Anne Hseu

Subglottic stenosis: A ten‐year review of treatment outcomes

To evaluate the endoscopic surgical management of adult subglottic stenosis and describe treatment outcomes.

Upper Airway Anomalies in Congenital Tracheoesophageal Fistula and Esophageal Atresia Patients.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of upper airway anomalies in patients diagnosed with congenital tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia (TEF/EA). Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all TEF/EA patients seen at a tertiary pediatric hospital between January 2008 and December 2013. Inclusion criteria included evaluation by the otolaryngology service. Exclusion criteria included age >18 years, acquired TEF/EA, subsequent rule out of TEF/EA, and otolaryngology evaluation for reasons not pertaining to the airway. Data collected and analyzed included demographics, comorbidities, presenting symptoms, surgical interventions, laryngoscopic and bronchoscopic examinations, and subsequent medical and surgical management. Results: Four hundred and thirty patients were diagnosed with TEF/EA at our institution. In all, 32.3%, or 139 children, were included in the analysis; 56.1% (n = 78) male, 43.9% (n = 61) female. Of the analyzed patients, 4.3% (n = 6) were diagnosed with laryngomalacia. Eighteen patients (12.9%) were diagnosed with subglottic stenosis. Thirty (21.6%) had vocal fold paresis or immobility. Laryngeal cleft was diagnosed in 25.9% (n = 36). Tracheomalacia was the most common airway finding, diagnosed in 37.4% (n = 52) patients. Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with congenital TEF/EA have a high rate of secondary upper airway anomalies. Consideration should be given to perform a complete airway evaluation in all of these patients.

Pediatric Nodular Fasciitis in the Head and Neck: Evaluation and Management

IMPORTANCE Nodular fasciitis is a rare benign tumor that can present in the head and neck in children. A better understanding of this rare condition is critical to optimize management. OBJECTIVE To review the presentation, evaluation, diagnosis, and management of pediatric nodular fasciitis of the head and neck. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Retrospective review of all patients treated for nodular fasciitis of the head and neck over a 20-year period at a pediatric tertiary care center. INTERVENTION Surgical excision. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Clinical data, including age, presenting symptoms, anatomical site(s), evaluation, treatment, and complications. RESULTS Fifteen children with pathologically confirmed nodular fasciitis of the head and neck were identified, including 8 boys and 7 girls. The median (range) age at diagnosis was 9.3 years (2 months to 18 years). Patients most commonly presented with a firm, enlarging soft-tissue mass. Two patients reported pain, and 1 patient presented with erythema. The most common location was the maxillofacial region (5 patients). Other locations included the scalp (3 patients), forehead (2 patients), neck (2 patients), mandible (1 patient), postauricular region (1 patient), and nasal dorsum (1 patient). One patient reported a preceding trauma, and 1 patient, a preceding infection. Presurgical imaging varied; imaging modalities used included computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, radiography, ultrasound, and sialography. All patients underwent surgical excision, which focused on excising the mass while preserving surrounding normal tissues. Mean (range) follow-up was 7.69 (0-46) months. Two minor complications were reported: 1 patient who underwent a near-total excisional biopsy experienced residual firmness and tenderness at the site of the lesion and another patient was left with an unfavorable cosmetic scar that necessitated intralesional steroid injection. No patient demonstrated recurrence at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Although an uncommon diagnosis, nodular fasciitis should be considered in the evaluation and treatment of head and neck soft-tissue masses in children. Preoperative imaging is nonspecific and variable. Pathological findings are necessary for diagnosis. Surgical excisional biopsy is curative, with no instances of recurrence in our series.

Paradoxical vocal fold motion in children presenting with exercise induced dyspnea.

