Mesenchymal hamartoma in nasopharynx: a case report

Hamartoma in the nasopharynx of the children is especially rare. Most documented cases occurred in infants, with characteristic histologic features of a mixture of various mesenchymal tissues. We report a case arising in a 15-year-old male patient, who presented with a 1-month history of right-sided nasal obstruction. The mass was resected endoscopically and confirmed histologically as a lymphoid hamartoma. We report and discuss the pathological features of this rare nasopharyngeal hamartoma.     

Fibrosing inflammatory pseudotumor of the nasopharynx: MR features and histopathologic correlation

Pupose

To describe the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of six cases of pathologically proven fibrosing inflammatory pseudotumor involving the nasopharynx, and to compare the MR signal intensities of the lesions with histopathologic findings.

Methods

We reviewed the MR finding of six patients with pathologically proved fibrosing inflammatory pseudotumor at the nasopharyngeal wall with respect to the following points: extent, margins, signal intensity and enhancement degree of the lesion; cervical lymphadenopathy and response to steroid therapy. MR findings were correlated with histopathologic findings.

Results

All lesions showed ill-defined margins and looked less-likely contour bulging features. The signal intensity of the lesions was hypointense or slightly heterogeneous relative to brain cortex on both T1- and T2-weighted images, and enhancement was weakly homogeneous in all cases. There was no demonstrable cervical lymphadenopathy in all cases. After steroid therapy, the lesions showed decreased extent and weaker enhancement in three patients. Histopathologic findings showed high degree of polymorphous inflammatory cellular infiltration with underlying significant reactive fibrosis.

Conclusion

Fibrotic inflammatory pseudotumors involving nasopharynx are very rare, and can mimic malignancy. MR imaging showed ill-defined margins, hypointensity or slightly heterogenous signal intensity on T2-weighted image and weak enhancement. There was no significant cervical lymphadenopathy.     

北京市宣武区健康婴幼儿鼻咽部肺炎链球菌流感嗜血杆菌及卡他莫拉菌携带率调查

目的了解2009--2010年北京市宣武区婴幼儿鼻咽部肺炎链球菌（SP）、流感嗜血杆菌（HI）及卡他莫拉菌（MC）携带情况。方法随机选择北京市宣武区300名12-18月龄婴幼儿作为监测对象,从鼻咽部采集标本,分离培养SP、HI及MC。结果受检婴幼儿600人次,分离出SP47株、HI27株和MC89株。婴幼儿在初夏季节的3种细菌携带率分别为9-3％、2．33％和10．98％;在冬春季节分别为6．29％、6．62％和18．54％。结论北京市宣武区12～18月龄婴幼儿的SP、HI及MC的携带率分别为7．4％、4．59％和19．07％,3种细菌携带率在不同季节具有显著性差异。     

Olfactory bulb volume and olfactory function after radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer

Objective

Radiotherapy is the primary method of treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) and many side effects were reported in patients receiving radiation to this area. This study was conducted to evaluate the long-term effects of radiotherapy following NPC on olfactory bulb (OB) volume and olfactory function.

Methods

Twenty-four patients with NPC who received radiotherapy at least 12 months ago were recruited. Fourteen healthy subjects with similar demographical characteristics were recruited as the healthy control group. All volunteers were subjected to a nasoendoscopical examination, and abnormalities that could potentially cause olfactory dysfunction were the exclusion criteria from the study. An experienced radiologist segmented the MRI coronal, axial and sagittal slices manually for three-dimensional OB volume measurement in a blinded manner. Olfactory function was assessed using the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) test, and average score (0: worst, 7: best) was calculated as the total CCCRC olfactory score.

Results

The mean CCCRC score was 5.5 ± 1.1 for the nasopharyngeal cancer patients, whereas the mean score of healthy control group was 6.4 ± 0.4. There was a significant difference in the olfactory scores (p = 0.003). The mean OB volume in the NPC group was 46.7 ± 12.1 mm³. Among the patients with NPC, the cisplatin receiving group had a mean OB volume of 47.2 mm³, whereas the cisplatin + docetaxel receiving group had a mean OB volume of 46.5 mm³, and they were similar. The MRI measurement of the healthy control group was 58.6 ± 13.8 mm³. The OB volumes of the healthy control group were significantly higher (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Radiotherapy following nasopharyngeal cancer results in a diminished OB volume and deteriorated olfactory function. Chemosensory olfactory dysfunction might be a contributing factor to lack of appetite, cancer cachexia and consequent lowered quality of life in NPC patients.     

Tumeur neuroendocrine à grandes cellules du nasopharynx : à propos d’un cas

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the head and neck is a rare entity. The parotid gland is the most commonly affected site. A nasopharyngeal site has not been previously described. We report a 35-year-old patient who consulted for tinnitus and nasal obstruction. The assessment found a nasopharyngeal tumour T4N0M0. The patient underwent 6 cycles of chemotherapy based on VP16 and cisplatin, followed by radiotherapy at a dose of 70 Gy to the nasopharynx and 50 Gy to the neck. The evolution was marked by clinical improvement and radiological stability. Six months after the end of treatment, the patient had a local and meningeal relapse. He received palliative care. He died 19 months after the end of treatment.     

