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Biomedical subjects

M Sanna

Publications and source records attributed to M Sanna.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Meningoencephalic herniation into the middle ear: a report of 27 cases.

Meningoencephalic herniation into the middle ear is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition that may require prompt surgical intervention. Preoperative diagnosis is based on a high index of suspicion. Sometimes, however, meningoencephalic herniation is discovered during surgery. High-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging should be performed to confirm the diagnosis and to evaluate the extension of the herniated tissue. This article discusses the diagnostic approach, management strategy, and surgical technique used in 27 patients with meningoencephalic herniation. In an attempt to avoid infective complications, the authors used the middle cranial approach in patients with large herniations.

Adult↗

Facial nerve neuromas: diagnosis and management.

Facial nerve neuromas are uncommon tumors that involve the facial nerve. There is no classic presentation of these tumors. This study presents a series of 22 patients with facial neuromas managed from 1977 to 1993. Facial nerve dysfunction was the most common complaint, present in 90.5% of cases. Hearing loss was the second most common complaint and was found in 76.2% of cases. High resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium proved to be the most accurate methods of preoperative assessment of these tumors and are complementary in selected cases. Different surgical approaches were performed according to tumor location and preoperative hearing level. In all cases long-term follow-up showed no tumor recurrence, and acceptable return of facial function was noted in 80% of cases.

Adolescent↗

Modified Bondy technique.

Bondy operation is a type of modified radical mastoidectomy in which the mastoid cavity is exteriorized without disturbing the intact ossicular chain and pars tensa. It is indicated in cases of epitympanic cholesteatoma with intact ossicular chain, normal pars tensa, and good hearing. The advantages of the technique are one-stage surgery with preservation of preoperative hearing levels, which is not possible with any other procedure. This article presents the indications, technique, results, and complications.

Adolescent↗

[Congenital cholesteatoma of the middle ear: a case series different from cases in the literature].

We present 44 cases of congenital cholesteatoma of the middle ear. Twenty-one patients had a cholesteatoma located in the posterosuperior mesotympanum. This finding was in complete contrast to the commonly reported anterosuperior location, seen in only 2 cases in our study. The remaining 21 patients had a cholesteatoma involving either the entire mesotympanum and/or epitympanum. The posteriorly located congenital cholesteatoma might represent a completely different entity and originate from epithelial cell debris trapped in the posterior mesotympanum during development of the temporal bone. All but one patient were treated with a closed tympanoplasty. Eight patients underwent single stage surgery. A preplanned second stage procedure was performed in 33 patients, while 3 are presently awaiting the second stage. Residual disease was seen in 19 patients (57%) who had undergone second stage surgery. No patient has had recurrent disease this far. Thirty-eight patients (85%) had a preoperative air bone gap of 30 dB or more. Of the 33 patients evaluated for hearing results, 16 (48%) had a postoperative gap within 10 dB.

Adolescent↗

[Incidence of normal hearing in acoustic neuroma].

Unilateral or asymetrical sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus and instability classically represent the main symptoms for the suspected diagnosis of acoustic neurinoma. In literature there are very few studies which refer about acoustic neurinoma in patients with normal hearing. In this article we report the results of a retrospective analysis of 155 acoustic neurinoma cases with normal hearing managed in our center in the last 7 years. These patients are classified in two groups: 1) with normal hearing at the time of diagnosis and 2) with at least a mild sensorineural hearing loss. Of this 155 cases, 21 (13.5%) had normal pure tone audiogram. An important characteristic of these patients, in comparison with the group with normal hearing, is the younger age. Tinnitus, instability, sudden hearing loss with complete recovery and vertigo are the most common symptoms. The mean pure tone threshold is 14.7 dB, speech audiometry is positive in very few cases, while a large number of cases show false negative. ABR are positive in 90.5% of cases, and demonstrate its high sensitivity for retrococlear pathology. The mean tumor size shows significant differences between the group with normal hearing and this with hearing loss. We believe that the presence of this symptoms in a young patient should necessitate complete neurotologic examination and in the patients with normal hearing a high level of suspicion represents the first step for early diagnosis of small tumors; the next step is the through evaluation of patient with pure tone audiogram, ABR, and imaging studies, preferably MRI with gadolinium, as this permits the diagnosis of small intracanalicular tumor. Thus, in cases of small tumors with good hearing we feel that will be possible to adopt hearing conservation surgical approach like FCM and retrosigmoid approach in more cases.

