Management of subglottic stenosis in pregnancy using advanced apnoeic ventilatory techniques.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of balloon dilation with non-invasive ventilation in the treatment of pregnant patients with idiopathic subglottic stenosis. METHODS: The medical charts of four consecutive patients who underwent jet ventilation or high-flow nasal cannula oxygenation with balloon dilation for the treatment of idiopathic subglottic stenosis during pregnancy were reviewed. RESULTS: Objective improvement of subglottic stenosis was seen in all four cases, with end-result Myer-Cotton grade 1 lesions down from pre-procedure grade 3 lesions. Patients also reported subjective improvements in symptomatology, with no further airway issues. All patients delivered normally, at term. CONCLUSION: Laryngeal dilation with continuous radial expansion pulmonary balloons using non-invasive ventilation for the treatment of idiopathic subglottic stenosis in pregnant patients is safe and efficacious, and should be the first line treatment option for this patient population. The improvement in symptoms, and lack of labour and pregnancy complications, distinguish this method of treatment from others reported in the literature.

Primary tracheoesophageal puncture and cricopharyngeal myotomy in stapler-assisted total laryngectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of the hybrid tracheoesophageal puncture procedure in stapler-assisted laryngectomy. METHODS: Patients who underwent total laryngectomy at a single institution from 2009 to 2015 were reviewed. The interventions assessed were surgical creation of a tracheoesophageal puncture and placement of a voice prosthesis. The outcomes measured included voicing ability and valve failure. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients underwent total laryngectomy or pharyngolaryngectomy. Of these, nine underwent stapler-assisted laryngectomy; seven of the nine patients underwent concurrent stapler-assisted laryngectomy, cricopharyngeal myotomy and a hybrid tracheoesophageal puncture procedure. These seven patients were the focus of this review. Successful voicing and oral alimentation was achieved in all patients. Mean time to phonation was 30 days (range, 7-77 days) and mean time to first valve change was 90 days (range, 35-117 days). CONCLUSION: Primary tracheoesophageal puncture with concurrent voice prosthesis placement and cricopharyngeal myotomy is easily performed with stapler-assisted laryngectomy. The hybrid tracheoesophageal puncture procedure is a simple method that enables a single operator to achieve primary tracheoesophageal puncture and valve placement; in addition, it facilitates concurrent cricopharyngeal myotomy.

Bronchoscopy in panendoscopy: review and assessment.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the utility of bronchoscopy to identify synchronous primaries in head and neck cancer patients. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. METHOD: The charts of all patients undergoing bronchoscopy between January 2008 and December 2013 were reviewed. Only those undergoing bronchoscopy as part of panendoscopy for head and neck cancer were included. Operative reports, pathology reports and discharge summaries were reviewed for operative findings, complications and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: A total of 404 charts were reviewed and 168 were included in the study. No synchronous primaries were identified. Bronchoscopy changed clinical management in one patient. There were no complications from bronchoscopy. CONCLUSION: Bronchoscopy is a safe and well-tolerated procedure commonly performed in the investigation of head and neck cancer patients, but it adds little additional useful clinical information. Routine performance of bronchoscopy in this setting should be weighed against its added costs, and tailored to the individual patient.

Laryngeal papillomatosis in children: The impact of late recognition over evolution.

To assess the impact of the delay in recognition of the initial symptoms of laryngeal papillomatosis in children over the evolution of the disease. Retrospective study of patients with respiratory papillomatosis referred from general pediatric practices to a tertiary hospital with pediatric laryngology specialization. Gender, age at time of diagnosis, symptom duration, sites affected at the time of diagnosis, treatment, and evolution of the disease over time were evaluated. From January 2003 to December 2013, 21 patients (15 females and 6 males) were identified and followed for at least 3 years. The average age at which symptoms first appeared was 40.2 months, and the average age at the time of initial treatment was 76 months. The most frequent clinical manifestation was hoarseness. The most common site of involvement was the glottis followed by the supraglottis and subglottis, respectively. Three of the 21 patients required tracheostomy. The average time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 52.3 months. There were no fatalities. On average 3.7 procedures were performed per patient. Patients presenting more than 1 year from the symptom onset to the time of first treatment required a greater number of procedures to control disease. Delay in diagnosis can have negative clinical consequences due to disease progression. The later the diagnosis the more surgeries are needed to control the disease. Involvement of the subglottic larynx is a risk factor for emergent tracheostomy.

The point-touch technique for botulinum toxin injection in adductor spasmodic dysphonia: quality of life assessment.

