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Biomedical subjects

C Zini

Publications and source records attributed to C Zini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Transoral approaches to the skull base. An attempt of systematization].

This is a technical note concerning the classifications of the various operations possible via the buccal route towards the base of the skull and the first vertebrae. A part from the Hardy vestibulo-septal approach, mention must be made of the buccal and transpalatine approach, the direct buccal approach, the buccal approach widened downwards by transmandibular osteotomy, and finally the transmandibular and transcervical approach. These different technique enable the ablation of extradural and even intradural lesions at the level of the clivus, but are limited on the side by the pterygoid process and the large vessels.

Humans

[Recurrent cholesteatoma after combined approach tympanoplasty: pathogenesis and prevention].

Over the last few years, we have increasingly reduced the use of open techniques in favour of combined approach tympanoplasty by adopting a strategy enabling the prevention of genuine recurrences of cholesteatoma. Recurrences due to the development of a residual cholesteatoma moving outwards towards the meatus can be considerably reduced by a careful eradication at the time of exeresis, and by early screening and exeresis of the residual cholesteatoma by a practically systematic second-look operation (two-stage tympanoplasty). To prevent further penetration of the skin into the new middle ear, an effective barrier has to be created between the skin and the mucosa (repair of the wall of the attic, reconstruction of the tympanum by a xenograft (Parmatymp), and proper drainage and airing the new cavity must be assured. To help with the proper regeneration of the mucosa and the maintenance of the drainage and airing pathways within the cavity, the use of silastic proved to be fundamental. This new strategy has enabled us to treat, with the combined approach, 84% of the 1,465 cases of cholesteatoma operated upon between 1975 and 1989.

Adult

[Pathogenesis and prevention of recurrent cholesteatoma following closed tympanoplasty].

The use of the closed tympanoplasty in the treatment of cholesteatoma has been abandoned by many surgeons in the last years. In contrast, as well as other authors we have increasingly limited the use of open techniques. Our attitude towards the closed tympanoplasty is strictly connected with an accurate prevention strategy of recurrent cholesteatoma. The recurrent cholesteatoma takes origin from two following mechanism: 1--the residual cholesteatoma which exteriorizes towards the external auditory canal; 2--the new immigration of the skin into the middle ear through a new perforation or depending on a retraction pocket. The incidence of recurrent cholesteatoma due to the first cause may be considerably reduced by: a--complete eradication of disease during exeresis (complete removal of structures in contact with the cholesteatoma matrix); b--early detection and removal of residual cholesteatoma by an almost planned second look (staged tympanoplasty). In order to prevent new epithelial immigration into the middle ear it is necessary: a--to reconstruct a new barrier between skin and mucous lining [repair of the attic wall, reconstruction of the tympanic membrane by using xenografts (Parmatymp)]; b--to permit the drainage and aeration of the new tympanic cavity at the level of the bony Eustachian tube including the isthmus (performing, if necessary, the tubotomy and/or tuboplasty techniques). The same must be obtained at the level of the tympanic isthmus by enlargement of the epitympanic recesses in order to create a tunnel over the new ossicular chain and by a posterior tympanotomy in order to create a tunnel under the ossicular chain. The use of silastic sheeting is extremely important in order to allow a correct regeneration of the new mucous lining and an efficient drainage-aeration function into the new middle ear cavity (from the mastoid to the tubal isthmus).

Cell Movement

MR cisternography of the cerebello-pontine angle and internal auditory canal in diagnosis of intracanalicular acoustic neuroma.

One hundred and fifteen patients, suffering from sensorineural hearing loss were tested with a 1.5 T superconducting magnet. The authors describe utility of both T1-weighted multiple slice and T2-weighted multiple echo images for the evaluation of cerebello-pontine angle, internal auditory canal and their neurovascular content. In seventy-three cases MR cisternography was normal. The remaining forty-two cases were subdivided into twenty extracanalicular masses, eleven small intra-extracanalicular and nine purely intracanalicular lesions. All the lesions were histologically proven acoustic neuromas, except one intracanalicular mass which was a meningioma. Examination was inconclusive only in two cases and decision was then made to follow the clinical course. Advantages of MR cisternography over CT and air CT cisternography, such as absence of ionizing radiation and contrast material, easy multiplanar evaluation of the region of interest and the possibility to delineate both the cisternal and canalar extremities of the tumor mass are pointed out.

Adult

Primary intratemporal tumours of the facial nerve: diagnosis and treatment.

Benign primary tumours of the facial nerve are uncommon. A slowly progressive facial palsy should be considered the result of a nerve tumour until proven otherwise. Improvements in diagnostic imaging techniques of the temporal bone have increased the possibility of a correct pre-operative diagnosis but facial nerve tumours remain a frequently ignored or misdiagnosed entity as a consequence of their subtle and protean clinical manifestations. A series of 12 cases of primary facial nerve tumours is presented. The clinical features, diagnostic modalities and treatment are discussed in relation to a review of the literature.

Adult

Inner ear cholesteatoma and the preservation of cochlear function.

Labyrinthine destruction by direct cholesteatoma invasion has always been considered a serious threat to the inner ear function. A number of reports in the literature have cited both patients who had preservation of hearing despite widespread erosion of the labyrinth by cholesteatoma and patients who had retained auditory function despite surgical removal of the matrix from the labyrinth. In most cases the vestibular portion of the inner ear was invaded but cases of cochlear involvement have been described as well. Twelve cases with pre-operative auditory function preservation despite extensive labyrinthine destruction treated at our Institution are reported. Seven cases retained cochlear function post-operatively. Possible explanations of this occurrence and implications of related with hearing preservation in the presence of widespread inner ear destruction by chronic inflammatory disease are discussed.

