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Neoplasm of salivary gland constitutes about 3% of all tumours of head and neck. Within the category we can differentiate tumours of a very different histological structure. What lies behind such great differences in the changes within the salivary glands is complex embryogenesis of the glands. This work aims at the assessment of the frequency of occurrence of malignant neoplasm in parotid gland and submandibular gland based on the material collected at the ENT Department of the Medical University in Poznan in the years 1995–2006. In the 12-year period, 103 patients suffered from malignant neoplasm. 82 tumours were diagnosed in paroid gland and respectively 21 – in submandibular gland. No neoplasm was identified in sublingual gland. It was concluded, that trends in occurrence of neoplasm of salivary glands, assessed on the basis of the number of patients operated in the years 1995–2006 show that the number of malignant neoplasm cases remains on the same level. The analysis of the epidemiological differences based on the comparison of the groups of patients treated for salivary gland neoplasm in the years 1995–2000 and 2001–2006 has shown that with regard to malignant neoplasm such parameters as sex, age, duration of symptoms, diameter of the tumour and level of advancement have not differed much from each other in the analyzed periods. Epidemiological differences were identified in respective histological structures in the two periods analyzed: adenoid cystic carcinoma was in fact more frequent in the years 1995–2000 than in the years 2001–2006 (58.8% versus 24.1%). On the other hand, metastasis to the salivary glands was less frequent in period I than in period II (11.8% and 27.6% respectively), so was cancer in mixed tumour (2.9% and 17.2%). Facial nerve paralysis was statistically more frequent in highly malignant tumours than in comparison to tumours malignant only to a slight extent.

Neoplasm of salivary glands constitutes about 3% of all tumours of head and neck. Within the category we can differentiate tumours of a very different histological structure. What lies behind such great differences in the changes within the salivary glands is complex embryogenesis of the glands.

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a disease caused by necrotising vasculitis of small and middle blood vessels of upper and lower respiratory tract and kidneys of unknown etiology. ENT symptoms develop in more than 90% of patients and tracheobronchial involvement occurs in about 20% of patients, most often as a subglottic stenosis. Subglottic stenosis occurs usually as a late complication of disease, but sometimes it may be an early isolated symptom. It is usually irregular, no longer than 2–4 cm and affects mucosa and submucosa but sometimes also cartilage. The diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms, X-ray of the chest, urine analysis, c-ANCA detection and histological examination of the granulation from the stenosis. The main treatment of subglottic stenosis in WG is a causal immunosuppressive treatment, however an equally important is a preservation of respiratory tract passage, because a dominant symptom in this form of WG is problem with breathing or even dyspnoea. In this publication basing on literature review different methods of treatment of laryngotracheal stenosis and its importance in WG are described and discussed. In literature presently less invasive operations are recommended. The treatment of choice is endoscopic treatment with repeated dilatations and injections of steroid into the stenosis. In big stenosis in immunologically active disease patient sometimes requires tracheotomy and after remission of disease and maturation of the subglottic scar laryngotracheal resection can be considered.

The aim of study was to assess the course of treatment and final hospital costs of head and neck cancer patients with diabetes mellitus in comparison with control group of cancer but non-diabetic patients.

Species and resistance rate of current pathogens is important for determining the appropriate treatment. P. aeruginosais an essential issue in the group of patients with ear problems. The number of infections and relapses caused by this pathogen has been increasing with high percentage of antibiotic resistant strains responsible for treatment failure.

Paragangliomas are rare, mostly benign tumors, orginating from the paraganglionic tissue associated with sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. In the head and neck they develop mainly in the carotid bifurcation (paraganglioma caroticum), but also in tympanic cavity (paraganglioma tympanicum), jugular bulb (paraganglioma jugulare), vagal nerve (paraganglioma vagale) and very seldom in the other areas. These tumors are mostly sporadic (90%), but they can be also familial (10%). In some patients, mainly in the familial form multiple paragangliomas can develop. We describe two cases of paragangliomas – one familial and one multiple. The genetic background and recommendations for diagnosis and therapy in such cases are discussed.

We would like to present the specificity, technique and efficiency of neck surgery in patients with lymph node recurrence in the course of thyroid cancer treatment.

It has been presented a rare case of extramedullary plasmocytoma in a 69-years old woman. The tumor has arised in soft tissues of the right cheek. Extramedullary plasmocytoma is a rare tumor which belongs to non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The characteristic feature of that group is monoclonal proliferation of B lymphocytes. One of the most common locations is nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses.

Development of the laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma is taking place on the base of well-documented precancerous lesions. In histological examination precancerous lesions show dysplasia which may be reversible. The quick and proper diagnosis allows for applying the adequate and successful treatment.

Malignant fibrous histiocytomas (MFH) of the upper respiratory tract are rare, aggressive mesenchymal neoplasms. Ultrastructurally MFH consisted of five different types of cells. It occurs principally as a mass of the extremities, abdominal cavity, or retroperitoneum in adults. There have been sporadic laryngeal cases reported in the literature. We report a case of a glottic malignant fibrous histiocytoma on a 45 year old man. There was difficulty to find finally diagnosis. Pathologic and immunohistochemical evaluation revealed tumor a few months after first symptoms. There was unilateral metastases into the neck lymph nodes. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for F13a, CD68 and negative for desmin and cytokeratin. Wide, aggressive excision of the tumour with total larygectomy to be the treatment of choice because it was difficult to prove clinically and pathologically that it was MFH. Unilateral neck dissection was done due to metastases into the neck lymph nodes. Radiation have been used after surgery. About two years after total laryngectomy the patient is well and free of disease.

The authors would like to present a rare case of the middle ear cancer which has been developed in postoperative cave in 67 years old patient operated for cholesteatoma 50 years earlier. The patient was admitted to the ENT Department of Poznan University of Medical Sciences because of the ear suppuration and headache occurring for 3 months. CT and MR images suggested granulation tissue filling the postoperative spaces with bone destruction, infiltration of the dura and temporal lobe abscess formation. Intraoperative findings allowed excluding the preliminary diagnosis of intracranial complication in the course of chronic otitis media, revealing the tissue masses resembling neoplastic infiltration. The histopathology examination confirmed the final diagnosis of squamous cell cancer. The patient was directed to radiotherapy. The authors report a case of middle ear squamous cell carcinoma and discuss its diagnostic aspect.