Successful endoscopic ablation of a pyriform sinus fistula in a child: case report and literature review.

Recurrent thyroid infections are rare in children. When present, patients should be evaluated for anatomic anomalies such as pyriform sinus fistulae. We describe a 12-year-old girl with history of recurrent thyroid abscesses secondary to a pyriform sinus fistula and managed with concurrent endoscopic ablation and incision and drainage.

Phoma and Acremonium invasive fungal rhinosinusitis in congenital acute lymphocytic leukemia and literature review.

Objective: Invasive rhinocerebral fungal infections are a difficult and often fatal problem in children with hematologic malignancies, with increasing reports of rare pathogens. We describe a case of congenital acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and invasive fungal rhinosinusitis involving Acremonium and Phoma species, not previously reported in invasive pediatric fungal rhinosinusitis, and review all published cases of human Phoma infections.

Methods: A literature and institutional review for Phoma spp.

Unilateral endoscopic approach for repair of frontal sinus cerebrospinal fluid leak.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak closure remains one of the most difficult surgeries for skull base surgeons, particularly with frontal sinus involvement. Technological advances in endoscopic surgery increasingly allow for less morbid approaches to the frontal sinus. We describe a series of patients who underwent endoscopic frontal sinus CSF leak repair utilizing a unilateral approach, to evaluate the utility and outcomes of this method.

Enhanced video images for tympanic membrane characterization.

The objective of this article is to introduce portable devices capable of providing video images of the tympanic membrane and tympanic cavity of the ear. Specifically, digital video otoscopy is introduced as an effective platform for tympanic membrane characterization. In addition, we show how digital image enhancement and segmentation processing techniques can be applied to the acquired images, which could provide more visual detail and objective clinical interpretation.

The role of alternative medicine in rhinology.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) includes treatments from traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, naturopathy, herbal medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, mind-body medicine, chiropractic or osteopathic manipulations, and massage. More than 40% of patients in the United States use CAM, with 17% of CAM use related to otolaryngology diagnoses, but nearly half of CAM users do not communicate their use of these medications to their physicians. Perioperative risk of bleeding is a particular concern in surgical specialties, and knowledge of these therapies and their potential adverse effects is critical.

Preliminary findings on the effects of topical photoactivated antimicrobial methyl-δ-aminolevulinic acid on murine hearing thresholds.

This study evaluates the ototoxicity of a potential novel ototopical antimicrobial, photoactivated methyl-δ-aminolevulinic acid (M-ALA). Ten CBA/J mice received intratympanic injections of 10 mM M-ALA and 640 nm light source illumination for 7 days, with contralateral ears receiving saline. Auditory-evoked brainstem response (ABR) thresholds (8, 16, 24, and 32 kHz) were determined preinjection and at 1, 30, and 90 days postinjection.

Postcricoid vascular lesions: histopathological and immunohistochemical diagnosis.

Objectives/hypothesis: Postcricoid vascular lesions are a rare cause of dysphagia and stridor in the pediatric population. Currently, there is no clear consensus on what type of vascular lesions are common in the postcricoid area because adequate histological or immunohistochemistry studies are lacking. This study aimed to describe the histology and immunohistochemistry of postcricoid masses in our institutions' experience, and consolidate available data on the symptoms, management, and histology of these unusual malformations with a comprehensive literature review.

Predicting hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy: parathyroid hormone level vs. serial calcium levels.

A 24- to 48-hour in-hospital observation period to monitor for hypocalcemia is common after total thyroidectomy. Because most thyroidectomy patients do not experience this potentially serious complication, investigators have searched for methods and clinical indicators that may help stratify thyroidectomy patients according to their risk of developing hypocalcemia and identify those who can be safely discharged earlier. We conducted a retrospective study to compare the value of an immediate postoperative intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) level and serial calcium levels in predicting the development of hypocalcemia following total thyroidectomy.