Laryngeal Myxoglobulosis: A Rare Histologic Variant of Mucocele. The First Reported Case.

Myxoglobulosis is a rare histologic variant of mucocele that is characterized by transformation of mucin into eosinophilic globules. The globules frequently demonstrate a lamellar pattern and are surrounded by an inflammatory cell infiltrate. Myxoglobulosis has not yet been described in laryngeal mucosa.

Computational fluid-structure interaction simulation of airflow in the human upper airway.

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is a breathing disorder in sleep developed as a consequence of upper airway anatomical characteristics and sleep-related muscle relaxation. Fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulation was adopted to explain the mechanism of pharyngeal collapse and snoring. The focus was put on the velopharyngeal region where the greatest level of upper airway compliance was estimated to occur.

Sleep magnetic resonance imaging with electroencephalogram in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the mechanism and level of upper airway obstruction in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients during natural sleep, together with synchronous electroencephalogram and respiratory events registration at 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) platform with high spatial and temporal resolution.

Study Design: A prospective cohort study of 20 randomly selected OSA patients.

Methods: Fifteen of 20 patients were able to complete spontaneous sleep during MRI.

TPF induction chemotherapy and concomitant irradiation with cisplatin and cetuximab in unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel, cisplatin/5-fluorouracil (TPF) induction chemotherapy and concomitant immunochemoradiotherapy with cetuximab and cisplatin in unresectable head and neck carcinoma.

Methods: Treatment consisted of TPF induction chemotherapy (docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) day 2; cisplatin, 75 mg/m(2) day 2; and 5-fluorouracil 750 mg/m(2) days 1-4; 4 cycles), followed by radiotherapy (RT) and concomitant weekly cetuximab, (250 mg/m(2), after a loading dose of 400 mg/m(2)) and cisplatin (30 mg/m(2)).

Results: Twenty-five of 30 patients completed 4 cycles of induction chemotherapy.

Epiglottoplasty for reconstruction of defects after laryngectomy with partial pharyngectomy.

Objectives: We present a novel use of sliding epiglottoplasty as an alternative method for closing mucosal defects in selected laryngectomies with partial pharyngectomy.

Methods: Sliding epiglottoplasty as described and advocated by Sedlacek, Bouche, Kambic, and Tucker for reconstruction in partial laryngectomies was used to close the defects after laryngectomy with partial pharyngectomy in 17 patients with advanced hypopharyngeal cancers as primary therapy (16 patients) and as post-radiochemotherapy therapy (1 patient).

Results: All reconstructions were successful.

CT comparison of primary snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: role of pharyngeal narrowing ratio and soft palate-tongue contact in awake patient.

Soft palate-tongue contact and automatically calculated pharyngeal narrowing ratio (PNR), defined as a ratio between the airway cross-section at the hard palate level and the narrowest cross-section from the hard palate to the epiglottis, could assist in earlier identification of potential obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) patients even on awake individuals. Parameters were studied on carotid CTA images from 67 consecutively included awake Caucasians who were later classified by second independent physician into the primary snorers (SNORE, n = 34) or obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patient (OSA, n = 33) group according to the clinical examination, laboratory testing and a full-night video polysomnography (PSG) in the sleep laboratory. Imaging and clinical data were statistically compared between groups.

Epiglottic suture for treatment of laryngomalacia.

Objectives: To present a technique for surgical management of laryngomalacia directed against the basic abnormality of the disease. Considering the cause-consequence relations of the abnormalities, we can distinguish two types of laryngomalacia. In the first, the basic abnormality is the pathological shape of the epiglottis: the epiglottis, which normally stands in an upright position, is characteristically excessively folded, restricting the supraglottic space directly as well as indirectly due to the proximity of the aryepiglottic folds that are attached to its lateral edges.

concomitant chemoradiotherapy with mitomycin C and cisplatin in advanced unresectable carcinoma of the head and neck: phase I-II clinical study.

Purpose: To evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of concomitant chemoradiotherapy with mitomycin C and cisplatin in the treatment of advanced unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Patients And Methods: Treatment consisted of conventional radiotherapy (70 Gy in 35 fractions), mitomycin C 15 mg/m(2) IV, applied after the delivery of 10 Gy, and cisplatin at an initial dose of 10 mg/m(2)/d IV, applied during the last 10 fractions of irradiation ("chemoboost"). The cisplatin dose was escalated with respect to the toxic side effects by 2 mg/m(2)/d up to the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or at the most 14 mg/m(2)/d (Phase I study), which was tested in the subsequent Phase II study.

