Skull base infection presenting with multiple lower cranial nerve palsies.

Diseases of the temporal bone causing lower cranial nerve palsies are uncommon. In the presence of bony erosion, they are highly suggestive of a malignant process. However, when there is a clear history of otitis externa in an immunocompromised or diabetic patient, a diagnosis of osteomyelitis and secondary inflammatory mass should be considered.

Genetic profile of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: clinical implications.

The outcome for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma remains poor, despite improvements in diagnosis and treatment over the past three decades. This has triggered great interest in the genetic events that underpin the aetiology and clinical behaviour of this group of cancers. As a result, the genetic profile for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas at different sub-sites has been relatively well characterised at the chromosomal level.

Genetic analysis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using comparative genomic hybridisation identifies specific aberrations associated with laryngeal origin.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) demonstrates significant differences in the biological and clinical behaviour of tumours found at different sub-sites. We investigated the genetic profiles of 68 carcinomas (larynx n=35, hypopharynx n=19, oropharynx n=14) using chromosomal comparative genomic hybridisation in order to identify sub-site specific differences. Multiple genetic aberrations were found throughout the tumour genomes, including +3q (82%), -3p (75%), +8q (66%), +5p (49%), +7q (49%), +1q (47%), -4p (46%), -11q (46%), -13q (46%), -5q (44%), +11q (43%) and +12p (43%).

Unraveling the chromosomal aberrations of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a review.

Information from the genetic analysis of head and neck cancer has grown enormously in the last 20 years. The advent of high-resolution genetic analysis techniques such as microarray technology will further expand this field in the future. Here we review the data on chromosomal aberrations of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, focusing on the data generated by comparative genomic hybridization analysis, and suggest how such findings will be taken forward over the next decade.

Bcl-2 expression predicts radiotherapy failure in laryngeal cancer.

Early stage laryngeal cancer can be effectively cured by radiotherapy or conservative laryngeal surgery. In the UK, radiotherapy is the preferred first line treatment. However, up to 25% of patients with T2 tumours will demonstrate locally persistent or recurrent disease at the original site, requiring salvage surgery to achieve a definitive cure.

Can a genetic signature for metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma be characterised by comparative genomic hybridisation?

Survival from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has remained static for the last 20 years. The development of lymph node metastasis (LNM) significantly reduces the 5-year survival rate, thus the ability to identify tumours with the potential to metastasise would allow more aggressive treatment regimes to be directed at these patients regardless of negative clinical and radiological findings at the time of presentation. Comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) can identify chromosomal aberrations that may lead to metastasis.

Management of an infected preauricular sinus, using a lacrimal probe.

This paper describes a technique for managing a preauricular abscess that allows drainage of the pus, with little or no disturbance to the underlying sinus, making any subsequent surgery more straight forward.

Prognostic value of genomic alterations in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma detected by comparative genomic hybridisation.

A total of 45 primary head and neck squamous cell carcinomas were analysed by comparative genomic hybridisation to identify regions of chromosomal deletion and gain. Multiple regions of copy number aberration were identified including gains affecting chromosomes 3q, 8q, 5p, 7q, 12p and 11q and deletion of material from chromosomes 3p, 11q, 4p, 5q, 8p, 10q, 13q and 21. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed significant correlations between gain of 3q25-27 and deletion of 22q with reduced disease-specific survival.