N. Laurian

Elongated styloid process syndrome: Intraoral versus external approach for styloid surgery

Elongnted styloid process is a source of craniofacial and cervical pain. This condition is characterized by a dull, nagging, pharyngeal pain and a palpatory finding in the tonsillar fossa. Radiologic demonstration of styloid elongation is readily made in most instances. The incidence and pathogenesis of the styloid syndrome are discussed and the differential diagnosis detailed. The only effective treatment is surgical shortening of the styloid process. Eight patients undergoing surgery for elongated styloids are reported and the intraoral and external surgical approaches are presented. The external cervical approach is preferred since surgical visualization is optimal and the risk of deep cervical infection is minimal.

Adolescent versus adult thyroid carcinoma

Several significant differences exist between adolescent and adult thyroid carcinoma. The incidence of malignancy in nodular goiter is higher in children than it is in adults. Thyroid cancer in childhood and adolescence has a slightly lower predilection for female than for male subjects, as compared to adult patients. The younger patients have a predominance of well‐differentiated carcinomas which are more likely to be papillary. The lesions in the young age group tend to be more advanced locally and systemically at the time of diagnosis, but are associated with a much better prognosis. Previous irradiation to the head and neck is considered to be an important pathogenetic factor of thyroid carcinoma in children as well as in adults. The epidemiological, clinical, pathological, and surgical findings in eight patients with thyroid carcinoma younger than 20 years compared to the findings in 96 patients with the same disease older than 20 years are reported.

Laryngeal carcinoma in childhood. Report of a case and review of the literature.

A rare cose of an 8½ year old boy with a stage III well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, which responded to chemotherapy and irradiation, is reported. It is the 56th cose in children up to 15 years of age and the 20th case in children 10 years old or younger reported since 1868.

Elongated styloid process syndrome masquerading as pain of dental origin.

An elongated styloid process may be a source of craniofacial and cervical pain. This condition is characterized by a dull, nagging, pharyngeal pain and a palpatory finding in the tonsillar fossa. Sometimes the pain is localized, or radiates to the jaw and ear and may simulate pain of dental origin. Radiographic demonstration of styloid elongation is readily made in most instances. The only effective treatment is surgical shortening of the styloid process. Eight patients undergoing surgery for elongated styloids are reported. Six were previously treated under an incorrect diagnosis such as oral, dental or temporomandibular disease, and subsequently mostly inappropriate dental treatments and exodontia were performed. An evaluation of the intraoral versus the external approach is presented. The few and isolated reported cases of stylalgia masquerading as dental pain and the ensuing mistreatment warranted the writing of this paper.

Bifid condyle of the mandible with associated polythelia and manual anomalies

Syndromes of oro-mandibular-skeletal anomalies are confusing by their ambiguous and overlapping components. It is our purpose to bring attention to a case comprising a group of anomalies: bifid mandibular condyle, asymmetric contralateral ascending ramus of the mandible, supernumerary nipples (polythelia), supernumerary-rudimentary postaxial sixth fingers and clinodactyly. The associated malformations presented do not correspond to any previous report. The case may therefore represent a new malformation syndrome.

Otolaryngologic cases of Munchausen's syndrome.

Münchausen syndrome (MS) is now a well recognized and demonstrated entity. This syndrome is characterized by patients who seek hospitalization and present factitious but usually well‐rehearsed histories and symptoms.

Histologic findings in a larynx reconstructed by a nasoseptal autograft after partial laryngectomy

In the course of a 5‐year follow‐up of 16 patients who underwent plastic reconstruction of the larynx by a nasoseptal graft after extended frontal and frontolateral laryngectomies, one of them developed local recurrence of squamous cell carcinoma and was totally laryngectomized.

New clinical applications of the stapedial reflex

Stapedial reflex data were obtained from 11 myasthenic, 18 hyperthyroid and six hypothyroid patients. Data were studied with respect to reflex threshold, amplitude and decay. Elevated threshold, decreased amplitude, and high and low frequency reflex decay were observed in myasthenic and hyperthyroid patients. Hypothyroidism merely increases stapedial reflex amplitude but causes no significant threshold or decay changes.