To demonstrate the importance of detailed, multidisciplinary examination of patients with post-tonsillectomy taste distortions, and to show that post-tonsillectomy dysgeusia may originate in the caudal part of the soft palate.

We describe a 29-year-old man who suffered from severe post-tonsillectomy dysgeusia and phantogeusia with secondary weight loss and depression-like symptomatology. The patient had normal electrogustometric thresholds and sensitivity to touch on the posterior tongue. In contrast, elevated taste threshold and reduced sensitivity to touch was found on the caudal part of the soft palate (the palatoglossal arches). More marked elevation of electrogustometric threshold and insensitivity to touch on the right palatoglossal arch correlated with post-operative haemorrhage from the right tonsillar fossa. Psychiatric examination excluded major depression, eating disorders and drug abuse.

Dysgeusia constitutes a rare but significant complication of tonsillectomy. Damage to the lingual branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve innervating the posterior tongue is thought to be a major cause of this complication. However, damage to the tonsillar branches of the glossopharyngeal nerve and the soft palate should also be considered as a cause of post-tonsillectomy dysgeusia. Further studies are needed to assess whether post-operative haemorrhage could indicate heightened risk of dysgeusia.

An eight-year-old boy was presented with complaints of serous discharge from his left cheek since birth. As part of the radiological investigation, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography sialography with fistulography, and digital sialography with fistulography were performed.

Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the exact location of an accessory parotid gland but failed to demonstrate the accessory duct. The presence of an accessory gland was well delineated on computed tomography fistulography and computed tomography sialography. Fistulography revealed a small accessory parotid duct and gland. No communication between the ductal systems of both glands was demonstrated.

In such cases, pre-operative imaging (with sialography, magnetic resonance sialography and computed tomography sialography with fistulography) is helpful for exact delineation of the ductal anatomy. To the best of our knowledge, only four previous cases of congenital accessory parotid gland fistula have been reported in the English literature.

We present the first reported case of a middle-ear lipoma presenting with facial nerve palsy. We review the available literature on middle-ear lipomas and alert the surgeon to the possibility of a lipoma occurring in this location.

A 33-year-old man presented to our unit with a right-sided, House–Brackmann grade two, lower motor neurone facial palsy. A computed tomography scan revealed abnormal soft tissue in the epitympanic recess, extending to the region of the geniculate ganglion. At middle-ear exploration, a lump of fatty tissue was found filling the anterior middle-ear cleft, juxtaposed to the horizontal portion of the facial nerve. The patient's facial palsy resolved within a few weeks of surgery.

Lipomas are a rare but real differential diagnosis of a mass in the middle ear. Early imaging is advised.

We report an extremely rare case of thyroid hemiagenesis with ectopic lingual thyroid.

Case report and review of the world literature concerning thyroid hemiagenesis with ectopic lingual thyroid and heredity.

Ectopic thyroid is an uncommon embryological aberration characterised by the presence of thyroid tissue in a site other than its usual, pretracheal location. The lingual thyroid is the most common manifestation of benign ectopic thyroid tissue, but is still a rare clinical entity. Thyroid hemiagenesis is also a very rare abnormality, in which one thyroid lobe fails to develop. We report a case of left thyroid hemiagenesis and goitre in the right lobe in a 26-year-old woman with an ectopic lingual thyroid.

To our knowledge, this is the first report in the world literature of thyroid hemiagenesis with ectopic lingual thyroid.

To compare the advantages and disadvantages of potassium titanyl phosphate laser with those of bipolar radiofrequency techniques, in paediatric tonsillectomy.

Prospective, randomised, clinical study.

From July 2004 to April 2006, 80 patients aged between 10 and 15 years, with tonsillectomy planned for chronic tonsillitis, were included in the study. Children were prospectively randomised into two equal groups: potassium titanyl phosphate laser tonsillectomy and bipolar radiofrequency tonsillectomy. Operative time and intra-operative blood loss were recorded. Patients were scheduled for follow up during the first, second and fourth post-operative weeks. They were asked to record their pain and discomfort on a standardised visual analogue scale, from zero (no pain) to 10 (severe pain). Post-operative complications were also recorded and managed.

The potassium titanyl phosphate laser group showed a slightly longer operative time (mean 12 minutes) than the bipolar radiofrequency group (mean 10 minutes). Intra-operative blood loss was significantly less in the potassium titanyl phosphate laser group (mean 21 cm3) than in the bipolar radiofrequency group (mean 30 cm3). In the first week, post-operative pain scores were less in the potassium titanyl phosphate laser group than in the bipolar radiofrequency group (means 7.5 and 8.5, respectively). However, in the second week pain scores increased more in the potassium titanyl phosphate laser group than in the bipolar radiofrequency group (means 8.5 and 6, respectively). In the fourth week, both groups showed equal and nearly normal pain scores. No case of reactionary post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage was recorded in either group. Only one case of secondary post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage was recorded, in the potassium titanyl phosphate laser group (2.5 per cent), managed conservatively.

