The use of the "puffed-cheek" computed tomography technique to confirm the diagnosis of pneumoparotitis.

Pneumoparotitis is a rare etiology of symptomatic parotid gland enlargement that is often misdiagnosed clinically. Pneumoparotitis results from air refluxing into the parotid ductal system via an incompetent Stensen duct orifice. We report a protracted case of pneumoparotitis evaluated with the "puffed-cheek" computed tomography technique to help confirm the diagnosis.

Office CO2 laser turbinoplasty.

We conducted a prospective study of office carbon dioxide (CO(2)) laser turbinoplasty as a treatment for symptoms related to turbinate dysfunction in 58 patients. All patients completed surveys before and 1 month after treatment, and 23 patients completed longer-term follow-up surveys 8 to 24 months postoperatively. The 1-month postoperative assessments demonstrated a trend toward symptom improvement, as many patients reported a decrease in their use of pretreatment medications.

Laser office ventilation of ears with insertion of tubes.

Objective: Myringotomy with insertion of pressure equalization tubes has proven to be extremely effective in treating persistent serous otitis media (SOM). This study compares the advantages and disadvantages of this procedure when performed in the operating room or with a laser in an office setting.

Patients And Methods: Patients selected either traditional myringotomy and tube (M & T; n = 29) done in an operating room under general anesthesia or Laser Office Ventilation of Ears with Insertion of Tubes (LOVE IT; n = 35) done in an office setting with only topical anesthesia.