Craniocervical Tetanus: A Practical Consideration During Work-up of Acute-Onset Trismus.

This clinical record revisits the classical and pathognomonic features of craniocervical tetanus in a 65-year-old farmer who presented with acute-onset trismus, multiple cranial nerve pareses (III, IX, and X), risus sardonicus, and spasm of the head-neck musculature. This paper explores the relevant literature and presents a brief pictorial analysis of the global epidemiologic data. With most countries successfully adopting the maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination (MNTE) program, the incidence and mortality of tetanus across age groups have sharply reduced in high-income and most middle-income nations. In adults, tetanus is now encountered in specialized situations like waning immunity and incomplete vaccination, in the resource-poor and low-income nations, in countries achieving MNTE recently, and as cluster cases in the aftermath of natural disasters involving human settlements. Therefore, present-day practicing otolaryngologists and residents who have limited exposure to the tell-tale clinical features of craniocervical tetanus should consider it during work-up of acute-onset trismus in adults in susceptible situations and with a conducive background. The clinical spectrum of craniocervical tetanus as depicted in this report, including the demonstration of the pathognomonic positive spatula test, provides valuable learning points for otolaryngologists in this regard.

Nasopharyngeal Fibroangioma: Revisiting the "Other End" of the Spectrum.

Significance StatementNasopharyngeal angiofibroma rarely presents in post-adolescent and elderly men, either as the natural evolution of a pre-existing lesion or as a de novo skull-base tumor. As the lesion ages, its composition changes from vessel-predominant to stroma-predominant-the angiofibroma-fibroangioma spectrum. As a fibroangioma, it has restrained clinical features (asymptomatic or occasional epistaxis), minimal avidity for contrast agents, and limited spread potential evident on imaging. These atypical features lead to a diagnostic dilemma when an innocuous choanal/nasopharyngeal fibrovascular mass is encountered in hitherto asymptomatic adult men presenting with epistaxis.

Evaluation of the Role of Toluidine Blue Paint as an Adjunctive Method to Biopsy in Suspicious Oral Lesion: A Hospital Based Study.

Early detection is a major step in the success of cancer therapy. Histopathology report is considered as the gold standard in the formulation of management protocol of any malignancy worldwide. But unfortunately, there is a delay in the detection of oral cancer very often due to inconclusive histopathology reports. The main reason behind it is obtaining a biopsy specimen from the non-representative area of the lesion. A hospital-based evaluation of the role of Toluidine Blue dye, used as an adjunctive method prior to biopsy was conducted in a tertiary care hospital on 200 patients presenting with oral lesions persistent for more than 3 weeks. The participants were divided into two equal groups by alternate sampling. In one group biopsy was taken by clinical judgment and in others, Toluidine Blue was used prior to obtaining a biopsy to decide the area to be biopsied. Data was collected using a predesigned proforma and was analyzed with the help of SPSS version 20. Results in two groups were compared with respect to sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, false positive and false negative percentages. The Sensitivity, Specificity, Positive Predictive Value and Negative Predictive Value of wedge biopsy without staining were 73.68, 58.14, 70.00, and 62.50% respectively. These values were 95.08, 82.05, 89.23, and 91.43% respectively when Toluidine Blue staining was done as an adjunctive before the biopsy procedure. These results indicate the promising role of Toluidine blue staining before the biopsy to diagnose oral malignancy more efficiently than obtaining biopsy specimens on clinical assessment only and in avoiding the delay in initiating the treatment in case of oral malignant lesions.

Chronic Draining Ear and Cholesteatoma Recidivism: A Retrospection from Clinical, Imaging, and Surgical Perspectives.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reasons for persistent draining ear and cholesteatoma recidivism following canal wall down (CWD) tympanomastoidectomy by studying the sensitivity of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scanning in different potential etiologies, corroborating through appropriate surgical intervention, and thereby, to suggest proper preventive measures. METHODS: In this observational study, 32 chronic, refractory draining ears were subjected to revision surgery following a radical or a modified radical mastoidectomy. Besides disease (cholesteatoma/granulations) eradication, pitfalls of the primary surgeries were addressed. Data were interpreted for studying the epidemiologic profile, the clinical presentation at recurrence, the type of primary surgery, the sites of recidivism, the probable causes, and the best possible management at revision. RESULTS: Of the 32 patients/ears, 23 had residual/recurrent cholesteatoma. Major reasons were inadequate disease clearance, contracted/inadequate conchomeatoplasty, no cavity obliteration, and inappropriate bone work. HRCT predicted persistent bridge and lateral semicircular canal dehiscence with 100%, and ossicular integrity and bony overhang with >80% sensitivity. Sinus tympani and oval window niche were the commonest sites of recurrence. At revision, radical/modified radical mastoidectomies were associated with cavity obliteration and appropriate revision of conchomeatoplasty in 28 patients. CONCLUSION: Recurrence of cholesteatoma/granulations is an important cause for chronic drainage from post-CWD cavities. Revision surgery explores the surgical pitfalls, and ensures clearance of disease from hidden areas, adequate bone work, and optimum conchomeatoplasty following cavity obliteration to provide a safe, dry ear with hearing improvement whenever feasible.

Pediatric Otolaryngological Emergency: An Experience from a Tertiary Care Teaching Institution at Kolkata, India.

Otolaryngological conditions constitute a major share of emergency medical problem among children. The present study was conducted to assess the patient profiles, incidences morbidities, mode of presentation and managements of different otolaryngological emergencies among pediatric patients presented in a tertiary care hospital. Descriptive cross-sectional study by analysing retrospectively collected information pertaining to the patients attended ENT emergency service department of a tertiary care hospital, Kolkata. Data were collected using predesigned proforma and were analysed with the help of SPSS version 20. About 39.0% of total ENT emergency attendance was contributed by pediatric age group. The male female ratio was 1:1.33 with average age of 58.95 ± 34.42 (mean ± SD) months. Half of the attendees had ear problem and almost one-third reported complaints related to nose. The major complaints at the time of presentation were earache (32.3%), nasal foreign body (24.0%) and aural foreign body (13.3%) closely followed by aero-digestive tract foreign body (12.0%). Inflammatory conditions affected the ears more, foreign bodies found most commonly in nose and miscellaneous condition such as impacted wax was found to be related to ear in significantly higher proportion. Conservative management was provided to 96.25% of patients. Foreign body insertion was found to be associated with lower age group. Most of the emergencies were managed conservatively which might be done at subdivision or district level to reduce the undesirable burden on the tertiary care medical colleges.