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Lymphatic malformations are benign malformations frequently occurring in the head and neck. Retropharyngeal location is rare, can be life threating and its management is particularly challenging. Over a three-year period, three patients presented with symptomatic (dyspnea and/or dysphagia) retropharyngeal lymphatic malformation. All were treated using a radiofrequency ablation of lymphatic malformation through a trans-oral approach. No major complications occurred following the surgery. During the follow-up, no recurrence was noted and all patients were asymptomatic. Radiofrequency ablation in the management of retropharyngeal lymphatic malformations is a simple technique with very good results and allows a fast recovery with minimum morbidity and a short hospital stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is relatively rare and its physiopathology remains unclear, particularly in children. Our goal was to evaluate clinical characteristics, etiologies, management, treatment outcomes and prognostic factors in the pediatric population. We performed a retrospective chart review of all children registered for SSNHL between August 2004 and September 2017 in a tertiary care pediatric hospital. We analysed data regarding clinical symptoms, audiological characteristics, diagnostic investigations and treatment outcomes. Thirty-five patients were included. Mean age was 12 years (range 4–18 years). Male:female ratio was 15:20. Hearing loss was left-sided for 18 patients, right-sided for 12 patients and bilateral for 5 patients. Degree of hearing loss varied from mild to profound across frequencies in the 40 ears studied. Thirty-four patients had associated otologic symptoms: the most frequent was tinnitus (28 ears), followed by vertigo (23 ears), otalgia (5 ears) and sensation of blocked ear (5 ears). Twenty-nine patients received systemic steroids and 3 intra-tympanic steroids. In the treated group, 69% had improvement on the audiograms (14% total, 55% partial). Vestibular tests were performed in 16 patients and were abnormal in 10 patients. Radiological examination included computed tomography scan (n = 16) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (n = 33). They revealed 2 bilateral enlarged vestibular aqueducts, 1 labyrinthitis, 1 intra-cochlear haemorrhage. SSNHL can affect speech and language development in children. There are differences among the pediatric population, including inner ear malformation and immune disease. Specific work up is proposed. Appropriate diagnosis and therapeutic management are discussed. • Pediatric acute deafness is important to recognize as it affects speech development. • Specific workup should be proposed as etiologies are different from adults. • Associated otologic symptoms do not seem to be prognostic factors. • Intra-tympanic injections should be considered as salvage therapy in children. • We encourage practitioners to publish their experience to beef up limited data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work report cases of auricular burns after routine otologic surgery possibly induced by the operating microscope. Single-center retrospective study. April 2013 to January 2014, eight children presented with auricular burns after otologic surgery. Median age was 10.1 years. Cheloid scar occurred in six cases. A small scar was present for the other two patients without any other sequelae. No patient had chondritis nor cartilage loss. There was no possibility of physical or electrical trauma in the pretragal or retroauricular cutaneous area during the operations. Therefore, the only remaining hypothesis to explain these burns was thermal damage induced by the operative microscope., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)