Fuat Tosun

Nasal Surgery for Contact Point Headaches

Headache due to the pressure on nasal mucosa of anatomical variations, nasal polyps, or mucosal swelling in the absence of inflammation of the paranasal sinuses is a clinical entity that has gained wide acceptance. In this paper, the outcomes of surgical treatment in 30 patients whose headaches were believed to be the result of intranasal contact points are presented. Total relief of the headache and significant improvement were achieved in 43% and 47% of the patients, respectively, after endoscopic endonasal surgery. The intensity of the headache was the same as preoperatively in 10% of the patients. In the absence of any other identifiable etiological factors, intranasal mucosal contacts must be kept in mind as a cause of the headache.

Facial nerve paralysis due to chronic otitis media.

Objective To present the characteristics of facial paralysis caused by chronic otitis media. The role of cholesteatoma, bony dehiscence, the duration of the disease, and the results of surgical therapy in facial paralysis were reviewed. Study Design Retrospective case review. Setting Tertiary care referral center. Patients A total of 24 patients (6 women, 18 men; age range, 17–74 yr) with facial paralysis were included in the study. Intervention Canal wall down mastoidectomy was performed in 14 patients (58.3%), modified radical mastoidectomy was performed in seven patients (25%), and intact canal wall mastoidectomy was performed in three patients (16.7%). All patients had decompression of the fallopian canal from the geniculate ganglion to the stylomastoid foramen without opening the epineural sheath. Results Eighteen patients (75%) had gradual onset of facial paralysis. The most common associated symptom with facial paralysis was vertigo in six patients. Twelve patients (50%) had no associated symptoms. Facial paralysis was the sole complication in 21 patients (87.9%). Three patients had multiple complications. Labyrinthitis was the most common associated complication. Facial paralysis was associated with congenital cholesteatoma in one patient. Fourteen patients (58.3%) demonstrated dramatic recovery within 3 months after surgery. Intraoperatively, cholesteatomas were found in 17 of the patients (70.8%). The fallopian canal was intact in four patients (none of them had a cholesteatoma), and 20 patients had bone destruction or dehiscence (three patients had no cholesteatoma). The tympanic segment was the most common site of involvement in 14 patients (58.3%). Conclusion A middle ear cholesteatoma was present in the majority of patients with facial paralysis caused by chronic otitis media. Gradual onset of facial paralysis was the most frequent pattern. Facial paralysis presented poor prognosis regardless of the presence of a cholesteatoma. There was no statistical difference among the results of surgical techniques.

Relationship between Postoperative Recurrence Rate and Eosinophil Density of Nasal Polyps

Objectives Nasal polyps develop as a result of chronic inflammation, mostly accompanied by pronounced eosinophil leukocyte infiltration. In this study we aimed to investigate the relationship between eosinophil density in nasal polyps and the postoperative recurrence rate of this disease. Methods Forty-two patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery for massive nasal polyposis by one surgeon were included in the study. The eosinophil leukocyte densities in nasal polyps were determined retrospectively on histologic slides by use of computer-assisted image analysis software. The patients were assigned to group 1, in whom nasal polyps contained up to 3 eosinophils per 1,000 urn2, and group 2, in whom nasal polyps contained 4 or more eosinophils per 1,000 um2. The postoperative recurrence rates of nasal polyps were compared in the two groups. Results There were 20 patients in group 1 and 22 patients in group 2. Postoperative polyp recurrence was detected in 5 of 20 patients (25.0%) in group 1 and in 18 of 22 patients (81.8%) in group 2 during the 30-month postoperative follow-up period (p < 0.05). Conclusions The eosinophil density of nasal polyps can be used to get an estimate of the postoperative recurrence risk. Eosinophil-rich nasal polyps have a higher postoperative recurrence rate.