INTRODUCTION Although dyspnea with exercise in the pediatric population can be multifactorial, the diagnosis of paradoxical vocal fold motion disorder (PVFMD) in this group is not well characterized. The objective of this study is to review the multiple causes of dyspnea with exercise in children, including the prevalence of PVFMD within this study population. METHODS A retrospective review was conducted of patients seen at a tertiary pediatric hospital for exercise-induced dyspnea suspected to be related to PVFMD between January 2007 and July 2015. Inclusion criteria included assessment in a specialty exercise clinic and evaluation by a pediatric otolaryngologist and pulmonologist. Pre- and post-exercise pulmonary function tests and laryngoscopic examinations were performed. Data including co-morbidities, presenting symptoms, prior diagnoses and treatments, final diagnoses, prescribed treatments and outcomes were collected and analyzed. RESULTS 294 patients were evaluated at our institution during the study period. 4 patients were excluded for insufficient data, which left 290 for analysis. 75 were male, 215 female. All patients underwent treadmill testing with monitoring to simulate strenuous exercise. Average patient age was 14.6 years; average BMI was 21.53. The most common sports to elicit symptoms were running and soccer. Patients most frequently complained of stridor or wheezing in addition to dyspnea. Throat tightness was also a common complaint. After evaluation, 86 patients were given the primary diagnosis of exercise-induced PVFMD. 54 patients were diagnosed with physiologic dyspnea and 30 with exercise-induced asthma. CONCLUSION Pediatric patients presenting with exercise-induced dyspnea can have multiple etiologies for their symptoms including PVFMD. Other causes of dyspnea with exercise should not be underestimated.

When should you perform injection medialization for pediatric unilateral vocal fold immobility?: Injection Medialization for Pediatric VFI

BACKGROUND Unilateral vocal fold immobility (VFI) in the pediatric population occurs most frequently following iatrogenic injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. In children, the most common etiology is following patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation, with children <1 kg at highest risk. VFI can result in functional difficulties including stridor and respiratory distress, aspiration and feeding problems, as well as difficulties with phonation. Recovery of nerve function is variable and can take months to years. Injection medialization is designed to treat children with feeding difficulties and voice problems related to glottic insufficiency secondary to VFI. Whereas extensive reviews of outcomes for VFI exist in the adult literature, there is controversy over if and when to perform injection medialization in children. This review describes the evidence for injection medialization in the pediatric population.

Voice Abnormalities and Laryngeal Pathology in Preterm Children

Introduction: The prevalence of voice abnormalities in children born prematurely has been reported to be as high as 58%. Few studies have examined these abnormalities with laryngoscopic or videostroboscopic findings and characterized their laryngeal pathologies. Objective: To review voice abnormalities in patients with a history of prematurity and characterize the etiology of their voice problems. A secondary objective is to see if there is a correlation between the findings and the patient’s intubation and surgical history. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of all preterm patients seen in voice clinic at a tertiary pediatric hospital. Demographic data, diagnoses, and office laryngoscopies were reviewed as well as any speech therapy evaluations and/or medical and surgical treatments. Results: Fifty-seven patients were included. Mean age at presentation was 5.1 (±4.3) years. Mean gestational age was 27.8 (±3.7) weeks. Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) perceptual evaluations included a mean overall dysphonia severity of 46.6 (±24.2). Patients who had undergone prolonged intubation (⩾28 days) in the NICU or had prolonged NICU stays (>12 weeks) had significantly higher overall dysphonia severity scores. Thirty-three patients with vocal fold hypo- or immobility had significantly greater voice deviance in breathiness, loudness, and overall severity compared to those without vocal fold immobility. Of all patients, 35% were recommended surgical intervention and 49% voice therapy. Conclusion: Intubation greater than 28 days and prolonged NICU stays are associated with more severe dysphonia in premature patients. There should be a low threshold for clinical evaluation of dysphonia in this unique patient population.

Congenital Atresia of Wharton’s Duct

This is a case report of a three-month-old male who presented to clinic with a cystic lesion under the tongue. On clinical examination, a cystic lesion was observed in the, floor-of-mouth. The patient was referred to Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology service for further management. The differential diagnoses for floor-of-mouth lesions should be reviewed with primary focus on the Whartons duct atresia and its management. It is crucial to recognize submandibular duct atresia in the primary Paediatric clinic in order to expedite management of lesion before complications arise including infection, enlargement of cyst, and feeding and breathing difficulties.