Parapharyngeal space tumours: an 18 year review

2002 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 170-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenny Peter Pang ◽  
Christopher H. K. Goh ◽  
How Ming Tan

Parapharyngeal space tumours account for only 0.5 per cent of all head and neck tumours. Due to their inherent location, they present with varied non-specific signs and symptoms, resulting in a delay in diagnosis and unnecessary procedures, such as a ‘tonsillectomy’ or ‘incision and drainage’ of a ‘quinsy’. Thirty-one patients, operated on over an 18-year period (1981 to 1998), in the Department of Otolaryngology, Singapore General Hospital, are presented. Their ages ranged from 21 to 86 years, with a mean of 52 years, with equal sex distribution. The commonest aetiology was a deep lobe of parotid tumour (44 per cent), followed by neurilemmomas (18 per cent), there was only one paraganglioma. The transcervical and transparotid approaches were the commonest used. The mean surgical time was three hours, mean hospital stay was 5.3 days and post-operative complications were minimal. The average follow-up time was 5.6 years. Although parapharyngeal space tumours are uncommon, recognizing them would enable the correct sequence of investigations, instead of unnecessary procedures resulting in an increased morbidity for the patient.

Swiss Surgery ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 255-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perruchoud ◽  
Vuilleumier ◽  
Givel

Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate excision and open granulation versus excision and primary closure as treatments for pilonidal sinus. Subjects and methods: We evaluated a group of 141 patients operated on for a pilonidal sinus between 1991 and 1995. Ninety patients were treated by excision and open granulation, 34 patients by excision and primary closure and 17 patients by incision and drainage, as a unique treatment of an infected pilonidal sinus. Results: The first group, receiving treatment of excision and open granulation, experienced the following outcomes: average length of hospital stay, four days; average healing time; 72 days; average number of post-operative ambulatory visits, 40; average off-work delay, 38 days; and average follow-up time, 43 months. There were five recurrences (6%) in this group during the follow-up period. For the second group treated by excision and primary closure, the corresponding outcome measurements were as follows: average length of hospital stay, four days; average healing time, 23 days; primary healing failure rate, 9%; average number of post-operative ambulatory visits, 6; average off-work delay, 21 days. The average follow-up time was 34 months, and two recurrences (6%) were observed during the follow-up period. In the third group, seventeen patients benefited from an incision and drainage as unique treatment. The mean follow-up was 37 months. Five recurrences (29%) were noticed, requiring a new operation in all the cases. Discussion and conclusion: This series of 141 patients is too limited to permit final conclusions to be drawn concerning significant advantages of one form of treatment compared to the other. Nevertheless, primary closure offers the advantages of quicker healing time, fewer post-operative visits and shorter time off work. When a primary closure can be carried out, it should be routinely considered for socio-economical and comfort reasons.


2015 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 928-931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jovan Hadzi-Djokic ◽  
Tomislav Pejcic ◽  
Dragoslav Basic ◽  
Ivana Vukomanovic ◽  
Zoran Dzamic ◽  
...  

Background/Aim. Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) represents a chronic pathological process characterized by fibrosis which entraps and compresses the ureters and the great blood vessels in the retroperitoneal space. A specific form of RPF is idiopathic RPF, an uncommon collagen vascular disease of unclear etiology. The series of 15 patients which underwent open surgical repair due to idiopathic RPF is presented herein. Methods. From 1989 to 2012, 11 male and 4 female patients underwent surgery due to primary RPF. The ureters were entrapped unilaterally (7 patients), or bilaterally (8 patients). Major symptoms included low back pain due to hydronephrosis (9 patients), uremia (4 patients), and urinary tract infection (2 patients). The diagnosis was based on intravenous urography (IVU), retrograde ureteropyelography and computed tomography (CT). Results. Surgical procedures included intraperitoneal ureteral displacement (8 patients) and ureteral wrapping with omental flap (6 patients). One patient underwent bilateral ureteral stenotic segments resection and oblique ureterography, followed by wrapping with omental flap. Pathological examination confirmed primary RPF in all patients. The mean operative time was 3.5 h (range 2.5-4.5 h). The average intrahospital stay was 21 days (range 16-26 days). The mean follow up was 32 months (6-46 months). During the follow up, 12 patients had improvement on IVU. Conclusion. Early recognition of signs and symptoms of RPF is of the utmost importance for the outcome. Surgical procedures, including ureteral wrapping with omental flap, or intraperitoneal ureteral displacement, usually represent definitive treatment.


