New hybrid method for trachea dilatation with rigid and flexible tools.

Trachea stenosis is observed either in benign or malignant situations. In cancer malignancy a tumor might obstruct the central airway in three different ways. Again granuloma tissue is usually observed after intubation or stent placement in order to manage a benign malformation of the trachea. In any case there are several tools and techniques that can be used either with surgery or endoscopically to manage such situation. We will focus on a hybrid technique in order to ventilate the patient while performing endoscopic management of granuloma tissue.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour of the paranasal sinuses and the anterior skull base.

BACKGROUND: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNSTs) are highly aggressive neoplasms with a marked propensity for local recurrence and metastatic spread. The management of MPNSTs continues to challenge pathologists and surgeons. As MPNSTs of the paranasal sinuses and the skull base are rare, prognostic factors and treatment modalities have not been consistently identified. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We present a case of MPNST of the anterior skull base and provide an overview of all MPNSTs reported since 1970, in which the tumour location was the anterior skull base or the paranasal sinuses. RESULTS: Literature review revealed 33 well-documented cases of MPNSTs in this anatomic location. These cases were analysed with emphasis on age, gender, affected site, therapy, outcome, presence of neurofibromatosis, local recurrence and metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Despite multimodal therapy and advances in surgical techniques, the prognosis of MPNST located in the paranasal sinuses and the anterior skull base remains dismal. Outcome is mainly a function of local control by surgical resection. Adjuvant radiochemotherapy has shown no benefit. It may therefore be advisable to abstain from radiochemotherapy in order to improve chances for surgical intervention in case of recurrent disease. Close follow-up investigations are indispensable.

Navigation as a quality management tool in cochlear implant surgery.

This cadaver study assessed the value of navigation in cochlear implant surgery. Cochlear implantation was simulated on a cadaver using a Stryker-Leibinger navigation system and a Nucleus 24 Contour implant. A conventional surgical strategy consisting of mastoidectomy, posterior tympanotomy, and cochleostomy was performed. The navigated surgical procedure was evaluated for accuracy, reliability, reproducibility, and practicability. The technology of computer-assisted surgery is applicable in cochlear implantation and beneficial in as much as the navigation-controlled implantation constitutes a non-invasive instrument of quality management. Nevertheless, in order to keep the point accuracy below one millimeter, a referencing method using concealed bordering anatomical structures may be further needed to perform the cochleostomy reliably under the guidance of a navigation system. More reproducible reference systems are needed if navigated lateral skull base surgery is to be fully relied upon.

Recurrent syncope as presenting symptom of Burkitt's lymphoma at the carotid bifurcation.

Burkitt's lymphoma is rare outside of Africa, and head and neck manifestations of this disease are even more uncommon. We report a case of Burkitt's lymphoma localized at the bifurcation of the right common carotid artery in a 64-year-old man. The presenting symptoms were recurrent syncopes that necessitated a pacemaker, followed by a rapid onset of cranial nerve palsies. The tumor had infiltrated cranial nerves IX, X, XI, and XII and was resected by selective neck dissection. The patient was subsequently treated with a chemotherapeutic regimen consisting of a combination of cytosine arabinoside, vincristine, ifosfamide, prednisone, and an intrathecal application of methotrexate. He also underwent external-beam irradiation of the neck. The patient has been followed up for a period of 42 months and has no evidence of recurrent disease. Repeated diagnostic testing and a coordination of multiple disciplines can speed diagnosis and therapeutic management. The current literature is reviewed and discussed.

Navigation as a tool to visualize bone-covered hidden structures in transfrontal approaches.

A retrospective analysis of 10 patients was performed to evaluate navigation systems in extranasal frontal skull base surgery. When performing a craniotomy following a bicoronal skin incision, the surgeon has to calculate the extent of the frontal sinus to avoid unnecessary damage to the dura or mucoceles later. Due to surgical morbidity including compression of the frontal lobe, many skull base surgeons have refused to use such an approach. Malformation or bone-destruction complicates the identification of the borders and increases the risk of side-effects. Navigation systems can be an alternative for calculating the frontal sinus outlines during surgery. In the authors' surgical procedure two different navigation systems were used. Conventional surgery using the transfrontal, transbasal or subcranial approach consisting of trepanation and craniotomy were performed, while the navigated surgical procedure was evaluated. The analysis showed that computer-assisted surgery (CAS) is applicable to extranasal frontal skull base surgery. In comparison to X-ray beam-controlled craniotomy, CAS is beneficial as it constitutes a noninvasive instrument of quality management. Furthermore, the analysis indicated that under the guidance of a navigation system a precise pre-surgical simulation is available in order to perform an optimal craniotomy and reconstruction of the frontal skull base.

Malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma mimicking a benign parotid tumor: sonographic findings.

We report the case of an extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma mimicking a benign tumor in the left parotid gland of a 71-year-old woman. The clinical presentation of the painless, mobile mass was suggestive of a benign parotid tumor such as an adenoma. The intraglandular tumor appeared sonographically as a well-circumscribed, hypoechoic, homogeneous, lobulated mass with mild distal sound enhancement. Power Doppler sonography showed marked intratumoral vascularization. The tumor was resected by lateral lobectomy of the parotid gland and was found histopathologically to be a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.