Scott C. Manning

Further evidence for allergic pathophysiology in allergic fungal sinusitis

Controversy continues over whether allergic fungal sinusitis represents a true allergy, an infection, or a point somewhere along a spectrum between allergy and infection. The present study describes two experiments that add weight to the argument that allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) is truly an immunologically mediated hypersensitivity and not a form of infection. In the first experiment, eight patients with Bipolaris culture‐positive AFS were prospectively evaluated with Bipolaris antigen skin testing and with inhibition radioallergosorbent (RAST) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Bipolaris‐specific IgE and IgG antibodies. The Bipolaris AFS cases were compared with 10 control patients with no history of AFS. All eight AFS cases demonstrated positive skin testing to Bipolaris and in addition, all tested positive by RAST and ELISA for IgE and IgG Bipolaris antibodies, respectively. In the control group one patient had a positive skin test, ELISA, and RAST and one additional patient had a positive ELISA only. Good correlation was noted between skin test, RAST, and ELISA results. In the second experiment, sinus mucosa from 14 AFS patients and 10 control patients with other forms of surgical sinus disease was analyzed by immunohistocytochemistry for the eosinophilic inflammatory mediators major basic protein (MBP) and eosinophil derived neurotoxin (EDN) and the neutrophil mediator neutrophil elastase. All AFS cases demonstrated evidence of eosinophilic mediator release, and MBP and EDN predominated over neutrophil elastase. In the control group eosinophil and neutrophil mediator release in sinus mucosa was equal. The two experiments support the concept that AFS is an antigen‐triggered, IgE‐ and IgG‐mediated hypersensitivity response with a late‐phase inflammatory reaction involving release of eosinophilic mediators. Laryngoscope, 108:1485–1496, 1998

Congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis.

Congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis is an unusual and previously undescribed cause of nasal airway obstruction in the newborn. The nasal pyriform aperture is narrowed due to bony overgrowth of the nasal process of the maxilla. This anomaly may produce signs and symptoms of nasal airway obstruction in newborns and infants similar to those seen in bilateral posterior choanal atresia. Computed tomography confirms the diagnosis and delineates the anomaly. A series of six patients with nasal pyriform aperture stenosis is presented. Four patients were treated with surgical enlargement of the nasal pyriform aperture via a sublabial approach. One patient was repaired via a transnasal approach, and one patient did not undergo surgical intervention. Follow‐up reveals normal nasal airway and facial growth in all patients. Mildly symptomatic patients with congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis may be treated expectantly, while severely symptomatic patients benefit from repair via the sublabial approach.

Endoscopic paranasal sinus surgery: Indications and considerations

Recently, American otolaryngologists have become increasingly interested in endoscopic paranasal sinus surgery. This trend has been beneficial, because it has enhanced the understanding of the anatomy and pathophysiology of the sinuses. However, as with the introduction of any new surgical technique, it takes both time and experience to acquire the skills necessary to perform this procedure. To evaluate the state of endoscopic sinus surgery, we analyzed the experience of one of the authors with 100 consecutive patients undergoing therapeutic endoscopic sinus surgery over 23 months. With an average follow‐up of 5 months (range: less than 1 month to 20 months), 14 patients had minor complications. The most common complication was synechia between the middle turbinate and the lateral nasal wall (six patients), resulting in revision surgery in four patients. Eighty‐three patients were judged as having significantly improved after surgery, while ten were improved but had one episode of sinusitis postoperatively. The results of this series suggest that endoscopic paranasal sinus surgery is an efficacious advance in the treatment of sinusitis, given the limitations discussed in this report.

Computed tomography and magnetic resonance diagnosis of allergic fungal sinusitis

The objective of this study was to describe CT and MR findings in patients with allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS). CT and MR images were examined from 10 patients with histologically proven AFS. All patients demonstrated CT evidence of central sinus high attenuation and T2‐weighted MR signal void corresponding to surgically proven areas of thick inspissated allergic mucin. AFS is a distinct clinical entity with a highly specific radiographic appearance based on CT and MRI.

Choanal atresia : a new anatomic classification and clinical management applications

The anatomic classification of choanal atresia is commonly quoted as 90% bony and 10% membranous. This incidence is from a review by Fraser in 1910 of 115 cases, “many of which were insufficiently described.” We have reviewed 47 computed tomography scans of choanal atresia from the literature and 16 from our clinical experience, and classified the anatomy as bony, mixed bony‐membranous, or pure membranous. Our results reveal a combined incidence of 18 (29%) pure bony, 45 (71%) mixed bony‐membranous, and no pure membranous atresia. We propose a new classification of choanal atresia to include bony, mixed, and membranous to accurately reflect the anatomic abnormalities. Our series of 11 patients under‐going transnasal microsurgical repair, a critical review of the literature, and the implications of the anatomic classification on the choice of surgical procedure are presented.

