Cochlear Implantation in Patients with Bilateral Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss after COVID-19 Infection.

COVID-19 infection is associated with a variety of neurological manifestations. Since the inner ear is vulnerable to viruses, sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) has been reported to occur following SARS-CoV-2 infection. We present here two cases of profound SNHL following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Pure-tone audiograms confirmed profound SNHL. The tympanogram and Auditory Brainstem Responses showed no abnormal symptoms. MRIs and CTs identified some changes but no significant anatomical nor physiological manifestations explaining the obvious cause for hearing loss. High doses of oral corticosteroids with additional conservative therapy were given with no therapeutic response, and therefore, cochlear implant surgery was performed. One case was bilaterally treated, and the other one received an implantation on one side. Both surgeries were carried out without intra- nor postoperative complications. Interestingly, in both cases, advanced fibrotic tissue was found during surgery. Both cases reported successful rehabilitation and are satisfied with their new sound perception following cochlear implantation.

Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Experiences of Pediatric Acute Mastoiditis and Its Complications at the University Tertiary Care Center in the 10-Year Prevaccinal Period.

Introduction: We aim to provide an overview of the clinical characteristics and treatment of pediatric acute mastoiditis (AM) and its complications in the prevaccinal pneumococcal period. Materials and methods: Retrospective case series. An analysis of pediatric patients with AM treated at a university tertiary care center from 2008 to 2018 was performed. Results: The research included 121 children, and 27.3% of them had some form of complication. The mean age at presentation of AM was 3.7 years (range = 0-18 years). The most common extracranial complication of AM was a subperiosteal abscess (n = 25, 75.8%) and the most common intracranial complication was meningoencephalitis (n = 2, 6%). The most common pathogen isolated in the complicated AM was Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 17, 51.5%). A total of 60% of patients reported antibiotic use before hospital admission, mostly third-generation cephalosporins (37.5%). There was a statistically significant difference between age group and occurrence of complications (P = .001). Females had complications more frequently than males (P = .035). There were no statistically significant differences in levels of inflammatory parameters (C-reactive protein and leukocyte count) between patients with or without complications (P = .373 and P = .124; respectively). All patients with complications of AM were surgically treated. Mortality was 0% and all children completely recovered. Conclusion: Extracranial and intracranial complications of AM required surgical treatment and extended antibiotic therapy. Inflammation parameters did not have a predictive role in identifying children with complications of AM. Further investigations will determine whether the introduction of the mandatory pneumococcal vaccine in our country has led to a reduction in the incidence of AM and its complications.

Effectiveness of the Treatment of Rhinogenic Headache Caused by Intranasal Contact.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the surgical and nonsurgical treatment of headache caused by contact points (CPs) between the nasal septum and inferior or middle turbinate. METHODS: The research was designed as a prospective clinical case-series study. The patients with CP headaches were offered to choose between 2 treatment options, surgery and medical treatment. Two groups of surgically treated patients (surgery groups 1 and 2, depending on whether there is a contact between nasal septum and inferior turbinate or middle turbinate) were evaluated and compared for headache intensity and frequency. Headache intensity was measured using a visual analog scale value from 0 to 10; the frequency of headache was expressed as the number of days during 1 month with a headache (before surgery, 1 month, and 6 months after surgery). A comparison was also made between surgically and nonsurgically treated patients. RESULTS: We found more intensive and frequent headache in patients who had CP between the nasal septum and the middle turbinate (P = .038 and P = .003, respectively). A significant reduction in headache intensity and frequency was found in both groups of surgically treated patients 6 months after surgery; however, this reduction was more significant in patients with mucosal contact between nasal septum and middle turbinate. The nonsurgical treatment made a significant reduction of headache intensity and frequency at 1-month follow-up (P = .012 and P = .031, respectively), but not at 6-month follow-up (P = .114 and P = .088, respectively). CONCLUSION: Surgery gave a statistically significant reduction in the intensity and frequency of headache, which was assessed 6 months after surgery. Surgery was found as superior to nonsurgical treatment in the therapy of CP headache.

