Lidiane Maria de Brito Macedo Ferreira

Caracterização do zumbido em idosos e de possíveis transtornos relacionados

Population aging it is a current reality in Brazil and tinnitus appears as a very prevalent symptom, having a high impact on the quality of life of elderly patients. AIM: to evaluate and to characterize tinnitus in this group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A research questionnaire randomly given to 100 elderly patients in a tertiary hospital, asking about tinnitus characteristics, its impact on the life of the patient, and personal medical history. RESULTS: 61% of the participants were female, average age average was 69.53 years. The results associated with tinnitus features were: no-pulsatile 76%, continuous 54%, bilateral 57%, recent 62% and alone 83%;32,5% had emotional disorders, 31.8% had sleep disorders, 22.5% had difficulties concentration and 13.2% had social problems; 39% classified their tinnitus in moderate; 35% had intense tinnitus and 26% considered it a mild one: as to comorbidities: relation with neurotology symptoms and hypertension; as for associations with audiometry findings: descending, sensorineural and symmetrical curves prevailed. CONCLUSIONS: Tinnitus has a relevant impact on the lives of the elderly; there was no correlation between the level of hearing loss and the level of patient dissatisfaction caused by tinnitus; and presbycusis was the most common finding in the audiometric tests.

Characterization of tinnitus in the elderly and its possible related disorders

UNLABELLED Population aging it is a current reality in Brazil and tinnitus appears as a very prevalent symptom, having a high impact on the quality of life of elderly patients. AIM To evaluate and to characterize tinnitus in this group. MATERIALS AND METHODS A research questionnaire randomly given to 100 elderly patients in a tertiary hospital, asking about tinnitus characteristics, its impact on the life of the patient, and personal medical history. RESULTS 61% of the participants were female, average age average was 69.53 years. The results associated with tinnitus features were: no-pulsatile 76%, continuous 54%, bilateral 57%, recent 62% and alone 83%;32,5% had emotional disorders, 31.8% had sleep disorders, 22.5% had difficulties concentration and 13.2% had social problems; 39% classified their tinnitus in moderate; 35% had intense tinnitus and 26% considered it a mild one: as to comorbidities: relation with neurotology symptoms and hypertension; as for associations with audiometry findings: descending, sensorineural and symmetrical curves prevailed. CONCLUSIONS Tinnitus has a relevant impact on the lives of the elderly; there was no correlation between the level of hearing loss and the level of patient dissatisfaction caused by tinnitus; and presbycusis was the most common finding in the audiometric tests.

Endoscopic surgery of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma

UNLABELLED Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is a vascular benign tumor that affects young men, and surgery is the treatment of choice. Endoscopic surgery has been used to excise tumors in their initial stages, when there is no evidence of residual or recurrent disease. AIM The aim of this study is to evaluate the endoscopic approach preceded by tumor embolization as treatment option for stages II to III angiofibroma. Treatment morbidity was evaluated through: surgery duration, hospital stay after surgery, the need for blood transfusion, complications, the time span between preoperative embolization and surgery, and tumor recurrence. METHODS A prospective study was carried out with nine patients treated at the Fortaleza General Hospital SESA/SUS from October 2001 through November 2004. CONCLUSION Based on the results, we may conclude that the endoscopic approach, when preceded by embolization, is effective to treat angiofibromas in their initial stages, with reduced postoperative morbidity.

