Hepatolithiasis: Epidemiology, presentation, classification and management of a complex disease.

The term hepatolithiasis describes the presence of biliary stones within the intrahepatic bile ducts, above the hilar confluence of the hepatic ducts. The disease is more prevalent in Asia, mainly owing to socioeconomic and dietary factors, as well as the prevalence of biliary parasites. In the last century, owing to migration, its global incidence has increased. The main pathophysiological mechanisms involve cholangitis, bile infection and biliary strictures, creating a self-sustaining cycle that perpetuates the disease, frequently characterised by recurrent episodes of bacterial infection referred to as syndrome of "recurrent pyogenic cholangitis". Furthermore, long-standing hepatolithiasis is a known risk factor for development of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Various classifications have aimed at providing useful insight of clinically relevant aspects and guidance for treatment. The management of symptomatic patients and those with complications can be complex, and relies upon a multidisciplinary team of hepatologists, endoscopists, interventional radiologists and hepatobiliary surgeons, with the main goal being to offer relief from the clinical presentations and prevent the development of more serious complications. This comprehensive review provides insight on various aspects of hepatolithiasis, with a focus on epidemiology, new evidence on pathophysiology, most important clinical aspects, different classification systems and contemporary management.

Dacryolithiasis diagnosis and treatment: a 25-year experience using nasal endoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Dacryolith-induced epiphora is caused by a chronic obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct whose aetiology is often specified peroperatively. Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) has been often regarded as the gold standard to treat dacryolithiasis. Hasner's valve (HV) incision is a technique to evacuate lithiasis through its physiological track. The purpose of this study was to describe clinical and radiological findings associated with presence of dacryoliths in patients who underwent surgery and to assess the efficacy of these two procedures. METHODS: This study was a comparative interventional multicentric retrospective study including patients referred for an epiphora. The primary endpoint was to determine clinical and endoscopic findings associated with dacryoliths. The secondary endpoints were to evaluate the performance of CT dacryocystography (CT-DG) in the diagnosis of dacryoliths and the success rate of the surgical treatment 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: 4677 nasolacrimal ducts (NLDs) (78.0% female, mean age 59.2) were included in the study. 3913 underwent DCR, and 764 underwent HV incision. 291 out of 4677 NLDs (6.2%) were found to have dacryoliths. Presence of mucocele associated to a permeable lacrimal system (OR 8.17 (95% 4.62 to 14.44), p<0.01) was associated with presence of lithiasis peroperatively. Success rates at 6 months were 95.6% for endonasal DCR and 94.6% for incision of HV in dacryolithiasis group (p<0.01). CT-DG had a negative predictive value of 96.3% to detect lithiasis (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Strong clinical and endoscopic findings may improve the imputability of dacryoliths in epiphora. Evacuation of dacryolithiasis through its physiological track was first described in this study in adults with similar results to DCR in patients presenting with dacryolithiasis.

Middle lobe syndrome revealing Broncholithiasis: A Case Report.

Middle lobe syndrome is a rare but important clinical entity worth investigating in local obstructive or inflammatory cause. One of its rare etiologies is broncholithiasis. We report the observation of a young female patient who presented with recurrent hemoptysis. Chest CT scan showed atelectasis of the middle lobe and suggested the diagnosis of broncholithiasis by objectifying, within the collapsed lobe, a calcification located in the bronchial lumen. Bronchial fibroscopy was of little help. Recurrent hemoptysis and doubt about pulmonary neoplasia led to a diagnostic and therapeutic lobectomy. In front of MLS, broncholithiasis should be suspected in the presence of calcifications on imaging. Surgery may be required in case of uncertain cases to not ignore an underlying tumor.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen Elevation in Broncholithiasis Patients Initially Misdiagnosed as Lung Cancer: a Case Report.

BACKGROUND: We report a case of broncholithiasis with recurrent pulmonary infection accompanied by blood in the sputum, which was initially misdiagnosed as lung cancer after laboratory examination indicating elevated carcinoembryonic antigen. METHODS: Laboratory examination, enhanced chest CT scan, electronic bronchoscopy, and ultra-thin bronchoscopy were performed to diagnose broncholithiasis. RESULTS: Carcinoembryonic antigen levels were elevated. Chest CT scan showed dense nodules and calcification in the middle lobe of the right lung. Ultrathin bronchoscopy demonstrates calcification of the distal bronchus of the lateral middle lobe of the right lung. The symptoms were relieved after the removal of the calculi by electronic bronchoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to pay attention to the calcification of the trachea and the differential diagnosis of lung cancer, especially when the level of carcinoembryonic antigen is increased.

