ENDOSCOPIC EAR SURGERY IN CROATIA - INITIAL RESULTS OF TOTAL ENDOSCOPIC TRANSCANAL MYRINGOPLASTY.

The aim of this study was to show clinical outcome in 56 patients with tympanic membrane perforation operated on by total endoscopic transcanal myringoplasty. Out of the total of 74 patients operated on exclusively endoscopically, we identified 56 patients in whom tympanoplasty type I (myringoplasty) was performed. In 43 patients (45 ears), myringoplasty was performed in a standard transcanal fashion with lifting of the tympanomeatal flap, and in 13 patient butterfly myringoplasty was performed. The size and position of perforation, surgery duration, hearing status and closure of the perforation were evaluated. Perforation closure was obtained in 50 of 58 ears (86.21%). The mean surgery duration was 62.69±22.56 minutes in both groups. Hearing improved significantly, with the preoperative mean air-bone gap of 20.41±9.29 dB improving to the postoperative mean air-bone gap of 9.05±7.77 dB. No major complications were recorded. Our results of graft success rate and hearing outcomes are comparable with those of microscopic myringoplasties but without the need for external incisions and with reduced surgical morbidity. Hence, we recommend total endoscopic transcanal myringoplasty as the method of choice for tympanic membrane perforation regardless of its size and location.

Multicentric Intra/Extracranial Cystic Facial Nerve Schwannoma: Case Report and Review of Literature.

To report a case of facial nerve schwannoma which presented a diagnostic and management challenge because of unusual multicentric cystic presentation. A 25-year-old female patient with a history of deep facial pain, parotid gland swelling and normal facial function showed multiple expansive cystic lesions of the temporal bone and parotid gland which turned out to be multicentric cystic facial nerve schwannomas. One should be keep this diagnosis in mind when dealing with a cystic lesions of the temporal bone and parotid gland.

Unrecognized Petrous Apicitis as a Cause of Long- Lasting Headache in a 5-Year-Old Child: Case Report.

Petrous apicitis (PA) is an extremely rare complication of otitis media (OM), one of the most common infections in children. We describe a case of PA in a 5-year-old girl who remained misdiagnosed for a time because of its presentation mainly as a headache and the late onset of the characteristic symptoms. Our patient received an initial diagnosis of non-suppurative OM, but after a course of antibiotic treatment, her headache persisted. During the following 2 months, she was examined numerous times by neurologists as well as by ear, nose, and throat and pediatric specialists, all of whom concluded that there was no organic cause of the headache. Finally, after the patient suddenly developed signs of abducens nerve palsy, new computed tomography (CT) findings revealed severe temporal bone destruction caused by an inflammatory process. This case report shows the importance of a thorough approach to identify headaches in children. Additional attention must be applied when examining a child with prolonged symptoms of headaches that do not subside with standard therapy.

High mega jugular bulb presenting with facial nerve palsy and severe headache.

We present a rare case of a 50-year-old female patient with symptomatic high mega jugular bulb requiring surgery. We review her medical file, preoperative and postoperative imaging, audiograms, and surgical report. High jugular bulb was diagnosed with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Symptoms of facial nerve palsy and headache were abolished after surgical procedure. Headache and facial nerve palsy can be caused by high mega jugular bulb. Surgery is indicated in such symptomatic cases and leads to relief of signs and symptoms of disease.

Transmastoid-infralabyrinthine tailored surgery of jugular paragangliomas.

This article presents our experience with the management and outcomes of patients with sporadic glomus jugular tumors using a tailored surgical approach. We conducted a retrospective study of 49 patients with sporadic jugular paragangliomas. Thirty-eight patients (78%) were treated using the transmastoid-infralabyrinthine (TM-IL) approach, and 11 (22%) were treated with the infratemporal fossa type A (IFT-A) approach. Mean follow-up period was 8.2 years. Surgical cure was achieved in all but 6 patients using the TM-IL approach (84%) and in 8 of 11 patients with the IFT-A approach (73%). A House-Brackmann grade of I or II facial nerve function was obtained postoperatively in 84% of TM-IL cases and in 56% of the IFT-A cases. The incidence of other complications-meningitis and transient cerebrospinal fluid leak-was higher in the TM-IL group (8% and 13%, respectively) compared with the IFT-A group (0% and 9%, respectively). We concluded that the TM-IL approach with individually tailored management of the facial nerve fulfills the long-term requirements of both keeping good postoperative facial function and obtaining adequate tumor resection.

Consensus statement and guidelines on the management of paragangliomas of the head and neck.

Paragangliomas (PGLs) of the head and neck (H&N) are uncommon tumors that either arise spontaneously or as part of an inherited syndrome. Hereditary PGL is an autosomal-dominant tumor predisposition syndrome in which an affected individual has greatly increased risk of developing PGL at any or several sites in the autonomic nervous system. The mode of inheritance for some is affected by maternal imprinting. These tumors are generally very slow growing, often taking a decade to double in size. A few are or can become malignant and can metastasize widely. Because of their site of origin, patients with these tumors may develop cranial nerve deficits that have a significant impact on their quality of life. Patients may present to specialists from widely differing disciplines, and some of these may not appreciate the full implications of their patient's disease. As a result, management can become fragmented or inappropriate, and some aspects of care may even be overlooked. This article is the distillation of consensus opinion derived from current published and unpublished data in this field, with particular reference to the management of temporal bone PGLs. We propose guidelines for the management of both sporadic and hereditary PGLs. A multidisciplinary team approach to the management of this complex disorder is advocated. Progress could be made by adopting these guidelines and by widespread dissemination of standardized information. Collaborative research should be promoted with the aim of harnessing advances in molecular genetics to develop targeted therapies for patients, particularly those with hereditary PGL.

