Disseminated nocardiosis presenting as a superinfected thyroglossal duct cyst in a patient with diabetes.

We introduce the case of a male patient in his 60s who was admitted to our emergency department with a persisting sore throat for the last 3 weeks and dysphagia. Fibre-endoscopic evaluation revealed an asymmetry at the base of the tongue. In combination with elevated white cell count and C reactive protein, a computerized tomography showed a superinfected thyroglossal duct cyst.

Risk factors for hypocalcaemia after completion hemithyroidectomy in thyroid cancer.

Background: Hypocalcaemia (HC) is the most common complication after thyroid surgery in differentiated thyroid cancer and leads to a prolongation of the hospital stay. While risk factors for HC after total thyroidectomy (TE) are well investigated, only few studies have been published about HC risk factors after completion of thyroidectomy. Our aim was to identify potential risk factors for HC after completion of TE and to compare these incidences with figures from primary total TE.

THREAT helps to identify epistaxis patients requiring blood transfusions.

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of patients who needed a blood transfusion due to epistaxis-caused anemia and to define potential risk factors.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: A total cohort of 591 epistaxis patients, prospectively included between March 2007 and April 2008 at the ENT department of the University Hospital of Zurich, was evaluated concerning the need for blood transfusions.

18F-FDG-PET/CT for the assessment of the contralateral neck in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives/hypothesis: The aim was to compare the value of 18-Fluoro-Deoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) regarding contralateral lymph node (LN) metastasis in the neck.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of 61 patients staged by 18F-FDG-PET/CT.

Methods: Cytology/histology served as a reference standard.

Physiologic [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose uptake of floor of mouth muscles in PET/CT imaging: a problem of body position during FDG uptake?

Objective: Assess the influence of 2 different patient positions during [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake phase on physiologic FDG accumulation of the floor of mouth (FOM) muscles.

Study Design: A prospective study design was used.

Methods: Two hundred prospectively enrolled patients were included in the study: (a) head and neck cancer (HNC) patients in supine or (b) sitting position, (c) patients with other malignant tumours in supine or (d) sitting position.

18F-FET PET/CT in advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: an intra-individual comparison with 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic value of O-2-fluoro-18(F)-ethyl-L-tyrosine ((18)F-FET) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma compared with 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ((18)F-FDG) PET/CT at initial staging and following radiochemotherapy.

Procedures: Thirteen patients were prospectively enrolled; each of them underwent an (18)F-FDG PET/CT and (18)F-FET PET/CT before treatment. Ten of those were scanned 10 weeks after treatment.

Contrast-enhanced ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT for the assessment of necrotic lymph node metastases.

Background: Cystic lymph node metastasis (CLNM) is commonly found in human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy in detecting cystic lymph node metastasis from tonsillar SCC between contrast-enhanced CT, ¹⁸F- fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), non-enhanced ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT, and contrast-enhanced ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with a tonsillar SCC undergoing a pretreatment contrast-enhanced ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT followed by a neck dissection as a standard of reference were included.