Benign solid and papillary epithelial tumors of the pancreas

The exact incidence of orbital complications due to sinusitis in children is unknown. However, a medial subperiosteal orbital abscess is the most common serious complication to occur. Surgical intervention is mandatory whenever antibiotic treatment fails. Most authors prefer open surgical procedures such as external ethmoidectomy, while others recommend transnasal endoscopic drainage as the first attempt at sinus decompression. Five out of 12 children with proven subperiosteal orbital abscess and sinusitis on computed tomographic scans failed antibiotic treatment and required surgical drainage. Transnasal endoscopic drainage of the abscess was performed on four patients, while one child underwent external ethmoidectomy. Our experience with endoscopic surgery in these four cases is discussed, along with a brief review of the advantage of this procedure over external surgery.     

Chronic sinusitis: characterization of cellular influx and inflammatory mediators in sinus lavage fluid

Chronic sinusitis is a recurrent disorder commonly found in atopic individuals, yet few studies have explored the role of inflammatory mediators in sinusitis. Sinus lavage fluid from ten patients with chronic sinusitis obtained during endoscopic surgery was analyzed for total cell counts and then assayed for histamine, immunoreactive leukotriene C4/D4/E4 (LTC4/D4/E4), and prostaglandin D2 (PGD2). All ten patients had been unresponsive to medical treatment, including oral corticosteroids in most cases. High concentrations of histamine, LTC4/D4/E4 and PGD2 were found in sinus fluid and were comparable to levels seen in nasal secretions of allergic rhinitis patients following allergen challenge. In the sinus fluid, inflammatory cells were predominantly neutrophils with only low percentages of mast cells, basophils or eosinophils. On the basis of the histamine and PGD2 concentrations in sinus fluid, we conclude that mast cell/basophil activation does occur in chronic sinusitis and may contribute to the persistent inflammation present in sinusitis.     

Update on sinonasal imaging: anatomy and inflammatory disease

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery, now the standard of care for surgical treatment of chronic and recurrent sinusitis, has changed current concepts of sinus health and disease. Interpretation of the CT scan must reflect this focus on anatomy and function. This article seeks to provide a clear understanding of sinonasal drainage. The normal frontal recess, ostiomeatal unit, and sphenoethmoid recess are considered along with the anatomic variations that distort their appearance and predispose the patient to developing sinus disease. The spectrum of uncomplicated and complicated sinonasal inflammatory disease is discussed.     

Diagnostic significance of CT in the orbital inflammatory lesions

OBJECTIVE: To analyze and summarize the CT signs of orbital inflammatory lesions. METHOD: HITACH-W, or EXEL 2400 pattern of CT was applied for the orbital scanning of 52 cases with orbital inflammatory lesions proved by clinicopathology. RESULTS: The CT signs of orbital inflammatory lesions in our series included exophthalmos, orbital mass, ill-marginated mass, multiple space involvement, extraocular muscle enlargement, scleral thickening, eyelid thickening, optic nerve thickening, orbital fat density increasing, lacrimal gland enlargement, sinusitis, subperiosteal abscess, ring-enhancement in masses, etc. CONCLUSION: All these findings on CT are of important significance for the diagnosis of orbital inflammatory lesions.     

Treatment of oroantral communications after tooth extraction. Is drainage into the nose necessary or not?

Seventy-six patients with oroantral communications after tooth extraction and chronic maxillary sinusitis were treated as follows: bacterial cultures were taken in all of them and maxillary sinuses were irrigated with an antibiotic from the cephalosporin group. Then, in 36 patients, drainage using the Caldwell Luc procedure was performed, including a naso-antral window. In all patients operations were completed by closing oroantral communications with flaps of the mucosa of the alveolar process close to the fistula. Antibiotics according to antibiogram were administered to all patients at least 10 days after surgery. Retrospective comparison between the results obtained in the first group and those in the second group 1, 3 and 6 months after operation was based on objective findings (condition of the oroantral communication, maxillary sinusitis), side effects (pain, numbness of the operated area, headache) and control radiographs (clear maxillary sinus or with mucosal thickening). The study suggests that transnasal drainage is not required in maxillary sinus surgery and in the closure of oroantral communications. Equally good results are achieved by treating with antibiotics and without drainage of the maxillary sinus into the nose.     

