HNO
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Monitoring of pH of the esophagus is a routine diagnostic procedure, whereas until now pH-monitoring of the hypopharynx has been used only for scientific research. In the present study a critical evaluation scale was used to record the results of 112 patients who underwent pH monitoring to determine possible reflux. ⋯ The extent of reflux in the esophagus may not represent pathological changes in the hypopharynx. In such cases 24-h pH monitoring of the hypopharynx can be a useful diagnostic procedure and may also help detect the pathogenesis of "gastric laryngitis".
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Extracranial meningiomas are rare tumors of the lateral skull base. A 37-year-old woman presented with tinnitus und progressive hearing loss of her right ear. A painful mass lesion was also palpable in her mandibular angle. ⋯ In a two-stage surgical procedure tumor was extirpated without functional impairment to the patient. Histology of the excised lesion demonstrated an endotheliomatous meningioma. Since an extracranial meningioma can present as a mass lesion of the lateral skull base, CT and MRI scans are essential in preoperative surgical planning.
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A case report is presented of a 54-year-old woman with tinnitus synchronous with her pulse and an ipsilateral conductive hearing loss. Otoscopy showed a pulsatile structure behind the right eardrum. ⋯ Magnetic resonance imaging could not be performed because of an implanted pacemaker. Since a glomus jugulare tumor could not be excluded right diagnostic tympanoscopy was performed and revealed a high jugular bulb that filled nearly a third of the tympanum.
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Retrograde or fiberoptic intubation techniques are recommended for patients in whom intubation is difficult; however, each method has its own limitations. Good results have been reported with a combination of both techniques, i.e. retrograde passage of a guidewire through the cricothyroid membrane to guide a fiberoptic bronchoscope. The practicality, success and complication rates of our retrograde-guided fiberoptic bronchoscopic technique (RGFT) were studied prospectively in 93 patients with obstructing tumors scheduled for laryngectomy. ⋯ The ability to insert the bronchoscope by means of a guidewire and to direct the intubation procedure optically was found to be advantageous. Limitations with extreme obesity and in two other patients with advanced obstructive carcinomas of the larynx. Additionally, use of the tracheal puncture allows the RGFT to be integrated into clinical medical education as a preparatory exercise for emergency coniotomy.