Chromosomal analysis of recurrent laryngeal papillomas

Chromosome abnormalities in low-grade central nervous system tumors

Ependymomas, oligodendrogliomas, and low-grade astrocytomas are slow-growing central nervous system (CNS) tumors that occur in both adults and children, whereas craniopharyngiomas and choroid plexus papillomas occur predominantly in children. We examined karyotypes of 32 of these low-grade tumors, including ten oligodendrogliomas, six ependymomas, 11 low-grade astrocytomas, four craniopharyngiomas, and one choroid plexus papilloma. Only normal karyotypes were obtained from 6 oligodendrogliomas. The rest had normal stemlines; three tumors had 45,X,-Y sidelines and one tumor had a sideline of monosomy 22. The most frequent abnormalities in the ependymomas were +7 (three tumors), -21 (two tumors), -22 (two tumors), and del(9)(p22) (two tumors). Gains of chromosome 7 and deletions of 9p were found more often in high-grade gliomas. Seven low-grade astrocytomas had normal stemlines, two had chromosome 7 abnormalities, a pilocystic astrocytoma had +der(15), and one tumor had a -Y sideline. The four craniopharyngiomas and one choroid plexus tumor were all apparently normal. The cytogenetics of low-grade CNS tumors differ from higher grade gliomas in that most low-grade tumors show little deviation from the normal karyotype.

Hypnotherapeutic intervention for voice disorders related to recurring juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis

Recurring juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis is resistant to cure, and thus usually requires multiple operations which may lead to the extensive proliferation of vocal fold scar tissue. Severe hoarseness, sharply lower pitch, and weak loudness levels are common sequelae. Adjunctive hypnotherapy can increase motivation for change, speed up the acquisition of vocal skills, and possibly even facilitate or sustain remission of growths in selected patients. An 8-year-old girl with severe active eruptions went into remission after 16 sessions, and a 12-year-old boy, already in remission at the beginning of the intervention period, remained free of neoplasms throughout the regimen. Whether or not hypnosis contributed significantly to the sanguine results, it is probable that, at the least, the hypnotic intervention facilitated the achievement of certain technical objectives in voice therapy.