January 1, 2008 Fatma Çaylakli, MD, Ismail Yilmaz, MD, Cem Hürcan, MD, Cem Özer, MD, and Levent Özlüoĝlu, MD
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Abstract
Many common anatomic variations in the nasal cavity have been observed, including paradoxical turbinates and pneumatization of the inferior, middle, and superior turbinates. We describe a case of a rare anomaly—unilateral inferior turbinate agenesis—in a 65-year-old man who had presented with epistaxis. During evaluation, anterior rhinoscopic examination revealed the absence of the right inferior turbinate; this finding was confirmed on computed tomography. The patient had never undergone nasal or sinus surgery, and he denied ever having expelled anything of significance from his nasal cavity. This case merits attention because of the rarity of reports on turbinate agenesis.
October 31, 2007 Stefanie K. Horne, MD, Peter G. Michaelson, MD, and Erik Weitzel, MD
July 31, 2007 Maria Mercedes M. Okumura, PhD; Célia Helena C. Boyadjian, BA; Sabine Eggers, PhD
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Abstract
Auditory exostoses are bone anomalies located on the floor of the external auditory canal. They frequently develop in individuals who participate in water sports and other aquatic activities. Their etiology is probably multifactorial; development seems to be triggered by regular exposure to cold water, as well as to low air temperatures and/or cold winds. The presence of auditory exostoses has been recorded in human skull fossils that date back approximately 250,000 years. We conducted a study of auditory exostoses in 621 skulls of adult humans who had been part of a marine-dependent population that lived on the Brazilian coast between 5,400 and 800 years ago. The overall frequency of exostoses was 22%, but there was a great variance among different subgroups (0 to 56%). In this article, we propose some possible explanations for this variance. We also hope that our study will stimulate multidisciplinary research aimed at deciphering the intricate bony messages contained in cryptic archaeologic remains.
June 30, 2007 Bari Karakullukçu, MD; M. Güven Güvenç, MD; Harun Cansiz, MD; Fatih Öktem, MD; Büge Öz, MD
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Abstract
Intratracheal ectopic thyroid tissue is a rare abnormality that can cause airway obstruction. The symptoms can easily be confused with those of bronchial asthma. We describe the case of a 40-year-old man with subglottic thyroid tissue and multinodular goiter who had been misdiagnosed earlier with bronchial asthma. After the correct diagnosis was established, the lesion was excised via an external approach. We also discuss the clinical features and management of intratracheal thyroid tissue.
March 31, 2007 Kalpana S. DePasquale, DO; John A. Tucker, MD; Barbara Wolfson, MD; Laurie Varlotta, MD
March 1, 2007 Dewey A. Christmas, Jr., MD; Joseph P. Mirante, MD, FACS, MBA; Eiji Yanagisawa, MD, FACS
July 31, 2006 Natalie P. Steele, MD; Andrea Vambutas, MD
June 30, 2006 Yahya Daneshbod, MD; Abbas Banani, MD; Perikala V. Kumar, MD
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Abstract
We report an interesting case of a recurrent left lateral neck mass in a 6-year-old boy. When the tumor failed to disappear after a course of antibiotic therapy, it was excised. Histologic study revealed that the encapsulated mass contained a parathyroid gland embedded within a histologically normal thymus. The presence of thymic and parathyroid tissue within a single capsule supports the idea that these two structures have a common embryologic origin. The combination of thymic and parathyroid tissue in a neck mass in a patient so young is rarely reported.
May 31, 2006 Dewey A. Christmas, MD; Joseph P. Mirante, MD; Eiji Yanagisawa, MD
April 30, 2006 David J. Kay, MD, MPH; Ari J. Goldsmith, MD
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Abstract
Laryngomalacia, the most common congenital laryngeal anomaly, is not a single disease entity but rather a variety of entities along a spectrum of underlying pathophysiologies. Based on our study of 10 children who were surgically treated for laryngomalacia in an urban tertiary care center, we have developed a system of classifying laryngomalacia on the basis of its different underlying pathophysiologic processes. Type 1 laryngomalacia is characterized by a foreshortened or tight aryepiglottic fold. Type 2 disease is defined by the presence of redundant soft tissue in the supraglottis. The type 3 designation applies to cases caused by other etiologies, such as underlying neuromuscular disorders. While the three types are not mutually exclusive, each should be considered as a separate disease entity with a final common clinical presentation. Each type requires a specific approach to surgical repair.
February 1, 2006 Bruno Brevi, MD; Francesco Laganà, MD; Fabio Piazza, MD; Enrico Sesenna, MD, DMD
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Abstract
Distraction osteogenesis has recently assumed an important role in the correction of craniofacial anomalies, particularly for the treatment of potentially life-threatening, deformity-associated upper airway obstruction and respiratory dysfunction in neonates. Such deformities include Treacher Collins syndrome, Goldenhar's syndrome, Nager's syndrome, temporomandibular joint ankylosis, and Pierre Robin sequence. These conditions frequently require a tracheostomy to maintain airway patency. We report our experience with using mandibular distraction as a valid alternative to tracheostomy. Minimally invasive surgery is possible with small semiburied devices.
February 1, 2006 Ronald M. Smith, Jr., MD; Patrick C. Barth, MD; Jasper Castillo, MD; Brad Millman, MD; W. Edward Wood, MD
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Abstract
Congenital midline cervical cleft is a rare anomaly of the anterior neck. The diagnosis is typically made on the basis of the lesion's characteristic clinical presentation at birth. It appears to occur as a result of a failure of fusion of the paired second branchial arches in the midline during embryogenesis. Surgical intervention is necessary to avoid potential long-term complications, such as contractures and limitation of neck mobility. We present 3 cases of congenital midline cervical cleft, and we discuss the embryology, presentation, and surgical management of this unusual condition.
