Bernardo Cunha Araujo Filho

Group psychotherapy: An additional approach to burning mouth syndrome

INTRODUCTION Glossodynia or burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a common and poorly understood disorder. Its treatment is uncertain. Otherwise, there is some evidence of the importance of psychological factors in the genesis of this disease. OBJECTIVES Verify the usefulness of group psychotherapy as an adjuvant therapeutic method in the treatment of BMS. CASUISTICS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 64 consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of BMS seen at the Stomatology Outpatient Clinic, ENT Department, Sao Paulo University Medical School, between May 2002 and May 2007. All the patients were submitted to physical examination, laboratorial screening tests, psychological assessment (Crown-Crisp Experimental Inventory), and answered a short form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Only 44 patients who did not show any abnormality in the protocol exams entered the study. Twenty-four of them underwent group psychotherapy. Twenty patients received placebo. Chi-square test was applied to compare the results of treatment with or without psychotherapy. RESULTS There were 15 men and 29 women in the study group. Tongue burning was the main complaint of the patients. Improvement of symptoms was reported by 17 (70.8%) of the patients undergoing psychotherapy, while among those who did not eight (40%) had improvement of symptoms (P=.04). CONCLUSION Psychological assessment demonstrated a close correlation between symptoms and psychological factors, suggesting that group psychotherapy is an important alternative to conventional treatment methods.

Endoscopic ligation of the anterior ethmoidal artery: a cadaver dissection study

UNLABELLED Anterior ethmoidal artery (AEA) ligation may be necessary in cases of severe epistaxis not controllable with traditional therapy. Endoscopic endonasal ligation of the AEA is not used frequently; there are few studies in the literature for standardization of the endoscopic technique for this vessel. AIM To demonstrate the feasibility of periorbital AEA ligation in a transethmoidal endoscopic approach. METHODS A prospective study where 50 nasal cavities were dissected. After anterior ethmoidectomy and partial removal of lamina papyracea, the periorbital area was carefully dissected along a subperiosteal plane to identify the AEA. The vessel was exposed within the orbit and dissected. RESULTS Data on technical difficulties, complications, the learning curve and anatomical variations were gathered. CONCLUSION An endonasal endoscopic approach to the AEA within the orbit was shown to be feasible. Identifying the artery is not difficult, and this technique avoids external incisions. This approach appears to be an excellent alternative for approaching the AEA. Further clinical studies are needed to demonstarte the benefits of this technique.

Role of rapid antigen detection test for the diagnosis of group-A beta-hemolytic streptococcus in patients with pharyngotonsillitis

UNLABELLED Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GAS) is an important pharyngotonsillitis etiologic agent. Correct etiologic diagnosis and early treatment prevent suppurative and non-suppurative complications of streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis, however, clinical diagnostic methods are not reliable. Within this context, rapid detection methods of GAS antigen are useful to diagnose this agent. AIM The objective of the present study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of rapid GAS antigen detection tests used in Brazil. STUDY DESIGN Clinical prospective. METHODS Eighty-one patients with clinical diagnosis of acute pharyngotonsillitis seen at the otorhinolaryngology emergency department of University Hospital, FMUSP, between May 2001 and April 2002, were submitted to two simultaneous collections of oropharyngeal material using swabs. Rapid GAS antigen detection test was compared to culture on blood agar, the gold standard for the diagnosis of this etiologic agent. RESULTS Among the 81 studied patients, the rapid test was positive in 56% and negative in 44%. GAS growth in culture was observed for 40.7% of the patients. The sensitivity and specificity of the rapid test were, respectively, 93.9% and 68.7%, and the negative and positive predictive values were 94.2 and 67.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS We concluded that the high sensitivity of the test permits its use for the identification of patients with GAS. Rapid streptococcal antigen detection tests have been shown to be an important supporting tool in the etiologic diagnosis of pharyngotonsillitis.

