SLEEP-GOAL: A multicenter success criteria outcome study on 302 obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) patients

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate SLEEP-GOAL as a more holistic and comprehensive success criterion for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) treatment.

METHODS

A prospective 7-country clinical trial of 302 OSA patients, who met the selection criteria, and underwent nose, palate and/or tongue surgery. Pre- and post-operative data were recorded and analysed based on both the Sher criteria (apnoea hypopnea index, AHI reduction 50% and <20) and the SLEEP-GOAL.

RESULTS

There were 229 males and 73 females, mean age of 42.4±17.3 years, mean BMI 27.9±4.2. The mean VAS score improved from 7.7±1.4 to 2.5±1.7 (p<0.05), mean Epworth score (ESS) improved from 12.2±4.6 to 4.9±2.8 (p<0.05), mean body mass index (BMI) decreased from 27.9±4.2 to 26.1±3.7 (p>0.05), gross weight decreased from 81.9±14.3kg to 76.6±13.3kg. The mean AHI decreased 33.4±18.9 to 14.6±11.0 (p<0.05), mean lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT) improved 79.4±9.2% to 86.9±5.9% (p<0.05), and mean duration of oxygen <90% decreased from 32.6±8.9 minutes to 7.3±2.1 minutes (p<0.05). The overall success rate (302 patients) based on the Sher criteria was 66.2%. Crosstabulation of respective major/minor criteria fulfilment, based on fulfilment of two major and two minor or better, the success rate (based on SLEEP-GOAL) was 69.8%. Based solely on the Sher criteria, 63 patients who had significant blood pressure reduction, 29 patients who had BMI reduction and 66 patients who had clinically significant decrease in duration of oxygen <90% would have been misclassified as "failures".

CONCLUSION

AHI as a single parameter is unreliable. Assessing true success outcomes of OSA treatment, requires comprehensive and holistic parameters, reflecting true end-organ injury/function; the SLEEP-GOAL meets these requirements.

European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2020

The European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2020 is the update of similar evidence based position papers published in 2005 and 2007 and 2012. The core objective of the EPOS2020 guideline is to provide revised, up-to-date and clear evidence-based recommendations and integrated care pathways in ARS and CRS. EPOS2020 provides an update on the literature published and studies undertaken in the eight years since the EPOS2012 position paper was published and addresses areas not extensively covered in EPOS2012 such as paediatric CRS and sinus surgery. EPOS2020 also involves new stakeholders, including pharmacists and patients, and addresses new target users who have become more involved in the management and treatment of rhinosinusitis since the publication of the last EPOS document, including pharmacists, nurses, specialised care givers and indeed patients themselves, who employ increasing self-management of their condition using over the counter treatments. The document provides suggestions for future research in this area and offers updated guidance for definitions and outcome measurements in research in different settings. EPOS2020 contains chapters on definitions and classification where we have defined a large number of terms and indicated preferred terms. A new classification of CRS into primary and secondary CRS and further division into localized and diffuse disease, based on anatomic distribution is proposed. There are extensive chapters on epidemiology and predisposing factors, inflammatory mechanisms, (differential) diagnosis of facial pain, allergic rhinitis, genetics, cystic fibrosis, aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease, immunodeficiencies, allergic fungal rhinosinusitis and the relationship between upper and lower airways. The chapters on paediatric acute and chronic rhinosinusitis are totally rewritten. All available evidence for the management of acute rhinosinusitis and chronic rhinosinusitis with or without nasal polyps in adults and children is systematically reviewed and integrated care pathways based on the evidence are proposed. Despite considerable increases in the amount of quality publications in recent years, a large number of practical clinical questions remain. It was agreed that the best way to address these was to conduct a Delphi exercise . The results have been integrated into the respective sections. Last but not least, advice for patients and pharmacists and a new list of research needs are included. The full document can be downloaded for free on the website of this journal: http://www.rhinologyjournal.com.

