Otolaryngologic Features of Craniometaphyseal Dysplasia

Craniometaphyseal dysplasia, one of several rare familial systemic bone disorders of the osteopetrosis bone-disease group, is characterized by abnormal bony thickening of the skull and multiple cranial neuropathies. Hearing loss, commonly of a mixed type, is the usual symptom presented to the otolaryngologist—head and neck surgeon; however, recurring facial paralysis, blindness, and atypical fades may also be noted. A case of bilateral facial nerve dysfunction in a neonate, the offspring of a thoroughly studied kindred with known craniometaphyseal dysplasia, Is presented. The clinical and radiographic features of the disorder are discussed, including an outline of the operative management of facial paralysis.

Microsporum distortum. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].

A description is provided for Microsporum distortum. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Recorded on man, monkey, dog and horse. Some human infections have been in children with a history of contact with cats with skin lesions but these animals were not examined by culture. Rats, guineapigs, rabbits and cats have been experimentally infected. DISEASE: Ringworm (dermatophytosis tinea). Similar to M. canis infections. Infected hairs fluoresce pale to bright green under Wood's light and are encrusted with ectothrix sheaths of small spores in a mosaic arrangement. In man, the scalp (tinea capitis) and glabrous skin (tinea corporis) may be infected. Most reported infections have been in children under 7 years old. Scalp lesions have been reported only in children, and usually consist of scaling patches of alopecia, with some erythema at the margin. Skin lesions are usually small, circular, with erythematous borders and dry, scaling centres. In animals scaling patches of alopecia are the usual symptom. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Australia (New South Wales), New Zealand (apparently restricted to Otago), U.S.A. (Iowa, Ga). All cases reported from U.S.A. have been in pet monkeys probably recently imported from Central America, and in humans and dogs which had been in contact with the monkeys.

Nannizzia grubyia. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].

A description is provided for Nannizzia grubyia. Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Only four cases of infection by this species have been reported so far. These were in a Malabar squirrel (Ratufa indica malabarica), a boxer dog, and two humans. Guinea-pigs have been experimentally infected. DISEASE: Ringworm (dermatophytosis, tinea). Infected hairs contain some hyphae within the hair shaft but no ectothrix spore sheaths have been observed. In one (human) case infected hairs fluoresced light green under Wood's light. Both human cases were confined to the scalp (tinea capitis). In both animals and man the usual symptom was scaling patches with some hair loss and little tissue reaction, but one human case was a kerion with much secondary infection (RMVM 4, 1587; 5, 493). GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: U.S.A. (Illinois, La, Miss.).