Acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland in childhood.

A 13-year-old girl underwent surgery at the Ear Nose and Throat Department of the Children's Hospital and Scientific Research Institute, Bambino Gesù, Rome, because of an acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland. Two years after total parotidectomy with preservation of the facial nerve, metastasis occurred in a lateral cervical lymph node. Acinic cell tumors are uncommon in childhood; in children under the age of 16 years only 35 cases have been reported. There are too few acinar cell carcinomas occurring in children to yield an idea of their natural course. The neoplasm is also referred to as 'acinar cell tumor', in contrast to acinar cell carcinoma, because the neoplasm may be benign or malignant. Unfortunately, there are no histological distinguishing features that permit the pathologist to determine which neoplasm will behave in an aggressive fashion.

[Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in the diagnosis of pulmonary infections in immunocompromised children]. / Il lavaggio bronco-alveolare (BAL) nella diagnostica delle infezioni polmonari nei bambini immunocompromessi.

The authors report their personal case records of broncho-alveolar lavage in immuno-compromised children. 22 children were observed from 1991 to 1992 at the E.N.T. Department of the Bambino Gesù Hospital, National Research Institute, in Rome. Flexible bronchoscopy is used under both local and general anesthesia without muscle relaxants. The epithelial lining fluid collection is greater than that obtained when muscle relaxation is used. For each patient 3 specimens are collected: for virological, bacteriological, mycological and immunological analysis. In 90% of the cases a correct etiological diagnosis of the pulmonary disease was possible. In 14 cases the diagnosis was possible even after a week from the beginning of the antibiotic therapy.

Cervical chordoma in childhood: clinical statistical contribution.

Parapharyngeal neoplasias are rarely noticed in childhood, since they have their peak incidence between the 2nd and 4th decade of life. The authors report a case of a 4-year-old patient presenting with a retrostyloid mass, accompanied by nasal obstruction and some difficulty in swallowing at 12 months of age. CT scanning well ascertained the delimitation of the tumor, but it was of no help in the differential diagnosis. In fact, after surgical excision, the histological examination of the specimen revealed a chordoma. This result was unexpected because of the region concerned and the lack of a CT demonstration of the cervical boney involvement. A cervical vertebral localization of a chordoma is rare in all age groups and it is of particular clinical and statistical interest in infancy.

Otologic impairments in achondroplasia: a nosologic assessment.

The AA report a clinical and radiological study performed in 18 achondroplastic patients in order to achieve a nosological settlement of the otological impairments. They found two main otological syndromes; one, a congenital dysplasic syndrome, showing permanent conductive or sensory-neural hearing loss due to malformations of the middle ear or of the inner ear; the other, an inflammatory tubal tympanic syndrome with transient conductive hearing loss, which is relatively frequent in achondroplastic patients, but seems not related to the main disease.