Clinical and Radiological Evaluation of Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Introduction The diagnosis of rhinosinusitis is based on clinical grounds having characteristic symptoms, combined with objective evidence of mucosal inflammation. We studied the corelation between the symptoms of the patients, clinical and endoscopic findings with CT scan findings in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Materials and Methods Patients above the age of 15yrs fulfilling the criteria of Chronic sinusitis laid by European position paper on rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps (EPOS) 2012 were prospectively studied. Demographic and clinical profile were noted. Diagnostic Nasal Endoscopy was done and findings were recorded. Patients were undergone CT evaluation after giving appropriate medical management. Clinical, endoscopic and radiological findings were compared with similar studies. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS software version 20. Results This study included 118 patients of Chronic Rhinosinusitis. Patients commonly male between the age group of 21-30 years presented with nasal obstruction, headache and nasal discharge in order of presentation. Diagnostic Nasal endoscopy revealed Septal deviation in 64.4% and medialize uncinate process in 15.2% of cases. Nasal discharge (48.3%) was commonest finding. CT scan suggested deviated nasal septum (70.4%), concha bullosa (30.5%), blocked osteo-meatal complex (68.6%) in patients of CRS. Presence of Agger Nasi cell (49.2%), Haller cell (12.7%) and Onodi cell (15.7%) seen in these patients. Conclusion CT scan and diagnostic endoscopy along with detailed clinical examination are essential component for assessment of a patient with chronic rhinosinusitis. CT scan is considered as gold standard but endoscopy is also a valuable tool for diagnostic evaluation of patients with CRS.

Clinicopathological and Radiological Study of Thyroid Swelling

Thyroid swelling is the most common swelling among the endocrine disorder. It can affect any age group. USG neck will help to diagnose the solid and cystic lesions. The treatment is surgical excision. FNAC is a good diagnostic tool to minimize the incidence of thyroidectomy. FNAC is cost effective, reliable and OPD procedure. Final diagnosis can only be made by HPE postoperatively. The aim of this study is to find out the relative occurrence of various pathological conditions presenting as midline thyroid swellings and clinicopathological and radiological examination of the thyroid swellings. A one and half year prospective study which was carried out from October 2016 to April 2018 in ENT department of MMIMSR, Mullana, Ambala. Informed written consent was taken from all the patients. A complete clinical, radiological, cytological an HP Examination was done. Total 50 patients were included in the study. Complete clinical data of the patient was gathered from medical records. The maximum number of patients in present study was found in an age group of 31-40 years (34%). There was female predominance with female to male ratio of 7.3:1. Most of the patients belonged to rural background i.e. 42 (84%) patients. Most of the patients present with Left sided neck swelling i.e. 18 (36%) patients. Ultrasound revealed that non neoplastic lesions were present in 44 (88%) patients and 6 (12%) patients had neoplastic lesions. FNAC showed that non neoplastic lesions were present in 38 (76%) patients and 12 (24%) patients had neoplastic lesions. On HPE, non neoplastic and neoplastic lesions were present in 36 (72%) and 14 (28%) patients respectively. Colloid goiter was the most common among the non neoplastic lesions in 29 (58%) patients. Papillary carcinoma was the most common malignant disease in 4 (8%) patients. Thyroid swelling was most commonly seen during the 3rd and 4th decade of life, with a female preponderance. Most common benign thyroid swelling is Colloid goiter and papillary carcinoma was the most common malignant disease. Histopathology is considered as a gold standard.

