Thomas L. Kennedy

Cystic hygroma-lymphangioma: a rare and still unclear entity.

Hygroma cysticum coli or cystic hygroma remains a complex entity in terms of its development and management. Most recently, cystic hygroma has been categorized as part of a larger spectrum that includes lymphangiomas. The majority of lymph‐angiomas occur in the head and neck as cystic hygromas with the posterior cervical region as the most common site. Since its original description, there have been many attempts at treatment modalities: Surgical excision remains the treatment of choice.

Overexpression of phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappa B in tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma and high-grade dysplasia is associated with poor prognosis

Intracellular signals along the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)–Akt–nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway have been associated with carcinogenesis in various malignant neoplasms. This investigation was to evaluate the expression of EGFR, phosphorylated(p)-Akt and p-NF-κB and correlate them with clinical outcomes in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil. A total of 45 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil were studied by immunohistochemistry to evaluate the expression levels of EGFR, p-Akt and p-NF-κB. Results for squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil were compared with those for associated high-grade dysplasia and adjacent normal appearing epithelium, when present. In addition, tonsillar epithelium from non-neoplastic specimens of age-matched patients also was stained for the same markers. High-grade dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil demonstrated a similar pattern of expression, which differed from the pattern seen in the adjacent normal epithelium and tonsillar epithelium from normal controls (an overexpression for each of these three protein analytes in high-grade dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry). When markers from squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil were correlated with survival status, only increasing levels of p-NF-κB immunoreactivity (a relative overexpression) were statistically significant predictors of poor survival. No markers in squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil were significantly related to rate of recurrence. When analyzing marker scores from tissue with high-grade dysplasia, relative overexpressions of both p-Akt and p-NF-κB were significantly related to poor survival. Additionally, increasing levels of p-NF-κB immunopositivity from tissue with high-grade dysplasia were also significantly related to rate of recurrence. In summary, p-NF-κB, overexpressed in high-grade dysplasia and squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil, is associated with worse prognosis in terms of high recurrence and poor survival, respectively. This significant finding in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil, in combination with previous animal and in vitro studies, suggests that p-NF-κB represents a potential therapeutic target in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Surgical Management of Localized Amyloidosis

Objective To demonstrate the role of two‐dimensional reconstruction images on computed tomography (CT) in the treatment planning for laryngeal amyloidosis. To discuss the treatment for isolated laryngeal amyloidosis and compare the role of endoscopic versus an open surgical approach to management.

Nasal and sinus symptoms and chronic rhinosinusitis in a population-based sample.

The objective of this study was to describe the first US‐based study to use the European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis (EPOS) criteria to study the prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in a general‐population sample.

Five-year risk of incident disease following a diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has a broad range of comorbidities. Due to a lack of longitudinal studies, it is not known whether these comorbidities cause CRS, are promoted by CRS, or share a systemic disease process with CRS.

Lingual Thyroid Carcinoma With Nodal Metastasis

Objectives: To discuss treatment options and surgical management of lingual thyroid carcinoma with cervical metastasis.

Occupational and environmental risk factors for chronic rhinosinusitis: a systematic review

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a prevalent and disabling paranasal sinus disease, with a likely multifactorial etiology potentially including hazardous occupational and environmental exposures. We completed a systematic review of the occupational and environmental literature to evaluate the quality of evidence of the role that hazardous exposures might play in CRS.

Non-nodal neck masses

Planar imaging has made significant contributions to the evaluation of patients with non-nodal neck masses. The clinical history, physical examination, and imaging characteristics of these lesions are often complimentary. Yet, planar imaging much more accurately defines the size, location, and extent of these lesions than is revealed on physical examination. The CT and MR characteristics are often sufficiently specific to arrive at the correct preoperative diagnosis in these patients. We present the classical radiographic and clinical features of several non-nodal neck masses.

Outdoor grilling hazard: Wire bristle esophageal foreign body—a report of six cases

Esophageal foreign bodies are frequently encountered, with coin ingestion the most common in the pediatric population and fish bone ingestion the most common in the adult population worldwide. Many people cook with outdoor grills and use wire brushes to clean them. We present the largest case series with six adult cases involving ingestion of wire brush bristles from food prepared on outdoor grilling surfaces. The occurrence of six cases within a small geographic area over a relatively brief time span raises important safety concerns and warrants attention to prevent serious complications.

Middle ear effusions and the nitrous oxide myth.

Myringotomies were performed on 75 ears suspected of having chronic or recurrent otitis media with effusion. Preanesthesia and intraoperative tympanograms with halothane, nitrous oxide, and oxygen anesthesia were compared for possible changes in middle ear pressure due to anesthesia. In addition, preanesthesia tympanograms were compared with tympanograms taken 2 weeks before hospital outpatient surgery. Tympanograms of 11 ears were found to shift from a flat type recorded at the office visit to normal range at pre and postinduction anesthesia. Middle ear fluid was not present in any of these 11 ears. The remaining 64 ears were broken down into three abnormal tympanogram configurations; flat, roll‐over, and peaked negative pressure types. Comparing the tympanograms done in the office, preanesthesia and intraoperatively, only one of the 64 ears showed a change after induction of anesthesia. Three of the 64 ears revealed an unpredictable result with negative myringotomies. These results tend to support tympanometry as a means in predicting myringotomy findings, and also refute the contention that short‐term nitrous oxide anesthesia changes the middle ear effusion during myringotomy.