Frequently, the clinical picture in the oropharynx alone does not lend itself to a reliable differentiation between acute pharyngotonsillitis in infectious mononucleosis and a streptococcal inflammation. Such a differentiation, however, is essential for the indication of antibiotic therapy. Therefore, it was the aim of the present study to investigate whether or not endoscopic verification of larger-than-normal lymphatic tissue with fibrinous membranes in the nasopharynx would enhance the reliability of diagnosis.

Fifty hospitalized patients exhibiting the clinical picture of acute pharyngotonsillitis were examined for the following parameters: nasopharyngeal endoscopy, determination of glutamine-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamine-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), leucocytes and haemogram, antibodies to viral capsid antigen (VCA)-IgM, Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen (EBNA), and cytomegalovirus (CMV).

In 24 patients with acute tonsillitis/peritonsillar abscess, and in 26 patients with infectious mononucleosis, the total leucocyte count in the blood and the blood/erythrocyte sedimentation rate were comparable. Atypical lymphocytes or absolute lymphocytosis were not seen in acute tonsillitis, but were found in 88.5 per cent of patients with infectious mononucleosis. Elevated transaminase levels were noted in 77 (GOT) and 88.5 per cent (GPT) of patients with infectious mononucleosis, and in acute tonsillitis in 4.2 (GOT) and 12.5 per cent (GPT) of patients. The CRP was higher than normal in 91.7 per cent of patients with acute tonsillitis, and in 57.7 of patients with infectious mononucleosis. In none of the patients with acute tonsillitis was lymphatic tissue with fibrinous membranes seen in the nasopharyngeal cavity. In contrast, nasopharyngeal endoscopy in infectious mononucleosis was positive in 24 out of 26 patients. Hence, the sensitivity was 92.3 per cent, the specificity 100 per cent, and the prediction value for a positive test turned out to be 1.

Endoscopy of the nasopharngeal cavity employed as a simple and supplementary procedure adds to the reliability of diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis.

Acute epiglottitis has traditionally been described as a paediatric disease in reports from temperate countries. There have been very few reports from tropical countries. This is a retrospective review of 32 cases of acute epiglottitis from Singapore over an eight-year period from 1992 to 1999. There were 31 adults and only one child. In Singapore, Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib) immunization in not routine, and thus the increased prevalence in adults cannot be attributed to Hib immunization.

Eleven patients required airway intervention, of whom nine had endotracheal intubation and two had a surgical airway. Significant predictors for airway intervention included the sex of the patient, stridor, presence of airway compromise on examination and a ‘thumb sign’ on the lateral neck radiograph. In adults, selective airway intervention is recommended as those without airway compromise at presentation recover very well with medical treatment alone.

Nasal endoscopy is a valuable adjunct to the localization of the sphenopalatine ganglion. Twenty-two patients with advanced malignancies of the head and neck region whose pain was not adequately controlled with conventional medications, including oral morphine, were given nasal endoscopically guided neurolytic sphenopalatine ganglion block with six per cent phenol after a prognostic block with local anaesthetic solution. Seventeen patients had good immediate relief. One had partial relief and four had inadequate relief. On follow-up for one month, the patients had significantly lower pain intensity and the pain was more manageable with oral medication. The vicious cycle of pain was broken. This block is relatively safe and can be usefully performed as an out-patient procedure.

Use of rigid direct larygnoscopy (RDL) in the investigation of stridor in children is well recognized. This study presents awake flexible fibre-optic laryngoscopy (FFL) as the first line in investigation of children, under six months of age, who present with stridor without any associated respiratory distress. Using the per oral approach the procedures were conducted either in the out-patient department or in the ward. No anaesthesia, local or general, nor sedation was used. Of the 20 cases included in the study, in 16 (80 per cent) cases a working diagnosis was reached on awake FFL. Eleven had laryngomalacia, two subglottic stenosis, one glottic web and two were normal. Only four (20 per cent) cases needed RDL to reach a definitive diagnosis. There were no problems with the maintenance of the airway during the procedure. It is particularly useful in the diagnosis of functional abnormalities of the larynx, such as laryngomalacia and vocal fold palsies. Awake FFL using the per oral approach is a safe and reliable technique for reaching a working diagnosis in approximately 80 per cent of cases.