EUFOREA Rhinology Research Forum 2016: report of the brainstorming sessions on needs and priorities in rhinitis and rhinosinusitis

The first European Rhinology Research Forum organized by the European Forum for Research and Education in Allergy and Airway Diseases (EUFOREA) was held in the Royal Academy of Medicine in Brussels on 17th and 18th November 2016, in collaboration with the European Rhinologic Society (ERS) and the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA2LEN). One hundred and thirty participants (medical doctors from different specialties, researchers, as well as patients and industry representatives) from 27 countries took part in the multiple perspective discussions including brainstorming sessions on care pathways and research needs in rhinitis and rhinosinusitis. The debates started with an overview of the current state of the art, including weaknesses and strengths of the current practices, followed by the identification of essential research needs, thoroughly integrated in the context of Precision Medicine (PM), with personalized care, prediction of success of treatment, participation of the patient and prevention of disease as key principles for improving current clinical practices. This report provides a concise summary of the outcomes of the brainstorming sessions of the European Rhinology Research Forum 2016.

Cognitive impairment and reduced life span of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy homozygotes

OBJECTIVE

To assess the evolution and life expectancy in patients with oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) who are homozygotes for two (GCN)13 expansions in the PABPN1 encoding gene.

BACKGROUND

OPMD is particularly frequent among French Canadians (FCs) and Uzbek Jews (UJs), who carry a same size, (GCN)13, PABPN1 mutation. The high rate of consanguinity among UJs together with late disease onset and normal fertility results in homozygous cases.

METHODS

For 15 to 20 years, we followed 4 FC and 6 UJ homozygotes with OPMD and compared them with their heterozygous parents and siblings. In addition to clinical evaluation, electrodiagnostic tests, psychological tests, and brain imaging studies were performed.

RESULTS

In all (GCN)13-(GCN)13 patients, OPMD started before age 35 years, with bilateral ptosis and dysphagia; external ophthalmoparesis and dysphonia followed within a few years, as well as weakness in proximal limb muscles. All patients had recurrent aspirations and lost weight; 4 patients required surgical interventions to alleviate dysphagia, and 5 required feeding gastrostomies. Most patients were followed by psychiatrists due to cognitive decline, recurrent depression, or psychotic episodes. Six patients died at ages 50, 51, 53, 56, 56, and 57 years. The eldest patient is now 51 years old; she is cachectic and requires special diet and psychiatric care for paranoid psychosis and uninhibited behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy progresses faster in homozygote compared with heterozygote patients. It is not restricted to the muscles, but also involves the CNS with cognitive decline and psychotic manifestations and leads to a reduced life expectancy.

Effects of passive smoking on odour identification in children

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The effect of passive smoking on odour identification in children has rarely been reported. This study assessed the ability of such young subjects to identify a variety of odours.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 20 children, 10 who were exposed to passive smoke at home and 10 with nonsmoking parents. Ten odourants were tested: vinegar, ammonia, peppermint, roses, bleach, vanilla, cough drops, turpentine, licorice, and mothballs. Each child was presented with five test trays containing all 10 odourants in random order.

RESULTS

Of the total of 500 odours presented, the control group correctly identified 396 (79%) and the study group identified 356 (71%) (p < .005). The study group tended to misidentify 4 of the 10 odourants tested, namely, vanilla, roses, mothballs, and cough drops-56 of 200 (28%), compared with 96 of 200 (48%) in the control group. This was a highly significant finding (p < .0005).

CONCLUSION

This work demonstrated that children exposed to passive smoke have difficulty identifying odours in comparison with children raised in relatively smoke-free environments. The identification of four odourants, vanilla, roses, mothballs, and cough drops, was particularly diminished in this study group.

Airway burns and atelectasis in an adolescent following aspiration of molten wax

Scald injuries caused by hot liquids are not a frequently reported cause of pediatric respiratory and alimentary tract burns. Aspiration of molten wax with subsequent pharyngeal or laryngeal burns has not been described at all, to the best of our knowledge. A case of an adolescent who presented with airway burns and atelectasis subsequent to aspiration of molten wax is herein described and discussed.

Connections of the facial and vestibular nerves: an anatomic study

The facial and vestibulocochlear nerves emanate from the brain stem and then run parallel to each other within the internal auditory canal prior to their more peripheral distribution. Although anatomic connections between the facial and cochlear nerves have been described, reports outlining facial-vestibular anastomoses are few and may be found primarily in the non-English literature. The present study documents the existence of vestibulofacial neural connections as part of an anatomic dissection of 17 fresh human temporal bones.

Unique characteristics of malignant schneiderian papilloma

PURPOSE

To ascertain the characteristics unique to malignant schneiderian papilloma (MSP).

METHODS

A case-control study of all schneiderian papilloma (SP) patients treated between 1978 and 1997 was conducted. Comparison was made between patients with MSP and patients with benign SP (BSP).