Humoral and cellular immune response to elastin in patients with systemic sclerosis

Fifty-six patients (age range, 15-79 yr, average, 37.0+/-18.5 yr), with a clinical and/or radiological diagnosis of acute maxillary sinusitis, were prospectively studied with ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT). The imaging finding which supported the diagnosis of acute sinusitis with US was the identification of the hyperechoic posterior antral wall through the hypoechoic inflammation. The findings were compared to CT (3 mm axial sections). The sensitivity of US for maxillary sinus disease was found to be 66.7% and the specificity was 94.9%, which were similar to the plain film ones (65.2 and 96.8%, respectively). The results of the present study suggest US as the method of first choice for acute sinusitis of the maxillary antra, particularly for children and pregnant women.     

Effects of functional endoscopic sinus surgery on maxillary sinus mucosa

OBJECTIVE: To compare the preoperative and postoperative changes on ciliary surface of maxillary sinus mucosa in patients treated with functional endoscopic sinus surgery. DESIGN: The maxillary mucosa of both the superolateral wall and the ostium were sampled during the operation and 6 to 12 months (mean duration, 7.6 months) after the operation. Ciliary surface was determined using scanning electron microscopy in combination with an image analyzer and was expressed in terms of ciliary area, which is the percentage of mucosal surface occupied by cilia. SETTING: The samples were taken at a hospital-based clinic. An electron microscopic study was performed at Mie University School of Medicine, Mie, Japan. PATIENTS: Sixteen patients (20 maxillary sinuses) undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery for treatment of chronic sinusitis. RESULTS: The mean (+/-SD) ciliary area before the surgery was 60.7%+/-28.8% and 39.9%+/-21.5% in the superolateral wall of the maxillary sinus and the ostium of the maxillary sinus, respectively. The ciliary area of the superolateral wall was significantly higher than that of the ostium (P<.001). The mean (+/-SD) postoperative ciliary area value was 74.3%+/-22.6% in the superolateral wall and 51.3%+/-16.1% in the ostium. These postoperative values were significantly higher than the preoperative values (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the maxillary sinus mucosa in chronic sinusitis is capable of regeneration, and the damaged ciliated epithelium could return toward normal with the improvement of ventilation and drainage of the maxillary sinus following functional endoscopic sinus surgery.     

Environmental Protection Agency risk assessment--process and toxicologic pathology

Although rare, orbital osteomyelitis secondary to sinusitis can be devastating. Early, aggressive ophthalmologic surgical intervention, as well as otorhinolaryngologic co-management, is necessary to obtain the best outcomes. We present two cases of orbital osteomyelitis. One patient remained infected with Pseudomonas meningitis even after extensive sinus and orbital surgery, rapidly declined, and is now deceased. The other patient, after multiple sinus procedures and a medial orbitotomy, was placed on hyperbaric oxygen and is still undergoing treatment.     

Good results of endoscopic paranasal sinus surgery for chronic or recurrent sinusitis and for nasal polyps

Endoscopic sinus surgery is being applied increasingly for chronic or recurrent sinusitis and nasal polyps. We investigated the results, which we classified as subjective results (i.e. the opinion of the patient) and objective results (i.e. the result as seen with nasal endoscopy). The subjective result was 'good' in 85% of 92 patients with chronic or recurrent sinusitis, the objective result in 77% of the treated sides, with a median follow-up of 46 months. In 90 patients with nasal polyps the percentages were 90% and 65% respectively, with a follow-up of 24 months. In 63% of 30 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease and nasal polyps the pulmonary function increased postoperatively (FEV1). In 4.2% of 1235 operated sides in 593 patients local complications were seen. These were mainly minor complications. Only in 0.3% serious complications as a orbital hematoma or a CSF leak were seen. Endoscopic sinus surgery has good results and little morbidity.     

