1/6. Uncommon otological manifestations of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is significant for the otologist although the nasopharynx is located outside the anatomical confines of the ear. Middle-ear effusion resulting from NPC is well-known. There are however, other less common ear symptoms of NPC that many physicians are not sufficiently aware of. A personal series of patients with NPC presenting with uncommon symptoms relating to the ear is presented. These include NPC presenting as a) haemotympanum b) a peri-auricular mass c) referred sensation to the ear d) blocked ear e) barotrauma f) an ear polyp g) sudden sensorineural hearing loss. These symptoms may pose diagnostic difficulties, resulting in the diagnosis of NPC being delayed. It was concluded that a high index of suspicion for NPC is warranted in high risk patients presenting with unexplained otological symptoms.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/6. Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.Based on this patient's history and the imaging studies, all the consultants agree that they are dealing with a juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. They agree that a biopsy is not necessary. However, angiography would be obtained by 2 physicians (Drs. Seid and Weber). When treating an extensive JNA, the consultants differ in their approaches. One favors a lateral infratemporal fossa approach (Dr. Gantz), but the others favor a combined approach (Drs. Seid and Weber). In this particular case, 2 experts favor resection (Drs. Gantz and Weber), but one would irradiate (Dr. Seid). There is also disagreement regarding the severity of morbidity. Minor problems include conductive hearing loss, paresis of the third division of the fifth cranial nerve (Dr. Gantz), and a transient facial nerve paralysis (Dr. Weber). They are more concerned about the long-range problems from skull-base radiotherapy including brain-stem compromise, pituitary dysfunction, and radiation-induced malignancies. No one suggests chemotherapy or multimodal therapy. Regarding the natural history of JNA, the views range from no spontaneous regression (Dr. Gantz), gradual involution over time (Dr. Seid), or an indolent nature that requires tapering the treatment to the benign nature of the process (Dr. Weber).- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/6. Protracted Lhermitte's sign following head and neck irradiation.Lhermitte's sign is a rare complication of head and neck irradiation involving the delivery of dose to the cervical spinal cord. Although uncommon, symptoms of lightning-like electric sensations spreading into both arms, down the dorsal spine, and into both legs on neck flexion following head and neck irradiation, causes great concern in both the patient and the physician. This spontaneously reversible phenomenon is important for the otolaryngologist and radiation oncologist to recognize and discuss. A particularly severe and protracted case of Lhermitte's sign involving a patient recently completing a radical course of radiation for nasopharyngeal carcinoma is described in detail, including a review of the literature surrounding the cause and management of this condition.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/6. Pitfalls in the radiographic diagnosis of angiofibroma.Radiographic findings previously thought pathognomonic for juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma are anterior bowing of the posterior wall of the maxillary antrum on plain films or tomography, and a dense homogeneous blush on angiography. Two patients presented with nasopharyngeal masses which mimicked angiofibroma radiographically: one mass was a lymphoepithelioma and the other was a fibrous tumor. Constitutional symptoms and atypical physical findings should alert the physician to a diagnosis other than juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/6. Beam's-eye-view aided treatment planning for a nasopharyngeal lesion: a case report.We report on the application of CT-based multilevel treatment planning to achieve complete and uniform dose distribution over the entire target while sparing critical structures. Treatment strategy and parameters are chosen on the slice containing the isocenter. Target coverage and organ sparing is achieved on all other slices by independently adjusting the asymmetric field width at each level, stimulating the effects of custom blocks. The optimized field borders are back projected using beam's eye views (BEV) from each treatment angle. The BEV printouts are used to assist the physician in the delineation of field blocking on the simulation films.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/6. Cardiotoxicity related to 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy: a report of two cases.5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a chemotherapeutic agent which has been used to treat many solid tumors including cancers of the breast, ovary, cervix, bladder, prostate gland and gastrointestinal tract. Side effects related to the drug include bone marrow suppression, stomatitis, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. However another less frequent but lethal event cardiotoxicity--appears to have been ignored by physicians. Recently, two cases of cardiac toxicity induced by 5-FU have been encountered here. One patient developed supraventricular tachycardia and the other illustrated silent myocardial infarction with congestive heart failure. Since these side effects may result in death when 5-FU is prescribed to those patients who have had previous heart disease or are concomitantly receiving inevitable radiotherapy over the cardiac region, it should be recommended with extreme caution.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = physician (Clic here for more details about this article) |