Predictive factors for subsequent intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma associated with hepatolithiasis: Japanese National Cohort Study for 18 years.

BACKGROUND: Predictive factors for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in long-term follow-up of hepatolithiasis are unknown. We thus conducted a cohort study to investigate the predictive factors for developing intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in hepatolithiasis. METHODS: This cohort is comprised of 401 patients registered in a nationwide survey of hepatolithiasis for 18 years of follow-up. Cox regression analysis was used to elucidate predictive factors for developing intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. RESULTS: The median follow-up period of patients was 134 months. Twenty-two patients developed intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and all died. Identified independent significant factors were as follows: age 63 years or older (hazard ratio [HR] 3.344), residual stones at the end of treatment (HR 2.445), and biliary stricture during follow-up (HR 4.350). The incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in patients with three factors was significantly higher than that in patients with one or two factors. The incidence in the groups with one or two predictive factors was not different. In 88.9% of patients with both biliary stricture and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, the duration between the diagnoses of biliary stricture and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was ≥ 5 years. However, once intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma developed, 77.8% of patients died within 1 year. Of 24 patients with no symptoms, no previous choledocoenterostomy, no signs of malignancy, no biliary stricture, and no treatment for hepatolithiasis during follow-up, only one developed intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding carcinogenesis, complete stone clearance and releasing biliary stricture can prevent the development of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and improve the prognosis of hepatolithiasis.

Hepatolithiasis After Living Donor Liver Transplantation in Pediatric Patients: Mechanism, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis.

There is little information about the outcomes of pediatric patients with hepatolithiasis after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We retrospectively reviewed hepatolithiasis after pediatric LDLT. Between May 2001 and December 2020, 310 pediatric patients underwent LDLT with hepaticojejunostomy. Treatment for 57 patients (18%) with post-transplant biliary strictures included interventions through double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) in 100 times, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) in 43, surgical re-anastomosis in 4, and repeat liver transplantation in 3. The median age and interval at treatment were 12.3 years old and 2.4 years after LDLT, respectively. At the time of treatments, 23 patients (7%) had developed hepatolithiasis of whom 12 (52%) were diagnosed by computed tomography before treatment. Treatment for hepatolithiasis included intervention through DBE performed 34 times and PTBD 6, including lithotripsy by catheter 23 times, removal of plastic stent in 8, natural exclusion after balloon dilatation in 7, and impossibility of removal in 2. The incidence of recurrent hepatolithiasis was 30%. The 15-years graft survival rates in patients with and without hepatolithiasis were 91% and 89%, respectively (p = 0.860). Although hepatolithiasis after pediatric LDLT can be treated using interventions through DBE or PTBD and its long-term prognosis is good, the recurrence rate is somewhat high.

Management of Testicular Microlithiasis.

Until molecular diagnostics become available, individualized risk assessment for men with testicular microlithiasis, counseling on the current evidence base regarding the benefit of testicular biopsy or testicular self-examination, and a patient-centered approach provide the framework for the best quality of care for the individual patient.

The prognostic value of testicular microlithiasis as an incidental finding for the risk of testicular malignancy in children and the adult population: A systematic review. On behalf of the EAU pediatric urology guidelines panel.

INTRODUCTION: The exact correlation of testicular microlithiasis (TM) with benign and malignant conditions remains unknown, especially in the paediatric population. The potential association of TM with testicular malignancy in adulthood has led to controversy regarding management and follow-up. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognostic importance of TM in children in correlation to the risk of testicular malignancy or infertility and compare the differences between the paediatric and adult population. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a literature review of the Medline, Embase and Cochrane controlled trials databases until November 2020 according to the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement. Twenty-six publications were included in the analysis. RESULTS: During the follow-up of 595 children with TM only one patient with TM developed a testicular malignancy during puberty. In the other 594 no testicular malignancy was found, even in the presence of risk factors. In the adult population, an increased risk for testicular malignancy in the presence of TM was found in patients with history of cryptorchidism (6% vs 0%), testicular malignancy (22% vs 2%) or sub/infertility (11-23% vs 1.7%) compared to TM-free. The difference between paediatric and adult population might be explained by the short duration of follow-up, varying between six months and three years. With an average age at inclusion of 10 years and testicular malignancies are expected to develop from puberty on, testicular malignancies might not yet have developed. CONCLUSION: TM is a common incidental finding that does not seem to be associated with testicular malignancy during childhood, but in the presence of risk factors is associated with testicular malignancy in the adult population. Routine monthly self-examination of the testes is recommended in children with contributing risk factors from puberty onwards. When TM is still present during transition to adulthood a more intensive follow-up could be considered.

