The laryngeal disease of the German Emperor Friedrich III: treatment failure or fateful course.

Background: Since the death of the Emperor Friedrich III in June 1888, there are still controversial discussions whether the Crown Prince could have been healed from his laryngeal cancer by a thyrotomy planned by his German physicians for May 21, 1887.

Methods: In order to find an answer to this historical question, the Emperor's biographies, the literature on laryngology published in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, German manuals on laryngology and ENT, the BMJ and Lancet were thoroughly studied where in particular not only Mackenzie but also Virchow had published several articles on the disease of Friedrich III.

Results: Prof.

Cyfra 21-1 in diagnosis of distant metastases of head and neck carcinoma.

Follow-up examinations of patients might detect local tumor recurrences at a curable stage, which is more difficult for distant metastases (DM). Recently, elevated Cyfra 21-1 serum levels (CySL) could be shown not only to correlate with HNSCC-tumor size but also with development of DM. We focussed on the CySL of 476 HNSCC patients as a first step.

p53 autoantibodies as tumor marker in head and neck squamous cell cancer.

p53 autoantibodies (AAB) are a new serological parameter with unknown potential in patients with malignancies. The reason why and the mechanism by which they develop is still unclear. So far, only in a limited number of studies has the usefulness of p53 AAB in the follow-up of cancer patients been shown.

Transoral carbon-dioxide laser resection of hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

In hypopharyngeal carcinoma, open partial resection is rarely feasible because of the high rate of chronic aspiration. Transoral laser surgery, however, is not associated with major swallowing problems. Between 1991 and 1995, a total of 29 patients with cancer of the hypopharynx were treated using laser surgical resection.

Zenker's diverticulotomy with the carbon dioxide laser: perioperative management and long-term results.

We analyzed 119 files of patients with Zenker's diverticulum who were treated with CO2 laser systems concerning treatment management, complications, and long-term results. Although the tissue bridge was dissected down to the fundus of the diverticulum, opening the mediastinum, mediastinitis was observed in none of the cases. Of the patients followed up for long-term results, 90.

Lipoma of the larynx. Report of 2 cases and review of the literature.

Among the primary mesenchymal tumors of the hypopharynx and larynx lipomas are very rare, as they often look macroscopically like retention cysts. Up today approximately 112 cases have been described in literature. We present two further cases of laryngeal lipomas, which were removed endoscopically and by an external approach.

[Collagenase 3 mRNA expression in squamous epithelial carcinomas of the oropharynx].

Background: Metalloproteinases (MMP) are endopeptidases, which are able to degrade extracellular matrix. It is assumed that MMP play an important role in invasion and metastasis of malignomas. The expression of collagenase-3, also named MMP-13, was already detected in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, but the significance in the process of metastasis is still unclear.

[Manifestations of primary vasculitis in the ENT region].

The primary ANCA associated vasculitides, Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), Churg Strauss syndrome (CSS) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), frequently affect the ENT region. For several reasons WG is of special significance for the otorhinolaryngologist. First, disease activity limited to the upper respiratory tract (localized WG) often proceeds the systemic vasculitis (generalized WG).

Experimental and clinical results of Er:YAG laser stapedotomy.

Background And Objective: At the beginning of the 1980s, different laser types were used for stapes surgery to reduce potential harm to inner ear structures through manipulation with conventional instruments during stapedotomy. Most clinical studies were carried out with the CO2 or the argon laser. The Er:YAG laser has been used rarely in patients with otosclerosis.

Transcriptional repression of the human fibronectin gene in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Purpose: The aim of the experiments was to analyze the mRNA expression pattern and verify the repression of FN gene expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells in comparison with benign mucosal keratinocytes.

Methods: Messenger RNA from SCC cells and benign keratinocytes was reverse transcribed and subjected to PCR following differential display (DD) analysis of the amplicons. Northern hybridization was carried out to confirm the reduction of the FN-mRNA expression in both laryngeal SCC cells and larynx carcinoma biopsies, in contrast to adjacent normal mucosa.

Tracing human papillomavirus DNA in nasal polyps by polymerase chain reaction.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are related to the genesis of various benign and malignant human neoplasias. The HPV types 16 and 18 seem to be causally related to the development of most squamous cell carcinoma of the anogenital tract and a proportion of carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract. The near 100% positivity of the HPV types 6 and 11 in laryngeal papillomatosis is well established.

p53 analysis of laryngeal cancer in exon 4 to 9.

p53 gene mutations are a common genetic alteration in human cancer and codon 72/exon 4 polymorphism of the p53 gene has been implicated in cancer risk. Therefore in this study the p53 gene status of 32 shock-frozen tumor specimens from larynx carcinomas was analyzed by PCR and sequencing of exon 4 through 9. Four mutations (12.