Ressecção endoscópica de nasoangiofibroma

O nasoangiofibroma e um tumor benigno com componente vascular que acomete homens jovens, e tem como principal tratamento a cirurgia. Tem sido descrita a utilizacao de cirurgia endoscopica para a resseccao de tumores em estadios iniciais, sem evidencia de permanencia de restos tumorais ou recidiva da doenca. OBJETIVO: Este estudo tem o objetivo de avaliar a via endoscopica precedida pela embolizacao como meio de tratamento para nasoangiofibroma em estadios II, e um caso selecionado em estadio III, com avaliacao da morbidade pos-operatoria a partir das seguintes variaveis: tempo cirurgico, tempo de internamento pos-operatorio, necessidade de transfusao sanguinea, presenca de complicacoes, tempo entre embolizacao e cirurgia e presenca de recidiva tumoral. MATERIAIS E METODOS: Foi realizado em estudo prospectivo, a partir de nove pacientes internados no Hospital Geral de Fortaleza SESA/SUS no periodo de outubro de 2001 a novembro de 2004. CONCLUSAO: Pelos dados obtidos, concluiu-se que a via endoscopica, quando precedida pela embolizacao tumoral, e uma via eficaz no tratamento de nasoangiofibromas em estadios iniciais, com reduzida morbidade pos-operatoria.

Rare nasosinusal tumors: case series and literature review

Tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses are unusual pathologies found in clinical practice. Approximately 0.8% of all human cancers are located in this area. Despite being rare, nasosinusal neoplasms usually manifest through nonspecific symptoms that are common to numerous inflammatory pathologies. The aim of this study is to describe a series of rare nasosinusal tumors, including esthesioneuroblastomas, central giant cell granulomas, extramedullary plasmocytomas, nasosinusal hemangiopericytomas, neurofibromas and cemento-ossifying fibromas, diagnosed at the Fortaleza General Hospital. We, hereby, briefly review each of the aforementioned pathologies, stressing the need for a precise histological diagnosis for proper treatment in each case.

Tumores nasossinusais raros: série de casos e revisão de literatura

Tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses are unusual pathologies found in clinical practice. Approximately 0.8% of all human cancers are located in this area. Despite being rare, nasosinusal neoplasms usually manifest through nonspecific symptoms that are common to numerous inflammatory pathologies. The aim of this study is to describe a series of rare nasosinusal tumors, including esthesioneuroblastomas, central giant cell granulomas, extramedullary plasmocytomas, nasosinusal hemangiopericytomas, neurofibromas and cemento-ossifying fibromas, diagnosed at the Fortaleza General Hospital. We, hereby, briefly review each of the aforementioned pathologies, stressing the need for a precise histological diagnosis for proper treatment in each case.

Effects of balance Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy in elderly with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate short-term effects of balance Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) on balance, dizziness symptoms and quality of life of the elderly with chronic Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). Method: In this randomized, single-blind and controlled trial, older adults with chronic BPPV were randomized into two groups, the experimental group (n = 7, age: 69 (65–78) years) and the control group (n = 7, age: 73 (65–76) years). Patients in the experimental group underwent balance VRT (50 min per session, two times a week) and Canalith Repositioning Maneuver (CRM) as required, for 13 weeks. The control group was treated using only CRM as required. Standing and dynamic balance, dizziness symptoms and quality of life were measured at the baseline, and at one, five, nine and thirteen weeks. Results: There were no between-group differences in dizziness, quality of life and standing balance over the 13 weeks. Significant differences were observed in dynamic balance measures between groups (p <  0.05 for most tests) through assessments. In intragroup analysis, both groups showed improvements in all measurements except no improvement was found in majority of the dynamic balance tests in the control group. Conclusions: The patients who received additional balance VRT demonstrated better results in dynamic balance than those who received only CRM. Implications for Rehabilitation The findings that balance VRT in addition to CRM improves dynamic balance in elderly people with BPPV should be useful in guiding rehabilitation professionals’ clinical decision making to design interventions for seniors suffering from BPPV; Improvements in tests of dynamic balance suggest that the risk of adverse consequences of BPPV in the elderly such as falls and fractures can be potentially reduced through implementation of CRM in conjunction with balance VRT; Lack of additional improvement in Visual Analogue Scale of dizziness and Dizziness Handicap Index suggests that addition of balance VRT does not influence dizziness symptomatology, per se, and CRM alone is effective to ameliorate vertiginous symptoms and potentially improve quality of life.