Impact of endoscopic sinus surgery on sleep quality in patients with chronic nasal obstruction due to nasal polyposis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of endoscopic sinus surgery on sleep quality in a patient group who has chronic nasal obstruction resulting from nasal polyposis. Methods: Twenty-seven patients with nasal polyposis, filling at least 50% of each nasal passage, were enrolled in the study. Assessment of nasal patency was determined by nasal endoscopy and acoustic rhinometry. All patients underwent endoscopic sinus surgery with polypectomy. Sleep quality was evaluated, using visual analog scale, Epworth sleepiness scale, and polysomnography before and 3 months after the surgery. Results: Nasal resistance decreased significantly after the surgery (P < 0.01). Snoring scores were significantly improved postoperatively (P < 0.01) and completely disappeared in 9 of 27 patients. A significant improvement occurred in mean daytime sleepiness scores in the postoperative period (4.14) as compared with the preoperative values (9.44; P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between preoperative (6.85) and postoperative (5.53) mean values of apnea-hypopnea index (P = 0.55). Conclusions: Endoscopic sinus surgery with polypectomy significantly improves sleep quality, including snoring and daytime sleepiness in patients with chronic nasal obstruction due to nasal polyposis. However, it has a limited benefit on apnea-hypopnea index scores.

Transnasal endoscopic repair of choanal atresia: results of 13 cases and meta-analysis.

Transnasal endoscopic approach for the repair of choanal atresia (CA) has gained favor in recent years. However, the studied cohorts are too small to make a comprehensive comment on this approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different techniques, used for the removal of CA under endoscopic guidance, on surgical outcome and effectiveness of transnasal endoscopic approach in these patients as a whole. We present the results of transnasal endoscopic repair of CA in 13 patients and made a meta-analysis of similar studies in the literature. Mean success rate with transnasal endoscopic repair was 85.3% in a total of 238 cases in 20 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Only the history of previous surgery for CA seemed to significantly decrease the postoperative success rate (P = 0.029). Rate of revision surgery did not significantly differ between mixed, bony, or membranous atresia (P = 0.395). Likewise, simple perforation or complete excision of the atretic plate under endoscopic view (P = 0.513), use or no use of mucosal flap to seal the denuded bone of the choana (P = 0.472), and postoperative stenting or no stenting (P = 0.252) have proved not to considerably have influence on the surgical outcome. Death of perioperative bleeding was the single major complication in 1 case among all of the study groups. In conclusion, types of CA, excision method, and stenting have no significant effect on surgical outcome of CA. Irrespective of the technique used for the excision and the repair of atretic plate, transnasal endoscopic approach with higher success rate and minimal postoperative morbidity is a good choice for the repair of CA.

The role of zinc in management of tinnitus

OBJECTIVE Several therapeutic modalities have been tried in patients with tinnitus. These trials have given rise to unsatisfactory results in most of the patients since the etiology and pathophysiology of tinnitus is unclear. Significant correlation between tinnitus and decreased zinc level and also reduction in severity of tinnitus after zinc therapy has been reported in some clinical studies. The aim of this study is to find out the prevalence of hypozincemia in patients suffering from tinnitus of various origins (presbyacusis, acoustic trauma and ototoxicity) at young and elderly population and to investigate the effect of zinc therapy upon the severity of tinnitus. METHODS Forty consecutive patients with severe tinnitus were included in this study between April 1998 and May 2000. There were 32 men (80%) and eight women (20%) with an age ranging between 19 and 67 (mean 40.6 years). Eleven patients were over the age of 50. The zinc level was measured in non-diluted serum by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (normal values; 50-120 microg/dl) from fasting blood samples. All the patients were given zinc pills 220 mg each, once a day and 2 h before lunch for 2 months. The patients were required to fulfill a tinnitus scoring scale and a handicap questionnaire before and after treatment. The Wilcoxon rank sum test and McNemar test were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS Six patients were hypozincemic and seven patients had decreased serum zinc levels. No significant change has been observed in frequency and severity of tinnitus measured by audiologic tests after zinc therapy. Twenty-three (57.5%) of these patients reported some relief of tinnitus in the tinnitus scoring scale but the rate of improvement was minor (P>0.05). Decrease in severity of tinnitus after zinc therapy in elder group was better than the younger ones. CONCLUSION Our study could not confirm the high incidence of hypozincemia in patients with tinnitus as reported previously. Zinc therapy for 8 weeks presented no promising effect on tinnitus in three groups of patients and the difference between the rate of improvement in severity of tinnitus after zinc intake in patients with normal and low serum zinc level was not significant. Zinc supplement provided relief of tinnitus in some of the elder people who apparently had dietary zinc deficiency.

