The cochlear implant programme in Crete: a nine year experience.

The aim of this study was to present data of the cochlear implant programme in Crete. Our series consists of 51 patients, 35 adults and 16 children, in a nine year period. The average age of our patients was 31 years (range from three to 68).

Epiglottis reshaping using CO2 laser: a minimally invasive technique and its potent applications.

Laryngomalacia (LRM), is the most common laryngeal abnormality of the newborn, caused by a long curled epiglottis, which prolapses posteriorly. Epiglottis prolapse during inspiration (acquired laryngomalacia) is an unusual cause of airway obstruction and a rare cause of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). We present a minimally invasive technique where epiglottis on cadaveric larynx specimens was treated with CO2 laser.

Septal cartilage reshaping with the use of an Erbium doped glass fiber laser. Preliminary results.

Statement Of Problem: To evaluate the efficacy of Erbium doped glass fiber laser in patients undergoing nasal septal cartilage reshaping.

Method Of Study: A prospective study was conducted in patients undergoing laser nasal septal cartilage reshaping. Microsurgical sponges soaked in a tetracaine solution plus adrenaline were applied in each side of the nose for ten minutes before the procedure.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis presented as bilateral otitis media and mastoiditis.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease that may affect multiple organs. The etiology of LCH remains unclear to date. It is currently believed that clonal accumulation and proliferation of CD1a-positive Langerhans cells are causative.

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the soft palate: case report.

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a histologically distinct variant of squamous cell carcinoma. It occurs in various sites of the head and neck region and is believed to carry a dismal prognosis. The palate is a very rare site of BSCC development and only three cases have been reported in the international literature.

Antihistamine effects on experimental middle ear inflammatory model.

Allergy is thought to be one of the etiologic factors in otitis media. The purpose of this study was to determine the histopathologic effects of H1 histamine receptor antagonists in an experimental histamine-induced middle ear inflammation model. In group A (20 rabbits), histamine challenge followed a 3-day intramuscular pretreatment with a single dose of 0.

Investigation of the relationship between allergic rhinitis and personality traits using semeiometry.

Mind-body interactions have been well recognized and are extendedly studied in the medical literature. There is evidence that the mind and body communicate with each other in a multidirectional flow of information by means of hormones, neurotransmitters/neuropeptides, cytokines, and semaphorines. There are consistent and convincing reports of links between stress and disease onset and progression, e.

Assessment for microsatellite DNA instability in nasal cytology samples of patients with allergic rhinitis.

Background: Genetic alterations, including microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH), have been described in both malignant and benign diseases. Previous studies have successfully detected such alterations in sputum samples of patients with bronchial asthma (BA). The aim of this study was to assess the presence of MSI and/or LOH in nasal cytology samples of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR).

Microsatellite DNA instability in nasal cytology of COPD patients.

Genetic alterations in the microsatellite DNA level have been successfully detected in sputum samples of patients with COPD and have been shown to be disease specific. Furthermore, previous studies have shown that inflammation coexists in the nasal mucosa of patients with COPD. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of MSI in nasal cytological samples of patients with COPD comparing the results with sputum samples of the same individuals.

Gingival condition of women with gestational diabetes on a Greek island.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the condition of gingival tissues in women who had gestational diabetes mellitus. The study group consisted of 64 women with gestational diabetes and the control group of 88 healthy pregnant women. The plaque index and gingival index and their relationship to a series of variables (socio-demographic, diet, oral hygiene, oral condition) were evaluated.

In vitro enzymatic treatment and carbon dioxide laser beam irradiation of morphologic cartilage specimens.

Objectives: To determine the role of the main cartilage components in the internal system of interlocked stresses and to clarify the effect of laser beam irradiation on cartilage.

Design: Control and experimental series.

Subjects: Rabbit ear cartilage.

Transtympanic versus intramuscular steroid administration in a histamine-induced inflammatory middle-ear model.

Objectives: Assessment of the histopathologic effect of transtympanic and intramuscular administration of dexamethasone in an in vivo experimental animal model of middle-ear mucosal inflammation.

Methods: Fifty healthy rabbits weighting 1500-1800 g were randomly divided in three groups. In 10 animals (control group), 0.

Multifocal bigerminal mature teratomas of the head and neck.

Teratomas and dermoids or hairy polyps of the head and neck are rare congenital tumours, often confused and reported to appear as single masses, that may cause upper aerodigestive tract impairment. Their histological classification, origin and embryological basis of development have been a topic of debate in the past and recent literature. We report a case of an infant presenting with a multifocal bigerminal teratoma in the nasopharynx and the neck, causing a deep neck infection, and discuss the unique clinicopathological aspects of this case.

