Isolated Schneiderian papilloma of the middle ear cleft

A 60-year-old woman presented with pulsatile tinnitus in the left ear. MRI and CT imaging suggested a soft-tissue mass in the middle ear. Exploratory tympanotomy and biopsy confirmed Schneiderian (inverted) papilloma. Endoscopic and radiological assessment showed no evidence of sinonasal lesions. The patient proceeded to mastoid surgery with removal of the ossicles for disease clearance. The small number of cases published to date of isolated middle ear inverted papilloma suggest a high recurrence and malignant transformation rate and aggressive management is therefore warranted.

Painful rash with hoarseness: an atypical presentation of syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that can affect multiple organ systems, with central nervous system involvement at any stage. We present a 53-year-old woman with an unusual truncal rash with painful anogenital lesions, accompanied by patchy alopecia, oral lesions, photophobia and hoarseness. She was found to have positive serological tests for syphilis with cerebrospinal fluid findings suggestive of neurosyphilis. She underwent a 14-day course of intravenous penicillin G and exhibited successful resolution of painful anogenital lesions as well as marked improvement in dermatological, oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and neurological symptoms.

Pulsatile nystagmus secondary to semicircular canal dehiscence

We report the case of a 69-year-old man with a history of mastoidectomy for cholesteatoma, who developed spontaneous spinning vertigo on debridement of his cavity. Subsequent CT confirmed a lateral semicircular canal fistula, which was surgically closed with mastoid cavity obliteration. Following surgery, he developed a spontaneous, pulse-synchronous horizontal pendular nystagmus. We discuss the pathophysiology of this rare clinical sign.

Giant 'staghorn' rhinolith in a 15-year-old girl

We describe a case of a 15-year-old girl who presented to our clinic with long-standing right-sided rhinorrhoea which was occasionally foul-smelling and blood-stained with no other symptom of note. She had been treated many times with antibiotics. On examination, a rhinolith was discovered impacted posteriorly in right nasal cavity with mucopurulent discharge. Plain X-ray and later CT scan of paranasal sinuses confirmed the diagnosis but it was found to be large in size with irregular shape like a 'staghorn'. It was removed under general anaesthesia and she recovered uneventfully. We also describe the review of literature.

Repair of displaced thyroid cartilage fracture using miniplate osteosynthesis

Acute laryngeal trauma is estimated to occur in approximately one patient per 14 500 to 42 500 emergency room admissions. If the larynx is injured, its vital functions are affected and can be threatened in case of severe injury. Soft cartilage offers no protective advantage, which is the reason why young as well as older individuals are at risk of thyroid cartilage fracture. Experimentation on cadaver larynx has demonstrated that virtually all laryngeal fractures are longitudinally oriented. Furthermore, muscular pull can contribute to a misalignment of the fractures. As stated by Bent and Porubsky, a fracture is considered severely rather than moderately displaced, if it is freely mobile on physical examination, has more than two fracture lines or demonstrates a displacement greater than the width of the thyroid cartilage on CT imaging. We present two cases of severely displaced thyroid cartilage fracture treated in our department by open reduction and internal fixation using miniplates. Functional and radiological outcomes were excellent.

Neck-tongue syndrome

Neck–tongue syndrome (NTS) is a rarely reported disorder characterised by paroxysmal episodes of intense pain in the upper cervical or occipital areas associated with ipsilateral hemiglossal dysaesthesia brought about by sudden neck movement. The most likely cause of this clinical entity is a temporary subluxation of the lateral atlantoaxial joint with impaction of the C2 ventral ramus against the articular processes on head rotation. NTS is an under-recognised condition that can be debilitating for patients and challenging for the treating physicians. Here, we report a 47-year-old man who fulfilled the International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition criteria for a diagnosis of NTS was treated successfully with a chiropractic approach. There are currently no consensus guidelines for dealing with this disorder. Reassuringly, chiropractic care for uncomplicated NTS appears highly effective.