As a result of a previous audit on the management of sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome (SAHS) which showed long waiting times that were primarily due to unnecessary interspecialty referrals, a change in practice was adopted. All referrals are now sent a questionnaire about symptoms suggestive of SAHS, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale score and their body mass index (BMI) which when returned are categorized into having a high, intermediate or low risk of SAHS. Those patients with a high probability have home overnight oximetry and those with intermediate probability have video oximetry. Those with a low probability are referred directly to ENT. We audited the first 100 patients referred. All were General Practitioner referrals to either ENT or respiratory medicine. Only two patients had a low probability score and were seen directly in ENT. Following sleep study analysis, 10 patients were referred directly to ENT with no respiratory medicine follow-up and nine were discharged back to the General Practitioner with no apnoea or snoring. Eighty-one patients were followed up by respiratory medicine. Of these, 49 received a trial of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) and six were referred to ENT. Therefore the majority justified an investigation to exclude SAHS in the first instance and an unnecessary initial ENT appointment was avoided. We have reduced the average waiting times to sleep study by approximately 90 days and to nCPAP trial by 32 days, mostly due to decreased delays in interspecialty referrrals. We have also demonstrated a greater than 50 per cent reduction in ENT clinic visits, a small increase in the number of sleep studies but no increase in respiratory clinic workload.

Acute tonsillectomy has been advocated for severe infectious mononucleosis (IM) pharyngotonsillitis with upper airway obstruction (UAO) and not responding to corticosteroids. This paper reviews and rationalizes our management. A five-year chart review was carried out with a follow-up telephone survey. There were 36 admissions. Nine had UAO of whom 89 per cent (eight of nine patients) had a tonsillectomy. The diagnosis of UAO was not standardized. Twenty-seven patients did not have UAO and only a small proportion of these patients, 16 per cent (four of 25) went on to have an elective tonsillectomy. Corticosteroids made no significant difference to the tonsillectomy rate. UAO appears to identify patients with more severe disease who are likely to suffer recurrent tonsillitis. Acute tonsillectomy is an appropriate treatment option for this subgroup. The diagnosis of significant IM UAO is not defined and a schema is proposed. Recurrent tonsillitis is an uncommon sequela of severe IM pharyngotonsillitis without UAO.

We present the ongoing results of the series of 53 consecutive patients who underwent laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) for snoring at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. Twenty-nine patients (55 per cent) were completely satisfied with their surgery 18 to 24 months following LAUP when previously questioned via telephone questionnaire.

We have followed up the 29 patients with a previously successful result at between 70 and 79 months following surgery. They underwent an average of 1.6 procedures. Twelve patients (22 per cent) continue to be completely satisfied at this late stage, and a further 12 (22 per cent) have some ongoing improvement in their snoring. Only three patients have indicated that a previously successful result has failed since the previous survey.

The failure rate of LAUP in the treatment of snoring is seen predominantly in the first two years following surgery, but some long-term subjective recurrence of snoring does occur.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the potential utility of supracricoid partial laryngectomies (SCPLS) for non-squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. To illustrate our management of such tumours we present a case series based on six patients. Local control was achieved in five patients, with the sixth being salvaged by total laryngectomy and post-operative radiation therapy. Three of the six patients died of distant metastases. We concluded that supracricoid partial laryngectomies should become part of the armamentarium of the otolaryngologist - head and neck surgeon for non-squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Completion of an audit loop assessing vestibular schwannoma screening practice in a sub-regional ENT centre shows good agreement between the guidelines given and indications used for selecting patients to undergo screening MRIg. The proportion of cerebellopontine angle tumours diagnosed is consistent with other reports from the United Kingdom. During the audit period the proportion of patients screened because of unilateral tinnitus increased, but not beyond a reasonable estimate of the proportion that could expect to be screened because of this symptom. There was a reduction in the number of inappropriate scan requests after introduction of a guideline reminder. During the initial period after introducing screening guidelines there is increased screening activity, but this plateaus at a steady level.

Irrigation with isotonic saline is one of the most frequently used solutions after nasal surgery. However, the effect of saline solutions on mucociliary clearance is not well known. In a previous study, it was found that isotonic saline solution had a negative effect on ciliary beat frequency but Ringer-Locke solution had no effect in vitro. In this study we compared the effects of Ringer-Lactate solution and isotonic saline solution on mucociliary transport time before, and after, nasal septal surgery in patients with nasal septal deviation. We found that patients who used Ringer-Lactate solution as irrigation after surgery had a significantly better mucociliary transport time than the patients using isotonic saline solution (p < 0.05). In conclusion, it is better to use Ringer-Lactate solution instead of 0.9 per cent saline solution for nasal irrigation.

