The effectiveness of some modifications of the Caldwell-Luc standard procedure in the prevention of postoperative mid-facial sensitivity disorders was investigated in a prospective comparative study at the ENT Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece, from 1986–1992. Sixty-nine maxillary sinuses were operated on in 61 patients suffering from benign pathological conditions. The modifications concerned the type of mucoperiosteal incision and the site and size of the created anterior antrostomy. Only 8.7 per cent of the sinuses operated on by the modified technique presented with post-operative disorders whereas among those operated on by the classical technique, the ratio climbed to 33 per cent. In view of the findings of this study, the modifications applied can be valuable in treating non-extensive maxillary sinus disease with minimal post-operative sensitivity disorders.

Vestibular larobatory tests are not general necessary in the diagnosis of patients with a clear description of vertigo accompanied by positive otoneurological examination findings. The purpose of the study was to inverstigate the role of conventional vestibular laboratory tests in the diagnosis of patients compaining of hnonspecific vertigo, despite their having a documented normal otoneurological examination. The results patients referred for ambulatory vestibular laroratory testes due to a nonspecific illusion of movement, but with nornal otoneurological examination, were reviewed. Abnormalities were found in the vestibular tests of 35 patients (67 per cent), 22 of whom (63 per cent) were finally diagnosed as having a unilateral perpheral vestibular lesion, and 13(37 per cent) benign positional vertigo. These results suggests that a high percentage of patients with nonspecific vertigo and a normal otoneurologica examination probably suffer from peripheral vestibular dusfunction, which can be objectively documented by the ENG and SHA tests.

Chronic sinusitis is one of the most common diseases treated in outpatient centres. In this prospective study, 49 patients with the diagnosis of chronic maxillary sinusitis were evaluated microbiologically by using sinus swab, irrigation fluid and sinus mucosal tissue specimens obtained during endoscopic sinus surgery. There was no bacterial growth in seven cases. In the remaining 42 cases a total of 89 bacteria were isolated, 28 of them being classical pathogens and 61 being non-classical pathogens. Among the classical pathogens Staphylococcus aureus was the most common one. The correlation between the isolates obtained from maxillary sinus and isolates obtained from throat, nose and nasopharynx did not have a predictive value. Since the overall rate of classical pathogen isolation from patients with chronic sinusitis was not significantly high, the possible role of factors other than bacterial growth should be identified in the pathogenesis of chronic sinusitis.

In an attempt to analyse the proliferative activity in benign and malignant laryngeal epithelial lesions, and to determine the relationship to their histologic grade, we studied the expression of proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki-67 antigen on 20 squamous carcinomas, and on 30 biopsies of epithelial hyperplasia categorized according to the Kambiˇ-Lenart classification into simple, abnormal, and atypical hyperplasias. In simple hyperplasia, both antibodies stained the nuclei of the occasional cells in the basal layer. In abnormal hyperplasia (mild dysplasia), positive cells occupied up to a third, and in atypical hyperplasia (moderate and severe dysplasia) they occupied from two-thirds to the entire epithelial thickness. In squamous carcinoma, we have found a statistically significant correlation between its grade and the percentage of Ki-67-(p<0.01) and PCNA-(p<0.00001) positive cells. Our results suggest that the proliferative fraction progressively increases with the degree of epithelial hyperplasia and the grade of carcinoma. We conclude that the patterns of immunoreactivity to PCNA and Ki-67 antigen correspond to the histologic grade of both benign and malignant epithelial lesions of the larynx. This method should be regarded as a useful adjunct to traditional histological techniques allowing more objective grading of benign and malignant epithelial lesions.

The purpose of this study was to determine the potential risk of transmitting viable viral infected cells as well as viral infectivity of laryngeal papilloma in the plume derived from a continuous mode carbon dioxide laser. Each of 10 juvenile recurrent laryngeal papilloma specimens was divided into two equal parts, and one part was irradiated with a carbon dioxide laser employing a continuous mode at the power setting of 10 watts with 0.5 mm spot size and a power density of 1667 W/cm2. The resultant laser plume was trapped and was cultured simultaneously with the other part of the specimen which served as the control. All irradiated specimens tested yielded negative culture results while all the control counterparts revealed viable cell growth. To detect the viral infectivity, laser plume was cultured with two separate cellsystems, one was the porcine PS clone D cell line and the other normal mucosal cells obtained from the same patient, and to control these systems both cell lines were also designed to be infected with polio virus. Both cell lines in the viral infectivity testing systems revealed no sign of viral infection. The results suggest that papilloma virus-infected cells cannot survive the continuous mode of carbon dioxide laser irradiation. We primarily conclude that, to avoid airborne transmission of plume containing laryngeal papilloma viral-infected cells and infectious viral particles, the carbon dioxide laser parameters should be in a continuous mode with the power density equal to, or more than, 1667 W/cm2.

