Giancarlo Ottaviano

Extranodal Rosai-Dorfman disease: involvement of eye, nose and trachea

Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare non-neoplastic histiocytic proliferative disorder characterized by painless lymphadenopathy. Extranodal lesions frequently occur in the head and neck regions. We report the clinical and histological features of extranodal RDD in a 43-year-old man with a previously unreported combination of multiple gross anterior epibulbar nodules in the right eye, submucosal masses of nasal septum and trachea, and no lymphadenopathy during the 12-year follow-up. The patient underwent ophthalmological, otolaryngological and systemic evaluation; gallium 67 scintigraphy; bronchoscopy; ophthalmic ultrasound; head and neck CT scan; biopsies of epibulbar, nasal and tracheal tissues; and septoplasty. Histological specimens showed lymphocytophagocytosis and positive immunoperoxidase staining for S100 protein in foamy histiocytes; both features were typical for RDD. No response to topical or systemic steroids or to radiation therapy was recorded. Removal of nasal septum masses resolved nasal obstruction. The diagnosis of RDD requires histological and, in challenging cases, immunohistological specimens and is difficult – especially with pure extranodal localizations as in our case. RDD should be suspected in cases of subconjunctival mass and/or submucosal nasal and tracheal swellings not responding to systemic steroids.

Effects of sulfurous, salty, bromic, iodic thermal water nasal irrigations in nonallergic chronic rhinosinusitis: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, clinical, and cytological study

OBJECTIVES Nasal irrigations are mentioned among the adjunctive measures for treating several sinonasal conditions. Hyperchromatic supranuclear stria (HSS) in the ciliated cells (CCs) has recently been suggested as a potential cytological marker of the anatomofunctional integrity of nasal mucosa. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of nasal irrigations with sulfurous, salty, bromic, iodic (SSBI) thermal water or isotonic sodium chloride solution (ISCS) in patients with nonallergic chronic rhinosinusitis, considering the endoscopic, functional, microbiological, and cytological evidence (including the ratio of HSS-positive CCs to total CCs [the HSS+ rate]). METHODS In a prospective, randomized, double-blind setting, 80 patients were recruited for nasal irrigations with SSBI water or ISCS for 1 month. RESULTS An endoscopically assessed significant clinical improvement was seen after both SSBI thermal water and ISCS irrigations. Before treatment, Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 5 patients in the SSBI thermal water group and 4 in the ISCS group. After the nasal irrigations, there was no sign of the bacteria in either group. Only the SSBI water irrigations significantly reduced total nasal resistance, as determined by rhinomanometry. Mild nasal irritation (6 cases) and episodes of extremely limited epistaxis (5 cases) were only reported after SSBI thermal water irrigations. Neither type of nasal irrigation significantly increased the mean HSS+ rate at cytological control after 1 month. CONCLUSIONS Both types of nasal irrigation improved the endoscopic and microbiological features of patients with nonallergic chronic rhinosinusitis, whereas only SSBI irrigations significantly reduced total nasal resistance. Further investigations are needed based on longer treatments and follow-up periods to establish whether the HSS+ rate is useful for monitoring clinical improvements in chronic rhinosinusitis treated with nasal irrigations.

High nuclear expression of the apoptosis inhibitor protein survivin is associated with disease recurrence and poor prognosis in laryngeal basaloid squamous cell carcinoma.

Conclusion. Nuclear expression of survivin should be studied as a promising marker of higher-risk laryngeal basaloid squamous cell carcinomas (BSCCs), which can then be treated more aggressively and followed more closely. Objective. BSCC is an uncommon bimorphic variant of SCC. The hypothesized greater aggressiveness and poorer prognosis of head and neck BSCC compared to SCC are still under debate. The regulation of apoptotic cell death has a profound effect on the pathogenesis and progression of malignancies. Survivin is the smallest member of the inhibitor of apoptosis gene family. The aim of this study was to investigate for the first time the expression of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein survivin in laryngeal BSCCs and their neck lymph node metastases and to compare the results with those obtained with conventional SCCs. Material and methods. Immunoreactivity to survivin was determined in nine laryngeal BSCCs and nine site- and stage-matched SCCs. Results. A nuclear subcellular localization of survivin dominated in both primary laryngeal BSCCs and SCCs and in their lymph node metastases. There was no significant difference in mean survivin expression between primary laryngeal BSCCs (25.1%) and SCCs (25.6%) (p=0.86). Nuclear survivin expression was significantly higher in BSCCs associated with disease recurrence and poor prognosis (p=0.02).