Osteoid osteoma of the ethmoid bone associated with dacryocystitis.

Background: Osteoid osteomas (OO) are small, benign osteoblastic lesions. Ethmoid bone OO has been very rarely reported so far.

Case Presentation: We report a case of a 16-year-old boy suffering from persistent epiphora and a mild pain in the area of median canthus, due to a bone density mass within the right ethmoid air cells extending to the ipsilateral right orbit.

Canal wall down mastoidectomy for cholesteatoma: experience at the University of Crete.

Objective: To evaluate clinical and audiologic data as well as operative findings and postoperative follow-up in the management of chronic cholesteatomatous otitis media with canal wall down mastoidectomy (CWDM).

Study Design: A retrospective review of cases followed up between 1990 and 2002.

Setting: Tertiary referral centre.

The use of the Ligasure Vessel Sealing System in parotid gland surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the role of the Ligasuretrade mark Vessel Sealing System (LVSS; Valleylab, Boulder, CO) in parotid surgery.

Study Design: A prospective study was conducted on 12 consecutive patients undergoing superficial parotidectomy, performed by using the LVSS device as the primary means of ligation. Inclusion criteria included parotid mass with no preoperative suspicion of malignancy, and no extension to the deep lobe of the parotid gland.

Laser-assisted tympanostomy in pediatric patients with serous otitis media.

Objectives: To evaluate prognostic factors related with cure rate, in pediatric patients with serous otitis media treated with laser-assisted tympanostomy without ventilation tubes, in a single institution.

Patients And Method: The procedure was performed on 124 ears in 88 individuals, from 3 to 14 years old. External auditory canal anatomy, type of anesthesia, tympanic membrane and middle ear fluid characteristics, myringotomy size, and laser parameters, in relation to cure rate, were accordingly studied.

Fractal dimension as a prognostic factor for laryngeal carcinoma.

Background: Based on the hypothesis that Fractal Dimension (FD) reflects heterogeneity of tumor tissue, we performed an image analysis study to calculate FD of tissue specimens from patients with laryngeal carcinomas in order to investigate its prognostic value.

Materials And Methods: Laryngectomy specimens from 52 patients, who had previously undergone total laryngectomy for squamous cell carcinomas, were examined and their history files reviewed. Ten patients were lost from follow-up.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: 10-year experience in treating 592 patients with canalith repositioning procedure.

Objective: To assess the long-term efficacy of canalith repositioning procedure (CRP) in the treatment of patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

Background: Alternative theories for the pathophysiology of BPPV have been redefined in the past few years. CRP is considered to be the standard technique for its management.

Ligasure versus cold knife tonsillectomy.

Objective: To assess parameters related to ligasure tonsillectomy (LT) versus cold knife tonsillectomy (CKT) procedure.

Study Design: Prospective randomized study.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 200 consecutive adult patients undergoing tonsillectomy.

Tonsillectomy using the Ligasure vessel sealing system. A preliminary report.

Objective: To evaluate and introduce a new method of tonsillectomy with the use of Ligasure vessel sealing system (LVSS) in pediatric population.

Method: A prospective study was conducted on children undergoing tonsillectomy with the use of LVSS. Indications included chronic tonsillitis, peritonsilar abscess history, and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Familial bilateral acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid synchronous with pituitary adenoma: case report.

Background: Acinic cell carcinoma is a common neoplasm of the salivary glands that occurs predominately in the parotid. Only one case of a familial recurrence of such a neoplasm and 16 cases of bilateral tumors have been reported.

Methods: History files and histologic reports of a patient with bilateral multifocal acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid and a synchronous pituitary adenoma, and of the patient's sister and his father, also treated for parotid tumours, were retrieved.

Cocaine flakes versus tetracaine/adrenaline solution for local anaesthesia in septoplasty.

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of cocaine flakes compared to tetracaine with adrenaline solution, as a local anaesthetic for patients undergoing septoplasty. From January 2001 to December 2002, 220 patients underwent septoplasty under local anaesthesia. Patients were randomly classified in group A and group B, where cocaine and the solution of tetracaine/adrenaline were used respectively.

Otorhinolaryngology or otolaryngology? An etymological approach.

The variety and the confusion over the name of many medical terms, including otorhinolaryngological ones prompted us to search their etymology. The term "otorhinolaryngology" (combined form from the ancient Greek words :ous, rhina, larynx, and logos) and the term indicating the specialized doctor who practices "0torhinolaryngology," widely known as ENT in a brief version, are being examined. The investigation leads us to see which of these terms is the appropriate and etymologically correct one, and to support clearly the term "otorhinolaryngology" instead of "otolaryngology" and "otorhinolaryngologist" instead of "ENT.