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The main point in managing suspected impaction of esophageal foreign bodies is to decide whether the patient needs an esophageal endoscopy. Decision-making is based on clinical history, physical examination, and radiographic studies. We review 100 cases of adults having esophagoscopy for removal of esophageal foreign bodies. Fish bones were the most frequently responsible foreign body and the cervical esophagus was the most frequent level of impaction. Decision-making based on clinical history and patient-referred symptoms revealed a positive esophagoscopy in 72% of the suspected cases. Radiographic studies gave falsely positive and falsely negative information in 30% of the cases. Rigid esophagoscopy was used successfully for foreign body removal in 99% of the cases. Average hospital stay was 3.2 days. No complications associated with the use of a rigid esophagoscope were found.

Between January 1980 and December 1989, 110 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottis were treated with supraglottic laryngectomy and neck dissection. The stage distribution was stage I 23%, II 34%, III 15%, and IV 28%. Adjuvant radiotherapy (5,000 to 6,500 cGy) was given to all pN+cases. All patients were followed until death or for a minimum of 36 months, with an average of 65 months. Decannulation was achieved in 96% of the cases, with only 1 patient undergoing total laryngectomy because of aspiration. The average hospital stay was 22 days. Arytenoid edema was a frequent cause of delayed decannulation in patients undergoing radiotherapy. The overall 3-year survival was 78%, with 10 patients dying of unrelated causes. Local control was 94.6% and regional control was 83.6%. No significant difference was found in survival according to T stage, but survival rate was significantly influenced by N stage.

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Scientific Sessions-Monday P123 spinner flask, and an STLV, both fresh and cryogenically preserved fully differentiated human nasoseptal chondrocytes can be induced to uniformly regenerate large quantities of hyaline cartilage. Cartilage analog fabrication time may be reduced by using serum-free media during dynamic seeding.