[Multidisciplinary approach to the endolymphatic sac tumour]. / Abordaje multidisciplinar al tumor de saco endolinfático.

INTRODUCTION: Papilar adenocarcinoma of endolymphatic sac is related with Von Hippel Lindau disease at 15% of cases, has a slow growing with a high local aggressiveness, and doesn't metastasize. It causes symptoms of Meniere's syndrome due to the compression that produces at endolymphatic duct. When it presents with hearing loss is usually sudden and irreversible manner. The diagnostic is made with image tests and analysis of its structure with immunohistochemical tests. The elective treatment is surgical remove, and its main complication the perioperative bleeding it can be avoided with preoperative embolization or stereotactic radiation. CASE REPORT: A case of endolymphatic sac tumour is presented, in a 17-years-old male with unilateral deafness and crisis of rotate vertigo, with family history of Von Hippel-Lindau disease. Perceptive deafness and right vestibular arreflexia are detected at technical exploration. In a petrous bone computer tomography appears a mass at vestibular aqueduct. We performed a petrosectomy with presigmoidal approach and saving of inner ear. Pathological analysis revealed an endolymphatic sac tumour. DISCUSSION: In patients with a family history of Von Hippel Lindau disease and clinical symptoms of vertigo and normal hearing or with slight hearing loss we should suspect the presence of endolymphatic sac tumor. The clinical presentation of hearing loss can be sudden and irreversible even with negative or inconclusive images. Therefore, a quick action is important for the preservation of this function.

[Changes in immunoglobulin levels following adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy]. / Alteraciones de la inmunidad tras adenoidectomía y amigdalectomía.

INTRODUCTION: Lymphoid tissue from Waldeyer's ring produces all types of immunoglobulins, mainly G and A, and between 4 to 10 years, of age. In other words, the age in which the adenoid and tonsillar surgery is carried out. Our study tries to analyze the impact of the tonsillar surgery on the serum levels of immunoglobulins. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present a prospective study with 89 healthy children aged between 4 to 10 years. Immunoglobulin G, A and M levels were measured preoperatively, at a month and at four months after adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy. RESULTS: Serum IgG levels dropped after surgery, but partially recovered four months later. IgA dropped less significantly and IgM did not change its levels. No one of the studied inmunoglobulins dropped below the normal serum levels. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: Adenoid and tonsilar surgery cause a fall of postoperative immunoglobulin G and A serum levels, partially recovering after four months. Serum levels never dropped below normal levels, and of the studied children suffered a postoperative disease due to immunodeficiency.

[Preliminary results of the relevance the sentinel node in head and neck tumors]. / Resultados preliminares de la utilidad del ganglio centinela en tumores de cabeza y cuello.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to assess the value of the sentinel node (SN) in head and neck tumours and to create a lymphatic mapping of these tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We prospectively studied 13 patients with head and neck tumours N0. We divided these patients in two groups depending on the location of the primary tumour. We injected colloidal particles of serum albumin labeled with Tc-99 peritumoraly and we located the SN intraoperatively. The SN was then sent for anatomopathological study. RESULTS: In the oropharynx and oral cavity group, with 5 patients, the SN correctly predicted the pathological status of the neck in all of them. In the group of larynx and hypopharynx, with 8 patients, in 6, the SN correctly predicted the pathological status of the neck. In 2 patients, the SN was negative for metastases but there were metastases in the neck dissection. CONCLUSIONS: This technique represents an advance over selective dissection as an accurate method of neck staging, but its value in this field remains unclear.

[Diagnostic value of parathyroid localization techniques in surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism]. / Valor diagnóstico de las técnicas de localización paratiroidea en la cirugía del hiperparatiroidismo primario.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the accuracy of imaging techniques for localization of nodular lesions of parathyroid glands. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy one patients were prospectively enrolled and underwent surgical examination for primary hyperparathyroidism. Ultrasonography (US), 201Tl/99mTc parathyroid subtraction scintigraphy and 99mTc MIBI scintigraphy were evaluated. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity for combined 201Tl/99mTc parathyroid subtraction scintigraphy and US for parathyroid adenomas were 72.27% and 89.22% respectively. The combination of 99mTc MIBI scintigraphy and US resulted in improved specificity (93.67%) and positive predictive value (80.39%). The accuracy of the localizing studies was lower for patients with hyperplasia. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of scintigraphy and US is the best approach for localization of nodules. In most cases, the two techniques are complementary.