RESULTS

A diagnosis of SP was made in 72 patients. Malignant changes, all of them the inverted papilloma subtype, were found in 8 of these patients. Three were diagnosed carcinoma in situ, and 5 were defined as invasive squamous cell carcinoma. At presentation, the MSP patients had significantly larger tumor spread into the ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses. The recurrence rate was significantly lower in SP patients treated with extensive surgical procedures. An association was found between the presence of malignant lesions and positive smoking history, subjective awareness of a nasal mass, and ethmoid and sphenoid sinus involvement. Also, histologic multicentricity was a feature more often seen in MSP than BSP and was a significant correlate with malignancy.

CONCLUSION

The physician evaluating a patient with SP should be aware of the features described and of their possible association with a malignant lesion.

Spontaneous vertebral artery dissection mimicking acute vertigo. Case report

A patient with acute vertigo, and normal findings on neurologic examination, was found to have vertebral artery dissection (VAD). This case shows that the clinical picture of VAD can mimic vertigo of labyrinthine (i.e, peripheral) origin.

Computed tomography diagnosis of esophageal bone impaction: a prospective study

A prospective study was performed on 45 patients for an assessment of the use of computed tomography (CT) in the management of a suspected esophageal fish bone or chicken bone. All patients had negative findings on laryngoscopy; therefore, pharyngeal and hypopharyngeal foreign bodies were excluded from further consideration. The patients underwent radiographic examination with plain films and a cervical CT scan without contrast material. Patients with positive findings were taken to the operating room, where they underwent rigid esophagoscopy under general anesthesia, while those with negative findings remained for observation for 24 hours. Thirty CT scans were positive for an esophageal foreign body, and in all cases but 1, a foreign body was found during the operation. Fourteen of 15 patients with normal CT scan findings managed well with no further intervention. One patient with persistent complaints underwent esophagoscopy, but no foreign body was found. Our conclusion is therefore that CT is a simple and reliable method for diagnosing esophageal bone impaction and may reduce the rate of unnecessary esophagoscopies.

The safety and efficacy of treatment with air abrasion technology

AIMS

To evaluate patient and operator exposure to respirable particulates following the use of air abrasion in tooth preparation, and to compare the microleakage of pit and fissure sealants after conventional, bur and air abrasion preparation of the pits and fissures.

METHODS

To examine air abrasion safety, sampling data were collected using a physical model of the upper torso of a patient. Previously extracted bovine incisors were prepared using an air abrasion instrument. Patient and operator exposure samples were collected. The variables examined included the size of the alumina oxide particles, the speed of particle delivery and the method of dust collection. To assess the efficacy of air abrasion, 36 extracted human molars were divided into three groups. The groups were prepared by conventional acid etching, opening the pits and fissures with a round bur, or by air abrasion. To simulate oral conditions, sealed teeth were immersed in artificial saliva and thermocycled. Teeth were immersed in a 1% solution of methylene blue and sectioned to assess the microleakage associated with each sealant.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) Dust from the KCP 1000 is insufficient to be a health hazard to patients or operators, (2) chair-side suction can be used as an alternative to the KCP 1000 suction, (3) superior sealants were obtained when tooth surfaces were prepared by a bur, compared to air abrasion and conventionally prepared surfaces, and (4) air abrasion tooth surfaces demonstrated less microleakage than conventionally prepared tooth surfaces.

Biliary tract obstruction secondary to mycosis fungoides: a case report

Mycosis fungoides is a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma that can disseminate to multiple organs. We report a patient who presented with obstructive jaundice caused by isolated involvement of the extrahepatic biliary tree by mycosis fungoides. Initially, endoscopic examinations and biopsies of the biliary tree and liver failed to reveal a cause for the obstructive symptoms. Finally, surgical resection of the gallbladder and extrahepatic ducts was performed. Examination revealed a dense, mixed lymphocytic infiltrate with atypical cells within the mucosa. Gene rearrangement studies confirmed the presence of a monoclonal T-cell population. The pattern of the gene rearrangement in the biliary tree was identical to that found in a previous skin biopsy that showed mycosis fungoides. Although liver involvement by mycosis fungoides is not uncommon, disease isolated to the extrahepatic biliary tree has not previously been reported. This case should alert clinicians and pathologists to yet another cause of obstructive jaundice.

Sinonasal schneiderian papilloma

OBJECTIVE

Schneiderian papilloma of the paranasal sinuses is a locally aggressive benign epithelial tumour with malignant potential.

