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The technique of inferior mastoidectomy-hypotympanic dissection, with preservation of the middle and inner ear structures, has been established for radical surgical removal of glomus tumors involving the skull base. In order to study the gross anatomic differences and correlate with the computed tomography (CT) scan, 20 human temporal bones were dissected and accurate measurements between vital structures were made. This study revealed a wide variation in distances between the neurovascular structures, whereas the distances between inner ear structures were not statistically different. This original study of critical distances of gross topographic anatomical structures and CT correlation is very helpful indeed in the understanding of variations found in the surgical removal of lesions involving this important and challenging area of the skull base. The inferior mastoidectomy-hypotympanic dissection has been performed in the removal of six suitable tumors involving the jugular bulb area. This technique, combined with upper cervical dissection, is very useful for the radical removal of such neoplasms with preservation of external and middle ear structures as well as the function of the facial, eighth, and other lower cranial nerves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives/hypothesis: Spontaneous leak of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) into the middle ear can occur in adults without a history of temporal bone trauma or fracture, meningitis, or any obvious cause. Therefore, clues may be lacking that would alert the otolaryngologist that fluid medial to an intact eardrum, or fluid emanating from an eardrum perforation, is likely to be CSF fluid. A review of relevant medical literature reveals that herniation of the arachnoid membrane through a tegmen defect may be congenital, or CSF leak may occur when dynamic factors (i.e., brain pulsations or increases in intracranial pressure) produce a rent in the arachnoid membrane. Because tegmen defects may be multiple rather than single, identifying only one defect may not be sufficient for achieving definitive repair. Data on nine cases of spontaneous CSF leak to the ear in adult patients from four medical centers are presented and analyzed to provide collective information about a disorder that can be difficult to diagnose and manage., Study Design: Retrospective review of nine cases of spontaneous CSF middle ear effusion/otorrhea., Results: The majority of patients presented with symptoms of aural fullness and middle ear effusion. Many developed suspicious clear otorrhea only after insertion of a tympanostomy tube. Two patients had multiple defects in the tegmen and dura, and five patients had meningoencephaloceles confirmed intraoperatively. Five patients underwent combined middle cranial fossa/transmastoid repair. Materials used in repair included temporalis fascia, free muscle graft, Oxycel cotton, calvarial bone, pericranium, bone wax, and fibrin glue., Conclusions: CSF middle ear effusion/otorrhea can develop in adults without a prior history of meningitis or head trauma or any apparent proximate cause. Although presenting symptoms can be subtle, early suspicion and confirmatory imaging aid in establishing the diagnosis. Because surgical repair by way of a mastoid approach alone can be inadequate if there are multiple tegmen defects, a middle fossa approach alone, or in combination with a transmastoid approach, should be considered in most cases.

Temporalis muscle transposition is a reliable surgical technique for the reanimation of patients with long-standing facial paralysis. It is often employed when facial nerve reinnervation via crossover or cable grafting is not possible. Temporalis muscle transposition can also be used for the immediate treatment of complete facial paralysis due to insults leaving the facial nerve anatomically intact but requiring a prolonged recovery time (more than 1 year). Because temporalis muscle transposition does not interfere with neuronal regeneration, it may be employed early in the management of complete facial paralysis when recovery is predicted to be extended and incomplete. The authors report their experience with early temporalis muscle transposition in the management of facial paralysis in 56 patients with an anatomically intact facial nerve. More than 90% of these patients achieved improved symmetry at rest as well as purposeful movement at the corner of the mouth. In the last 30 patients, the temporoparietal fascial flap was simultaneously harvested and successfully used to obliterate the donor site defect. In conjunction with the immediate implantation of a gold weight in the ipsilateral upper eyelid, this approach to the early management of facial paralysis helps reduce the period of facial disability from years to weeks in a select group of patients.

