Are autopsies useful? Do premorbid findings predict postmortem results in head and neck cancer patients?

A total of 53 autopsies were analysed in patients with head and neck squamous carcinoma. The discordance rate, that is the proportion of autopsies that revealed new information, was 53%. One-third of patients did not die of cancer. Clinical findings either misdiagnosed or under-diagnosed loco regional disease in 34% of cases, and distant malignant disease in 36% of cases. It appears that the autopsy reveals new and useful information in the head and neck cancer patient, and consent should be sought.

Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in otitis media with effusion

A qualitative and quantitative study of the presence of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP 2) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP 9), in the effusions of otitis media with effusion (OME), was performed. The activity of the above enzymes was compared in thick and thin effusions, and concentrations compared in samples from children with one, two, three and four sets of ventilation tubes. The activity of both MMP 2 and MMP 9 was higher in thick than thin effusions, P = 0.07 and P = 0.04, respectively. The concentrations of MMP 9 did not vary with the number of tube insertions but those of MMP 2 did (ANOVA P < 0.05). MMPs may be involved in tympanic membrane damage and prognosis of OME.

Effect of anaesthetic agents on tympanometry and middle-ear effusions

Following informed parental consent 93 children underwent bilateral grommet insertion. Tympanometry was performed pre-operatively, and immediately prior to myringotomy. A standardized anaesthetic was used. At myringotomy the presence or absence of fluid was recorded, as well as the time since induction of the general anaesthetic. A pre-operative type B tympanogram predicted a middle-ear effusion at myringotomy in 92 per cent of patients. A pre-operative type C2 tympanogram predicted a middle-ear effusion at myringotomy in 39 per cent of patients. Sixty tympanograms (30 per cent) changed following a general anaesthetic. Fourteen type B tympanograms changed to type A and eight of these had effusions. The duration of the general anaesthetic did not influence the probability of a middle-ear effusion being present at myringotomy. A pre-operative type B tympanogram is a good predictor of middle-ear fluid. The duration of the general anaesthetic is not significant in predicting the presence of a middle-ear effusion.

Frey's syndrome following parotidectomy: prevention using a rotation sternocleidomastoid muscle flap

The benefit of using a sternocleidomastoid flap following parotidectomy to reduce the incidence of symptomatic gustatory sweating (Frey's syndrome) was reviewed. A retrospective study was undertaken to review subjective and objective symptoms of Frey's syndrome in two groups of patients, one of whom had undergone superficial parotidectomy with a sternocleidomastoid flap rotated at the time of surgery and a second group of patients who had undergone a standard superficial parotidectomy. A total of 22 patients, randomly sampled and willing to attend, were evaluated postoperatively, at a median time from surgery of 42 months (range 23-82 months) in the non-flap group and 44 months (range 14-66 months) in the flap group, by Minor's starch iodine test. In the 11 patients who had a sternocleidomastoid flap rotated, two had evidence of gustatory sweating. Of the 11 that had not undergone sternocleidomastoid flap rotation, nine patients showed evidence of gustatory sweating (P < 0.05, chi 2 test). There were two patients in total who had clinical symptoms of Frey's syndrome and both of these had not undergone flap rotation at the time of parotidectomy.

Wegener's granulomatosis--a review of diagnosis and treatment in 53 subjects

We reviewed 79 patients with clinically suspected Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) diagnosed in Nottingham between 1990 and 1997. Fifty-three patients were confirmed as having WG. We describe the symptoms and signs, features of diagnostic significance, ANCA results, biopsy sites, histology, treatment and outcome in this group. Nasal symptoms and signs had a positive predictive value of 63%, c-ANCA at presentation 100%, and positive nasal biopsy 100%. The negative predictive values were 41%; 79% and 74% respectively. From this study, we recommend that patients who have a negative ANCA and where there remains a clinical suspicion of WG, an ENT examination should be undertaken. Whilst a suspicious lesion should be biopsied and a positive histological picture has a 100% positive predictive value, a negative nasal biopsy does not exclude WG as 5 patients went on to develop a positive ANCA up to 4 years later. In 11 ANCA negative patients where there were signs of nasal mucosal disease, 6 had a positive biopsy and this highlights the importance of nasal biopsy. The c-ANCA should be repeated in patients with a negative c-ANCA and biopsy results at presentation, in whom there remains a clinical suspicion of WG.