Faculty Bibliography

A carefully planned clinical program of combined pre-operative radiation and surgery has been conducted by the Department of Otolaryngology at The Mount Sinai Hospital for 14 years in an effort to improve the survival rate for advanced cancer of the larynx and laryngopharynx. An extensive histopathological study of resected larynges and radical neck specimens was undertaken in 1961 in order to determine the effects of pre-operative radiation. A very careful statistical analysis has been made of the survival experience of this series of cases. The three and five year survival rates have been computed by the actuarial method. The histopathological study entailed a serial section study of 26 larynges and 21 radical neck dissection specimens. These studies have been most informative as to the nature of the radiobiologic process involved in the destruction of laryngeal cancer. In addition, the study has been revealing as to the ability of radiation to sterilize cancer in the neck specimens. The clinical correlate of this histologic finding has been the observation of reduced cervical recurrences in patients treated with combined therapy. In conclusion, our statistics seem to indicate that our combined therapy method has improved the survival rates of patients with advanced cancer of the larynx and laryngopharynx.

A parallel-swing ENG study in rabbits led to two investigative conclusions: (a) for experimental purposes the parallel swing test must be performed with monocular, both horizontal and vertical leads, and (b) such studies must be performed in a darkened room. Following surgical bilateral "immobilization" of the cupulae of the horizontal semicircular canals, horizontal nystagmus induced in the parallel-swing test is probably generated by the otolithic system.

The incidence of vallecular cysts is low. They deserve full awareness of their existence because clinically they may produce upper airway obstruction. The case of a 20 month old infant in whom the large vallecular cyst was incidentally found on a routine examination is presented with a review of the literature.