Serum levels of immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) and other immunological parameters were examined in 95 head and neck cancer patients and 27 control patients. The mean values of IAP in patients in the advanced stage were significantly higher than in early stage patients. Statistically significant increases in the mean concentration of IAP were also observed in patients with a recurrence, as compared to findings in those in the advanced stages. The mean values of blastogenesis response to PHA and NK cell activity in the cancer patients were lower than in disease free individuals, but with no statistical differences. In the endstage patients, the lAP concentration was considerably elevated and the blastogenesis response showed a statistically significant decrease. Thus, the monitoring of serum lAP, in combination with other immunological parameters, aids in planning and assessing clinical staging in head and neck cancer patients.

Forty-six patients who had undergone a radical neck dissection more than six months previously were assessed to determine the degree of handicap that results from division of the accessory nerve. Employment problems, amount of pain, and social and recreational difficulties were assessed. Forty-six per cent of those in employment prior to their operation gave up their work specifically because of problems with their shoulder; this affected more manual than non-manual workers (11 out of 20 manual compared with zero out of four non-manual). Thirty per cent complained of moderately severe or severe pain related to the shoulder. The amount of pain could not be correlated with age, sex, side of operation in relation to handedness, physical build of the patient, or whether the patient had been treated with radiotherapy. Although this is the largest study to address this question since that of Ewing and Martin in 1952, the small numbers involved mean that if any such correlation exists then it may not have become apparent. In view of this incidence of pain and occupational handicap, we feel that efforts should be made to preserve accessory nerve function in cases where surgical clearance of the tumour field is not compromised as a result.

A 12-year-old girl presented with bilateral carotid-body paragangliomas and a unilateral jugular paraganglioma. The tumours were surgically removed. This is a rare combination of tumours in any patient and previously unreported in a child of this age. Her father died of a cerebellar astrocytoma and her mother underwent surgical removal of a large mediastinal paraganglioma. The association of astrocytoma with familial paragangliomas has never been documented. The literature on the epidemiology and inheritance pattern of familial paragangliomas is reviewed. The need for thorough pre-operative evaluation of the patient and close follow-up of family members is stressed.

Sickle cell disease is a world-wide problem which has been noted to cause high tone sensorineural hearing loss. We report a case with sudden onset bilateral hearingloss which progressed to total sensorineural deafness. To our knowledge there has been noreport of such a case occurring previously.

The first case of low-grade papillary adenocarcinoma of the nasopharynx is described from an area where carcinoma in the nasopharynx is endemic. Clinicopathological features are detailed and differences between the prevalent nasopharyngeal cancer and low-grade nasopharyngeal papillary adenocarcinoma are emphasized. This tumour requires positive identification as surgical management is necessary to avoid the possibility of future recurrence.

Twenty-seven patients on chronic haemodialysis and with secondary hyperparathyroidism underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy during the period 1985–1989. The operation was indicated by severe clinical symptoms and evidence of radiological abnormalities not responsive to conservative treatment (low phosphorus diet, phosphate binding substances, oral calcium and vitamin D). If despite intensive medical management, inadequate control of parathyroid hyperplasia continues surgical intervention becomes necessary. Ultrasonography was performed pre-operatively in all 27 cases and detected 42 of 99 glands (42.5 per cent). Also scintigraphy was carried out in every patient but it gave a relatively low detection rate (24.5 per cent). Surgery was followed by improvement in 20 patients and progression of hyperparathyroidism in seven cases. Three of the seven patients failed to improve after subtotal parathyroidectomy, necessitating a reintervention; the remaining four responded sufficiently to medical therapy. From our experience we conclude that subtotal parathyroidectomy for renal hyperparathyroidism is recommended.

Twelve patients with bilateral fixed vocal cords seeking decannulation of their tracheostomies were subjected to endoscopic correction of the compromised airway. They all had arytenoidectomy associated with posterior cordectomy whether as a primary or secondary stage procedure. Decannulation was achieved in all patients using the technique described.

