A case of uncommon anatomic variation of the middle turbinate associated with contact point headache: Bilateral double middle turbinate.

By applying pressure to nasal mucosa, anatomic variations at nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses may cause headache without any sign of inflammatory diseases such as sinusitis or nasal polyp. This phenomenon is called as contact point headache (CPH) and observed as a result of concha variations, mostly due to concha bullosa. Accessory middle turbinate (AMT) is a very rare variation and occurred as a result of mediale and inferior folding of uncinate process. When this folding is severe, AMT may cause double middle concha appearance in nasal cavity. To the extent, we know, bilateral double middle turbinate variation has not been defined before. Hereby, we present a CPH phenomenon in a patient with bilateral double middle turbinate variation which is related to contact of AMT to real middle turbinate.

Effectiveness of hearing protection apparatus in preventing noise induced vestibular loss.

Hearing protection apparatus (HPAs) are frequently used to prevent the detrimental effect of noise on the hearing system. However, it is not known exactly whether wearing HPAs in workers protects the vestibular system. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of wearing HPAs in preventing vestibular loss caused by noise. Eighty-one workers exposed to chronic noise were divided into three groups according to their HPAs wearing status. Pure-tone audiometry test was used to evaluate the hearing. Caloric test and visual analogue scale were used to evaluate their vestibular systems. The pure-tone average of the workers who constantly wore HPAs was better than that of the other groups (p< 0.05). There was no difference between the groups in the vestibular tests (p > 0.05). This study demonstrated that HPAs do not protect the vestibular system but protect the hearing system in the inner ear from the harmful effects of noise.

There is no evidence of cochlear and vestibular melanocyte damage in patients with alopecia areata.

PURPOSE: Follicular melanocytes are known to be damaged in alopecia areata (AA). However, it is not clear whether melanocytes are the primary target of autoimmunity and whether melanocytes in the inner ear are affected. This study aimed to detect possible cochlear and/or vestibular melanocyte damage in AA patients. METHODS: Thirty-two AA patients and 35 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers were evaluated between November 2018 and March 2020 at the Karabük University Training and Research Hospital. The conventional pure tone audiometry test and distortion product otoacoustic emission test were performed to evaluate hearing. To evaluate the vestibular function, the following tests were performed: the vestibulospinal reflex tests (Romberg test, tandem stance test and tandem walking test); positional balance tests (Dix-Hallpike test, supine roll test and head hanging test); vestibulo-ocular reflex tests (caloric test, head shake test) and oculomotor tests (saccade, smooth pursuit and optokinetic). RESULTS: The mean age of AA patients was 31.94 ± 11.86 years (range, 15-67 years). There were no significant differences in the results of the hearing and balance tests between the groups. Furthermore, disease parameters (duration of the last attack, recurrence, positive family history, positive pull test, the severity of the disease, etc) were not associated with hearing loss and vestibular damage. CONCLUSION: AA patients did not exhibit hearing loss or balance abnormalities that would indicate cochlear and vestibular melanocyte damage. The lack of damage to the inner ear melanocytes in AA patients may indicate that follicular melanocytes are affected secondary to autoimmune damage in the hair bulb, and melanocytes are not the primary target in the pathogenesis of AA.

Investigation of hearing and outer hair cell function of the cochlea in patients with vitiligo.

Vitiligo is a systemic disease that affects not only the skin but also other areas that contain melanocytes, such as the inner ear. Studies of the effect of vitiligo on hearing loss have shown inconsistent results, and it is not clear which parameters related to the disease affect hearing. The aim of this study was to determine which disease-related parameters trigger damage to cochlear melanocytes in vitiligo patients and the effect of vitiligo on the outer hair cells and hearing. Thirty-one vitiligo patients and 40 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers were evaluated. The conventional pure tone audiometry (C-PTA) test and the distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) test were performed. There was no significant difference between vitiligo patients and controls in C-PTA test results, but the DPOAE test results were abnormal in vitiligo patients. The duration of the disease was significantly related to hypoacusis. As the duration of the disease increases, cochlear dysfunction may increase. Especially in patients with longer disease duration, otoacoustic emission tests should be performed in addition to conventional audiometry tests for early detection of damage to the outer hair cells.

