Adult Vocal Fold Hemangioma: A Case-Series Study and Review of Literature.

Adult laryngeal hemangiomas are rare and uncommon. Hemangioma isolated to the free-edge of vocal cord is very rare. We report five cases diagnosed at our voice clinic during 18 months-period from July 2016 to December 2017. All the five patients presented with hoarseness and the laryngoscopy examination detected a pink mass at the vocal edge with the histopathology indicating hemangioma. Direct laryngoscopy with laryngeal carbon dioxide (CO2) laser microscopic surgery was performed uneventfully and no recurrence was found. We suggest that Microscopic Laser Laryngoscopy (CO2) is the treatment option of vocal fold hemangioma with no intraoperative massive bleeding.

Comparison of nasal patency after nose-blowing between pinch versus no pinch method: a randomized controlled trial.

We proposed that nose-blowing without pinching was safer and able to get rid of mucus and maintain nasal patency as effective as the pinch and blow method. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nasal patency after nose-blowing by pinching the nose versus no pinching. The patients who have nasal discharge such as allergic rhinitis or common cold were recruited. The patients were randomized to perform pinching or no pinching nose-blowing. Fifty patients were enrolled in this study. The objective evaluation using acoustic rhinometry found no difference in nasal patency between the two groups (p > 0.05). The subjective patency score was significantly higher in the pinch one nostril shut group (mean difference 0.88, 95% CI 0.20-1.55). The patency of the two methods were comparable according to the objective test. However, the patients felt that their nose was clearer when pinching and blowing.

Total pharyngo-supraglottic separation following blunt neck trauma: a case report.

Blunt laryngeal trauma is a rare, potentially life-threatening event. A man suffered total pharyngosupraglottic separation following accidental strangling, when a long cloth hanging around his neck was tracked into a threshing machine. Difficulty maintaining the airway was the primary challenge since the laryngotracheal complex had collapsed into the mediastinum. The authors palpated the thyroid cartilage just above the sternal notch but could not identify the tracheal ring for tracheotomy. Injuries to the laryngotracheal complex are severe if there is such a complete separation. Early diagnosis and proper management reduce morbidity and mortality. The successful management of such a case is presented

Ear wiggling tics: treatment with botulinum toxin injection.

Ear wiggling tics are a rare disorder and there is no reported satisfactory treatment. We had a patient present with ear wiggling tics, which we treated with injections (totaling 40 units) of botulinum toxin A to the pinna muscle (i.e., the auricularis anterior and superior). The tics completely disappeared within 9 days of injection without any side effects.

Botulinum toxin injection for treatment of spasmodic dysphonia: experience at Srinagarind Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) is a focal dystonia and adductor SD is the most common form. The standard treatment for adductor SD is EMG-guided, transcutaneous injections of botulinum toxin into the thyroarytenoid muscle. OBJECTIVE: Report the clinical presentation of SD, treatment with botulinum toxin injection, injection technique, results, and adverse effects. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A reviewed of clinical records of patients diagnosed with SD at the Voice Clinic between April 1999 and December 2004 at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. Thirty-seven patients were identified but only twenty-five were treated with EMG-guided botulinum toxin injection to the thyroarytenoid muscle. RESULTS: In the presented 37 patients, SD was more common in women (89%) than men (11%). The median duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis was 12 months: all were the adductor type. The average age at onset was 46 years. The presenting symptoms included influence to the voice (84%), hoarseness (70%), strained or strangled voice (65%), decreased loudness (27%), and breathy voice (22%). A vocal tremor coexisted with dystonia in 60% of the presented patients. Treatment with botulinum toxin injection was carried out on 25 patients for 78 injections (mean, 3 per patient). The time for botulinum toxin to take effect averaged 2.3 days (peak effect, 7 days). The patients received substantial relief from their SD symptoms, an average functional improvement of 39.2% (37.6% initially vs. 76.8% finally). Patients' best voice was achieved within one week and persisted for an average of 13.6 weeks. Side effects from the injections included mild breathiness (68%) and mild choking on fluid (56%). After injection, decreased potential for volume was a common complaint, but since all of the patients experienced increased fluency, they were satisfied. Almost all of the patients returned for repeat injections when the benefit diminished. CONCLUSION: Botulinum toxin therapy has become the standard care for the treatment of SD. An acceptable and flexible treatment plan to produce a balance between decreased spasms and loss of function must be developed for each patient.

Small vocal cord polyps: completely resolved with conservative treatment.

Vocal fold polyps usually occur on the anterior or middle part of the membranous vocal fold and are the commonest laryngeal pathology requiring surgical removal. We report on six cases of small vocal polyps (4 cases angiomatous polyps and 2 gelatinous) that completely resolved using conservative treatment. Not every case of polyps requires surgical removal.

Retropharyngeal space infection.

Retropharyngeal space infections are relatively rare since the widespread use of modern antibiotics. In children, retropharyngeal space infections usually occur following an upper respiratory tract infection, while in adults they are usually caused by trauma, foreign bodies or extension from adjacent spaces. The authors reviewed 12 patients with retropharyngeal space infection between July 1996 and June 2002. Age, sex, duration of symptoms and hospitalization time, clinical presentation, etiology, underlying disease, bacteriology, treatment and complications were analyzed. Widening of the prevertebral soft tissue as seen on a plain film of the lateral neck was the most important diagnostic tool. Fever was the most common symptom (91.6%) and showed a high prevalence in adult populations (66.6%). Half of the cases were caused by ingestion of a foreign body. Nine cases underwent surgical drainage which was positive in eight cases (88.8%). Staph. aureus, K. pneumoniae and Enterobacter species were the predominant pathogens. Early diagnosis and appropriate use of antibiotics lessened morbidity. Only two cases had postoperative complications and both recovered.

