Patients perceive tonsil cancer as a strike at psycho-socially "vital organs".

Introduction: Tonsil cancer (TC) is a type of head and neck cancer (HNC) that is predominantly associated with infection with human papilloma virus (HPV). In Denmark, the incidence of HPV-related HNC has increased fivefold over the past three decades. HNC more often affects men than women, and HPV-related HNC tends to affect younger age groups than other HNCs.

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy versus conventional surgical tracheostomy. A clinical randomised study.

Background: As no clinical randomised studies have previously been performed comparing complications with the Ciaglia Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy Introducer Set (PDT) and conventional surgical tracheostomy (TR), we designed a study with the aim of comparing the efficacy and safety of the two techniques.

Methods: Sixty patients selected for elective tracheostomy were randomised for either PDT (30 patients) or TR (30 patients). All patients had general anaesthesia and were ventilated with 100% oxygen.

[Percutaneous dilatation tracheostomy. A preliminary study].

Fifteen patients electively selected for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy as performed with the Ciaglia Percutaneous Tracheostomy Introducer Set are reported in this preliminary study. The median time for insertion of the tracheostomy tube was 13.1 min.

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy.

Methods: Fifteen patients electively selected for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy as performed with the Ciaglia Percutaneous Tracheostomy Introducer Set are reported in this preliminary study.

Results: The median time for insertion of the tracheostomy tube was 13.9 min.

Fusobacterium pneumonia and death following uvulo-palato-pharyngoplasty.

A case with a fatal outcome caused by infection with Fuso-bacterium species was seen in a patient recently operated on for heavy snoring with uvulo-palato-pharyngoplasty (UPPP). The mechanism of infection is discussed. It is concluded that a febrile episode seen in patients less than 2 weeks postoperatively should be considered a serious symptom and be treated intensively after thorough examination.

Immunohistochemical quantitation of collagen types I, II, IV and V in the ventilated and non-ventilated rabbit middle ear with otitis media with effusion.

Morphometric quantitation of the area fractions of collagen types I, II, IV and V was determined in the normal rabbit middle ear mucosa and in relation to otitis media with effusion (OME) using a three-layered peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique. The effects of substituting normal low-oxygen middle ear gas (non-ventilated) with atmospheric air (ventilated) were studied in both healthy ears and ears with OME. Based upon previous histological examinations in rabbits, only ears with OME for more than 8 weeks were included to ensure the presence of chronic inflammation (COME).

Accuracy of an automatic impedance apparatus in a population with secretory otitis media: principles in the evaluation of tympanometrical findings.

Introduction: The primary demand for a screening procedure for secretory otitis media (SOM) is to identify an objective test with sufficient sensitivity and specificity to meet the needs of the screening program. This study was designed to estimate the value of a portable automatic impedance apparatus to meet these needs.

Subjects And Methods: Two hundred twenty children with unilateral or bilateral SOM were evaluated in a double-blind, cross-sectional study.

[Juvenile recurrent parotitis].

Juvenile recurring parotitis is a relatively rare condition. The clinical picture as illustrated by a characteristic case history is reviewed. The condition shows a tendency to remission around puberty.

Histological examination of the rabbit middle ear in secretory otitis media with and without a ventilation tube.

To study the time-related histopathological lesions in secretory otitis media as it develops into the chronic stage, including the influence of ventilation of the middle ear, we examined the middle ear mucosa in a rabbit model. The observation period was from two weeks until 18 months. The histological method applied included haematoxylin-eosin and Sirius red staining for morphometric quantification of the goblet cells, the thickness of the connective tissue layer, the area fractions of blood vessels, inflammatory cells, fibroblasts and collagen fibres.

Local application of N-acetylcysteine in secretory otitis media in rabbits.

The middle ears of patients with secretory otitis media treated by ventilation tubes are exposed to two abnormal conditions: an inflammatory process and a hyperoxic condition. Both are known to cause changes in the mucosa, fibrosis in particular. N-acetylcysteine has been demonstrated to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects as well as being an oxygen radical scavenger.

[Treatment of vocal cord paresis with Teflon injections].

Twenty-five patients suffering from unilateral paresis of the vocal cord of differing durations caused by benign diseases and 25 patients with unilateral paresis caused by malignant tumours in the thorax/mediastinum were treated with Teflon injection of the paretic vocal cord. The results of treatment were evaluated by a speech therapist by voice recording pre-operatively, three weeks post-operatively and at a later control. This evaluation together with self-assessment demonstrated a satisfactory result even the long term result.

Zinc in the management of tinnitus. Placebo-controlled trial.

To assess any possible beneficial effect from zinc on tinnitus we performed a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind investigation. Forty-eight patients with tinnitus were randomized to either placebo or the administration of zinc sulfate as sustained-release tablets of 22 mg Zn++ (Zinklet). The tablets were administered three times daily for 8 weeks.

Impedance measurement in divers during a scuba-diving training programme.

An assessment of the strain on the tympanic membrane caused by diving was performed using impedance measurement of the middle ear in 21 untrained young men going through a scuba-diving training programme (scuba, self-contained under-water breathing apparatus). Tympanometry was carried out just before and after diving. The divers made 104 dives between them (median 5 each, range 2-7) at depths from 2 to 12 m (median 6 m).

[Zinc therapy of tinnitus. A placebo-controlled study].

Forty-eight patients with tinnitus of various etiologies underwent a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind trial to assess whether treatment with zinc had any favourable effect on tinnitus. The trial tablets contained either 100 mg zinc sulphate as a depot tablet = 22 mg Zn++ (Zinclet) or placebo. The patients took tablets thrice daily for eight weeks.

[A case report of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions].

A case with audible spontaneous oto-acoustic emissions (SOAE) in an infant aged four months is presented. The frequency was determined to be approximately 6,100 Hz and the volume to 27 dB sound pressure level (SPL). The mechanism involved in SOAE is summarized.

Results in treatment of carcinoma of the external auditory canal and middle ear.

Of 31 patients treated for carcinoma of the external auditory canal and/or middle ear, 19 patients (61%) presented with a long-term history of otitis. Thirteen patients (42%) had cranial nerve involvement. The patients were treated by surgery, radiotherapy, or a combined treatment of surgery and radiotherapy.

Tracheopathia osteoplastica in the larynx.

Reports of tracheopathia osteoplastica localized to the larynx are few. Such a rare case is reported in a 66-year-old male with life-long symptoms resulting in tracheotomy and resection of some of the osteoplastic tissue. A review of the disease and a discussion about aetiology are described.

Cholesteatoma of the maxillary sinus (a case report).

A rare case of a cholesteatoma of the maxillary sinus is presented, together with a brief discussion of its aetiology.