Possible role of anti-inflammatory drugs in complications of pharyngitis. A retrospective analysis of 163 cases.

OBJECTIVES: Complications of pharyngitis (peritonsillar abscess, retropharyngeal abscess, and cervical cellulitis) are rare, but appear to be on the increase over recent years and many of these patients have been treated by anti-inflammatory drugs prior to admission. The purpose of this study was to review the current epidemiological data concerning these complications and investigate a possible correlation with anti-inflammatory drug use. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A single-centre retrospective review of epidemiological, clinical and microbiological data was performed on the medical charts of patients hospitalised for peritonsillar abscess, retropharyngeal abscess or cervical cellulitis between 2005 and 2010. RESULTS: Over a six-year period, 163 patients were hospitalised for complications of pharyngitis, with a sex-ratio of 1.82 (104/57). The number of cases of peritonsillar abscess (PTA) increased from 13 to 28 cases per year from 2005 to 2010 and the number of cases of retropharyngeal abscess increased from three to six cases per year over the same period. The number of cases of cellulitis remained stable with an average of 1.82 cases per year. Each year, significantly more patients with an abscess were admitted to our unit with a history of anti-inflammatory drug use (13.3 ± 4.6) than without anti-inflammatory drug use (7.8±4.3) (P<0.01). Micro-organisms were identified in 80% of cases, with mixed strains in 73% of cases, Streptococcus in 72% of samples and Streptococcus pyogenes in 19% of cases of PTA. A favourable outcome was observed in all patients in response to medical and surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: In line with the literature, we observed an increasing incidence of complications of pharyngitis. The present series comprised significantly more patients admitted for PTA with a history of anti-inflammatory drug use. A multicentre prospective controlled study in Nantes on a large cohort is currently underway and will probably confirm these preliminary results.

[Transsexualism: from diagnosis to management]. / Transsexualisme: du diagnostic à la prise en charge thérapeutique.

The transsexualism or gender dysphoria is a pathology during which an individual does not recognize himself in his sexual identity and wishes to change it: in that it must be differentiated from the sexual ambiguities (hermaphrodism, pseudohermaphroditism) in which the sexual phenotype is not clearly established. In France the number of transsexuals is estimated at approximately 50,000 people. Since 2009 the transsexualism is not any more considered as a mental illness, it remains regarded as a long term illness. The objective of this article is to present the recent evolutions concerning the management of transsexual patients seeking feminization.

Surgical-site infections and surgery of the salivary glands.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the surgical-site infection (SSI) incidence rate targeted on salivary gland surgery over a 2-year period (from January 2007 to December 2008). Then identify any risk factors associated with SSI in all the patients operated with no antibiotic prophylaxis in accordance with French Anesthesiology Society guidelines. POPULATION AND METHODS: Ninety-three patients were operated during the standard SSI surveillance period. A case-control (one case for five controls) study was then conducted aiming to identify risk factors. RESULTS: The SSI incidence rate was 9.7%. The case-control study failed to identify any relevant risk factor with univariate analysis. CONCLUSION: As no risk factors could be identified, we suggest that surgical antibioprophylaxis could be relevant in salivary glands surgery and should be evaluated in this setting.

[Ruptured pexis after supracricoid partial laryngectomy: a series of 5 cases]. / Les lâchages de pexie dans les laryngectomies partielles supracricoidiennes: à propos de 5 cas.

OBJECTIVES: Supracricoid partial laryngectomies have a rare but a specific complication which is the rupture of the pexy. After cricohyoidoepiglottopexy or cricohyoidopexy, a separation can appear between the hyoid bone and the cricoid cartilage. Our objective was to define how to treat and to prevent this complication. METHODS: One hundred and one supracricoid partial laryngectomies were performed in our department between 1980 and 2006. A retrospective analysis of the medical charts and operative files revealed that 5 patients have had a ruptured pexy. A review of the diagnosis, management, and outcome of these five cases is presented and discussed in this paper. RESULTS: The diagnosis was done in the first post-operative month for all cases. Delay in decannulation time, swallowing disorders, local infection were associated with the rupture of the pexy. The separation between the hyoid bone and the cricoid cartilage was also suspected at neck palpation and in endoscopy. Lateral plain Xrays of the neck or CT scans were used to confirm the diagnosis. A medical treatment, a completion total laryngectomy and three revisions of the pexis were performed. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, an antecedent of radiation before surgery appears to be a risk factor for the development of this specific complication. A revision of the pexis procedure is advocated in case of a major ruptured pexis.

