1/152. Midfacial complications of prolonged cocaine snorting. Acute and chronic ingestion of cocaine predisposes the abuser to a wide range of local and systemic complications. This article describes the case of a 38-year-old man whose chronic cocaine snorting resulted in the erosion of the midfacial anatomy and recurrent sinus infections. Previously published case reports specific to this problem are presented, as are the oral, systemic and behavioural effects of cocaine abuse. ( info) |
2/152. Initial report of primary sinusitis caused by an atypical pathogen (mycobacterium chelonae) in an immunocompetent adult. Primary sinonasal infections caused by atypical mycobacteria are rare. In fact, only four examples of a primary nontuberculous mycobacterial etiology of paranasal sinusitis have been cited in the literature. The patients in all these cases were infected with the human immunodeficiency virus and, by definition, they all had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. We present a report of an immunocompetent adult with a history of chronic sinusitis who consistently and repeatedly manifested a fast-growing, nonpigmented, atypical mycobacterium of the Runyon group IV category: mycobacterium chelonae. The patient was successfully treated over a 3-year period with a combination of antimicrobial agents, multiple limited endoscopic sinus surgeries, and eventually a total globe-sparing maxillectomy. At this time, the patient is disease-free and has received no further treatment. This case represents the first report of an immunocompetent adult host with a primary atypical mycobacterial infection of the paranasal sinuses. It also demonstrates the multimodal nature of the treatment of atypical mycobacterial infections. We also discuss the Byzantine classification scheme relative to atypical mycobacteria, the disease process in the immunocompromised host, and the various treatment options. ( info) |
3/152. Odontogenic sinusitis causing orbital cellulitis. BACKGROUND: Odontogenic sinusitis is a well-recognized condition that usually is responsive to standard medical and surgical treatment. Current antibiotic therapy recommendations are directed against the usual odontogenic and sinus flora. CASE DESCRIPTION: The authors present a case of a patient with acute sinusitis initiated by a complicated tooth extraction that did not yield readily to standard treatment. The case was complicated by orbital extension of the sinusitis. The authors isolated methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, species from the affected sinus that usually is not encountered in uncomplicated acute nonnosocomial or odontogenic sinusitis. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Though such forms of resistant microbial flora as MRSA are rare, they may be seen in patients who have a history of intravenous, or i.v., drug use and in immunocompromised patients. Management of patients with orbital extension of sinusitis requires hospitalization and i.v. antibiotic treatment. ( info) |
| We present a case of maxillary sinusitis in a diabetic female caused by the basidiomycete fungus schizophyllum commune. Identification of the isolate was hampered by its atypical features. Subcultures formed sterile medusoid structures from nonclamped mycelia until spontaneous dikaryotization resulted in the development of characteristic fan-shaped fruiting bodies. Identification was confirmed by the presence of spicules formed on the hyphae and by vegetative compatibility with known isolates. ( info) |
5/152. Transient vertical diplopia and silent sinus disorder. A 57-year-old man had isolated transient recurrent vertical diplopia. Left hypoglobus and enophthalmos were present. Investigations revealed an otherwise asymptomatic left maxillary chronic aspecific sinusitis, with 8 mm lowering of the left orbital floor. Transient diplopia was thought to be secondary to transient fusion impairment. Orbital floor reconstruction cured the patient. ( info) |
6/152. Persistent rhinosinusitis in children after endoscopic sinus surgery. The efficacy of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in children is insufficiently addressed in the medical literature. We report a cohort of 14 children (mean age 7.7 years, median age 5.1 years) seen at our multidisciplinary clinic for refractory rhinosinusitis during a 30-month period who continued to have rhinosinusitis despite previous ESS. Prior ESS procedures were performed by 11 surgeons in 3 states. The first ESS was performed when the children were a mean age of 4.6 years, and in 10 of 14, it was performed when they were younger than 4.8 years. This cohort required a disproportionately high rate of subsequent surgical intervention, 50%, versus a 9% surgical rate in the remaining clinic population (P = 0.0002). Osteomeatal scarring was the single most difficult surgical complication. Significant morbidity, in the form of persistent disease, is encountered after ESS in young children. Although chronic rhinosinusitis after ESS, to a certain degree, can still be managed by medical therapy, judicial use of ESS, especially in the very young, is recommended. ( info) |
| Subdural empyema (SDE) is most commonly caused by sinusitis and, without early diagnosis and neurosurgical intervention, is associated with high mortality. In a patient with sinusitis who presents with mental status changes, the diagnosis of SDE should be suspected on clinical grounds, even in the absence of significant computed tomographic findings. Computed tomography with contrast is a useful aid in the diagnosis of SDE, but findings may be subtle, and contrasted magnetic resonance imaging is superior. The association of streptococcus anginosus sinusitis and related intracranial sequelae is important owing to the potentially catastrophic complications and should be recognized by otolaryngologists. In view of the rapidly progressing nature of sinogenic SDE, physicians should strongly consider early institution of aggressive therapy consisting of craniotomy with concurrent sinus drainage in patients in whom sinogenic SDE is suspected on clinical grounds, particularly in the presence of S. anginosus-positive sinus cultures. ( info) |
8/152. Asymptomatic enophthalmos: the silent sinus syndrome. Although uncommon, enophthalmos may be a presenting symptom of chronic maxillary sinusitis with secondary attentuation of the orbital floor. As such, as awareness of this entity, known as the "silent sinus syndrome," is important to all practising otolaryngologists. Two such cases are presented herein, together with a discussion of the pathophysiology, management, and current literature. ( info) |
9/152. acanthamoeba sinusitis with subsequent dissemination in an AIDS patient. Otolaryngologists can play an important role in the care of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and/or human immunodeficiency virus infection. We present the case of an AIDS patient who was hospitalized for dehydration and who was soon found to have sinusitis and subsequent disseminated infection caused by acanthamoeba. To treat the acanthamoeba infection, the patient was started on oral itraconazole and intravenous metronidazole; i.v. pentamidine was added 2 days later. Despite aggressive therapy, on the eleventh day of hospitalization, the patient was obtundent and provided minimal response to noxious stimuli. He died on the sixteenth day of hospitalization. This case is one of only six reported cases of acanthamoeba associated with sinusitis. Current therapeutic regimens have not been successful for most of these patients, and the prognosis is poor. ( info) |
10/152. Unilateral lid retraction during pregnancy. A 32-year-old woman noted left lid retraction during pregnancy. Examination revealed unilateral enophthalmos without symptoms of diplopia or sinus disease. Orbital imaging showed characteristic features of the silent sinus syndrome, which were confirmed intraoperatively. The clinical and imaging attributes of this syndrome are discussed, including possible mechanisms of disease development. Management strategies are summarized. A brief discussion of the differential diagnosis of enophthalmos is also included. ( info) |