1991 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 133-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel W Mah ◽  
Elizabeth Anne Fanning

In 1987, an outbreak of primary tuberculosis occurred in a Canadian aboriginal community of 350 people. The source case was a young woman who had been symptomatic for four months with smear positive cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis. Her 17 siblings and their families were frequent close contacts. Among the 626 persons surveyed in the community and environs, 35 additional active cases of tuberculosis were identified. The mean age of cases was 13 years and the median age 10 years. The method of diagnosis was bacteriological in 20 and radiological in 16. There were 257 positive tuberculin reactors of whom 120 had no previous record of a positive skin test. Isoniazid prophylaxis was recommended to all new reactors, close household contacts, reactors under the age of 35 years and reactors with lung scars. One late case was identified at one year of follow-up in a contact who had refused prophylaxis. The rates of infection and disease were higher in the family (65% and 46%, respectively) than in the community and environs (19% and 5.6%, respectively). This report illustrates the nature of a point source epidemic of primary tuberculosis in a susceptible community with a predictable reservoir of infection. The delay in diagnosis of the source case allowed numerous new infections to occur. However, prompt aggressive contact follow-up was successful in containing the epidemic. To prevent future outbreaks, the reservoir of infected persons must be identified and administered chemoprophylaxis.


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 241-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan G. Thomas ◽  
Jerome Boatey ◽  
Alison Brayton ◽  
Andrew Jea

Object Outside of the patient population with achondroplasia, neurogenic claudication is rare in the pediatric age group. Neurogenic claudication associated with posterior vertebral rim fracture is even more uncommon but nonetheless causes pain and disability in affected children and adolescents. The purpose of this study was to describe the surgical results of 3 adolescents presenting with neurogenic claudication and posterior vertebral rim fracture when treated with laminectomy alone. Methods The medical and operative records of the 3 pediatric patients were retrospectively reviewed. Presenting signs and symptoms and CT findings, such as the interpedicular distances between T-12 and L-5, were obtained. Perioperative results were assessed, including operative time, blood loss, length of hospital stay, and complications. Findings at latest follow-up were also recorded, including a patient satisfaction survey. Results The 3 patients (1 girl and 2 boys) had a mean age of 14.7 years (range 14–15 years) and underwent follow-up for a mean of 11.3 months (range 5–18 months). Notable preoperative signs and symptoms included back pain (all patients), leg pain (all patients), leg numbness (1 patient), and leg weakness (1 patient). No patient presented with bowel and/or bladder dysfunction. The mean blood loss during laminectomy was 123 ml (range 20–300 ml), and the mean length of hospital stay was 4.3 days (range 3–6 days). On average, decompression was performed at 2.2 levels (range 2–2.5 levels). All 3 patients reported at most recent follow-up that they were “satisfied” with the surgery. There was 1 complication of instability from an iatrogenic pars fracture, which required reoperation and posterior instrumented fusion. Conclusions To the best of the authors' knowledge, this report represents the first surgical series of pediatric neurogenic claudication associated with posterior vertebral rim fractures. Pediatric neurosurgeons may infrequently encounter neurogenic claudication associated with a posterior vertebral rim fracture in children. To treat children with neurogenic claudication associated with posterior vertebral rim fractures, a simple laminectomy may be a safe and efficacious alternative to discectomy and removal of fracture fragments.


1990 ◽  
Vol 64 (04) ◽  
pp. 506-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Göran Bratt ◽  
Wiveca Åberg ◽  
Margareta Johansson ◽  
Eva Törnebohm ◽  
Staffan Granqvist ◽  
...  