Audiometry, Pure-Tone↗

[Meningoencephalic herniation into the middle ear].

Herniation of meningeal and/or encephalic tissue into the middle ear is a pathology which, even if rarely found by the otologist, can be life-threatening for the patient because of eventual infective intracranial complications. Four different etiological types are possible, infective, post-surgical, traumatic and spontaneous. From a pathogenic point of view, all types are characterized by a bony and dural defect localized in the tegmen through which meningeal and encephalic tissue can herniate. Symptomatology is often non-specific so that some cases are diagnosed during surgery. When there is strong suspicion of herniation neuroradiological assessment procedures must be carried out in order to make a correct pre-operative diagnosis, High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) of the temporal bone in particular, can show the exact limits and location of the bone defect, while Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) allows the nature of the tissue in the middle ear to be determined. Surgery is the only appropriate therapy. Different approaches have been described amongst which the transmastoid with or without temporal minicraniotomy and the middle cranial fossa (MCF) are the most frequently reported literature. From June 1982 to March 1994, 27 consecutive cases underwent surgery at the Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza. As a result of the occurrence of postoperative meningitis in one case, a new surgical technique through the MCF was standardized. The main step of this procedure consist in leaving the herniated tissue in situ so as to make a barrier between the middle ear and subdural space. The technique is indicated either in the case of large, multiple or very anteriorly located bony defects or when there is an infection in the middle ear.

Adolescent↗

The enlarged translabyrinthine approach for removal of large vestibular schwannomas.

This study was carried out to validate the enlarged translabyrinthine approach for the surgical management of large vestibular schwannomas. A retrospective review of the charts of 53 patients with large tumours removed via the enlarged translabyrinthine approach at the Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza, Italy, during the last five years was carried out. The ability to control large tumours and the achievement of total removal with low morbidity and very few complications, demonstrate that tumour size does not influence the use of the enlarged translabyrinthine approach for managing large tumours.

Adult↗

Lateral approaches to the median skull base through the petrous bone: the system of the modified transcochlear approach.

Twenty-three patients with intradural lesions of the petroclival region and prepontine cistern were managed in our centres by the modified transcochlear approach. Total tumour removal was accomplished in 17 patients, while a second stage was planned for the remaining six patients. Two cases died in the immediate post-operative period. All the remaining cases showed a good outcome and returned to work. The basic approach type A is further classified according to its anterior, superior and inferior extension into types B, C and D respectively. The surgical procedure, classification, illustrative case reports and patients' summaries are presented.

Adult↗

Surgical anatomy of the extended middle cranial fossa approach.

The extended middle cranial fossa approach includes removal of the petrous bone from its subtemporal surface in order to expose widely the internal auditory canal and the posterior fossa dura around its porus while preserving all the important and closely related anatomical structures. We have dissected 25 temporal bones and five fresh cadavers in order to define the limits of this approach. Measurements were obtained between the different structures to find reliable angles and distances that could guide working in this area. A new method of identification of the internal auditory canal is discussed based on the measurements taken.The results of the present work showed wide variations in the different structures. The arcuate eminence was coincident with the superior semicircular canal in only 48% of bones. Dehiscence of the geniculate ganglion and of the internal carotid artery was noted in 16% and 20% of specimens, respectively. The angles measured between the different structures showed great variations. However, the angle between the internal auditory canal and superior petrosal sinus was constant. Though the extended middle cranial fossa is a versatile approach, it affords a limited access to the cerebellopontine angle. A thorough understanding of the complex and variable anatomy of this area is necessary should this approach be utilized.

Journal Article↗

Posterior fossa meningioma: surgical strategy.

Posterior fossa meningioma is the second most common tumor in the cerebellopontine angle. It has a higher rate of postoperative morbidity and mortality compared to acoustic neuroma. Forty posterior fossa meningioma patients managed in our centers were reviewed. Thirty-nine patients were managed surgically with 42 surgical procedures. The approaches used were the translabyrinthine approach in 18 patients (43%), the modified transcochlear in 11 cases (26%), the petro-occipital transsigmoid in 5 cases (12%), the suboccipital in 4 cases (10%), the petro-occipital trassigmoid transcervical in 2 cases (5%), the petro-occipital transsigmoid transtentorial in 1 case (2%), and a subtemporal transtentorial for another case (2%). Facial nerve anatomical integrity was preserved in 87% of procedures but was interrupted in 5 cases, with 4 of the latter subsequently repaired. Total tumor removal was accomplished in 38 cases. A second-stage total tumor removal is planned for the remaining case. There was only one case of perioperative death and no cases of radiological recurrence so far.

