Laryngeal manifestations of malignant sialogenic neoplasias are rare. This paper documents the clinical features, treatment, biological behaviour and prognosis of 15 cases of malignant sialogenic tumours of the larynx that were reviewed in a retrospective clinical and histopathological study. The 15 cases of malignant sialogenic tumours of the larynx were diagnosed at the University Hospital, Eppendorf, over a period of 33 years (1965-1998). Forty per cent were adenoid cystic carcinomas, 33 per cent mucoepidermoid carcinomas and 27 per cent were poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas. Local tumour resection, if necessary in combination with bilateral neck dissection and post-operative radiotherapy, was associated with a five-year survival rate in 80 per cent of the mucoepidermoid carcinoma cases. Adenoid cystic carcinoma was associated with a less favourable five-year survival rate of 33 per cent. Low-differentiated adenocarcinomas were associated with the least favourable prognosis with a five-year survival rate (25 per cent). The prognosis for these tumours is thus poorer than for squamous cell carcinomas with the same localization and TNM status.

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The optical properties of human laryngeal tissue have been examined over the whole wavelength range from 400 to 2,200 nm to facilitate the development of new laser applications. Tissue samples were taken from healthy vocal fold and from vocal fold of patients with papillomatosis and with chronic, nonspecific laryngitis. The transmission and scattering properties of the tissue samples were recorded with a computer-guided integrating-sphere system. From the measured data the optical properties were calculated by means of the inverse Monte Carlo simulation. In the 500- to 600-nm range papilloma tissues had a considerably higher absorption than healthy vocal fold. When applying the optical tissue properties as a possible influencing factor of the effectiveness of laser systems, laser applications at this wavelength range may be useful in the ablation of papilloma tissue.

Introduction Symptomatic relief of acute rhinosinusitis is commonly achieved with nasal decongestants. The current observational study investigated the efficacy and safety of treatment of acute rhinosinusitis with Ectoin® Rhinitis Spray compared to or in combination with Xylometazoline-containing decongesting nasal spray. Methods Patients with acute rhinosinusitis applied either Ectoin® Rhinitis Spray, Xylometazoline nasal spray or a combination of both products. Rhinosinusitis symptoms were assessed, and nasal oedema and endonasal redness were determined by rhinoscopy. Patient diaries based on the validated SNOT (Sino Nasal Outcome Test) questionnaire evaluated rhinosinusitis parameters over time and influences of the disease on quality of life. Following treatment, investigators and patients judged the efficacy and tolerability. Results Ectoin® Rhinitis Spray diminished common rhinosinusitis symptoms such as nasal obstruction, nasal secretion, facial pain/headache, and smell/taste impairment. Upon treatment over 7 days, rhinosinusitis sum scores decreased statistically significantly (p < 0.001) by − 64.25%, which was comparable to that achieved with Xylometazoline-containing decongesting nasal spray (− 67.60%). No side effects were observed during treatment with Ectoin® Rhinitis Spray, whereas treatment with Xylometazoline-containing nasal spray resulted in nasal mucosa dryness. Concomitant treatment with both products diminished the development of nasal dryness and required fewer applications of Xylometazoline-containing nasal spray. Conclusion Ectoin® Rhinitis Spray is an effective, natural treatment option for acute rhinosinusitis, which may be used as monotherapy or as add-on treatment with a Xylometazoline-containing nasal spray. The concomitant use of Ectoin® Rhinitis Spray might reduce the needed dose of decongestant nasal spray and counteract bothersome side effects such as dry nasal mucosa. Trial registration The current study was registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov database under the identifier: NCT03693976 (date of registration: Oct 3, 2018).

Under the influence of an external electrical field, every biological tissue displays characteristic parelectric properties that can be recorded by radiofrequency spectroscopy in a noninvasive contact mode. Parelectric spectroscopy was investigated for its utility as a complementary noninvasive diagnostic procedure in examinations of the larynx, in particular in terms of its ability to differentiate tissue properties. Parelectric spectroscopy was performed in 10 patients submitted to surgical ablation of vocal cord neoplasia under local or insufflation anaesthesia. Measurements were obtained in the area of the neoplasia, and in macroscopically normal tissue in the corresponding vocal cord. In all cases, intra-individual comparison with normal vocal cord tissue revealed lower dipole density and reduced mobility of the affected vocal cord. In addition, the difference between normal and pathological tissue in terms of the parelectric parameters increased with age. The absolute values of dipolar density and mobility revealed no tendency to correlate with different kinds of vocal cord neoplasia. Parelectric spectroscopy may be a useful additional diagnostic tool for monitoring the course of epithelial changes in the larynx.