老龄喉癌患者喉近全切除术远期疗效观察

目的：探讨老龄喉癌患者行喉近全切除术的远期疗效。方法：对12例65岁以上喉癌患者行喉近全切除术，在Pearson手术基础上，保留部分环状软骨板、环杓关节及喉返神经。结果：3、5年生存率为75．0％及66．7％。术后2周内全部恢复吞咽功能。10例获得理想发声，2例发声失败。结论：对于有心、肺、脑等基础疾病的老龄喉癌患者，喉近全切除术是一种较好的方法。     

喉部分切除喉功能重建术

目的探讨喉部分切除术治疗声门型、声门上型喉癌的疗效和功能恢复。方法对我院1992年7月--2003年8月间喉癌行喉部分切除喉功能重建术的32例（占同期喉癌手术59．2％）临床资料进行总结和随访。其中声门型喉癌23例，声门上型喉癌9例；行喉裂开声带切除术室带下移修复术5例，垂直喉部分切除带状肌修复14例。垂直喉部分切除会厌修复3例，扩大垂直喉部分切除环舌根会厌吻合术1例，声门上水平部分喉切除术7例，扩大声门上水平部分喉切除术舌根修复2例。结果1、3、5年生存率分别为96．9％（31／32）、87．0％（20／23）、72．2（13118）。总拔管率为90．6（29／32）。全部病例恢复经口进食，一经拔管均能发音。术后复发率为12．5％。结论喉部分切除术不仅是喉癌根治的有效术式，而且同时可以较好地保留喉的生理功能，提高患者术后的生活质量。     

保留喉功能的T3期声门上喉癌的手术治疗

目的：探讨T3期声门上喉癌喉功能保留手术的可行性、技术操作和临床疗效。方法：回顾性分析1994～2003年收治的T3期声门上癌70例，均行喉功能保留手术，其中喉声门上水平部分切除术42例，喉声门上水平垂直部分切除术19例，喉环状软骨上部分切除术8例，喉近全切除术1例。以胸骨舌骨肌肌筋膜瓣、颈阔肌肌皮瓣、双蒂接力肌甲状软骨膜瓣、甲状软骨膜瓣等修复喉腔组织缺损，重建喉功能。全部患者均接受术后放疗（剂量50～60Gy）。结果：3年生存率为79．2％，5年生存率为68．4％。70例患者中已拔管60例，拔管率为85．7％。全部患者均恢复经口进食，无明显呛咳及吞咽困难。所有患者均发声成功，无一例因喉腔闭锁而致发声失败。结论：T3期声门上癌虽属晚期喉癌，但只要严格掌握适应证，熟练运用多种修复方法，提高外科手术技巧，保留喉功能是可行的。     

喉癌病人喉部分切除术的远期疗效分析

目的：通过对不同类型喉切除术的临床资料进行分析，对喉部分切除术与喉全切除术的远期疗效加以比较。方法：总结了我们近年治疗的手术治疗喉癌患者中的195例，根据原发肿瘤的部位和侵及范围，对上述195例患者采取不同方法共施行喉裂开肿瘤切除术14例；声门上水平喉切除78例，其中包括声门上扩大水平喉切除术24例，垂直部分喉切除24例，其中包括额侧喉部分切除4例；喉次全切除31例，包括水平垂直喉切除28例，环状软骨舌骨会厌固定术3例，喉全切除术48例。上述病例均经3－5年随访。结果：喉全切除术患者术后5年整体生存为79．2％，部分喉切除者5年整体生存为83．7％，两组间比较无明显差异。术后癌转移和复发是主要的致死原因。颈淋巴结转移对声门上型喉癌的5年生存率有明显影响。通过施行喉部分切除术，所有患者的喉呼吸及发声功能都得到了不同程度的保留。结论：对喉部分切除术的分类及术式选择实行标准化，在彻底切除肿瘤的同时尽可能保全喉功能，对提高喉癌手术的治疗效果和患者的生存质量均具有重要意义。     

保留功能的喉癌手术70例报告

目的 :探讨喉部分切除术治疗声门型、声门上型喉癌的远期疗效和功能恢复。方法 :对 1978年 7月～1998年 8月间手术的 70例临床资料进行总结和随访。其中声门型喉癌 6 0例、声门上型喉癌 10例 ;施行喉裂开声带切除术 2 2例 ,垂直半喉切除术 2 2例 ,Majer- Piquet手术 17例 ,水平半喉切除术 7例 ,Arslan手术 2例。结果 :1、3及 5年生存率分别为 98.5 3%、87.0 4%和 78.2 6 %。拔管率为 10 0 %。全部病例恢复经口进食 ,一经拔管均能发音。并发症发生率和术后复发率各为 15 .71%和 13.0 4%。结论 :喉部分切除术是功能保全性喉部恶性肿瘤根治的有效术式。它在切除肿瘤、延长生命的同时可以较好地保留喉的生理功能 ,提高患者术后的生活质量     