Evidence of ige-mediated hypersensitivity in allergic fungal sinusitis†

Despite documentation of specific immunologic hypersensitivity in a few case reports, controversy continues as to the role of allergy versus true infection in the clinical entity of allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS). Using a modified radioallergosorbent test (RAST) to multiple fungal antigens, 16 patients meeting the histologic criteria of AFS and with positive fungal cultures were compared to 5 control patients with similar preoperative clinical findings but without histologic or culture evidence of AFS. All patients were immunocompetent and none demonstrated histologic evidence of tissue invasion. All AFS patients were RAST-positive to at least one fungal antigen in the family of their cultured organism with positive defined as class 2 or greater. No control patient was RAST-positive to either dematiaceous or Aspergillus fungal antigens. Thus, modified RAST testing can aid in the routine clinical diagnosis of AFS, and it provides further serologic evidence for a type I hypersensitivity in the pathogenesis of AFS.

Management of lymphatic malformations.

Purpose of reviewInnovative otolaryngologists, plastic surgeons, craniofacial surgeons, pediatric surgeons, radiologists, anesthesiologists, neonatologists, obstetricians, and scientists have continued to advance our understanding of the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of lymphatic malformations. This article reviews the publications over the past 2 years with respect to these advances. Recent findingsFast-sequence MRI limits motion artifacts and allows prenatal MR to be used as a complementary study to ultrasound in the evaluation of large congenital neck masses. Three-dimensional ultrasonography may also be helpful in evaluating prenatal lymphatic malformations. Fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques can be used to evaluate lymphatic malformations for prenatal chromosomal analysis with emphasis on chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y. The sclerosing agent OK-432 is effective for macrocystic lymphatic malformations but showed less promise for microcystic lesions, mixed lesions, and lesions outside the head and neck region. Somnoplasty shows promise for reduction of tongue lymphatic malformations. Surgical excision, staged when necessary, continues to be integral to management in many cases. SummaryBasic science research has furthered understanding of lymphatic malformations. Clinical research has expanded and refined our diagnostic and therapeutic options for patients with these lesions. Further identification of genes selectively expressed by lymphatic endothelium should facilitate identification of usable vascular markers that can enable analysis of the underlying biology, physiology, pathology, and treatment of the lymphatic system and its malformations.

Lymphatic malformations: Review of current treatment:

Objective: Summarize current knowledge of lymphatic malformation medical, sclerotherapy, and surgical treatment; and highlight areas of treatment controversy and treatment difficulty that need improvement. Methods: Panel presentation of various aspects of lymphatic malformation treatment. Results: The mainstay of lymphatic malformation treatment has been surgical resection, which has been refined through lesion staging and radiographic characterization. Intralesional sclerotherapy in macrocystic lymphatic malformations is effective. Suprahyoid microcystic lymphatic malformations are more difficult to treat than macrocystic lymphatic malformations in the infrahyoid and posterior cervical regions. Bilateral suprahyoid lymphatic malformations require staged treatment to prevent complications. Lymphatic malformation treatment planning is primarily determined by the presence or possibility of functional compromise. Problematic areas include chronic lymphatic malformation inflammation, dental health maintenance, macroglossia, airway obstruction, and dental malocclusion. Conclusions: Lymphatic malformation treatment improvements have been made through radiographic characterization and staging of lymphatic malformations. Direct malformation involvement of the upper aerodigestive tract can cause significant functional compromise that is difficult to treat.

Blindness Resulting from Orbital Complications of Sinusitis

Loss of vision remains a potential complication of orbital infection. Appropriate evaluation and management of the patient with signs and symptoms of orbital inflammation may prevent progression to blindness. Evaluation of patients with orbital inflammation from sinusitis includes a comprehensive clinical examination and radiographic studies. Clinical examination should test for changes in visual acuity, pupillary reactivity, and extraocular motion. Computerized tomography (CT) has facilitated the diagnosis of orbital infections and aids in diagnosis. However, CT can be misleading in patients with acute orbital infections and should not be relied on to determine the need for surgical intervention. We reviewed the records of all patients admitted to Parkland Memorial Hospital from 1978 to 1988 with orbital complications resulting from sinusitis. Four of 159 patients in this group had permanent blindness. The presence of an abscess, which was ultimately found at surgical exploration, was not diagnosed by CT in any of these four patients. Clinical examination remains the most important indicator for surgical intervention in patients with orbital complications of sinusitis. We present our findings and give guidelines for surgical intervention in patients with orbital infections resulting from sinusitis.

Geographic variation in allergic fungal rhinosinusitis

Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) has a worldwide distribution. This survey of 20 otolaryngologic practices throughout the United States confirmed a variation in the frequency of AFRS relative to endoscopic sinus procedures performed for all other diagnoses. The highest incidence occurred in Memphis, Tennessee at 23%, with three other southern practices reporting a frequency of at least 10%. In the northern locations the frequency ranged from 0 to 4%. No correlation with mould counts was demonstrated, possibly because of incomplete mould data relative to most of the surgical locations.