Role of steroids in conservative treatment of parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal abscess in children.

PURPOSE: To characterize the clinical features and outcomes of pediatric patients with retropharyngeal (RPA) or parapharyngeal abscesses (PPA) managed only with medical treatment and showing the importance of early symptoms and imaging studies in the diagnosis of deep neck space infections (DNIs) in children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all patients diagnosed with RPA and PPA between 2007 and 2017 was performed in Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias. RESULTS: 30 children were identified, with 11 RPA and 19 PPA. 23 children (76.7%) were under 5 years old, and all were treated with intravenous amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and corticosteroids. Torticollis and fever were present in all patients. The mean length of hospital stay was 7.5 days. There were no complications associated. CONCLUSION: DNIs can be treated in a conservative way, reserving the surgical drainage for cases with a complication associated (airway compromise, lack of response to antibiotic therapy, immunocompromised patients). Treatment with intravenous antibiotics and corticosteroids is a safe option, reducing the duration of symptoms and the length of hospital stay.

Management options for orbital complications of acute rhinosinusitis in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVES: Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS) is a common pediatric condition. Despite its tendency to heal without complications, orbital complications (OC) are seen in 6% of patients and can cause vision impairment and put life at risk. Current treatment of this complications involves systemic antibiotics with or without surgical drainage, remaining controversial the use of corticosteroids. The aim of this study is to describe our results in the management of this complication both through medical and surgical treatment, with the inclusion of corticosteroids on it. METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary hospital over pediatric patients with this complication. RESULTS: 23 patients were included with a mean age of 7.4 years. Ten of them (43.5%) presented ophthalmoplegia on admission and 2 of those also impaired visual acuity. A computerized tomography was performed in all patients and all of them received intravenous antibiotics and corticosteroids achieving that 60% did not require surgical treatment. The mean length of hospital stay was 6.2 days. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of OC of ABRS with intravenous antibiotics and corticosteroids is safe, remaining surgical treatment available when necessary. When evolution is favorable, a reduced hospital stay must be sought.

Helmet-delivered heliox-CPAP in severe upper airway obstruction caused by PHACES syndrome.

We present the case of a 4-month-old girl with PHACES syndrome and severe upper respiratory airway obstruction secondary to multiple subglottic and tracheal hemangiomas effectively treated with heliox-CPAP delivered by helmet (HH-CPAP).

Hiposmia, rinorrea fétida y algias faciales por aspergiloma maxilar / Hyposmia, fetid rhinorrhea and facial pain caused by a maxillary aspergilloma

En los últimos años se ha observado un aumento de la incidencia de sinusitis fúngicas en sujetos inmunocompetentes. Presentamos un caso de sinusitis micótica en una paciente de 12 años, en el que concurren varios aspectos que podían dificultar su diagnóstico, produciendo un retraso en su tratamiento definitivo. Este caso ilustra cómo, para llegar a un diagnóstico correcto de esta patología, es necesario basarse en los estudios histológicos y radiológicos, pero siempre sin olvidar un aspecto clave como es la sospecha diagnóstica. El tratamiento de la sinusitis fúngica es quirúrgico, y en el momento actual la técnica de elección es la cirugía endoscópica nasal. Se exponen las características clínicas de esta patología y los métodos diagnósticos necesarios (AU)

In the last few years an increase has been observed in the incidence of fungal sinusitis in immunocompetent subjects. We present a case of mycotic sinusitis in a 12-year-old patient, in which there were several aspects that could have made the diagnosis more difficult, thus delaying her definitive treatment. This case illustrates how to arrive at a correct diagnosis of this pathology. It must be based on the histological and radiological studies, but always without forgetting a key aspect as it is a suspected diagnosis. The treatment of fungal sinusitis is surgical, and currently, endoscopic sinus surgery is the choice. We describe the clinical characteristics of this pathology and the diagnostic methods required (AU)

[Hyposmia, fetid rhinorrhea and facial pain caused by a maxillary aspergilloma]. / Hiposmia, rinorrea fétida y algias faciales por aspergiloma maxilar.

In the last few years an increase has been observed in the incidence of fungal sinusitis in immunocompetent subjects. We present a case of mycotic sinusitis in a 12-year-old patient, in which there were several aspects that could have made the diagnosis more difficult, thus delaying her definitive treatment. This case illustrates how to arrive at a correct diagnosis of this pathology. It must be based on the histological and radiological studies, but always without forgetting a key aspect as it is a suspected diagnosis. The treatment of fungal sinusitis is surgical, and currently, endoscopic sinus surgery is the choice. We describe the clinical characteristics of this pathology and the diagnostic methods required.

Giant neck liposarcoma with pathological clavicular fracture.

Liposarcomas generally originate in the extremities or retroperitoneum, they are very unusual in the head and neck region, and extremely rare in the thorax. The mainstay of treatment for liposarcomas is surgical excision. We report a very unusual case, not reported before to our knowledge, of a well-differentiated liposarcoma arising from the supraclavicular fossa that produces a pathological clavicular fracture. The patient underwent complete resection of the lesion, without damage of the cervical nerves. Eight months after the surgery the patient is free of recurrence. We demonstrate that giant liposarcomas can be resected completely without morbidity.