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin injection under electromyographic guidance is the 'gold standard' for adductor spasmodic dysphonia treatment. The point-touch technique, an alternative injection method which relies on anatomical landmarks, is cheaper, quicker and more accessible, but has not yet gained widespread acceptance due to concerns about patient satisfaction. OBJECTIVE: To assess swallowing and voice-related quality of life following point-touch botulinum toxin injection in adductor spasmodic dysphonia patients. SETTING: Stanford University Voice and Swallowing Center. DESIGN: Prospective case series (evidence level four). METHODS: Consecutive adductor spasmodic dysphonia patients with a stable botulinum toxin dose-response relationship were recruited prospectively. The Eating Assessment Tool and Voice-Related Quality of Life questionnaires were completed pre-treatment and at 10 and 30 per cent completion of the injection cycle, respectively. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients completed follow up. The mean total botulinum toxin dose was 0.88 units. Pre-treatment Voice-Related Quality of Life questionnaire results reflected the burden of disease. Post-treatment Eating Assessment Tool and Voice-Related Quality of Life questionnaire results were collected at 2.53 and 7.84 weeks, respectively; the former showed an increase in dysphagia, albeit statistically insignificant, while the latter showed significantly improved scores (both domain and total). CONCLUSION: The point-touch technique is a viable alternative for botulinum toxin injection in the treatment of adductor spasmodic dysphonia.

Primary cervical tracheal monophasic synovial sarcoma confirmed by SYT-SSX gene rearrangement.

OBJECTIVE: To review the existing diagnostic modalities and treatment for primary tracheal synovial sarcoma, and to report a case of primary cervical synovial sarcoma arising in the trachea. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Head and neck surgery unit at a tertiary university centre. PATIENT: One case of primary cervical tracheal monophasic synovial sarcoma diagnosed by SYT-SSX gene rearrangement. INTERVENTION: This patient underwent surgical resection of the synovial sarcoma, together with tracheal resection and primary anastomosis assisted by laryngeal-releasing manoeuvres, without complication. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical, radiographical, pathological and surgical information were collected. RESULT: One year post-operatively, there was no evidence of recurrence. CONCLUSION: Synovial sarcoma arising in the trachea is very rare. Diagnosis is confirmed by demonstrating the SYT-SSX gene rearrangement. The first-line treatment is surgery.

Endoscopic resection of low grade, subglottic chondrosarcoma.

INTRODUCTION: This paper evaluates the feasibility of transoral, endoscopic resection of macroscopically localised, low grade, subglottic chondrosarcoma. METHOD: Retrospective case study including patients diagnosed with low grade, subglottic laryngeal chondrosarcoma. Tumours were resected endoscopically via direct laryngoscopy with microlaryngeal technique, under jet ventilation. The post-operative course, vocal fold function, airway patency and oncological results were evaluated. RESULTS: Two male patients aged 49 and 60 years underwent endoscopic, translaryngeal, en bloc resection of low grade chondrosarcoma of the cricoid cartilage. Extubation was performed immediately after surgery. Neither patient required tracheostomy or developed subglottic stenosis. No tumour recurrence was noted after an average follow up of 10.5 months. Voice quality was stable and dyspnoea improved. SUMMARY: Transoral, endoscopic resection of low grade, subglottic chondrosarcoma is a viable technique with good functional outcomes. Extensive resection of subglottic disease is possible, which may afford patients an alternative to total laryngectomy.

Radiographic properties of injected calcium hydroxylapatite: potential false positive findings on positron emission tomography.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the positron emission tomography and computed tomography features of injected calcium hydroxylapatite, and to discuss how these may be mistaken for malignancy. CASE REPORT: Positron emission tomography is now readily employed in the staging and monitoring of patients with head and neck carcinoma. Concomitant with the growing use of this modality has been the increasing popularity of injected calcium hydroxylapatite to treat glottic incompetence secondary to vocal fold paralysis or following partial laryngectomy. A patient developed aspiration following near-total laryngectomy and subsequently underwent injection of calcium hydroxylapatite, with effective resolution of the aspiration. The patient underwent positron emission tomography scanning as part of routine tumour surveillance; this showed intense tracer uptake at the site of injection, and this pattern persisted for one year following injection. CONCLUSIONS: As injectable calcium hydroxylapatite becomes more widely used, especially in the treatment of patients with a history of head and neck cancer, physicians should be aware it may cause a potentially misleading, false positive positron emission tomography finding.

Botulinum toxin as adjunctive therapy in refractory laryngeal granuloma.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the role of botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of refractory laryngeal granulomas. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective clinical review at a tertiary care hospital. Seven patients with vocal process granulomas underwent percutaneous injection of botulinum toxin into both vocal folds, performed in an office setting. Total doses ranged from 10 to 25 U, divided between both vocal folds. RESULTS: All patients experienced resolution of their granulomas over two to seven weeks. No patient developed aspiration pneumonia. All patients experienced hoarseness secondary to the injections, but voice quality returned to baseline in all patients as the toxin was degraded. CONCLUSIONS: Botulinum toxin is safe and effective therapy in resolving vocal process granulomas in patients refractory to traditional therapy. The optimal treatment dose remains to be determined. SIGNIFICANCE: Percutaneous botulinum toxin injection is helpful in resolving laryngeal granulomas.