Osteoma of the middle ear

Osteomas are benign pedunculated tumours of the lamellar bone, which commonly originates from paranasal sinuses. Within the temporal bone they are seen commonly in the external ear canal. Osteomas originating from the middle ear are very rare. There are only 12 cases reported in the medical literature up to now. Five of those cases caused conductive hearing loss and the others were asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally.

Monostotic craniofacial fibrous dysplasia: the Turkish experience.

Fibrous dysplasia is a benign developmental disorder of the bone. Ten percent of patients with monostotic fibrous dysplasia have craniofacial bone involvement. Twenty-six patients were followed up at the Neurosurgery and Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Departments between 1990 and 2004. The surgery was performed in 14 patients with considerable cosmetic and functional disturbance. Twelve patients who had mild pain and mass at the site of the lesion were followed up. Cosmetic and functional results, symptom analysis, and frequency of site of involvement were reviewed and compared with previous series. Cranial involvement including frontal, parietal, sphenoidal, and occipital bones was found in 13 (52%) patients. The next common site was the maxillary bone in 9 (33%) patients. Four patients had orbital decompression caused by fronto-orbital and sphenoid bone involvement. None of the patients had any major complication of surgery. Because of its benign nature and decreased growth rate after adolescence, surgical treatment should be reserved for those with functional impairment or severe cosmetic disturbance.

Surgical approaches for nasopharyngeal angiofibroma: comparative analysis and current trends.

This study presents a comparative analysis of current surgical approaches for the treatment of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, including extension of tumors, postoperative morbidity, complications, and recurrence rate. Twenty-four patients who underwent surgery with the diagnosis of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma at our department between 1993 and 2003 were retrospectively reviewed according to their clinical presentation, surgical approaches, and prognosis. Radkowski staging scale was used for staging tumors. The transpalatal approach was used in 10 patients before 1999 with tumor stages between Ia and IIa. Transpalatal fistula was encountered in one. Nine patients underwent transnasal endoscopic surgery after 1999 with tumor stages between Ia and IIIa. Lateral rhinotomy in four patients and a degloving approach in one patient were used with tumor stages between IIa and IIIa; postoperative nasal crusting was the most annoying problem in these groups. Recurrent tumor was seen in only one patient who had undergone the transpalatal approach in the 12- to 56-month follow-up period. In this regard, the transnasal endoscopic approach can be used successfully in place of the transpalatal approach due to the formers lesser surgical morbidity and wide lateral exposure of the field in patients with nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. Also, many patients who underwent lateral rhinotomy for the removal of stage IIa, IIb, and IIIa tumors can successfully be treated using the transnasal endoscopic approach. In tumors that extend, infratemporal fossa lateral rhinotomy and degloving approaches provide the optimal exposure but have higher potential for morbidity than does transnasal endoscopic surgery.

Sphenochoanal polyp: endoscopic surgery.

Sphenochoanal polyp is a rare entity originating from sphenoid sinus. It may be confused with antrochoanal polyp on anterior rhinoscopy because of its similar appearance. Computerized tomography and nasal endoscopy have contributed to an increase of accuracy in the diagnosis of these masses. Simple polypectomy that leaves some part of the polyp inside the sphenoid sinus carries a high risk of recurrence. Destructive external approaches to gain access to the sphenoid sinus are also not advisable in children for a benign disease. We present two cases of sphenochoanal polyps in two children that were operated by endonasal endoscopic approach. They were free of symptoms after surgery. No complications and recurrences were observed at 28 and 18 months of follow-up periods respectively.