What is the best tumor size to achieve optimal functional results in vestibular schwannoma surgery?

OBJECTIVES: To analyze our own functional results to delineate a critical vestibular schwannoma size for middle cranial fossa (MCF) surgery with the best possible outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Academic tertiary referral center. METHODS: Tumors were divided into intracanalicular, tumors 1 to 5, 6 to 10, and 11 to 15 mm in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). Patients were evaluated at 2 months, 1 year, and 5 years after surgery. RESULTS: At 1 year, House-Brackmann score of I or II was obtained in 100% of intracanalicular and in 96%, 86%, and 85% with tumors up to 5, 10, and 15 mm in the CPA, respectively. Class I hearing was postoperatively preserved in 61%, 41%, 29%, and 20%, and measurable word recognition in 67%, 51%, 35%, and 21% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: The outcome is predominantly a function of tumor size, and these changes influence MCF surgery at an earlier stage than in the translabyrinthine or retrosigmoid approach. For the facial nerve, there is a cutoff at 5-mm extracanalicular extension. Also, chances for successful hearing preservation decrease rapidly with size, and in tumors beyond 1.5 cm are below 20%. Consequently, although an expectant policy with small tumors may be reasonable in some instances, it is not so for MCF candidates.

Vestibular schwannoma volume as a predictor of hearing outcome after surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To validate the prognostic capacity of several preoperative and intraoperative parameters of hearing preservation after vestibular schwannoma surgery. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study of a consecutive series of 29 patients treated with the enlarged middle cranial fossa approach. Quantitative parameters were tumor volume, linear tumor size, pure-tone and speech audiometry, pure-tone average, speech discrimination score, speech reception threshold, auditory brainstem response (ABR; intra-aural interpeak latency I-V, interaural wave V latency difference), and the vestibular caloric test (speed and frequency). Qualitative parameters were fundus involvement by the tumor (in magnetic resonance imaging and surgical record), nerve of tumor origin (in magnetic resonance imaging and surgical record), ABR parameters (well-shaped ABRs: waves I, III, and V present; presence of wave V). METHODS: All patients were divided into 2 groups on the basis of postoperative hearing: preserved hearing (55%) or nonpreserved hearing (45%). The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to evaluate normality of distribution for continuous data. The t test was applied for normally distributed continuous data and the Mann-Whitney test for nonnormally distributed continuous data. The chi2 test was used for comparisons of categoric data. RESULTS: Tumor volume was found to be the only statistically significant prognostic parameter for hearing preservation (p = 0.007). The cutoff point for the "critical" tumor volume for hearing preservation was calculated to 0.20 cm. None of the other parameters reached statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Tumor size is a predictive factor for hearing preservation after vestibular schwannoma surgery, and patients with smaller tumors, based on volume measurement, have significantly better chances for retaining hearing. This has an impact on decision making and timing of surgery.

Evolution of stapedectomy prostheses over time.

The history of stapedectomy prostheses started in 1956, when John J. Shea first described the microsurgical technique of the stapedectomy procedure in which an otosclerotic stapes was replaced with a prosthesis made of Teflon. Over the years, the evolution of the prostheses was influenced by the changes in the microsurgical technique, materials used and technical properties. The materials evolved from Teflon, metal, to plastic, and most recently to gold and titanium. While initially the diameter of the pistons used was 0.8 and 0.6 mm, from the 1970s onwards, it has been becoming even smaller in order to ease the procedure and reduce the risk of inner ear damage. Improvement was made in the way the prosthesis is fixed to the long incus process, resulting in different solutions like Teflon memory effect, platinum and gold band, titanium-gold clip prostheses or nickel-titanium alloy. Eventually, the most decisive factor for successful surgery is surgical experience with a specific type of prostheses and the expertise in the microsurgery technique.

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the petrous apex.

With the exception of moderately differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of the larynx, neuroendocrine carcinomas are very rare head and neck malignancies. We report a case of a small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the petrous apex of the temporal bone. This unusual site for this tumour has not yet been reported in the literature. We confirmed the location and extent of the primary tumour by positron-emission tomography scan. The final histopathological diagnosis was of small cell carcinoma, and this was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. We treated this patient with surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. After the treatment was completed there was subtotal remission of the tumour, with no distant metastases.

An international otology database.

There are many reports in the literature on the outcome of ear surgery. However, it is difficult to make comparisons from these reports because of a lack of uniformity in the way in which outcomes are reported. At the same time, the general public expects doctors to provide them with information regarding the benefits and risks of surgery. Many ear surgeons will not be able to provide this information because few have an up-to-date database. A group of otologists in Europe has attempted to establish a common otology database. The aim is to create a framework whereby surgeons in Europe can contribute to a common ear database using a web-based system. The proposed methodology involves two levels of data entry. Level 1 is a minimal database where the main outcomes are included. Level 2 is a comprehensive database where detailed information on pathologies, risk factors, and surgical procedures is also recorded. As both databases share the same core data, clinicians using database 1 can still compare their outcomes with those using database 2. Clinicians will be able to input and retrieve ear data onto or from the web-based database. There has already been an international consensus on the content of the common ear database. The website address is www.ear-audit.net. The international project has now been in operation for more than 6 months, and Ear UK has already given its endorsement. The founder members include 27 otologists from 12 European countries. The cumulative outcome from this group of surgeons will be used as the benchmark for the purpose of comparative audit. These benchmark sites will be subjected to regular external validation. The web-based system is interactive and gives instant feedback to individual surgeons who wish to compare their results to the benchmark. Therefore, it can be a good learning tool for trainees or less experienced surgeons. The common data entry system also provides an opportunity for clinicians to collaborate in clinical research.