Lack of evoked laryngeal electromyography response in patients with a clinical diagnosis of vocal cord paralysis.

There has been recent debate about whether patients with vocal cord immobility have a neurologic paralysis or whether synkinesis, the misdirection of axons to competing laryngeal muscles, is responsible for the lack of voluntary vocal cord motion. This issue was studied in 15 patients with vocal cord paralysis who underwent laryngeal reinnervation. Evoked electromyography was performed with a surface electrode endotracheal tube. The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) was identified and stimulated with constant current. Of the 15 patients, only 1 produced a compound muscle action potential upon nerve stimulation. The remaining 14 patients had no evoked response during RLN stimulation. A control group of 8 patients with normal vocal cord mobility was studied, and each had a normal evoked electromyography response after RLN stimulation. These results support the assertion that patients who require treatment for vocal cord paralysis do not have synkinesis produced by RLN reinnervation.

Gamma-probe localization of a parathyroid adenoma in the reoperative neck.

Preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas in patients with hyperparathyroidism currently relies on a combination of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, (99m)Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy, and venous sampling of parathyroid hormone. No procedure is universally reliable, however, and in reoperation for missed parathyroid adenomas, development of an optimal preoperative localization strategy becomes especially problematic. We report the case of a patient with hyperparathyroidism who required reoperation for a missed parathyroid adenoma despite preoperative localization with (99m)Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy. (99m)Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy was done 2.5 hours before reoperation. On reoperation, a gamma-detecting probe (C-Track; Care Wise Medical Corporation, Morgan Hill, CA) introduced through a right neck incision was used to localize a 4-cm adenoma within 45 minutes. No significant radiation hazard existed, and no special handling of the specimen was required. The patient's hyperparathyroidism resolved within 24 hours postoperatively. Therefore, this intraoperative technique may prove to be a useful adjunct to preoperative localization studies of parathyroid adenomas, particularly in patients requiring reoperation for persistent postsurgical hyperparathyroidism.

Extranasopharyngeal angiofibroma.

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas are vascular neoplasms, which originate characteristically in the posterior lateral wall of the nasopharynx. Although angiofibromas extend beyond the nasopharynx commonly, they rarely originate outside the nasopharynx. Reports of primary extranasopharyngeal angiofibromas have appeared sporadically in the literature. We present an unusual case of an angiofibroma arising from the middle turbinate. The clinical characteristics of extranasopharyngeal angiofibromas do not conform to that of nasopharyngeal angiofibromas. Therefore, they can present diagnostic challenges. A methodic evaluation and a high index of suspicion are essential in establishing the proper diagnosis and treatment.

Third branchial cleft anomaly presenting as a retropharyngeal abscess.

Branchial cleft anomalies are congenital developmental defects that typically present as a soft fluctuant mass or fistulous tract along the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. However, branchial anomalies can manifest atypically, presenting diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Error or delay in diagnosis can lead to complications, recurrences, and even life-threatening emergencies. We describe a case of an infected branchial cleft cyst that progressed to a retropharyngeal abscess in a 5-week-old female patient. The clinical, radiographic, and histologic findings of this rare presentation of branchial cleft cyst are discussed.

Endoscopic diagnosis of sarcoidosis in a patient presenting with bilateral exophthalmos and pansinusitis.

Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Otolaryngologic and ophthalmologic manifestations occur in 15 to 55% of afflicted individuals, respectively. Neck masses, parotid enlargement, and facial nerve palsy are the most common presenting otolaryngologic complaints, while lacrimal gland enlargement, uveitis, and upper eyelid masses often call the attention of the ophthalmologist. Biopsy reveals non-caseating granulomas, while the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) level may be elevated. We report an unusual case of a patient who presented with severe bilateral exophthalmos as the sole initial complaint. A prior workup included a negative conjunctival biopsy. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), the patient had pansinusitis. Endoscopic ethmoidectomies with tissue analysis revealed sarcoidosis. Further evaluation revealed no evidence of systemic disease, and all symptoms resolved with a course of oral steroids. Thus, nasal endoscopy and biopsy of affected paranasal sinus mucosa may prove a useful adjunct to the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, particularly in atypical cases.

Relation of recurrent laryngeal nerve compound action potential to laryngeal biomechanics.

This study was designed to investigate the compound action potential (CAP) of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and to correlate this electrophysiologic signal to laryngeal biomechanics and phonatory function. Four adult mongrel canines were anesthetized. The RLN was isolated and stimulated, and recording electrodes were applied. The electromyographic (EMG) electrode was placed in the thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle. The RLN CAP and the EMG of the TA muscle were recorded and compared to the stimulation intensity, subglottic pressure (Psub), and each other. The CAP peak-to-peak and EMG peak-to-peak amplitudes demonstrated a sigmoidal relation to stimulus intensity and a linear relation to Psub and to each other. On the basis of these findings, the RLN CAP appears to be a reliable physiologic measure of laryngeal function.