Neonatal lupus erythematosus occurring in identical twins

Cranial epidural abscesses are unusual in neurosurgical practice. Mostly they are secondary to skull bone osteomyelitis of foreign body implantation as a result of trauma, or infection of paranasal sinus, otitis, and mastoiditis in adults or late adolescents. The purulent inflammatory process of the epidural abscess, thrombophlebitis of the venous drainage, septic thrombosis, direct extension into the orbit, carvenous sinus, superior orbital fissure give the epidural abscess a high mortality and morbidity. We present an interesting case, who has had psychiatric symptoms such as bizarre behavior, auditory and visual hallucination for about two years. Incidental brain computed tomograms, to exclude the organic-somatic disorder, revealed a huge brain abscess. Emergent surgical intervention was carried out and the episodes of talking to himself and auditory hallucination subsided. The removal of the epidural abscess eliminated the symptoms and cured the patient. All the right amygdata, entorhinal area, cingulate gyrus, hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus of this patient were compressed by the huge abscess. All these structures belonged to limbic system. Diseases involving the limb system may cause emotional disturbances, such as delusions, illusions and hallucinations, emotional lability, pathological laughing and crying, rage reaction and aggression, apathy and placidity, even endogenous fear, anxiety, depression and euphoria. Dramatic improvement of the patient was found after surgical removal of the abscess. We highlight this interesting case for it will undoubtedly bring together a large cooperation of psychiatrists, neurologists and neurosurgeons.     

Orbital rhinocerebral mucormycosis associated with diabetic ketoacidosis: report of survival of a 10-year-old boy

Cerebral mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection that occurs mostly in association with diabetic ketoacidosis. This central nervous system infection is characterized by a rapid decline in clinical status, and has been recognized as a uniformly fatal event if aggressive therapy is not instituted. We report a diabetic child who presented with blurred vision, chemosis, and pain in the left periorbital region noted for about 1 week during an episode of ketocidosis. Neurologic examinations revealed that there was a decreased range of motion in the upward and lateral gaze, along with incomplete pupillary dilatation and papilledema of the left eye. Imaging studies demonstrated left-side orbital cellulitis, paranasal sinusitis, and a large lobulated abscess in the left frontal lobe. Two surgical procedures, including functional endoscopic sinus surgery for sinus debridement and a subsequent open craniotomy for abscess resection were performed. Pathologic specimens obtained from the abscess wall revealed necrotic inflammation and wide, nonseptate hyphae with right angle branching, which are typical characteristics of the family Mucoraceae. Postoperatively, the patient was treated with 1.5 g of amphotericin B over a 7-week period, and aggressive diabetic control for 2 months. Through the combination of medical and surgical treatment the child made an uneventful recovery.     

Concha bullosa: frequency and appearances on CT and correlations with sinus disease in 308 patients with chronic sinusitis

The purposes of this study were to determine the prevalence of concha bullosa in patients with chronic sinusitis, to assess the origin of the pneumatisation (from the anterior or posterior ethmoid cells), and to evaluate the significance of the concha bullosa in the genesis of inflammatory sinus disease. We reviewed the CT studies of 308 patients with chronic sinusitis, assigning four grades of pneumatisation: absent, small, medium and large. Unilateral or bilateral concha bullosa was found in 164 patients (53%). In 79% of cases it was pneumatised via the posterior ethmoidal cells and in 21% via the anterior. A small concha bullosa was associated with abnormalities of the maxillary sinus, ethmoidal cells and ostiomeatal unit respectively in 49%, 28% and 34% of cases, whereas with a large concha bullosa the association was 55%, 36% and 41% respectively on the ipsilateral side and 55%, 32% and 41% on the contralateral side. The usually accepted hypothesis that the concha bullosa may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory sinus disease seems doubtful.     

