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We describe 19 cases of pulmonary disease due to Mycobacterium xenopi, a nosocomial infection related to the hospital water system. Pre-existing lung disease and prolonged environmental exposure during previous hospitalizations were apparent predisposing factors. Twelve patients had respiratory symptoms, including three with hemoptysis, at the time an abnormal chest roentgenogram was obtained. The predominant radiographic presentation of lung diseases caused by M. xenopi was a nodular or mass shadow, but cavitary disease and multiple nodular densities were also frequently observed. One subject had a solitary pulmonary nodule, and surgical resection was performed. In 12 patients who were skin tested with both M. xenopi sensitin and PPD-tuberculin, induration was consistently greater with M. xenopi. Initial isolates of M. xenopi were uniformly sensitive in vitro to 2.0 microgram of streptomycin, 1.0 microgram of isoniazid, and 10.0 microgram of para-aminosalicylic acid. In general, disease due to M. xenopi was successfully treated with standard antituberculosis drugs.

Temporal bones from five patients with hearing loss as a result of aminoglycoside treatment were examined by the method of microdissection and surface preparations, followed by celloidin embedding and serial sectioning of the modiolus. Three patients had received the newer antibiotics, gentamicin, tobramycin, and amikacin; the other two neomycin. In the cochleas from two patients of the first group there was only a small loss of hair cells, restricted to the lower end of the basal turn. The third, who had been treated with several antibiotics over a longer period of time, showed more extensive but strikingly asymmetrical patterns of degeneration in the two ears. This patient, as well as the fourth, who had received neomycin during peritoneal lavage, had numerous patchy areas of complete disappearance of Corti's organ in the basal turn, with incipient degeneration of the distal ends of the nerve fibers in adjacent portions of the osseous spiral lamina. The fifth patient, who had become deaf after prolonged treatment with neomycin by mouth, showed a complete loss of cochlear hair cells. Nerve fibers were present only in the middle and upper turns, where supporting cells remained. Midmodiolar sections showed a proportionately much greater loss of the distal than of the proximal processes of the cells of the spiral ganglion. These findings underscore once again the special hazard for the inner ear that is associated with the clinical use of neomycin, regardless of the route of administration.

Contact granuloma of the vocal folds caused by physical trauma secondary to voice abuse has traditionally been treated by surgical removal. This mode of handling can be frequently disappointing since these lesions have a strong tendency to recur and may require additional operative procedures. This paper describes 17 patients in whom treatment of the primary problem was approached through voice therapy. Treatment consisted of a comprehensive history and voice evaluation, stress reduction, relaxation methods, auditory and kinesthetic feedback, pitch change and elimination of voice abuse. Patients were closely followed by the speech pathologist and laryngologist who worked together as a team. The results of voice therapy were evaluated by the laryngologist, the speech pathologist and the patient himself. As a result of voice therapy, the granuloma disappeared in 9 patients, was reduced in size in 4 and remained unchanged in 1. For the remaining three patients, posttherapeutic laryngoscopic findings were not available. The speech pathologist found voice and manner of phonation returned to normal in 4 patients, improved in 7 and remained unchanged in 6. Four patients felt that complete recovery had taken place, 10 felt that some improvement was noted, and 3 felt no change had taken place. Based on the assessments of all three evaluators, the success rate of treatment with voice therapy can be stated as 71% (12 of 17 cases) or 100% (eliminating 5 of 17 cases who terminated treatment very early).

An unusual recurring mass presented in the parotid region in a young woman. The presentation of the mass was unusual in that it varied with the positioning of the patient's head and with exertional and emotional activity. Prior surgical attempts at cure were unsuccessful. Biplanar subtraction radiographic techniques were used to pinpoint the anatomical problems. This lesion is a vascular anomaly, which requires specific attention to its morphology in order to effect a permanent cure. This case of parotid venous ectasia with its unusual symptom complex was successfully treated, and more than four years have passed without recurrence.

The remarkable integrity of the finely balanced membranous labyrinth is occasionally disrupted, resulting in fistulae of various types in a number of locations. Such leaking labyrinth lesions can be congenital origin, due to various types of malformations. They may be caused by destructive diseases such as syphilis, by many variants of acute and chronic otomastoiditis, and sequelae of otosclerosis surgery, and finally, as results of a variety of traumatic disruptions of labyrinthine integrity. Deafness dizziness, and tinnitus are frequent symptoms and sequelae may include meningitis and other intracranial complications. The clinical consideration of leaking labyrinth lesions must always be considered in otologic diagnoses.

The specific contribution of admittance procedures in the diagnosis of hearing impairment was studied in a group of 53 handicapped children. The value of admittance procedures was assessed in relation to that of otoscopy and pure tone audiometry. Admittance procedures and otoscopy were successfully performed in all but one of the children and indicated conductive pathology in about 40% of the subjects, whereas pure tone audiometry was not feasible or inconclusive in 30.2% of the subjects. In 5.7% of the subjects admittance procedures proved the only diagnostic tool.