Reversible Canalith Jam of the Horizontal Semicircular Canal Mimicking Cupulolithiasis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) resulting in reversible horizontal semicircular canalith jam successfully treated with horizontal canal occlusion. A brief literature review of similar cases was performed. METHODS: Case report and literature review. RESULTS: A 68-year-old female presented with apogeotropic positional nystagmus, attributed to reversible horizontal canalith jam mimicking cupulolithiasis that was refractory to tailored repositioning maneuvers across months. She was unable to work due to the severity of her symptoms. She underwent surgical occlusion of the affected canal with immediate resolution of her symptoms. A literature review revealed similar cases of canalith jam mimicking cupulolithiasis. CONCLUSIONS: Reversible canalith jam, in which particles moving with horizontal head position alternate between obstructing the semicircular canal and resting on the cupula, can mimic signs of cupulolithiasis. This variant of BPPV can be effectively managed with surgical canal occlusion should symptoms fail to resolve after tailored repositioning maneuvers.

Rhinoliths: Analysis of 24 Interesting Forgotten Foreign Body Cases.

Rhinoliths are petrified masses formed by accumulation of endogenous or exogenous salts around a nidus. Although rarely formed by the body, the most common cause is foreign bodies forgotten in the nose at childhood. Rhinoliths are rare and have been reported as a single case report in the literature. In this study, 24 different and different cases will be analyzed. Twenty-four interesting patients who were operated for rhinolith in the otorhinolaryngology clinic between 2014 and 2019 and were not seen in the literature before were analyzed retrospectively. The characteristics of these patients such as age, sex, additional pathology, foreign body coexistence, type of anesthesia used, and previous surgical status were analyzed. Fourteen patients were male and 10 were female (58.3% male, 41.7% female). The mean age was 30.4 (minimum 2, maximum 62). Twelve of the foreign bodies were on the right and 12 on the left (50%). Foreign body localization was 13 (54.1%) between the inferior turbinate (IT) and septum and 11 (45.9%) between the middle turbinate and septum. Tissue destruction was seen in 12 (50%; 7 septum, 5 IT) patients. Fifteen patients had additional pathology (mostly septum deviation). General anesthesia was used in 14 patients and local anesthesia was used in 10 (58.3%-41.7%) patients. Two patients (n = 2) had rhinoliths due to forgotten nasal packing after surgery and forgotten silicone nasolacrimal tube after dacryocystorhinostomy surgery. Rhinoliths should be considered with unilateral malodorous runny nose and resistant sinusitis attacks. The diagnosis is rigid endoscope and computed tomography imaging. It usually occurs as a result of forgotten foreign bodies. Rhinoliths may also form as a result of forgotten tampon after previous nose or eye surgery.

'Ball valve' small bowel obstruction caused by a large caecal faecolith.

Small bowel obstruction is a common surgical presentation, but intestinal faecoliths are rarely reported as a cause. A 75-year-old woman presented with small bowel obstruction from a large faecolith lodged in the caecum. This required removal at laparoscopy-assisted surgery. This case highlights the need to deal promptly with symptomatic intestinal faecoliths as they are unlikely to pass spontaneously and are prone to cause acute obstruction.

Appendicolith: an explicit factor leading to complicated appendicitis in childhood. / Apendicolito: factor explícito que ocasiona apendicitis complicada en la niñez.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the clinical risk of pediatric appendicitis with appendicolith and its guiding significance in therapeutic strategies' selection. METHODS: Children diagnosed with acute appendicitis from June 2011-January 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. Patient cohort was divided to appendicolith group (AG) and nonappendicolith group (NAG) based on whether the appendicolith presents or not in the open surgery. Clinical presentations, laboratory parameters, computed tomography findings, and pathological changes were reviewed and compared between two groups. RESULTS: Among 163 patients, 23 (mean age, 6.1 years old) were defined in AG and 140; mean age, 8.1 years old) in NAG. The patients in AG demonstrated prolonged length of stay (12.4 ± 5.6d vs. 8.7 ± 5.0d, P <0.05), higher body temperature (38.2 ± 0.8 ℃ vs. 37.3 ± 0.8 ℃, P <0.05), higher frequency of diarrhea (17 % vs. 3%, P <0.05), rebound tenderness (100 % vs. 87 %, P <0.05), increased neutrophil percentage (81.4 ± 8.0 % vs. 65.3 ± 22.8 %, P <0.05), C-reactive protein (33.13 ± 10.3 mg/L vs. 23.7 ± 13.7 mg/L, P <0.05), and great risk of perforation (78 % vs. 29 %, P <0.05). Alvarado score (8.3 ± 1.2 vs. 7.0 ± 1.3, P <0.05) and AIR score (10.7 ± 1.6 vs. 7.7 ± 1.9, P <0.05) of AG, were higher than NAG he presence of fever and appendicolith was associated with a high rate of perforated appendicitis. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric appendicitis with appendicolith has greater clinical risk and tends to causing complicated appendicitis.

