1/4. Salivary duct carcinoma of the parotid gland: a case report.The authors report a case of a salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) of the parotid gland revealed by a facial palsy. The clinical and pathological features of this highly malignant neoplasm are described. The aggressive nature of this form demands a combined chemo-radio-surgical treatment; only early recognition and treatment are likely to result in a favourable outcome.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/4. Botulinum toxin treatment for hyperlacrimation secondary to aberrant regenerated seventh nerve palsy or salivary gland transplantation.AIM: To investigate the potential of botulinum toxin A for treating hyperlacrimation. methods: Three patients with unilateral symptoms of hyperlacrimation (diagnosed as "crocodile tearing") and one patient with a submandibular salivary gland transplant (SMGT) were studied. Tear production was quantified in the resting and stimulated (chewing or following exercise) state, using Schirmer's test and tear clearance. Lacrimal scintigraphy was used to assess outflow. Intraglandular injections (for patients with "crocodile tears") or periglandular injections (for the SMGT patient) of Dysport were administered in divided doses. RESULTS: Two of the three eyes with reported gustatory lacrimation had a higher Schirmer test result than their fellow eye following gustatory stimulation. Scintigraphy, with and without stimulation, confirmed a patent drainage system in these patients. The other patient demonstrated a functional obstruction to tear flow. After treatment patients with confirmed gustatory lacrimation and the SMGT patient had a marked reduction in tearing at 2 weeks. This effect lasted 3-4 months. There was no demonstrable improvement in the patient with epiphora secondary to functional obstruction. Two patients who had received intraglandular injections developed a ptosis, which resolved spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrates that gustatory lacrimation is a difficult diagnosis. In post-facial nerve palsy a functional element must always be considered. However, in confirmed hyperlacrimation botulinum toxin treatment is effective but side effects may occur.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.6keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/4. diagnosis of bell palsy with gadolinium magnetic resonance imaging.bell palsy is a condition resulting from a peripheral edematous compression on the nervous fibers of the facial nerve. This pathological condition often has clinical characteristics of no importance and spontaneously disappears in a short time in a high percentage of cases. Facial palsy concerning cranial nerve VII can also be caused by other conditions such as mastoid fracture, acoustic neurinoma, tumor spread to the temporal lobe (e.g., cholesteatoma), neoformation of the parotid gland, melkersson-rosenthal syndrome, and Ramsay-Hunt syndrome. Therefore, it is important to adopt an accurate diagnostic technique allowing the rapid detection of bell palsy and the exclusion of causes of facial paralysis requiring surgical treatment. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with medium contrast of the skull shows a marked increase in revealing lesions, even of small dimensions, inside the temporal bone and at the cerebellopontine angle. The authors present a clinical case to show the important role played by gadolinium MRI in reaching a diagnosis of bell palsy in the differential diagnosis of the various conditions that determine paralysis of the facial nerve and in selecting the most suitable treatment or surgery to be adopted.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/4. Familial Bell's palsy in females: a phenotype with a predilection for eyelids and lacrimal gland.The authors report a family with familial Bell's palsy affecting seven individuals, six of whom are females. This is a distinct subtype of Bell's palsy with a predilection for juvenile females, previously reported only very rarely. In conjunction with a review of the literature, this case suggests that this phenotype carries with it a greater risk of serious complications affecting the eyelids and lacrimal gland. These carry significant functional and cosmetic implications owing to aberrant regeneration of the seventh, sixth and possibly third cranial nerves, chronicity and relapses. Clinical features include synkinesis of the eyelids with the orbicularis oris causing synkinetic ptosis, recurrent paralytic ectropion, paralysis of facial muscles of expression with dry eye, hyperlacrimation (crocodile tears), and transient strabismus. Clinically, the decision to offer surgery in place of conservative treatment should consider the natural history of chronicity and relapses often seen with this subtype of familial Bell's palsy. Botulinum toxin injections are especially versatile in managing the complications associated with this phenotype.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = gland (Clic here for more details about this article) |