METHOD

A retrospective analysis of 72 patients as seen at our institution from 1978 to 1997 was conducted.

RESULTS

The most frequent symptoms at time of presentation were nasal obstruction, presence of a nasal mass, and nasal discharge. The most common sites of involvement were the maxillary antrum (58.3%), lateral nasal wall (41.7%) and ethmoid sinus (37.5%). Histologic examination confirmed all 72 instances of schneiderian papilloma, with 55/72 (76.4%) being of the inverted type, 13/72 (18.1%) being the fungiform type, and 4/72 (5.5%) being the cylindrical type. An associated malignancy or potential premalignant condition was present in 15 patients (20.8%), with 8 (11.1%) exhibiting dysplastic changes, 4 patients (5.5%) found to have carcinoma in situ, and 3 patients (4.2%) found to have invasive carcinoma. Conservative surgical excision was performed in 37 (51.4%) with more radical surgery, including lateral rhinotomy and medial maxillectomy performed in 35 (48.6%) patients. Recurrence was seen in 17/37 (45.9%) patients treated conservatively compared to 0/35 (0.0%) patients treated aggressively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that more aggressive surgery is associated with a more definitive treatment and significantly less recurrence and, as such, is the management of choice in cases of schneiderian papilloma. Furthermore, our results indicate the need for long-term follow-up, and the applicability of sinus endoscopy in doing so.

Human nasal ciliary-beat frequency in normal and chronic sinusitis subjects

OBJECTIVE

Ciliary-beat frequency (CBF) is an important factor influencing mucociliary flow in the respiratory tract. A significant correlation exists between CBF and mucus transport time (MTT), which suggests that CBF is the main factor in nasal mucociliary clearance in healthy individuals. Mucociliary clearance is influenced by the temperature of the inspired air and decreases at temperatures below 33 degrees C. It is unknown whether CBF varies in different sites within the nasal chamber and exactly how CBF is altered in disease states such as chronic sinusitis (CS) and nasal polyposis (NP). Our study was conducted in an attempt to answer these questions.

METHOD

CBF was measured in nasal biopsies from eight normal control subjects: 6 CS and 8 NP patients. Biopsies from the regions of the maxillary, ethmoid, frontal, and sphenoid sinus ostia were also obtained. The material was analyzed using a computerized image-processing system.

RESULTS

Our data demonstrated a significant decrease in CBF at 22 degrees C compared to at 35 degrees C for all sinus biopsies (p < .05). We found no statistical difference between the CBF of biopsies from the regions of the various sinus ostia. A comparison between the patients with CS and normal controls again revealed no significant difference in CBF, a finding which contradicts previously published reports. Surprisingly, an increase in CBF was observed in NP patients compared to control and CS patients (p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that our technique is a viable model for studying sinonasal CBF in the human. Our data suggest that a mechanism other than decreased CBF may account for the decreased mucociliary clearance observed in chronic sinusitis.

Microleakage of sealants after conventional, bur, and air-abrasion preparation of pits and fissures

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to compare the microleakage of unfilled and filled sealants after conventional, bur, and air-abrasion tooth preparation.

METHODS

Seventy-two extracted molars were randomly divided into three groups. In group 1, 24 teeth were prepared by pumicing and acid etching with 37% phosphoric acid. In group 2, 24 teeth were prepared with a 1/4-round bur in a low-speed handpiece and then acid etched. In group 3, 24 teeth were prepared by high-speed (160 PSI) microabrasion using 50 mu alpha alumina particles in a KCP 2000 machine. In each group, 12 teeth were sealed with a filled sealant and 12 teeth with an unfilled sealant. All the teeth were stored in artificial saliva for 7 days and thermocycled for 2000 cycles. Teeth were then sealed apically and coated with nail varnish 1 mm from the margins and stained in 1% methylene blue for 24 h. Each tooth was sectioned in three locations and ranked (0-3) for microleakage.

RESULTS

There were 216 sections and 66% showed no leakage.

CONCLUSIONS

Chi-square statistical analysis of the data led to the following conclusions: 1) superior results were obtained when the tooth surfaces were prepared by a bur, 2) conventionally and KCP 2000-prepared tooth surfaces yielded similar results, and 3) the unfilled sealant was superior to the filled sealant.