Cyfra 21-1: a serological help for detection of distant metastases in head and neck cancer.

Local and neck recurrences of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) can mostly be detected early when the patient has regular follow-ups. Distant metastases though usually remain undiscovered until they produce clinical symptoms. Since Cyfra 21-1 correlates with the tumor size and stage in SCCHN, we looked for possible connections between Cyfra 21-1 increases and the development of distant metastases.

Serum p53 autoantibodies in the follow-up of head and neck cancer patients.

p53 autoantibodies (AAB) are a fairly new serological parameter in patients with malignancies. Although the actual mechanism of how they develop is still unclear, it seems that these AAB could be of prognostic relevance. Very few studies demonstrated the usefulness of p53 AAB in the follow-up of cancer patients.

Endoscopic cordectomy. A proposal for a classification by the Working Committee, European Laryngological Society.

The European Laryngological Society is proposing a classification of different laryngeal endoscopic cordectomies in order to ensure better definitions of post-operative results. We chose to keep the word "cordectomy" even for partial resections because it is the term most often used in the surgical literature. The classification comprises eight types of cordectomies: a subepithelial cordectomy (type I), which is resection of the epithelium; a subligamental cordectomy (type II), which is a resection of the epithelium, Reinke's space and vocal ligament; transmuscular cordectomy (type III), which proceeds through the vocalis muscle; total cordectomy (type IV); extended cordectomy, which encompasses the contralateral vocal fold and the anterior commissure (type Va); extended cordectomy, which includes the arytenoid (type Vb); extended cordectomy, which encompasses the subglottis (type Vc); and extended cordectomy, which includes the ventricle (type Vd).

An interdisciplinary approach to the care of patients with Wegener's granulomatosis: long-term outcome in 155 patients.

Objective: To examine the outcome in 155 consecutive patients with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) followed up for a median of 7 years.

Methods: Treatment was adapted to the activity and extent of disease, with regular evaluation by an interdisciplinary team accompanied by group education about vasculitis.

Results: The estimated median survival time was 21.

Antibodies against oncoproteins E6 and E7 of human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 in patients with head-and-neck squamous-cell carcinoma.

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have been recognized as an essential pathogenic factor in anogenital cancer. HPV DNA has also been found in a subgroup of head-and-neck squamous-cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), and a causative role of the virus in the development of these tumors has been suggested by the concomitant inactivation of the tumor-suppressor protein pRb. Using 4 second-generation ELISAs, we found antibodies against at least 1 of the oncoproteins E6 and E7 of the high-risk HPV types 16 and 18 in 11 of 92 sera (12%) taken from HNSCC patients at or near diagnosis, in 1 of 52 sera (2%) taken from HNSCC patients >6 months after diagnosis and in 10 of 288 sera (3.

[Combined transseptal-transnasal surgery of unilateral choanal atresia without using stents].

Background: This is a report of a surgical procedure with which stenting after surgery of unilateral choanal atresia can be avoided.

Method: We start transseptally with a hemitransfixion incision. The vomer and the bony atresia plate are dissected submucosally and then resected with punches and a diamond burr, whilst the nasal and the pharyngeal mucosa of the atresia is preserved completely.

Transcriptional repression of the human galactocerebrosidase gene in squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx.

Alterations of gene expression in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines derived from the larynx and keratinocytes derived from adjacent normal mucosa of the larynx have been studied using the mRNA differential display technique. Lane-to-lane comparison of reverse transcribed mRNA showed a strong repression of a 148 bp fragment in SCC cells. The fragment was reamplified and cloned.

[Surgical treatment of auditory canal exostoses].

Background: Although complications of surgical removal of external auditory canal exostoses are rare, reported surgical complications include tympanic membrane perforation, postoperative hearing loss, canal stenosis, and facial nerve injuries.

Patients And Methods: We report on our experience in exostosis surgery, consisting of 59 procedures in 48 patients. Preoperative and postoperative complaints and findings, intraoperative complications, and audiologic results are described and discussed.

Management of Zenker's diverticulum and postlaryngectomy pseudodiverticulum with the CO2 laser.

Dysphagia is a common symptom and can be caused by anterior pharyngeal (pseudodiverticulum after laryngectomy) and posterior pharyngeal (Zenker's) diverticula. The only treatment is surgical. The experience with an endoscopic treatment, especially with the CO(2) laser, is limited.