Middle ear effusions and structure of the tympanic membrane.

Objective: To study the effect of various middle ear effusions on the structure of the lamina propria of the tympanic membrane.

Methods: Sterile and infective middle ear effusions were induced by obstruction of the eustachian tube in specific pathogen-free (SPF) rats and in rats with upper airway infections (URI), respectively. The condition of the tympanic membrane was monitored at regular intervals.

A solitary manifestation of mastocytosis in the head and neck.

Solitary mastocytosis in adulthood is a rare finding. Only two such lesions have been reported in the head and neck. We describe a 27-year-old woman who had a 10-year history of a forehead swelling that had fluctuated in size.

The effects of computer simulated facial plastic surgery on social perception by others.

Previous studies have demonstrated the remarkable impact of facial plastic surgery on the perception of facial features. However, pre- and postoperative differences other than the surgically changed features such as facial expression, hairstyle, make-up etc., have influenced the results of previous studies.

Tympanosclerosis in the tympanic membrane: influence on outcome of myringoplasty.

The effect of the presence of tympanosclerotic plaques in tympanic membrane on the outcome of a myringoplasty procedure was evaluated in this retrospective study. Long-term results of 714 myringoplasties were analyzed, and of these, 555 were eligible for further study. Three groups were studied separately: ears without tympanosclerosis, ears with a plaque not exceeding one third of the tympanic membrane surface area, and ears with a plaque involving more than one third of the surface area extending to the border of the perforation.

Rhinosporidiosis in Europe.

Rhinosporidiosis is an inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi. The disease is endemic in India but very rare in Europe or other continents. The literature concerning aetiology, clinical appearance, morphology and treatment is reviewed.

Comparison of the Goode T-tube with the Armstrong tube in children with chronic otitis media with effusion.

Treatment of otitis media with effusion is focused on reaeration of the middle ear cavity. In achieving long-term aeration, the insertion of ventilation tubes that have a long duration of stay can be beneficial. The results are presented of a trial in which the Goode T-tube was compared with the Armstrong tube.

Long-term results of sacculotomy in older patients.

In patients with Meniere's disease with incapacitating vertiginous complaints in whom medical treatment has failed, sacculotomies by both the Fick and tack operations are relatively simple surgical procedures, whose short duration of anesthesia and hospitalization of patients minimizes the risks of morbidity in older patients appropriately to their general health, with good results in controlling vertigo. With respect to preservation of hearing, the tack operation is superior to the Fick operation.

An experimental model for tympanosclerosis. A preliminary report.

This study deals with an animal model where tympanosclerosis could be evoked with high reproducibility during the course of a sterile otitis media, induced by Eustachian tube obstruction. The histopathological features of this induced lesion were very similar to those reported in human specimens. It was concluded that this process is most probably triggered by a mechanical deformation of the tympanic membrane.