Bone marrow metastases in salivary duct carcinoma of the parotid gland

Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is a rare and extremely aggressive salivary gland cancer. An 81-year-old woman with SDC underwent a total parotidectomy with facial nerve sacrifice and a neck dissection. Following surgery, she was diagnosed with disseminated bone marrow metastases. She underwent chemotherapy and trastuzumab for palliation. We present a case of SDC of the parotid which was diagnosed with disseminated bone marrow metastasis following surgery for the primary. This case also highlights the importance of having a high index of suspicion while evaluating highly aggressive tumours like SDC for any atypical findings during workup.

Cervicofacial necrotising fasciitis by clindamycin-resistant and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a young healthy man

An otherwise healthy 24-year-old man presented with 1 week of fever, facial pain and swelling. He initially sought care at an outside hospital, where he was diagnosed with folliculitis and sent home with oral antibiotics. On arrival at our institution, CT neck was ordered, which demonstrated diffuse submental phlegmon, prompting incision and drainage. After initial improvement, the patient experienced high fevers and increased swelling just 12 hours later. The decision was made to take the patient for operative exploration, and wide debridement was performed due to suspicion for necrotising fasciitis intraoperatively that was ultimately confirmed on final pathology. Final speciation of intraoperative culture demonstrated a clindamycin-resistant and methicillin-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus The patient was managed with intravenous antibiotics, additional debridement and careful wound care. Delayed partial closure of wound was eventually performed once patient showed marked and persistent clinical improvement. The patient was discharged on hospital day 12 with close follow-up.

Double pyramid technique of transoral laser partial laryngectomy for radiorecurrent laryngeal cancer

Management of recurrent head and neck cancer is challenging. Surgical treatments for residual or radiorecurrent laryngeal cancer include total laryngectomy, open partial laryngectomy and transoral laser microsurgery (TLM). TLM has been shown to achieve good oncological and functional outcomes in radiorecurrent laryngeal cancer. We describe a case of a patient with radiorecurrent T2 (rT2) with impaired vocal cord mobility laryngeal cancer who underwent transoral laser partial laryngectomy using our proposed double pyramid technique. It encompasses two steps: resection of the superior and inferior pyramids. Full resection is achieved by staying close to the thyroid and cricoid cartilages. In this technique, the dissection principle is to remove anterior commissure in two pyramid fashions without having to actually follow the tumour. This method is easy and simple to master. Two years postoperatively, the patient has no signs of recurrence and is able to use her voice and has full swallowing ability.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a treatment for chronic dizziness following mild traumatic brain injury

A 61-year-old man sustained a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) following a pedestrian versus vehicle traffic accident. Post injury, he began to experience symptoms including light-headedness, spatial disorientation, nausea, fatigue and prominent dizziness brought on by postural change, physical activity or eye movements. Symptoms of dizziness persisted for over 5 years, despite numerous extensive and rigorous vestibular and vision therapy regimens. All investigations suggested normal peripheral and central vestibular functioning. The patient underwent 10 sessions of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment, with stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex at 70% of resting motor threshold and a frequency of 10 Hz. Dizziness symptom severity and frequency were reduced by greater than 50% at 3 months post treatment, with a clinically significant reduction of dizziness disability from 40 to 21 points on the Dizziness Handicap Inventory. We propose rTMS as a safe, effective and cost-effective treatment option for patients who experience persistent post-traumatic dizziness secondary to mTBI.

Trans-Frontal Five-Fluorouracil (TraFFF): a novel technique for the application of adjuvant topical chemotherapeutic agents in sinonasal adenocarcinoma

Sinonasal adenocarcinoma has traditionally been treated with surgery (craniofacial or endoscopic) and adjuvant radiotherapy. Two large series have demonstrated favourable 5-year survival using surgery with adjuvant topical chemotherapy applied repeatedly over several weeks. The authors describe a novel, transnasal application of topical 5-fluorouracil. However, complete coverage of the frontal region of the anterior skull base can be difficult to achieve with a purely transnasal approach in an outpatient setting. We present a novel adjunct method of delivering chemotherapeutic agents into this key area used in a 37-year-old man with T2N0M0 ethmoid adenocarcinoma. The procedure was well tolerated in an outpatient setting and remains disease free at 3 years postoperatively. We suggest that frontal trephination is a useful adjunct to aid accurate placement of adjuvant topical chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of sinonasal adenocarcinoma.

