Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (Masson lesion) of the hypopharynx and larynx

Masson lesion is characterized by a benign intravascular papillary hyperplasia and subsequent thrombosis. Clinically, this lesion can be misdiagnosed as mucocele, hemangioma, Kaposi sarcoma, angiosarcoma, pyogenic granuloma, and several other lesions. In this article, we report a case of intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia of the hypopharynx and larynx, which caused dysphagla in an 18-year-old female patient. The lesion was excised entirely via a lateral pharyngotomy approach. We discuss the clinical and histopathologic features, differential diagnosis, and treatment of this uncommon entity

A difficult case: sarcoidosis of the middle ear

Sarcoidosis is a common multisystemic granulomatous disorder affecting several organs and tissues. However, the respiratory tract is the region commonly involved in more than 90% of patients, and the middle ear is a direct extension of it. In spite of this, direct middle ear and/or mastoid involvement of sarcoidosis is more rarely seen. Otological involvement may mimic a number of other diseases of the ear; sarcoidosis will probably not be considered prospectively. In addition, Pulmonary symptoms of the patients often go unnoticed for some time. We report a patient presenting with hearing loss and tinnitus as the primary manifestation of sarcoidosis of the ear. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Surgical outcome of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy related to hippocampal sclerosis

Seizure outcome in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy related to hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS) that was evaluated according to a noninvasive protocol was assessed in 165 patients and reported using both Engel's and ILAE classifications. The mean postoperative follow-up was 5.0 +/- 2.7 years. At the end of first year, 77.1% of patients were in Engel-I, and 52.7% were in ILAE-I. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) were discontinued in 41 patients (42.7%), all remained seizure-free for >= 2 years that could be accepted as "cure." Thirty-six patients had recurrences, 19 had running-down phenomena. Anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) was performed in 27 patients with a better outcome when compared to patients operated by selective anterior hippocampectomy. Clinical risk factors for better and worse outcome, which show some similarity in different reports, seem to veil the main reason, which is the accurate delineation of epileptogenic zone considering the presence of different subgroups and underlying developmental pathologies