Sinonasal Anatomical Variants: CT and Endoscopy Study and Its Correlation with Extent of Disease

To evaluate the incidence of anatomical variations in sinonasal area by nasal endoscopy and CT scan paranasal sinuses and to correlate the anatomical variations in sinonasal area with extent of disease. The present study was conducted on 40 patients of chronic sinusitis. All the patients underwent CT scan paranasal sinus axial and coronal view and nasal endoscopy. The most common anatomical variations were agger nasi cells (80 %), deviated nasal septum (72.5 %) and concha bullosa (47.5 %). Other anatomical variations seen in sinonasal region were uncinate process variations, paradoxical middle turbinate, haller cells, accessory ostia of maxillary sinus, multiseptated sphenoid. Osteomeatal unit (87.5 %) and maxillary sinuses (87.5 %) were the most commonly involved which was followed by anterior ethmoids (70 %), posterior ethmoids (50 %), frontal sinuses (32.5 %) and the sphenoids (20 %). Considering the results obtained, we believe that anatomical variations may increase the risk of sinus mucosal disease. We therefore, emphasize the importance of a careful evaluation of CT study in patients with persistent symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis.

Characteristics of patients who died from traumatic brain injury in two rural hospital emergency departments in Maharashtra, India, 2007-2009

Introduction:

Trauma is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world and in India.

Objective:

To describe 1) selected epidemiological and clinical characteristics of persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who died within 24 h after admission to the emergency departments (EDs) of two medical facilities in rural India and 2) the methods used to transport these patients from the locale of the injury incident to the study sites.

Materials and Methods:

Medical records of all injured patients regardless of age or sex who died within 24 h after admission to both EDs during January 31, 2007 through December 31, 2009 were reviewed and abstracted. Demographic variables and information on prehospital care, time and mechanism of injury, mode of transport to EDs, and primary hospital resuscitation were abstracted and analyzed.

Results:

Of the 113 injured patients in this study, 42 had TBI and died within 24 h of ED admission. All of these TBI patients were transported to the ED by relatives or bystanders in non-ambulance vehicles. Most of the patients with TBI (78.5%) were 21-50-years-old; and overall 90.0% were males. Persons working near or along busy roads struck by vehicles accounted for 80.9% of all TBI cases. Severe TBIs were present in 97.6% of the patients; of these, 92.8% had a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 3 on arrival. Other concurrent injuries included superficial lacerations (85.7%), facial injuries (57.1%), and upper (35.7%) and lower (30.9%) extremity fractures. Common lesions recognized on computed tomography (CT) scan were acute subdural hematoma (21.4%), subarachnoid hemorrhage with diffuse cerebral edema (16.6%), and skull base fracture with diffuse cerebral edema (14.2%); in 21.4% of cases, the CT scan were reported normal.

Conclusion:

Most of the TBI patients who died within 24 h after admission to EDs in this study were not transported to EDs in emergency medical vehicles; most were of working age (ages 20-50 years); were male; and were day laborers working on busy interstate roads where they were hit by vehicles.

Resource utilization in the management of traumatic brain injury patients in a critical care unit: An audit from a rural set-up of a developing country

Background:

Neurosurgical patients including patients with severe head injury are at risk of developing respiratory complications. These can adversely affect the outcome and can result in poor survival. Many studies confirm that tracheostomy is a safe, effective method of airway management for patients with severe head, facial and multisystem organ trauma.

Aims:

To know the indications for performing early tracheostomy and its outcome.

Settings and Design:

Retrospective data analysis.

Materials and Methods:

The present study is a retrospective analysis of all patients who were admitted with the diagnosis of head injury between January 2007 and December 2009 and underwent tracheostomy at a rural tertiary care trauma center of Central India.

Results:

During the study period, a total of 40 patients with head injury underwent tracheostomy. All the patients sustained head injury in road traffic accidents. The mean age of the patients was 37.6 years (range 14–75 years, standard deviation 14 ± 14.9 years). Maximum number of patients were in their third decade of life, followed by those in the fifth and fourth decades. There were 36 males and 4 females. Tracheostomy was performed in 30 patients with severe head injury, 9 patients with moderate head injury and in only one case of mild head injury as the patient had multiple facial injuries compromising the airway.

Conclusions:

Neurocritical care is a relatively new field in India, and the facilities for critical neurosurgical patients are available only in a very few tertiary care centers mainly serving the urban areas. In the present study, we discuss our limited experience with tracheostomy in patients with head injury while facing the challenge of limited resources.

