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Biomedical subjects

J R Chandler

Publications and source records attributed to J R Chandler.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Laser cordectomy for T1 glottic carcinoma: a 10-year experience and videostroboscopic findings.

Fifty-three patients underwent laser cordectomy for T1 glottic squamous cell carcinoma between January 1980 and December 1989--sixteen after having undergone unsuccessful radiation and thirty-seven who had no previous treatment. There was a 51% five-year cure rate in the irradiated group vs. 62% in the nonirradiated group. Extension of tumor to the anterior commissure resulted in a higher failure rate. Patients experienced an overall 5-year cure rate of 98% after surgical or radiation salvage of unsuccessful laser cordectomies. Six patients had preoperative and postoperative videostrobolaryngoscopy. The most common postoperative problem with voice was a breathiness that did not resolve in any of the patients. All patients had absent or moderately reduced amplitude and mucosal wave patterns and imcomplete glottic closure proportional to the amount of cordal tissue removed. Despite it seemingly poor results in carefully selected patients, laser cordectomy is still indicated without compromising the ultimate oncologic results. Advantages over radiation therapy or conservation laryngeal surgery include a short treatment time, requiring only an outpatient surgical procedure at the time of the initial diagnostic and/or staging laryngoscopy, and the avoidance of potential radiation side effects or surgical complications. However, patients should be advised the possibility of persistent postoperative breathy dysphonia, in addition to the possibility of further treatment to effect a long-term cure.

Aged

Malignant external otitis and osteomyelitis of the base of the skull.

If malignant external otitis is not treated properly and until all evidence of infection has disappeared, it is likely to recur either in the external auditory canal and/or in the bone marrow at the base of the skull. Unremitting headache is the only early symptom of the latter and may occur in the absence of any signs of local ear disease. A conductive hearing loss is the most common additional symptom and is caused by fluid in the middle ear. If not diagnosed and treated adequately and properly, the infectious process in the bone marrow involves the soft tissues at the skull base and results in a progressive paralysis of the lower cranial nerves. Treatment must be vigorous and continuous until the gallium scan is normal or shows great improvement (i.e., for a minimum period of 2 months). Intravenous antibiotics with a proven record of success and effectiveness against this organism are recommended, although newer antimicrobial agents give promise of being effective when administered orally.

Anti-Bacterial Agents

Transoral excision of lateral parapharyngeal space tumors presenting intraorally.

Six patients with parapharyngeal space tumors presenting intraorally over the past 16 years were managed by transoral excision. All had benign tumors of salivary gland origin (1 monomorphic and 5 pleomorphic adenomas) and 3 of 6 patients were asymptomatic. There were no surgical complications and blood loss was minor in all cases. One patient, who had refused treatment for more than 40 years, presented with dyspnea and dysphagia, and required a tracheotomy for safe induction of anesthesia. Only one patient was hospitalized for more than 3 days and only one tumor recurred--as a malignant pleomorphic adenoma 3 years later.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic

Osteomyelitis of the base of the skull.

Infection in the marrow of the temporal, occipital, and sphenoid bones is an uncommon, but increasing occurrence. It is usually secondary to infections beginning in the external auditory canal and is caused almost uniformly by the gram negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. Technetium and gallium scintigraphy help in the early detection of such infections while CT scans demonstrate dissolution of bone in well-developed cases. Headache is the predominant symptom. Dysphagia, hoarseness, and aspiration herald the inevitable march of cranial nerves. We have diagnosed and treated 17 cases of osteomyelitis of the skull base. Although the total mortality rate is 53%, it is now a curable disease. Six of our last 8 patients remain alive, although 1 is still under treatment. Treatment is medical and requires the long-term concomitant intravenous administration of an aminoglycoside and a broad spectrum semisynthetic penicillin effective against the causative organism.

Aminoglycosides

Changing patterns of otosclerosis surgery in teaching institutions.

The rapidly dwindling number of patients with otosclerosis suitable for surgery has made a severe impact on this aspect of training and experience in our medical centers. Results secured in the past and expected in the future are now difficult to achieve. This trend has been analyzed with particular reference to the experience in the last 3 years at the University of Miami--Jackson Memorial Hospital--Veterans Administration Hospital Medical Center. The analysis of results and complications also compared patients operated on by residents vs. faculty. Hearing loss as a consequence of improperly performed stapes surgery or complications thereof can seldom be salvaged. Stapes surgery should be performed in medical centers and community hospitals only by designated "stapes surgeons."

Adolescent

Diagnosis and cure of venous hum tinnitus.

Sounds arising from abnormalities of or abnormal communications between blood vessels in the neck or cranial cavity may result in objective tinnitus. It is audible to patient and examiner alike. Contrary to the usual subjective tinnitus of non-vascular origin, it is low pitched and pulsatile in character. That tinnitus which arises from and within the internal jugular vein is particularly important, as it may be loud enough to interfere with sleep, and result in some loss of hearing. Diagnosis is important as it can be cured by simple ligation of the internal jugular vein. Such a case is reported.

Female

The role of high resolution computerized tomography and standardized ultrasound in the evaluation of orbital cellulitis.