Endoscopic resection of sinonasal adenocarcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome and morbidity of endoscopic resection of sinonasal adenocarcinomas. METHODS: This is a case series of 17 patients diagnosed with sinonasal adenocarcinoma that were resected endoscopically between 1999 and 2008. RESULTS: The surgery constituted the first line of treatment for all patients. Five anterior skull base reconstructions were done. Post-operative meningoencephalitis and minimal epistaxis were the complications reported. The mean follow-up was 3 years [6-107 months]. To date, there have been two local recurrences at 6 months of an insufficient resection of a tumour classified pT4 and 25 months of a pT2 resected with safe margins. Another patient presented an unique metastasis in the parietal lobe 42 months after the resection of tumour pT4 extended to the frontal lobe. Two deaths unrelated to the disease were reported while thirteen patients remained free of disease (76.5%). CONCLUSION: The endoscopic approach is a safe and effective treatment in selected cases of sinonasal adenocarcinomas. This procedure is less invasive than conventional surgery but requires an optimal preoperative imaging protocol and an experienced surgical team. These encouraging results have to be confirmed by a larger cohort and a longer follow-up.

[Major orbital complications of acute maxillary sinusitis of dental aetiology]. / Complications orbitaires majeures des sinusites maxillaires aiguës d'origine dentaire.

OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate the importance of searching for a dental aetiology when confronted with an orbital cellulitis secondary to an acute unilateral maxillary sinusitis and to diagnose and treat as soon as possible in order to avoid visual sequelae. CASE REPORT: Two cases are presented. The first case of a 35 year-old man who was diagnosed and treated late, for an orbital abscess secondary to a sinusitis of dental origin. The patient presented with visual signs such as diplopia and impaired occulomotoricity. The clinical diagnosis was concluded by an emergency sinus CT scan. Treatment consisted of an urgent surgical drainage associated to broad spectrum antibiotics with a high spectrum against Gram +cocci and anaerobes. Dispite this treatment regimen and two subsequent surgeries, the evolution was pejorative ending in a unilateral blindness. The second case is of a 45 year-old immunodeficient woman, presenting with the same pathology but without visual signs and whose evolution was satisfactory after adapted surgical and medical treatments. DISSCUSSION: The presence of visual and ocular signs warn on the gravity of the infection and indicate the need for urgent surgery. Sinus CT scan is essential to highlight the association between the orbit and the causal dental infection. For that, it must include the alveolar processes of the maxilla to show the dental lesion which is usually missed clinically. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery achieves two goals here; one diagnostic by the direct exploration of the nasal sinus cavities and the other therapeutic by the possible drainage all the paranasal sinuses.

[Endonasal endoscopic approach in the treatment of sino-nasal inverted papillomas]. / Voie endonasale endoscopique dans le traitement des papillomes inversés naso-sinusiens.