The use of small intestine in bladder reconstruction

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of FESS (functional endoscopic sinus surgery) on sinus and asthma symptoms. METHOD: Seventy-nine patients with asthma and medically unresponsive sinusitis were evaluated. Maximal medical therapy was attempted to relieve both sinus and asthma symptoms. The surgical procedures involved standard FESS techniques. Fifty-six percent of patients had undergone a sinus procedure prior to the FESS. Nasal polyposis was noted in 73% of the group. The majority of patients had pansinusitis. RESULTS: Eighty-six percent of patients stated that FESS improved their sinusitis. Nine of 11 sinus symptoms recorded preoperatively diminished significantly (p < .05) following surgery. Eighty percent of patients noted improvement of their asthma following FESS. The factors associated with treatment failure and the unique characteristics of this disease process were evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: FESS is a viable option in the treatment of asthma when medical therapy fails.     

Orbital myositis

Orbital myositis is a subgroup of the nonspecific inflammatory syndrome or orbital pseudotumor and is characterized by a primary inflammation of extraocular muscles. The authors describe a 70-year-old patient with acute proptosis, ocular pain and right ophthalmoplegia, whose orbital computed tomographic scan showed enlargement of the homolateral extraocular muscles. Clinical presentation and complementary tests were compatible with the diagnosis of orbital myositis however, because of the particular aspects, which included retinal central vein occlusion, optic nerve lesion, distension of the superior ophthalmic vein and the homolateral cavernous sinus, the differential diagnosis with cavernous sinus pathology and thyroid ophthalmopathy was considered. The importance of a rapid diagnosis and treatment is stressed.     

Endoscopic approach to the treatment of subperiosteal orbital abscess

The treatment of orbital complications of nasosinusal processes has seen numerous modifications. Traditionally, cases with purulent collections were treated by external drainage. Currently, the introduction of new optical systems allows such complications to be approached from within the nasal cavity. We report a case of a 3-year-old girl with a subperiosteal orbital abscess secondary to ethmoiditis, which was cured by minimally aggressive endoscopic management and medical treatment.     

Insight into phosphene: a case with occipital lobe damage

Findings in 200 cases of root resection of first maxillary molars showed perforation to the sinus in half of the cases. In 42% of the cases, the first maxillary molar had root resection performed in a subacute or acute state of infection. Only two cases developed postoperative sinusitis. Antibiotic treatment was indicated preoperatively in 3% and postoperatively in 5%. Postoperative symptoms, such as pain and swelling, were usually moderate, possibly because of a nontraumatizing operation technique, a careful removal of infected tissue, and a good drainage by loose suturing.     

Chronic sinusitis refractory to standard management in patients with humoral immunodeficiencies

Chronic refractory sinusitis is a common feature in patients with primary immunodeficiencies. The efficacy of standard therapeutic strategies is questionable. In an open trial we evaluated the efficacy of azithromycin, N-acetylcysteine and topical intranasal beclomethasone (100 microg twice daily for 6 weeks) in 16 patients with primary immunodeficiencies (median age 13.5 years, range 5-32 years). All patients suffered from chronic sinusitis despite regular immunoglobulin replacement therapy every 3 weeks. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were performed before and after 6 weeks of treatment to evaluate morphological changes in the paranasal sinuses. Nasal swabs and washings were taken for microbial analysis and measurement of inflammatory mediators (IL-8, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP)) before and post therapy. Inflammatory mediators in nasal secretions were significantly elevated in patients: IL-8 median 2436 pg/ml (range 441-5435 pg/ml), TNF-alpha 37.3 pg/ml (3.75-524 pg/ml) and ECP 33 ng/ml (1.5-250 ng/ml) versus age-matched healthy controls: IL-8 median 212 pg/ml (99-825 pg/ml), TNF-alpha 3.77 pg/ml (2.8-10.2 pg/ml) and ECP 1.5 ng/ml (1.5-14.8 ng/ml) (P < 0.0001). Inflammation of the maxillary sinuses was confirmed by MRI scans in all patients, additionally infection of the ethmoidal and frontal sinuses was recorded in five patients. Bacterial growth appeared in 11 out of 16 cultures. In spite of therapy, no improvement in sinal inflammation visualized by MRI was achieved. Moreover, no significant decrease in pathogens and levels of inflammatory mediators could be detected (IL-8 1141 pg/ml, 426-4556 pg/ml; TNF-alpha 13.9 pg/ml, 4.1-291.6 pg/ml; ECP 32.3 ng/ml, 3.7-58.4 ng/ml). Our results demonstrate that conventional management of sinusitis is of little benefit in patients with chronic refractory sinusitis with an underlying immunodeficiency. More studies are needed to test antibiotic regimens, probably combined with surgical drainage and anti-inflammatory agents.     