Endoscopic resection of a huge orbital ethmoidal mucocele masquerading as dacryocystocele

Paranasal mucoceles are cystic masses lined with epithelium thought to result from chronic obstruction of an impaired sinus ostia. If sufficiency large, they can cause ophthalmological sequelae including diplopia, visual acuity, globe displacement as well as the rhinological symptoms of facial pain and headache. We present the case of a 57-year-old man who presented with a 1-year history of epiphora and right globe prominence with associated diplopia. Imaging demonstrated a mass located within the medial aspect of the orbit, closely associated to the lamina papyracea and nasolacrimal duct consistent with a dacryocystocele. An alternate diagnosis of an ethmoidal mucocele was considered preoperatively following rhinologist opinion. Complete endoscopic resection of the cyst was undertaken. Histopathology confirmed diagnosis of an ethmoidal mucocele. Our report highlights mucocele should be considered in patients with chronic symptoms secondary to a mass situated in the nasolacrimal duct without radiological orbital bone destruction.

Sinus arrest with prolonged asystole due to the trigeminocardiac reflex during application of local anaesthetic in the nasal mucosa

The trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR) is defined as a sudden onset of parasympathetic dysrhythmias during stimulation of the trigeminal nerve. We describe a peripheral variation of TCR during manipulation of the nasal mucosa. A 42-year-old patient suffering from severe obstructive sleep apnoea was scheduled for surgical treatment. After inducted anaesthesia, the surgeon infiltrated the nasal mucosa with a local anaesthetic. The patient immediately showed an asystole and was treated with ephedrine and five chest compressions, despite spontaneous sinus rhythm return after ceasing of manipulation. Treatment with atropine established this TCR episode and ensured an event-free surgery.The authors present here, for the first time, a prolonged asystole caused by the TCR, triggered by minimal manipulation of the nasal mucosa. This severe manifestation of peripheral TCR demonstrates its importance in daily clinical business. This case was treated according to a modified treatment algorithm for all subtypes of TCR which is presented here.

Disseminated tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis presenting as a tongue base mass

An 80-year-old woman presented with dysphagia, odynophagia and progressive weight loss. Initial investigations suggested a large base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma. At panendoscopy, biopsies were taken which revealed granulomatous inflammation with multinucleated giant cells and areas of caseous necrosis. Acid-fast bacilli were identified on Ziehl-Neelsen stain and the appearances were consistent with Mycobacterium bovis Closer inspection of the patient's medical history revealed that she had previously undergone right hemicolectomy for an ascending colon stricture. The histology had shown granulomatous inflammation consistent with intestinal tuberculosis but no systemic treatment had been instigated at the time. This case highlights the importance of taking a detailed clinical history as well as the need to be cognisant of tuberculosis masquerading as cancer in the head and neck.

Unusual case of unilateral conductive hearing loss: chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

This presentation reports a novel case of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), presenting with an early cutaneous lesion within the external auditory canal, in a patient being assessed for conductive hearing loss. It has previously been reported that infiltrative CLL can involve the head and neck; however, isolated external ear canal involvement is rare. Given that the incidence of CLL in Australia is rising, this case highlights the importance of considering CLL as a differential diagnosis for presentations of unilateral conductive hearing loss.

Bilateral submandibular gland nodular oncocytic hyperplasia with papillary cystadenoma-like areas

A 57-year-old man presented in 2016 with a 4-month history of a right submandibular mass, having undergone left submandibular gland (SMG) excision in 2003. Imaging suggested a benign tumour and subsequent core biopsy findings suggested a nodular oncocytic hyperplasia, similar to the tumour removed from the contralateral side. This was confirmed on histological analysis following right submandibular gland excision which showed characteristic features of nodular oncocytic hyperplasia along with an unusual diffuse papillary cystadenoma-like ductal proliferation, similar to that seen in the 2003 specimen. A diagnosis of multinodular adenomatous oncocytic hyperplasia (MAOH) was rendered in order to communicate the unique histological features that have otherwise not been described in the literature. We believe that this is the first reported case of non-synchronous multinodular oncocytic hyperplasia and the first case affecting the submandibular glands.

