Francesco Stomeo

Sinonasal haemangiopericytoma: a case report

Haemangiopericytoma (HPC) is a rare vascular tumour that is thought to originate from the vascular pericytes of Zimmerman. HPC may arise in any part of the body, and from 15 to 30% of these tumours are found in the head and neck, with a rare involvement of the sinonasal region The main symptoms of nasal HPC, epistaxis and nasal obstruction, are not typical. The final diagnosis is based on the histopathology and immunochemistry, and whether the tumour is benign or malignant is defined on the basis of the clinical history. HPC located in the sinonasal area is generally benign. We report the case of a young woman with a sinonasal mass histologically proven to be haemangiopericytoma. The patient underwent surgical treatment by means of mid-facial degloving after embolisation of the maxillary artery. After a careful 3-year follow-up, the patient is disease free and healthy.

Comparison of subjective and objective tools in transoral laser cordectomy for early glottic cancer: importance of voice handicap index.

Several studies in recent years have already reported good oncologic results with laser microsurgery in the treatment of early glottic carcinoma. We conducted a longitudinal voice evaluation, in patients with early glottic cancer who underwent transoral laser cordectomy, in order to assess the voice quality outcome and its relationship with objective and subjective (voice handicap index questionnaire and GIRBAS scale) means. Twenty-four previously untreated patients underwent transoral laser cordectomy for early glottic cancer. All patients underwent subjective and objective voice assessment according to the multidimensional voice protocol recommended by the European Laryngological Society including acoustic, perceptual and stroboscopic analysis combined to patient self assessment of voice (voice handicap index-VHI). These evaluations were performed before treatment and 6 months after the treatment. Vocal fold healing was complete in all cases by 6 months following surgery. Main voice parameters (subjective and objective) resulted improved at the 6-month control after surgery. In particular, voice handicap index (VHI) and GIRBAS scale resulted reliable for voice assessment and for the postoperative follow-up. In conclusion, VHI, GIRBAS, multidimensional voice program (MDVP) and spectroacoustic parameters showed a close trend in the present study, and this confirms the validity of the voice analysis performed by each tool.

Trans-Oral Robotic Tongue Reduction for OSA: Does Lingual Anatomy Influence the Surgical Outcome?

STUDY OBJECTIVES To evaluate both the influence of the volume of the excised base of tongue (BOT) on the surgical outcome after robotic tongue reduction in patients affected by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the role of the lymphatic or muscular predominance within the removed tissue. METHODS Fifty-one patients with OSA were included in this study. All patients were treated with a robotic tongue base reduction. Data registered for the analysis were: age, sex, preoperative body mass index, preoperative and postoperative apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), delta AHI (preoperative AHI - postoperative AHI), total volume of the excised BOT, total thickness of excised BOT, isolated lymphatic thickness and soft tissue thickness (including muscular component) of the excised BOT, and lymphatic/soft tissue ratio (lymphatic thickness / soft tissue thickness). RESULTS A statistically significant reduction of AHI values was seen postoperatively, and a success rate of 74.5% was recorded. However, no significant correlations between delta AHI and tongue volume in cubic centimeters, lymphatic/soft tissue ratio, and total thickness were found. CONCLUSIONS These findings reinforce the general opinion that OSA is not only influenced by anatomic factors but other phenomena may play a fundamental role in its genesis. A deeper understanding of OSA pathogenesis is needed in order to tailor an individual treatment strategy that could lead to a more effective therapy.