MALT-type lymphoma and Warthin's tumour presenting in the same parotid gland

Non-disseminated malignant lymphomas of salivary glands occurring in association with Warthins tumour have rarely been reported. We describe the first case of association of an extranodal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type non-Hodgkins lymphoma with Warthins tumour of the parotid gland. Total parotidectomy with preservation of the facial nerve was performed. Surgical and pathological evidence confirmed that the parotid MALT lymphoma did not arise in the lymphoid stroma of the Warthins tumour. Immunostaining of the MALT lymphoma cells proved negative for Epstein–Barr virus and Helicobacter pylori antibodies and polymerase chain reaction assays did not identify human herpesvirus 8. The patient has been followed up for 11 months, without evidence of recurrent disease. It cannot be ruled out that long-term immunological stimulation by the Warthins tumour may have caused lymphoid accumulation, chronic stimulation of B cells and extranodal parotid MALT lymphomagenesis.

Measurements of nasal airflow and patency: a critical review with emphasis on the use of peak nasal inspiratory flow in daily practice

Objective measures can be used to assist the clinician to diagnose and treat nasal obstruction and also to quantify nasal obstruction in research. Objective measurements of nasal obstruction are as important as objective measurements of lung function. peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF), acoustic rhinometry (AR) and rhinomanometry (RM), with their specific peculiarity, assess different aspects of nasal obstruction. From the studies available in the literature, it seems that these methods roughly correlate with each other and that all of them can be alternatively utilized very well in research as well as in clinical practice. This review describes the various methods that can be used to measure nasal patency, airflow and resistance, mainly peak nasal inspiratory flow, rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry. PNIF has been demonstrated to be reproducible and as good an indication of objective nasal patency as formal rhinomanometry and has the advantage to be cheap, simple and suitable for serial measurements and for home use even in the paediatric population. PNIF normative data are available for children, adults and elderly subjects, and the availability of unilateral PNIF normal values allows evaluation of nasal sides separately. Just as in the lower airways, objective and subjective evaluation gives different information that together optimizes the diagnosis and the treatment of our patients. We argue that PNIF should be used regularly in every outpatient clinic that treats patients with nasal obstruction.

Position Paper on Olfactory Dysfunction

Background Olfactory dysfunction is an increasingly recognised condition, associated with reduced quality of life and major health outcomes such as neurodegeneration and death. However, translational research in this field is limited by heterogeneity in methodological approach, including definitions of impairment, improvement and appropriate assessment techniques. Accordingly, effective treatments for smell loss are limited. In an effort to encourage high quality and comparable work in this field, among others, we propose the following ideas and recommendations. Whilst the full set of recommendations are outlined in the main document, points include the following: • Patients with suspected olfactory loss should undergo a full examination of the head and neck, including rigid nasal endoscopy with small diameter endoscopes. • Subjective olfactory assessment should not be undertaken in isolation, given its poor reliability. • Psychophysical assessment tools used in clinical and research settings should include reliable and validated tests of odour threshold, and/or one of odour identification or discrimination. • Comprehensive chemosensory assessment should include gustatory screening. • Smell training can be helpful in patients with olfactory loss of several aetiologies. Conclusions We hope the current manuscript will encourage clinicians and researchers to adopt a common language, and in so doing, increase the methodological quality, consistency and generalisability of work in this field.

Indications for postoperative radiotherapy in laryngeal carcinoma: A panel of tumor tissue markers for predicting locoregional recurrence in surgically treated carcinoma. A pilot study

Combining primary surgery with postoperative radiotherapy (RT) significantly reduces locoregional recurrence rates in selected patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). A prognostic model was used to see if associating laryngeal SCC tissue markers (mammary serine protease inhibitor [MASPIN], CD105, angiogenin [ANG], and nm23‐H1) with conventional criteria could better discriminate higher‐risk patients warranting postoperative RT.

Nasal dysfunction induced by chlorinate water in competitive swimmers.

AIMS Swimmers commonly complain of nasal symptoms probably due to mucosal irritation caused by chlorinated water. The aim of the present prospective study was to investigate changes in nasal function and cytology in a cohort of 15 volunteer competitive swimmers, as compared with a control group of 15 competitive athletes practicing other sports. METHODS Olfactory threshold for n-butanol was measured in a population of competitive swimmers. Changes in nasal function and cytology were compared between the two groups of volunteer competitive athletes. RESULTS There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of mean 20-Item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test scores, peak nasal inspiratory flow, pulmonary peak expiratory flow, or total nasal resistance on anterior active rhinomanometry. Nasal mucociliary transport time (MCTt) was significantly shorter for the non-swimmers than for the swimmers. The mean olfactory threshold for n-butanol in the swimmers was significantly lower than in the other group of athletes. CONCLUSIONS Data seem to confirm the utility of MCTt in studying nasal mucosa damage caused by chlorinated water. The present results also support the hypothesis of a role for the olfactory threshold in evaluating damage to the olfactory mucosa exposed to chlorinated water.