Cushing's reflex secondary to neck haematoma following thyroidectomy

Neck haematoma following thyroid surgery can present with respiratory distress which is generally attributed to airway obstruction. We recently had a 63-year-old female patient who underwent total thyroidectomy for toxic nodular goitre. However, within 4 hours of surgery, she developed sudden respiratory distress which was managed by prompt evacuation of the neck haematoma. Just before the haematoma evacuation, the patient had hypertension and bradycardia along with the distress. The arterial blood gas analysis sampled at that time was normal. Intraoperatively, the tracheal framework was found rigid and non-pliable. Considering the various clinical-biochemical findings observed, we think that the cause of the respiratory distress in the index case was transiently elevated intracranial pressure, secondary to bilateral internal jugular veins' compression. We hypothesise that in many patients with immediate postoperative neck haematoma, the Cushing's reflex would at least contribute partly, if not solely to the respiratory distress.

Subperiosteal haematoma of the orbit secondary to frontal sinusitis

Reported is the case of a 79-year-old woman initially diagnosed with periorbital abscess on the background of a recent upper respiratory tract infection. Unexpectedly, intraoperative findings were that of a haematoma rather than an abscess. Subperiosteal orbital haematoma (SOH) is an extremely rare complication of rhinosinusitis. In contrast to the more common periorbital abscess, it is seldom listed as a complication of sinusitis. A review of reported cases suggests an older patient demographic are affected by SOH in contrast to periorbital abscess which typically affects paediatric patients. Given current demographic trends toward an older patient population with multiple comorbidities, failure to consider SOH as a differential will have important implications on preoperative workup, perioperative care and final outcome for patients. We present this case as a reminder of a rare but important complication of a common disease.

Primary intratracheal schwannoma resected during bronchoscopy using argon plasma coagulation

A 63-year-old man presented with intermittent, progressively worsening dyspnoea associated with cough and blood-tinged sputum. Initial work-up showed left axis deviation on ECG, chest X-ray with an elevated left hemidiaphragm and a non-contrast CT chest that showed a multilobulated mass in the proximal trachea. Bronchoscopy showed a whitish-appearing lesion, which was then sampled and partially resected with pathology showing a schwannoma with no malignant cells. He felt partial relief post procedure; however, he presented a month later with similar symptoms of dyspnoea and a repeat CT scan showed enlargement of the mass in the same location. The patient underwent another flexible bronchoscopy and resection with argon plasma coagulation (APC)/electrocautery snare. APC/electrocautery is an effective interventional bronchoscopy technique that can be used to resect endoluminal lesions or extraluminal lesions that have infiltrated into the airway using flexible/rigid bronchoscopy. It is more cost-effective, safe, works well with vascular lesions and achieves excellent haemostasis as compared with Nd:YAG lasers.

Cutaneous angioleiomyoma of the auricle: a painless variant of a painful tumour

Cutaneous angioleiomyomas (ALMs) are uncommon benign tumours of the skin which derive from the smooth muscle layer of dermal blood vessels. They usually present as tender nodules in the fifth or sixth decade of life, predominantly in the legs of females. These tumours rarely present on the head and neck, especially the ear. Head and neck ALMs differ from their more common leg counterparts in that they are painless. Additionally, they do not manifest with a female predominance. Herein, a new case of a painless auricular ALM in a 63-year-old man is reported.