Adult

Retrolabyrinthine versus middle fossa vestibular neurectomy.

The authors' experience in treating incapacitating peripheral vertigo using the middle cranial fossa (MCF) and the retrolabyrinthine (RL) approaches is presented. Among 94 operated cases, 56 have been treated using the MCF approach and 38 the RL approach. In 18 of the RL cases, a simple vestibular neurectomy has been associated with different adjunctive techniques (i.e., drainage of the endolymphatic sac, section of the Wrisberg intermediary nerve, and neurovascular decompression of the eight nerve) in an attempt to influence the disease from a pathogenetic viewpoint. The RL approach has demonstrated to be a valid alternative to the MCF approach, since it allows the same results to be obtained in the control of vertigo, with fewer risks to the facial nerve and hearing functions. Moreover, it allows the association, although still in an experimental way, of the simple vestibular neurectomy and the other "pathogenetic" methods mentioned above.

Adult

Closed versus open technique in the management of labyrinthine fistulae.

A labyrinthine fistula is the most common complication of cholesteatomatous chronic ear disease. Its treatment remains a controversial subject. The present paper reports our approach to the management of this complication. Operations were performed on 1,226 cases of chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma between January 1971 and December 1985. A labyrinthine fistula was detected in 158 cases. We favor intact canal wall tympanoplasty even in the presence of medium or large fistulas: in the latter case, the matrix is not removed but is trimmed to cover only the bony defect and it is left in place. Open procedures with the preservation of the matrix over the fistula are done in an only-hearing ear with fistula, in ears with a wide defect of the posterior canal wall, and in ears with multiple labyrinthine fistulas. The management of the matrix over the fistula and the anatomic and functional results following each type of procedure are presented and discussed.

Cholesteatoma

Facial-nerve and vocal-cord monitoring during otoneurosurgical operations.

We describe a newly developed instrument to monitor facial muscles and vocal-cord function during neurosurgical and otoneurosurgical operations. The device (Myo-Alarm) transforms into acoustic signals the pressure variations that are induced by facial muscles and vocal-cord contractions on air-inflated rubber sensors that are positioned, respectively, beneath the superior lip and between the vocal cords. It represents an effective and dependable method to monitor facial and vocal-cord functional preservation during surgery.

Ear

The surgical management of childhood cholesteatoma.

The results of treatment of 124 cases of childhood cholesteatoma are reported in the present study and compared with an adult group of patients. Intact canal wall tympanoplasty was performed in over 90 per cent of cases in children and the procedure was staged in nearly 80 per cent of cases. The children had a 43.8 per cent incidence of residual cholesteatoma and an 8.8 per cent incidence of recurrent cholesteatoma in intact canal wall tympanoplasty cases. Intact canal wall tympanoplasty remains the technique of choice in our hands for the treatment of childhood cholesteatoma; pre-planned staging of the operation is mandatory for the detection and elimination of residual cholesteatoma which occurs more frequently in children.

Adolescent

Hearing preservation in acoustic neuroma surgery. Middle fossa versus suboccipital approach.

Over the past few years there have been reports discussing the preservation of hearing after the removal of acoustic neuromas through the middle cranial fossa or the suboccipital approaches. This is a complex issue with many facets and controversies. In an attempt to answer at least some of these controversies, this article reviews the experience of our group. Preservation of hearing was attempted in thirty-four cases out of 220 acoustic neuromas. In twenty cases the middle fossa approach was used: All tumors were less than 2 cm from the fundus, and in four patients the tumor was bilateral. In sixteen of the twenty (80%) the cochlear nerve was spared; in ten of twenty (50%) measurable hearing was retained, but in only four (20%) was the postoperative hearing serviceable according to the 50/50 rule. In fourteen cases the suboccipital approach was used: All but two of the tumors were smaller than 2 cm. In three patients the tumor was bilateral. The cochlear nerve was preserved in ten of the fourteen cases (71.4%). Measurable hearing was present in four of fourteen cases postoperatively (28.6%); none had serviceable hearing according to the 50/50 rule. Hearing was not preserved in any bilateral tumor case. The middle fossa and the suboccipital approaches are discussed as well as the relative merits of each procedure in preservation of hearing.

Adult

Regenerated middle ear mucosa after tympanoplasty. Part I. Transmission electron microscopy.

The ultrastructural appearance of the regenerated middle ear mucosa--found at the second operation of staged intact canal wall tympanoplasty (ICWT) with mastoidectomy--has been evaluated with the transmission electron microscope. The regenerated epithelium showed all the morphologic characteristics of the normal middle ear mucosa: ciliated cells, nonciliated cells, and secretory cells. All of these (including goblet cells) have been found in the specimens. It is concluded that a normal middle ear mucosa regenerates to cover all denuded bone surfaces after the first operation of staged ICWT with mastoidectomy, when silicone rubber sheeting has been used to prevent adhesions and maintain an air-containing middle ear space.

Biopsy

Regenerated middle ear mucosa after tympanoplasty. Part II. Scanning electron microscopy.

The ultrastructural appearance of the regenerated middle ear epithelium, found at the second operation of staged ICWT with mastoidectomy, has been investigated herein with the scanning electron microscope. The regenerated epithelium consists of flat nonciliated cells, "elevated" nonciliated cells with microvilli, and ciliated cells. Secretory material is present on the surface of the "elevated" nonciliated cells surrounding the ciliated ones. Regeneration of the mucosa occurs following precise topographic differences that mimic the distribution of epithelial cells in the normal middle ear. It is confirmed that a morphologically normal middle ear epithelium regenerates to cover all denuded bone surfaces within 12 months--after first stage ICWT with mastoidectomy--when silicone rubber sheeting has been used to maintain an aerated middle ear and mastoid space.

Cilia