A vascular mass in the neck

Images

Mucosal melanoma following autologous stem cell transplantation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)

The incidence of secondary malignancy following autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is increasing. We describe a patient with stage IVB Hodgkin's disease who developed primary amelanotic malignant melanoma of the tongue 18 months following autologous stem cell transplantation. She was treated by partial glossectomy and supra-omohyoid neck dissection followed by cytokine-mediated immunotherapy. Malignant melanoma of the skin is a frequent secondary solid tumor seen in patients undergoing stem cell transplantation. However, mucosal melanoma which is rare by itself (0.2-8%) has never been reported in NHL patients following ASCT. Early diagnosis and initiation of combined local and systemic treatments including immuno-therapy may improve the outcome of this rare but lethal complication.

Audiovestibular findings in patients with deafness caused by a mitochondrial susceptibility mutation and precipitated by an inherited nuclear mutation or aminoglycosides

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the audiological and vestibular changes associated with a mitochondrial DNA mutation in an Arab-Israeli family and in other families with mitochondrial predisposition to aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss.

DESIGN

Evaluation of audiological (pure tone thresholds, speech reception thresholds, speech discrimination, tympanometry, acoustic reflex thresholds, tone decay, and auditory brain-stem evoked response recording) and vestibular (complete history, physical examination, and 2-channel electronystagmography) systems. In 5 patients, structural evaluation of the inner ear was done by magnetic resonance imaging.

PATIENTS

Fifteen members of an Arab-Israeli family, and 1 Chinese woman with the same mitochondrial DNA mutation who experienced hearing loss after short-term exposure to streptomycin.

RESULTS

Most of the patients had a profound hearing loss due to cochlear involvement. The hearing loss usually was not accompanied by notable peripheral vestibular dysfunction. In the patient with severe hearing loss after exposure to aminoglycoside, the vestibular function was completely normal.

CONCLUSIONS

In most of the Arab-Israeli patients with congenital deafness, the vestibular system function was normal, in contrast to the frequency of vestibular abnormality among deaf children, which was described in the literature. This may be related to genetic predisposition to aminoglycoside-induced deafness.

[An unusual bronchial foreign body: a fragment of a tracheostomy tube]

A fragment of a fractured tracheostomy tube as a foreign body in the bronchus is very unusual. We report an 18-year old male with Hunter's syndrome who presented with fever and bronchorrhea. He had worn a tracheostomy tube for 2 years without its being removed for cleaning. Chest X-ray showed an opaque foreign body in the right main bronchus which was removed through a flexible bronchoscope and found to be a piece of the broken edge of the outer cannula of a tracheostomy tube. We suggest regular examination of tracheostomy tubes for signs of wear-and-tear and recommend their periodic renewal before they become worn out.

Reproducible measurements to quantify cutaneous involvement in scleroderma

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN

Because the current assessment of scleroderma through clinical skin scoring is subjective and imprecise, we devised fully quantitative measures of cutaneous involvement. First, we developed image analysis software for calculating the density of dermal collagen from 58 scleroderma and 327 control biopsy specimens. Second, using a durometer gauge, we obtained measurements of skin hardness over 12 body regions for 13 patients with scleroderma and 100 controls. We obtained serial durometer measurements at 2-cm intervals over the arms of four patients with scleroderma, correlating them with blinded assessments of skin score. Third, we produced two-dimensional laser Doppler maps of cutaneous blood flow over the dorsal aspect of the hands of 10 patients with scleroderma and 16 controls and, with software, we determined the mean red blood cell flux, density of arteriolar islands, and percentage of avascular area at each measured site.

RESULTS

Average collagen density was significantly higher in patients with scleroderma (88.5% +/- 6.9%) compared with that in controls (75% +/- 9.3%) (P < .001). Durometer measurements were significantly greater for patients with scleroderma (P < .05) over the finger, hand, wrist, forearm, and ventral aspect of the arm. In individual patients, the measurements paralleled with skin score. In patients with scleroderma, mean red blood cell flux (483.2 +/- 421.2 mV) and arteriolar island density (1.4 +/- 0.5/cm2) were significantly greater than were the control averages (276.3 +/- 146.3 mV [P < .03] and 1.0 +/- 0.5/cm2 [P < .013], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Dermal collagen density and durometer measurements of skin hardness accurately quantify skin sclerosis in scleroderma and permit the determination of sclerotic borders, respectively. Increased cutaneous red blood cell flux and greater use of microvascular reserve reflect defects in vascular regulation inherent to the disease. These reproducible measurements will allow us to more precisely monitor the progression of scleroderma, evaluate its response to experimental treatments, and investigate its pathogenetic origins.