A retrospective review of the notes of 100 consecutive patients who had undergone aryepiglottoplasty for laryngomalacia, at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, was undertaken. Fifty-six were male, 44 female and 47 were under three months of age. Indications for surgery were oxygen desaturation below 92 per cent and feeding difficulties causing failure to thrive. Forty-seven patients had other pathology contributing to their airway compromise or feeding problems. Improvement in stridor after one month was achieved in 86/91 (94.5 per cent) being abolished completely in 50/91 (55 per cent). Of the 25 per cent of patients whose symptoms took more than one week to resolve, 16/22 (63.6 per cent) were later found to have a serious neurological condition. Feeding was improved in 42 of 58 patients (72.4 per cent) who had a pre-operative feeding difficulty. The complication rate was low, with only five out of 86 (10 per cent) experiencing initial worsening of the airway and six per cent having aspiration of early feeds before improvement occurred.

Endoscopic aryepiglottoplasty remains the operation of choice for patients with severe laryngomalacia, however, in the presence of neurological disease surgery is less likely to be successful.

Pharyngeal cancer still presents an unsatisfactory mortality (30-40 per cent in most series, with a slightly better prognosis for nasopharyngeal cancer relative to both oropharyngeal and hypophyarngeal cancers) despite advances in treatment. Therefore, it is critical to know the clinical features of pharyngeal cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the most relevant clinical features of pharyngeal cancer (oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, and nasopharyngeal) in order to improve knowledge of this malignancy with the aim of ameliorating diagnosis and treatment.

The retrospective study was based on a review of medical records from 258 consecutive patients with pharyngeal cancer (oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal and nasopharyngeal) diagnosed at La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain, between January 1 1991 and and December 31 1995. Medical records were provided by the Departments of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Radiation Oncology, and Medical Oncology.

All medical records were analysed for the following clinical variables: 1) incidence, 2) sociodemographics, 3) sites (oropharynx, hypopharynx, nasopharynx) and subsites, 4) clinical and histological staging, 5) pathlogy, 6) presenting symptoms, 7) time to diagnosis, 8) patients’ general performance status at diagnosis, 9) personal cancer history and synchronous head and neck tumours, 10) premalignant lesions, and 11) paediatric cases.

Our most outstanding finding was the excessively long time that elapsed between first clinical manifestation appearance and conclusive diagnosis of pharyngeal cancer (4.7 months for pharynx, 4.5 for oropharynx, 4.4 for hypopharynx and 6.5 for nasopharynx cancers). It was found that nasopharyngeal cancer was quite different from both oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers with respect to its potential aetiology, risk factors and clinical presentation. In addition it has a better prognosis.

The development of a stomal recurrence after temporary tracheostomy for malignant disease of the head and neck is a rare complication, but is a well-recognized phenomenon following total laryngectomy. The risk factors and mechanisms involved are still not well understood. In a review of 265 patients having a temporary tracheostomy for head and neck malignancy, three (one per cent) developed a stomal recurrence. All recurrences occurred in the group where tracheostomy had been performed pre-resection and of these three patients all had N+ disease. The findings suggest that tumour-cell implantation is an important mechanism of stomal recurrence and that operative technique and timing of tracheostomy placement is important in reducing the risk of encountering this complication.

This paper, describes the endoscopic repair of unilateral choanal atresia with the KTP laser, a one-stage procedure, with no requirement for stenting. Three patients are presented with unilateral choanal atresia, aged six, nine and 38-years-old. The procedure combines the excellent endoscopic visualization, with the good haemostatic and penetrating properties of the KTP laser. Follow up was between 12 months and four years with all choanae remaining patent, no dilatation was required. No surgical complications were noted.

The endoscopic division of the pharyngeal pouch wall with a mechanical stapling device has become increasingly popular. When compared to open excision, the reduced operative time, early resumption of oral intake, and short in-patient stay with no early recurrence of symptoms, are the proposed advantages. Small pouches or thick walled pouches are not suitable for stapling. From December 1996 to December 1999, 32 patients were admitted to the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for endoscopic stapling of a pharyngeal pouch. Five patients were unsuitable for stapling. In addition, three patients were treated for pouch recurrence after an external approach. Two patients required repeat stapling at a later date. Our results are encouraging in terms of short operation time and hospital admission, improvement of symptoms and minimal complication rate. Fifteen patients were assessed 24 months after the procedure with satisfaction surveys and contrast swallow X-rays. Subjective improvement was sustained throughout this period, despite radiological evidence of persistence of the pharyngeal pouch.