Patterns of failure in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer treated postoperatively with irradiation or concomitant irradiation with Mitomycin C and Bleomycin.

Purpose: The long term results and patterns of failure in patients with squamous cell head and neck carcinoma (SCHNC) treated in a prospective randomized trial in which concomitant postoperative radiochemotherapy with Mitomycin C and Bleomycin (CRT) was compared with radiotherapy only (RT), were analyzed.

Patients And Methods: Between March 1997 and December 2001, 114 eligible patients with Stage III or IV SCHNC were randomized. Primary surgical treatment was performed with curative intent in all patients.

Snoring imaging: could Bernoulli explain it all?

Study Objectives: To identify upper airway changes in snoring using CT scanning, to clarify the snoring mechanism, and to identify the key structures involved.

Participants: Forty patients underwent CT examination of the head and neck region according to snoring habits; patients were classified into non-snoring (n = 14), moderately loud snoring (n = 13), and loud snoring (n = 13) groups.

Design: Comparative analysis.

Inoperable oropharyngeal carcinoma treated with concomitant irradiation, mitomycin C and bleomycin - long term results.

Patients with inoperable head and neck tumors were treated concomitantly with radiochemotherapy with mitomycin C and bleomycin in our prospective randomized clinical trial (1991- 1993). For the subgroup of patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma the results with radiochemotherapy were significantly superior to irradiation alone. Such scheme of treatment was then adopted as standard method.

Postoperative concomitant irradiation and chemotherapy with mitomycin C and bleomycin for advanced head-and-neck carcinoma.

Purpose: In a prospective randomized clinical study, simultaneous postoperative application of irradiation (RT), mitomycin C, and bleomycin was tested in a group of patients with operable advanced head-and-neck carcinoma. It was expected that the planned combined postoperative therapy would reduce the number of locoregional recurrences and prolong survival.

Methods And Materials: A total of 114 eligible patients with Stage III or IV squamous cell head-and-neck carcinoma were randomized to receive postoperative RT alone (Group 1) or RT combined with simultaneous mitomycin C and bleomycin (Group 2).

Autofluorescence imaging in the diagnosis of laryngeal cancer.

Differences in autofluorescence (fluorescence without photodynamic drugs) between normal and malignant tissues offer new possibilities in detecting and localizing early laryngeal carcinoma. Autofluorescence imaging was performed using a modified fluorescence endoscopy system from Xillix Technologies (Richmond, Canada). Fluorescence was induced by blue light at 442 nm and captured by an image-intensified camera through a laryngeal telescope.

Estimation of arterial CO2 partial pressure by measurement of tracheal CO2 during high-frequency jet ventilation in patients with a laryngectomy.

Tracheal and arterial CO2 partial pressures were measured simultaneously in 27 laryngectomized patients both while they were awake and during high-frequency jet ventilation. Tracheal gas was sampled during brief interruptions of high-frequency jet ventilation. Agreement between tracheal and arterial CO2 partial pressures was assessed using the Bland-Altman method.

Laser induced fluorescence in diagnostics of laryngeal cancer.

Differences in autofluorescence between normal and malignant tissues offer new possibilities for detecting and localizing early laryngeal carcinomas. In the present study imaging was performed using a specially designed device that exploits differences in fluorescent properties of normal and cancerous tissues without photodynamic drugs. Fluorescence was induced by helium-cadmium laser, captured by an image-intensified camera and displayed on a video monitor after previous computerization.

Detection and localization of early laryngeal cancer with laser-induced fluorescence: preliminary report.

Differences in autofluorescence between normal and malignant tissues offer new possibilities for detecting and localizing early laryngeal carcinomas. In the present study imaging was performed using a specially designed device that exploits differences in fluorescent properties of normal and cancerous tissues without photodynamic drugs. Fluorescence was induced by a helium-cadmium laser, captured by an image-intensified camera and displayed on a video monitor after previous computerization.

A simple and inexpensive method for laryngeal photography with the operating microscope.

After a brief review of the history of laryngeal photography, a simple and inexpensive method as used at the ENT Clinic of Ljubljana is described. The equipment consists of a standard 35 mm Olympus OM-1 camera attached to the Olympus of OME-J operating microscope and an Olympus T-32 flash unit connected via a large bore flexible light cable to a specially designed laryngoscope. With the equipment described excellent photographs can be obtained even in inexperienced hands without interference with endoscopic procedures.