[Retropharyngeal lipoma]. / Lipoma del espacio retrofaríngeo.

Although ordinary lipoma is the most common neoplasm of mesenchymal origin, retropharyngeal lipoma is a very rare tumour and only about 20 cases have been reported. We present a further case of this kind and discuss its most important clinical features, diagnosis and treatment. Updated theories on the lipoma's etiology and their evolutive course are reviewed.

[Giant dermoid cyst of the floor of the mouth]. / Quiste dermoide gigante de suelo de boca.

Report the case of a young feminine patient, 17, presenting since the first year of her life, a swelling of few milimeters diameter, close to the frenulum of the tongue, with progressive enlargement. At examination is verified a swelling about 10 cms. diameter filling the whole ground of the mouth and pulling backwards the tongue and producing a clear protrusion in the suprahyoid region. After lateral X-ray of the neck, echography and cervical TAC, surgery is advised with the suspicion of ranula sublingualis. Removal of the tumor through medial cervictomy, finding, besides the main mass, a second one about 3 cms. diameter. The histopathological diagnosis of a cyst of the thyroglossal duct, its sitting place and the clinical course, compelled the AA. to review the slides and being obvious the presence of sebaceus glands, they change the prior diagnosis for that of dermoid cyst.

[Solitary nasal plasmocytoma]. / Plasmocitoma solitario nasal.

Report of the case of one patient diagnosed of a nasal extramedullary solitary plasmacytoma, starting as an suppurated panophtalmia. Biopsy of the mass inside the nose led to diagnosis. Comments about the difficulties of histopathological differential diagnosis, underlying the need to rule out any other systemic process (multiple myeloma). The subject was treated with inductive chemotherapy and radiotherapy, being free of the illness after 4 years follow up.

[The demand for specialized care in otorhinolaryngology]. / Estudio de la demanda asistencial especializada en otorrinolaringologiá.

BACKGROUND: The specialized medical assistance knowledge improved in hospitals since the introduction of Clinical Documentation Services, but hardly anything is known about outpatient assistance, specially in otolaryngology. METHODS: In order to find out this information, during 1992 last quarter, we sampled 20 days of outpatient consult, studying the following variables in patients visited: age, sex, diagnosis, diagnostic-therapeutic procedures and motives for hospital attention. RESULTS: In the sample first visits are 63% and second visits 37%. Only 7.5% of patients were sent to hospital and we refer the diagnosis cause. In 5.6% of cases we couldn't establish any diagnosis, the 47% of cases presented otologic pathology and the rest 47% belonged to rhinologic pathology, pharyngeal and laryngeal troubles. The frequency of diagnosis were different in age groups. In 25% of patients diagnostic-therapeutic procedures were done. CONCLUSIONS: This study supplies us interesting information about the features of ENT outpatient assistance respect sex and age, more frequent diagnostics, procedures and causes for hospital attention.