Unilateral tonsil enlargement in children and adults: is routine histology tonsillectomy warranted? A multi-centre series of 323 patients.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to establish whether histology tonsillectomy is justified for unilateral tonsil enlargement. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted of histology tonsillectomies in three health organisations over five years, with strict exclusion criteria, focusing on benign-appearing unilateral tonsil enlargement. RESULTS: Ninety paediatric and 233 adult cases were included. No paediatric cases and five adult cases of malignancy were detected. All malignant cases presented with other symptoms. Using binary logistic regression, a history of rapid unilateral tonsil enlargement was the only factor found to be significantly associated with malignant outcome. Thirty-three per cent of subjectively larger tonsils were smaller on post-operative histological measurement. Of the cases, 12.1 per cent re-presented with post-tonsillectomy bleeding. CONCLUSION: The authors recommend avoiding histology tonsillectomy for unilateral tonsil enlargement unless 'red flag' signs of malignancy are present, with particular attention to rapid unilateral tonsil enlargement. This study demonstrated discrepancy between clinical examination findings and true tonsil asymmetry; there may be a role for cross-sectional imaging prior to histology tonsillectomy in high-risk patients.

Hypocalcaemia following laryngectomy: prevalence and risk factors.

OBJECTIVES: To establish the prevalence of hypocalcaemia following laryngectomy and demonstrate that total thyroidectomy is a risk factor. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted that included all patients who underwent total laryngectomy from 1st January 2006 to 1st August 2017. Exclusion criteria were: pre-operative calcium derangement, previous thyroid or parathyroid surgery, concurrent glossectomy, pharyngectomy, or oesophagectomy. RESULTS: Ninety patients were included. Sixteen patients had early hypocalcaemia (18 per cent), seven had protracted hypocalcaemia (8 per cent) and six had permanent hypocalcaemia (10 per cent). Exact logistic regression values for hypocalcaemia following total thyroidectomy compared to other patients were: early hypocalcaemia, odds ratio = 15.5 (95 per cent confidence interval = 2.2-181.9; model p = 0.002); protracted hypocalcaemia, odds ratio = 13.3 (95 per cent confidence interval = 1.5-117.1; model p = 0.01); and permanent hypocalcaemia, odds ratio = 22.7 (95 per cent confidence interval = 1.9-376.5; model p = 0.005). CONCLUSION: This is the largest study to investigate the prevalence of hypocalcaemia following laryngectomy and the first to include follow up of longer than three months. Total thyroidectomy significantly increased the risk of hypocalcaemia at all time frames and independent of other variables.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux: A literature review.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is a common condition encountered in otolaryngological practice in the United Kingdom. It is one of the most important aetiological factors for many inflammatory disorders of the upper aerodigestive tract. The presentations are diverse and include chronic hoarseness, sensation of a foreign body in the throat, sore throat, dysphagia, postnasal drip, excessive throat mucous, chronic cough and throat clearing. LPR patients may not complain of heartburn. Although LPR is common, its diagnosis may not be easy, as its symptoms are non specific and the laryngeal findings are not always associated with symptom severity. This article discusses an overall view of LPR in terms of pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment

Wegener's granulomatosis: a rare, chronic and multisystem disease.

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is an autoimmune disease which has a clinical predilection for the upper airways, lungs and kidneys. It is a necrotising granulomatous vasculitis which is associated with a distinct autoantibody--the antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA). A heightened index of suspicion by clinicians is needed in the diagnosis of this complex and rare condition. A multidisciplinary approach should then be used to treat this chronic multisystem disease. Treatment involves the use of various regimens of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive medication. Mortality due to WG has been significantly decreased by this therapy. In this article, we focus on clinical manifestations and review the salient histologic, laboratory and serologic features and treatment.

Reliability of a tympanic thermometer in measuring temperatures in children after minor ear surgery.

AIM: To evaluate the reliability of infrared tympanic thermometry in children who have undergone myringotomy with grommet insertion. METHOD: Forty children who had undergone myringotomy with at least one grommet insertion had the tympanic temperature of each ear and the axillary temperature measured on admission and 30 minutes post-operatively. RESULT: No difference was found between the pre- and post-operative temperatures measured by either method (p > 0.05, paired t-test, hypothesized difference of 0). CONCLUSION: Infrared tympanic thermometry is reliable in monitoring body temperature in children who have had minor ear surgery.

The role of transnasal oesophagoscopy in the management of globus pharyngeus and non-progressive dysphagia.

Introduction Transnasal oesophagoscopy is a relatively new method of examining the upper aerodigestive tract via the nasal passage as an outpatient procedure without the need for sedation. It has been shown to be a well tolerated, safe and accurate technique, that can therefore be used in the investigation of patients thought to have globus pharyngeus and other non sinister causes of dysphagia. Methods A total of 150 consecutive patients undergoing transnasal oesophagoscopy were analysed retrospectively. Results The main indications for this procedure were non-progressive dysphagia (n=68, 45%) and globus pharyngeus (n=60, 40%). Transnasal oesophagoscopy was normal in 65% of patients and 42% of patients were discharged from clinic at the same appointment with no further investigation. The most common positive findings were laryngeal erythema (13%) and oesophagitis (10%). Conclusions Transnasal oesophagoscopy is a useful adjunct to the management of patients with the symptoms of globus pharyngeus and non-progressive dysphagia.