Objetivos. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el riesgo clínico de la apendicitis con apendicolito y su importancia al elegir las estrategias terapéuticas. Métodos. Se analizó retrospectivamente a niños con diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda entre junio de 2011 y enero de 2017. Se dividió en un grupo con apendicolito(GA) y un grupo sin apendicolito (GSA) según la presencia o no de apendicolito durante la cirugía abierta. Se revisaron y compararon la presentación clínica, de laboratorios, los resultados de la tomografía computada y los cambios patológicos. Resultados. De 163 pacientes, se incluyó a 23 (media de edad: 6,1 años) en el GA y a 140 (media de edad: 8,1 años) en el GSA. Los pacientes en el GA tuvieron una hospitalización más extensa, mayor temperatura corporal, mayor frecuencia de diarrea, signo de Blumberg, aumento del porcentaje de neutrófilos, proteína C-reactiva y mayor riesgo de perforación. La puntuación en las escalas de Alvarado (8,3 ± 1,2 frente a 7,0 ± 1,3; P < 0,05) y de respuesta inflamatoria a apendicitis (10,7 ± 1,6 frente a 7,7 ± 1,9; P < 0,05) fue mayor en el GA que en el GSA; la presencia de fiebre y apendicolito se asoció con una mayor tasa de apendicitis perforada. Conclusiones. La apendicitis pediátrica con apendicolito representa un mayor riesgo clínico y tiende a causar apendicitis complicada.

A 51-Year-Old Woman With Pellets in the Sputum.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 51-year-old woman with no comorbidities presented with a 3-month history of cough with mucopurulent expectoration and intermittent fever. Over the past 1 month, she complained of streaky hemoptysis and gave history of expectorating "whitish pellets" in the sputum on two occasions. She had developed progressive breathlessness for a week prior to presentation to our hospital. There was no history of chest pain or loss of weight or appetite. She was a nonsmoker and did not consume alcohol. She had received multiple courses of antibiotics at another center with no relief of symptoms.

[A rare cause of headache: Rhinolit]. / Bas agrisinda nadir bir neden: Rinolit.

The rhinolith is massed in a mineral nugget in the nasal cavity, which is the result of the accumulation of salts around the nidus. The nidus may be endogenous or exogenous. Long-term and unilateral nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, pain and malodor are major complaints. However, sometimes, they may not show any signs for years and maybe detected incidentally during a routine examination. In this study, we present a case of giant rhinolith with headache and nasal obstruction complaints.

Colangio-pancreatoscopia SpyGlass® para patología bilio-pancreática / SpyGlass® cholangio-pancreatoscopy for biliary-pancreatic pathology