啮蚀艾肯菌致鼻咽颅底感染1例报道

目的 总结1例啮蚀艾肯菌引起鼻咽颅底感染的诊疗经验,提高对该菌感染病的认识。方法 回顾性分析1例啮蚀艾肯菌致鼻咽颅底感染患者的病例资料,并结合文献进行讨论。结果 本例患者完善内镜检查、影像学检查以及实验室检查,鼻咽颅底组织2次病理报告均为慢性肉芽肿性炎,经实验室确诊为啮蚀艾肯菌感染,予清创引流、口服抗生素2个月后,患者痊愈,术后随访3个月未复发。结论 鼻咽颅底感染临床少见,临床症状、影像学检查与鼻咽癌相似。啮蚀艾肯菌为罕见致病菌,发病率低。诊治上,需结合病理学、病原学检查明确诊断,及早清创引流、选取合适的抗感染药物。     

Outcome of Acute Otitis Media and its Relation to Clinical Features and Nasopharyngeal Colonization at the Time of Diagnosis

Children ( n = 115; age range 1-9 years) with a diagnosis of acute otitis media (AOM) were eligible for this study and were enrolled within 24 h of the onset of symptoms signs. A nasopharyngeal culture was obtained at the initial visit. Children were treated with a single oral antibiotic for 7 days. Changes in symptoms signs and tympanic membrane features assessed by a scoring system were monitored for 1 month and related to the nasopharyngeal pathogen recovered on Day 1. More than 80% of children had no symptoms signs by Day 3, and 60% of cases had normal tympanic membranes by Day 29. Children without any symptoms signs on Day 3 had significantly lower symptom sign scores on Day 1 ( p = 0.005). Seventy-nine percent of cases carried middle ear pathogens in the nasopharynx at diagnosis: Streptococcus pneumoniae (48%); Haemophilus influenzae (24%); and Moraxella catarrhalis (16%). Children with S. pneumoniae showed significantly higher tympanic membrane scores than children with no pathogen at Days 8, 15 and 29 ( p < 0.01 for each comparison). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that lower tympanic membrane score on Day 1, the absence of S. pneumoniae in the nasopharynx and treatment with amoxillin were independent factors for rapid normalization of the tympanic membrane. These data suggest that the clinical course of AOM may be predicted, in part, at the time of diagnosis by means of careful evaluation of symptoms signs and the tympanic membrane as well as knowledge of pathogens harbored in the nasopharynx.     

The nasopharynx in infants with cleft lip and palate

Objective

The purpose of this study was to use three-dimensional computed tomography data and computer imaging technology to assess the skeletal components of the naso-pharyngeal area in patients with cleft lip and palate and to quantify anatomical variations.

Methods

CT scans were obtained from 29 patients of Malay origin with cleft lip and palate aged between 0 and 12 months and 12 noncleft patients in the same age group, using a GE Lightspeed Plus Scanner housed in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. Measurements were obtained using the ‘Persona’ three-dimensional software package, developed at Australian Craniofacial Unit, Adelaide.

Results

The results of the present study show that there is an increased nasopharyngeal space in cleft lip and palate that may lead to compression of the nasopharyngeal structures, including the Eustachian tube. Alterations of the medial pterygoid plate and the hamulus may lead to an alteration in the origin and orientation of the tensor veli palatini muscle leading to alteration in its function.

Conclusions

These anatomical variations may compromise the dilatory mechanism of the Eustachian tube, thus leading to recurrent middle ear infections in cleft children and subsequent loss of hearing.     

Evaluation of the effectiveness of preoperative embolization in surgery for nasopharyngeal angiofibroma

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 21 patients (22 procedures) with histologically proven nasopharyngeal angiofibromas. Eleven patients underwent preoperative intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (IADSA) and embolization with Gelfoam. Embolization reduced the intraoperative blood loss from an average of 1136 ml in the non-embolized patients to 677 ml in the embolized cases (P < 0.05) and transfusions from an average of 836 ml to 400 ml (P < 0.01). Results again show that preoperative embolization is effective in reducing intraoperative blood loss. Received: 10 May 1997 / Accepted: 21 October 1997     

112例鼻咽癌不同治疗方法的前瞻性研究

本文报告我院1985年4月～9月收治的鼻咽癌患者112例．均为低分化鳞癌。随机分为综合组（放疗加化疗）和单纯放疗组，病例各56例．结果：鼻咽部和颈部肿块缩小情况．放疗剂量综合组达1906．09±1024.90cGy．肿瘤开始缩小．放疗剂量达5107．42±1825.99cGy时肿瘤开始消失．与单放组比较有差别（p＜0.05），完全缓解率：综合组为75％、单放组57.14％（p＜0.05）。5、10年生存率综合组分别为46.4％和14.3％．单放组为35.7％和10.7％，（p＜0.05）。复发或远处转移比较．综合组为39．3％.单放组为51.8％（p＞0.05）。资料提示；小剂量SHP在鼻咽癌治疗中起着一定的增敏或协同作用，对提高鼻咽癌生存率，减低复发和转移率有一定作用。