The term "endolymphatic sac tumor" (ELST) was coined to identify the likely origin of aggressive papillary tumors of the temporal bone. To evaluate the validity of this designation, the temporal bone collection at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary was accessed in an effort to determine the pathologic relationship between these tumors and the endolymphatic sac. The search resulted in the identification of a de-novo papillary epithelial lesion arising within the confines of the endolymphatic sac in a patient with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease who harbored a large, destructive ELST in the opposite temporal bone. This finding provides the most substantial evidence to date regarding the origin of the ELST and the accuracy of its nomenclature. Seven additional clinical cases of ELST were identified and analyzed in order to define the natural history of these tumors. All patients had a history of sensorineural hearing loss diagnosed an average of 10.6 years prior to tumor discovery. The presence of a polypoid external auditory canal mass, facial paralysis, and evidence of a destructive mass arising on the posterior fossa surface of the temporal bone were common physical and radiographic findings. The management of these patients, as well as those who are probably prone to such tumors (i.e., VHL patients), is discussed.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer is an experimental tumor therapy which is based on the combined use of a systematically administered photosensitizer to a tumor-bearing host and local illumination of the lesion by a high-intensity visible light source, typically a tunable argon dye laser. Human squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC) is the most frequently encountered malignancy of the head and neck. In this study, responses of HSCC cells to PDT were examined in in vitro and in vivo systems. In in vitro studies, the HSCC cells showed a positive photodynamic response with Photofrin-II (Pf-II), chloroaluminum phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate (AlPcTS), and a newly synthesized silicon phthalocyanine (SiPc IV). Single cell suspension of HSCC injected subcutaneously on the back of athymic nude mice resulted in a well-circumscribed tumor mass. The animals required a low tumor dose for the successful establishment of a tumor. The tumor was minimally immunogenic and showed neither macroscopic signs of early metastasis to lung, kidney, liver, or spleen nor evidence of surrounding erythema, fluctuation, or tenderness until the late stages of necrosis. Intraperitoneal administration of AlPcTS or SiPc IV to tumor-bearing mice resulted in rapid uptake of the photosensitizers in liver, skin, and tumor tissue. Twenty-four hours following the intraperitoneal administration of AlPcTS or SiPc IV to tumor-bearing animals, the tumor to normal skin ratio of the photosensitizer was 1.6 or 1.5, respectively. Administration of Pf-II (5 mg/kg) to tumor-bearing animals followed 24 hours later by irradiation of the tumor (135 J/cm2, 630 nm light from an argon pumped-dye laser) resulted in greater than 80% ablation in tumor volume 24 hours post-PDT. These characteristics make this tumor model system suitable for PDT studies of human tumor cells in vitro as well as in vivo.

Bismuth subgallate (BSG) is a heavy metal compound which is effective in lowering the incidence of hemorrhage after adenotonsillectomy and has been demonstrated to activate Factor XII. In a minority of children, the paste has been suctioned from the cuffless oral endotracheal tube after adenotonsillectomy. No pulmonary sequelae have been noted in these patients. To assess the effect of BSG aspiration, 75 rats were divided into groups receiving either intratracheal BSG or saline. Early and late parenchymal effects were documented at 5 and 30 days following administration. Although there were no differences in the general well-being, activity level, or weight in these rats, acute pneumonia followed by a histiocytic, foreign-body response was noted in a significant number of rats in the BSG group. Although no clinical pulmonary sequelae of BSG use have been noted in our patients, this information should alert clinicians to the risks of BSG use in the pulmonary-compromised patient, and encourage them to either employ all methods of preventing aspiration in such patients when using BSG, or to use another hemostatic modality for the utmost safety.

Angioedema is a problem that the otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon is often asked to treat. This report concerns 17 patients admitted for care during a 5-year period. At their initial presentation, 94% of these patients manifested signs and symptoms of angioedema in the head and neck; three of them required urgent tracheotomy or intubation. As treatment of complement-mediated angioedema is distinct, an etiology-specific diagnostic and treatment protocol is presented. Of the patients, 35% had recent initiation of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy for hypertension, and 6% demonstrated classic hereditary angioedema. However, the majority of them (59%) had unclear etiologies for their symptoms. Since angioedema is the final result of several possible abnormalities, a thorough knowledge of the differential diagnosis and clinical presentation is vital to patient management.