Stéphanie Collet

Genetic evidence for a role of IL33 in nasal polyposis

To cite this article: Buysschaert ID, Grulois V, Eloy P, Jorissen M, Rombaux P, Bertrand B, Collet S, Bobic S, Vlaminck S, Hellings PW, Lambrechts D. Genetic evidence for a role of IL33 in nasal polyposis. Allergy 2010; 65: 616–622.

The silent sinus syndrome

Silent sinus syndrome is a rare clinical entity typically characterized by spontaneous and progressive enophthalmos and hypoglobus caused by an alteration of the normal orbital architecture and function from maxillary collapse in the setting of the chronic maxillary sinus hypoventilation. The authors report an unusual case revealed by mild dental pain, present the imaging (before, during and after the development of the disease), discuss the different theories related to pathogenesis and comment the treatment.

Pediatric endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy

Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) in children is indicated in cases of common congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) unresponsive to medical therapy, probing or intubation. The purpose of this manuscript is to evaluate the effectiveness of endonasal endoscopic pediatric DCR. The authors present a series of eight children (seven boys and one girl) who underwent a pediatric endonasal DCR between September 2007 and December 2008. The mean age was: 4.3 years (range: 8 months to 9 years old). Three children had a craniofacial abnormality. There were ten primary DCRs and one revision DCR. In nine cases, the indication was a pure primary low mechanical obstruction persistent after one or more probings. In the 10th case there was also a stenosis of the inferior canaliculus diagnosed during the DCR. The revision DCR was indicated because of the closure of the stoma created 3 years ago. A silicone intubation was put in place only in two cases: in case of a stenosis of the inferior canaliculus (3 months) and the other in case of revision DCR (1 month). The follow-up for primary DCRs was 10.5 months (range: 6-15) and for revision surgery 6 months (after the retrieve of the stent). In primary DCRs, there was a complete resolution of symptoms in nine out of 10 cases. The 10th case experienced a transient slight epiphora during a viral rhinitis. In case of revision DCR, the child was free of symptoms. In conclusion pediatric DCR is a very effective and safe procedure for the treatment of a low mechanical obstruction of the lacrimal pathway in children unresponsive to previous probings. Stenosis of the inferior canaliculus can give some slight intermittent epiphora despite a wide and patent stoma. Moreover craniofacial abnormalities are more common in children than in adults undergoing a DCR.

Endonasal endoscopic resection of an ethmoidal solitary fibrous tumor

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is an uncommon spindle cell tumor that typically arises at the level of the pleura in adults. However, SFT has also been reported in various extrapleural sites including orbit, meninges, liver, lung, salivary glands, retroperitoneum, mediastinum. In the head and neck region, SFT has been documented in the external auditory canal, larynx, thyroid, sublingual gland, tongue, parapharyngeal space and the infratemporal fossa. The nose and the paranasal sinuses are a rare site for SFT with only 14 publications in the world literature. We present an additional case of a SFT arising at the level of the right ethmoid sinus successfully removed in one piece endoscopically and review the corresponding literature.

Taste disorders after tonsillectomy: case report and literature review.

The authors describe a case of dysgeusia that occurred during the recovery period after a tonsillectomy. The cause was thought to be a lesion to the lingual branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve because of the location of the symptoms at the posterior region of the buccal cavity and because of the raised electrogustometric thresholds in the posterior region of one half of the tongue. Clarification of this type of case was made by a review of the literature from 1966 to June 2004, carried out with the aid of Medline. From a medicolegal standpoint, it is important to inform the patient of the risk of dysgeusia after tonsillectomy, especially if that patient has a profession in which taste plays an essential role.

Non-sinonasal-related olfactory dysfunction: A cohort of 496 patients.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM There is a high prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in the general population. Several causes of olfactory dysfunction have been reported and this disorder is classically divided into sinonasal and non-sinonasal-related olfactory dysfunction. The aims of this study were firstly, to evaluate the frequency of the various aetiologies of olfactory dysfunction in a population of patients with non-sinonasal-related olfactory dysfunction and secondly, to evaluate the degree of olfactory impairment associated with these various aetiologies. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of 496 patients with non-sinonasal-related olfactory dysfunction. The aetiology of the olfactory dysfunction was recorded for each patient. The aetiology was determined by a complete clinical assessment, including medical history, complete otorhinolaryngological examination, psychophysical testing of olfactory function, recording of olfactory event-related potentials and brain magnetic resonance imaging. Six groups of patients were defined on the basis of the aetiology of the disease and orthonasal and retronasal psychophysical olfactory performances were evaluated in each group. RESULTS Post-infectious and post-traumatic aetiologies were the most common causes, representing 37.9% and 33.1% of patients, respectively, followed by idiopathic (16.3%), congenital (5.9%), toxic (3.4%) and neurological (3.4%) olfactory dysfunction. Anosmia was significantly more frequent in congenital (93.1%) and post-traumatic (62.8%) olfactory dysfunction, whereas hyposmia was more frequent in the post-infectious group (59.6%). Orthonasal and retronasal olfactory function tests were significantly correlated in all groups except for the congenital group. CONCLUSIONS The data of this study confirm that the most common causes of non-sinonasal-related olfactory dysfunction are post-infectious and post-traumatic. Post-infectious olfactory dysfunction is mainly observed in middle-aged women and is mainly associated with hyposmia, whereas post-traumatic olfactory dysfunction is mainly observed in young men and is associated with a high rate of anosmia.

