Chordomas and chondrosarcomas of the skull base: treatment and outcome analysis in a consecutive case series of 24 patients.

Background: We present our 9-year consecutive case series of skull base chordomas and chondrosarcomas from a UK tertiary referral centre, discussing treatments offered and outcomes. This was carried out to improve understanding around current treatment and to better inform the management of future patients.

Methods: Consecutive case series over a 9-year period (2007-2016).

A recurrent case of pituicytoma 16 years later.

Background: Pituicytoma is a rare; slow-growing primary tumour originating from the glial cells of the neurohypophysis. It was classed as a low-grade (grade I) central nervous system tumour by the World Health Organization in 2007. We present the case of a 71-year-old man with a previous history of sellar meningioma who underwent surgical resection of pituicytoma by transphenoidal hypophysectomy.

Spontaneous neck haematoma.

A 66-year-old Caucasian woman presented with right-sided neck swelling and worsening pain for 5 days. There was no history of trauma, cough or excessive muscular strain. She was not on any anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs.

Local anaesthetic for post-tonsillectomy pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Tonsillectomy is one of the most commonly performed procedures in otolaryngology. Pain is a significant aspect of post-operative patient morbidity. The use of local anaesthetic, by infiltration or topical application, has been advocated as a way of reducing post-operative pain.

The surgical approach to retrosternal goiters: the role of computerized tomography.

Objective: To assess preoperative CT scans of patients with a retrosternal goiter, with an objective of identifying features that are likely to predict the need for sternotomy at operation.

Study Design And Setting: A retrospective review of clinical notes and CT scans of patients who underwent thyroidectomy for retrosternal goiter at a large district general hospital in the United Kingdom between 1998 and 2002.

Results: Extension of the goiter to the level of the aortic arch, particularly when combined with tracheal involvement or major vessel displacement, increases the likelihood of requiring median sternotomy.

Diagnostic tools in pseudohypacusis in children.

Pseudohypacusis is the term used for a non-organic or functional hearing loss. The mainstay of diagnosis is a lack of consistency in audiological testing. It is usually easier to diagnose in children than in adults, as children are less able to reproduce consistently erroneous results on repeated testing.

An analysis of diagnostic delay in unilateral facial paralysis.

Bell's palsy or idiopathic facial palsy is the commonest cause of unilateral lower motor neuron facial palsy. Misdiagnosis of facial nerve palsy as Bell's palsy is still seen in clinical practice. The clinician should always consider the possibility of a potentially serious underlying pathology before making the diagnosis of Bell's palsy.

Referral patterns in paediatric orbital cellulitis.

Objectives: Orbital cellulitis in children may result in severe visual morbidity and even mortality if not managed appropriately. The definitive management of orbital cellulitis is in the realms of the otolaryngologist, as the underlying pathology is associated with sinus disease in more than 90% of cases. Our observations suggest that there is a tendency for patients with suspected orbital cellulitis not to be referred promptly for otolaryngological opinion and management, which may result in adverse outcomes.

Use of laser, otoendoscopy and facial nerve monitoring in otological surgery: United Kingdom survey.

Newer surgical tools, which have been widely accepted as important adjuncts in otological surgery, include the laser, otoendoscopy and facial nerve monitoring. A confidential postal questionnaire survey was carried out to evaluate the usage of these newer techniques among the Consultant members of the British Association of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Our study revealed that the usage of otoendoscopy, laser and/or facial nerve monitoring is not as widespread as might be thought among otological surgeons in the United Kingdom.

Informed consent for middle ear operations: a United Kingdom survey.

Otorhinolaryngologists throughout the UK routinely perform middle ear operations. Although the risk of serious complications in the hands of a well-trained surgeon is very low, some of the complications of middle ear surgery are devastating to the patient viz. facial nerve palsy and complete hearing loss.

Deliberate removal of incisor teeth to allow access for laryngoscopy.

This paper describes a clinical situation where it was impossible to obtain a biopsy of a lesion at the anterior commissure in a patient with progressive hoarseness of voice using standard microlaryngoscopy techniques. Due to anatomical difficulties and a histological suggestion of laryngeal papillomatosis the incisor teeth were deliberately removed to allow an adequate view of the larynx and to facilitate further access.

Juvenile xanthogranuloma of the nasal cavity.

Juvenile xanthogranuloma is a benign, normolipaemic, self-healing condition and a type of histiocytosis that occurs most frequently in infants and children. This condition usually presents with solitary or multiple cutaneous lesions and occasionally with visceral lesions. We report a case of juvenile xanthogranuloma occurring in the nasal cavity.