SummaryIn a prospective, randomized, open study 119 consecutive patients with phlebographically verified deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the leg (36% distal and 64% proximal) were treated either with a low molecular weight heparin (Fragmin, Kabi-Vitrum) subcutaneously (120 anti-FXa U/kg) twice daily or standard heparin (SH) as continuous intravenous infusion (480 IU kg−1 day−1). The Fragmin doses were adjusted to achieve an anti-FXa activity of 0.2-0.4 U/ml before injection and not greater than 1.5 U/ml 4 h after the morning injection. The SH dose was modified to prolong the APTT 2-3 times.Repeat phlebography after 5-7 days showed improvement in 34/45 patients (76%) in the Fragmin group and in 30/49 patients (61%) in the SH group and progress in 2/45 (4%) and 3/49 (6%), respectively. The mean Marder scores decreased from 18.7 ± 12.1 to 15.7 ± 12.7 in the Fragmin group and from 16.9 ± 12.0 to 14.4 ± 11.8 in the SH group (ns). Two patients in the SH group and none in the Fragmin group had major bleedings.After 22 ± 7 months follow up 6 rethromboses had occurred in the SH group and 4 in the Fragmin group. Postthrombotic signs and symptoms were similar in both groups.We conclude that two daily sc Fragmin doses seem as effective and safe as continuous SH in the treatment of DVT of the leg.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 4004-4013
Author(s):  
Kuang-Hsu Lien ◽  
Chi-Kuang Young ◽  
Shy-Chyi Chin ◽  
Chun-Ta Liao ◽  
Shiang-Fu Huang

Objective Primary parapharyngeal space (PPS) tumors are one of the most challenging head and neck tumors to diagnose and treat. We analyzed our experience in patients with PPS tumors who were treated in our hospital over 13 years. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 16 patients with PPS tumors between 2006 and 2018. The study included clinical symptoms, histological types, surgical approaches, adjuvant therapies, postoperative complications, and prognosis. Results The mean age of the patients was 49.63 ± 17.03 years. A palpable neck mass (56.3%) was the most common symptom. In our series, 78.6% of the tumors were benign, and of these, schwannomas were the most common (6/14, 42.9%). Three surgical approaches were used in our patients, including transmandibular (57.1%), transcervical (21.4%) and transparotid (21.4%) approaches. Few complications were reported, including hoarseness and numbness. Adjuvant therapy was administered depending on pathological parameters of the tumors. No recurrence was observed during a mean follow-up of 60.6 months in patients with malignant tumors. Conclusions Radiological studies of PPS tumors are essential for diagnosis and surgical planning. Excision of PPS tumors using appropriate surgical approaches provides good outcomes.


2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael L. Chen ◽  
J. Gordon McComb ◽  
Mark D. Krieger

Object Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (ATRTs) represent a relatively newly categorized neoplastic entity. They commonly present in childhood, and have a rapidly progressive clinical course with a survival time of less than 1 year. Treatment regimens have been nonuniform. In this retrospective review of patients with ATRTs who were treated at the authors' institution according to a uniform protocol, the goal was to assess the efficacy of the treatment and its outcome. Methods Over a 7-year period, ATRT was diagnosed in 11 patients (six boys and five girls). The median age of the patients was 61 months, and their ages ranged from 3 months to 17 years. Signs and symptoms began, on average, a little more than 1 month before diagnosis and included the following: headache (36%), nausea and vomiting (46%), lethargy (18%), seizures (27%), cranial nerve findings (46%), ataxia (18%), long tract findings (18%), and hydrocephalus (46%). Tumor location was cortical in four patients, in the pineal region in four, in the posterior fossa in two, and spinal in one. In one patient disseminated disease was revealed on the initial imaging study; seven patients had disseminated tumor subsequently. Treatment consisted of chemotherapy in 11 patients, chemotherapy and local radiation in five, and chemotherapy and craniospinal radiation in three. Six patients are alive, three have died, and two were lost to follow-up review. The mean time to death was 24 months, and ranged from 2 to 67 months. Among the surviving patients the mean duration of follow up is 18.5 months and ranges from 2 to 37 months. The median time to progression was 3.5 months. Conclusions Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors are malignant lesions with rapid progression. Further study is necessary to determine the efficacy of therapy.