Journal Article↗

Decision making in acoustic neuroma management: the only hearing ear.

Patients with acoustic neuroma in their only hearing ear are not frequently seen in clinical practice. Managing this group of patients is a challenge to both patient and surgeon. In this study we report on five cases of acoustic neuroma in an only hearing ear. Our decision for nonsurgical management of those patients with regular follow-up using auditory brainstem responses and magnetic resonance imaging is discussed. Other management options currently available are considered as well.

Journal Article↗

Revision stapes surgery: a critical evaluation.

Fifty-six revision stapes surgeries performed during the last 9 years were evaluated retrospectively for their preoperative symptoms, intraoperative findings, and postoperative results according to the causes of failure, at the Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza, Italy. The most frequent causes of failure were found to be prosthetic misalignments, a reaction to the surgical trauma in the form of excess fibrous tissue reaction or new bony regrowth at the oval window, and ossicular chain problems. The location of the pathology was found to be an important factor in the outcome. Sixty percent of cases resulted in 0- to 20-dB air-bone gap. The causes of these failures, management, and their prevention during primary surgeries are also discussed.

Adult↗

Surgical anatomy of the petrous apex as it relates to the enlarged middle cranial fossa approaches.

This work was designed to study the surgical anatomy of the petrous apex as it relates to the enlarged middle cranial fossa approaches, on 25 temporal bones. In this study we suggest dividing the petrous apex into two topographic areas: an anterior triangular and a posterior quadrangular area with respect to the posterior border of the Gasserian ganglion. Anatomic descriptions endorsed by relevant measurements of these areas are provided in this study.

Humans↗

Surgical management of epitympanic cholesteatoma with intact ossicular chain: the modified Bondy technique.

The results of 37 cases surgically treated with the modified Bondy technique during a 6-year period at the Gruppo Otologico-Piacenza, Italy, are reported. This technique, indicated in epitympanic cholesteatoma with good hearing and intact ossicular chain and pars tensa, provides a one-stage mastoid cavity exteriorization with radical removal of cholesteatoma while preserving the preoperative hearing levels. The technique, indications, results, and comparison with other current techniques are discussed in this article.

Adolescent↗

Giant cell tumor of the lateral skull base: a case report.

Giant cell tumors of the temporal bone are very rare lesions. They should be differentiated from other giant cell lesions of bone, mainly reparative granulomas. A case with a very huge giant cell tumor of the temporal bone extending to the infratemporal fossa, temporomandibular joint, and greater wing of the sphenoid has been presented. Because of their tendency for recurrence, total removal is the treatment of choice for these tumors and was accomplished through the infratemporal fossa approach type B. A follow-up of 2 years and 9 months revealed no evidence of tumor recurrence.

Adult↗

[Urologic applications of intralaparoscopic echography].

The impossibility to palpate organs and tissues is probably the most important drawback of the laparoscopic approach: laparoscopic sonography represent the only real alternative to manual palpation. The laparoscopic approach in the field of urology was initially limited to the identification of the undescended testes in paediatric urology and to the laparoscopic ligation of varicocele. More recently, it took into account the pelvic lymphadenectomy for staging prostatic and bladder cancer. The upper urinary tract and the retroperitoneum were approached more recently. In a preliminary phase the indications for laparoscopic nephrectomy were limited to benign diseases, such as atrophic kidney in patients with renal hypertension, and scarred pyelonephritic kidney. At present some preliminary experiences are reported about nephrectomy performed for carcinoma of the urether or of the upper collecting system and for renal masses of unknown origin. Another indication for a laparoscopic approach to the kidney is represented by symptomatic renal cysts. These cysts have been usually treated with percutaneous aspiration and/or sclerosis, but a high rate of recurrence is reported. Laparoscopy may be used to approach renal cysts with the advantage that most of the cystic wall could be excised, reducing the change of recurrence. Another possible indication for laparoscopy and laparoscopic sonography is the retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in testes cancer with staging or therapeutic purposes. Nowadays preliminary experiences in laparoscopic adrenalectomy have been reported in a limited series of cases. In this report the Authors present their initial experience using a 7.5 MHz rigid probe having 400 crystal which can be inserted into a 10 mm trocar.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