Improving patient care and quality of life after laryngectomy/glossectomy.

Patients undergoing total laryngectomy/glossectomy are left without a voice at least temporarily in the early postoperative stage, since their larynx and/or tongue has been removed. Those patients rendered permanently speechless usually acquire a form of mechanical speech through electronic devices. However, the life-changing nature of this surgery should not be underrated as effectively these people have lost their normal voice. It can be argued that this patient group is also without a voice in a political sense - theirs seems to be a forgotten cancer, as other forms of cancer appear to attract greater attention for research priorities and funding. In some ways this research attempts to redress the balance through exploring the patient experience postoperatively, in particular the issues related to communication for this patient group. The results also highlight the emotional trauma experienced by patients and the mechanisms healthcare staff employ to support these patients. This research is multidisciplinary, involving patients and all those health workers that come into contact with them on the ward. The patient experience forms a major part of this article, allowing their stories to form much of the content. The results draw attention to deficiencies in service delivery that, as a direct result of this research, have been and are being addressed so that patients' care is improved and their quality of life is restored. Such change has been driven by patient comment such as: 'But then when you wake up after that operation that's the pits when you are laying there and you think "I'm dead". And then when you wake up properly that's the bit I always say you wish you were dead. That's when you wish you had died.'

Sinus surgery: does mitomycin C reduce stenosis?

This experimental study investigates the effect of mitomycin C (MMC) on sinus mucosal healing. MMC has an antiproliferative action on fibroblasts. It is used in glaucoma surgery to prevent restenosis of fistulas. Antrostomies were drilled in rabbit maxillary sinuses. One side was used as a control and the other treated with MMC at a concentration of 0.04, 0.4, or 1 mg/mL. Two animals from each group were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, and 12 weeks. The antrostomies in the control and 0.04-mg/mL groups had closed by 1 week; in the 0.4-mg/mL group by 4 weeks, and in the 1.0-mg/mL group by 12 weeks. Ciliary function was initially impaired but normalized within 1 week. Both light and scanning electron microscopy showed no permanent damage to the cilia. These results suggest that MMC can be used to delay closure of antrostomies in sinus surgery.

Mucosal intact laser tonsillar ablation.

BACKGROUND: A laser technique has been developed in the laboratory using a noncontact 810-nm diode laser. RESULTS: Mucosal intact laser tonsillar ablation (MILTA) coagulates tonsillar lymphoid tissue while preserving the overlying mucosa. A canine model was used to evaluate this new method. The canine tonsils were exposed to laser energy for 5 to 6 minutes each at 8 to 10 W of power. This technique was compared with standard "cold" knife tonsillectomy. The dogs were observed carefully during the postoperative period. When comparing parameters such as onset of eating solid food, amount of food ingested per day, onset of normal activity, and degree of weight loss, MILTA showed significant benefit over the standard technique. The operative sites were evaluated and compared at 1.5 hours and at 7, 21, and 45 days after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: None of the tonsils treated by MILTA showed mucosal ulceration. At the end of 45 days, histopathological examination showed complete absence of tonsillar tissue with normal mucosa in both the MILTA and standard groups. Traditional tonsillectomy techniques are associated with moderate morbidity and the potential for serious hemorrhage. With the preservation of the overlying mucosa, the possible clinical advantages of this approach to tonsillectomy are the absence of bleeding, avoidance of general anesthesia in older patients, less operating time, and decreased postoperative morbidity. The potential for office treatment exists. Additional laboratory studies, as well as careful clinical trials, are indicated based on these encouraging results.

Does slow-release 5-fluorouracil and triamcinolone reduce subglottic stenosis?

The surgical management of subglottic stenosis may be complicated by reformation of strictures. A slow-release combination of 5-fluorouracil, which has an antiproliferative effect on fibroblasts, and the corticosteroid triamcinolone acetonide has been used experimentally to control scar production in ophthalmic operations. This study was performed to determine if this material also can be used to reduce formation of subglottic stenosis. Subglottic stenosis was induced in rabbits by means of injury to the subglottic mucosa and submucosa. A suspension of the compound at a concentration of 2.5 mg/ml or 12.5 mg/ml was injected into the adjacent soft tissues. A control group of rabbits received the same volume of the suspension fluid but no compound. Two rabbits from each group were killed 1, 2, and 12 weeks postoperatively. No stenosis was seen at 1 or 2 weeks, but at 12 weeks the rate of formation of subglottic stenosis was decreased to a mean of 15.20% in the experimental groups compared with 47.37% in the control group. There were no indications of local or systemic toxicity. The promising results from this preliminary study suggest that use of this compound may reduce restenosis among patients treated surgically for subglottic stenosis. Further studies are being conducted.

