Impacto de la enfermedad de pequeño vaso en la inestabilidad del anciano. Estudio descriptivo transversal / Vestibular Pathology and Instability in the Elderly and its Relationship with Small Vessel Disease. Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

Introducción y objetivo: La elevada prevalencia de mareo e inestabilidad en los ancianos, su complejo diagnóstico e importantes consecuencias (caídas y lesiones derivadas) constituyen un grave problema sanitario. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo principal determinar si existe relación entre dichos síntomas y la presencia de enfermedad de pequeño vaso. Secundariamente intentaremos describir las causas más frecuentes de mareo e inestabilidad en los pacientes ancianos. Método: Se realiza un estudio descriptivo transversal con 214 pacientes mayores de 70 años remitidos por vértigo, mareo o inestabilidad. Se valoran los diagnósticos más frecuentes y se comparan tres grupos: 1) Patología vestibular periférica, 2) mareo o inestabilidad de causa desconocida y 3) grupo de control. Para ello se utiliza la escala de Fazekas que determina la magnitud de las lesiones de sustancia blanca por imágenes de resonancia magnética. Resultados: El vértigo posicional paroxístico benigno fue el diagnóstico más frecuente (17,3%), seguido de la enfermedad de Ménière (15%). Un 20% de los pacientes fueron clasificados como origen desconocido o multifactorial. La enfermedad de pequeño vaso se encontró con mayor frecuencia en el grupo con mareo de causas desconocidas (p=0,034). Conclusiones: se reafirma la asociación entre las lesiones de sustancia blanca, sugerentes de enfermedad de pequeño vaso, y la mayor aparición de mareo e inestabilidad en los ancianos; siendo la prevalencia de la enfermedad mucho menor en el grupo de control que en aquellos con mareo de causa desconocida. Asimismo, se determina que el vértigo posicional paroxístico benigno es el diagnóstico más frecuente de mareo e inestabilidad en el anciano. (AU)

Germinoma in the internal auditory canal mimicking a vestibular schwannoma.

The appearance of a primary germinoma in the central nervous system but not on or near the midline or within the brain is exceptional. It may occur at any age; however, it is rare in patients over 50 years old. Only a handful of cases of germinomas located in the cerebellopontine angle were presented, but to our knowledge, there has been no description of an isolated germinoma in the internal auditory canal. We report a case of germinoma in the internal auditory canal in a 51-year-old man simulating the clinical and radiological characteristics of a vestibular schwannoma.

[Bacterial lip abscess in an immunocompetent patient]. / Absceso bacteriano labial en paciente inmunocompetente.

Lip abscesses are a potentially serious condition rarely reported in the medical literature. This disease requires prompt diagnosis and treatment with hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics, and urgent surgical drainage. Clinical knowledge of this condition is essential to guide the differential diagnosis and correctly adapt the etiological treatment. The presence of necrotic and cavitated lesions requires ruling out immunosupression or methicillin-resistant agent. We report a necrotic and cavitated bacterial lip abscess caused by methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus in an immunocompetent male.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most frequent peripheral vertigo in the elderly. It is a well-characterized entity and generally easy to treat. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the main symptoms, time to consult for the problem, vertigo characteristics, treatment and follow-up in patients over 70 with BPPV. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study. Four hundred and four patients were diagnosed to have BPPV (between January 2006 and December 2012); 211 of them were ≥70 years old (mean 77.7 years) and 193 <70 years old (mean 53.82 years). RESULTS: Patients over 70 with BPPV took longer to consult for the problem (Spearman rho, p = 0.01). The frequency of a clinical presentation consisting of unsteadiness or imbalance without vertigo sensation is higher among elderly patients (χ(2), p = 10(-6)). The effectiveness of the repositioning maneuver is lower than in patients under 70 (χ(2), p = 0.002), and the recurrences are more frequent (χ(2), p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: BPPV is a frequent entity in the elderly, and it is necessary to take it into account when older patients complain about imbalance. An appropriate treatment with repositioning maneuvers and prolonged follow-up are required in order to detect recurrences.

Deep neck infection. Review of 286 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Deep neck infections (DNI) are potentially lethal processes and are susceptible to severe complications. This study shows an increment of the incidence and investigated the cause. More than 30% of cases are idiopathic, but they are commonly related to a dental or oropharyngeal infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present 286 consecutive cases in a retrospective 11-year study. We analysed the clinical picture, antecedents and concurrent diseases, and diagnostic and therapeutic approaches that could be related to developing a DNI. RESULTS: A mayor increase in DNI incidence in our setting was seen in the last few years. The mayor complications were mediastinitis, septic shock with disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, necrotising fasciitis and acute respiratory failure. A lower cranial nerve palsy that develops into dysphagia and leukoencephalopathy are the most frequent sequela. We found 10% of aspiration pneumonia. Mortality in adults was 5.9% and in children, 6.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Deep neck infections constitute a medical and surgical emergency. Severe complications may arise in a short time. We must be vigilant to alarm symptoms such as dyspnea, stridor, pain in the floor of the mouth, sialohrrea, trismus, etc. Improvements in antibiotic therapy, diagnostic imaging and critical patient support modalities have decreased mortality and there is a better prognosis, with complications being identified and treated earlier.

[Merkel cell carcinoma: a presentation of 5 cases and a review of the literature]. / Carcinoma de células de Merkel: presentación de 5 casos y revisión de la literatura.

Merkel cell carcinoma is an unusual, aggressive skin tumour, with a tendency to recurrence after its surgical extirpation. Five cases of tumours in the cervicofacial region seen at our Centre in the last five years are presented, along with a review of the literature, focusing on its etiopathogeneis, approach and treatment.