Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Wazen.
Pneumoparotid is an unusual condition resulting from air being forced into the parotid ductal system. When it develops, it is a result of increased intraoral air pressure. Diagnosis is based on the etiologic factor, palpatory evidence of tissue emphysema, the escape of frothy saliva from the involved duct, and the sialographic finding of retained ductal air and ductal infection.
Thirty-four patients underwent vestibular neurectomies between September 1984 and January 1989. The first 15 patients operated on through January 1987 (and followed for a minimum of 2 years) were evaluated separately for long-term hearing preservation and freedom from vertigo spells. Audiograms taken at 1 postoperative month revealed no change in the pure tone averages of 25 patients and showed improved hearing of 20 to 30 dB in 5 patients. Two patients sustained losses of 18.5 dB and 21 dB, respectively. The speech discrimination scores remained the same in 17 patients, improved in 9, and were reduced in 6. Audiograms performed 12 to 40 months postoperatively showed preservation of the pure tone averages and speech discrimination scores when compared with the earlier 1-month postoperative audiograms in 73% of the patients. The speech discrimination scores, however, tended to fluctuate with the symptomatic course of each disease. Two patients developed major vertigo spells 1 1/2 years following surgery. Postoperative ice-caloric testing revealed no responses in 25 patients and markedly reduced responses in 6. There were no major complications or facial paralysis. The retrolabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy is an effective way to control vertigo with preservation of hearing and an acceptably low incidence of complications and side effects.
Patients with facial palsy and middle ear disease, which may be chronic but clinically occult, may have a cholesteatoma with extension medially along the facial canal. In two patients, axial computed tomographic (CT) scans demonstrated involvement of the medial petrous bone. Patients with vertigo and chronic middle ear disease may have a cholesteatoma with a "fistula" between the middle and inner ears. Although the fistula usually involves the lateral semicircular canal, the cholesteatoma may pass through the oval window. In two patients, coronal CT scans showed extension to the oval window in one and through it in the other.
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A well-differentiated mucoepidermoid carcinoma that was confined to, and apparently arose within, an intraparotid lymph node is reported. Salivary gland ducts and acini often are found within intraparotid lymph nodes, and occasionally within extraparotid nodes. Salivary gland tumors, both benign and malignant, can develop within this ectopic salivary tissue. When a malignant salivary-gland-type neoplasm is found within an intraparotid or periparotid lymph node, the possibility exists that the tumor has arisen within the node and does not necessarily represent a metastasis from some other occult site.
Sequential computerized tomography (CT) allows us to determine the growth rate of acoustic neuromas. Prior to CT scanning, a variability in tumor growth rates was recognized on the basis of clinical signs. After incomplete tumor removal, some patients experienced rapid recurrence, whereas others lived many years without recurrence. We used CT scanning to study tumor growth rates in a heterogeneous group of 21 patients. Thirteen elderly patients were given annual scans after incomplete tumor removal, while eight patients who had not had surgery are likewise being followed up. Early detection and complete tumor removal with preservation of hearing and facial function remain the goal in vigorous and healthy patients. However, a large number of older, infirm patients with acoustic neuromas may not require surgery or be candidates for incomplete tumor removal. Because rapid tumor growth may necessitate total tumor removal even in older patients, a better understanding of the growth rates may permit us to take a more scientific approach in planning these patients' management.
Shortly after tympanoplasty the cause of conductive hearing loss may be difficult to ascertain. If the cause is related to poor eustachian tube function, early aeration of the middle ear should produce an immediate improvement in hearing. A procedure for aerating the middle ear consists of introducing 0.5 cc of air through the graft with a tuberculin syringe and an angled 1.25-inch, 27-gauge needle. Between 1978 and 1983, 75 patients, or 19% of those having tympanoplasties or mastoid tympanoplasties, underwent the micropuncture procedure. Forty-five patients had a hearing improvement after the procedure and there were no complications. It appears that micropuncture of the tympanic membrane is an easily performed, relatively painless, safe procedure after tympanoplasty. It is a useful diagnostic procedure that may also improve the ultimate results of tympanoplasty surgery.
We have used retrolabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy in 36 of 49 cases as the primary surgical procedure to relieve vertigo. Most of the patients (46 of 49) had Meniere's disease. Results indicate that 71% (35 of 49) of the patients had no vertigo after the operation, while 22% (11 of 49) had much improvement. Hearing was maintained within 20 dB of the preoperative level in 78% (38 of 49) of the patients. During surgery in the last 23 patients, direct nerve potentials were recorded from the middle ear promontory and the intracranial cochlear nerve. Brain stem auditory evoked responses were simultaneously recorded in the last 10 patients. It appears that the intraoperative direct cochlear nerve potentials can be used as a sensitive monitor of trauma to the cochlear nerve during and after vestibular neurectomy. If the latency of the eighth nerve action potential changes less than 0.3 msec and the waveform does not change after vestibular neurectomy, there is an excellent chance that hearing at 1 month after surgery will be within 15 dB of the level before surgery. The retrolabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy has replaced the middle fossa vestibular neurectomy and the endolymphatic subarachnoid shunt procedure in our clinic.
A subtotal resection through the translabyrinthine approach should be used in the treatment of large symptomatic acoustic neuromas in patients over the age of 65. This approach will consistently relieve the patient's symptoms of brain stem compression, reduce postoperative morbidity and complications, and preserve facial nerve function. In the elderly, after subtotal resection, the remaining tumor in 80% of cases appears to remain dormant during the average six year follow-up (1-16 year range). Eighty percent of acoustic neuromas not operated upon, appear to grow at a slow rate (0.2 cm/yr) while 20% grow at a fast rate (1 cm/yr). Patients over the age of 65 with small acoustic neuromas do not need surgical intervention. Yearly CT scanning is recommended to determine the growth rate of the acoustic neuroma. A conservative approach should be used in the treatment of all acoustic neuromas in the elderly.
Since November 1978, we have used retrolabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy in 29 of 42 cases as the primary procedure to relieve vertigo in Meniere's disease. The results indicate that 67% of patients had no vertigo postoperatively, while 21% were much improved. Hearing was maintained within 20 dB of the preoperative level in 78%. Simultaneous intraoperative electrocochleography and eighth nerve action potentials were used to monitor auditory function in the last fourteen cases using an Amplaid Mark V evoked potential signal processor. It appears that the intraoperative electrocochleography after vestibular neurectomy can be used as an indicator of postoperative auditory function. The retrolabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy has replaced the middle fossa vestibular neurectomy and the endolymphatic subarachnoid shunt in our practice.