Evaluation of audiovestibular system in psoriasis patients without joint involvement.

Inner ear involvement may occur in systemic autoimmune diseases. Although there are studies evaluating hearing in psoriasis patients, its effect on the balance system is not clear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the audiovestibular system in psoriasis patients without joint involvement. In this prospective study, the audiovestibular system of 32 psoriasis patients without joint involvement and 35 healthy volunteers were evaluated. The severity of the disease was determined by the psoriasis area severity index (PASI). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of hearing test results, while the abnormal caloric test response was significantly higher in the psoriatic patients. PASI scores of psoriasis patients with abnormal caloric test results were higher than those with normal caloric test response. In psoriasis patients without joint involvement, the hearing was not affected, but the vestibular system was. The severity of the disease was associated with vestibular involvement. Particularly in patients with severe psoriasis, it must be considered that the vestibular system might be affected, and vestibular evaluations should be performed.

[A rare cause of headache: Rhinolit]. / Bas agrisinda nadir bir neden: Rinolit.

The rhinolith is massed in a mineral nugget in the nasal cavity, which is the result of the accumulation of salts around the nidus. The nidus may be endogenous or exogenous. Long-term and unilateral nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, pain and malodor are major complaints. However, sometimes, they may not show any signs for years and maybe detected incidentally during a routine examination. In this study, we present a case of giant rhinolith with headache and nasal obstruction complaints.

Potential Risk of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo Due To Traumatic Effect of Osteotomy in Septorhinoplasty Patients.

PURPOSE: We investigated the effect of osteotomy on the vestibular system in septorhinoplasty patients and determined the potential risk of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the present prospective study, 47 primary septorhinoplasty patients were evaluated as the study group and 50 septoplasty patients as the control group. Osteotomy was performed in all septorhinoplasty patients. No hammer and osteotomes were used in the control group. All patients underwent static balance tests (tandem stance test, 1-leg standing test, and Romberg test), dynamic balance tests (tandem walking test and Fukuda test), positional balance tests (Dix-Hallpike test and supine roll test), head impulse test, and the adult dizziness handicap inventory (ADHI) preoperatively and during the first postoperative week. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the 2 groups in terms of the static balance tests, dynamic balance tests, positional balance tests, or head impulse test results. The postoperative ADHI scores were significantly worse in the septorhinoplasty patient group than in the control group. Posterior semicircular canal BPPV was observed in 2 patients in the septorhinoplasty group but none in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: BPPV is one of the possible early postoperative complications of rhinoplasty. In patients with vertigo after rhinoplasty, surgeons should evaluate the semicircular canals using the Dix-Hallpike and supine roll tests. To avoid the traumatic effect of osteotomy reflected on the inner ear, attention should be given to the applied force, and sharp osteotomes should be used.

Origin of polyps and accompanying sinonasal pathologies in patients with antrochoanal polyp: Analysis of 22 patients.

OBJECTIVE: Solitary, benign soft tissue masses originating at the maxillary sinus and extending to the nasopharynx are called antrochoanal polyps (ACP). The aim of the study was to determine the origins of ACP accompanying sinonasal pathologies and the effectiveness of endoscopic sinus surgery in patients with ACP. METHODS: Twenty-two patients (13 men, 9 women; age range: 6-50; average age: 28.3±13.3) who were treated for ACP using endoscopic sinus surgery between January 2014 and September 2017 were included in the study. The patient's age, sex, symptom at presentation to the clinic, sinonasal pathologies accompanying the ACP, and adhesion site of ACP inside the maxillary sinus were retrospectively examined. RESULTS: The most frequently encountered symptom in patients was nasal congestion (95.4%). This was followed by snoring and sleeping with an open mouth (31.8%), nasal discharge (22.7%), headache (18.1%), feeling of a foreign body in the throat (9.1%), and epistaxis (4.5%). When the adhesion site of ACP in the maxillary sinus was checked, it was seen that it was the most frequently located in the medial wall (27.2%), followed by the posterior (18.1%) and lateral wall (13.6%). One patient (4.54%) developed recurrence. CONCLUSION: Although the origin of ACP cannot be detected in the paranasal sinus tomography scan, accompanying sinonasal pathologies should be preoperatively identified. Development of angled endoscopes and angled instruments enabling easy removal of cystic lesions renders endoscopic sinus surgery sufficient for the treatment of ACP.