Comparison between unilateral PNIF and rhinomanometry in healthy and obstructed noses

BACKGROUND According to the Federal Institution of Health Insurance, ENT doctors perform more skin prick tests for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (AR) than other medical specialties in Belgium. However, immunotherapy (IT) is not practiced by all. This study aims to obtain insight into IT practice by ENT doctors, the type of IT performed and the reasons not to perform IT. METHODOLOGY A questionnaire was sent to all registered ENT doctors of Belgium (n=648), involving questions on type and duration of ENT practice, geography and gender. In addition, the questionnaire informed about diagnosis of AR, indication for IT, type of IT performed, and reasons not to perform IT and referral pattern. RESULTS The response rate among ENT doctors was 54%, with 7% of responders being excluded as they do not diagnose AR. 81% of Belgian ENT doctors make the indication for IT in AR patients, with 19% neglecting the indication for IT in AR patients. The two main reasons for not indicating IT are lack of expertise and the perception of high costs associated with IT. 70% of ENT specialists are practicing IT themselves, with sublingual IT being mostly performed. Interestingly, IT is mostly frequently performed by those ENT doctors with long-standing ENT practice, in private practice and in Wallonia. CONCLUSION Despite the high prevalence of AR in ENT practice, IT is most frequently performed by ENT doctors with longstanding practice, working in private practice and/or in the French speaking part of Belgium. Among the different types of IT, sublingual IT is the most frequently performed means of IT by ENT doctors.OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of inflammation in non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) patients in a large series to establish the prevalence of different NAR-subtypes, clinical features and the role of nasal cytology in the diagnostic algorithm. METHODOLOGY Patients were selected out of 3650 individuals who spontaneously presented at our institution. We consecutively enrolled 519 NAR-patients in an analytical cross-sectional study between November 2007 and June 2013 (level of evidence: 3b). All patients underwent rhinological evaluation including symptoms questionnaire, endoscopy, CT scan, allergy tests and nasal cytology. RESULTS The inflammatory cell infiltrate affects the severity of symptoms differently, allowing for identification of different phenotypes of NAR. We distinguished two groups: “NAR without inflammation”(NAR-) and “NAR with inflammation”(NAR+), in addition to different NAR-subtypes with inflammation. A significant difference was observed in terms of clinical symptoms and association with comorbidities (previously diagnosed asthma and aspirin intolerance) between NAR–, NAR+ and between different NAR+ subtypes. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that NAR- and NAR with neutrophils behave similarly, showing lower symptom score values and a lower risk of association with comorbidities compared to NAR with eosinophils and mast cells (singularly or mixed). In our belief it is very important to establish the presence and type of inflammation in non-allergic rhinitis patients and nasal cytology is a very useful test in correct differential diagnosis.OBJECTIVE To assess the applicability of the Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow (PNIF) curves in follow-up of children in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. METHODS Prospective study of 40 patients with AR, grouped in corticosteroid spray versus physiological saline solution use. Follow up for 10 weeks through clinical score and PNIF percentages in relation to the reference curves, with was-out at week 8. Statistical assessment of the effect of treatment on variation of PNIF and clinical score was calculated by ANOVA model and Multiple Comparison of Means Test - Least Significant Difference. RESULTS There was a statistically significant influence of the group, time and interaction between time and group on PNIF percentages. Throughout follow up, patients from the treatment group had mean PNIF percentages significantly higher than the placebo group. Clinical score results also demonstrated a statistically significant influence between the groups, time and interaction between time and group. CONCLUSION Increase in PNIF percentage values observed in children treated with intranasal corticosteroids revealed the applicability of PNIF curves in their follow up.OBJECTIVE This study aims to examine humans ́ abilities to localize odorants within the open field. METHODOLOGY Young participants were tested on a localization task using a relatively selective olfactory stimulus (2-phenylethyl-alcohol, PEA) and cineol, an odorant with a strong trigeminal component. Participants were blindfolded and had to localize an odorant source at 2 m distance (far-field condition) and a 0.4 m distance (near-field condition) with either two nostrils open or only one open nostril. RESULTS For the odorant with trigeminal properties, the number of correct trials did not differ when one or both nostrils were used, while more PEA localization trials were correctly completed with both rather than one nostril. In the near-field condition, correct localization