We reviewed the records of 22 patients with orbital cellulitis to determine the value of high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) and standardized ultrasound (US) in their management. In 13 patients, they demonstrated abscess formation and accurately defined its location and extent. The appearance of an abscess did not necessarily mandate immediate surgery. Three patients responded promptly to intensive antibiotic therapy and resolved despite a presumptive diagnosis of orbital abscess. The remaining 10 patients required surgical intervention and abscess formation was confirmed. In patients presenting with good visual acuity and some globe motion we recommended instituting intensive intravenous antibiotic therapy for 36 hours with close monitoring of visual acuity, avoiding surgery unless some impairment of vision is noted. The decision regarding surgery is then made on the time honored basis of response to therapy. Surgery is no necessary in those patients exhibiting prompt significant improvement in local inflammatory signs.

Abscess

Triple therapy for advanced cancer of the head and neck.

Eighty-two patients with advanced cancer of the head and neck have been treated with sequential administration of methotrexate and cisplatin. Methotrexate was given orally (50 mg/sq m). Cisplatin was given intravenously 24 hours later. Treatment was repeated four times at weekly intervals. This method of administration is based on laboratory evidence, including cell kinetic studies. Forty-three patients were operated on. Those with involved or close surgical margins or with more than one cancerous neck node were also treated with therapeutic postoperative radiation therapy. Twenty-two patients were treated with only radiation therapy. After surgery and/or radiation therapy, patients were randomly selected as to who would receive further chemotherapy or who would be under observation only. Twenty-two patients are still in the early phases of treatment and follow-up, so their conditions could not be evaluated. Early results indicate a 64% response to initial chemotherapy and no increase in operative difficulty, morbidity, or mortality.

Adult

Rare complications following ethmoidectomies: a report of eleven cases.

Intranasal ethmoidectomy is one of the most difficult operations to teach residents. An accurate knowledge of the regional topographic anatomy is of utmost importance. Friedman and Kerr reported complications of 1000 cases of consecutive intranasal ethmoidectomies performed at the Mayo Clinic from 1957 to 1972. The complication rate was 2.8%. Meningitis, cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, loss of olfaction, and nasolacrimal duct obstruction were reported. No blindness, loss of occular motility, excision of brain tissue or intracranial vessel damage occurred in their series. We are reporting a series of 8 cases of very rare complications following intranasal ethmoidectomies: 1. Optic nerve damage resulting in total blindness (3 cases). 2. Loss of occular motility (2 cases). 3. Cerebrospinal fluid leak resulting in 8 episodes of pseudomonas meningitis and epidural abscess (1 case). 4. Cavernous sinus--internal carotid artery fistula (1 case). 5. Anterior cranial fossa brain damage resulting in death (1 case). These cases, which were either referred to us or came up for our review, are described in detail. A search of the world literature demonstrates a lack of emphasis on such complications. The pitfalls of intranasal ethmoidectomy are considered and ways to avoid such dreadful complications are discussed.

Adult

Randomized study of local control and survival following radical surgery or radiation therapy in oral and laryngeal carcinomas.

From 1971 to 1975, 100 patients with glottic, supraglottic, and oral cavity lesions were prospectively randomized between primary radiation treatment and primary surgery. Local control and survival were similar with either treatment for lesions of the oral cavity or supraglottic larynx. Comparison between radiation alone and surgery alone for T1 and T2 glottic laryngeal lesions showed local control rates of 76% and 100% (P=0.32); after secondary salvage attempts, local control rates were 82% and 100%, respectively (P= 0.52). Neither result approached statistical significance. Successful radiation for early glottic larynx lesions resulted in superior deglutition and equivalent voice function compared to successful primary treatment with conservation laryngectomy. For oral cavity lesions, swallowing was impaired in the same percentage of radiated and operated patients, but fewer primary radiation patients had articulation difficulties. Among the patients with supraglottic larynx lesions, aspiration was not a problem with either radiation or surgery, but successful radiation perhaps maintained a slightly better voice quality.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell

Randomized study of control of the primary tumor and survival using preoperative radiation, radiation alone, or surgery alone in head and neck carcinomas.

Fifty-five selected patients with previously untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck regions were studied in a randomized, prospective manner. The three treatment categories were primary radiation (Gp R), primary surgery (Gp S), and preoperative radiation of 4000 rads in four weeks (Gp R/S). The local control rates for the 44 evaluable patients with a two-year minimum followup were 24%, 39%, and 43% respectively. Further treatment attempts in patients failing initial therapy yielded local control rates of 35%, 39%, and 43% for Gp R, Gp S, and Gp R/S, respectively. None of the local control rates nor the corresponding survival curves were significantly different at P less than 0.10. However, the group sizes were sufficiently small that true differences might not have been detected. Postoperative complications were higher in the primary radiation failures subsequently operated upon compared to the primary surgery group (P = 0.07).

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell

Schwannomas of the parapharyngeal space and jugular foramen.

Schwannomas or neurilemmomas are among the most common neoplasms occupying the parapharyngeal space, yet only 107 cases have been previously reported. Neurilemmomas involving the jugular foramen are extremely rare. Only 55 cases have been reported in the world literature. The neoplasm occurred in the parapharyngeal space in three of our patients and in the jugular foramen in another patient. Of the tumors located in the parapharyngeal space, the nerve of origin in one of them was the glossopharyngeal, which is extremely rare. Adequate exposure for complete excision of parapharyngeal space tumors is best obtained through an external incision and should not be attempted transorally. In the jugular foramen case, the neoplasm arose from the vagus nerve high in the neck and extended intracranially in a "dumbbell" shape into the posterior cranial fossa. Total removal was successfully accomplished in one stage, by using a subtotal temporal bone resection--upper neck--posterior cranial fossa approach. Surgical removal is the treatment of choice. Schwannomas rarely recur following complete excision.

Adult