INTRODUCTION: Sino-nasal inverted papilloma is a rare benign tumor of the nasal fossa and the paranasal sinuses for which the successful surgical treatment by an endonasal approach has been corroborated in the literature. Nevertheless, the authors aim in this study to evaluate the advantages and the limits of this approach, to analyse its failures and its recurrences, and to define the indications for using it with the external or dissimulated approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 42 patients presenting with a sino-nasal inverted papilloma and treated surgically over a ten year period were included in this retrospective study. The operative technique was chosen as a function of the endonasal and radiological examination results (CT scan and MRI). Follow-up was over one year for all patients. RESULTS: Twenty eight patients were operated exclusively through an endoscopic endonasal approach. Fourteen patients were operated using a combined approach, associating either a vestibular (9 cases), a paralateral nasal (3 cases) or a fronto-orbital (2 cases) approach with endonsal endoscopy. In two cases, an associated squamous cell carcinoma was found. We observed a recurrence in 9.5% of the all cases and in 14.2% of the patients treated using a combined approach. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic endonasal surgery is a validated surgical approach for the treatment of sino-nasal inverted papilloma in that total tumor removal is possible. This approach is particularly indicated in medially-situated papillomas without frontal or maxillary extension. In all other cases, associating an external or dissimulated approach is usually necessary.

[Pseudoaneurysm of the internal carotid artery revelated by epistaxis: report of two cases]. / Pseudo-anévrysmes de l'artère carotide interne révélés par une epistaxis. A propos de deux cas.

OBJECTIVES: Pseudoaneurysms of the carotid artery are a rare but serious cause of epistaxis. They can be rapidly life-threatening. Usually resulting of a surgery or a traumatism, pseudoaneurysms can express themselves by recurrent epistaxis. Management of these epistaxis is discussed. METHODS: The authors present two cases and effect a review of the literature. RESULTS: The first patient presented with a pseudoaneurysm few days after a transsphenoidal surgery. The second patient presented with a pseudoaneurysm fourteen years after a radio-surgical treatment of an ethmoidal and frontal epidermoid carcinoma. Diagnosis was suspected during nasal endoscopy and confirmed in both cases with angio-CT and arteriography. The first patient underwent a selective embolization. The second patient had to have a carotid occlusion due to a sudden severe haemorrhage, resulting from a pseudoaneurysm rupture following the embolization attempt. CONCLUSION: Review of the literature confirms the indication of endovascular intervention. The optimal management is carotid occlusion, provided the patient can tolerate carotid test occlusion and the circle of Willis is satisfactory. In some cases, a preservative treatment may be possible, which could be either pseudoaneurysm embolization or the placement of a covered stent.

[Levofloxacin in the treatment of acute and bacteriologically documented sinusitis with high risk of complications]. / Efficacité et tolérance de la lévofloxacine dans le traitement des sinusites aiguës bactériologiquement documentées et à risque de complications.

OBJECTIVES: The authors had for aim to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of oral levofloxacin (500 mg once a day during ten days), as a treatment for acute bacterial sinusitis at risk for complications in adult patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter, open, non-comparative, efficacy and tolerance study of levofloxacin in acute sinusitis at risk for complications, radiologically confirmed, and with documentation of the bacterial origin by fiberoptic rhinoscopy. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-one patients were included and 174 patients had an X ray confirmed sinusitis. The localization was frontal in 81% patients, sphenoidal in 9.2%, ethmoidosphenoidal in 2.3%, and 7.5% patients had a pansinusitis. One hundred and thirty-three patients had a probable or proven bacterial infection, involving: Streptococcus pneumoniae (26.0%), enterobacteriaceae (19.7%), Haemophilus influenzae (17.3%), Staphylococcus aureus (15.0%), streptococci other than S. pneumoniae (7.9%), and Branhamella catarrhalis (5.5%). One hundred and one patients constituted the per protocol population. Clinical success was observed in 94.1 % patients (95/101), and 85.1% (86/101), respectively 7 to 14 days and three to four weeks after the end of treatment, with consistent success rates according to the localization of the infection, and the various pathogens involved. The tolerance data was as expected for levofloxacin. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that levofloxacin, (one 500 mg tablet QD during ten days) is efficient in over 94% patients with bacteriologically documented sinusitis at risk for complications.

[Treatment of simple snoring by radiofrequency velar coblation]. / Traitement du ronflement simple par coblation vélaire.

