Anatomical Analysis of the Eustachian Tube in the Temporal Bone Through the Middle Fossa Window.

PURPOSE: This cadaveric anatomical study aimed to explore precise morphometric measurements of the eustachian tube (ET) and adjacent structures in the middle cranial fossa, focusing on identifying reliable surgical landmarks when traditional markers are compromised due to tumors or trauma. METHODS: Twenty-two temporal bones from 11 adult cadavers (mean age: 75.70 ± 13.75 yr, range: 40-90 yr; sex: 5 females and 6 males) were dissected bilaterally. Surgical tools, including an operation microscope, endoscope, and digital caliper, were used for meticulous measurements. Parameters such as ET dimensions, distances between key points, and relevant angles were quantified, ensuring precise anatomical data. RESULTS: ET width at the foramen spinosum (FS) level, the midline level, and the eustachian orifice level were measured as 2.18 ± 0.68, 2.42 ± 0.70, and 2.30 ± 0.74 mm, respectively. The distances from the zygomatic root (ZR) to FS, ET, superior semicircular canal (SSC), and internal carotid artery (ICA) were 29.61 ± 2.56, 23.28 ± 2.61, 26.53 ± 2.56, and 32.61 ± 3.69 mm, respectively. The angles between SSC-ZR-ICA and FS-ZR-ICA were measured as 36.57 ± 10.32 and 13.63 ± 3.72 degrees, respectively. No statistical difference was found between right-left or male-female measurements ( p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study offers invaluable insights for neurotological surgeons performing middle fossa approaches. ET and ZR may serve as crucial reference points, enhancing surgical orientation and minimizing risks during complex procedures. These precise anatomical data may empower surgeons, ensuring safer and more confident middle cranial fossa operations, even in challenging clinical scenarios.

Does stapes surgery improve tinnitus in patients with otosclerosis? / A estapedotomia melhora o zumbido em pacientes com otosclerose?

Abstract Introduction: Otosclerosis (OS) is the primary disease of the human temporal bone characterized by conductive hearing loss and tinnitus. The exact pathogenesis of tinnitus in otosclerosis patients is not known and factors affecting the tinnitus outcome in otosclerosis patients are still controversial. Objectives: To find the effect of stapedotomy on tinnitus for otosclerosis patients. Methods: Fifty-six otosclerosis patients with preoperative tinnitus were enrolled to the study. Pure tone average Air-Bone Gap values, preoperative tinnitus pitch, Air-Bone Gap closure at tinnitus frequencies were evaluated for their effect on the postoperative outcome. Results: Low pitch tinnitus had more favorable outcome compared to high pitch tinnitus (p = 0.002). Postoperative average pure tone thresholds Air-Bone Gap values were not related to the postoperative tinnitus (p = 0.213). There was no statistically significant difference between postoperative Air-Bone Gap closure at tinnitus frequency and improvement of high pitch tinnitus (p = 0.427). There was a statistically significant difference between Air-Bone Gap improvement in tinnitus frequency and low pitch tinnitus recovery (p = 0.026). Conclusion: Low pitch tinnitus is more likely to be resolved after stapedotomy for patients with otosclerosis. High pitch tinnitus may not resolve even after closure of the Air-Bone Gap at tinnitus frequencies.

Resumo Introdução: Otosclerose (OS) é a principal doença do osso temporal humano caracterizada por perda auditiva condutiva e zumbido. A patogenia exata do zumbido em pacientes com otosclerose não é conhecida e fatores que afetam o desfecho de zumbido em pacientes com otosclerose ainda são controversos. Objetivos: Encontrar o efeito da estapedotomia sobre o zumbido em pacientes com otosclerose. Método: Foram incluídos no estudo 56 pacientes com otosclerose com zumbido pré-operatório. Os valores médios tonais do gap aero-ósseo, o tom de zumbido no pré-operatório, o fechamento do gap nas frequências dos zumbidos foram avaliados quanto ao seu efeito sobre o desfecho pós-operatório. Resultados: O zumbido em tom grave teve desfecho mais favorável em comparação com o zumbido agudo (p = 0,002). Os valores médios dos gaps pós-operatórios não foram relacionados com o zumbido pós-operatório (p = 0,213). Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre o fechamento pós-operatório do gap na frequência do zumbido e melhoria do zumbido de tom agudo (p = 0,427). Houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre a melhoria no gap nas frequências do zumbido e recuperação do zumbido de tom mais grave (p = 0,026). Conclusão: O zumbido de tom mais grave parece ser mais bem resolvido depois de estapedotomia em pacientes com otosclerose. O zumbido de tom agudo pode não desaparecer, mesmo após o fechamento do gap nas frequências do zumbido.

Difficult Cases of Odontogenic Deep Neck Infections: A Report of Three Patients.

