Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma--review of clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features.

INTRODUCTION: Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma is a low-grade malignant salivary gland neoplasm with a biphasic cell population that encompasses around 1% of all salivary neoplasms. METHOD: We present different cases of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma, with special emphasis on histopathology, differential diagnosis, relevant prognostic factors and follow-up. RESULT: This study included 8 patients who were diagnosed with epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma and treated surgically including a follow-up period of at least 19 months. CONCLUSION: Clinical and histopathological characteristics of these rare tumors are extremely valuable for accurate diagnosis and further therapy planning.

Unintentional conversion of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo caused by repositioning procedures for canalithiasis: transitional BPPV.

BPPV when diagnosed before any repositioning procedure is called primary BPPV. Primary BPPV canalithiasis treatment with repositioning procedures sometimes results in unintentional conversion of BPPV form: transitional BPPV. Objectives were to find transitional BPPV forms, how they influence relative rate of canal involvement and how to be treated. This study is a retrospective case review performed at an ambulatory, tertiary referral center. Participants were 189 consecutive BPPV patients. Main outcome measures were detection of transitional BPPV, outcome of repositioning procedures for transitional canalithiasis BPPV and spontaneous recovery for transitional cupulolithiasis BPPV. Canal distribution of primary BPPV was: posterior canal (Pc): 85.7% (162/189), horizontal canal (Hc): 11.6% (22/189), anterior canal (Ac): 2.6% (5/189); taken together with transitional BPPV it was: Pc: 71.3% (164/230), Hc: 26.5% (61/230), Ac: 2.2% (5/230). Transitional BPPV forms were: Hc canalithiasis 58% (24/41), Hc cupulolithiasis 37% (15/41) and common crux reentry 5% (2/41). Treated with barbecue maneuver transitional Hc canalithiasis cases either resolved in 58% (14/24) or transitioned further to transitional Hc cupulolithiasis in 42% (10/24). In follow-up of transitional Hc cupulolithiasis we confirmed spontaneous recovery in 14/15 cases in less than 2 days. The most frequent transitional BPPV form was Hc canalithiasis so it raises importance of barbecue maneuver treatment. Second most frequent was transitional Hc cupulolithiasis which very quickly spontaneously recovers and does not require any intervention. The rarest found transitional BPPV form was common crux reentry which is treated by Canalith repositioning procedure. Transitional BPPV taken together with primary BPPV may decrease relative rate of Pc BPPV, considerably increase relative rate of Hc BPPV and negligibly influence relative rate of Ac BPPV. Transitional BPPV forms can be produced by repositioning maneuvers (transitional Hc cupulolithiasis) or by the subsequent controlling positional test (transitional Hc canalithiasis and common crux reentry); underlying mechanisms are discussed.

Temporalis fascia graft perforation and retraction after tympanoplasty for chronic tubotympanic otitis and attic retraction pockets: factors associated with recurrence.

OBJECTIVES: To correlate the recurrence of temporalis fascia graft perforation and retraction in adults and children after tympanoplasty for chronic tubotympanic otitis and deep attic retraction pockets with age, pathologic process, mucosal lesions, mucociliary transport time, chronic sinusitis, and lateral attic wall reconstruction. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Two hundred seventy-four adult ears and 41 child ears were operated on for chronic tubotympanic otitis, 50 adult ears were operated on for traumatic tympanic membrane rupture, and 56 adult ears were operated on for attic retraction pockets. INTERVENTIONS: Underlay tympanoplasty with or without mastoidectomy and lateral attic wall reconstruction for attic retraction pockets. Mucociliary transport time was investigated using saccharin testing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Recurrent perforation, recurrent attic retraction, and temporalis fascia graft retraction were evaluated. RESULTS: Higher incidences of recurrent perforation were found in adults operated on for tubotympanic otitis vs traumatic tympanic membrane rupture (P = .02) and in children (P = .004), especially those 9 years and younger (P = .02). A risk factor in adults was chronic sinusitis (risk ratio, 35.0; 95% confidence interval, 32.1-38.2; P = .004). Temporalis fascia graft retraction correlated with slower mucociliary transport time in adults (P < .001). A lower incidence of recurrent attic retraction was associated with lateral attic wall reconstruction (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent temporalis fascia graft perforation after tympanoplasty for tubotympanic otitis may be related to age and coexisting chronic sinusitis. Temporalis fascia graft retraction correlates with slower mucociliary transport time in the eustachian tube. Lateral attic wall reconstruction minimizes recurrent attic retraction in adults.

[Surgical approach to parapharyngeal space tumors].

INTRODUCTION: Parapharyngeal space tumors are very rare comprising 0.5% of head and neck tumors. Tumors of this symptomatology as well as considerable surgical issue owing to inaccessibility. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective twenty-year study of patients with parapharyngeal space tumors included 69 patients. Data were obtained from medical records, and were pointed to diagnostic procedures, surgical approach and pathohistological findings. Symptoms and clinical signs were also investigated. RESULTS: Preoperative diagnostics is very important for precise tumor localization and relation to adjacent structures. Computerized tomography was the most common method used, and recently, magnetic resonance imaging and indication-based contrast angiography have been applied. All of 69 patients with parapharyngeal space tumors were treated surgically. The most often approach to this tumor was transcervical (62%), then transoral approach and combination transcervical transoral approach. Pathohistological examination verified that most of the tumors were benign (75%) and origin of these tumors was most frequently salivary (42%). CONCLUSION: For making a decision on surgical approach, diagnostic methods, other than thorough examination, such as computerized tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MR), are necessary to be applied.

Head-neck cancer drug therapy--could it be improved?

Head-neck cancer is an area requiring more attention to a highly demanding therapy which has not been fully developed yet. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, including improvements of surgical techniques, radio- and chemotherapy and prevention strategies, the survival rates of patients with recurrent head-neck cancer are low. New drugs, including those targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor, p53 gene, RAS protein post-translation modification, the proteosome, vascular endothelial growth factor, cyclooxigenase-2 and other molecular pathways, are promising agents for management of head-neck cancer. Their potential is being tested in various settings, including chemoprevention, recurrent and metastatic disease and combination with radiotherapy and/or cytotoxic agents. Cytotoxic drugs could produce better effects if administered locally--laser thermal cisplatin application. The metronomic low-dose chemotherapy will prove effective. The anticoagulant therapy undoubtedly has its place. The potential lies in sound ongoing academic clinical trial--biomarkers leading to maximally promising pharmacogenomic based therapy. Better comprehension of tumor biology and mechanisms of resistance is necessary as well as the institution of reliable assays for clinical use.