Although the findings of epidemiological studies have suggested viral respiratory tract infection (RTI) to be crucially involved in the development of acute otitis media (AOM), the relationship between AOM and viral RTI remains unclear. Serum samples, obtained in the acute and convalescent phases of 57 AOM episodes (in 35 children during the first three years of life) were analysed for IgG antibodies against influenza A viruses, influenza B viruses, parainfluenza virus type 1, respiratory syncytial virus and adenoviruses.

One third of the AOM episodes (18/57) could be related to viral RTI, as evidenced by significant increases in viral serum antibody activity. Treatment failure occurred in four AOM episodes where increases in serum viral antibody activity were noted. In three of these failures, antibiotic treatment was unsuccessful despite the bacterial strains not being resistant to the drug used. This suggests that concomitant viral infection may be a determinant of treatment outcome in some AOM episodes.

Haphazardly treated active otitis media was investigated bacteriologically in 214 children. Analysis showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was more prevalent than other micro-organisms. Candida was also found in appreciable quantity. The author contends that this was due to inadequate self treatment before these children reported in his hospital. He advocates that decision regarding the chemotherapeutic agent to be used should be based on culture and in vitro sensitivity.

We report a retrospective study of 54 children with 57 involved ears who underwent surgery for cholesteatoma before their sixteenth birthdays. The majority of these underwent open cavity operations (modified radical mastoidectomy, radical mastoidectomy or atticotomy). The incidence of residual disease was only 6 per cent and overall 70 per cent of ears have been free of chronic discharge. The post-operative hearing thresholds were disappointingly low, though overall no worse than those recorded before surgery. The mean post-operative hearing level for the group was 39 dB and the mean air-bone gap was 29 dB. Open cavity surgery is the method of choice for childhood cholesteatoma, mainly because of the low incidence of residual disease.

Carcinoma of the middle ear is a difficult tumour to treat. We present ten cases and discuss staging of these tumours. Our results would suggest that a revised staging system may allow better identification of patients that would benefit from surgery whilst sparing some mutilating surgery that offers little to improve their quality or quantity of life.

The study has been carried out on biopsies taken from four patients affected by squamous cell carcinoma and four patients affected by undifferentiated carcinoma of nasopharyngeal type (UCNT). Three healthy volunteers have served as controls.

All the specimens have been studied by SEM. The neoplastic conditions cause obvious alterations both in the mucosal surface and in the morphology of the cellular apex.

In the period from 1976 to 1988, 417 patients with supraglottic carcinoma of the larynx were treated by primary surgery.

Infiltration of the pre-epiglottic space was found in 11.99 per cent (50/417) of the patients. Carcinomas of the infrahyoid epiglottis spread to this space more frequently—14.24 per cent (44/309), than those of suprahyoid localization—5.55 per cent (6/108). Tumour invasion of the pre-epiglottic space is a relative contraindication for reconstructive surgery. Partial conservation operations were performed on 32 per cent (16/50) of patients with invasion of the pre-epiglottic space. The remaining patients had a total laryngectomy.

Infiltration of the paraglottic space intra-operatively was found in 2.4 per cent (10/417) of patients and all of these tumours were from the infrahyoid localization. Spread of tumours to this site is an indication for radical surgery and laryngectomy was performed on 80 per cent (8/10) of patients.

Patients undergoing 204 endoscopic laryngeal operations were studied prospectively to determine the incidence of complications. Twelve patients were considered to be at high risk of postoperative airway obstruction. Two of these patients had an elective tracheostomy. One required temporary reintubation in the recovery room. No case of respiratory obstruction occurred in a patient not considered to be in the high risk group. Mucosal haemorrhage or oedema was seen on postoperative indirect laryngoscopy in 31 per cent of patients. The commonest abnormality found was mucosal haemorrhage in the oropharynx.

Ear drops are prescribed widely with little thought for the distribution inside the ear canal. This study compares the distribution of water and oil based drops. The results indicate that, under the test conditions, the penetration of ear drops is extremely variable. Water provided the greatest overall coverage, while the most viscous drops fared worst. It is suggested that in diseased ears even poorer penetration may result, which may explain the lack of response in some circumstances.

Two cases of habitual pinna folding are reported. One case was complicated by the development of bilateral haematoma auris as a direct result of the trauma caused by the folding.

A case of myxoma of the external auditory meatus is described. The patient presented with a recurring tumour which had not been correctly diagnosed although the growth had been removed ten times over a period of two years. The tumour was skin covered, contained gelatinous material and was attached to the tympanic membrane and anterior canal wall. Following recognition of the tumour as myxoma, removal was performed with sufficiently wide margins and there has been no recurrence during follow-up for one year.

Post-traumatic cholesteatoma often presents many years after the original injury. This case occurred 24 years after a head injury which represents the longest recorded interval. A further interesting feature was that the patient presented with an infected skull prosthesis that was inserted at the time of the original injury.

We present a case of contiguous primary malignant melanoma of the nose and maxillary antrum and mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the maxillary antrum. We believe that this association has not been previously recorded; whether this represents divergent differentiation in a single tumour or ‘collision’ of two separate tumours is uncertain.

Neuroendocrine laryngeal carcinoid tumours are uncommon. The supraglottis is the main location of these tumours. Eighty-one cases have been reported in the world literature. We present the first case of a synchronous laryngeal and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour.

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.

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.

Schwannoma, or neurilemmoma, is included in the differential diagnosis of masses in the parapharyngeal space. Schwannomata do not usually cause acute inflammation, and therefore do not tend to present as emergencies as in this case, in which there was acute respiratory embarrassment

A case of cervico-mediastinal venous haemangioma with diffuse upper respiratory airway involvement is reported. The lesion was considered to be an ordinary supraglottic haemangioma at first. We recommend that adult cases of laryngeal haemangioma should be carefully examined for extra-laryngeal lesions.