Tubercular septal abscess in a postoperative patient: a novel entity

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis is a rather uncommon and potentially challenging phenomenon. Such manifestation, particularly in the scenario of a late postoperative period, is extremely rare and requires a high index of suspicion, prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment.We present the case scenario of a patient with history of successfully treated pulmonary tuberculosis many years earlier, without any signs of recurrence, who developed primary nasal septal tuberculosis after undergoing septoplasty to correct his septal deviation. His postoperative course remained uneventful for 4 months. He then presented with a spontaneous nasal septal abscess, which proved to be tubercular in nature on investigations. Appropriate diagnosis was established, and the patient was treated successfully with antituberculous therapy.Recurrent tuberculosis may present a diagnostic challenge for healthcare professionals. Only a high index of suspicion, modern diagnostic tools and institution of appropriate treatment including surgical intervention as required will ensure a promising outcome.

Cervical aortic arch: an unusual cause of a pulsatile neck mass

A 72-year-old man presented with epistaxis on two occasions requiring admission. Prior to performing a bilateral sphenopalatine artery ligation diathermy, anaesthetic concern was raised regarding what the patient described as a 'congenital aortic aneurysm', with an overlying scar secondary to explorative surgery as a child. The abnormality was a cervical aortic arch (CAA). CAA is a rare vascular anomaly, which most commonly manifests as a pulsatile neck mass. In this case, we discuss the differential diagnosis for a pulsatile neck mass and considerations to be made in the workup. We also highlight the importance of cardiovascular risk factor management in patients with CAA.

Improvement in lung function following medialisation thyroplasty in a postbilateral lung transplant patient

A 59-year-old man underwent external medialisation thyroplasty for his left unilateral vocal cord paralysis (UVCP) secondary to recent thoracic surgery. The patient had undergone bilateral lung transplant for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and was referred to the ear, nose and throat surgical team with new-onset voice hoarseness. Examination confirmed left UVCP, and after failing conservative management a decision was made to perform external medialisation thyroplasty. Following an uneventful procedure, the patient's phonation returned to normal, and remarkably on spirometry there was evidence of significant improvement in lung function. Despite case series demonstrating subjective improvement in respiration, this is the first documented case, to our knowledge, of significant improvement in spirometry following this procedure.

Mumps presenting with unilateral, synchronous parotid and submandibular gland swelling

A previously healthy 22-year-old woman presented with acute, unilateral facial and neck swelling, associated with fever and malaise. She was initially treated with intravenous antibiotics; however, CT imaging showed unilateral, synchronous swelling and inflammation of the parotid and submandibular glands, and a PCR swab from the parotid duct was positive for mumps. She was fully immunised and had no contact in the preceding period with anyone diagnosed with mumps. She responded to supportive management and her symptoms resolved over the course of her admission. Unilateral, synchronous swelling and severe inflammation of both the parotid and submandibular glands in mumps is a very unusual presentation, and not one previously reported in the literature.

Laryngopyocoele with contralateral laryngocoele: a rare cause of respiratory distress

We present the case of a 76-year-old patient who attended our emergency department with signs of sepsis and severe respiratory distress. She had stridor, type 1 respiratory failure and a left-sided neck swelling. On CT, it was initially misdiagnosed as parapharyngeal abscess. When the imaging was reviewed, it was found to be a left-sided mixed laryngopyocoele obstructing the larynx with an asymptomatic contralateral laryngocoele. The internal component of the left laryngopyocoele was excised through a microlaryngoscopy approach while the external component was approached through a transcervical incision. The patient recovered well despite a postoperative myocardial infarction. Both laryngocoeles and laryngopyocoeles are rare, with the latter being the rarer of the two, however, extensive literature review could not identify any previous cases where both have coexisted in the same patient.

Clear cell chondrosarcoma of the larynx

Chondrosarcomas represent a group of malignant tumours composed of cells producing cartilage, and clear cell chondrosarcomas (CCC) represent a variant of these. A rare case of a laryngeal CCC is presented. The patient was a 70-year-old man who presented with a 6-week history of throat pain, worsening dysphonia and a lump in the neck. Examination revealed a level 3 neck mass and positron emission tomography imaging revealed a metabolically active right laryngeal mass. Biopsies revealed a cartilaginous neoplasm. The patient underwent total laryngectomy, and the pathology confirmed CCC of the larynx. Chondrosarcomas are the most common type of sarcoma in the larynx but the CCC variant is rare. CCC are usually low-grade tumours affecting long bones, with a male predominance. Less than six cases have been described in the literature affecting the larynx. Management of these malignancies is complete surgical excision given the high risk of local recurrence.

