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Objectives: Wegener's granulomatosis is a granulomatous and necrotizing vasculitis that classically involves the respiratory and renal systems. The goal of the study was to define clinical and pathological characteristics in a subgroup of patients with the changes of Wegener's granulomatosis involving the orbit. Study Design: Retrospective study. Methods: A database search identified 15 patients with the histological changes of Wegener's granulomatosis of the orbit presenting over a 23-year period. A review of the histological specimens, radiological studies, and patient charts was performed. Additional follow-up data were obtained through patient interviews. Results: Of 15 patients (median age, 54 y) with Wegener's granulomatosis of the orbit identified, the disease was limited to the orbit in 12 patients; 3 patients had additional sinonasal involvement. All patients underwent various surgical procedures followed by medical treatment (cyclophosphamide and prednisone). Specimens showed characteristic histopathological features of Wegener's granulomatosis. Follow-up data were available for 12 patients with a median period of 5 years. In the group with only orbital involvement, none of the patients developed systemic progression of Wegener's granulomatosis. Only one patient had multiple local recurrences and later developed contralateral orbital Wegener's granulomatosis. Conclusions: Wegener's granulomatosis limited to the orbit is a localized form of the disease without systemic progression. Diagnostic surgical procedures followed by aggressive medical treatment results in good outcome, although local recurrence may occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We present the application and initial results of a CO2 laser technique for the treatment of medically refractory chronic granular myringitis (CGM). Study Design and Setting: Retrospective case series of 15 treated ears in 13 consecutive patients between the ages of 6 and 14 years (median age, 9.0 years) cared for in a tertiary care specialty hospital. Results: Eleven of 15 treated ears had total resolution of CGM and associated symptoms; median follow-up time was 10 months. Three ears were improved, and 1 ear remained unchanged. Three of 5 preoperative tympanic membrane perforations healed after laser treatment; 1 patient developed a postoperative, dry perforation. Hearing was not impaired in any patient tested. Conclusion: Preliminary results suggest that CGM, when refractory to medical treatment, can often be treated effectively by a single laser treatment. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2002;127:163-68.) [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To ascertain the reliability of a proposed method for quantifying tissue eosinophilia in sinus mucosa. Design: Prospective cohort study. Interventions and Outcome Measures: Pathology slides from patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis were independently assessed by 2 reviewers. Using a proposed systematic counting method, the degree of tissue eosinophilia was quantified. Disease severity was assessed by computed tomographic (CT) staging. Intrarater, interrater, and intrapatient reliability was determined using correlational reliability analysis. The degree of correlation between tissue eosinophilia and CT stage was determined. Results: One hundred thirty-two slides from 65 patients were reviewed. The mean (SD) eosinophil density was 23.4 (37.2) eosinophils per high-power field. Only 12 patients (18%) had no eosinophils on histopathologic analysis. Strong intrarater (r≥0.91 for each rater, P<.001) and interrater reliability (r≥0.82 between raters, P<.001) was noted for the quantification method. A moderate degree of correlation was found between CT scan stage and degree of tissue eosinophilia (Spearman ρ = 0.62, P<.001). Conclusions: The proposed method for quantifying tissue eosinophilia in sinus mucosa is reliable and valid. A relatively strong correlation exists between CT scan stage and tissue eosinophilia in chronic rhinosinusitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the unusual case of a 72-year-old man who developed acute and extensive necrosis of the nasal skin and soft-tissue envelope while undergoing chemotherapy for Waldenström's macroglobulinemia, a lymphoproliferative disorder. The patient's treatment involved infusions of rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody that is directed against B cell surface membrane protein CD20. The patient refused surgery to restore the nose, and he was treated conservatively with wet-to-dry dressings and antibiotic ointment. Approximately 5 weeks after admission, the eschar had exfoliated, revealing that the underlying skin was pink and healthy; no significant areas of necrosis remained. Within weeks, the nose had healed completely without scarring. A good aesthetic result was achieved exclusively through healing by secondary intention. We wish to alert the medical community that (1) conservative management of even extensive nasal skin loss should be considered when clinically acceptable, and (2) there may be an association between anti-CD20 antibody therapy for Waldenström's macroglobulinemia and skin necrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]