Pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma presenting as a hypopharyngeal mass.

Background: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare malignancy derived from skeletal muscle with approximately 40% of cases involving the head and neck. The pleomorphic variant, however, most commonly occurs in the extremities and has never, to our knowledge, been described in the pharynx.

Methods: A 46-year-old man with no significant medical history presented to the emergency department complaining of hemoptysis.

Late displacement of a Montgomery thyroplasty implant following endotracheal intubation.

Objectives: We document a late displacement of a thyroplasty implant following endotracheal intubation.

Methods: A 66-year-old man was referred to our clinic with a chief complaint of breathy dysphonia immediately following an elective inguinal hernia repair under general endotracheal anesthesia. The patient's medical history was significant for a medialization laryngoplasty with a Montgomery implant 14 years earlier.

Validity and reliability of the glottal function index.

Objective: To evaluate a symptom-focused vocal impairment instrument for the evaluation of patients with voice disorders.

Design: Prospective, nonrandomized study of patients with voice disorders undergoing treatment with validation of a new symptom index, the Glottal Function Index (GFI).

Setting: Voice disorders clinic at an academic tertiary care hospital.

Transnasal esophagoscopy: revisited (over 700 consecutive cases).

Background: High-resolution transnasal esophagoscopy (TNE) allows comprehensive, in-office examination of the esophagus without sedation.

Objective: To compare the authors' present experience using TNE with our initial, previously reported experience.

Methodology: Retrospective review of 611 consecutive patients undergoing TNE was compared with 100 consecutive patients previously reported.

Prolonged postoperative disorientation after methylene blue infusion during parathyroidectomy.

Methylene blue 7.5 mg/kg is frequently given at our institution during parathyroidectomy. The dye preferentially stains the parathyroids so as to provide better surgical visualization.

The role of transnasal esophagoscopy in head and neck oncology.

Objectives/hypothesis: To review the current role of transnasal esophagoscopy (TNE) in all aspects of head and neck cancer patient treatment.

Study Design: A retrospective database and chart review.

Methods: A retrospective review of head and neck cancer patients undergoing TNE for a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic indications.

Pediatric laryngopharyngeal reflux.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is common in children. It often affects the airway, and it has been associated with life-threatening disease. The diagnosis and treatment of LPR in children is somewhat different from that in adults.

Clinical manifestations of laryngopharyngeal reflux.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is ubiquitous and associated with many head and neck symptoms and diagnoses. In some cases, the symptom is the diagnosis--for example, LPR can cause sore throat, chronic cough, globus pharyngeus, and laryngospasm. Alternately, LPR can be associated with specific histopathologic lesions--for example, vocal process granulomas.

Prevalence of esophagitis in patients with pH-documented laryngopharyngeal reflux.

Objective: To report the prevalence of esophagitis in patients with pH-documented laryngopharyngeal reflux.

Study Design: Prospective study of 58 consecutive patients with documented laryngopharyngeal reflux, all of whom underwent transnasal esophagoscopy as part of their reflux evaluations.

Methods: All patients with a diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux confirmed by abnormal pharyngeal pH monitoring over a 5-month period were included, and all subjects completed a self-administered reflux symptom index and underwent transnasal esophagoscopy with directed biopsy.