August 31, 2009 B. Sulyman Alabi, FWACS, Enoch A.O. Afolayan, FMCPath, A. Abdulakeem Aluko, FWACS, O. Abdulraman Afolabi, MBBS, and F. Grace Adepoju, FWACS
article
Abstract
Tuberculosis is the second leading cause of death worldwide after human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS and is especially prevalent in developing countries. We report a case of primary sinonasal tuberculosis without pulmonary involvement, which is rare, in a 27-year old female Nigerian fish farmer. She had a 3-year history of right-eye proptosis, bilateral nasal masses, and epistaxis. Cranial computed tomography suggested an extensive sinonaso-orbital neoplastic lesion. We performed a right external frontoethmoidectomy. Histologically, the excised nasal polyps revealed tuberculosis. Six months of antituberculosis therapy provided satisfactory improvement. Sinonasal tuberculosis, despite its rarity, should be added to the differential diagnosis of nasal and paranasal sinus disorders, and histologic evaluation remains the hallmark of diagnosis. Therapy with a short-duration, multidrug combination, rather than the longer-duration treatment regimen hitherto used, could be quite valuable, especially in the setting of a developing country with poor patient compliance.
May 31, 2009 Philip V. Alexander, MS and Alka Walters, MS
article
Abstract
In developing countries, when patients with traumatic epistaxis cannot be adequately treated at their local medical facility and require further treatment at a distant tertiary care center, it is important that bleeding be controlled before their transport. We describe a patient with a traumatic anterior ethmoidal artery bleed who needed to be taken to a tertiary care center 8 hours away for endoscopic ablation, which was not available at our hospital. The inflated balloon of an 18-Fr Foley catheter attached to the face guard of a cricket helmet was used as a posterior nasal pack. The patient arrived safely and was successfully treated. This case report illustrates that, in an emergency, readily available materials can be used to effect adequate tamponade of nasal bleeding so that a patient can be transferred safely. We believe this is the only such report in the literature.
October 31, 2008 Mohammad Sohail Awan, FCPS and Moghira Iqbal, MBBS
article
Abstract
The once-common practice of packing the nose after septoplasty was based on a desire to prevent postoperative complications such as bleeding, septal hematoma, and adhesion formation. However, it was since found that not only is nasal packing ineffective in this regard, it can actually cause these complications. Although the consensus in the world literature is that packing should be avoided, to the best of our knowledge, no truly randomized study has been undertaken in Southwest Asia upon which to justify this recommendation here. Therefore, we conducted a prospective randomized comparison of the incidence of a variety of postoperative signs and symptoms in 88 patients, 15 years of age and older, who did (n = 44) and did not (n = 44) undergo nasal packing following septoplasty. We found that the patients who underwent packing experienced significantly more postoperative pain, headache, epiphora, dysphagia, and sleep disturbance on the night of surgery. Oral and nasal examinations 7 days postoperatively revealed no significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of bleeding, septal hematoma, adhesion formation, and local infection. Finally, the packing group reported a moderate to high level of pain during removal of the packing. Our findings confirm that nasal packing after septoplasty is not only unnecessary, it is actually a source of patient discomfort and other signs and symptoms.
July 31, 2008 Michael S. Benninger, MD
article
Abstract
Topical intranasal steroid spray is often used to treat allergic and nonallergic rhinitis, and epistaxis is a common side effect. The prospective, observational study described was designed to determine the incidence of epistaxis and the relationship between the side of bleeding and the hand used to administer the spray, as well as the handedness of the patient, in a noninvestigational, real-world setting. Of 559 consecutive patients using an intranasal steroid for more than 3 months, 28 patients (5%) reported epistaxis within the prior 2 months. Of the 32 reported sides of bleeding (unilateral and bilateral combined), 25 episodes (78%) were on the same side as the hand used to apply the spray. A strong correlation was found between the side of bleeding and both the hand used (p < 0.001) and the handedness of the patient (p < 0.002). Patient instruction on technique may reduce the incidence of epistaxis.
April 30, 2008 Dulani Mendis, MRCS, DOHNS and Nasser Malik, FRCS(Edin.), DLO
article
Abstract
Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is rare. We report a case of probable sinonasal NEC in a 73-year-old man who had presented with a history of right nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, and recurrent epistaxis. On examination, a red, friable, gelatinous, polypoid mass with a tendency to bleed was seen in the right nasal cavity. Computed tomography revealed that the lesion was confined to the right nasal cavity; coincidental or reactive opacification was seen in the adjacent sinuses. The final histologic evaluation of the excised biopsy specimens yielded a diagnosis of an invasive, poorly differentiated NEC, probably a large-cell variant, with the differential diagnosis lying at a point somewhere between poorly differentiated large-cell NEC and high-grade olfactory neuroblastoma. The patient underwent a right lateral rhinotomy and medial maxillectomy followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. At 20 months of follow-up, he exhibited no sign of recurrence.