132例喉部分切除术的疗效评价

为评价喉部分切除术的疗效及预一，对１３２例喉部分切除术后病人进行随访及疗效分析，３年生存率为７９．５％，５年生存率７２．１％气管套管拔除率９３．２％，得发率１２．１％。术后全部病均经口进食并获得不同程度的会话功能，认为喉部分切除术优于全喉切除术，在保证根治的前提下，保全了喉功能，提高了生存质量，认为选择性的对部分喉癌Ｔ３及Ｔ４病变行喉部分切除术也是可行的。     

132例喉部分切除术的疗效评价

为评价喉部分切除术的疗效及预后，对132例喉部分切除术后病人进行随访及疗效分析，3年生存率为79．5％，5年生存率72．1％，气管套管拔除率93．2％，复发率12．1％。术后全部病例均经口进食并获得不同程度的会话功能。认为喉部分切除术优于全喉切除术，在保证根治的前提下，保全了喉功能，提高了生存质量，认为选择性的对部分喉癌T3及T4病变行喉部分切除术也是可行的。     

声门型喉癌垂直部分喉切除,重建方法与效果评价

本文就声门型喉癌１０２例施行垂直部分喉切除的适应症选择、重建方法、术后喉功能恢复及生存率分析。本组拔管率９８．０％（１００／１０２），有良好的发音功能、吞咽功能。３、５、１０年生存率分别为９０．２％、８５．６％、６９．８％。其生存率不亚于全喉切除术。证实垂直部分喉切除术是根治声门型喉癌Ｔ２、Ｔ３期的合理有效的术式。     

部分喉切除术治疗喉癌T3及T4病变

为探讨部分喉切除术治疗喉癌Ｔ３，４病变的可能性，回顾总结了１９８０年６月至１９９３年１２月喉癌Ｔ３，４病变行部分喉切除术３１例。术后全部病例均恢复经口进食，均获得不同程度的会话能力。３年及５年生存率分别为６４．５％（２０／３１）及５９．３％（１６／２７）；气管套管拔除率为７１．０％。认为选择性的对部分喉癌Ｔ３，４病变行部分喉切除术是可行的，在保证根治的前提下，保全了喉功能，提高了生存质量。     

老龄喉癌喉部分切除术远期疗效观察

目的探讨老龄喉癌患者行保留喉功能切除手术的远期疗效。方法总结１９８６～１９９６年间９９例６５岁以上老龄喉癌患者行各种喉部分切除术的临床资料,其中声带切除１４例、垂直半喉切除３１例、声门上水平半喉切除１５例、声门水平切除２例、水平垂直（３／４）切除２２例、喉近全切除５例、喉全切除环咽吻合１０例。结果术后全部病例均恢复了发音功能及吞咽功能,拔管率为９１．９％。术中无死亡,术后无严重并发症。３、５年生存率分别为７６．７％、７５．５％。结论老龄不是保留喉功能手术的禁忌证,关键是正确掌握各种术式的适应症及提高外科手术技巧减少术后并发症。     

A Decrease in Maxillary Sinus Pressure,as Seen in Upper Airway Allergy or Infection,Results in an Increase in Upper Airway Nitric Oxide Levels

The paranasal sinuses are connected to the nasal cavity via small osties. Ostial occlusion, caused by mucosal swelling, will result in a slowly increasing negative pressure inside the sinus cavity. In parallel, the oxygen content in the sinus will decrease, resulting in the development of relative hypoxia. Hypoxia is a powerful inducer of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, and inducible NO synthase has been shown to be present in considerable amounts in the upper airways, including the sinuses. The present study was designed to investigate whether a reduction in sinus pressure would affect upper airway NO production. Thirteen healthy volunteers were investigated. A pressure chamber was used to lower the ambient pressure to-4.9 kPa. NO was sampled from one nostril or via a drainage tube inserted into the maxillary sinus before, during and after the hypobaric exposure. When the pressure was decreased, NO levels increased from 256 &#45 15 to 316 &#45 19 ppb ( n =13, p <0.001). The NO levels remained elevated (282 &#45 21 ppb; p <0.05) when measurements were repeated 20 min after leaving the chamber. The nasal airway resistance (V2 tot ) also increased as a result of the chamber session (from 16 &#45 2° before to 21 &#45 3° after; p <0.05). An increase in NO levels was also found when the experiments were repeated with NO sampled directly from the maxillary sinus (225 &#45 6 before and 265 &#45 9 ppb after; n =6, p <0.001). For control purposes the nasal analyses were repeated again, this time under hyperbaric conditions (+4.9 kPa). This resulted in a slight decrease in the NO levels (from 273 &#45 22 to 241 &#45 17 ppb; n =10, p <0.001), but there was no change in the nasal airway resistance. We conclude that a reduction in sinus pressure, as seen in upper airway allergy or infection, may result in an increase in upper airway NO production.     