Mandibular advancement prosthesis (MAP) is infrequently used in the UK at present for snoring. First-line measures include dietary and weight modification for those that require it. Where such measures are unlikely to be useful or have already failed, surgery is sometimes utilized as a second-line treatment modality. We evaluate the use of MAP as an adjunct to first-line measures, with emphasis on efficacy, side-effects and patient compliance. Case notes of 30 snorers were reviewed and followed up with a questionnaire. Despite being useful in alleviating snoring, the prosthesis was poorly tolerated. Side-effects include increased salivation, temporomandibular joint pain, intra-oral and myofacial discomfort. Patients who persevered with the prosthesis found the early side-effects resolved after a few weeks and snoring reduced. MAP can be used in the initial management of snorers but patients need to be educated and encouraged, especially in the first few weeks.

Sixteen patients were diagnosed as suffering from cervical paragangliomas. Eleven patients (68.75 per cent) had twelve carotid paragangliomas (CPs), and five patients (31.25 per cent) had six vagal paragangliomas (VP). One CP (8.33 per cent) originated from paraganglia around the common carotid artery (CCA). Three cases of multiple paragangliomas are presented (18.75 per cent). In 80 per cent (4/5) of VP patients there was widening of the carotid bifurcation similar to that seen with CP. This widening occurred whenever the VP was large enough to grown in between the external carotid artery and internal carotid artery (ECA and ICA). Large VPs may displace the vessels either anterolaterally or anteromedially. Knowledge of the direction of the carotid displacement is essential to avoid intra-operative vascular injuries. Colour flow doppler ultrasound (CFD-US) was found to be a good non-invasive method for diagnosis of vascular neck swellings. It enabled the diagnosis of CP with 100 per cent accuracy, but it was not sufficient for diagnosis of high VP. A transcervical approach, cutting the digastric muscle and the styloid process with the attached ligaments and muscles, was sufficient for excision of most VP. However, midline mandibulotomy might be necessary with high VP. Vascular injuries occurred in 12.5 per cent (2/16) of patients. Superior laryngeal nerve and hypoglossal nerve paralysis occurred, respectively, in (2/11) and (1/11) of patients with CP. Vagal paralysis occurred in all patients with VP. Cerebrovascular accident and post-operative death occurred in one patient (6.26 per cent).

The main objective of this study was to assess resident training in head and neck flap reconstruction, and to determine the confidence of graduating residents in performing these flaps independently. Questionnaires were distributed to otolaryngology residents graduating in 1997. Respondents recorded the number of pedicled and free flap procedures they performed, or assisted with, and indicated flaps they felt confident about performing independently.

Pectoralis major myocutaneous (PMMC) (n = 560, mean 6.59) and radial forearm (RF) (66, 0.78) were the most common pedicled and free flaps performed. There was a significant difference (p = 0.0002, Mann-Whitney U test) between median confidence for pedicled (44.5 per cent) and free flaps (two per cent). Ten of the 17 flaps showed a significant Pearson correlation (p<0.05) between number of procedures performed and confidence in performing them independently. Of the pedicled flaps, latissimus dorsi (LD) showed good correlation (r = 0.67), PMMC showed low correlation (r = 0.19) and other pedicled flaps fair correlation. Of the free flaps, LD (r = 0.64) and fibula (r = 0.50) showed good correlation and rectus abdominis and RF fair correlation. There was a fair inverse correlation (r =−0.29) between numbers of pedicled and free flaps performed.

Higher correlation in flaps uncommonly performed reflects greater operative training necessary to achieve the confidence for performing these flaps independently. As respondents perfomed greater numbers of free flaps, the number of pedicled flaps decreased. It might thus be important to train residents in all aspects of pedicled flaps. Most respondents were of the opinion that additional training in free flaps was necessary for those planning a career in head and neck reconstructive surgery.

We present ‘Mishra's rhinoscope’, a novel, cost-effective technique of zero-degree rigid nasoendoscopy with a modified otoscope, the results of which are comparable with the fibreoptic sinoscope. This is particularly suited for the developing world where financial constraints restrict the diagnosis of an occult nasal pathology.

The ability of superglue (a cyanoacrylate adhesive) to bond strongly and quickly to skin presents considerable problems when it is inserted into the ear. A case of a patient who inadvertently self-administered Bostik superglue into her left external auditory meatus is reported. The superglue was removed successfully, in the form of a cast, with warm three per cent hydrogen peroxide without damaging the meatus or the typanic membrane. The use of hydrogen peroxide to remove superglue from the ear has not been described previously.