Necrotizing Sialometaplasia (NS) is a benign, self-limiting inflammatory disease of the mucus-secreting glands, and this illness mainly involves the minor salivary glands. The significance of NS resides in its clinical and histopathological resemblance to malignancy. We present here a case of necrotizing sialometaplasia on the soft palate, and this was accompanied by adenoid cystic carcinoma. We report here on this case to draw attention to the difficulty for deciding the extent of resecting a malignancy, and especially when the malignancy is simultaneously accompanied by necrotizing sialometaplasia.
Adenoids ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Palate, Soft ; Salivary Glands, Minor ; Sialometaplasia, Necrotizing

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The accurate measure of salivary flow rate requires a variety of clinical and experimental protocols. Several methods have traditionally been used to collect and measure the whole mouth saliva. The objective of this study was to verify usefulness of a newly developed oral Schirmer test for detecting salivary gland hypofunction. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The control group consisted of 85 healthy patients, while another group consisted of 30 patients with salivary grand resection or post-head and neck irradiation and a third group of 30 patients who suffered from subjective xerostomia caused by other pathologies. Oral Schirmer test was carried out in all subjects. The main outcome was the wetted length after 5 minutes. RESULTS: The mean saliva flow was 59.3+/-16.99 mm/5 min in the control group, 47.0+/-13.50 mm/5 min in the 2nd group and 39.9+/-11.65 mm/ 5 min in the third group. The differences between the control group and the other two groups were statistically different (p<0.001). A cut-off value 40 mm/5 min showed sensitivity of 83.7% and specificity of 62.5%. CONCLUSION: The oral Schirmer test is valid and reliable for identifying subjects with xerostomia.
Humans ; Mouth ; Neck ; Saliva ; Salivary Glands ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Xerostomia

Lip cancer is the most common malignancy of the oral cavity and is the second most common cancer in the head and neck. Because lip cancer can be detected early, it is readily curable compared with other head and neck malignancies. In the treatment, surgery is recommended for most patients. After resection, reconstruction is important both aesthetically and functionally, because of it's prominent location of face and essential functions of sphincter to assist in mastication, swallowing, phonation, and expressing emotion. Recently, we performed the reconstruction of lower lip defects after resection of cancer using various methods and achieved good results. So we present the cases with a review of literatures.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Deglutition ; Head ; Humans ; Lip ; Lip Neoplasms ; Mastication ; Mouth ; Neck ; Phonation ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures

OBJECTIVES: To compare the velopharyngeal function, swallowing and speech of the conventional and modified radial forearm free flap (RFFF) for soft palate reconstruction. METHODS: Retrospective clinical study. Twenty-eight patients who underwent oropharyngeal reconstruction with RFFF were divided into two groups: 10 patients had conventional folded RFFF and 18 patients underwent modified method. RESULTS: The average speech intelligibility score in modified RFFF group was 8.0+/-2.4, and 6.2+/-2.2 in conventional RFFF group (P<0.05). The nasalance was 27.4+/-7.8% in modified group and 38.6+/-2.7% in conventional group during no nasal passage reading and 43.6+/-7.3% in modified group, 55.2+/-7.6% in conventional group during high nasal passage reading (P<0.05). The subjective swallowing functional score was 2.8 in modified group and 2.1 in conventional group. CONCLUSION: The speech assessment and nasalance demonstrate a more favorable outcome in modified group than conventional group.
Deglutition ; Forearm ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms ; Palate, Soft ; Retrospective Studies ; Speech Intelligibility

No Abstract available.
Neck Dissection* ; Neck*

It is rare to find spontaneous cervical bleedings for which a wide variety of etiologies have been reported. We experienced a case of spontaneous cervical bleeding that caused emergency operation. We present this case with a review of the literature. This case demonstrates a potentially lethal complication in patients with neurofibroma. Neurofibroma is an inherited disease, classified as 'classical (type I, von Recklinghausen, multiple or peripheral neurofibromatosis)', 'central (type II, bilateral acoustic neurofibromatosis)' and other types. The pathognomic features of classical neurofibromatosis are cafe-au-lait spots and neurofibromas. Other clinical features are variably expressed and occurnece of severe hemorrhage is an unusual complication. Conservative management do not stop the hemorrhage. Surgical exploration must be undertaken for cure.
Acoustics ; Cafe-au-Lait Spots ; Emergencies ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Neck* ; Neurofibroma ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Neurofibromatosis 1*

Head and Neck Neoplasms* ; Head* ; Protein Kinases*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Contusions and lacerations of the auricle are common, but reconstructive procedures are difficult because the auricle has an intricate cartilage framework covered with delicate skin. The purpose of this study was to present therapeutic principles of traumatized auricular laceration. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The study was performed retrospectively and included 35 traumatized auricular laceration patients. Their wound state, degree of laceration, whether or not had exposure of cartilage, methods of reconstruction used and postoperative complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Multiple laceration was found in 11 patients. Eight of 19 patients who had cartilage exposed had been performed cartilage suture method for alignment. Primary reconstruction was performed for two avulsed subtotal injury patients. Pocket principle technique was used for one patient whose auricle was contaminated and amputated. Postoperative complications were noted as paresthesia, color change, delayed healing, deformity and partial loss of auricle. CONCLUSION: Rapid and active management of traumatized auricular lacerations is important to prevent infection and postoperative complications.
Cartilage ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Contusions ; Ear, External ; Humans ; Lacerations* ; Paresthesia ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Sutures ; Wounds and Injuries

Extramedullary plasmacytoma is a rare soft tissue malignancy composed of plasma cells. This tumor may be primary or secondary to the generalized multiple myeloma. The great majority of extramedullary plasmacytoma occurs in the head and neck region, mainly in the upper respiratory tract and oral cavity. The most frequently involved sites are the nasal cavity, paranasal sinus, and nasopharynx, in the decreasing order. However extramedullary plasmacytoma of the larynx is rare. Laryngeal plasmacytomas accounts for between 6 to 18% of all extramedullary plasmacytomas. We report, with a review of literature, a case of extramedullary plasmacytoma of the larynx in a 41 year-old female patient.
Adult ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Larynx* ; Mouth ; Multiple Myeloma ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasopharynx ; Neck ; Plasma Cells ; Plasmacytoma* ; Respiratory System

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The majority of nasal bone fractures have been managed by using closed reduction and intranasal packing, leaving rooms for many complaints from patients. But the intranasal Kirschner wire (K-wire) splinting described by Chang in 1994 provided rigid intranasal support and increased less complaints from patients. Although the Kirschner wire splinting can be an alternative method for nasal bone packing that accompanies little complaints from patients, literature regarding the efficiency of Kirshcner wire splinting is rare. We studied the efficiency and clinical outcomes between the K-wire splinting and intranasal packing. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Prospectively, we studied 51 patients with nasal bone fracture who have undergone closed reduction. Of these, 30 patients were immobilized with the Kirschner wire splinting and 21 patients were immobilized with intranasal vaseline packing. On the first prospective day, patients were routinely examined by a visual analogue scale. The degree of satisfaction by both doctors and patients was investigated after a minimum 6 months. Complications were studied. All results were statistically confirmed. RESULTS: Complaints from patients were significantly less when the K-wire was used. There was no statistical difference between satisfaction expressed by doctors and patients, and there were no serious complications in using the K-wire. CONCLUSION: The K-wire is a reliable and useful immobilization method for nasal bone fracture.
Bone Wires ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Nasal Bone* ; Petrolatum ; Prospective Studies ; Splints