AIDS and recurrent aphtous stomatitis

UNLABELLED The immunodeficiency state in HIV infected patients has been the cause of severe episodes of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS). AIM Our study aims to establish correlation between the manifestations of RAS and the immunosuppression state caused by HIV infection, through counting of CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells, CD4+:CD8+ cells ratio and viral load. STUDY DESIGN Series study. MATERIAL AND METHOD Ninety-four HIV infected patients (25 women and 69 men) with RAS were evaluated in the ENT Department of the University of Sao Paulo-Medical School from January 1998 to December 2003. The age ranged between 19 and 63 years (mean = 35.3 years). The patients were divided in two groups: AIDS group and HIV infected group. RESULTS The patients with AIDS and HIV infection presented, respectively, eight ulcers and two ulcers by outbreaks. Similarly, patients with major RAS presented smaller counting of cells CD8+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ cells, and higher mean value of viral load than the patients with herpetiform and minor RAS. Between patients with minor and herpetiform RAS there were no statistical differences. CONCLUSIONS The emergence of the lesions, mainly in major RAS, is directly related to the immunological state of the HIV infected patient. These patients frequently present nutritional deficits and worsening in life style. Thus, diagnosis and treatment of RAS is a challenge that should not be neglected.

Intraoral and transcutaneous cervical ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of peritonsillar cellulitis and abscesses

AIMS The objective of the present study was to determine the specificity, sensitivity and accuracy of intraoral and transcutaneous ultrasound (US) in the diagnosis of peritonsillar cellulitis and abscess. STUDY DESIGN Clinical-Prospective. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty nine patients were seen at the otorhinolaryngology emergency department of the University Hospital, of the School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, with a clinical diagnosis of peritonsillar cellulitis or abscess. After initial evaluation, all patients were submitted to intraoral and transcutaneous US. RESULTS Intraoral US was performed on 35 cases and its sensitivity was of 95.2%, the specificity was of 78.5% and the accuracy was of 86.9%. Transcutaneous US was feasible in all 39 patients and diagnosed peritonsillar abscess in 53.8%. There were 5 false-negatives and 1 false-positive result, sensitivity was 80%, specificity was 92.8% and accuracy was 84.5%. CONCLUSION Intraoral US was quite sensitive in the diagnosis of peritonsillar abscesses when performed by an experienced radiologist. Specificity was higher for transcutaneous US compared to intraoral US. However, when transcutaneous US was performed in patients with trismus, it was able to diagnose all peritonsillar abscesses, since they were large collections which are common in patients with trismus. These exams showed similar accuracy.

Microbiologia dos abscessos peritonsilares

AIM: The objective of the present study was to analyze the microbiology of peritonsillar abscesses. METHODS: Thirty patients, mean age 24,2 years, with peritonsillar abscesses underwent aspiration of at least 3 mL of pus, which was cultured for aerobes and anaerobes. RESULTS: 87% samples showed positive cultures. Aerobic or facultative aerobic bacteria were isolated from 23% aspirates, mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacteria from 60%, and anaerobic bacteria from only 3% aspirate. A total of 69 bacterial isolates (34 aerobic and 35 anaerobic) were recovered. The most common aerobic isolate was Streptococcus sp, with Streptococcus pyogenes being identified in 23% of aspirates. The predominant anaerobic isolates were Prevotella sp and Peptostreptococcus sp. Patients had received previous antimicrobial therapy in 63% cases. In this group, 1.8 isolates per specimen were recovered, a lower number than in the untreated group (3.0 per specimen). No significant difference in the species isolated was observed between these two groups. CONCLUSION: Peritonsillar abscess is usually a polymicrobial infection, with predominance of anaerobic bacteria. The number of agents isolated was larger in patients not previously treated with antibiotics, but the use of antimicrobial drugs did not interfere with the type of bacterium isolated.

Microbiology of peritonsillar abscesses

AIM The objective of the present study was to analyze the microbiology of peritonsillar abscesses. METHODS Thirty patients, mean age 24,2 years, with peritonsillar abscesses underwent aspiration of at least 3 mL of pus, which was cultured for aerobes and anaerobes. RESULTS 87% samples showed positive cultures. Aerobic or facultative aerobic bacteria were isolated from 23% aspirates, mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacteria from 60%, and anaerobic bacteria from only 3% aspirate. A total of 69 bacterial isolates (34 aerobic and 35 anaerobic) were recovered. The most common aerobic isolate was Streptococcus sp, with Streptococcus pyogenes being identified in 23% of aspirates. The predominant anaerobic isolates were Prevotella sp and Peptostreptococcus sp. Patients had received previous antimicrobial therapy in 63% cases. In this group, 1.8 isolates per specimen were recovered, a lower number than in the untreated group (3.0 per specimen). No significant difference in the species isolated was observed between these two groups. CONCLUSION Peritonsillar abscess is usually a polymicrobial infection, with predominance of anaerobic bacteria. The number of agents isolated was larger in patients not previously treated with antibiotics, but the use of antimicrobial drugs did not interfere with the type of bacterium isolated.

