Bilateral Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Introduction: We describe the first known case of bilateral basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland, and we review existing literature.

Case Presentation: A previously healthy, 70-year-old white man presented with a 2-cm enlarging mass in the tail of the right parotid gland. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography showed ipsilateral pathologic adenopathy.

Manual dexterity aptitude testing: a soap carving study.

Importance: Currently there are few validated metrics for predicting surgical skill among otolaryngology residency applicants.

Objective: To determine whether manual dexterity aptitude testing in the form of soap carving during otolaryngology residency interviews at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center Oakland predicts surgical skill at the time of graduation from otolaryngology residency programs.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This study was conducted to determine how applicants with the best and worst soap carvings compared at the time of graduation with respect to various metrics including visuospatial ability and manual dexterity.

Tympanostomy tubes for otitis media: quality-of-life improvement for children and parents.

We measured quality of life issues for both children and their parents on the premise that parental quality of life should be an aspect of cost-effectiveness in otitis media treatment. The patients were less than 18 years of age and had had myringotomy with tube insertion at the head and neck surgery department of a large health maintenance organization. Quality of life for patients, parents, and caregivers was evaluated by telephone survey of parents or caregivers and by retrospective chart review of the number of pre- and postoperative healthcare visits and antibiotic usage.

Odontoma of the middle ear: case report with 25-year follow-up.

We report the 25-year follow-up on the first reported case of odontoma in the middle ear. Diagnosis of odontoma had been made on the basis of radiography films that showed a middle ear mass with multiple toothlike areas of radiopacity. No clinical intervention was recommended.

Lymphatic mapping for staging of head and neck cancer.

Lymphatic mapping with sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy can accurately stage the nodal basins in patients with melanoma of the trunk and extremities and has become a routine, well-accepted diagnostic method for melanoma at these anatomic locations. Melanoma of the head and neck (16% of all cases of melanoma) is complex and difficult to manage because of the rich abundant interlacing lymphatic drainage patterns, as well as watershed areas, which can lead to unusual and unexpected drainage patterns. Radioguided surgery in combination with blue dye facilitates localization of the SLN in the head and neck; however, this type of radioguided surgery is an evolving technique of some difficulty and thus requires careful coordination among the surgeon, nuclear medicine physician, and pathologist.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the head and neck: treatment with Mohs surgery using inverted horizontal paraffin sections.

Objective: To describe results of treating dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the head and neck with a Mohs surgical technique in which tumor margins were evaluated with inverted horizontal paraffin sections to identify the margin of resection necessary to achieve tumor-free borders.

Study Design: Retrospective case study of nine patients.

Methods: In each case, Mohs surgery using inverted horizontal frozen-section analysis was continued until tumor-free margins were achieved.

Lipoblastomatosis of the neck causing hemiparesis: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Lipoblastoma and lipoblastomatosis are rare pediatric adipose tumors that sometimes affect the neck or spinal cord. This case is the third report of lipoblastoma extending into the spinal canal, the first report of intradural tumor extension, and the first report of hemiparesis resulting from lipoblastoma compressing the spinal cord.

Methods: A 13-month-old boy was seen by a pediatrician for a firm, supraclavicular neck mass on the left side.

Submandibular gland squamous metaplasia mimicking recurrent squamous cell carcinoma: diagnostic dilemma.

New masses in the head and neck region of previously treated patients with cancer are considered suggestive of potential recurrence. Fine-needle aspiration is an excellent primary tool for evaluating these masses but may show atypical squamous cells that mislead clinicians to pursue aggressive treatment. We describe 3 patients in whom submandibular gland masses developed after radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma and for whom subsequent excisional biopsy findings showed benign squamous metaplasia.

Radiographic comparison of three methods for nasal saline irrigation.

Objective: To compare intranasal distribution of saline solution delivered by three popular methods for nasal saline irrigation.

Study Design: Prospective, controlled comparison.

Methods: Eight healthy adult volunteers received nasal irrigation with 40 mL of isotonic, nonionic contrast material immediately before having coronal computed tomography to visualize distribution of solution in the paranasal sinuses.

Comparison of ThinPrep versus conventional smear cytopreparatory techniques for fine-needle aspiration specimens of head and neck masses.

Objectives: Diagnostic accuracy of the ThinPrep process (Cytyc, Boxborough, MA) was compared with that of conventional (smear) cytopreparation for fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of head and neck masses.

Methods: In a prospective, randomized, single-blinded study, 209 patients served as their own controls and underwent 236 FNAs using ThinPrep and conventional (smear) cytopreparatory techniques.

Results: ThinPrep produced less air-drying artifact and less mechanical distortion than the conventional method.