OBJECTIVES: Short- and long-term evaluation of the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency velar coblation for simple snoring. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From February 2000 to May 2004, 175 patients underwent a single radiofrequency session for velar coblation. All patients suffered from snoring without sleep apnea. They presented modifications of the velo-pharyngeal region but did not have tonsillar or basilingual hypertrophy. Outcome was assessed in terms of pain, changes in snoring, secondary effects and complications at three months and one, two, and three years. Secondary uvulectomy was performed in 28 patients. RESULTS: At three months, snoring had decreased in 82% of patients with complete resolution in 12%. Outcome remained unchanged in 70% of patients at one, two, and three years. After uvulectomy, snoring declined in 96% of patients with complete resolution in 48%. Post-treatment pain lasted less than five days in 68% of patients. Mean duration was three days. Fifteen patients developed pharyngeal paresthesia which regressed at one year. Two patients had a nasal voice and three developed necrosis of the uvula. CONCLUSION: Velar coblation is a simple treatment for snoring which can be performed in a single session. The best results are achieved in patients whose body mass index is below 25 and after secondary uvulectomy.

[Voice after supracricoid partial laryngectomy: comparison of two phonatory mechanisms]. / La voix après laryngectomie supracricoidienne: comparaison entre deux mécanismes phonatoires.

INTRODUCTION: Different laryngeal phonatory mechanisms may be observed at long term after supracricoid laryngectomy. For this study two mechanisms are differentiated. The "dilated" mechanism is the consequence of a forward movement of the neolarynx creating a new resonance cavity. The "contracted" mechanism tallies with the backward contraction of the base of the tongue and the contraction of the posterior pharyngeal wall compressing the neolarynx. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to determine if the voice outcome is different between these two kinds of mechanisms. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The method is based on the selection of a homogeneous group: 12 patients operated by cricoepiglottopexy with a follow up superior to two years and with a stable voice and a full neoglottic closure during phonation. The voice quality and the phonatory mechanism are analysed. Regarding voice assessment, a self evaluation with the vocal handicap index adapted for the study and the GRBAS scale are carried-out. Frequency (usual, minimum, maximum, range) and loudness are used to appreciate the vocal capacities. The phonatory mechanism is studied by videolaryngostroboscopy, performed tongue free, with a normal /e/ and a high-low transition pitch. RESULTS: The outcomes point out a difference between the two mechanisms. The best vocal results are observed in the "dilated" mechanism for the studied parameters and mainly for the frequency parameters. CONCLUSION: The discovery of numerous phonatory mechanisms after supracricoid laryngectomy independent from neoglottic closure lead us to further studies of the impact of this type of surgery on articulatory patterns.

[Nasal polyposis: long term functional results in 203 patients treated by ethmoidectomy combined with intranasal corticotherapy]. / Polypose naso-sinusienne: résultats fonctionnels à long terme chez 203 patients traités par évidement ethmoïdal et corticothérapie locale.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the long term quality of life in patients after ethmoidectomy associated with intranasal corticotherapy for nasal polyposis on the appreciation of the intensity of nasal symptoms. MATERIAL ET METHOD: The authors report their experience about 203 patients treated by endonasal endoscopic ethmoïdectomy intranasal followed by a long term intransal corticotherapy, with a mean follow up of six years. In this prospective study, each symptom was evaluated using an analogic visual scale and a questionnaire. The evolution of asthma after surgery and the patients global satisfactory rate were noted. RESULTS: There is a global improvement of the nasal symptoms with a mean postoperative individual scores calculated at 32% for nasal obstruction, at 34% for rhinorrhea and at 51% for anosmia. No impact on asthma or improvement of asthma was encountered in 92% of the patients. The patients global satisfactory rate of this medico-surgical approach of the disease is 93.6%. A positive correlation was found between the severity of the olfactory disorders and the oral corticosteroid therapy. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic endonasal ethmoïdectomy followed by intranasal corticotherapy represents a valuable protocol in treating patients with severe nasal polyposis.

Lingual thyroid and hyperthyroidism: a new case and review of the literature.