A multidisciplinary prospective study compared speech acceptability between three types of indwelling tracheo-oesophageal voice prostheses. Twenty male laryngectomees took part over five years, using 42 prostheses. Speech was assessed on a discrete scale by trained and untrained personnel. The majority scored in the mid-range for each assessor. The kappa coefficient was used to test similarity between assessors, and for all pairings agreement was significant (p<0.05). The speech and language therapist tended to give higher scores and the patient lower. A relationship was found between patients' ages categorized by decade and the surgeon's score alone. This relationship held for Groningen high resistance and Provox prostheses individually too (p<0.05). The untrained assessed similarly to the professionals – humans are all voice listeners. The analysis suggests surgeons find tracheo-oesophageal speech in older patients better than in younger ones; or make more allowances for the elderly. There was a trend for Provox prostheses to produce the best scores.

The Kamami technique of laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty has recently been introduced into British practice as an office-based multistage procedure for the treatment of snoring and, in certain cases, for obstructive sleep apnoea. We have treated 50 patients with simple snoring, with a minimum follow-up of six months. Six-month telephone interview follow-up has assessed partner and patient satisfaction, as well as willingness to undergo the procedure again. We have found the procedure easy to perform with no serious intra-operative complications. Thirty-four (68 per cent) of patients' partners have been definitely satisfied with the results of treatment, with 11 (22 per cent) definitely unsatisfied. However, only 25 of these 34 satisfied patients (76 per cent) would be prepared to undergo the treatment again with postoperative pain and discomfort cited as the reason in those who would not. The failure rate doubled between one and six months post-operatively. There have been no serious complications but a 40 per cent minor side-effect rate is noted. These results are discussed in the context of previously reported results, with consideration of future strategies to improve outcome.

A retrospective study was carried out to determine the prevalence of abnormality in the paranasal sinuses in a British population having magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for neurological signs and symptoms. The T2-weighted scans of 130 patients were studied. Abnormalities in the paranasal sinuses show as high signal on the T2-weighted scans and thus are clearly seen. Abnormalities included mucosal thickening, fluid levels, sinus opacification and retention cysts/polyps. Of the patients studied, 49.2 per cent showed one or more abnormality. Mucosal thickening was the most common abnormality noted and the ethmoid sinuses the most commonly affected.

A retrospective study of computed tomography scans of the paranasal sinuses of 131 control subjects in Hong Kong revealed minor mucosal abnormalities in more than half of the ethmoid sinuses. Major abnormalities were present in seven per cent of maxillary, five per cent of anterior ethmoid and four per cent of posterior ethmoid sinus. In 85 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma the prevalence of minor mucosal abnormalities in the sinuses was similar to that of the control group but major mucosal abnormalities were significantly more common in the anterior and posterior ethmoids at 15 per cent and 21 per cent of the respective sinuses (p<0.001).

A post-operative survey of 291 children was conducted to assess morbidity found at home in the first five days post-tonsillectomy. Analgesic requirement (92.4 per cent), signs of distress (90.4 per cent), otalgia (69.1 per cent), halitosis (66.7 per cent) were common. Physical or behavioural changes (36.8 per cent) and secondary haemorrhage (8.9 per cent) were also prominent features. Nausea was reported in 59 children (20.3 per cent) and delayed return to a normal diet which in turn predisposed to secondary haemorrhage. Return to normal diet was independent of pain. General Practitioners were consulted by 60.6 per cent and more than half were prescribed drugs. The presence of an organized clot in the tonsillar fossa (3.45 per cent) post-operatively did not delay discharge from hospital and none of these patients re-presented with secondary haemorrhage. Based on their child's experience in this study, only one third of the parents approved of day-case tonsillectomy in principle, a finding which has implications for the instigation of day-case tonsillectomy procedures.

Congenital laryngeal cysts are a rare cause of neonatal upper airway obstruction which may lead to serious morbidity and mortality if diagnosis and treatment are delayed. We reviewed our experience with nine patients over a six-year period. The annual incidence of this condition was 1.82 per 100,000 live births. The diagnosis can be confirmed safely by flexible laryngoscopy before definitive surgery is contemplated. Contrary to other studies, we found that endoscopic removal of cysts can achieve an effective cure without recurrence. Endoscopic deroofing is as effective as endoscopic excision but is technically simpler and thus is recommended as the treatment of choice.

Several reconstruction techniques have been employed following partial laryngectomy in order to improve laryngeal function. We report 12 cases in which composite nasal septal cartilage and auricular cartilage were used. We decannulated the patients in an average of 19 days. Following the reconstruction we obtained a satisfactory phonatory function and swallowing. Six patients completed a follow-up period of three years without presenting any recurrences or mortality. Our experience with reconstruction using composite nasal septal and auricular cartilage following partial laryngectomy proved effective.

The radical neck dissection specimens of 384 ethnically Chinese patients with different primary squamous carcinomas in the head and neck region were studied. Over 50 per cent of the specimens showed metastatic disease at one level in the neck. For oral cavity carcinoma, the levels of metastasis frequently involved were I, II and III while for carcinoma of the oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx, the levels were II, III and IV. Extracapsular spread was present in 112/384 of patients (29 per cent) and this increased with advancing N-stages. Based on these findings, different selective neck dissections could be used for patients harbouring different primary head and neck carcinomas with limited neck disease.