Functional decline in nursing home residents: A prognostic study

Aim To verify the probability of maintaining functional capacity in basic activities of daily living and identify the prognostic factors of functional decline in institutionalized older adults. Methods A longitudinal study is presented herein, with 5 waves every 6 months, throughout 2 years (2013–2015), conducted with individuals ≥60 years old in 10 nursing homes in the city of Natal-RN (Brazil). Functional capacity was assessed by the items ‘eating’, ‘personal hygiene’, ‘dressing’, ‘bathing’, ‘transferring’, ‘toileting’ and ‘walking’, through a 5-item Likert scale. Sociodemographic, institution-related and health-related variables were considered to establish the baseline. Time dependent variables included continence decline, cognitive decline, increase in the number of medication, and incidences of falls, hospitalizations and fractures. The actuarial method, the log-rank test and Coxs regression were applied as statistical methods. Results The cumulative probability of functional maintenance was 78.2% (CI 95%: 72.8–82.7%), 65.1% (CI 95%: 58.9–70.5%), 53.5% (CI 95%: 47.2–59.5%) and 44.0% (CI 95%: 37.7–50.2%) at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months, respectively. Predicting factors for functional decline were: severe cognitive impairment (HR = 1.96; p = 0.001), continence decline (HR = 1.85; p = 0.002) and incidence of hospitalizations (HR = 1.62; p = 0.020), adjusted by the incidence of depression, age, education level, presence of chronic diseases and low weight. Conclusions The cumulative probability of maintaining functional capacity in institutionalized older adults was only 44% at the 2-year follow-up. Prognostic factors for functional decline included severe cognitive impairment, continence decline and incidence of hospitalizations.

Histiocytosis X of the temporal bone

Langerhans’ cell histiocytosis (LCH) is characterized by monocytic-macrophagic system cell proliferation. The peak incidence period is between ages 1 and 4. The annual incidence is approximately 3-4 per million, and the disease is twice as common in the male gender. The clinical picture is variable, but the disease usually affects the head and neck (60% of cases), including bone lesions, cervical lymphnode enlargement and skin rashes. Temporal bone involvement and otoneurological symptoms are seen in 4 to 25% of cases. The diagnosis is obtained through a biopsy (inflammatory infiltrate with Langerhans’ cells and the immunohistochemical markers CD1a, S100 and CD101). Lytic lesions in the temporal bone, seen on computed tomography, increase suspicion of the disease. Treatment is variable and depends on the type of lesion. The disease may remit spontaneously or cause death regardless of treatment.

“Positive to Negative” Dix-Hallpike test and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo recurrence in elderly undergoing Canalith Repositioning Maneuver and Vestibular Rehabilitation

Introduction Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is the most common cause of dizziness in elderly people. Recent studies have shown that the elderly present higher Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo recurrence and that vertiginous symptomatology remission varies according to comorbidities and the therapeutic techniques applied. Objective To assess the short-term effectiveness of Vestibular Rehabilitation in addition to Canalith Repositioning Maneuver on positive to negative Dix-Hallpike test, on recurrence and number of maneuvers to achieve a negative test in elderly patients with chronic Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, 7 older adults (median age: 69 years, range 65–78) underwent Canalith Repositioning Maneuver and Vestibular Rehabilitation for thirteen weeks. Seven older adults (median age: 73 years, range 65–76) in the control group received only Canalith Repositioning Maneuver. The participants were assessed at baseline (T0), one (T1), five (T5), nine (T9), and thirteen weeks (T13). We assessed the differences between the groups by Mann-Whitney and Fisher exact tests, and used the Friedman and Wilcoxon tests to determine the intragroup differences. Results No significant differences were found between groups for the positive to negative Dix-Hallpike test, recurrence, and number of maneuvers to achieve a negative test. The number of maneuvers to achieve negative Dix-Hallpike test was lower in intragroup comparisons in the experimental group. Conclusion The findings suggest that additional Vestibular Rehabilitation did not influence the positive to negative Dix-Hallpike test, recurrence, or number of maneuvers to achieve a negative test in elderly patients with chronic Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.