Castleman's disease as an unusual cause for dysphagia and dyspnea in a pediatric patient.

Castleman's disease is a very rare entity in pediatric population and its presentation in the neck is scarcely described in the literature. We present the case of a 10-year-old-girl with an expanding neck mass over several months causing dysphagia and dyspnea. Surgical excision of the mass was performed and the analysis revealed unicentric Castleman's Disease. This is the second largest reported case of neck pediatric CD in the literature, and it presented with a symptomatology that differs from the other cases described. This fact highlights the need to include CD in the differential diagnosis of pediatric neck masses.

Translation and validation of the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) for Spanish-speaking patients.

BACKGROUND: The main objective of this study was to perform the adaptation and cultural translation and validation of the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) questionnaire for the Spanish language. METHODS: A total of 69 patients were diagnosed with head and neck cancer treated with surgery; radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy were included. MDADI was translated and a feasibility, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and construct validity were assessed. RESULTS: The mean overall score of the MDADI was 51.9 (18-85). Internal consistency for total score was 0.908. The overall score of intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.98 and kappa coefficient scores were almost perfect (test-retest reliability). All domains of MDADI were significantly correlated with physical and mental domains of the SF-12. Construct validity was also evaluated with food texture measures, and with TNM classification. CONCLUSION: The translation and validation of the Spanish version of the MDADI was performed and can be considered an important patient-reported outcomes tool for dysphagia-related quality of life.

In-office cup biopsy and laryngeal cytology versus operating room biopsy for the diagnosis of pharyngolaryngeal tumors: Efficacy and cost-effectiveness.

BACKGROUND: In-office biopsy is an effective technique to diagnose the nature of pharyngolaryngeal lesions. METHODS: We selected patients with pharyngolaryngeal lesions suspicious for malignancy. For in-office biopsy procedures, laryngeal cytology and direct laryngoscopy biopsy were performed, and diagnostic parameters and costs were estimated. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients were selected for this study. For laryngeal cytology, sensitivity was 70.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 59.9% to 80.7%), specificity 100% with a positive predictive value of 100% and a negative predictive value of 50% (95% CI = 35.2% to 64.8%). In-office biopsy sensitivity was 81% (95% CI = 72.6% to 89.3%), specificity 100% with a positive predictive value of 100% and a negative predictive value of 20% (95% CI = 2.5% to 37.5%). At our hospital, the use of in-office biopsies as a first approach for diagnosis saves $50,140.80 U.S. per annum. CONCLUSION: In-office biopsy is a more affordable technique that enables histologic diagnosis of pharyngolaryngeal lesions in a large percentage of patients.

Superficial musculoaponeurotic system flap in partial parotidectomy and clinical and subclinical Frey's syndrome. Cosmesis and quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Frey's syndrome (FS), facial depression, and noticeable scar may have an impact on patient's quality of life after a parotidectomy. The superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) flap has been used to ameliorate those effects. METHODS: Forty-seven consecutive parotidectomies were analyzed; SMAS flap was performed in 26 of them. We investigated clinical FS, subclinical FS, and cosmetic satisfaction, and compared SMAS flap versus cases where this was not done. RESULTS: By performing the SMAS flap, the occurrence of clinical FS was reduced; however, there was no significant difference. Nonetheless, there was a significant difference in the perspiration intensity in favor of the group with SMAS flaps. In the cases we studied, the cosmetic satisfaction was high, even though facial contour-filling techniques were not used. CONCLUSIONS: Provided that the intensity of sweating is the main factor affecting the quality of life after surgery in patients, performing a SMAS flap renders the intervention worthwhile.