One‐stop neck lump clinic: phase 2 of audit. How are we doing?

One‐stop neck lump clinic: phase 2 of audit. How are we doing? Regular monitoring and audit of a service are integral to ensuring maintenance of efficiency and standards. This is particularly important where the quality of the service is operator dependent, as is the case in the clinical diagnosis of neck lumps and fine needle aspiration cytology. The one‐stop neck lump clinic has now been running in the department for more than 20 months. A previous article described the results of the first phase audit carried out at 6 months and had identified a waiting time to be seen that was longer than that recommended by the British Association of Otorhinolaryngologists, Head and Neck Surgeons. Measures were implemented to reduce this waiting time and a second audit was carried out after another 10 months with the aims of assessing if modification of the means of referral reduces waiting time and if the outcomes of clinical performance in phase 1 could be maintained or improved. We discuss the results of phase 2 in the audit spiral.     

The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF‐C in early laryngeal cancer: relationship with radioresistance

The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF‐C in early laryngeal cancer: relationship with radioresistance Angiogenesis is essential for tumour growth and invasion. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a prime mediator of tumour angiogenesis. VEGF‐C is a closely related protein that effects lymphatic endothelial cells and may be important in the process of lymphatic metastasis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of these cytokines in patients with T1 and T2a glottic, squamous cell carcinoma, in comparison with normal epithelial control tissue, to ascertain any association with radioresistance. Twenty‐two tumours treated by radiotherapy (13 radiosensitive, nine radioresistant) and seven normal control tissues were studied. The minimum follow‐up was 2 years after radiotherapy. Expression of VEGF and VEGF‐C was evaluated by immunohistochemistry of formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded biopsy specimens. Analysis was carried out using a quantitative computer image analyser. Both VEGF and VEGF‐C were detectable in tumour and normal control specimens. There was increased expression in tumour specimens of both VEGF (P = 0.03) and VEGF‐C (P < 0.001). In addition, the expression of VEGF‐C was associated with tumours of higher histological grade (P = 0.021). There was, however, no difference in VEGF and VEGF‐C expression between radioresistant and radiosensitive tumours. The expression of VEGF and VEGF‐C is increased in early laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, measuring the expression of these proteins cannot predict radioresistance in this tumour group.     

Treatment of Maxillary Sinus Carcinoma: Clinical Results Using the Kitasato Modality

The conventional therapeutic regimen for maxillary sinus carcinoma consists of dissection of the maxilla, full-dose irradiation and extensive chemotherapy. However, the results obtained with this treatment are often poor. Even when patients recover, their quality of life is significantly reduced as a result of deformity of facial structures and swallowing and articulation dysfunctions. A retrospective analysis of 68 patients with maxillary sinus carcinoma treated with the Kitasato modality between 1975 and 1999 was conducted. All patients underwent pergingival maxillary sinus surgery combined with pre- and postoperative irradiation therapy with standardized total doses of 16 Gy; the postoperative irradiation was given in combination with regional intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy administered via the superficial temporal artery. All visible tumor lesions were removed where possible in order to preserve or facilitate cellular immunity after surgery. The cumulative 5-year survival rates were 85.7% for Stage II patients, 88.1% for Stage III, 76.6% for Stage IVA and 75.0% for Stage IVB.     

Cervical Reflex Induced by Click Stimuli in Cats

We studied click-evoked potentials in the anterior horn of the spinal cord in 17 cats. A concentric needle electrode was inserted into the anterior horn of the spinal cord at levels C3-C6. Potentials evoked with 105 dB SPL clicks were recorded with a peak latency of 4.89-5.10 ms only at the C3 level. These responses were observed 45-60 dB SPL above the auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold, and no potentials were evoked by stimulation of the contralateral ear. Average was performed 100 times with changes in stimulation frequency of 1-20 Hz. The amplitude of the potentials decreased with increasing stimulus frequency, but there were no changes in ABRs. The responses disappeared after destruction of the medial vestibulospinal tract at the obex level, but ABRs were still recorded. The spinal nucleus of the accessory nerves was located in the anterior horn of the spinal cord at levels C1-C6, and the sternocleidomastoid muscle motoneurons were found at levels C1-C3. The click-evoked potentials recorded in this study reflect responses of the spinal nucleus of accessory nerves through the vestibulospinal tract to click stimulation. The responses have the same characteristics as vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials that can be recorded using surface electrodes over the sternocleidomastoid muscles of humans.     