Evaluation of substance P and bradykinin levels in nasal secretions of patients with nasal polyposis with and without sensitivity to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Objective: The role of neurogenic inflammation in pathogenesis of chronic rhinitis is well known. However, very little is known about its importance in pathogenesis of nasal polyposis (NP), especially in form of NP which appears as a part of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). The aim of this study was to examine the concentrations of neuropeptides substance P (SP) and bradykinin (BK) in nasal secretions of patients with NP. Methods: Fourteen patients with NP as a part of AERD with mild persistent asthma, 14 patients with NP without aspirin sensitivity, and 14 control subjects without nasal inflammation (C) entered this cross-sectional study. Clinical parameters (symptoms, endoscopic, and radiological findings) were assessed. The concentrations of SP and BK were measured in the nasal secretion samples using commercial human enzyme immunoassay kits. Results: The concentration of SP in nasal secretions was significantly higher in NP patients without aspirin sensitivity and AERD patients compared to controls (p = .022; p < .0001, respectively), but higher in AERD than in non-AERD patients (p = .018). The level of BK in nasal fluid was higher in non-AERD and AERD NP patients than in controls (p < .0001; p < .0001, respectively), but also higher in AERD than in non-AERD patients (p < .0001). We found high positive correlations between BK in nasal fluid and Lund-Mackay computed tomography (CT) score in both non-AERD and AERD groups of NP patients. Conclusion: Our results suggest more intense release of SP and BK from the nasal mucosa in patients with AERD than in patients with NP who do not have aspirin sensitivity. The strong correlation between concentration of BK in nasal secretions and CT score suggests that BK in nasal fluid could be used as a marker for disease severity as measured by the Lund-Mackay score.

Symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in patients with chronic otitis media.

PURPOSE: Persistent symptoms of chronic otitis media cause limitations in daily routine and social interactions, influencing significantly patients' quality of life and mental health. The purpose of the study was to assess the intensity depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in patients with chronic otitis media and to examine if patient demographic data, characteristics and reported symptoms of otitis influence reported depression, anxiety and stress symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 316 adult patients diagnosed with unilateral or bilateral chronic otitis media with or without cholesteatoma. Patients underwent a complete otological, audiological and radiological assessment. Chronic otitis media questionnaire 12 (COMQ-12) was used to assess the impact of COM and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) was used for depression, anxiety and stress assessment. RESULTS: Some level of anxiety and stress were detected in 70.57% 49.37% of the patients, respectively. 13.29% of the patients had scores indicating depression disorder. The mean value of the COMQ-12 questionnaire for this group of patients was 26.24 (SD±11.47) More intense symptoms of COM were significantly associated (p<0.05) with higher scores on DASS-21 subscales. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that significant positive predictors of higher anxiety scores were pure tone average (PTA) on better and worse hearing ear (p<0.05). Drainage from the ear, hearing problems at home and tinnitus were significant positive predictors of a higher DASS-depression score. (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The study confirmed positive correlation between reported level of anxiety, depression and stress, severity of COM symptoms and quality of life. Level of hearing on the better and worse hearing ear were significant positive predictors of anxiety and stress in patients with COM.

Acute onset of tinnitus in patients with sudden deafness.

OBJECTIVE: We made hypotheses that tinnitus will appear more likely in patients with sudden deafness with superior hearing in unaffected ear or with more severe acute hearing loss. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed. Five hundred forty-one patients were identified with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) from January 1995 to August 2006. The exclusion criteria for this study were as follows: bilateral sudden hearing loss and Meniere disease, previous tinnitus or bilateral tinnitus at initial evaluation, and onset of hearing loss less than 7 days. The cohort enrolled 454 patients. The enrolled patients were classified into two groups: patient with acute onset tinnitus in the affected ear and patients without tinnitus at initial visit. Main outcome measures were patient age, the presence or absence of vertigo and tinnitus, audiometric patterns, the severity of hearing loss, and hearing in the unaffected ear. RESULTS: Better contralateral hearing (n = 220 versus n = 72, P < 0.001) and younger age (48 versus 55 years, P < 0.001) were independently associated with the acute onset of tinnitus in patients with ISSHL. The degree of asymmetry between the ears did not differ significantly between patients with and without tinnitus. The sex, presence of vertigo, shape of audiogram, and severity of hearing loss were not correlated with tinnitus occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Tinnitus triggered by ISSHL was more frequent in patients with better contralateral hearing and of a younger age, irrespective of the severity of hearing loss on the affected side or the asymmetry between the ears.