Unusual discovery of a vestibular schwannoma following eradication therapy for Mycobacterium abscessus

A young man with cystic fibrosis in his early 30s presented to accident and emergency with acute onset unilateral lower motor neuron facial palsy, hearing loss and impaired balance following Mycobacterium abscessus eradication induction therapy. The hearing loss and impaired balance developed over a 3-day period prior to the onset of facial palsy. Further investigation with a CT scan and MRI scan led to a diagnosis of vestibular schwannoma. The facial palsy resolved with steroid treatment; however, the hearing loss is irreversible, which has had a profound impact on his life and career. This case is intriguing as the cause and association of events are unclear. A working diagnosis of incidental Bell's palsy and unilateral hearing loss caused by the vestibular schwannoma was applied. However, the onset of these symptoms in relation to M. abscessus eradication induction therapy promotes discussion.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis: atypical presentation in otorhinolaryngology

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major health burden globally more so in low/middle-income countries like India. There is an increase in the prevalence of extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) because of HIV epidemics and increased usage of immunomodulating drugs. EPTB constitutes 15%-20% of all patients with TB and >50% of HIV-TB coinfected patients. We present three such atypical presentations of EPTB in head and neck region. EPTB can mimic any disease, hence knowledge of the unusual presentations helps in making early diagnosis and thereby reduces the morbidity and mortality involved with the disease.

Paediatric parapharyngeal ganglioneuroma

A 17-year-old man initially presented to his primary care physician with throat pain for 1 week and was started on amoxicillin. After four additional days of ongoing pain and difficulty swallowing with decreased oral intake, he presented to the emergency department. Exam showed fullness to the right posterior oropharynx and palpable mass in the right neck without stridor. Initial imaging was soft tissue neck CT with contrast, which showed cystic 8 cm mass in the parapharyngeal space. Patient additionally underwent MRI, which showed an 8.6 cm mass in the right posterior oropharynx with obliteration of the vallecula. Differential diagnosis included abscess; therefore, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist was consulted for possible drainage. Intraoperatively, there was no abscess; alternatively a biopsy was obtained, which was identified by pathology as a ganglioneuroma. Patient was referred to paediatric ENT specialist, underwent extensive resection confirming diagnosis of ganglioneuroma and did well postoperatively.

Treatment of nasal myiasis with ivermectin irrigation

We describe a case of nasal myiasis due to Musca domestica in a 97-year-old Peruvian farmer with a previously undiagnosed mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. Initial attempts to remove the fly larvae using manual extraction with a toothed forceps and normal saline irrigation were unsuccessful. On subsequent nasal irrigation with ivermectin solution, the patient self-expulsed approximately 50 larvae within 15 min. He also received a course of oral ivermectin. A post-treatment CT scan revealed clear sinuses. Here, we propose that ivermectin irrigation is a simple and effective treatment for nasal myiasis.

Frey syndrome following herpes zoster in an otherwise healthy girl

A 12-year-old girl presented with red spots appearing on the left side of her face. The girl was usually healthy and fully vaccinated, including varicella vaccination.Six years prior to her presentation, she had suffered an episode of blister rash on the left side of her face, including lesions in the ear canal and buccal mucous membrane. A diagnosis of herpes zoster was made, and she was treated with acyclovir with complete skin recovery. A hearing examination demonstrated mild-to-moderate left neurosensory hearing loss.Since then, she is having short episodes of redness on her face without pain or sweating at the exact distribution of the zoster blisters 6 years ago. The appearance of spots is related to sour foods, such as sour flavoured candies, yoghourt and green apples. The diagnosis of postherpetic Frey syndrome was made, and observational approach was adopted due to the benign character of symptoms.