March 31, 2008 Chee-Yean Eng, MBChB, MRCS, Teck-Aun Yew, MBChB, Wai-Siene Ng, MBChB, and Amged S. El-Hawrani, FRCS(ORL-HNS)
article
Abstract
We describe an unusual case of recurrent, refractory anterior epistaxis in an 86-year-old man with two mechanical heart valves who was on permanent warfarin therapy. His numerous episodes of epistaxis were incited by chronic nose-picking and strong nose-blowing, practices that he continued to engage in despite repeated medical advice to stop. Stopping his anticoagulation therapy was not considered as a management option because of an unacceptably high risk that this would lead to a thromboembolic event. Eventually, we temporarily sutured his nares closed, and his nosebleeds ceased. The suturing was performed in the ward with local anesthesia. This procedure was simple to perform, fairly well tolerated, easily reversible, and highly effective.
August 31, 2007 Brian Kung, MD; Geoffrey R. Deschenes, BA; William Keane, MD; Mary Cunnane, MD; Marie-Paule Jacob-Ampuero, MD; Marc Rosen, MD
article
Abstract
Malignant melanoma of the nose and paranasal sinuses can be a devastating disease, typically presenting at an advanced stage, with a 5-year survival rate ranging between 20 and 30%. It is an uncommon process, often misdiagnosed both clinically and pathologically. We present the case of an 80-year-old man who had a 2-month history of progressively worsening left-sided epistaxis and nasal obstruction. Radiographic evidence indicated the presence of soft tissue in the left maxillary sinus and nasal cavity resembling massive nasal polyposis and chronic fungal sinusitis. Magnetic resonance imaging was not performed because the patient had a pacemaker. After endoscopic debridement of the soft-tissue mass, frozen-section analysis detected no evidence of tumor. The final pathologic diagnosis was malignant melanoma. Otolaryngologists should be familiar with the difficulties inherent in the diagnosis and management of sinonasal melanomas.
April 30, 2007 M. Panduranga Kamath, MS; Kiran M. Bhojwani, MS; Shivananda Prabhu, MS; Ramdas Naik, MD; Geo P. Ninan, MBBS; Yeshwanth Chakravarthy, MBBS
September 30, 2006 Joseph P. Mirante, MD; Dewey A. Christmas, MD; Eiji Yanagisawa, MD
December 1, 2005 Julian Savage, MRCS; Albert Pace-Balzan, FRCS
article
Abstract
Controlling bleeding with standard postnasal packing following curettage adenoidectomy is only occasionally warranted. Children find the packing experience unpleasant, and removal of the packing usually requires general anesthesia. We describe a simple technique for packing the nasopharynx with bilateral nasal tampons via an anterior approach. The tampons are much easier to insert than standard packing, they are well tolerated while in place, and they can be easily removed with perhaps only some light sedation rather than general anesthesia.
June 30, 2005 Marcus M. Lessa, PhD; Flavio A. Sakae, PhD; Robinson K. Tsuji, PhD; Bernardo C. Araújo Filho, PhD; Richard L. Voegels, MD; Ossamu Butugan, MD
article
Abstract
Brown tumor, an uncommon focal giant-cell lesion, arises as a direct result of the effect of parathyroid hormone on bone tissue in patients with hyperparathyroidism. The initial treatment involves the correction of hyperparathyroidism, which usually leads to tumor regression. We report a case of brown tumor of the right nasal fossa in a 71-year-old woman. The tumor had caused nasal obstruction and epistaxis. Laboratory evaluation revealed that the patient had primary hyperparathyroidism. Anatomicopathologic investigation revealed the presence of a giant-cell tumor. We performed a partial parathyroidectomy, but the tumor in the right nasal fossa failed to regress. One year later, we performed surgical resection of the lesion. The patient recovered uneventfully, and she remained asymptomatic and recurrence-free at the 1-year follow-up. Facial lesions with histologic features of a giant-cell tumor should be evaluated from a systemic standpoint. Hyperparathyroidism should always be investigated by laboratory tests because most affected patients are asymptomatic. Surgical resection of a brown tumor should be considered if the mass does not regress after correction of the inciting hyperparathyroidism or if the patient is highly symptomatic.
April 30, 2005 Anand G. Shah, MD; Robert J. Stachler, MD; John H. Krouse, MD, PhD
article
Abstract
We describe our experience with endoscopic ligation of the sphenopalatine artery in the treatment of severe posterior epistaxis in 2 patients with coagulopathy. Conservative treatment had failed in both cases. The key elements of this procedure are the identification of the branches of the sphenopalatine artery via an endoscopic endonasal approach and the application of two titanium clips under direct vision. This procedure was successful in both patients, and we recommend it in selected cases.