BACKGROUND: Deep neck infections are important otolaryngologic emergencies due to serious complications and the risk of airway compromise, which can lead to mortality. Although the most common causes among pediatric patients are tonsillitis and pharyngeal infections, odontogenic infections are an important cause in adults. CASE REPORT: We present three patients with multiple deep neck space abscess formation due to odontogenic infection. Two of them required tracheotomy due to airway compromise, and one had mediastinitis. CONCLUSION: An underestimated tooth infection can cause hazardous complications such as mediastinitis and respiratory distress requiring tracheotomy.

The Role of Rho/Rho-Kinase Pathway in the Pathogenesis of Cholesteatoma.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of Rho/Rho-kinase pathway in the pathogenesis of cholesteatoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with cholesteatoma, who had gone mastoidectomies were enrolled in this prospective study. Cholesteatomas matrix (CM) and a piece of the external ear canal skin (EECS as control) were taken and transferred to the liquid nitrogen and kept at -86 °C for Rho A and Rho-kinase (ROCK) analysis with Western blotting and commercial ELISA kits (Cell Biolabs Inc., San Diego, CA). The tissues were homogenized by an appropriate ice-cold lysis buffer. Following centrifugation, the supernatant was taken and total protein amount was detected by the Bradford method. Thereafter, tissue homogenates were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis electrophoresis then transferred to nitrocellulose membrane where it was treated with specific monoclonal primary antibody against to ROCK-2 and HRP-conjugated seconder antibody, respectively. The protein blots were visualized with commercial x-ray film and dansitometrically analyzed by the Scion Image Program (Cell Biolabs Inc., San Diego, CA). In another series of experiments, Rho-kinase activities were assessed by ROCK-2 ELISA kits. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences in Rho A translocation between CM and EECS. However, ROCK activity was found to be lower in CM than EECS as detected by ELISA kits. Furthermore, ROCK protein expression was also significantly lower in CM than EECS as demonstrated by Western blotting. CONCLUSION: Given Rho-kinase could take essential roles in cell differentiation, the results of this study implicate that down-regulated Rho-kinase could be responsible for the keratinocyte undifferentiation seen in cholesteatoma pathogenesis.

Does stapes surgery improve tinnitus in patients with otosclerosis?

INTRODUCTION: Otosclerosis (OS) is the primary disease of the human temporal bone characterized by conductive hearing loss and tinnitus. The exact pathogenesis of tinnitus in otosclerosis patients is not known and factors affecting the tinnitus outcome in otosclerosis patients are still controversial. OBJECTIVES: To find the effect of stapedotomy on tinnitus for otosclerosis patients. METHODS: Fifty-six otosclerosis patients with preoperative tinnitus were enrolled to the study. Pure tone average Air-Bone Gap values, preoperative tinnitus pitch, Air-Bone Gap closure at tinnitus frequencies were evaluated for their effect on the postoperative outcome. RESULTS: Low pitch tinnitus had more favorable outcome compared to high pitch tinnitus (p=0.002). Postoperative average pure tone thresholds Air-Bone Gap values were not related to the postoperative tinnitus (p=0.213). There was no statistically significant difference between postoperative Air-Bone Gap closure at tinnitus frequency and improvement of high pitch tinnitus (p=0.427). There was a statistically significant difference between Air-Bone Gap improvement in tinnitus frequency and low pitch tinnitus recovery (p=0.026). CONCLUSION: Low pitch tinnitus is more likely to be resolved after stapedotomy for patients with otosclerosis. High pitch tinnitus may not resolve even after closure of the Air-Bone Gap at tinnitus frequencies.

Stapler Esophageal Closure During Total Laryngectomy.

Mechanical esophageal closure with stapler during total laryngectomy has been used by various authors to decrease the surgical time and pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) rates. In a few of the studies, surgical site infection (SSI) rates are mentioned and none of the studies emphasize the effect of decreased surgical time on postoperative cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications. In this study, the authors compared the PCF rates, SSI rates, operation times between 30 mechanical stapler and 40 manual esophageal closure during total laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer patients. National Nasocomial Infections Surveillance system (NNISS) scores were recorded and compared between groups. Total laryngectomy and total operation times were lower in the stapler group patients (P < 0.001 for total laryngectomy time, P = 0.024 for total operation time). There were lower rates of pharyngocutaneous fistula (P = 0.032), surgical site infection (P = 0.019), and NNISS scores (P = 0.009) in the stapler group. There was no statistically significant difference between groups regarding postoperative systemic complications (P = 0.451). In conclusion, stapler esophageal closure decreases operation time, PCF, SSI rates, and NNISS scores but not the systemic complication rates. Comorbid illnesses and prolonged surgical time are risk factors for postoperative systemic complications in total laryngectomy patients, but patients with additional illnesses must not encourage the surgeon to use stapler for decreasing postoperative systemic complications.