Slow-release 5-fluorouracil and triamcinolone reduces subglottic stenosis in a rabbit model.

A previous pilot study suggested that a sustained-release conjugate that provided a slow release of 5-fluorouracil and triamcinolone acetonide injected into the tracheal and paratracheal tissues of rabbits at the time of subglottic surgery reduced the formation of subglottic stenosis. Our study was undertaken to confirm the effect. Ten milligrams of the compound suspended in hyaluronic acid was injected at the time of injury via a laryngofissure approach. The results showed that the control group had a mean stenosis of 52%, whereas the treated group had a mean stenosis of 32%. There was a significant difference between the treated and untreated groups (p = .003). It is hoped that this co-drug ultimately can be used in humans to reduce stenosis formation after laryngotracheal surgery and in other forms of otorhinolaryngological surgery.

Laser applications in the tracheobronchial tree.

This article outlines the historical development of the use of lasers in the tracheobronchial tree, the current indications for the use of carbon dioxide and neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet lasers, and the management of complications. The merits of other laser wavelengths are mentioned, including use of the potassium titanyl phosphate laser in the pediatric airway. Photodynamic therapy is discussed, and some future developments are introduced.

Endoscopic sinus surgery: are junior doctors being properly trained?

Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is a technique which carries great potential benefits for the treatment of many nasal conditions. However, it also carries substantial risks. The key to safe surgery lies with adequate training. A survey carried out as part of a North (East) Thames Region audit of higher surgical trainees revealed large discrepancies in their training and in their subsequent clinical practice. Almost half the trainees had started ESS without having been on a training course or performed any cadaver dissections. Despite the potential hazards of ESS, audit of complications and outcome received a low priority. The trainees made several suggestions for improving training, including better provision of courses, regional training programmes and improved access to cadavers for dissection. Other surgical specialties are being forced to examine the prospect of specific accreditation for minimally invasive techniques and otorhinolaryngology may have to follow suit.

Laryngocele: an anatomical variant.

It is commonly believed that external laryngoceles always penetrate the thyrohyoid membrane at the site of penetration of the neurovascular bundle. We present a case where the site of penetration was posterosuperior to this. Careful dissection of the neck of a laryngocele sac is important to prevent damage to the neurovascular bundle.

Acute pulmonary oedema complicating laryngospasm.

Pulmonary oedema is an uncommon but important complication of laryngeal spasm which in turn occurs more commonly in ENT practice than in most other surgical specialties. A case is reported and the literature reviewed, with particular reference to the proposed pathophysiological mechanism of this phenomenon.

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia.

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia is a rare benign condition that causes swellings in the head and neck. It is difficult to diagnose prior to biopsy and is frequently mistaken for a malignant tumour. A case involving a 21-year-old man who presented with a 2 cm diameter fibrous lesion in the subcutaneous tissue of the cheek is reported. The clinical and histological features are reviewed and the differences between this condition and the similar condition of Kimura's disease are discussed. Initial treatment with intralesional or systemic steroids is suggested as this may avoid the need for excision.

Polycystic disease of salivary glands.

Polycystic disease of salivary glands is a rare condition which hitherto has been reported only in the parotid glands. We report a case in which an accessory salivary gland had evidence of polycystic disease.

CO2 laser palatoplasty: early results.

It is now widely accepted that snoring causes significant social dysfunction. In the absence of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, palatal surgery offers a very good chance of eliminating or reducing snoring. The traditional operation of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty remains the 'gold standard', but may be complicated by velopharyngeal incompetence, severe post-operative pain and even nasopharyngeal stenosis. A newer technique to reduce snoring caused by palatal flutter by using a neodymnium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser to stiffen the soft palate has been introduced recently by another unit. We show that this procedure can be carried out using a CO2 laser, and present the initial results of the first 29 patients operated on at The Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital.

Successful treatment of a rare metastatic malignant carotid body tumour in a young adult, with conservative surgery and local radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: We report a patient with a malignant carotid body paraganglioma treated with surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy. We discuss her treatment and outcome in the light of the published literature. CASE REPORT: A 26-year-old woman presented with a 12-month history of a painless, left-sided neck lump. Ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a carotid body tumour, which at surgical excision was found to be adherent to the vagus and hypoglossal cranial nerves (X and XII). The tumour was resected from the surrounding structures. Two local lymph nodes were removed to allow access. The internal carotid artery was also involved and had to be repaired with a synthetic graft. Histology and immunohistochemistry confirmed malignant carotid body paraganglioma. There were positive resection margins, and cervical lymph node metastasis was reported in one of the two nodes. Post-operatively, she had left Horner's syndrome, left vocal fold palsy and right upper limb weakness, all of which resolved spontaneously. She underwent adjuvant radiotherapy and remained recurrence free after 30 months. CONCLUSION: Malignant carotid body paraganglioma can affect young adults, with an insidious onset of symptoms. In this patient, local excision (without neck dissection) and adjuvant radiotherapy were well tolerated and resulted in satisfactory local disease control.