Is otitis media with effusion associated with Samter's triad a new nosological entity? A preliminary report on inflammatory mediator production.

PURPOSE: Otitis media with effusion (OME) associated with Samter's triad (ST) is a difficult entity to treat. The aim of study was an investigation of the middle ear and nasal production of inflammatory mediators (IM) in patients with ST and analysing differences between them and controls. METHODS: Prospective case-control study. Nineteen patients with OME (five had allergic rhinitis, four had nasopharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia, five had no evident sino-nasopharyngeal disease and five had confirmed ST) and 15 healthy participants were included. The concentrations of IM interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), interferon-alpha 2 (IFN-α2), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17A, IL-18, IL-23 and IL-33 were measured in nasal and middle ear secretions. RESULTS: There was a difference that was close to a level of statistical significance only for IL-1ß levels in middle ear fluid (p = 0.052) between the ST subgroup and the other patients with OME. Also, we found a significant difference for IL-23 in nasal secretions between these subgroups (p = 0.040), whereas the difference in nasal fluid IL-33 was close to a level of statistical significance (p = 0.052). There was a significant difference in nasal concentrations of IL-1ß, IFN-α2, MCP-1, IL-8, IL-18 and IL-33 (p < 0.001, p = 0.005, p = 0.008, p = 0.011, p = 0.011 and p = 0.011, respectively) between the OME group and the healthy subjects. There were significant positive correlations between concentrations of IL-1ß, IFN-α2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, MCP-1, IL-17A, IL-18 and IL-33 (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.002, p = 0.028, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) in nasal and middle ear secretions. CONCLUSION: This preliminary report showed some differences in IM production between the patients with OME associated with ST and those without it. Our results suggest a uniformity of the production of nasal and middle ear IM and supported the concept of a united airway respiratory disease.

Malignant Otitis Externa: Causes for Various Treatment Responses.

OBJECTIVES: Malignant (necrotizing) otitis externa (MOE) is an aggressive form of skin inflammation of the external ear with a tendency to spread infection to the temporal bone. The study aimed to evaluate a causal relationship between treatment responses and clinical features in patients with MOE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a retrospective, descriptive section study, the database was analyzed between January 2008 and December 2018 in our department, all patients with diagnosed MOE were identified. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients were evaluated, of which 27 men and 3 women. The youngest patient was 52 years old while he was eldest 88 years, (mean-71 years old). As the most common comorbidity, diabetes mellitus was found in 23 (76%) subjects. Median duration of symptoms was about 3 months. The most common isolated pathogen was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (47%). Patients with facial nerve palsy and erosion of temporal bone find on computerized tomography affect prolonged stationary treatment (Mean, SD 29.2±8.5 and 26,7±11.6 days), while 80% of patients with facial nerve palsy had recurrence of disease (p=0.005) with mean duration of clinical remission of 60±17.3 days. Overall length of treatment is also increased in the presence of comorbidities as well as in patients with cranial nerve involvement. CONCLUSION: Patients with cranial nerve involvement, erosion of temporal bone and presence of comorbidities affect prolonged treatment and adverse prognosis. Early diagnosis and initiation of aggressive therapy are essential for stopping the further spread of the disease and prevention of serious complications.

OTOLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF TURNER SYNDROME: CLINICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL FINDINGS.