Cranial nerve palsies are an unexpected complication of radiotherapy for head and neck tumours. We present a case of this radiation-induced cranial palsy.

An 18-year-old female with nasopharyngeal carcinoma developed a right hypoglossal nerve palsy 42 months after cancericidal doses of radiotherapy. In addition, she developed a bilateral vocal cord palsy 62 months after therapy. Follow-up over four years has demonstrated no evidence of tumour recurrence and no sign of neurological improvement.

A case of post-cricoid carcinoma, occurring in a patient with Fanconi's anaemia is presented. The case illustrates the rare association of the two diseases. The problems with the management of such a case are discussed.

Damage to the nasolacrimal duct during major sinus procedures results in troublesome symptoms of epiphora and acute infection. Prophylactic stenting of the lacrimal apparatus using a silicone stent is described as a means of preventing such complications.

A cochlear fistula found in a naturally healed mastoid cavity is reported. The patient is a 53-year-old Japanese woman who was complaining of unsteadiness. She hada long history of otorrhoea in childhood. Her tympanic and mastoid cavities were widely open and were covered by thin epithelium. The posterior wall of the ear canal was missing. She had no hearing in the ear but responded to electrical promontory testing. Exploratory surgery was indicated at which fistulae of the basal turn of the cochlea and the horizontal semicircular canal were found. These fistulae were sealed by pieces of bone andmuscle.

Identification of an intramural oesophageal fishbone at operation is difficult. Such a case is discussed with an attempted accurate radiological localization of site pre-operatively. No such case has so far been reported.

Retropharyngeal and cervico-mediastinal haematomas are rare but potentially fatal entities. The potential for airway compression necessitates rapid assessment and treatment.

A cervico-mediastinal haematoma following carotid sinus massage which required cervical drainage is presented. This is a life-threatening event demanding a high index of suspicion. A review of the literature and indications for treatment are discussed.

Two cases are presented of bilateral conductive deafness in siblings. An initial presumptive diagnosis of otosclerosis was made in the first case, that of a nine-year-old girl with a bilateral hearing loss of 45 dB. Exploratory tympanotomy revealed normal ossicles but the stapedius ‘tendon’ was found to be a solid bony bar fixing the stapes. Division of the ‘tendon’ resulted in normal ossicular mobility and return of hearing with closure of the air-bone gap. Identical ossification was found in her other ear, and some years later in both ears of one of her brothers. Similar surgery restored hearing successfully in each case. An acquired aetiology has been proposed in one of the three previously reported cases; this report, however, suggests the congenital nature of the anomaly. No previous cases have been described occurring in siblings.

An unusual skull base tumour is presented. Intraoperative smears made the diagnosis and dictated a change in surgical strategy. Giant-cell tumours of the sphenoid bone are discussed, together with current management.

Intranasal injury without external involvement is not common. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of such an injury, caused by an assailant's two fingers forced up the nostrils of our patient causing severe mucosal laceration and excessive bleeding.

The patient died two weeks later.

Three thousand four hundred and forty-five cases of cancer of the larynx were examined and 3,235 assigned to their TNM group. While good correlation with prognosis could be seen, the value of the detailed subsite (as opposed to the main laryngeal regions) was limited to defining T1a and T1b and aiding that of T2. T status gives some indication of prognosis, but the N status is of almost overriding importance.

We report the use of the ‘laryngeal box’, which permits instruction of a trainee in laser microlaryngeal surgery outside the operating theatre environment.

A case of malakoplakia, of the temporal bone in a nine-month-old male child is reported.

The lesion presented as an aural polyp, associated with a lower motor neuron facial palsy. On exploration, the granuloma was noted to involve the temporal bone, eroding the bony labyrinth. It was successfully treated with surgical debridement, and antibiotics. A review of the relevant literature is presented.

A large range of tracheostomy tube types and sizes are available for use in children. Regional preference, rather than individual patient assessment, tends to determine selection. We present a table designed to assist with appropriate size selection, and discuss the relative merits and shortcomings of the tubes currently available.