[Choanal atresia--experience with early surgery].

Introduction: Prior to 1982, patients in our department with choanalatresia were operated by the transpalatinal approach. To eliminate the risk of insufficient transpalatine growth, only older children were operated.

Material And Methods: From 1982 we have chosen to operate as soon as symptoms occurred, usually at an earlier age.

[Laser surgery of laryngeal cancer (T1 glottis). New therapeutic alternative].

The standard treatment for patients with T1a vocal cord cancer has been radiotherapy. From October 1995 selected patients have undergone laser surgery and up until March 1997 we had treated 16 patients. The results so far have been satisfactory with only one recurrence.

[Laser diverticulotomy in hypopharyngeal diverticulum (Zenker's diverticulum)].

From 1992 until 1995 the Ear, Nose and Throat Department at the National Hospital investigated 29 patients and completed treatment of 28 patients with a hypopharyngeal diverticulum. A myotomy of the cricopharyngeal muscle was performed endoscopically using CO2 laser. One patient developed mediastinitis as a result of perforation during initial hypopharyngoscopy.

[Botulinum toxin. A new therapeutic alternative in spastic dysphonia (laryngeal abductor dystonia)].

Laryngeal dystonia is a condition characterized by involuntary spasms of the laryngeal muscles. In most patients this involves the adductor laryngeal muscles (adductor laryngeal dystonia). Treatment with a variety of therapies, including speech therapy and pharmacotherapy, have led to minimal improvement.

[Storage mite allergy. Routine tests].

Storage mites are sources of allergy among farmers and silo workers. Among 114 patients with allergic rhinitis we found four with a positive prick test to storage mites. This is not sufficient reason to include storage mites in a standard allergy prick test series.