Faculty Bibliography

Teratomas of the head and neck are a particular type of developmental malformation or tumor that are composed of cells with a full range of histogenic potential. They occur almost exclusively in the newborn and infancy periods. Treatment is directed at complete surgical removal with preservation of normal anatomic structures

The laryngocele and saccular cyst are uncommon anomalies of the larynx. Two patients, one with an internal laryngocele and one with a saccular cyst, were successfully treated by endoscopic laser marsupialization of their lesions. Since neither patient was found to be a suitable candidate for prolonged general anesthesia, the patients did not require a tracheotomy and were discharged the day after surgery. Both patients are doing well, with remarkable improvement in their voices persisting in their three year follow-up. The signs, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and indications for endoscopic laser treatment of internal laryngoceles and saccular cysts are discussed. Laser marsupialization of internal laryngoceles appears to be an acceptable mode of treatment

Contrast enhanced CT and MR are complementary studies in evaluating inflammatory disease of the temporal bone. CT should be performed in preference to MR as the initial examination because of its ability to detect and delineate both soft tissue and bony abnormalities. CT should always be performed if intratympanic pathology is suspected, even if the MR examination is normal. MR can be used to distinguish effusion and cholesterol granuloma from other soft tissue masses in the tympanic cavity. Noncontrast MR cannot differentiate between cholesteatoma and granulation tissue. The efficacy of gadolinium-DTPA in inflammatory disease of the temporal bone awaits further investigation

Treatment of fistulae in children should be targeted at four different problem areas. The surgical intervention of these fistulae is most efficacious in controlling recurrent meningitis, which has not been discussed in this paper, and in the controlling of vestibular symptoms. Whether or not it will stop the progression of hearing loss or restore hearing is not known in a group of patients. It has been documented in this and other reports that the closure of the fistula will in specific cases appear to be associated in time with a stopping of the progression of the hearing loss and is associated also in time with the restoration of hearing function. Various factors must be considered in developing criteria for intervention. A decision to explore the ear should be based on history, audiometric change, vestibular testing including a fistula test, and malformation of bony labyrinth.

Nasal septal defects impair nasal physiology, leading to progressively more severe rhinosinusitis and the development of chronic disease. Anatomy and physiology are described. Treatment for the deviated nasal septum is discussed

Serial measurements of blood pressure, body weight, food and water intake, and salt and water excretion were compared in two groups of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) over a 12-day period: control SHR (n = 11) and a group (n = 9) which received supplementary 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP; 2 mg/ml) in its drinking water. During the final 4 days of study, both groups received additional oral carbidopa (50 mg/kg twice a day) to inhibit peripheral, but not brain aromatic L-amino-acid decarboxylase (LAAD), an enzyme necessary to the formation of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) from 5-HTP. 5-Hydroxytryptophan increased urinary 5-HT and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) markedly; following carbidopa, urinary 5-HT, and to a lesser degree urinary 5-HIAA, decreased, whereas brain 5-HT and 5-HIAA increased. Spontaneously hypertensive rats treated with 5-HTP plus carbidopa had significantly lower blood pressure levels, lower pulse rates, reductions in food and water intake, salt and water excretion, and a loss of body weight, when compared with the control SHR. These data indicate that enhanced brain formation of 5-HT can give rise to metabolic and circulatory responses with a resultant lowering of blood pressure

The causes of nasopharyngeal obstruction are described. The diagnosis and treatment of each type of nasopharyngeal obstruction are presented in detail.