J. Constantinidis

PRIMARY LARYNGEAL LYMPHOMA: REPORT OF 3 CASES AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Extranodal lymphomas limited to the larynx are rare, accounting for less than 1% of all laryngeal neoplasms. The aim of this study was to report the experience of our department in the management of these aggressive lesions, as they require special diagnostic and therapeutic attention.

Classic (Mediterranean) Kaposi's sarcoma of the true vocal cord: a case report and review of the literature.

Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is a rare subcutaneous lesion linked mainly with patients suffering from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The aim of the present study is to present the first documented case of classic Kaposi’s sarcoma (CKS) located in the right true vocal cord. A 62 year old male presented with cough and hoarseness for 2 months. Clinical examination revealed a nodule on the right vocal cord. The patient underwent surgery and the lesion was removed and biopsied. The histopathology report showed that the lesion was KS but with no complete removal of the lesion, since the surgical margins of the nodule were not healthy. The patient, although fully informed, refused any further treatment. Further laboratory tests were performed, revealing an HIV-negative immunodeficiency profile. Although (Mediterranean) CKS is not an aggressive malignancy, surgery with complete removal of the affected area is indicated when it is applicable. Moreover, conservative treatment and follow up of the patient is essential in order to prevent relapse or other primary lesions.

Long term effects of olfactory training in patients with post-infectious olfactory loss.

BACKGROUND There is evidence of the effectiveness of repeated exposure to odours on short-term olfactory function. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term effects of olfactory training. METHODS We conducted a prospective study of 111 patients with post-infectious olfactory dysfunction. Two groups of patients performed olfactory training for 16 and 56 weeks, respectively, and were compared with a control group. The training was performed twice daily using four odours (phenyl ethyl alcohol, eucalyptol, citronellal, eugenol). Olfactory testing was performed by means of the Sniffin Sticks test as a baseline assessment and then every 8 weeks for 56 weeks. Subjective ratings were performed using a visual analogue scale (0-100). RESULTS Both training groups presented significantly higher scores than the controls. The long-term group had better results than the short-term group. Short-term training patients sustained their improvement within the follow-up period. Subsets analysis showed that training patients mainly increased identification and discrimination. Subjective ratings were in accordance with the olfactory test results. CONCLUSION Long-term olfactory training seems to be associated with better results in patients with post-infectious olfactory loss than a short-term scheme. Short-term training provides sustainable results at 56 weeks follow-up assessment.