Presence of olfactory event-related potentials predicts recovery in patients with olfactory loss following upper respiratory tract infection.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the course of olfactory dysfunction in patients with olfactory loss following infections of the upper respiratory tract.

French adaptation and validation of the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22: a prospective cohort study on quality of life among 422 subjects

ENT surgeons are facing an ever‐increasing demand to demonstrate their efficacy. The 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) is a fully validated and easy‐to‐use outcome measure in rhinology. Our goal was to translate and validate the SNOT‐22 in a cohort of 422 French‐speaking subjects.

A Pott's puffy tumour as a late complication of a frontal sinus reconstruction: case report and literature review.

A Potts Puffy Tumour (PPT) is a rare clinical entity, which, traditionally has been described as an acute abscess with periosteitis secondary to osteomyelitis of the external table of the frontal bone of the skull, complicating an acute frontal sinusitis. The aim of this article is to present a case of progressively evolving PPT, which emerged during the course of a common rhinitis, in a patient who, thirty years previously, had undergone a reconstruction of the frontal sinus involving osteosynthesis. The patient was treated with antibiotic therapy coupled with external access surgery using the Cairn Unterberger approach. This allowed the drainage of pus, the removal of infected osteosynthetic material and a complete debridement of osteomyelitic bone from the affected area. Frontal sinus obliteration was undertaken using methyl methacrylate, preferable in this case to hydroxyapatite, due to the direct communication with the neighbouring sinus cavities and the presence of defective bone in the superior orbit. A review of literature available on Medline up to January 2008 reveals that this is the third published case of PPT complicating a frontal reconstruction.

Occupational asthma caused by linseed oilcake

Linseed oil, extracted from the common flax seed (Linum usitatissimum, botanical family of Linaceae), has been used for centuries as an ingredient for paints, varnishes, wood preservatives, soaps, inks, and floor coverings. This vegetable oil is currently enjoying a revival as a source of renewable and biodegradable material in the production of lubricants and coatings. Furthermore, cold-pressed linseed oil is used for human consumption as a bakery additive, a bulk laxative, and a nutritional supplement because of its high content in omega-3 fatty acids. Linseed oilcake, the solid residue resulting from the extraction process, is suitable for cattle feed. The IgE-mediated anaphylactic reactions to linseed have occasionally been reported in relation to the ingestion of bulk laxatives (1, 2) and multigrain bread (3). In the early 1960s, occupational rhinitis and asthma caused by linseed had been documented through skin testing in seamen, dockers, and oil-processing plant workers in Marseilles, France (4). Herein, we describe an oleochemical plant worker who developed occupational rhinitis and asthma induced by the inhalation of linseed oilcake dust. A 33-year-old chemist experienced work-related rhino-conjunctivitis symptoms 30 months after starting employment in the research laboratory of a plant that producing new vegetable oil-based bio-polymers. The symptoms occurred electively when the subject went to the extraction department to collect samples of ground linseed oilcake to measure its protein content. Approximately 2 years later, he developed asthma symptoms that occurred most often at the end of his work shift or after having left the workplace. The subject had never smoked and did not report any personal history of atopic disease or food allergy. Skin prick tests were completed using increasing concentrations of a linseed extract prepared by stirring ground linseed oilcake in sterile saline solution for 1 h at room temperature. The resulting solution was passed through a 0.22-lm Millipore filter (Millipore Corp., Bedford, MA, USA). The 1 mg/ml solution of linseed elicited an immediate 5-mm skin reaction. Skin prick tests with raw and refined oils of linseed provided negative results, likewise with a battery of common inhalant allergens. The subject s serum exhibited a high level of specific IgE against linseed (>100 IU/ml) using the ImmunoCAP method (Phadia Diagnostics, Uppsala, Sweden). Specific inhalation challenges were performed 1 month after the subject had left his job because of his respiratory symptoms. Baseline spirometry showed a forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of 4.44 l (104% pred) and an FEV1/forced vital capacity ratio of 74%. A control challenge with lactose powder for 30 min did not induce any significant changes in FEV1 over the following 6 h (Fig. 1). At the end of this control day, the concentration of histamine causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20) was 14 mg/ml. The analysis of induced sputum showed a total cell count of 1.1 · 10 cells/ml with 1% eosinophils. On the next day, tipping linseed 1/1000 for 25 min resulted in a dual asthmatic reaction. Twenty-four A L L E R G Y 2 0 0 8 : 6 3 : 1 2 5 0 – 1 2 5 3 • a 2 0 0 8 T H E A U T H O R S • J O U R N A L C O M P I L AT I O N a 2 0 0 8 B L A C K W E L L M U N K S G A A R D • C O N T R I B U T I O N S T O T H I S S E C T I O N W I L L N O T U N D E R G O P E E R R E V I E W, B U T W I L L B E R E V I E W E D B Y T H E A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R S •