Tuberculosis in the upper aerodigestive tract and human immunodeficiency virus coinfections.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical manifestations of tuberculosis in the upper aerodigestive tract. DESIGN: Retrospective chart analysis. SETTING: Srinagarind Hospital, Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. METHODS: A review of medical records of patients diagnosed with mycobacterial infection of the upper aerodigestive tract between January 1991 and December 2000. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presenting symptoms, clinical findings, pathologic findings, pulmonary involvement, and outcome of treatment. RESULTS: Forty-five patients presented with upper aerodigestive tract tuberculosis. The nasopharynx was involved in 23 patients, the larynx in 16, the tonsils in 6, and the soft palate in 1. One patient had tuberculous infections in both the nasopharynx and tonsils. The mean duration of symptoms before diagnosis was 2.1 months. The pathologic findings included caseous granuloma and/or positive acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in 39 cases and chronic granulomatous inflammation with negative AFB in 6 cases. Pulmonary tuberculosis was found in 19 of the 36 patients who underwent radiography. A positive serologic test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was found in 4 of 26 patients. These 26 patients, who received a full course of treatment, responded well. CONCLUSION: The most common site of tuberculosis in the head and neck involved the cervical lymph nodes and nasopharynx. Upper aerodigestive tract tuberculosis is difficult to differentiate from carcinoma; thus, tissue biopsy is necessary for a definite diagnosis. Chest radiography and screening for HIV infection are recommended in all patients with upper aerodigestive tract tuberculosis.

A randomized trial of the canalith repositioning procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness and complications of our adaptation of the canalith repositioning procedure (CRP) with the expectation treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, controlled trial in the setting of a neurotological clinic in Thailand. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with posterior benign paroxysmal positional vertigo were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups using a block of four. The treatment group was treated with the modified CRP technique until the nystagmus disappeared. A mastoid oscillator was not used, nor were any instructions given for patients after the maneuver. Both groups recorded the daily grading of symptoms and the amount of anti-vertiginous drugs (cinnarizine) taken. Objective and subjective assessments were made weekly until the nystagmus disappeared or until 4 weeks had passed since treatment began. RESULTS: The rates of effectiveness of CRP treatment and the control treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo were 75.9% and 48.2%, respectively. There was a significant difference in the treatment outcomes of the CRP and control groups (P =.03). The CRP group used significantly fewer drugs than the control group (P =.001). Complications in the CRP group, such as lateral canalithiasis and fainting, were observed in 13.8% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The CRP was more effective than the expectation treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo insofar as it provided faster recovery and required less dependence on medication. Complications of CRP were limited to 13.8% of patients.

The masticator space infection.

The masticator space is an important suprahyoid tissue compartment. Infection of the masticator space can break through the fascia and involve the adjacent space. Severe complications including mediastinitis, pericarditis and death have been reported. The correct diagnosis and proper management are, therefore, crucial in order to reduce this complication. The authors reviewed 22 patients with masticator space infection between July 1996 and June 2001. All of the patients presented with trismus and 18 patients (81.8%) had a suspected dental cause of infection. Five patients had underlying disease; three were diabetic and two had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. High dosage intravenous antibiotics directed towards the causative microorganism were given to all of the patients. Fourteen patients underwent surgical drainage and surgical drain was positive in eleven patients (78.5%). Routine aerobic cultures were done on samples of the drained material. Bacteriology showed Streptococcus spp. the dominant microorganism in three patients, Pseudomonas spp. in one patient and no growth in ten patients. Blood culture grew Burholderia pseudomallei in one patient who responded to medical treatment. Three patients had post-operative complications but all recovered.

Clinical aspects of tonsillar tuberculosis.

A clinical analysis of 6 patients with pathologically confirmed tonsillar tuberculosis was carried out retrospectively. The subjects comprised three men and three women, ranging in age from 20 to 74 years. All of the patients presented with a sore throat and 5 had lymphadenopathy. Ulcerations, masses and white patches characterized the tonsillar lesions; the pathological findings included caseous granuloma with positive acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in 5 patients and chronic granulomatous inflammation with negative AFB in one patient. Four of the six patients had pulmonary tuberculosis. The three patients who received complete treatment responded well. The presenting symptoms and abnormal tonsillar findings associated with tonsillar tuberculosis are similar to those of malignant tumors and therefore it is difficult to differentiate the two pathologies; moreover, tonsillar tuberculosis often occurs with pulmonary tuberculosis and AIDS and therefore, a chest X-ray and HIV-screening are recommended for all patients with tonsillar tuberculosis.

Otolaryngological complications of osteopetrosis.

Osteopetrosis is a rare inherited bone disease that affects both humans and various mammals. The authors report on two cases of osteopetrosis with otolaryngological complications. One patient had the childhood form and presented with chronic otitis media and brain abscess. The second patient had the adult form and presented with sinusitis from tooth extraction which developed into chronic osteomyelitis of the maxillary bone.

Botulinum toxin injection for objective tinnitus from palatal myoclonus: a case report.

Objective tinnitus may be caused by many etiologies-palatal myoclonus being one of them. We report one patient of voluntary palatal myoclonus presenting with objective tinnitus treated with botulinum toxin injection. Five units of botulinum toxin A were injected into each side of the soft palate at the palatal muscles (levator veli palatini and tensor veli palatini muscle). The tinnitus disappeared within two days of injection and no side effect was observed.

Surgical emphysema following intraoral drainage of buccal space abscess.

The authors present a case of surgical emphysema following intraoral drainage of a buccal space abscess, a complication not previously reported. Surgical emphysema was remedied after removing a penrose drain and conservative treatment, suggesting retention of the drain caused the emphysema.