, intraoperatively, to mobilize the upper limb and shoulder in order to better visualize the lesion. On the operating table the lesion was situated below the muscle planes and looks like a solid mass, oval, with a pole firmly attached to the periosteum of the ribs and intercostal ligaments, with net margins and a diameter of 5-10 cm. The sides not attached to the chest wall were in continuity with the adipose tissue. The cutting surface was pink-graysh, with fibrous appearance. Foci of cystic degeneration interspersed with islands of fat that are vaguely reminiscent of the fibrolipoma could be found. The treatment of choice is the surgical excision and subsequent histological examination solve the diagnostic dilemma. If the removal is radical, it is definitve because the lesion has no tendency to relapse.