INTRODUCTION: Turner syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality where all or a part of one of the X chromosomes is absent or it has other abnormalities. Besides characteristic abnormalities of short stature and infertility, women with Turner syndrome have increased risks for tumors of the central nervous system, especially meningioma and an otologic disease. Meningioma involving the middle ear is extremely rare, and this condition has never been published in association with Turner syndrome. CASE REPORT: We present an otologic manifestation associated with other abnormalities in a patient with Turner syndrome and discuss diagnosis and possible treatment options. CONCLUSION: Multidisciplinary team approach is essential in these patients in order to evaluate their vulnerability and define therapeutic priorities.

Bilateral congenital cholesteatoma of the temporal bone in Crouzon syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Crouzon syndrome is an autosomal dominant genetic disease characterized by bicoronal craniosynostosis, exorbitism with hypertelorism, and maxillary hypoplasia with mandibular prognathism. CASE OUTLINE: We present the first reported case of Crouzon syndrome associated with a bilateral con- genital cholesteatoma of the temporal bone and discuss about the potential pathogenesis. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis and management are crucial to prevent complications and an otologist should be an integral part of the multidisciplinary team.

Congenital cholesteatoma of mastoid origin--a multicenter case series.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The mastoid is the rarest site for the onset of congenital cholesteatoma (CC). The symptoms are atypical and minimal. The aim of this multicenter retrospective descriptive study was to define this extremely rare condition and its clinical presentation, diagnosis and management. METHODS: We analyzed data files for a 15-year period in 4 tertiary otology centers and discovered 6 patients with the diagnosis of CC of the mastoid. RESULTS: The clinical presentation of CC varied from incidental findings in patient to patient with otogenic meningitis. The most common findings during surgical procedures were mastoid cortex erosion, sigmoid plate dehiscence, dural exposure and external canal wall destruction. CONCLUSION: CC of mastoid origin tends to occur in adult patients probably because of minimal symptoms and the delayed diagnosis. It can exist for years in a nonaggressive state and develop to giant sizes. In children it is almost incidentally diagnosed. Early imaging is necessary in order to prevent serious complication.

Tick on the tympanic membrane.

INTRODUCTION: Different foreign bodies can reach the lumen of the external auditory canal. Clinical presence of the foreign bodies depends on the nature of the foreign body, localization, morphological features, and the presence of pathological process. CASE REPORT: This study gives a report on a rare foreign body--a tick on the eardrum, which is a very rare localization in European countries. CONCLUSION: Identification, determination of the nature of the foreign body and the way of extracting it depend on the application of adequate diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Randomized prospective trial of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and intratympanic steroid injection as salvage treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) and intratympanic (IT) steroid injection on hearing after the failure of primary treatment in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL). STUDY DESIGN: A prospective randomized trial. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Fifty patients with failure of primary therapy for ISSHL. INTERVENTION(S): After primary treatment with systemic steroids and failure of therapy, defined as less than 10-dB hearing gain, 50 patients were enrolled in the study and received either hyperbaric oxygen or intratympanic steroid treatment. The patients were not matched and not similar. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Hearing gain at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz after treatment. RESULTS: There were significant differences between hearing thresholds at all frequencies before and after the HBO treatment. Similarly, there were significant differences between hearing thresholds at most frequencies (except 2 kHz) before and after the treatment in the IT group. The subgroups of patients with pure tone average less than 81 dB and were younger than 60 years had better response to HBO treatment than those with profound deafness and in the elderly. CONCLUSION: HBO and IT steroid therapy could be successfully used as salvage therapies in patients with sudden deafness. Further study is needed to demonstrate superiority of one of the treatments.

Management of complication from temporal bone fractures.

