Retromolar trigone reconstructive surgery: prospective comparative analysis between free flaps.

Purpose: Retromolar trigone (RMT) tumours are rare and aggressive malignancies, which require an aggressive surgical approach. The reconstruction oral cavity defects represent a challenge because of the critical role of this area both aesthetically and functionally. Free radial forearm (RF) or anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap are the first choice for the repair of intraoral defects.

Sophono Alpha System and subtotal petrosectomy with external auditory canal blind sac closure.

Recently, a new acoustic device, the so-called Sophono Alpha System, has been introduced into clinical practice. The aim of this study was to assess Sophono Alpha System hearing aids in ten patients suffering from recurrent chronic middle ear disease who underwent subtotal petrosectomy. Presence of mixed hearing loss with bone conduction thresholds better than or equal to 45 dB was present in each patient.

Susac's syndrome--pathogenesis, clinical variants and treatment approaches.

Susac's syndrome is a rare disease that is characterised by the clinical triad of encephalopathy, branch retinal artery occlusion, and sensorineural hearing loss. It was first described as a distinctive syndrome by Susac in 1979. There have been 304 reported individual patients with Susac's syndrome.

Role of Human Papillomavirus in the Pathogenesis of Laryngeal Dysplasia.

Objective: A synergistic effect between smoking and alcohol intake is the major cause of premalignant and malignant lesions of the larynx, but the risk factors and pathogenesis of the neoplastic transformation in nonsmokers remain poorly defined. The aim of this retrospective study is to establish the relationship between smoking habits and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in laryngeal dysplasia.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

EMLA(®) cream as local anesthetic for radiofrequency turbinate tissue reduction.

Radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction is a minimally invasive technique in the treatment of turbinate hypertrophy and is generally performed under local anesthesia. However, perioperative discomfort and pain are common side effects and studies concerning the technique of choice to anesthetize the nasal mucosa in this procedure are lacking. The aim of this prospective controlled trial is to assess the effectiveness of EMLA(®) cream as a topical anesthetic for radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction of inferior turbinates comparing its effect with that obtained using a traditional anesthetic technique.

Oncologic results of the surgical salvage of recurrent laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma in a multicentric retrospective series: emerging role of supracricoid partial laryngectomy.

Background: Several studies in the last decade evaluated conservative surgical procedures and, in particular, supracricoid operations as an alternative to total laryngectomy for the salvage of recurrences of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) after a first attempt of organ preservation.

Methods: The clinical records of 68 consecutive patients primarily treated by irradiation or endoscopic surgery and surgically salvaged by total laryngectomy or supracricoid partial laryngectomy in 2 large university hospitals in Italy from 2004 to 2010 were reviewed.

Results: The survival was not affected by the primary treatment or by salvage modality.

Degradation of silicone rubber causes Provox 2 voice prosthesis malfunctioning.

Objective/hypothesis: Provox 2 voice prosthesis requires periodic replacement due to biofilm proliferation which causes malfunctioning of the valve. The aim of this study was to show that Provox 2 voice prosthesis malfunctioning is due not only to valve obstruction caused by biofilm but also to the silicone variations.

Design Methods: Prospective study on the malfunction of Provox2 voice prostheses.

Use of electrochemotherapy in a case of neck skin metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma: case report and considerations.

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common oral cavity malignant tumor. Surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy have been the major options for its treatment. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a novel local treatment successfully used in secondary or primary skin or subcutaneous tumors.

Transdermal scopolamine in the management of postparotidectomy salivary fistula.

Parotid fistula represents an uncommon complication in parotid surgery. Its early recognition contributes to successful management. The condition is distressing for both the patient and the surgeon, since conservative and operative treatment frequently fail.

Tracheostomal stenosis clinical risk factors in patients who have undergone total laryngectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy.

Adjuvant chemotherapy, advanced age, smoking, cardiopathies, diabetes, local infections, impaired immunocompetence, and malnutrition are potential cofactors in the genesis of aberrant wound healing and may thus play an important role in the genesis of tracheostomal stenosis. The aim of the study is to analyse the influence of the above-mentioned local and systemic risk factors in determining tracheostomal stenosis in patients who have undergone total laryngectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy. In 79 % of the cases, tracheostomal stenosis occurred within 12 months of surgery.

