This paper presents a case of hoarseness caused by the pharyngolaryngeal localization of a leech. This pathological lesion is extremely rare in western European countries, but is more frequent in endemic areas. Possibly lethal dyspnoea, haemoptysis or haematemesis can be the revealing symptoms. When the diagnosis is suspected simple examination under anaesthesia and removal of the leech will effect a cure.

Subglottic foreign bodies presenting, as chronic subglottic stenosis is extremely rare in adults. A high index of suspicion and a careful history is of paramount importance in the diagnosis of a subglottic foreign body. Laser should not be used to excise granulation tissue to expose the foreign body because of the danger and potential of a fire particularly when the nature of the foreign body is not known. Rigid bronchoscopes are more beneficial than flexible ones in the removal of foreign bodies especially in long-standing cases.

In the Czech Republic, the first implantation of a stimulation electrode into the brainstem was performed on 11 January 1999 in the Department of ORL, Head and Neck Surgery, The First Medical Faculty, Charles University in Prague, University Hospital Motol. The selected patient was a 40-year-old woman with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) who had previously undergone bilateral vestibular schwannoma surgery. Both tumours had been radically removed, the left-sided tumour in 1987, the right-sided one in 1988. She had been completely deaf since the last operation, i.e., for 11 years. The surgery was realized by the international cooperation of three teams. Placement of the electrode pad of the Nucleus CI21+1M system on the ventral and dorsal cochlear nuclei was performed. Electrically evoked auditory brainstem responses (EABRs) proved the correct position of the electrode array. The post-operative course was uneventful. Six weeks after the surgery the patient received her speech processor. Since that time, the patient already absolved several sessions of a speech processor tune-up. She uses the device as an aid in lip-reading. No adverse or pathological side effects have been observed. The patient was the 45th person in Europe to receive an ABI and the first in the Czech Republic.

A 15 – year – old female presented with sensorineural hearing loss related to a high jugular bulb. She noticed temporary worsening of her right hearing with mild dizziness when her neck was compressed whereas she noticed no change in her left hearing. An audiogram showed temporary worsening of low tone bone – conduction on such occasions. A large jugular bulb covering the right round window was observed through the perforation. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a large jugular bulb obliterating the round window niche. Deterioration of bone conduction during neck compression was thought to be caused by the protrusion of the jugular bulb into the inner ear via the round window. This case suggested the possibility of sensorineural hearing loss due to the jugular bulb. As in the present case, jugular bulb or vein -related ear disorders should be examined by neck compression.

Recurrence in mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the salivary gland after 15 years is rare and present difficult therapeutic decisions. A rare case of mucoepidermoid cancer of the base of the tongue that recurred locoregionally after 20 years and was managed judiciously by a planned combined modality approach is presented.

We report the first case of a lipoma originating in the fossa of Rosenmu¨ ller. Although lipomas are a common benign tumour in the body, lipomas of the nasopharynx are rare.

A case is reported of a pleomorphic adenoma of the minor salivary glands of the oral cavity presenting with acute airway obstruction. This is the first reported case to our knowledge of a mixed salivary tumour of the upper respiratory tract causing upper airway obstruction and acute respiratory failure. The patient had to be intubated and transferred to the intensive care unit. After an elective tracheostomy was performed, the adenoma was excised from its fibrous capsule. It was found to originate from the soft palate and occupied the parapharyngeal space. A high index of suspicion should be kept in order to diagnose tumours of the parapharyngeal space with unusual presentation. These tumours which are usually benign should be considered in the differential diagnosis from more common infectious or traumatic conditions and surgical morbidity should be minimal.

Fracture of the clavicle as a late complication following radical neck dissection is rare, with an incidence of approximately 0.4-0.5 per cent. We report a case where fracture occurred early following a selective neck dissection.

Angiosarcomas are rapidly growing malignant neoplasms arising from the vascular endothelial cells. Most common sites are the extremities and the retroperitoneal space, with only four per cent of angiosarcomas arising in the head and neck area, whilst the paranasal sinuses are one of the rarest locations. We report the case of a maxillary sinus angiosarcoma in a 72-year-old male patient. The first biopsy was inconclusive, whereas the second revealed an angiosarcoma. Medial maxillectomy was performed with subsequent external irradiation.

