Bilateral ossification of the auricles: an unusual entity and review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>True ossification of the auricle with cartilage replacement by bone, is a very rare clinical entity and can result in an entirely rigid auricle.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present a rare case of bilateral ossification of the auricles in a 75-years old man with profound progressive rigidity of both auricles. His main complaint was a mild discomfort during resting making sleeping unpleasant without any other serious symptoms. His medical history was significant for predisposing factors for this condition such as, Addison's disease and diabetes mellitus. Excisional biopsy was performed confirming the ossified nature of the auricles. Further treatment deemed unnecessary in our case due to his mild clinical picture.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>True auricular ossification is a quite rare clinical entity with unclear pathogenesis and one should have in mind that there is always the possibility of a serious co-existed disease like endocrinopathy.</p

The Role of Oncogenic Viruses in Head and Neck Cancers: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Advancements in Detection Methods

Head and neck cancers (HNCs) constitute a wide range of malignancies originating from the epithelial lining of the upper aerodigestive tract, including the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and salivary glands. Although lymphomas affecting this region are not conventionally classified as HNCs, they may occur in lymph nodes or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues within the head and neck. Oncogenic viruses play a crucial role in HNC onset. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is extensively studied for its association with oropharyngeal cancers; nevertheless, other oncogenic viruses also contribute to HNC development. This review provides an overview of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and advancements in detection methods of oncogenic viruses associated with HNCs, recognizing HPV’s well-established role while exploring additional viral connections. Notably, Epstein–Barr virus is linked to nasopharyngeal carcinoma and lymphomas. Human herpesvirus 8 is implicated in Kaposi’s sarcoma, and Merkel cell polyomavirus is associated with subsets of HNCs. Additionally, hepatitis viruses are examined for their potential association with HNCs. Understanding the viral contributions in the head and neck area is critical for refining therapeutic approaches. This review underlines the interaction between viruses and malignancies in this region, highlighting the necessity for ongoing research to elucidate additional mechanisms and enhance clinical outcomes

Horner’s Syndrome Incidental to Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma Excision: Case Report and Brief Literature Review

Horner’s syndrome is characterized by a combination of ipsilateral miosis, blepharoptosis, enophthalmos, facial anhidrosis, and iris heterochromia in existence of congenital lesions. The syndrome results from a disruption of the ipsilateral sympathetic innervation of the eye and ocular adnexa at different levels. Though rare, thyroid and neck surgery could be considered as possible causes of this clinical entity. We present a case of Horner’s syndrome in a patient after total thyroidectomy and neck dissection for medullary thyroid cancer with neck nodal disease and attempt a brief review of the relevant literature

Wendler Glottoplasty: An Effective Pitch Raising Surgery in Male-to-Female Transsexuals

Objectives: Evaluation of the voice results after Wendler glottoplasty in male-to-female transsexuals (MFTs). Study Design: Retrospective case series. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 31 MFT patients treated with a Wendler glottoplasty technique. The procedure consists of the CO2-laser de-epithelialization of the anterior commissure along with the anterior third of the two vocal folds, the suturing of the two vocal folds with two 3.0 resorbable threads, and next, the application of fibrin sealant to strengthen the stitches. Voice assessment was based mainly on fundamental frequency, frequency range, maximum phonation time, phonation quotient, estimated subglottic pressure (ESGP), grade of dysphonia (G), and voice handicap index. The measurements were performed preoperatively and on the last follow-up visit and compared using IBM SPSS 20 statistical package (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY). The patients have been divided in two groups (group A younger than 40 years and group B of or older than 40 years) for assessing the influence of the age of treatment on the results. Results: Group A included 19 individuals with mean age of 28.6 years (range: 16-39 years) and group B included 12 individuals with mean age of 51.9 years (range: 45-59 years). The mean follow-up period was 9.2 months. Three cases had previously undergone a cricothyroid approximation elsewhere. We found a significant improvement of mean F0 from 135.8 to 206.3 Hz in total (P = 0.001) and also in both groups, especially in group A (mean F0-postop = 213.8 Hz). The mean frequency range had a tendency to decrease postoperatively, whereas the ESGP was significantly higher in both total sample and group A (P = 0.001, respectively). G was increased postoperatively and presented a statistical significance in group B (P = 0.035). A revision Wendler procedure was necessary for three individuals (9.7%); two of them presented a suture's line breakdown because they did not follow the postoperative recommendations for voice rest and the third one had an insufficient web due to an insufficient estimation of the necessary correction. Conclusion: Wendler glottoplasty seems to be an effective technique to feminize the voice in MFTs with better results when performed in younger individuals. © 2013 The Voice Foundation

Wendler glottoplasty: An effective pitch raising surgery in male-to-female transsexuals