2021 ◽  
pp. 155005942110258
Author(s):  
Zozan Parsanoglu ◽  
Ozlem Devrim Balaban ◽  
Sakir Gica ◽  
Ozge Canbek Atay ◽  
Ozan Altin

The aim of this study was to compare in the context of gender both clinical diagnosis and disease-related differences and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-related differences in data and efficacy in hospitalized patients with catatonic signs and symptoms. Data from 106 patients who received ECT with catatonia indication were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical data of male (n = 58) and female (n = 48) patients were compared. Hospitalization documents and outpatient files, sociodemographic and clinical data form, Clinical Global Improvement scores used by the ECT unit in the follow-up of patients who received ECT were used in the study. It was seen that the mean age of women at the onset of ECT was higher than in men and the presence of prolonged seizures was more common than men. In men, it was found out that the average number of sessions with the onset of clinical response to treatment was higher than the average of women. The distribution of diagnoses by gender showed that the presence of schizophrenia diagnosis in men and of bipolar disorder in women were significantly more frequent compared to the opposite sex. It was found out that there were no significant differences between genders in terms of response rate to ECT. Our study is important for being the first study in the literature investigating the gender differences in ECT used for catatonia. However, gender is not a distinctive factor in the effectiveness of treatment, there are some important differences between male and female patients showing signs and symptoms of catatonia and undergoing ECT.


2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chan Park ◽  
Erica Marchiori ◽  
Jacob Barber ◽  
Curtis Cardon

Orbital trauma can result in periorbital and orbital infections. Orbital infections have been classified by Chandler et al in 1970 to their anatomic location and boundaries. This case report describes a patient who developed a severe orbital infection following orbital fractures. The infection progressed to the parapharyngeal space. The patient required multiple incision and drainage surgeries and tissue debridements to have clinical resolution. To our knowledge, there has not been a case described in the literature of an orbital infection progressing to the parapharyngeal space. A literature review of orbital trauma leading to infection discusses the pathogenesis of the infections. This case demonstrates that close clinical follow-up and appropriate medical management of comorbidities that put a patient at higher risk of developing an infection is of the utmost importance in the treatment of maxillofacial trauma patients.


2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle J. Clarke ◽  
Andrew B. Foy ◽  
Nicholas Wetjen ◽  
Corey Raffel

Object Subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SEGAs) are a common manifestation of tuberous sclerosis (TS). These evolving tumors have a propensity to cause obstructive hydrocephalus, usually due to obstruction at the level of the foramen of Monro. Differentiating SEGAs from subependymal nodules (SENs) before obstruction occurs may improve the morbidity associated with these tumors. In this study the authors' aim was to determine imaging characteristics of proven tumors in a single-center pediatric population. Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed all records and images obtained in patients with TS in whom results of biopsy sampling had proven that their tumors were SEGAs. Time to presentation, signs and symptoms at presentation, and imaging characteristics of the evolving tumors were noted. Twelve patients with 14 SEGAs proven by the results of biopsy sampling were reviewed. Resection was recommended for symptomatic and neuroimaging evidence of hydrocephalus (41%), tumor growth without evidence of hydrocephalus (33%), and for poorly controlled seizures (25%). The mean diameter of the tumors at the time of resection was 1.9 cm (range 0.3–4 cm), and no tumor recurred. Because of the pathological and radiographic continuum of SENs and SEGAs, it remains difficult to predict whether and when a given lesion will progress. Tumor growth and contrast enhancement are the most common signs of progression on neuroimages, and may be seen prior to the development of obstructive hydrocephalus. Conclusions Patients with SENs and SEGAs should undergo follow-up neuroimaging at yearly intervals, and if lesions show signs of progression (contrast enhancement or growth), these intervals should be shortened and consideration given to early resection.


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