Diagnosis of vertigo in the absence of permanent tissue damage is still difficult. Since a functional deficit should be associated with a reduction in the blood perfusion, authors performed a cerebral SPET in 23 patients with central vertigo, 10 with peripheral vertigo and 17 normal controls, and compared the results with those obtained by CT, NMR and doppler investigation. Cerebral SPET showed higher specificity and sensitivity than other techniques employed in the investigation of peripheral vertigo. These results demonstrated the usefulness of cerebral SPET in the diagnosis of vertigo, particularly in cases of vascular origin. Furthermore, this technique may be performed in any pathology where tissue damage is associated with a perfusion deficit detectable by SPET investigation.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Combined craniofacial surgery in malignant tumors of the ethmoid].

The Authors discuss the importance of surgical treatment in ethmoid cancer basing their discussion upon observation of three cases involving the anterior skull base which followed an overview of the epidemiology, histology and evaluation of this kind of pathology. After reviewing Literature they stress the validity of anterior craniofacial resection which allows a wide exposure of the complex anatomic structures at the base of the skull and a monoblock resection of malignant tumors as well as a satisfactory reconstruction of the resulting defect at the skull base. Furthermore, they emphasize the still existing differences among many Authors as far as surgical technique is concerned and the extreme variability of the survival rate. The Authors conclude that in order to make a comparison between the results of different Authors, data concerning the site of origin, the extension and the histology of the tumors and the length of the follow-up should be more homogeneous.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Otolaryngological aspects of Camurati-Engelmann disease (progressive diaphyseal dysplasia): review of literature and report of one case].

Camurati-Engelmann's disease (progressive diaphyseal dysplasia) is a rare hereditary condition characterized by symmetrical hyperostosis of the long bones and the skull-base, myopathies and neurological disturbances. So far, little more than one hundred cases have been reported. The diagnosis is based on radiological imaging (traditional X rays and CT scan) and family history. Our patient (a 15-year-old male) had high-grade skull-base hyperostosis producing audiological signs, such as progressive deafness, persistent otorrhea and otalgia with progressive stenosis of the external acoustic meatus.

Adolescent↗