Objectives: Evaluation of the voice results after Wendler glottoplasty in male-to-female transsexuals (MFTs). Study Design: Retrospective case series. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 31 MFT patients treated with a Wendler glottoplasty technique. The procedure consists of the CO2-laser de-epithelialization of the anterior commissure along with the anterior third of the two vocal folds, the suturing of the two vocal folds with two 3.0 resorbable threads, and next, the application of fibrin sealant to strengthen the stitches. Voice assessment was based mainly on fundamental frequency, frequency range, maximum phonation time, phonation quotient, estimated subglottic pressure (ESGP), grade of dysphonia (G), and voice handicap index. The measurements were performed preoperatively and on the last follow-up visit and compared using IBM SPSS 20 statistical package (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY). The patients have been divided in two groups (group A younger than 40 years and group B of or older than 40 years) for assessing the influence of the age of treatment on the results. Results: Group A included 19 individuals with mean age of 28.6 years (range: 16-39 years) and group B included 12 individuals with mean age of 51.9 years (range: 45-59 years). The mean follow-up period was 9.2 months. Three cases had previously undergone a cricothyroid approximation elsewhere. We found a significant improvement of mean F0 from 135.8 to 206.3 Hz in total (P = 0.001) and also in both groups, especially in group A (mean F0-postop = 213.8 Hz). The mean frequency range had a tendency to decrease postoperatively, whereas the ESGP was significantly higher in both total sample and group A (P = 0.001, respectively). G was increased postoperatively and presented a statistical significance in group B (P = 0.035). A revision Wendler procedure was necessary for three individuals (9.7%); two of them presented a suture's line breakdown because they did not follow the postoperative recommendations for voice rest and the third one had an insufficient web due to an insufficient estimation of the necessary correction. Conclusion: Wendler glottoplasty seems to be an effective technique to feminize the voice in MFTs with better results when performed in younger individuals. © 2013 The Voice Foundation

Comparative p16(IKN4A) Expression in Laryngeal Carcinoma and Cervical Cancer Precursors: A Real-time Grid-based Immunocytochemistry Analysis

Background/Aim: p16 (gene locus: 9p21) tumor suppressor gene is considered an important biomarker for the progression and prognosis in a variety of malignancies and pre-cancerous lesions, including high-risk (HR-) human papilloma virus (HPV)-mediated squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs), based on cytological and the corresponding cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) histopathological categorization. p16 acts as a cyclin-dependent kinase-4 inhibitor negatively regulating the cell cycle. In persistent HPV infection, E7 oncogenic protein binds retinoblastoma protein leading to its proteolytic transformation, also triggering E2F dissociation, which increases DNA transcription and progression to S phase. This mechanism promotes aberrant p16 over-expression. Our aim was to comparatively analyze p16 protein expression patterns in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCC) and also in SILs. Materials and Methods: Fifty (n=50) primary LSCCs tissues all non-HPV-dependent, and a set of 50 liquid-based SILs, were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and immunocytochemistry, respectively. Concerning the screening process in cytological slides, a novel real-time reference and calibration grid platform was implemented and employed. Results: Decreased protein expression was observed in 34/50 (68%) tissues regarding LSCCs. Overall p16 expression was associated to smoking status of the patients (p=0.001), and also with the p-stage of the examined malignancies (p=0.033). A strong statistical significance was assessed correlating LSIL/HSIL cases with a progressive p16 over expression (p=0.001), also reflecting a higher CIN diagnosis (p=0.001). Conclusion: p16 down- regulation is a frequent genetic event in LSCCs, which is associated with advanced disease. In contrast to this, p16 over- expression triggered by a specific molecular mechanism shows a strong relationship with a progressively aggressive phenotype due to upgraded SIL/CIN cervical categorization. The first described application of the grid platform demonstrated a considerable improvement in the immunocytochemistry slide screening process enhancing the diagnostic reliability

Numerical Imbalances of Chromosome 7 in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is an aggressive neoplasm. Many chromosomal and gene alterations have been identified in OSCC, including structural and numerical changes. In this study, we implemented a molecular assay of chromosome 7 (Chr7) in order to investigate the level of its numerical instability in OSCC. Materials and Methods: Using tissue microarray technology, 30 primary OSCCs were cored and re-embedded into one recipient block. Chromogenic in situ hybridization assay was performed based on Chr7 centromeric probedetection. Results: Chr 7 numerical analysis detected polysomy (trisomy/tetrasomy) in 4/30 (13.3%) of the examined tissue OSCC cores. Statistical significance was assessed correlating Chr7 numerical aberrations with stage (p= 0.015), especially detected in cases not related to human papillomavirus (HPV) (p= 0.01). Conclusion: Although Chr7 polysomy is a relatively rare gross genetic event in OSSC, it affects their biological behavior leading toa progressively aggressive phenotype (advanced stage). Furthermore, Chr7 polysomy is observed more frequently in non-viral (HPV) cases

Medialization thyroplasty for voice restoration after transoral cordectomy.

Fourteen dysphonic patients who had previously undergone total or extended cordectomy underwent medialization thyroplasty. A minimum delay of 6 months was respected to allow the spontaneous "neocord" formation, to evaluate the voice recovery achieved by speech therapy alone and to avoid an undiagnosed early recurrence. Surgery was performed under general anaesthesia, using a laryngeal mask, because undermining the fibrous tissue at the inner side of the thyroid ala is a prolonged and difficult procedure. This step was essential to ensure an easy placement of the implant and to avoid tearing the fibrous tissue, with subsequent risk of implant extrusion. Visual control of the implant implementation was obtained by flexible videoendoscopy. The Montgomery(®) implant system (Boston, Westborough, MA) was used for the majority of the cases. Hand-made modified Montgomery implants or Gore-tex(®) were used in case of extended scarring or peculiar anatomic defect. The voice assessment showed a decrease of the VHI score from 50.5 to 39.4; a decrease of G from 2.4 to 2; an increase of maximum phonation time (MPT) from 6.2 to 7.3 s; a decrease of the maximum fundamental frequency (Fo-high) from 338.7 to 242.4 Hz and a decrease of the phonation quotient from 1,144.9 to 544.9 ml/s. The lower intensity (I-low) remained unchanged, from 60 to 58 dB. Statistically significant improvement was noted only for VHI and G grading. A decrease of the voice efforts and fatigue were noticed by all the patients