Multiple cranial nerve injuries and neck abscesses caused by a transorally penetrating organic stick

Foreign bodies cause a remarkable number of otolaryngological emergency visits and occasionally result in life-threatening conditions and later-emerging complications. Patient recovery depends on the detection and proper extraction of all foreign materials. Despite various obtainable diagnostic tools, adequate anamnesis forms the basis of clinical reasoning and should direct later examinations and radiological imaging. This case report describes a challenging patient with a unique trauma mechanism: many pieces of a fragmented organic foreign body emerged within 1 year of the initial injury, leading to repeated operations, a long period in an intensive care unit and a long-term swallowing and speech dysfunction.

Laryngopyocoele in an adult female mimicking an infected branchial cyst

The incidence of laryngopyocoele is very unusual and only 41 cases have been documented in the world literature. Although hoarseness and stridor are the predominant symptoms associated with laryngocoele,patient can present with a recurrent neck abscess misleading to an infected branchial cyst. Complete excision of the cyst can be effectively achieved by the transcervical approach, especially in case of a large lateral cyst in a stable patient.

Lemierre's syndrome and 2016 American College of Physician guidelines for pharyngitis: no to empiric coverage for bacterial pharyngitis. While no role for routine Fusobacterium PCR, keep suspicion for this pathogen

An 18-year-old woman presented to clinic with acute pharyngitis with 4/4 Centor criteria. Rapid streptococcal antigen test was negative. The patient, who was allergic to penicillin, was prescribed azithromycin. Ultimately, after 5 days and without any corticosteroids, she presented to the emergency department with 10/10 chest pain and was admitted to the intensive care unit. CT showed nodular lung disease and blood cultures on admission grew Fusobacterium, likely Fusobacterium nucleatum. She sustained two cardiac arrests, three tube thoracostomies, acute kidney injury requiring dialysis and ventilatory failure requiring tracheostomy. After 16 days in hospital and 18 days in long-term acute care, the patient was discharged home. It is unclear how much of this could have been prevented by prescribing an antimicrobial that had activity against Fusobacterium When severe pharyngitis occurs, Fusobacterium needs to be considered as an underlying cause. In vitro macrolides have marginal activity against most anaerobes, such as this pathogen, and should be avoided.

Laryngoceles with airway compromise complicating mucous membrane pemphigoid

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) encompasses a group of autoantibody-mediated, subepithelial blistering diseases, which primarily affect mucosal surfaces including oral, ocular, skin, genital, nasopharyngeal and oesophageal sites. We present a first description of laryngoceles as a manifestation of mucous membrane pemphigoid resulting in dynamic airway closure. Mucosal injury at other sites had previously resulted in pathergy and localised cicatrisation. We discuss successful combined medical and transcutaneous surgical intervention designed to avoid tracheostomy and minimise iatrogenic laryngeal cicatrisation.

Acute presentation of a partially obstructing laryngeal tumour: adjuvant agents to gaseous induction of anaesthesia

We present the case of a 53-year-old man who attended our emergency department with stridor. He had recently undergone investigation for possible glottic cancer. We discuss the airway management of such a case. We believe this to be the first description of propofol target controlled infusion and clonidine to supplement a sevoflurane gas induction, in order to obtund response to intubation while maintaining spontaneous ventilation. We also consider how airway interventions may impact prognosis and need to be considered.

Superficial siderosis misdiagnosed as idiopathic bilateral neurosensorial deafness

Superficial siderosis (SS) is a rare condition resulting from different sources of bleeding into the subpial space. The most common symptoms are: hypoacusia, ataxia, incontinence, dementia and parkinsonism. Since several neurodegenerative disorders may present with same clinical features, SS is often misdiagnosed. Here we present a case of SS misdiagnosed as idiopathic bilateral neurosensorial deafness.

Plane palsy: a case of transient facial weakness during an aircraft flight

Changes in atmospheric pressure have been reported to cause a transient lower motor neuron weakness of the facial nerve. We report the case of a passenger on an international flight who developed a unilateral facial weakness after take-off which resolved within 45 min. The effect is thought to be due to an ischaemic neuropraxia of the facial nerve caused by increased middle ear pressure compressing the facial nerve in an exposed facial canal. The condition has been commonly reported in scuba-divers but less frequently in airline passengers. Treatment is not necessary.