The objective of the study is to review clinical findings and outcomes in patients with temporal bone fractures, and to show an incidence and management of complications. It is the retrospective clinical study and the study took place at tertiary referral center. Fifty-two patients with temporal bone fractures. Data were collected from patients' charts and clinical review. Patients were classified into five groups according to the CT scan. The primary endpoint of study was to show management of possible complication from temporal bone fractures and to analyze association with intracranial injuries. The second endpoint was to show incompleteness of traditionally classification of fracture type. Of the 52 patients with 54 fractures, 27 (50%) had longitudinal fractures, 4 (7.4%) had transverse fractures, 17 (31.5%) had temporal squama-mastoid fractures, 4 (7.4%) had mixed fractures and 2 (3.7%) had isolated meatal fracture. Fifty-eight percent of patients had at least one intracranial pathologic finding, of which 11% had two or more. Persistent conductive hearing loss was noted in 8 of 16 affected patients. The facial paralysis occurred in seven patients. One patient had benign paroxysmal positional vertigo developed 3 weeks after injury. In conclusion, rarely temporal bone fractures are isolated injures. The squama-mastoid fracture in most cases associated with intracranial injuries. Coordination between the neurosurgeon and otologist is essential in the care of such patients. Further large studies will be done to give a more complete classification of temporal bone fractures which will include all fracture patterns and predict clinical outcome.

Unusual presentation of nodular fasciitis as a rapidly growing haemorrhagic temporal mass.

Nodular fasciitis (NF), also called proliferative or infiltrative fasciitis is considered to be a benign reactive process of the soft tissues (subcutaneous tissue, muscle or fascia) rather than a true neoplasm. Although the extremities are the most common sites, it may arise anywhere in the body. Local excision presents the main treatment. This study presents a case of NF with a unique clinical presentation, an acute subcutaneous temporal hemorrhagic growth. Because temporal NF is more often dermally situated than NF involving other anatomic sites, it may present with superficial ulceration or bleeding and appear clinically unusual. Nodular fasciitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of other benign or malignant tissue masses involving the temporal area.

[Rare extracranial localizations of the head and neck schwannomas].

INTRODUCTION: Schwannomas are tumors of neurogenic origin, that arise from Schwann cells which surround peripheral, cranial and autonomic nerves. Schwannomas account for only 5% of all benign soft tissue tumors, and 25-45% of extracranial schwannomas are present in the head and neck region. They are usually classified according to the nerve of origin and the site within the head and neck. CASE REPORT: We presented extremely rare extracranial localizations of schwannomas and discussed about diagnosis and management of these tumors. CONCLUSION: Schwannomas are slow-growing tumors and late symptoms appearance may cause a delay in diagnosis and treatment of patients with these tumors. An appropriate diagnostic protocol is indispensable tool in performing a differential diagnosis of malignant from benign lesions. Choice of surgical approach depends on schwannomas localization.

[Does acute sensorineural deafness befall to urgent conditions?].

BACKGROUND/AIM: Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) is one of the most controversial issues in otology. The aim of this study was to determine whether a delay in treatment has any influence on hearing recovery in ISSHL. METHOD: This study was designed as a retrospective evaluation of an electronic patient data base of the University Hospital Zürich from January 1995 to August 2006. Five hundred and forty one patients with a sudden hearing loss were identified. The standard treatment was carbogen inhalation (95% O2 and 5% CO2 eight times per day in the duration of 30 minutes) and prednisone orally (100 mg in one morning dose) for 7 days. Factor that was analyzed included the interval between the onset of symptoms and the beginning of the treatment. The initial hearing loss was described using the pure tone average (PTA in dB) heating level at 4 frequencies (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz). Hearing gain was expressed either as absolute hearing gain (dB values from initial PTA minus dB values from final PTA) or as relative hearing gain (absolute hearing gain divided by initial PTA minus baseline PTA) x 100. Significant recovery of heating was defined as the final PTA < or =30 dB (or same as PTA of the opposite ear). RESULTS: An absolute hearing gain between the initial audiogram and the final audiogram was 15.1 dB. The mean relative heating gain was 47%. Three hundred one (57%) patients had a significant recovery of hearing, and 228 (43%) had not. If the patients received treatment in the first 24 hours after onset of symptoms, then the rate of significant recovery was 56%, and no significant difference existed between this group and the patients who received the therapy after 24 hours, but within seven days (chi2=0.007, DF=1, p>0.01). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that it is not critical to begin the treatment of ISSHL immediately as an emergency, but within seven days.