A simple objective evaluation and grading for facial paralysis outcomes

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 degrade type IV collagen, which is one of the major components of the basement membrane in normal tissue and expressed in the surroundings of the cancer nest in squamous cell carinoma. The degeneration of type IV collagen is an essential step in the metastasis to lymph nodes and distant organs. In this study, we examined MMP-2 and -9 levels of cancer tissue and serum obtained from patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in order to evaluate the relationship between the clinicopathologic features and MMPs. We examined the production of MMP-2 and -9 in cancer tissue homogenates of 73 patients who had HNSCC and the serum MMP levels of 16 patients with HNSCC and 8 healthy volunteers. We also studied the localization of MMP-2 in the carcinoma using an immunohistochemical approach. The concentrations of MMP-2 and -9 in the tissue homogenates and serum were measured by means of a sandwich enzyme immunoassay using a monoclonal antibody. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed with monoclonal antibody to MMP-2. The concentration of MMP-2 in the tumor tissue homogenates was unrelated to tumor size, but that in patients with lymph node metastases was significantly higher than in those without lymph node metastases. The concentration of MMP-9 was unrelated to lymph node metastasis and tumor size. The levels of both MMP-2 and -9 in serum were unrelated to lymph node metastasis. Immunohistochemistry indicated that MMP-2 was mainly expressed in cancer cells. Because MMP-2 degrades type IV collagen, the level of MMP-2 in carcinomas may be a useful indicator of the degree of invasion and metastasis.     

A case of cortical deafness and anarthria

The nasal epithelium protects the underlying tissue from damage. Epithelial cell growth is controlled by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and is possibly affected by toxic proteins, e.g. eosinophil cationic protein (ECP). The aims of this study were to examine nasal fluid epithelial cell counts and their relations to EGF, eosinophils and ECP in 23 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and 20 healthy controls. Nasal fluid epithelial cell counts were lower in patients than in controls. EGF levels did not differ between patients and controls, and correlated with epithelial cell counts in controls but not in patients. Eosinophils and ECP were higher in patients than in controls, but did not correlate with epithelial cell counts. The role of growth factors, such as EGF, in regulating epithelial cells merits further study.     

Tongue Base Reduction with Temperature-controlled Radiofrequency Volumetric Tissue Reduction for Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

In recent years a considerable effort has been made to establish the use of different surgical techniques for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Nevertheless, treatment of hypopharyngeal obstruction due to tongue base hypertrophy remains in many ways an unsolved problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tongue base reduction with temperature-controlled radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction in the treatment of OSAS. Twenty patients with OSAS and tongue base hypertrophy were treated with radiofrequency tissue ablation. An intensified treatment protocol was used, delivering 2,800 J per treatment session under local anesthesia. Two nights of polysomnography testing were performed before and after treatment. Daytime sleepiness, snoring and postoperative morbidity were assessed using questionnaires. Mean respiratory disturbance index (RDI) was reduced from 32.1 to 24.9/h after a mean of 3.4 treatment sessions. Six patients (33%) were cured after the procedure (reduction in RDI of &#83 50% and a postoperative RDI of <15/h) and ten (55%) showed an improvement of >20% in their RDI. Daytime sleepiness and snoring improved significantly. Peri- and postoperative morbidity was low; one severe complication occurred (tongue base abscess). We were able to achieve similar cure and responder rates to those reported in a recently published pilot study but with a reduced number of treatment sessions. We believe that this technique may improve patient acceptance and have beneficial cost implications.     

Bilateral versus unilateral cochlear implantation in young children

Objectives

To compare the preverbal communication skills of two groups of young implanted children: those with unilateral implantation and those with bilateral implantation.

Material and methods

The study assessed 69 children: 42 unilaterally and 27 bilaterally implanted with age at implantation less than 3 years. The preverbal skills of these children were measured before and 1 year after implantation, using Tait Video Analysis that has been found able to predict later speech outcomes in young implanted children.

Results

Before implantation there was no significant difference between the unilateral group and the bilateral group. There was still no difference at 12 months following implantation where vocal autonomy is concerned, but a strongly significant difference between the groups for vocal turn-taking and non-looking vocal turns, the bilateral group outperforming the unilateral group. Regarding gestural turn-taking and gestural autonomy, there was a strongly significant difference between the two groups at the 12 month interval, and also a difference before implantation for gestural autonomy, the unilateral group having the higher scores. Multiple regression of non-looking vocal turns revealed that 1 year following implantation, bilateral implantation contributed to 51% of the variance (p < 0.0001), after controlling for the influence of age at implantation and length of deafness which did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions

Profoundly deaf bilaterally implanted children are significantly more likely to use vocalisation to communicate, and to use audition when interacting vocally with an adult, compared with unilaterally implanted children. These results are independent of age at implantation and length of deafness.