CONTEXTO CLÍNICO: En Argentina en 2018, la incidencia del cáncer de vía biliar extrahepática y vesícula biliar fue 3,7 cada 100.000 habitantes y el de páncreas de 10,9 cada 100.000 habitantes. La evaluación diagnóstica estándar de los pacientes con estenosis biliar incluye laboratorio (con IgG4 para evaluar patología autoinmune), tomografía computada, eco-endoscopia (con o sin punción aspirativa con aguja fina) y colangiopancreatografía retrógrada endoscópica (CPRE) con cepillado/biopsia biliar. Sin embargo, la sensibilidad de las muestras tomadas por CPRE son limitadas, siendo 45% para el cepillado y 60% cuando se lo combina con toma de muestra con pinzas de biopsia endoscópicas.2 Hasta el 20% de las estenosis biliares permanecen sin establecer si es de origen maligno o benigno luego de una evaluación que incluya todos los métodos anteriores, lo cual se denomina estenosis biliar indeterminada. Estos pacientes requieren una resección quirúrgica mayor (en su mayoría con hepatectomías o pancreatectomías mayores) para su evaluación patológica, aunque entre un 5 y 24% de estas resecciones son finalmente por patologías benignas, lo cual implica riesgos innecesarios de complicaciones severas y mortalidad asociadas a estas cirugías.4 Un abordaje alternativo aunque no menos riesgoso es la observación activa, con repetición de los estudios en un tiempo prudencial para evaluar la progresión de la estenosis; esto implica sin embargo el riesgo de progresión de una enfermedad maligna y su potencial pérdida de oportunidad de resección oncológica. TECNOLOGÍA; El colangio-pancreatoscopio SpyGlass® DS (Boston Scientific®) consiste en un mini-endoscopio (SpyScope®) de un solo uso que se introduce por el canal de trabajo de un duodenoscopio de CPRE y que se adosa a la caña de este duodenoscopio para así poder ser utilizado por el mismo operador. SpyScope® se conecta a un procesador de imágenes y fuente de luz específico, denominado SpyGlass®. Este mini-endoscopio se introduce en la vía biliar o el conducto pancreático y permite visualizar estos conductos. En el caso de las estenosis biliares, permite realizar una evaluación visual de la misma y realizar biopsias mediante una pinza llamada SpyBite® (también de un solo uso). En el caso de la litiasis biliar o pancreática dificultosa permite guiar catéteres de litotricia electrohidráulica o láser bajo visión directa, lo cual es un requisito para la utilización de estos dispositivos. OBJETIVO: El objetivo del presente informe es evaluar la evidencia disponible acerca del desempeño diagnóstico, eficacia, seguridad y aspectos relacionados a las políticas de cobertura del uso de colangio-pancreatoscopia SpyGlass® para estenosis biliares y pancreáticas indeterminadas y para litiasis dificultosas biliares y pancreáticas. MÉTODOS: Se realizó una búsqueda en las principales bases de datos bibliográficas, en buscadores genéricos de internet, y financiadores de salud. Se priorizó la inclusión de revisiones sistemáticas (RS), ensayos clínicos controlados aleatorizados (ECAs), evaluaciones de tecnologías sanitarias (ETS), evaluaciones económicas, guías de práctica clínica (GPC) y políticas de cobertura de diferentes sistemas de salud. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron cuatro ECAs, tres RS, dos estudios observacionales, siete GPC, una evaluación económica, una ETS y cuatro informes de políticas de cobertura de colangio-pancreatoscopia SpyGlass® para patología bilio-pancreática. CONCLUSIONES: Evidencia de baja calidad sugiere que el uso de colangioscopia con SpyGlass® para el diagnóstico de estenosis biliares indeterminadas podría tener un beneficio considerable al indicar en forma temprana una resección quirúrgica mayor o bien evitarla (y sus potenciales beneficios clínicos). Esto sería como resultado de una mayor sensibilidad en el diagnóstico de malignidad con respecto al cepillado o biopsia dirigida por colangiografía endoscópica. Sin embargo, no hay estudios que hayan evaluado en forma directa estos potenciales beneficios clínicos. Evidencia de moderada calidad sugiere que el uso de litotricia guiada con colangioscopia SpyGlass® para el tratamiento de litiasis biliar dificultosa mejoraría el porcentaje de limpieza del conducto con respecto a otras técnicas endoscópicas, lo cual disminuiría el número de procedimientos endoscópicos subsecuentes o de una exploración quirúrgica de la vía biliar. Evidencia de muy baja calidad no permite establecer conclusiones acerca de los beneficios y riesgos del uso de SpyGlass® en litiasis pancreática dificultosa o estenosis pancreáticas de causa indeterminada. Las guías de práctica clínica relevadas recomiendan que el uso de SpyGlass® podría considerarse para el diagnóstico de estenosis biliares indeterminadas con resultados negativos para malignidad en las muestras con técnicas convencionales (cepillado o biopsia por colangiografía endoscópica). Una guía de práctica clínica sobre litiasis biliar dificultosa incluye el uso de SpyGlass® como una de las opciones terapéuticas en los casos en que fallan los tratamientos endoscópicos convencionales de esfinterotomía y/o dilatación papilar con balón. Las políticas de cobertura relevadas no mencionan o no cubren esta tecnología. No se encontraron evaluaciones económicas en la región sobre esta tecnología.