Both the potassium titanyl phosphate and the bipolar radiofrequency techniques were safe and easy to use for tonsillectomy, with reduced operative time, blood loss and complication rates and better post-operative general patient condition. Potassium titanyl phosphate laser resulted in reduced operative bleeding and immediate post-operative pain, compared with the bipolar radiofrequency technique. However, potassium titanyl phosphate laser required slightly more operative time and caused more late post-operative pain than the bipolar radiofrequency technique. The low rate of recorded complications showed that both techniques cause little damage to the tonsillar bed during dissection, thus minimising complications.

Blood group O is associated with lower expression of von Willebrand factor suggesting a relative bleeding tendency. A lower admission rate for epistaxis among Asians compared with Caucasians has also been noted, with one explanation being higher prevalence of blood group O among Caucasians. This study investigates whether blood group O is over-represented in patients admitted with epistaxis.

A retrospective study was conducted, using computerised hospital in-patient and blood bank databases to identify Caucasians admitted with epistaxis between January 2000 and December 2005 inclusive. The control group consisted of 500 consecutive patients who had a primary total hip arthroplasty and 500 consecutive patients who gave birth within the delivery suite.

1261 Caucasians admitted with epistaxis were identified. Among epistaxis patients, 50.44 per cent were blood group O but among the control group this was 45.10 per cent (chi-square test p = 0.008).

Blood group O appears over-represented in Caucasian patients admitted with epistaxis, compared with the control population, raising the possibility that blood group O is a risk factor for epistaxis.

To describe the pathophysiology of biofilm communities and their role in otorhinolaryngological disease, with reference to the published literature.

Review of relevant literature, using Medline and the combined search terms ‘biofilms’ and ‘otorhinolaryngology’, and also various related keywords such as ‘tonsil’ and ‘adenoid’.

Description of biofilm pathophysiology and of published reports of biofilms in otorhinolaryngological disease.

Virtually all microbes live in biofilm communities. Within these communities, the microbes assume differing specialised roles which confer survival advantages on the community. These communities cause chronic and device-associated infections. Within the specialist field of otorhinolaryngology, biofilms have been shown to play a role in many infections, including: chronic otitis media, cholesteatoma, chronic tonsillitis, chronic sinusitis, and infections of tracheostomies, endotracheal tubes and cochlear implants.

This study aimed to compare the clinical and epidemiological profiles of cases of complicated and uncomplicated chronic suppurative otitis media, based on their prognostic factors.

This was a prospective, cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary care medical college hospital over a period of two and a half years. The study group comprised 187 ears, out of which 62 had complications while 125 did not. The two groups were compared with respect to nine prognostic variables: age distribution, sex, patient's domicile, literacy status, duration of ear discharge at presentation, ear pathology, predisposing disease focus in the nose or throat, ear swab microbiology, and hearing loss.

Patients in the complicated chronic suppurative otitis media group had a higher male predominance and were younger. Rural and illiterate patients had a higher risk of developing complications. Cholesteatoma and granulation tissue were potential risk factors in the complicated chronic suppurative otitis media group. Ears with complications were more prone to develop sensorineural hearing loss. Age, sex, duration of ear discharge, predisposing disease focus in nose or throat, and ear swab microbiology were all less useful prognostic indicators of complications.

Early detection and timely treatment of chronic suppurative otitis media in rural and illiterate patients may prevent life-threatening complications and reduce their incidence. Ears that harbour relatively large quantities of both cholesteatoma and granulation tissue together require more urgent surgical intervention and more extensive disease clearance in order to prevent complications.

To demonstrate the use of an optical surface scanner, with associated software, in the assessment of rhinoplasty patients, and to discuss the possible clinical applications of this technology in the future.

Case study analysis of pre- and post-operative scans of a patient undergoing septorhinoplasty at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London, UK.

A 21-year-old man undergoing septorhinoplasty underwent pre-operative optical surface scanning of his face. The scans were repeated at one week and one year post-operatively. Software developed at University College London was then used to analyse the scans.

The scans clearly showed that the man's dorsal hump had been well reduced and the nose straightened, with a resulting 1600 mm3 gain on the right side and a 1000 mm3 loss on the left side of the nose. Tip projection had also been achieved.

This technique allowed objective quantification of facial features and analysis of change. It may well prove useful in the future in predicting change following surgical intervention.