Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma mimicking thyroid abscess

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a particularly fearsome form of thyroid cancer due to its extreme aggressiveness and dismal prognosis. Patients with ATC typically present with a rapidly enlarging neck mass with compressive symptoms. We report a case of ATC, mimicking a thyroid abscess; in a 52-year-old Chinese male with one month history of enlarging neck mass. Ultrasound of the neck was suggestive of a thyroid cyst and fine needle aspiration cytology was negative for malignancy. He presented again 2 weeks later with increased swelling and pain suggestive of right neck abscess. An incision and drainage was performed and histopathology result of a proximal isolated enlarged lymph node biopsied revealed metastatic carcinoma. Subsequent right thyroid wedge biopsy finding 1 month later were confirmatory of ATC.

Lidocaine/Phenylephrine Nasal Spray versus Nebulization Prior to Nasoendoscopy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective To objectively compare the nasal decongestion potency of lidocaine/phenylephrine when delivered with a nasal nebulizer and a nasal spray before a rigid nasoendoscopic examination. Study Design Open-label randomized controlled trial. Setting Multicenter study. Methods This prospective clinical trial involved 106 participants with untreated chronic rhinitis. Fifty-three participants had 400 μL of lidocaine/phenylephrine administered into the right nostril with a nasal nebulizer, while the remaining 53 participants had 400 μL administered with a nasal spray. The control was the left nostril. Nasal resistance at 150-Pa fixed pressure was evaluated with an active anterior rhinomanometry at 5, 10, 15, and 30 minutes postintervention. Pain score was assessed subjectively by applying pressure to the inferior turbinate 30 minutes after intervention. Results There was an overall reduction in nasal resistance of the right nostril when lidocaine/phenylephrine was administered with the nasal nebulizer in comparison with the nasal spray. However, a statistically significant difference in nasal resistance was seen only at 5 minutes ( P = .047), 15 minutes ( P = .016), and 30 minutes ( P = .036). The examining endoscopist further supported the degree of nasal decongestion via subjective assessment of the nasal cavity ( P = .001). Pain scores obtained after the intervention showed a significant decrease in pain threshold when the nasal nebulizer was used instead of the nasal spray ( P = .040). Conclusions This study suggests that the delivery of lidocaine/phenylephrine to the nasal cavity by the nasal nebulizer provides better decongestive and analgesic potency as compared with the delivery by nasal sprays.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios in the prognostication of primary non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a geographically and racially variable disease which has a high incidence in Malaysia. Based on current concepts in tumour related inflammation the inflammatory marker, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was tested to find its relationship with prognosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio on prognosis in non-metastatic primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and to further refine the cut off between high and low neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio values.

METHODS

The medical charts of patients with histologically confirmed nasopharyngeal carcinoma from 1st January 2005 until 31st December 2009 were reviewed retrospectively and theneutrophil-lymphocyte ratio was calculated to see if there was any association between their higher values with higher failure rates.

RESULTS

Records of 98 patients (n=98) were retrieved and reviewed. Only neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (p=0.004) and tumor node metastasis staging (p=0.002) were significantly different between recurrent and non-recurrent groups, with the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio being independent of tumor node metastasis staging (p=0.007). Treatment failure was significantly higher in the high neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio group (p=0.001). Disease free survival was also significantly higher in this group (p=0.000077).

CONCLUSION

High neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio values are associated with higher rates of recurrence and worse disease free survival in non-metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients undergoing primary curative treatment.

Severe descending necrotizing mediastinitis: vacuum-assisted dressing did wonder

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a rapidly progressive disease from the spread of cervical infection. Transcervical and transthoracic drainage was the recognized traditional surgical approach to achieve adequate clearance of infection. Non-invasive vacuum-assisted dressing is a new technique where applied negative pressure can help remove infective fluid and to promote wound healing. A 60-year-old man presented with odynophagia, fever and anterior neck swelling for 2 weeks. He was diagnosed to have anterior neck abscess and underwent surgical drainage. However, it did not respond well, but progressed to involve superior and inferior mediastinum. Vacuum-assisted dressing was applied for total of 2 weeks and the patient recovered without going through usual traditional transthoracic drainage. Vacuum drainage is a simple, safe and non-invasive method of managing DNM, in well selected group with small abscess cavity without airway obstruction and septicemia. This potential technique can lead to paradigm shift in treating life-threatening DNM.

Integrated Anterior, Central, and Posterior Skull Base Unit - A New Perspective

The skull base is one of the most complex anatomical regions and forms the floor of the cranial cavity. Skull base surgery involves open, microscopic, and endoscopic approaches to the anterior, middle, or posterior cranial fossa. A multispecialty team approach is essential in treating patients with skull base lesions. Traditionally, rhinologists are involved in providing access to anterior skull base lesions while otologists are involved in the treatment of lesions of the posterior skull base. This is the case in most skull base centers today. In this article, we share a new perspective of an integrated skull base unit where a team of otolaryngologists and neurosurgeons treat anterior, middle, and posterior skull base pathologies. The rationale for this approach is that most technical skills required in skull base surgery are interchangeable and apply whether an endoscopic or microscopic approach is used. We show how the different skills apply to the different approaches and share our experience with an integrated skull base unit.

Hypoglossal nerve tumor: A rare primary extracranial meningioma of the neck

We report a case of primary extracranial meningioma arising from the hypoglossal nerve in a 54-year-old man who presented with a 9-month history of hoarseness and progressive dysphagia. He had also noticed that his tongue was deviated to the left and, as a result, he was having difficulty pronouncing words. Examination revealed fasciculation and muscle wasting on the left side of the tongue. Other cranial nerve functions were normal. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography detected a heterogeneous mass that had arisen above the bifurcation of the left common carotid artery and had extended to near the skull base. Transcervical excision of the tumor was performed, and histopathology identified it as a meningioma of the hypoglossal nerve. The patient recovered uneventfully, and he was without recurrence at more than 2 years of follow-up. A primary extracranial meningioma is extremely rare, and its presentation may be subtle. A thorough investigation is necessary to avoid fatal compressive symptoms.

Unusual parapharyngeal lesion: aberrant thyroid gland

An ectopic location of the thyroid gland usually occurs in the midline, starting anywhere from the tongue to the diaphragm. The occurrence of an ectopic thyroid gland in a non-midline site is extremely rare. We report a 32-year-old Malay woman with an aberrant thyroid gland presenting as a parapharyngeal lesion. She had a normally functioning thyroid gland. An ectopic thyroid should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses in the parapharyngeal mass.

Melioidosis: an uncommon cause of neck abscess

INTRODUCTION

Melioidosis is a life-threatening disease caused by B. pseudomallei. It is endemic in Southeast Asia with a few reports from the Western world. It is transmitted via inhalation, ingestion or direct contact with an open wound. Clinically it may present with local or systemic symptoms. Mortality rate is very high in systemic disease; but local infection is usually mild, which causes delay in seeking medical attention.

CASE REPORT

We report a case of neck melioidosis presenting as a parapharyngeal abscess that was successfully managed with incision and drainage and intravenous ceftazidime and co-trimoxazole for 6 weeks followed by eradication therapy with oral co amoxiclav.

CONCLUSION

Neck melioidosis must be considered one of differential diagnoses for "cold abscesses" of the neck, especially in an endemic area, in Asian migrants, or in those with history of previous visit from the endemic regions.