Tumours of Nasal Septum: A Retrospective Study of 32 Patients

Objective: Tumours of the nasal septum are a rare and heterogeneous group of lesions in the sinonasal tract. The management of the different lesions of this site is debated. The aim of this study is to share our experience on a rare clinical condition and stimulate other centres to publish theirs. Methods: We retrospectively analysed the databases of sinonasal tumours treated at the Sections of Otolaryngology (ENT) of two University Hospitals (Palermo and Genova) between 2012 and 2020. Results: From the two databases, a cohort of 32 patients with tumours of nasal septum were selected. All patients underwent an endoscopic examination. Large tumours underwent preoperative computed tomography …

Sleep-disordered breathing:Evaluation of dynamic patterns of the upper airways in obese subjects

Mastoidectomy in surgical procedures to treat retraction pockets: a single-center experience and review of the literature

Abstract Purpose Retraction pocket (RP) is a common event affecting the middle ear when a negative pressure within it causes a retraction of a single part of the tympanic membrane (TM). Patients can be asymptomatic or can experience hearing loss, fullness feeling and/or ear discharge. RP can be stable or develop a cholesteatoma; aim of the study was to investigate if mastoidectomy may play a role in the surgical management of patients suffering from RP, both reporting our experience and discussing the existing literature. Methods Fifty-one patients affected by RP were referred for surgery and randomly divided into two groups. Patients of G1 group underwent tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy, …

Management of pharyngeal collapse in patients affected by moderate obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome

This study reports our experience in a selected cohort of patients affected by mild-moderate OSAS, without tonsillar obstruction, and treated with pharyngoplasty.In a case-control retrospective study, we compared modified expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty (MESP) to modified barbed reposition pharyngoplasty (MBRP) in adult patients with oropharyngeal transversal collapse with a BMI ≤ 30 kg/mWe enrolled 20 patients: 10 treated with MESP and 10 treated with MBRP. Mean apnoea-hypoapnoea index (AHI) was 22.8 (± 5.63). We observed in both groups a significant reduction of AHI and oropharyngeal obstruction (p = 0.01), with a success rate, according with Sher's criteria, of 90% for MESP and 80% fo…

The Role of Cartilage-perichondrium Tympanoplasty in the Treatment of Tympanic Membrane Retractions: Systematic Review of the Literature.

Abstract Introduction Tympanic retraction is a condition characterized by the displacement of the tympanic membrane toward the structures of the middle ear. Clinically, tympanic retractions can lead to hearing loss, ear discharge and/or ear pain. In most of the cases, however, tympanic retractions are asymptomatic and are found accidentally during an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) examination. This condition has created numerous debates regarding the optimal choice of treatment, especially in the asymptomatic forms. The main controversy is regarding the relationship between retraction and the development of cholesteatoma, which would justify a surgical intervention performed for preventive pur…

Valutazione del pattern dinamico delle vie aeree superiori nei grandi obesi mediante manovra di Muller

Diagnostic Role of Combined Electrocochleography and Pure-Tone Audiometry Monitoring During Dehydrating Test in Ménière's Disease: A Case Series

Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic role of combined electrocochleography and pure-tone audiometry monitoring during dehydrating test in Ménière's disease and consider its suitability as a diagnostic tool to differentiate those patients with unclear differential diagnosis and therefore identify those with clear endolymphatic hydrops responsive to dehydrating test. To study the efficacy of dehydrating therapy on vertiginous symptoms and hearing loss in patients with Ménière's disease. Study design: Prospective case series. Settings: University hospital, secondary referral center. Patients: Thirty patients, 20 women and 10 men, age range of 25 to 75 years, matching the criteria for definit…

The prognostic value of subjective nasal symptoms and SNOT-22 score in middle ear surgery

Background: The relationship between nasal functions and middle ear surgery is still under debate. Nasal obstruction is considered as a negative prognostic factor in middle ear surgery. This is based on the theory that it may cause Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) by leading to reduced ventilation of the middle ear, as found in several patients with nasal septal deviation, chronic rhinitis and nasal polyps. Objectives: To assess how the subjective feeling of nasal function, evaluated by a preoperative questionnaire, may be predictive of surgical outcome and/or risk of failure in middle ear surgery. Methods: We prospectively evaluated data of patients undergoing middle ear surgery for chron…

Laryngeal involvement in relapsing polychondritis: Case report and review of literature

Relapsing polychondritis is a rare multisystem autoimmune disease of unknown origin characterised by recurrent episodes of inflammation and progressive destruction of the cartilaginous structures and connective tissue of the whole body. The diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis is difficult. We present a review of the literature and describe a case of 49-year old woman. Her symptoms began in June 2004 with sore throat, dysphonia, pain in the thoracic wall and some joints, a slightly raised temperature and cough. The objective picture was immediately apparent after carrying out a high definition neck-thorax computed tomography and a laryngoscopy with fiber optics, which showed considerable l…