Two cases are reported in which a denture fragment was lodged in the bronchus for a period of six years. Bronchial asthma which did not worsen immediately after inhalation and other misleading factors made the diagnosis more difficult in the first case, whilst the respiratory symptoms in the second case appeared only 4 years after inhalation. Haemoptysis 2 years later led to a bronchoscopy and the removal of the foreign body.

An unusual case of odontogenic keratocyst arising from the maxilla, involving the maxillary anturm has been reported. Presence of an ectopic canine tooth under the orbital floor was a noticeable feature of this case. The clinical presentation, radiological, and histological aspects and treatment have been reviewed.

This brief report describes how, with commendable insight, a patient recently treated in our Unit adopted a very simple device to collect the excess mucus issuing from his tracheostomy tube.

Craniofacial resection techniques were developed to allow complete monobloc removal of malignant tumours of the ethmoid region. Such a surgical approach may also occasionally be useful in certain non-malignant conditions. Extensive ‘destructive’ aspergillosis of the paranasal sinuses has a high mortality once the anterior cranial fossa dura is reached. Craniofacial surgery provides excellent access to excise such large infective ‘tumours’.

A common feature of reporting head and neck squamous cancer statistics in recent years has been to consider patients dying with no evident disease (NED) as successfully treated. We present two patients who died with no clinically evident squamous cancer and who could therefore have been reported as cured but for autopsy findings which showed significant distant spread. These findings are supported by several reports of distant metastases in squamous head and neck cancer and it is suggested that rates of post-mortem examinations be included in survival figures in the future.

The first report of a case of verrucous carcinoma from Africa is presented. Problems of diagnosis and treatment are highlighted and the need for co-operation between the clinician and the pathologist for an accurate diagnosis is emphasized.

A case of hyperextension fracture of the hyoid bone is presented. The management is discussed, with reference to the mode of injury, emphasizing that symptomatic treatment only may be necessary. The literature is briefly reviewed.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a diagnostic and therapeutic problem in the management of childhood tumours. A case of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma affecting the sphenoid sinus and involving the cavernous sinus is presented. It has become evident that modern combined modality therapy, including surgery when required, radiation and adjuvant multi-drug chemotherapy offers the best chance of survival.

A case of acquired tracheo-oesophageal fistula in a 16-year-old boy, caused by a bullet wound, is presented. The fistula was located just below the cricoid cartilage and was successfully treated by excision of the fistula followed by enterposition of the sternomastoid muscle.

The most common tracheal neoplasms are epidermoid carcinomas, papillomas and cylindromas. Kaposi's sarcoma, confined primarily to the trachea, is one of the rarest tumours. The clinical and histological picture of a case of Kaposi's sarcoma of the trachea in a young, pregnant woman, presenting with severe airway obstruction, is described here. The emergency tracheoscopy dislodged a mass from the trachea, which turned out to be a Kaposi's sarcoma on histology. Although Kaposi's sarcoma is one of the manifestations of AIDS, this patient had neither any underlying immunodeficiency nor any skin, visceral or lymphatic lesions.

The term tumefactive fibroinflammatory lesion is used to describe an unusual fibrosclersing disorder that behaves in a malignant way clinically but is histologically benign. Lesions in the head and neck are believed to be part of the broader fibrosclerosing syndrome which include pseudotumour of the orbit, Reidel's thyroiditis, sclerosing cholangitis and mediastinal fibrosis. Clinical diagnosis is often difficult and relies heavily on histopathology. Steroid is suggested as the first line of management, while surgery or radiation therapy is reserved for failures.

Liposarcomas of the larynx are very rare. Only nine cases appear to have been recorded in the English literature.

An additional case of liposarcoma of the larynx occurring in a young patient is reported and the relevant literature discussed.

A case of osteogenic sarcoma of the ethmoid sinus is reported in a 45 year old man. The tumour extended superiorly through the frontal sinus and involved the medial wall of the left orbit causing diplopia. Treatment comprised partial excision followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy with symptomatic improvement, although 13 months later the patient died from progressive local and metastatic disease. A possible relationship to previous radiation exposure is discussed.