Parathyroid cysts (PC) are an unusual cause of neck swellings. The majority are nonfunctioning and prove to be a diagnostic challenge given their nonspecific physical and radiological characteristics. This is compounded by their rare occurrence, leading them to be overlooked in the differential diagnosis of neck lumps. Imaging techniques fail to determine the origin of these lesions, but a preoperative diagnosis can be achieved by fine-needle aspiration and measurement of cystic fluid C-terminal parathyroid hormone levels. Treatment of nonfunctioning cysts remains controversial and includes needle aspiration, injection of sclerosant, or surgical excision. We present a case of a 44-year-old female presenting with an asymptomatic anterior neck swelling, diagnosed postoperatively as a parathyroid cyst.
Intraosseous cavernous haemangiomas usually occur in the vertebral and calvarial bones, and account for <1% of primary bone tumours. Nasal cavity intraosseous cavernous haemangiomas are extremely rare. We present a case of a 47-year-old woman with an incidental left inferior turbinate mass noted on CT scan for an unrelated pathology. She had no rhinological symptoms other than a 2-year history of left-sided nasal obstruction. Preoperative imaging failed to determine the aetiology of the mass. The lesion, contiguous with the left inferior turbinate, was successfully resected via an endoscopic approach. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen demonstrated a left inferior turbinate intraosseous cavernous haemangioma.
Thoracic spine chordomas are a rare clinical entity and present several diagnostic and management challenges. Posterior debulking techniques are the traditional approach for the resection of thoracic tumors involving the vertebral body. Anterior approaches to the thoracic spine enable complete tumor resection and interbody fusion. However, this approach has previously required a thoracotomy incision, which is associated with significant perioperative morbidity, pain, and the potential for compromised ventilation and subsequent respiratory sequelae. The extreme lateral approach to the anterior spine has been used to treat degenerative disorders of the lower thoracic and lumbar spine, and reduces the potential complications compared with the anterior transperitoneal/transpleural approach. However, such an approach has not been utilized in the treatment of thoracic chordomas. We describe the first case of an en bloc resection of a thoracic chordoma via a minimally invasive eXtreme lateral interbody fusion approach.
Klippel-Feil syndrome (KPS) is a congenital spinal deformity characterised by the presence of at least one fused cervical segment. We report an unusual case of a fracture through fused cervical segment in a patient with KPS, who presented with quadriparesis and progressed on to develop respiratory failure and quadriplegia and who had a successful outcome following surgery. To the best of our knowledge, fracture through fused cervical segments in a Klippel-Feil patient has not been reported previously and this case report extends the spectrum of injuries seen in patients with KPS.
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