Oropharyngeal paraganglioma presenting with stridor: an unusual presentation

Head and neck paraganglioma is a rare disease to encounter in clinical practice and involvement of the base of the tongue in the oropharynx is yet to be described in the current literature. Although various surgical approaches have been described in the literature, transcervical mandibular swing is an effective technique for adequate exposure and complete excision of the oropharyngeal paraganglioma with adequate control on bleeding especially when it is assisted by coblation.

Just another case of bacterial meningitis… or… is it?

Non-traumatic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhoea is a rare condition. We describe a case of a 62-year-old woman with pneumococcal bacterial meningitis who later was found to have CSF rhinorrhoea secondary to an eroding skull base tumour, which was proven to be pituitary macroadenoma on biopsy. She recovered well from meningitis without any neurological sequelae and underwent trans-sphenoidal surgery for tumour removal as well as dural repair.

A migratory shark bone

Fish bone ingestion is a common presentation in ENT. If not managed correctly, it can cause serious complications for the patient and dilemmas for the clinician. A 49-year-old Sri Lankan woman presented to the emergency department following shark bone ingestion with a 'pricking' sensation in her throat. After initial investigation, the bone migrated through to the sternocleidomastoid muscle. After surgical removal of the shark bone she went on to develop a large neck collection, which required surgical drainage. The careful attention to the patient's history and use of imaging facilitated treatment in this case of fish bone ingestion and management of the sequelae.

Usual suspects: the foreign bodies of the aerodigestive tract

This case series is about four different foreign bodies lodged in different locations of the aerodigestive tract. All four cases had delayed diagnosis due to inconspicuous history. Radiology in the form of computed tomography aided the appropriate diagnosis in most of these cases. Though all four patients have been successfully managed by removal of foreign body, not all of them have identical outcomes. A brief discussion about predictive factors in the fish bone foreign body has been included. The authors also discuss certain critical aspects of the management, which may aid in reducing the morbidity. We emphasise on the high index of suspicion in peculiar cases and on the low threshold for radiological investigation in doubtful clinical scenarios.

Accidental aspiration of a solid tablet of sodium hydroxide

Sodium hypochlorite is a corrosive, highly alkaline (pka=7.52) household product. Ingestion of sodium hypochlorite liquid is common, showing toxicity on the oesophagus and stomach. Nevertheless, cases of sodium hypochlorite ingestions in pellet are rare and the management of them is unknown. We report the case of a 65-year-old man who accidentally swallowed a bleach tablet of 3.5 g. Six hours later, the patient developed an aphonia associated with dysponea stage IV, motivating a nasofibroscopy showing glottis and supraglottic necrosis and oedema for which the patient received intravenous steroids, was intubated and then underwent a tracheotomy. After 2 weeks under tracheotomy, local evolution was favourable allowing a removal of the cannula and a return back home.

Long-term control of laryngeal plasma cell mucositis with systemic immunosuppression

Plasma cell mucositis (PCM) is a rare non-neoplastic plasma cell proliferative disorder of the mucous membranes, which typically presents as soft tissue lesions involving oral, upper airway or genital mucosa. Laryngeal involvement resulting in stridor has been reported in four other cases previously, with three requiring tracheostomy. We present a case of supraglottic stenosis in a 53-year-old woman presenting with dysphonia and stridor, requiring surgical resection on three occasions accompanied by tracheostomy on two occasions; biopsy was consistent with PCM. Due to relapsing disease activity, high-dose prednisolone and mycophenolate mofetil were commenced with prednisolone eventually being ceased. After 2 years of mycophenolate mofetil therapy, the patient's disease has been controlled without need for further surgical intervention. This is the first reported case of prolonged symptomatic improvement with the use of systemic immunosuppressive therapy with mycophenolate mofetil in PCM.