Sialolitectomía transoral combinada con sialoendoscopia versus submaxilectomía abierta para el manejo de litiasis hiliares de la glándula submaxilar / Transoral sialolitectomy combined with sialoendoscopy versus open submaxilectomy for the management of hilar lithiasis of the submandibular gland

Introducción: El tratamiento de la enfermedad obstructiva salival mediante técnicas mínimamente invasivas ha sido objeto de valoración por diferentes estudios desde hace décadas. Las litiasis a nivel del conducto salival serán la causa más frecuente de obstrucción, representando más del 50% de la enfermedad de las glándulas salivales mayores afectando hasta en un 80% de casos al conducto de Wharton. Material y métodos: Estudio prospectivo, comparando los resultados de las técnicas de sialolitectomía transoral combinada (STC) y submaxilectomía abierta mediante cervicotomía en 2 grupos de pacientes tratados por cálculos a nivel del hilio de la glándula submaxilar. Resultados: Veintidós pacientes fueron incluidos en el estudio, 16 (72,7%) eran hombres y 6 (27,3%) eran mujeres, la edad promedio fue de 54,41 años ± 12,75 (mín: 30/máx: 77). En cuanto a las variables asociadas a la enfermedad: promedio de litiasis, tamaño medio de la litiasis, tiempo medio de estancia, alteración del nervio lingual o complicaciones para ambas técnicas, no se encontraron diferencias para ambos grupos. Existiendo solo diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la estancia promedio a favor de la STA (p = 0,001). Conclusión: Los abordajes mínimamente invasivos al sistema ductal salival, asociados o no a sialoendoscopia, han demostrado una eficacia contrastada y un menor número de complicaciones en su variante submaxilar transoral. La tendencia natural debería ir dirigida a sustituir paulatinamente las técnicas de sialoadenectomía abierta, reservando su indicación para el tratamiento de enfermedad tumoral

Introduction: The treatment of salivary obstructive pathology by minimally invasive techniques has been an object of assessment by different studies for decades. Lithiasis at the level of the salivary duct will be the most frequent cause of obstruction, representing more than 50% of the pathology of the major salivary glands and almost 80% of these affecting the Wharton duct. Material and methods: A prospective study comparing the results of combined transoral sialolitectomy (CTS) and open submaxillectomy techniques by cervicotomy in 2 groups of patients treated by lithiasis at the level of the hilum of the submaxillary gland. Results: 22 patients were included in the study 16 (72.7%) were men and 6 (27.3%) were women, the average age was 54.41 years ± 12.75 (Min: 30/Max: 77). Regarding the variables associated with the disease: average lithiasis, size of the stone, hospital stay, lingual nerve alteration or complications for both techniques, differences were not found between both groups. There were only statistically significant differences in the average stay in favor of the CTS (P=.001). Conclusion: The minimally invasive approaches to the salivary ductal system, associated or not with sialoendoscopy, can be efficacy and can be associated with lower number of complications. The natural tendency should be aimed to gradually replacing open sialoadenectomy techniques, reserving its indication for the treatment of tumor pathology

[Objective characteristics of nystagmus in patients with posterior semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo].

Objective: To analyze and discuss the parameters and clinical significance of nystagmus in patients with benign positional paroxysmal vertigo (BPPV) of posterior semicircular canal. Methods: The subjects of the study were 564 BPPV patients diagnosed with posterior semicircular canal canalithis (PSC-can) from January 2016 to July 2017 in Tianjin No.1 Central Hospital, including 186 males and 378 females, with a median age of 57 years. The induced nystagmus in Dix-Hallpike test was recorded by video nystagmuo graph(VNG), and the direction, latency, duration time and intensity characteristics of nystagmus were compared with the position of hanging and sitting.SPSS17.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: Vertical torsional nystagmus was both induced with the position of hanging and sitting during Dix-Hallpike test. The vertical direction of the induced nystagmus was upward and downward respectively. The latency, duration time and intensity of lesion side were L(2.65±1.92; 1.44±1.24), D(14.90±10.46; 15.28±8.06), and P(29.75±21.26; 14.08±9.48). The latency and intensity in hanging position were higher than those of sitting. The intensity rate was about 2∶1, with statistically significant difference (t=13.831, and 17.296, P all<0.01). The direction of the induced nystagmus was opposite to turning in HSC-Can BPPV. The intensity turning to normal side was larger than lesion side obviously. The intensity rate was about 2∶1, the difference was statistically significant (t=17.296, P<0.01). There was no statistical difference of nystagmus during time between the two positions(t=-0.735, P>0.05). Conclusions: The nystagmus intensity rate in Dix-Hallpike test between hanging and sitting position of lesion side in PSC-Can is 2∶1, which conforms to the Ewald's law. The direction, latency and intensity of nystagmus can be used as a reference index for the localization diagnosis of PSC-Canotolith.