Carcinoid tumour is one of the rarest middle-ear neoplasms. We describe here a case of carcinoid tumour of the middle-ear cleft that presented with aural as well as systemic symptoms. Diagnostic difficulty was encountered using light microscopy, but electron microscopy revealed the neurosecretory granules.

The ultrastructural, X-ray microanalytical, histochemical and immunocytochemi-cal features of intraluminal crystalloids found in adenocarcinomas of the parotid gland have been studied. The crystalloids, putatively derived from an abnormal crystalization of salivary duct proteins, are considerably different from the crystalloids found in normal parotid glands, pleomorphic adenomas, and sialocysts.

We report a 55-years-old male with cerminous adenoma originating in the osseous part of the right external auditory canal, and describe the clinical features and surgical treatment.

According to Kleinsasser's classification 200 patients with squamous cell hyperplasia, seen between 1963–1981, were reviewed histologically. The untreated patients (47 per cent) have been analysed for the incidence of malignant change and the patients with Class III lesions (carcinoma in situ) who were treated, were analysed for response to treatment. The mean follow-up period was 8.4 years. Only two of the 38 initially untreated patients of Class I (simple squamous cell hyperplasia) developed an invasive carcinoma. In Class II (hyperplasia with atypia), of 62 patients who were not treated initially, 17 developed a laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma later. Only six patients of Class III did not receive any treatment initially, and one of these progressed to invasive carcinoma. Almost all other patients with carcinoma in situ (Class III) were irradiated. In these patients no evidence of local recurrence was found.

Intracranial or spinal gangliogliomas of the CNS are rare tumours. Although several cases have been reported over the years, controversy still remains as to their origin, treatment and prognosis. A case of an eight-year-old girl with a ganglioglioma in the cerebellum with extension into the cerebello-pontine angle is described. The histological basis of the diagnosis is discussed and a review of the literature is presented.

In performing total laryngectomy for carcinoma of the larynx, the pharynx should be entered at sites away from the tumour. When the tumour is supraglottic in location, the entry should be through the lateral pharyngeal wall; and when the tumour is located in the postcricoid area, entry above the hyoid bone is preferred.

A laryngeal polyp caused a life-threatening airway obstruction in a 3-year-old child. This condition required an emergency tracheotomy, which was performed without previous intubation. The histological picture indicated the diagnosis of a teleangiectatic granuloma. No other case of solitary laryngeal polyp causing upper airway obstruction in a child has been previously reported.

Otorhinolaryngological operations would be facilitated by the use of a safe, cheap, surgical adhesive. Though commercial fibrin glue is effective, it is both relatively expensive and, because it is prepared from pooled human blood, there has been concern that it carries the risk of transmitting viral disease, in particular hepatitis and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. We describe a rapid, cheap method of preparing sufficient fibrin glue, of adequate bonding power, from a small quantity of the patient's own blood, and therefore with no risk of contracting viral disease. Our method of preparation of fibrin glue promises to provide a valuable adjunct to otorhinolaryngological surgical practice.

We describe a 65-year-old woman who presented with a left tonsillar tumour. Biopsy revealed metastatic anaplastic cell carcinoma of the thyroid. Metastatic tumours are rare in the tonsils. This case, to the best of our knowledge, is the first in which the thyroid was the primary site.