Differential effects of postoperative oral corticosteroid on eosinophilic vs. non-eosinophilic CRSwNP subtypes.

PURPOSE: The efficacy of postoperative oral corticosteroids on surgical outcomes in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) patients following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) remains controversial. This study evaluated the potential benefits of postoperative oral corticosteroids on surgical outcomes in CRSwNP patients and investigated the differential effects on eosinophilic CRSwNP (ECRSwNP) and noneosinophilic CRSwNP (NECRSwNP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with bilateral CRSwNP who underwent ESS were enrolled and randomized to receive either oral prednisolone (30 mg/day) or placebo for 2 weeks after surgery. Visual analog scale (VAS) and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT-22) scores were chosen as the subjective outcomes, evaluated at preoperative baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Lund-Kennedy Endoscopic Scores (LKESs) were used as the objective outcome, evaluated at preoperative baseline and at 2 weeks and 2, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: In total, 100 patients with bilateral CRSwNP were enrolled, of whom only 82 completed the 6-month follow-up. The subjective outcomes showed no significant difference at each follow-up points. Of the objective outcomes, the corticosteroid group reporting a trend of improvement in LKESs at 6 months postoperatively (p = 0.05). After stratification by tissue eosinophils, only patients with NECRSwNP (<10 eosinophils/HPF) demonstrated a significant improvement in LKESs at 3 months postoperatively (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative oral corticosteroids did not provide additional improvements in VAS and SNOT-22 scores; nevertheless, a trend of LKES improvement was noted at 6 months postoperatively. After stratification by tissue eosinophils, this effect was significant only among NECRSwNP patients at 3 months follow-up.

Hybrid Schwannoma/Neurofibroma of the Neck: A Case Report.

Neck hybrid schwannoma/neurofibromas are uncommon and classified as peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs). PNSTs develop from soft tissues, of which schwannoma, perineurioma, and neurofibroma are the most common. Hybrid PNSTs consist of more than 1 type of PNST, such as hybrid schwannoma/neurofibromas. The exact epidemiology and pathogenesis of these tumors are still largely unknown because of the limited studies on this topic. Such tumors can spread over the soft tissues, although most cases reported involve the subcutaneous layer or dermis. Some studies have suggested that hybrid schwannoma/neurofibromas may be associated with neurofibromatosis. We present a case of a 51-year-old female patient with a neck hybrid schwannoma/neurofibroma diagnosed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. The patient was referred to the neurology department for neurofibromatosis screening, which reported negative results. After 12 months, the patient showed no evidence of tumor recurrence.

A case report of adolescent respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma.

Hamartomas are common in the lung, kidney, liver, spleen, and, but rare, in the sinonasal tract. Respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas (REAHs) are benign lesions common in men aged 30 to 90 years. Approximately 70% of REAHs in the head and neck region originate from the posterior nasal septum. We present an unusual case of REAH originating from the maxillary sinus and extending to the nasopharynx of an adolescent boy.A 17-year-old boy without any salient medical history presented to our department with nasal obstruction that had persisted for 7 years as well as greenish nasal discharge, hyposmia, and a complaint of fetid smell. Sinoscopy of the osteomeatal complex (OMC) revealed bilateral mucopus and a large right polypoid tumor extending into the nasopharynx. Computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses revealed soft-tissue opacification around the right OMC, frontal sinus, ethmoid sinus, maxillary sinus, and nasopharynx. We performed bilateral endoscopic sinus surgery. REAH and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps were diagnosed on the basis of a pathology report. No evidence of recurrence was observed by 6 months after surgery, and his hyposmia, nasal obstruction, and purulent nasal discharge were alleviated considerably. Accurate diagnosis based on pathology is essential for determining the optimal treatment, which for REAH is complete surgical excision.

Olfactory Outcomes After Middle Turbinate Resection in Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Study.

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery is safe and effective for sellar and parasellar tumor removal. Partial middle turbinate (MT) resection is sometimes performed to optimize the surgical field and facilitate postoperative care. Disturbances in olfaction are concerning because of the lack of randomized studies in this field. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized trial. SETTING: Single academic medical center. METHODS: We resected the lower halves of bilateral MTs in the resected group and laterally fractured bilateral MTs in the preserved group. Olfactory outcomes and sinonasal conditions were assessed by using the validated Taiwan Smell Identification Test and Lund-Kennedy Endoscopy Score, respectively. Forty-nine patients were enrolled in the final analysis, of whom 23 underwent partial MT resection. RESULTS: The average Taiwan Smell Identification Test result was 36.9 one month after surgery, with a significant change of -4.4 ± 3.1 (mean ± SD; P < .01) from baseline. The impact was not significant at 3 months (-2.1 ± 2.6, P = .13) or 6 months (0.3 ± 2.0, P = .79). Between the MT resection and preservation groups, there were no significant differences at postoperative 1 month (P = .60), 3 months (P = .86), and 6 months (P > .99). Lund-Kennedy Endoscopy Score was still higher at 3 months (P = .006) after surgery but returned to the preoperative level at 6 months (P = .63). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery may affect olfaction at 1 month after surgery, and olfactory function is expected to return after 3 months. Partial MT resection did not result in additional olfactory loss. It is safe to perform partial MT resection during surgery without compromising the olfactory outcomes.