Complication of jet ventilation during microlaryngeal surgery

Complications during jet ventilation for microlaryngoscopy, which is usually a relatively safe procedure, are rare. Those described have included hypoventilation, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema, pneumoperitoneum, and gastric distention. We describe herein a case of a life-threatening complication during jet ventilation with a Carden's tube that ended in laparotomy.

Aural myiasis caused by flesh fly larva, Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis

During the years 1990 to 1993, four cases of aural myiasis in children, caused by the flesh fly larvae of Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis, are reported. The patients were admitted to the Emergency Room complaining of discharging ear, otalgia, and itching. Flesh fly larvae were removed after local treatment and identified as Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis. These cases are discussed with a review of the literature.

Rhinocerebral aspergillosis in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation

Rhinocerebral aspergillosis (RA) is becoming increasingly common in patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The disease can involve nearly all major head and neck structures, including the nose, paranasal sinuses, and orbits. Intracranial extension of the infection is of major concern, since this is usually a fatal complication. Our study population comprised 423 consecutive BMT patients at Hadassah University Hospital from January 1986 to August 1992. Eight patients (1.9%) developed RA, 5 of whom had underlying hematologic malignancies, and 3 of whom had severe aplastic anemia. Only 2 of the 8 patients responded completely to therapy, with a follow-up of 15 months. It appears that RA is a fatal complication in immunocompromised patients post-BMT. Early diagnosis followed by extensive surgical debridement of necrotic tissue and systemic, as well as topical, antifungal therapy with amphotericin B or its new formulations and the patient's recovery of bone marrow function may improve the outcome of this life-threatening complication.

Traumatic macroglossia

A case of severe macroglossia resulting from trauma (tongue biting) during eclampsia and causing respiratory obstruction is described. Despite medical treatment with steroids and antibiotics for a week, followed by tracheostomy, no significant improvement was observed. After an energetic but cautious maneuver of reducing and restraining the tongue in the oral cavity, the swelling reduced dramatically in 24 to 48 hours. Earlier manual replacement of the tongue into the oral cavity is advised in order to arrest the cycle of venous and lymphatic obstruction and congestion that leads to further edema and increased tongue swelling. The mechanism of traumatic macroglossia is discussed.

The role of CT imaging in the evaluation of cervical esophageal foreign bodies

Foreign bodies in the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus, such as chicken and fish bones, occur frequently and usually need radiologic work-up in order to demonstrate the presence of the foreign body and its location. Plain antero-posterior and lateral X-ray views of the neck, and if needed, a barium swallow, are the standard. When these studies fail to show the foreign body, unenhanced CT may demonstrate these small calcified esophageal foreign bodies. We evaluated 13 patients with cervical esophageal foreign bodies by CT. It is readily available and rapid and exposes the patient to less radiation than a barium swallow. CT evaluation with soft tissue and bone windows may replace the barium swallow because of its better detection of thin, small, minimally calcified foreign bodies which are often obscured by overlying tissues in the usual X-ray studies.

Pseudoxanthoma-elasticum-like skin changes induced by penicillamine

The interference of penicillamine with collagen and elastin cross-linking can lead to wrinkling and anetoderma-like lesions in flexural areas as well as fragility and hemorrhagic blisters in pressure areas. These changes are seen primarily in patients with Wilson's disease or cystinuria who are on long-term therapy. This is a report of a patient with cystinuria on long-term, high-dose penicillamine who developed pseudoxanthoma-elasticum-like lesions. Coalescent yellow papules with a 'plucked-chicken skin' appearance were seen in the axillae and on the neck while redundant skin folds were noted in the anterior axillary line and lower buttocks. By light and electron microscopy, involved and uninvolved skin demonstrated 'lumpy-bumpy' dermal elastic fibers with no calcium deposition. These histologic changes are similar to those previously described in patients with penicillamine-induced skin lesions.

Necrolytic migratory erythema without glucagonoma

Two patients with clinical and histologic findings consistent with necrolytic migratory erythema are presented. Unlike previously described patients with this disorder, neither patient had substantially elevated glucagon levels nor an associated pancreatic islet cell tumor. The cause of the skin disease in these patients remains unknown but may be related to the underlying small-bowel disorder present in both.