[Surgical treatment of exostosis in the external auditory canal]. / Tratamiento quirúrgico de las exóstosis de conducto auditivo externo.

Exostoses of the external auditory canal are benign bony tumours very common in individuals who frequently participate in aquatic activities. Although most of the cases are asymptomatic, patients with more severe exostoses have recurrent episodes of external otitis and related conductive hearing loss. In the great majority of these cases, a medical treatment (aspiration and antibiotic drops) resolves the symptoms. Patients with more severe canal stenosis, resistant to medical treatment, are candidates for surgical removal of the exostoses. This report reviews our surgical experience with 45 patients, 52 ears, who have undergone surgical removal of exostoses in our Institution during the last 13 years. We describe the technique that we use a well as the results that we achieve.

[Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Our experience and literature review]. / Papilomatosis respiratoria recurrente. Nuestra experiencia y revisión de la literatura.

The recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is a benign lesion induced by virus, with predisposal factors not yet clear out. Several treatment have been used, being the endoscopic surgery with laser CO2 the most used technique. We present our experience with laryngeal papillomatosis patients operated with laser CO2 in the last 15 years. The high rate of recidive in the youth pattern and the possibility of malignant degeneration in the adults charactherises this patients. Meanwhile without not other concluyent works surgery will be the first therapeutic alternative, avoiding mutilant operations, and paying attention in detecting lesions suggesting malignancy.

[Laser cordectomy without hospitalization. Is it a safe intervention?]. / Cordectomía láser sin ingreso. Se trata de una intervención segura?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of the CO2 Laser Cordectomy in the treatment of glottic carcinoma as a day-case procedure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of a cohort of 30 patients with glottic carcinoma treated with CO2 Laser Cordectomy at our institution between 1999-2001 as a day-case procedure. RESULTS: There were no major complications and no patients required re-intubation. 90% of the patients were discharged the same day of the procedure. There were three unplanned admissions to the hospital but none of them were, in our opinion, the direct result of Cordectomy. These patients were discharged the next day. 100% of the patients answered that they would repeat the experience. CONCLUSIONS: CO2 Laser Cordectomy of the glottic carcinoma can be safely performed as an outpatient procedure if patients are selected according to specific day-case criteria.

[Myringoplasty: onlay vs. underlay. Review of 460 cases]. / Miringoplastia: onlay versus underlay. Revisión de 460 casos.

A retrospective review was made of 460 myringoplasties performed in our department from 1984 to 1990. In 80%, the perforation closed successfully. There were no differences in site, size, cause, or previous operations. Results were statistically better with the onlay technique than with the underlay technique, particularly in large perforations. Poorer results were obtained in younger patients, a difference that almost reached statistical significance. Hearing improved in 64% of patients with closed perforations and hearing deteriorated in 29% (2.1% complete hearing loss).

[Pharyngo-laryngeal spindle cell carcinoma]. / Carcinoma fusocelular faringolaríngeo.

Spindle cell carcinoma, a relatively uncommon neoplasia in the otorhinolaryngologic field has a benign polypoid appearance, and often results in diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties. A review of the published literature, and of all of the eight cases we have had in our department has been made, with special attention-being pad to anatomopathologic diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. To sum up, it represents a malignant neoplasia epithelial in origin and of a difficult clinical and pathological diagnosis, which would be more adequately treated by surgical exeresis. It has a worse prognosis than epidermoid carcinoma which is common in this part of the throat.

[Retropharyngeal hydatid cyst]. / Quiste hidatídico retrofaríngeo.

We report the case of a 37 year old male from rural area who presented as an emergency with symptoms compatible with the existence of a retropharyngeal tumoration. By the clinic it suggested an abscess but the CT scan as compatible with a carcinoma. On complementary examinations it appeared in a chest X ray an image which strongly suggested the possibility of a hydatidic cyst of the lung. Specific serologic reactions supported this and post-surgical pathological study lately confirmed the diagnosis. We believe of interest reporting this case because of it's unusual localization and difficulty in diagnosis.