Lingual thyroid is the result of a defective migration of the thyroid anlage occurring between the 3rd and 7th week of gestation. Whereas mutations in the transcription factor-2 (TTF-2) and PAX8 and in the TSH receptor genes (TSH-R) have been reported in a minority of patients with thyroid dysgenesis, the etiopathogeny of the majority of cases, and in particular of thyroid ectopy, remains unclear. The majority of patients with thyroid ectopy are asymptomatic, but obstructive symptoms as well as hypothyroidism have been observed. Hyperthyroidism is an exceptionally rare finding. To our knowledge, only 2 cases have been reported in the literature to date. Herein, we describe an unusual case of thyrotoxicosis related to a nodular lesion in a lingual thyroid. Treatment consisted in restoration of a euthyroid state with thionamide followed by surgical removal of the ectopic gland. The underlying molecular cause of the ectopic lingual thyroid and the toxic adenoma in this case could not be identified. We speculate that abnormally early differentiation of the thyroid gland could interfere with the migration process, a hypothesis yet to be confirmed.

[Value of of fine-needle aspiration cytology and MRI in parotid gland masses]. / Intérêt de la ponction cytologique et de l'IRM dans les tuméfactions parotidiennes.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of our study was to discuss the valve of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis and treatment of parotid gland masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients were included in the prospective study. They had undergone clinical examination, FNAC and MRI before parotidectomy. The results of these examinations were compared with the corresponding histopathological diagnosis. RESULTS: When it is positive, FNAC is a good examination of malignant tumours (sensitivity 67%, specificity 79%, positive predictive value 86%, negative predictive value 100%). The MRI allows a good assessment of the tumoural mass and its anatomical relationships (sensitivity 55%, specificity 86%, positive predictive value 89%, negative predictive value 75%). If the T2 sequence shows reduced density (p < 0.05) or in case of bad limitation (p = 0.004), a malignant character is strongly suspected. CONCLUSION: In cases of parotid gland mass, where surgical intervention is necessary, there is no need of special investigations: however FNAC and MRI allow us to anticipate what operation will be required.

[Value of interventional video-endoscopy in the assessment of cancer of the upper airways and digestive system]. / Intérêt de la vidéo-endoscopie interventionnelle dans le bilan des cancers des voies aérodigestives supérieures.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of our study was to evaluate the video fiberoscope with operator canal (FOC) in he diagnosis of head and neck carcinoma compared to direct laryngoscopy (DL). METHODOLOGY: From August 2000 to May 2001, 82 patients were included in a prospective study. They were examined for pharyngolaryngeal cancer with the FOC, DL and a CAT-SCAN. The compared elements were the visualization of the different regions of the pharyngolarynx. A three dimensional description of the lesion, the presence of secondary localisations as well as the anatomo pathological results were obtained with FOC and DL. RESULTS: Although the pharyngolarynx is less well visualized in FOC than in DL (p = 0.04), no statistically significant difference was found between the two methods in terms of visual diagnosis and assessment of the extent of the lesion. The sensitivity of the biopsies made with FOC is lower than those performed with DL (66% FOC, 97% DL). Moreover, we have noted that FOC is highly reliant on the experience and ability of the surgeon. CONCLUSION: DL remains the most reliable technique for the exploration and diagnosis of the pharyngolarynx. If it is not possible to perform a DL or if it is not indicated (trismus, contra-indication to general anaesthesia) FOC should be considered as the examination of choice.

[Inflammation and acute pharyngo-tonsillitis]. / Inflammation et pharyngo-amygdalites aiguës.