Combined Middle Cranial Fossa and Trans-Mastoid Approach for the Management of Post-Mastoidectomy CSF Otorrhoea

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorrhoea is an uncommon condition arising from defects in the tegmen and middle cranial fossa. 33 year gentleman presented with post-mastoidectomy CSF otorrhoea of 5 year duration. Imaging finding were suggestive of fracture in the tegmen region. A combined middle cranial fossa/transmastoid was used to repair the defect. Defect was identified in the tegmen plate and it was closed with pedicled pericranial graft, laterally based pedicled temporalis muscle graft reinforced by bone dust and supported with intact mucosal flap. The leak stopped completely following surgery. The patient is doing well at follow up. Repair of these defects need careful analysis of imaging findings to understand pathological anatomy, and a well planned surgical approach to achieve meticulous repair.

Tornwaldt cyst: a cause of neck pain and stiffness

Nasopharyngeal cysts are rare, small in size and asymptomatic, usually diagnosed as in incidental finding on MRI. Large cyst commonly presents with obstructive symptoms. Tornwaldt cysts occur in the midline bursa of the nasopharynx above the upper border of the superior constrictor muscle. They represent as a communication between notochord remnants and the pharyngeal endoderm. We report this case because of its presentation and size (2.5 × 2 cm). It was presented as intermittent cervical pain, stiffness and vertigo because of prevertebral cervical muscle spasm due to cyst and nasal symptoms were not predominant. Although rare, it should be kept as a differential diagnosis for cervical myelgia and stiffness.

Giant thyroglossal cyst in an elderly patient

65 year old male presented to us with swelling on right side of neck which was progressively increasing since last 1 year. Moving with deglutition but not with the protrusion of tongue, FNAC and ultrasonography of the swelling suggested possibility of thyroglossal cyst (TGD). Histopathological report, on removal, by Sistrunk operation confirmed the same. Presence of TGD at the ripe age of 65 years, huge size, multilobular nature and absence of classical signs of TGD, in our patient prompted us to report this case.

Metastatic lung cancer presenting with jugular foramen syndrome in a case of von Recklinghausens disease

Metastatic carcinomas from a distant primary malignancy involving the temporal bone particularly the jugular foramen are rare tumors. A 57-year-old gentleman had multiple gradually increasing swellings over the body since many years. For last two years, he noticed enlargement of the swelling in left calf and rapidly enlarging painful new swelling over the left chest wall in back for last one year. He had recent involvement of left seventh, eighth and lower cranial nerves. CT scan showed an extensive lesion in left jugular foramen region with bone destruction. The patient underwent decompression of the left jugular foramen mass lesion. The tumor was extremely vascular and a partial decompression could only be performed. Although there was relief in the headache but the neurological deficits were persisting. Histopathology of the tumor showed features of metastatic small ling cancer. In the present case, there was presence of long standing multiple swelling all over the body and the patient had painful enlargement that he perceived as an ongoing process of the von Recklinghausen's disease and made a delay in seeking the medical advice resulting in a well advanced disease and with poor prognosis.

Giant solitary neurofibroma presenting as a neck mass in an infant

Solitary neurofibroma is a rare tumor of the head and neck region. It is more common in viscera, where it is associated with features of NF1. It occurs most often between the third and fourth decade. These lesions are extremely rare in infants. We report a case of giant, solitary neurofibroma presenting as a progressive mass in parotid region in an infant. This case is unique in its age of presentation (11 months), site, size (about 8 × 15 cm) without any symptoms or neurological deficit.

Blunt trauma to the parotid gland in child

Blunt trauma to the parotid gland is extremely rare and requires considerable force. We present a unique case in which a child sustained parotid injury without any associated injury to the facial skeleton, parotid gland and ductal structures and managed successfully. A literature search revealed that this type of injury has not been reported previously.