Nasal septal perforations present a distinct challenge to the otolaryngologist and a significant cause of symptoms to affected patients. Many surgical techniques for the repair of septal perforations have been described. Connective tissue autografts are commonly used as interpositional grafts between the septal flaps. Recently acellular human dermal allograft has been used with success. In total, 17 patients with symptomatic anterior nasal septal perforations that had failed conservative treatment underwent a closed endoscopic repair of their perforations with acellular human dermal allograft (alloderm) and an anteriorly based inferior turbinate flap; 13 patients had a successful closure of the perforation, two patients, despite initial success, re-perforated as a result of persistent crust picking and, in two patients, the graft failed. With appropriate patient selection and stringent postoperative care the authors consider this technique offers a good surgical outcome for the closure of septal perforations.

Cervicofacial actinomycosis is known to affect many soft tissues and bony structures in the head and neck. However to the authors' knowledge, actinomycosis of the post-cricoid region has not been previously reported. A case of a 74-year-old male who developed actinomycosis of the post-cricoid region after radiotherapy for a laryngeal carcinoma is presented. Actinomycosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of dysphagia following radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, as early treatment is likely to result in a favourable outcome.

A case of spontaneous, isolated supraglottic haemorrhage in a patient recently started with warfarin sodium treatment is described. The symptoms of sore throat, dysphonia, stridor, dysphagia or a neck swelling in a patient taking anticoagulants should alert the clinician to the possibility of this rare but potentially fatal complication.

Temporary nerve palsy rates were consistent with other series where direct laryngoscopy is used to assess laryngeal function. Direct laryngoscopy is the only reliable measure of cord function, with intraoperative monitoring being neither a reliable predictor of cord function nor a predictor of eventual laryngeal function. The fact that all temporary palsies recovered within four months has implications for staged procedures.

Diffuse infiltration of the meninges by metastatic carcinoma (meningeal carcinomastosis) is a potential complication of systemic malignancy. It may present with a variety of neurological symptoms as any aspect of the neuraxis can be affected. Often there is a history of pre-existing malignancy. The authors describe a case with an initial presentation of sudden onset profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The underlying pathology was found to be an occult breast carcinoma, a previously unreported finding. The role of cerebrospinal fluid cytology and radio-imaging in diagnosis is discussed. All previously reported cases of sudden hearing loss and meningeal carcinomatosis are reviewed.