Bone anchored hearing aids (BAHA) have been implanted in Birmingham since 1988. Since this time confidence has grown in the fitting and rehabilitation of BAHA wearers, with a corresponding increase in the implantation and rehabilitation of more difficult and borderline candidates.

This study analyses the results of 16 borderline BAHA candidates who have been assessed and fitted with a BAHA at Birmingham Children's Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and who have had at least one post-fitting review. All of these subjects had mean bone conduction (BC) thresholds, in the better hearing ear, in excess of 45 dBHL in the frequency range 0.5–4 kHz, when initially assessed. The age range at the time of the study was 10–84 years, with a mean age of 60 years. The study demonstrates the benefits that these patients achieved with the BAHA compared to their previous aid, both audiologically and in terms of comfort and reduction in ear discharge.

The incidence of p53 antigen and human papillomavirus (HPV) expression in archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections from verrucous carcinoma of the larynx was determined using immunohistochemistry.

The p53 oncoprotein was detected in four of 10 tissue samples (40 per cent). The same number of tumours had HPV antigen, and three cases had both p53 oncoprotein and HPV antigen. All positive cases were from heavy smokers and drinkers.

After surgical treatment, no tumour recurrence was present in our series. Four patients developed a second head and neck neoplasm and death occurred in three. Three of the patients with second tumour had p53 positive immunoreactivity and two had p13 and HPV expression.

Verrucous carcinoma of the larynx presented with overexpression of p53 antigen in a similar percentage to other head and neck cancers. The p53 immunohistochemical determination is well correlated with HPV detection and could have prognostic value in these tumours, but no statistical evidence was present.

Stroboscopy is well established as an essential diagnostic tool in the assessment of the vocal folds during phonation. This paper analyses the stroboscopic findings in 100 patients with a unilateral vocal fold paralysis. Reliable stroboscopic signals were only obtained in patients with the paralysed fold close to the midline. These patients seldom require surgery however, usually responding to speech therapy with laryngeal compensation giving a good voice. Most patients that require surgery have a large glottal deficiency, but in this series these patients did not give an adequate signal for analysis. Although useful in the assessment of the muscle tone of the paralysed fold, the influence of stroboscopy on the surgical treatment in this series was limited.

A prospective randomized study was carried out to assess the post-tonsillectomy morbidity of the selective diathermy technique as opposed to the ligation technique. One hundred and five patients had one tonsillar fossa haemostasis secured by unipolar diathermy and the opposite side by ligation technique. There was significantly less pharyngeal pain on the diathermy side in the first post-operative day. However, there was no significant difference between the two sides, both in pharyngeal discomfort and otalgia for the rest of the post-operative period. There was no difference in the incidence of haemorrhage between the two techniques.

Over a period of 10 years 17 human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)-infected patients with laryngeal Kaposi's sarcoma were seen and treated at University College London Hospitals. All patients had advanced HIV disease. Their presentation was with symptoms of upper airway obstruction in the majority of cases and the diagnosis was made by fibreoptic examination of the larynx. Biopsy was associated with brisk haemorrhage in one patient, who required a temporary tracheostomy, and was not performed in the other 16 cases. The commonest site of laryngeal involvement was the supraglottis in 11 patients, with glottic lesions noted in eight patients: subglottic lesions were seen in only three. Treatment of laryngeal Kaposi's sarcoma was, in general, conservative, five patients received low dose radiotherapy to the larynx and 10 were treated with systemic chemotherapy for disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma. Laryngeal Kaposi's sarcoma did not contribute to patient mortality.

Within the Birmingham osseointegrated implant programme there have been several patients with severe pre-lingual conductive hearing loss. The majority of these have been patients with Treacher Collins syndrome.

There are characteristic features of speech and voice in those with long-standing conductive hearing loss. In addition, the associated abnormalities of jaw, teeth and palate may amplify the problem. There may be spontaneous improvement in features such as voice pitch, quality and intensity following the fitting of a BAHA. However, in those with a pre-lingual hearing impairment, speech therapy may be necessary. Patients assessed as suitable for BAHA have a full assessment of communication skills including audio recording of speech and voice. Post-operative training improves auditory discrimination and perception and is followed by training in the production of the newly perceived speech sounds.

In the disecribed study, 26 patients after conventional, and 27 patients after laser cordectomy were examined six months or more after the operation. Videolarybogstroboscopy revealed that patients after laser cordectomy more often phonate on a purely glottic level (81 per cent) in comparison to patienbts after conventional cordectomy (19 per cent). Webs were more frequent and more extended after conventional cordectomy compared to endoscopic laser surgery. The maximal phonation time showed a very wide range with a mean value of 9 to 10 sec; there was no statistical difference between the groups of patients. Using yanagihara's classification of sonograms, a better voice quality was measured after laser cordectomy than conventional cordectomy. The patients' estimation of their voice quality did not correlate with objective parameters.