Solitary fibrous tumour of the nose and nasopharynx

A case of solitary fibrous tumour of the nasal cavity is reported. These tumours, rare in the nose, are believed to be similar to fibrous mesotheliomas of the pleural cavity. The main presenting symptom is that of unilateral nasal obstruction and diagnosis is made on histological examination of the lesion. These tumours have to be distinguished from other spindle-cell tumours of the nasal cavity and sinuses.peer-reviewe

Parapharyngeal chordoma

Chordomas are rare tumours constituting less than one percent of all neoplasms affecting the Central Nervous System. They are some of the few malignant tumours originating from vestigial embryonic tissue which retain primitive histological features. The purpose of this paper is to report an unusual case of a chordoma arising in the region of the foramen magnum and extending laterally to present as a parapharyngeal tumour. Symptomatology varies with the site of origin of the tumour, but pain is the earliest and most common presenting symptom. Treatment is usually surgical and incomplete because of bone involvement at the time of diagnosis. High dosage radiotherapy has occasionally been used to control tumour residue in bone and recurrences.peer-reviewe

Congenital hearing loss in Malta : a survey

The congenitally deaf infant who acquires deafness prior to development of language present special problems when compared to other hearing impaired individuals. This is because both the development of speech and of language depends on adequate hearing. As speech and language are our prime means of communication, the congenitally deaf child is automatically also handicapped in his psychological development, social adaptation and work adaptability. The authors reviewed cases of congenital hearing loss presenting on a 20 year period to establish the incidence of congenital hearing impairment in the Maltese islands; to determine the common causes; to highlight any difficulties in early diagnosis and management of these children.peer-reviewe