Biomedical subjects

N Laurian

Publications and source records attributed to N Laurian.

44 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Thyroid function following radiation and surgical therapy in head and neck malignancy.

A retrospective 10-year review of thyroid function in 144 patients treated for cancer of the head and neck by radiation therapy, surgery, and combined surgery and radiation therapy was done. In five patients, hypothyroidism had been found in the posttreatment period. Two of them had developed a pharyngeal fistula resistant to intensive local care and surgical procedures, and a third patient had edema and necrosis of the skin flap. The five hypothyroid patients reported here have all been treated for laryngeal malignancy. In any other group of patients treated for head and neck malignancies studied within this article, we did not find clinical or chemical signs of thyroid hypofunction. Our report stresses the importance of periodic evaluation of thyroid function in patients who underwent irradiation of the neck or combined therapy for malignancy in the neck, even if they were clinically euthyroid. Hypofunction may be more frequent than generally recognized after multimodality treatment, and hormonal replacement therapy may be the keystone in curing rebellious pharyngeal fistula and shortening the disabled state of the patient.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Computed tomography evaluation of the nasal septal reconstructed larynx.

Computed tomography (CT) of the larynx was performed in 15 patients who had their larynx reconstructed by composite nasal septal autograft after frontal, or frontolateral laryngectomy. Five representative cases each with CT scan and additional laryngoscopic documentation are presented. The CT permitted a detailed appraisal of the nasal septal grafted larynx. Our attention was directed to the image of the graft in what concerned its patterns of distortion, fibrosis or chondrification, and width of the laryngeal airway. The scan from 10 patients brought radiographic evidence that the implanted cartilage retained vitality and structural integrity.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Metastatic carcinoma of oral soft tissue.

Metastatic carcinomas to the oral region are rare. Most of the lesions are located in the bones of the jaw. The medical literature contains quite a few examples of metastatic lesions located strictly in the oral soft tissue. We present two cases of oral soft tissue metastatic carcinoma of urogenital origin.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cutaneous malignant lymphoma of the nasal tip.

Cutaneous lymphomas are relatively rare malignant lesions. Lymphomas limited to the skin are uncommon and most patients have a generalized disease. The head and neck are the most common sites of presentation. This lesion is diagnostically problematic since histologic distinction from several benign cutaneous lymphocytic infiltrates is occasionally difficult and thus its clinical behavior is unpredictable. The most common histopathologic subtype is diffuse histiocytic lymphoma and therapy is analogous to that for lymphomas arising elsewhere. The prognosis of lymphoma presenting in the skin is dependent upon the initial extent of the disease and probably upon histology. A case of cutaneous malignant lymphoma arising at the nasal tip, surgically treated, is presented.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Eliminating the Toynbee phenomenon in patients with nasal packs.

Nasal packing is a common procedure in otolaryngology, but is not a completely innocuous procedure. Besides aggravating mouth breathing, complete nasal obstruction results in an annoying Toynbee phenomenon. In patients with bilateral anterior nasal packing, we recorded high pressure gradients in the nasopharynx and, in consequence, in the middle ear. Patients in whom rubber tubes were inserted between the gauze layers of the anterior nasal packs suffered no such inconvenience and showed no such gradients. Our work proves the value of using these tubes for pressure equalization when nasal packs are necessary.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Reduction of salivary flow with Scopoderm TTS.

Scopoderm transdermal therapeutic system (TTS) is a form of application permitting programmed release of scopolamine through the skin into the bloodstream. Scopoderm TTS is indicated for prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with motion sickness. The most common side effect associated with its use is dryness of the mouth. We have been using Scopoderm TTS for reducing salivary flow in patients with sialorrhea or with difficulties in swallowing normal amounts of salivary secretions. Good results were achieved with minimal discomfort from adverse effects. We recommend the use of Scopoderm TTS in selected cases of sialorrhea and drooling, preoperatively and postoperatively in patients undergoing surgery of oral, laryngeal, and pharyngeal lesions.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Study of Toynbee phenomenon by combined intranasopharyngeal and tympanometric measurements.

The Toynbee maneuver, swallowing when the nose is obstructed, leads in most cases to pressure changes in one or both middle ears, resulting in a sensation of fullness. Since first described, many varying and contradictory comments have been reported in the literature concerning the type and amount of pressure changes both in the nasopharynx and in the middle ear. In our study, the pressure changes were determined by catheters placed into the nasopharynx and repeated tympanometric measurements. New information concerning the rapid pressure variations in the nasopharynx and middle ear during deglutition with an obstructed nose was obtained. Typical individual nasopharyngeal pressure change patterns were recorded, ranging from a maximal positive pressure of +450 to a negative pressure as low as -320 mm H2O.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Can uvulopalatopharyngoplasty be harmful to eustachian tube function?

A study of the Eustachian tube, incorporating nasendoscopy, tympanometry and pressure swallow test was undertaken in patients undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Marked negative middle ear pressure indicating impairment of tubal function was found during the first 7 postoperative days. In patients receiving antibiotic treatment the Eustachian tube dysfunction was significantly alleviated. This dysfunction is probably due to a postoperative infective inflammatory process in the tonsillar fossa. Antibiotic treatment is recommended for patients undergoing uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, to improve the postoperative course. Patients with middle ear abnormalities and following middle ear surgery could be high-risk candidates for this operation and should be carefully evaluated.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