Cerebral Inflow and Outflow Discrepancies in Severe Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

The aim of this study is to evaluate whether cerebral inflow and outflow abnormalities, assessed by the means of a validated ultrasound model, could be associated with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL). According to Clark, a total of 42 patients affected by severe SSNHL and 19 healthy volunteers matched by gender without any history of sudden hearing impairment have been included in this study. Patients and controls underwent EchocolorDoppler assessment of brain hemodynamics. All subjects affected by SSNHL were also assessed with Auditory Brainstem Responses (ABR) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in order to exclude retrocochlear pathology. The head inflow through the common carotid artery was practically equivalent between groups, but at the level of the carotid bifurcation, the external carotid artery showed a highly significant flow rate in SSNHL 5.4±2 vs 3.9±1.1 ml/s in controls (p=0.01). The brain inflow was similar between patients and controls, but interestingly the flow rate of the vertebral artery was significantly reduced in SSNHL 1.6±0.8 vs 2.8±0.9 ml/s (p=0.01). The brain outflow was found significantly restricted at the level of the jugular outlet 6.6±6 vs 9.9±6 ml/s (p=0.002); consequently, the collateral flow index was significantly increased in SSNHL (p=0.001). The present study shows a discrepant distribution of the brain inflow which seems to penalize the posterior segments of the Willis polygon in patients affected by severe SSNHL. In addition, our study confirms the presence of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency in SSNHL with significant activation of venous collateral circulation.

Subtotal arytenoidectomy for the treatment of laryngeal stridor in multiple system atrophy: phonatory and swallowing results

Stomeo, Francesco; Rispoli, Vittorio; Sensi, Mariachiara; Pastore, Antonio; Malagutti, Nicola; Pelucchi, Stefano Subtotal arytenoidectomy for the treatment of laryngeal stridor in multiple system atrophy: phonatory and swallowing results Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, vol. 82, num. 1, enero-febrero, 2016, pp. 116120 Associacao Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cervico-Facial Sao Paulo, Brasil

Case reportSubtotal arytenoidectomy for the treatment of laryngeal stridor in multiple system atrophy: phonatory and swallowing resultsAritenoidectomia subtotal para o tratamento de estridor laríngeo na atrofia de múltiplos sistemas: resultados na fonação e deglutição☆

Stomeo, Francesco; Rispoli, Vittorio; Sensi, Mariachiara; Pastore, Antonio; Malagutti, Nicola; Pelucchi, Stefano Subtotal arytenoidectomy for the treatment of laryngeal stridor in multiple system atrophy: phonatory and swallowing results Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, vol. 82, num. 1, enero-febrero, 2016, pp. 116120 Associacao Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cervico-Facial Sao Paulo, Brasil

Endoscopic CO(2) Laser Horizontal Partial Laryngectomy in Larynx Carcinosarcoma

Background. Carcinosarcoma is an extremely rare malignant neoplasm, with both a malignant epithelial and mesenchymal component, that rarely affects the larynx. Aim. Aim of this paper is to describe the case of a patient affected by a larynx carcinosarcoma treated by endoscopic horizontal partial laryngectomy with CO(2) laser and particularly discuss the histogenetic hypothesis as well as the possible treatment modalities of this rare lesion. Methods. Case report and literature review. Discussion and Conclusion. Still little is known about the biology of carcinosarcoma and there is still no consensus in the literature on the treatment of these tumors. Endoscopic horizontal partial laryngectomy could represent another treatment option in selected cases.

Synchronous papillary carcinoma and hemangiopericytoma with lung metastases

Hemangiopericytomas (HPC) are uncommon tumors that originate from perivascular cells of capillary vessels. HPC are about 1% of all vascular tumors and can be found in the head-neck region with an incidence between 16% and 33%. HPC is a neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential; it can behave as an aggressive tumor with metastases and increased mitotic activity or as a relatively benign neoplasm with only local development. In this paper we describe a case of hemangiopericytoma with uncertain malignant potential with cervical location associated with a concomitant papillary thyroid carcinoma and lung metastasis of unknown origin; this case led us to follow a specific and uncommon diagnostic and therapeutic strategy.

Giant dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the right hemifacial area involving the oral cavity

Although liposarcoma is a reasonably common soft tissue sarcoma in adults, its occurrence within the head and neck region is very rare. The following report presents the case of a giant dedifferentiated liposarcoma initially located in the temporal region and then extending to the entire right maxillofacial region. Clinical as well as histopathological features and therapeutic approaches of dedifferentiated liposarcoma are discussed, and a literature review is presented.