Hemangiopericytoma of the parotid gland: a case report

Hemangiopericytomas are uncommon neoplasms of vascular origin that mostly arise from extremities, retroperitoneum, and pelvic fossa. They are rarely found in the parotid gland. A 35-year-old female patient presented with a swelling in the right preauricular region. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy performed twice yielded an extraordinary amount of blood. A cytological diagnosis could not be made. Computed tomography showed a homogenous, well-shaped mass in the parotid gland. Superficial parotidectomy was performed. Histopathological diagnosis was made as hemangiopericytoma. No evidence for local recurrence or distant metastasis was seen within a follow-up of 36 months.

[Tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration following partial laryngectomy: a case report]

Tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration is uncommon in adults and one etiologic factor is laryngeal surgery. A 50-year-old male patient presented with cough, high fever, and severe dyspnea three months after partial laryngectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. A computed tomography scan of the thorax showed a hyperdense mass lesion in the right main bronchus, suggesting a foreign body. Diagnostic bronchoscopy was performed under general anesthesia and a small bone fragment, 2 x 1.3 cm in size, was removed from the right bronchial lumen. The patient showed slow improvement due to prolonged atelectasis until complete clinical and radiologic recovery.

A study of prognostic factors in sudden hearing loss

We investigated the prognostic significance of the presence or absence of vertigo and tinnitus, the timing of the initiation of treatment, the type and severity of hearing loss, and age in 72 patients who had experienced sudden hearing loss. We found that the factors associated with a positive prognosis were the absence of vertigo, the presence of tinnitus, initiation of treatment within 7 days, a greater degree of hearing loss in the low frequencies, and a hearing loss of less than 45 dB. Age had no effect on prognosis.

A Study of Prognostic Factors in Sudden Hearing Loss

We investigated the prognostic significance of the presence or absence of vertigo and tinnitus, the timing of the initiation of treatment, the type and severity of hearing loss, and age in 72 patients who had experienced sudden hearing loss. We found that the factors associated with a positive prognosis were the absence of vertigo, the presence of tinnitus, initiation of treatment within 7 days, a greater degree of hearing loss in the low frequencies, and a hearing loss of less than 45 dB. Age had no effect on prognosis.

[Quality of life assessment with the use of the SF-36 in patients with nasal polyposis: correlations with clinical and laboratory findings]

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the quality of life of patients with nasal polyposis and sought correlations between clinical and laboratory parameters and quality of life.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty-two patients (8 females, 24 males; mean age 43 years; range 15 to 68 years) with nasal polyposis were evaluated by history, physical examination, endoscopy, computed tomography (CT), nasal smear, and skin prick tests. Quality of life was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36).

RESULTS

The mean CT score showed a weak correlation with symptom and endoscopic scores (p<0.05), whereas the latter two scores were not correlated. All the SF-36 scales were adversely influenced, particularly including the scores for role limitation caused by emotional problems, general perception of health, vitality, and role limitation caused by physical problems. An inverse correlation was found between increasing age and complaints of pain (p<0.05). Symptom scores were correlated only with role limitation caused by emotional problems (p<0.05). Duration of nasal symptoms was correlated with increased scores for role limitation caused by physical problems, mental health, social functioning, and pain (p<0.05). Computed tomography stage was correlated with role limitation caused by emotional problems, pain, and social functioning, whereas CT scores showed correlation only with pain (p<0.05). The presence of asthma adversely influenced general perception of health scores (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Nasal polyposis adversely affects the quality of life of patients, the extent of deterioration being more prominent in certain subscales.