Is Montgomery tracheal Safe-T-Tube clinical failure induced by biofilm?

Objectives: Montgomery Safe-T-Tube deterioration and early biofilm colonization may explain the discomfort claimed by many patients and clinical failures. The aim of the study was to analyze the deterioration of Montgomery Safe-T-Tube morphological and mechanical properties in vivo in 16 patients by using microbiological methods, optical and electron microscopy, and engineering tests.

Study Design: Prospective controlled study at a single medical center.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the tongue base mimicking an ectopic thyroid.

A 69-year-old woman with mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the tongue base came under our observation complaining of repeated episodes of haemoptysis. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the tongue base gives rise to a rather vague and aspecific symptomatology. Early symptoms include foreign body sensation in the oral cavity, undefined paraesthesia, and sialorrhoea.

Ho:Yag laser for sialolithiasis of Wharton's duct.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of intracorporeal lithotripsy with holmium YAG laser under sialoendoscopic guidance for sialolithiasis of Wharton's duct.

Study Design: Case series with planned data collection.

Setting: Tertiary referral university hospital.

Wharton's duct repair after combined sialolithectomy: is ductoplasty necessary?

The aim of this prospective study is to establish whether ductoplasty is necessary to repair the Wharton's duct after a combined endoscopic and external approach to remove large submandibular gland stones or if simple suturing of the oral floor mucosa after stent placement may be sufficient to achieve proper duct healing. Ten patients were enrolled. Ductoplasty was performed in 6 cases, whereas in 4 cases, only the mucosa of the oral floor was sutured.

The importance of the number of reflux episodes in the diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the sensitivity parameters of the percentage of time the pH is <4 and >7, as well as the total number of laryngopharyngeal reflux episodes in 24 hours, in patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux disease.

Study Design: Retrospective controlled study.

Setting: University hospital.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a vascular cause? Analysis of prothrombotic risk factors in head and neck.

Objective: This aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of thrombophilic risk factors in sudden sensorineural hearing loss, central retinal vein occlusion, and stroke associated with small vessel disease, with the purpose of investigating and reinforcing the vascular hypothesis in the pathogenesis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Design: Case-control study. Genetic and acquired risk factors of these three groups were compared with healthy controls.

Cricoarytenoid joint involvement in rheumatoid arthritis: radiologic evaluation.

Rheumatoid arthritis rarely involves the cricoarytenoid joint. The possible consequent symptom includes hoarseness, dysphagia, odynophagia, dysfunctional dysphonia, and acute dyspnea. Etiologic diagnosis is possible with high-resolution computed tomography, which can show spacing of the articular cartilage, density and volume alterations, and subluxation of the cartilage.

Comparison of total laryngectomy with surgical (cricohyoidopexy) and nonsurgical organ-preservation modalities in advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas: A multicenter retrospective analysis.

Background: Functional outcome and quality of life (QOL) have become relevant endpoints in the field of laryngeal oncology, leading to the emergence of organ-preserving strategies.

Methods: The medical records of 166 patients with advanced (stages III and IV) laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) who were treated with a total laryngectomy, radiochemotherapy, or cricohyoidopexy (CHP) were reviewed.

Results: In the whole series, no statistically significant differences among the 3 treatment arms with respect to the overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were observed.

Endoscopic treatment of benign and malignant strictures of the cervical esophagus and hypopharynx.

Objectives: We evaluated the efficacy of endoscopic techniques employed in the management of cervical esophageal and hypopharyngeal strictures.

Methods: A series of 45 patients with cervical esophageal (35) and/or hypopharyngeal strictures (10) were included. Twenty-five patients (55.

The oncologic radicality of supracricoid partial laryngectomy with cricohyoidopexy in the treatment of advanced N0-N1 laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives/hypothesis: The aim of the study was to evaluate the oncologic outcome of our series of advanced laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas, primarily treated by supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohyoidopexy or total laryngectomy, to compare the two therapeutic modalities.

Study Design: Retrospective controlled study.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical files, operative charts, and pathology reports of 83 patients who underwent total laryngectomy or supracricoid laryngectomy with cricohyoidopexy between February 1999 and March 2009.