Functional laryngeal dyskinesia is a disorder that presents with stridor. Failure to recognize its features can result in inappropriate investigation and treatment for a condition that has a psychogenic origin. The key feature in diagnosis is paradoxical vocal fold adduction on inspiration, as seen on fibre-optic nasendoscopy. This phenomenon together with the associated stridor may disappear after distraction techniques or when the patient is asleep. We present five such cases which presented to hospitals in south west London over a 12 month period.

Parathyroid tumours and cysts are rare and, when presenting as neck masses, can be clinically misdiagnosed as thyroid lesions. Symptoms may be caused by compression of the surrounding structures or hormonal overactivity. This paper describes a patient with recurrent hoarseness owing to the pressure effects of a parathyroid cyst on the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

A case of dysphagia due to a post-cricoid web in a seven-year-old boy with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome is presented. the main features of this syndrome are summarized with particular reference to dysphagia and with previous cases of post-cricoid webs in children reviewed.

Lemierre’s syndrome is a recognized but infrequently seen complication of acute oropharyngitis. In this case report the patient presented with acute sore throat that led to a bacteraemia with internal jugular vein thrombosis and subsequent cranial nerve palsies.

We report a rare case of type 1 Chiari malformation which presented to the Otolaryngology department with abductor vocal fold palsy following an aspiration pneumonia secondary to absent laryngeal sensation. Chiari malformations and related cases are discussed.

A case of an 87-year-old female with pleomorphic adenoma of the tongue base is reported, with a review of the literature. The tumour had enlarged gradually over a period of three years, causing dysphagia and dysphasia. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed that the tumour was exophytic and occupy the oropharynx with little extension into the muscle tissue. The tumour was resected by CO2 laser. Histological examination revealed a benign pleomorphic adenoma that originated from the minor salivary gland of the tongue base.

Melkersson – Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) is a rare condition characterized by recurrent facial paralysis in addition to various orofacial manifestations. The condition appears to be a granulomatous disorder causing oedema and inflammation of the soft tissues of the face, lips, oral cavity and particularly, the facial nerve. There is general agreement that the symptoms and signs resolve spontaneously, aided perhaps by an empirical course of oral steroids. However, in some patients the condition may be progressive, leading to disfiguring facial synkinesis and increasing residual paralysis. There is anecdotal evidence in the literature to suggest that surgical decompression of the facial nerve in its entire intratemporal course may prevent further attacks of facial paralysis and its sequelae. We present here our experience with surgical decompression of the facial nerve in a 27 – year – old woman with MRS who had sufferent recurrent left – sided facial palsy since the age of four. A review of the literature pertaining to facial nerve decompression for Melkersson – Rosenthal syndrome is presented.

Isolated sphenoid fungal sinusitis is a rare and often difficult to diagnose condition as the presenting symptoms are often vague and non-specific. In this series each case has a different clinical presentation with a different causative fungus. Although isolated fungal sphenoid sinusitis is usually seen in immunocompromised individuals, two of the three cases presented were immunocompetent. The fungi were Pseudallescheria boydii, Aspergillus fumigatus and Schizophyllum commune. In order to illustrate the great diversity of clinical signs, each case is individually presented. The characteristic radiological signs and the clinical management of each case are also presented. The danger signs of associated pathology are discussed with particular reference to an associated squamous carcinoma in one case. Surgical options and chemotherapy are discussed. Isolated sphenoid fungal sinusitis is a rare condition that if undiagnosed may result in considerable morbidity and even mortality of patients.

Fungal infections in both their invasive and non-invasive forms can prove difficult to diagnose. The often characteristic appearances on imaging are of great assistance. CT is the primary imaging modality and is probably more accurate than MRI in diagnostic specificity and determining the extent of bone erosion. However this may require a modified scanning technique to adequately demonstrate the typical soft tissue density variations of fungi. MRI should be used to supplement CT when intra-cranial or intra-orbital extension is suspected.

Oesophageal ulceration is an unusual complication of doxycycline treatment (Vibramycin®) presenting to an Otorhinolaryngology department. A case report is presented with discussion of investigations and management of the patient.