Endonasal frontal sinus surgery with permanent implantation of a place holder

BACKGROUND: Endonasal frontal sinus surgery is well established. It is not yet clear what degree of enlargement of the frontal sinus neoostium is required to achieve permanent drainage or whether stenting improves the results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective survey with two groups: Group 1. included 10 patients (15 operations) who underwent endonasal sinus surgery because of chronic polypoid sinusitis with stenting of the frontal sinus neoostium for 6 months. Group 2. included 11 patients (21 operations) without stenting. INTERVENTION: Endonasal frontal sinus surgery with extended drainage Draf Type II (NFA II according to May) with (group 1) and without (group 2) long-term stenting of the neoostium for 5 months using a silicone stent. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: 12-16 months postoperatively: flexible endoscopy of nose and frontal sinus; computed tomography; magnetic resonance tomography; Wilcoxon-Mann Withney-Test. RESULTS: With stenting: neoostium endoscopically patent in 80% (including 20% with edematous swelling only at the opening to the frontal sinus), occluded by scar tissue in 6.7%, occluded by polyps in 13.3%. Endoscopy and CT/MRT together: normal mucosa and aeration in 93.3%, complete opacification in 6.7%. Without stenting: neoostium endoscopically patent in 33%, occluded by scar tissue in 48%, occluded by polyps in 19%. Endoscopy and CT together: normal mucosa and aeration in 71.4%, aeration and mucosal swelling in 14.3%, complete opacification in 14.3%. With stenting of the frontal sinus neoostium for six months endoscopic evaluation of the frontal sinus was possible in a significantly higher proportion of cases (p = 0.0416). CONCLUSION: Long-term stenting of the frontal sinus significantly reduces the rate of recurrent stenosis of the frontal neoostium and is recommended in all cases where an extended frontal sinus drainage is necessary. The optimal design for such a stent has not yet been clearly defined.     

Clinical efficacy of ultrasound guided percutaneous drainage of abscesses in patients with leukaemia and lymphoma

Ultrasound guided percutaneous drainage (US-PD), a minimally invasive technique, has been reported as highly effective for the treatment of deeply located abscesses, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Therefore, we retrospectively studied its therapeutic efficacy and safety in a series of 14 patients with leukaemia and lymphoma. We collected the clinical and sonographic data of 14 patients with various types of leukaemia and lymphoma. These patients were consecutively observed in four clinical centres with long-term experience with ultrasound guided therapeutic techniques. The cases were analysed according to underlying disease, clinical features, location of the abscess, drainage technique, microbiological data and both short- and long-term outcome. In our series, 11 patients were treated with repeated ultrasound guided needle aspirations (US-NA) and 3 underwent catheter drainage (US-PCD). In 12/14 cases the procedure was successful (86%): the mortality rate was 14%. 5 patients died during the follow-up period because of the underlying disease, without abscess recurrence. No complications were reported. Our data suggest that ultrasound guided percutaneous drainage should be considered the first choice, minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of deeply located abscesses in patients with leukaemia and lymphoma.