Aids e estomatite aftóide recidivante

The immunodeficiency state in HIV infected patients has been the cause of severe episodes of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS). AIM: Our study aims to establish correlation between the manifestations of RAS and the immunosuppression state caused by HIV infection, through counting of CD4+ cells, CD8+ cells, CD4+:CD8+ cells ratio and viral load. STUDY DESIGN: series study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Ninety-four HIV infected patients (25 women and 69 men) with RAS were evaluated in the ENT Department of the University of Sao Paulo-Medical School from January 1998 to December 2003. The age ranged between 19 and 63 years (mean = 35.3 years). The patients were divided in two groups: AIDS group and HIV infected group. RESULTS: The patients with AIDS and HIV infection presented, respectively, eight ulcers and two ulcers by outbreaks. Similarly, patients with major RAS presented smaller counting of cells CD8+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ cells, and higher mean value of viral load than the patients with herpetiform and minor RAS. Between patients with minor and herpetiform RAS there were no statistical differences. CONCLUSIONS: The emergence of the lesions, mainly in major RAS, is directly related to the immunological state of the HIV infected patient. These patients frequently present nutritional deficits and worsening in life style. Thus, diagnosis and treatment of RAS is a challenge that should not be neglected.

Impacto da Haart na prevalência de otite média crônica em crianças brasileiras infectadas pelo HIV

O advento de novas drogas anti-retrovirais como os inibidores de protease provocou mudancas sensiveis na morbidade e mortalidade de pacientes infectados pelo HIV. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o impacto das novas drogas anti-retrovirais (Highly Active Anti-retroviral Therapy - HAART) na prevalencia de otite media cronica em populacao pediatrica infectada pelo HIV. METODOS: Analisamos os prontuarios de 471 criancas com idade entre zero e 12 anos e 11 meses portadoras de HIV atendidas no ambulatorio de AIDS de Clinica Otorrinolaringologica do HCFMUSP. As criancas foram divididas em dois grupos, de acordo com a faixa etaria: 0 a 5 anos e 11 meses e 6 a 12 anos e 11 meses, e classificadas como portadoras de otite media cronica, baseadas em achados de anamnese, otoscopia, audiometria e imitanciometria. As prevalencias de otite media cronica apresentadas e as contagens de linfocitos T CD4+ foram comparadas entre as criancas em uso ou nao de HAART. RESULTADOS: Das 459 criancas atendidas, 65 (14,2%) apresentavam otite media cronica. Observamos, nas criancas de 0 a 5 anos e 11 meses que o uso de HAART esteve associado a significante menor prevalencia de otite media cronica (p = 0,02), e maior contagem de linfocitos T CD4+ (p < 0,001). CONCLUSAO: O uso de HAART esteve associado a menor prevalencia da forma cronica de otite media entre criancas menores de 6 anos infectadas pelo HIV, provavelmente como consequencia do aumento promovido na contagem de linfocitos T CD4+.

Ultra-sonografia intra-oral e transcutânea cervical no diagnóstico diferencial de celulite e abscessos periamigdalianos

AIMS: The objective of the present study was to determine the specificity, sensitivity and accuracy of intraoral and transcutaneous ultrasound (US) in the diagnosis of peritonsillar cellulitis and abscess. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical-Prospective. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty nine patients were seen at the otorhinolaryngology emergency department of the University Hospital, of the School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, with a clinical diagnosis of peritonsillar cellulitis or abscess. After initial evaluation, all patients were submitted to intraoral and transcutaneous US. RESULTS: Intraoral US was performed on 35 cases and its sensitivity was of 95.2%, the specificity was of 78.5% and the accuracy was of 86.9%. Transcutaneous US was feasible in all 39 patients and diagnosed peritonsillar abscess in 53.8%. There were 5 false-negatives and 1 false-positive result, sensitivity was 80%, specificity was 92.8% and accuracy was 84.5%. CONCLUSION: Intraoral US was quite sensitive in the diagnosis of peritonsillar abscesses when performed by an experienced radiologist. Specificity was higher for transcutaneous US compared to intraoral US. However, when transcutaneous US was performed in patients with trismus, it was able to diagnose all peritonsillar abscesses, since they were large collections which are common in patients with trismus. These exams showed similar accuracy.