Assessment of balance skills and falling risk in children with congenital bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the balance skills and falling risk in children with a congenital bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss (CBPSNHL). METHODS: 25 children with CBPSNHL and healthy 25 children with similar age and gender were included in the study. The flamingo balance test, the tandem stance test, and the one-leg standing test were performed to assess the patients' static balance skills. The pediatric balance scale (PBS) was used to evaluate the dynamic balance. Visual analog scale (VAS) was applied to the patients assess the frequency of falls. RESULTS: The flamingo balance test, the tandem stance test, and the one-leg standing test in the children with CBPSNHL were all significantly worse than the control group. Although the scores of PBS in patients with CBPSNHL were significantly lower than the control group (p < 0.001), the results of both groups were consistent with a low risk of falls. There was no significant difference between the VAS scores indicating the frequency of falls among the groups (p = 0.552). CONCLUSION: Static and dynamic balance skills of the children with CBPSNHL are significantly impaired compared to their healthy peers. Children with CBPSNHL also have a lower risk of falling just like their healthy peers and there is no significant difference between their falling frequencies. Balance skills of children with CBPSNHL can be assessed quickly and effectively on a hard floor (eyes closed), with a tandem standing test or a one-leg standing test.

Respiratory Pathway and Swallowing Management in a Patient With Epiglottis Loss After Life-Threatening Penetrating Laryngeal Trauma.

Laryngeal trauma is a rare but potentially life-threatening injury. Damage to larynx structures may occur in forms of a simple contusion, fractures of the laryngeal cartilage, and may even result in laryngotracheal disjunction depending on the ossification level of the larynx and the severity of the trauma. However, in almost all cases, damaged laryngeal tissue is also observed in the trauma area. Because thyroid cartilage protects the endolaryngeal tissues like a shield against trauma. Epiglottis prevents escape of the food to respiratory tract and directs food to digestive system. In this article, a case of knife attack resulted in deep neck incision with loss of epiglottis in the incision area, the surgical operation, and the postoperative recovery period which had a clinical significance due to loss of epiglottis were presented. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first laryngeal trauma case with loss of epiglottis.

Rare Cause of Tinnitus: Spontaneous Temporomandibular Joint Herniation Into the External Auditory Canal.

The herniation of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) into external auditory canal (EAC) may occur due to trauma, neoplastic, infectious, and inflammatory processes. On the other hand, spontaneous herniation of TMJ into EAC is an extremely rare conduction and occurs as a consequence of patent retention of foramen of Huschke (FH). Patent FH is usually an asymptomatic situation. In this article, a patient having otologic symptoms as a result of spontaneous herniation of TMJ into EAC was presented in the light of current literature.

[The evaluation of cordectomy cases without tracheotomy in laryngeal cancer]. / Larenks kanserlerinde trakeotomisiz kordektomi olgularinin degerlendirilmesi.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the technique of laryngofissure cordectomy without tracheotomy in patients with T1a laryngeal carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve male patients (mean age 55 years; range 47 to 68 years) who were diagnosed with T1a laryngeal carcinoma and treated with cordectomy without tracheotomy between January 2005 and March 2008 in our clinic were evaluated with retrospective review of medical charts. They were all treated with laryngofissure and cordectomy. The cord with carcinoma was excised with the inner perichondrium of thyroid cartilage and surgical margins were examined hystopatologically with frozen section. Postoperative oncologic and functional results were evaluated. RESULTS: None of the patients were treated with preoperative or postoperative tracheotomy. Oral nutrition was initiated on the 3rd postoperative day and the patients were discharged. No tumor recurrences were seen in the postoperative follow-ups. CONCLUSION: Although the surgical area is slightly restricted due to the use of entubation tube, cordectomy without tracheotomy had better functional results and the oncological results were unchanged compared to cordectomy with tracheotomy. Since the procedure is without tracheotomy, psychological adaptation period of the patients was shorter compared to the patients treated cordectomies with tracheotomy.