Urine concentrations changes of cysteinyl leukotrienes in non-obese children with obstructive sleep apnea undergoing adenotonsillectomy.

Objective: The main objective of the study was to compare preoperative to postoperative levels of urine-Cysteinyl leukotrienes (uCysLT) in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy (AT) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in order to investigate whether exaggerated leukotriene activity is the cause or consequence of OSA.

Methods And Materials: A prospective study was conducted on non-obese children (4-10 years old) referred for overnight PSG. Children with moderate/severe OSA treated with AT were included.

Herpes viruses and human papilloma virus in nasal polyposis and controls.

Introduction: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is a multifactorial disease entity with an unclear pathogenesis. Contradictory data exist in the literature on the potential implication of viral elements in adult patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Objective: To compare the prevalence of human herpes viruses (1-6) and Human Papilloma Virus in adult patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and healthy controls.

Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Greek OSA-18 questionnaire in children undergoing polysomnography.

Objective: Translations of validated questionnaires help to compare different countries/cultures populations and establish protocols for global health. OSA-18 is a validated disease-specific questionnaire for pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Our aim was to validate OSA-18 in Greek and correlate it with polysomnography results and OSA severity.

Does perioperative dexamethasone affect voice-related quality of life after thyroidectomy?

The objective of this study is to assess the impact of perioperative dexamethasone on post-thyroidectomy voice outcomes. This study is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data in a tertiary referral center. This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on adult patients undergoing total thyroidectomy.

Validation of the Greek OSD-6 quality of life questionnaire in children undergoing polysomnography.

Objective: OSD-6 is a disease specific questionnaire for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The aims of this study were to validate OSD-6 in Greek language and correlate OSD-6 with polysomnography results.

Study Design: Prospective study.

The sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT)-22: validation for Greek patients.

The aim of this study was to perform translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of the sinonasal outcome test 22 (SNOT-22) in the Greek language. SNOT-22 was translated into Greek. A prospective study was conducted on adult patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) according to rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps (EPOS) criteria.

Evaluating the outcome of phonosurgery: comparing the role of VHI and VoiSS questionnaires in the Greek language.

Objectives/hypothesis: The objective was to study the role of the Greek version of Voice Handicap Index (VHI) in comparison with Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS) in terms of measuring voice surgery outcome in patients with benign laryngeal lesions.

Study Design: Nonrandomized prospective.

Methods: Forty-six patients operated for benign laryngeal lesions were enrolled in the present study.

Hidrocystoma of the external auditory canal: a case report.

Background: Apocrine hydrocystomas arising in the external auditory canal are very rare. In this report a clinical case of apocrine hydrocystoma located in the cartilaginous part of the external auditory canal is presented.

Case Presentation: A 64-year-old Caucasian female patient presented with a solitary nodule, located in the outer part of the external ear canal after repeated episodes of external otitis.

Ectopic internal carotid artery presenting as an oropharyngeal mass.

Ectopic internal carotid artery (ICA) is a very rare variation. The major congenital abnormalities of the ICA can be classified as agenesis, aplasia and hypoplasia, and they can be unilateral or bilateral. Anomalies of the neck artery may be vascular neoplasms or ectopic position.

Diagnosis of tetanus by an otorhinolaryngologist and immunity against tetanus among adults on the island of Crete.

Background: Tetanus (lockjaw) is a rare disease in developed countries.

Methods: An otorhinolaryngologist can be the first physician to see a patient with tetanus. In our department, we have seen 10 such cases presenting with head and neck symptoms.

Pattern of parotid gland tumors on Crete, Greece: a retrospective study of 131 cases.

Background: Salivary gland tumors constitute a highly heterogeneous group. There are few large epidemiological studies of benign and malignant salivary gland tumors in Greece. The aim of the present study was to define the pattern of parotid gland neoplasms on the island of Crete.

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.

Oral mucosal melanoma: a malignant trap.

Oral mucosal melanomas are highly malignant tumors. The 'chameleonic' presentation of a mainly asymptomatic condition, the rarity of these lesions, the poor prognosis and the necessity of a highly specialized treatment are factors that should be seriously considered by the involved health provider. We present the case of a 75-year-old man who was referred to the Ear, Nose and Throat department.

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.

Malignant mixed tumor of the nasal cavity.

Parotid gland is the most common location of malignant mixed tumors. Three different subtypes of these tumors exist: carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma, carcinosarcoma, and metastasizing mixed tumor. Carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma is by far the most common subtype.

Kikuchi's disease: a benign cause of fever and cervical lymphadenopathy.

Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (Kikuchi's disease, KD) is a rare benign condition of unknown origin, usually characterized by lymphadenopathy and fever, affecting mainly young women. We describe three cases of patients, one man and two women, with biopsy-proven KD detected at our university hospital during the past 3 years and we review the literature.

Implications of laser assisted tympanostomy in adults.

Objectives: To assess outcome in adult individuals undergoing laser-assisted tympanostomy without ventilation tube placement.

Study Design: Case series with 2-month follow-up.

Setting: Faculty practice, research protocol, tertiary care academic medical center.

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.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists.

The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) has been implicated in many cases of angioedema, but, given the potential mechanism of this complication, it was not expected to be caused by angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). However, in the past few years, scattered reports of angioedema associated with ARBs have appeared in the medical literature. We performed a retrospective chart review from January 1, 1998, through June 30, 2003, and a review of the literature.

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.

Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty for the treatment of snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of the laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) procedure on snoring and Apnea-Hypopnea-Index (AHI) improvement in patients with snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

Study Design: Prospective, nonrandomized, nonblinded assessment of outcomes after LAUP in patients suffering from benign habitual snoring and/or mild OSAS.

Methods: Fifty-nine patients with habitual snoring and 25 patients with mild OSAS underwent LAUP (6 of them underwent simultaneous classic tonsillectomy and 20 carbon-dioxide laser tonsillotomy).

Bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss caused by Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease or hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN) is a relatively common neurological syndrome, which has seldom been associated with hearing dysfunction, particularly sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Families with autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive and X-linked forms of inheritance have been described. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is a frustrating and frightening condition, especially if the hearing loss is bilateral.