was possible in 72-80% of the trials, irrespective of the odorant and the number of nostrils used. Localization accuracy, measured as spatial deviation from the olfactory source, was significantly higher in the near-field compared to the far-field condition, but independent of the odorant being localized. CONCLUSION Odorant localization within the open field is difficult, but possible. In contrast to the general view, humans seem to be able to exploit the two-nostril advantage with increasing task difficulty.BACKGROUND This study was designed to assess if illness perception, mood state and coping strategies differ according to allergic rhinitis (AR) persistence and severity. METHODS Illness perception, mood profiles, coping behaviors and rhinitis symptoms were assessed by means of validated tools inpatients classified according to the Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines. RESULTS Two hundred and thirty-one patients underwent data analysis. No difference in age, sex, socio-economic status, smoking habits was detected comparing patients according to AR severity, duration or 4 ARIA classes. Patients with intermittent AR reported higher scores than those with persistent AR in confusion-bewilderment of Profile of Mood States (POMS); patients with moderate/severe rhinitis had significantly higher scores than those with mild rhinitis in TSSS, Identity and Consequences. No differences were detected in all assessed outcomes in the 4 ARIA classes. CONCLUSIONS The patients perspective about AR is independent of persistence and severity of symptoms. This may explain why AR remains under-diagnosed and under-treated, even in its most severe forms. Self-management plans should consider the patients perspective.The assessment of Chronic Rhinosinusitis, like any other disease, may involve multiple possible disease manifestations, including subjective patient-reported outcomes, objective disease (e.g. endoscopy or radiographic), and physician-driven (e.g. need for systemic medications). Disease control is often used as a global metric of disease burden and represents the extent to which disease manifestations are within an acceptable range. Achieving control is an important treatment goal.The European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2020 is the update of similar evidence based position papers published in 2005 and 2007 and 2012(1-3). The core objective of the EPOS2020 guideline is to provide revised, up-to-date and clear evidence-based recommendations and integrated care pathways in ARS and CRS. EPOS2020 provides an update on the literature published and studies undertaken in the eight years since the EPOS2012 position paper was published and addresses areas not extensively covered in EPOS2012 such as paediatric CRS and sinus surgery. EPOS2020 also involves new stakeholders, including pharmacists and patients, and addresses new target users who have become more involved in the management and treatment of rhinosinusitis since the publication of the last EPOS document, including pharmacists, nurses, specialised care givers and indeed patients themselves, who employ increasing self-management of their condition using over the counter treatments. The document provides suggestions for future research in this area and offers updated guidance for definitions and outcome measurements in research in different settings.BACKGROUND Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR) is a commonly used procedure in the treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO). However, there is no generally accepted disease-specific questionnaire for assessing outcomes. METHODOLOGY We conducted a prospective study to initially validate a Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction Symptom Score questionnaire(NLDO-SS) and to evaluate the long-term success of EN-DCR procedures. Seventy-six patients (86 eyes) were evaluated in follow-up visits at 1-8 years after EN-DCR. The patients completed the NLDO-SS questionnaire twice, first, at home and, second,after receiving information from the otorhinolaryngologist, during the visit. The surgical outcome was considered successful if the irrigation succeeded and if the patient symptoms were relieved as assessed with the NLDO-SS. RESULTS The diagnostic accuracy of the NLDO-SS was 84%, sensitivity 82%, specificity 85%, positive predictive value 58%, negative predictive value 95%, odds ratio 26, risk ratio 11 and usefulness index 0.55. Cronbachs alpha was 0.85, and the test-retest reliability coefficient was 0.87. The long-term success rate after EN-DCR was 79%. CONCLUSION The NLDO-SS iss a feasible clinical tool in assessing the success of EN-DCR. The success rate was found to decrease EN-DCR at long-term follow-up.

Evaluation of swallowing disorders in multiple sclerosis

Swallowing disorders are present in more than one-third of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Dysphagia in MS usually receives limited attention, maybe because of the unpredictability and variability of the disease among patients. Complications of dysphagia such as dehydration and aspiration pneumonia are a common cause of death and morbidity in late MS. For the effectiveness of swallowing rehabilitation in MS-related dysphagia we suggest that all MS patients should have a thorough evaluation of swallow ability.