1. FACTS: Despite several studies, it has been impossible to establish a correlation between bacteriological and clinical findings in erythematous pultaceous sore throat. 2. A RULE: Antibiotics should be prescribed for group A streptococcal sore throat alone. 3. INFLAMMATION AND INFECTION: In acute tonsilitis, inflammation is perfectly proportional to infection; 4. INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES: Their extremely important role in the pathogenesis of different inflammatory processes has been demonstrated in acute tonsilitis. 5. RECOMMENDATION: Based on the fact that no clinical argument can confirm or infirm the streptococcal cause, it is recommended to use a rapid diagnostic test in all adults or children with sore throat. 6. A QUESTION: No data are available demonstrating the benefit of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs at antiinflammatory doses or of general corticosteroid treatment of acute sore throat. Nevertheless, in non-A hemolytic streptococcal where antibiotic treatment is not indicated, wouldn't it be useful to prescribe symptomatic antiinflammatory treatment?

[Results of 248 patients with sleep apnea syndrome treated by continuous positive pressure ventilation between 1990 and 1995. A study of compliance and outcome of the apnea-hypopnea index]. / Suivi de 248 patients présentant un syndrome d'apnée du sommeil traités par pression positive continue entre 1990 et 1995. Etude de l'observance et du devenir de l'index d'apnée-hypopnée.

Between 1990 and 1995, 369 patients were investigated for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) by polysomnography. Among them, 248 patients with a mean Apnea-Hyponea index (AHI) of 37.7 per hour were treated by nasal continuous positive airway pressure (n-CPAP). Mean follow up was 39.5 +/- 20.4 months. In this group, 23 patients (9.2%) refused nCPAP immediately or after the first night and 39 (15.7%) gave up later. 15 patients (6%) died during the period of the study. The cumulative compliance reached 70% at 72 months. Non compliant patients usually gave up n-CPAP before the end of the first year. We compared the group of 150 patients always treated at the date of 31/12/95 with the group of 62 patients who refused nCPAP initially or gave up later. There was no difference in clinical parameters or polysomnographic data between the two groups. In 94 patients treated by nCPAP for more than a year we evaluated the outcome of AHI by a polysomnography performed after 72 hours of nCPAP cessation. Mean AHI of the group at this time was 38.2 +/- 20.3/h and was well correlated with the initial index (r = 0.41, p < 0.0001). However for 28 patients (29.7%) we observed, at the time of this second AHI determination, a variation (plus or minus) of at least 50% of the index. 6 patients, without any significative weigth loss, had an AHI below 5/h at this second determination. In this small group nCPAP was interrupted for 6 to 12 months, then another polysomnography was performed. At this time mean AHI was 42.4/h and clinical symptoms had reappeared in all patients. This study demonstrated that compliance to nCPAP in OSAS patients is good. No clinical or polysomnographic factors allow to predict non compliance. AHI is not modified by long term treatment with nCPAP.

[Acute rhinosinusitis in the adult: national survey of general practice management]. / Rhinosinusites aiguës de l'adulte: enquête nationale sur les pratiques en médecine générale.

Between the 17/1/2000 and the 31/3/2000 a study was carried out in 5000 general practitioners in the management of patients with acute maxillary sinusitis. The general practitioners filled out a questionnaire in 2 parts: the first part about their management (diagnosis-treatment) and the second part included 1 case study. According to the results of the first part, acute maxillary sinusitis occurred frequently during the winter months adding further complications. The second part of the study confirmed the finding of the first part. Analysis of case study demonstrates that this pathology affected men at the median age 37.6. The incidence of bilateral sinusitis is (61.4%) maxillary (61.1%), frontal (31.7%), ethmoidomaxillary (9.4%) or sphenoidal (1.7%). One quarter of patients participated in further medical investigations that included regular X rays of sinus and 14% patients in anterior rhinoscopy. In the older patients, on the patients with unilateral sinusitis, or sphenoidal sinusitis, the investigations were more frequent and these patients appealed for the specialist frequently (Ear Nose and Throat specialist mainly). The first line of treatment included 3.2 products of which antibiotics 98.5%, vasoconstrictors 55%, anti-inflammatory 55% (corticosteroids 46.8%, non corticosteroids 8.7%), mucolytics 41.6%. In total, general practitioners confirmed their pragmatic management in the treatment of acute sinusitis based on clinical diagnosis.