[Treatment of the NO neck in supraglottic cancer]. / Tratamiento del cuello NO en el cáncer supraglótico.

INTRODUCTION: Occult regional metastases in supraglottic cancer NO are the object of classical controversies. The aim of our study is to provide our experience in order to determine how neck treatment affects on regional recurrence of NO supraglottic cancer. METHODS: A retrospective study of 246 patients with NO supraglottic cancer treated in our service between 1977 to 1999 is presented. RESULTS: 11.4% of patients did not have any cervical treatment, with a 23% of neck recurrence amongst the evolution. 66.7% of patients were treated with a modified radical neck dissection, 24% of these presented occult metastases in the histopathological study. Global regional recurrence was 2.9% in early stages (T1/T2) and 13.1% in advanced stages (T3/T4). In pN+ patients, 85% underwent postoperative radiotherapy, with a regional recurrence of 8.8%. Postoperative clinical control without any other treatment in pN0 patients showed a neck recurrence of 6.1%. We performed a unilateral neck dissection in those patients with clear-lateral tumours. In these cases the clinical control of the contralateral neck gave a 5.5% recurrencies on that side. Patients treated with elective primary radiotherapy suffered a 5.5% of regional recurrence. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: Neck treatment of the NO supraglottic cancer is recommended. We treat neck in the same way of primary tumour (surgery or radiotherapy) with good control of regional recurrencies, less than 10%. In case of a negative pathological study of the neck careful, watching is the elective attitude. In the positive pathological study of the neck (pN+), radiotherapy is the elective treatment in those with three or more affected nodes or capsular breakdown in any of them.

[Spontaneous middle ear meningoencephalic herniation. 2 case reports]. / Herniación meningoencefálica espontánea en oído medio: a propósito de dos casos.

Two cases of idiopathic brain herniation into the middle ear without previous surgery are reported. Brain herniation is an unusual pathology, usually related to middle ear surgery. The idiopathic appearance of this disease is the secondly most frequent cause. Its origin is believed to be related to a congenital defect of tegmen timpani. Two elements, both rare, are emphazised: the spontaneous bilateral presentation in one of the cases, and the CSF leak as an initial symptom. We present a review of the literature, describing epidemiology results and the main accepted etiology theories. We discuss the diagnosis and treatment methods: magnetic resonance imaging and surgery.

[Diphtheria and Renaissance Spanish physicians]. / La difteria y los médicos españoles del renacimiento.

Along the history of medicine, diphtheria has been the cause of many deadly epidemics. Up to the incorporation of microbiology in medicine and the definition of diphtheria provided by Bretonneau in 1826, this disease was studied with all types of sore throut into the galenic system. Spanish physicians in Renaissance started the way to its systematisation, taking it off the rest of sore throat types, with other laryngeal diseases, as it was known later as "croup", giving it the name of "garrotillo". They were the first to describe some important questions about this disease, as the specificity of the diphtheric pseudomembranes, the ineffective potential of salivary drops and the palsy of the soft palate.

[Tympanoplasty using cartilage: 3 years of experience]. / Timpanoplastia con cartílago: 3 años de experiencia.

We present our results in a timpanoplasty technique using autologous cartilage, in a retrospective study of 71 cases within 3 years. We used this technique in revision surgery, large perforations, severe retractions, and atrophic membranes. 32% of cases needed ossicular chain reconstruction. A complete closing of the membrane was obtained in 86% of cases, while 14% remained re-perforated or discontinued between cartilage pieces. These results are comparable to other studies using cartilage graft with several techniques. These results encourage us to continue using this technique in order to acquire more experience and a better knowledge about the efficacy of this technique.