To determine the likely association between hypertension and hearing loss. 150 cases and 124 controls, both genders, aged 45-64, included in the research after sample estimation. Hypertension was verified through blood pressure readings and was classified as grade 1, grade 2 and grade 3 hypertension or no hypertension according to the blood pressure readings. Hearing was assessed by measuring pure tone threshold at various frequencies ranging between 250 and 8,000 Hz. There is a significant association between hypertension and increase in the hearing threshold. Hearing loss in the population under study suggests that hypertension is an accelerating factor of degeneration of the hearing apparatus due to aging. Association between Increased hearing threshold and hypertension in this research, can allow for an integrated work of cardiologists, nephrologists, otorhinolaryngologists, audiologists and other health professionals concerned with alterations caused by hypertension.

Chronic suppurative otitis media is a common condition seen in patients attending the otolaryngology clinic. The discharging ear presents the otologist with the dilemma of operating on it or not. This due to the widespread belief that the success rate while doing tympanoplasty on wet ears is decidedly inferior. To evaluate this fact we conducted a study to compare outcomes of type 1 tympanoplasty in dry and wet ears. Wet ear meant that the patient had a mild mucoid discharge which was negative on culture. Type 1 tympanoplasty was done in all patients under local anesthesia using temporalis fascia graft and by underlay technique. We conclude that the presence of discharge in the ear at the time of operation does not interfere with the results of tympanoplasty, but it should be mucoid and scanty.

Total laryngectomy or laryngopharyngectomy remains the procedure of choice for advanced-stage (UICC T3 and T4) laryngeal carcinoma around the world despite advances in conservative laryngeal surgery and radiotherapy. However, it has profound effects on respiration and deglutition, in addition to the most disabling effect-the loss of verbal communication. Successful voice restoration can be attained with any of three speech options, namely esophageal speech, electrolarynx, and tracheoesophageal (TO) speech using an artificial valve. Although, no single method is considered the best for every patient, the tracheoesophageal puncture has become the preferred method in the past decade. Several types of voice prostheses have been produced since the first prosthesis was introduced in 1980 by Blom and Singer. However, eventually all prostheses are confronted by the same problem, i.e., the development of a biofilm, leading to deterioration and ultimately to dysfunction of the prostheses, necessitating replacement. This article attempts to sum up the historical background as well as the current state of surgical voice rehabilitation following laryngectomy; we review the recent major advances as well as the future prospects. Data was collected by conducting a computer-aided search of the MEDLINE and PubMed databases, supplemented by hand searches of key journals. Over 50 articles published in the last three decades on the topic have been reviewed, out of which about 20 were found to be of relevance for this article.

Myoepithelioma is a rare benign neoplasm. Pure accounting for less than 1% of all salivary gland tumors. Only three cases of sinonasal myoepithelioma have been reported in the literature. Diagnosis of myoepithelioma through light microscopy is possible and immunohistochemistry is done to facilitate the diagnosis. The lesion is so rare that there are no specific indications/guidelines for its treatment. We report to you a rare case of sinonasal myoepithelioma in a 57 year old Asian female.Myoepitheliomas are rare tumours that account for only about 1% of all salivary gland tumors. Most are benign, but some can be malignant. Only three cases of sinonasal myoepithelioma have been reported in the literature so far. Case historyA 57 year old female presented to the out-patient department (OPD) of a leading multispeciality teaching hospital with a 3 year history of progressively increasing right sided nasal blockage, a change in voice and a bulge over the hard palate. No history of epistaxis was given. On nasal examination, there was a broadening of the nasal bridge and a large pinkish red polypoidal mass was seen in the right nasal cavity. Oral cavity examination showed a smooth bulge over the hard palate mostly confined on the right side (Figure 1). CT scan done showed an oval lobulated iso-dense patchily enhancing mass measuring about 7.0 × 5.0 cm with its epicentre in nasal vault and the ethmoids (Figure 2).An incisional biopsy was performed as an OPD procedure and this revealed loose clusters of plasmacytoid (hyaline) myoepithelial cells (40×).Subsequently, following a multidisciplinary meeting, the patient underwent a sublabial surgical approach for resection of the tumor. On table the sessile, encapsulated, pinkish red and firm tumor was occupying whole of the nasal cavity with the septum pushed to the left side. Histopathological examination of the specimen revealed loose clusters of plasmacytoid (hyaline) small and/or medium sized spindle shaped cells, differently interlaced, with eosinophilic cytoplasm, occurring in sheets or swirls; the nuclei were predominantly round to ovoid in shape, often eccentric, with finely dispersed chromatin and low mitotic activity. Further Immunohistochemical studies revealed positivity to Calponin (Figure 3). These results were consistent with the rare diagnosis of a sinonasal myoepithelioma. Patient had no recurrence during a follow-up period of 2 years.

Myoepithelioma is a rare neoplasm of the salivary glands, generally occurring in the parotid gland and less often in the minor accessory salivary gland of the oral cavity. The histological appearance includes solid, myxoid and reticular growth patterns. Vimentin and S-100 protein are very sensitive but non-specific immunohistochemical markers of neoplastic myoepithelium. Conservative surgery is the treatment of choice. A case of myoepithelioma of the minor salivary gland of tongue is described, focusing on clinical behaviour, histopathological and immunohistochemical features.

Chondromas are common benign cartilaginous tumours in the skeletal system usually found in extremities. Extra skeletal chondromas are relatively uncommon of which those in head and neck regions are rarely documented. Although the tongue is one of the most common sites of oral soft tissue chondroma, lingual chondromas are rare as evidenced by the fact that only 33 cases are identified in the review of literature till now. This report has the objective of presenting a rare case of lingual enchondroma in a 26-year-old male which was excised with no evidence of recovery during follow up. We have also tried to present a concise review of the relevant literature.

The distance of the victim from the blast site has no major infiuence in producing effects on middle and inner ear in our study of the surviving individuals. Rupture of the tympanic membrane occurs due to the positive wave but both everted and inverted edges can be found in multiple perforations of the tympanic membrane.

We analyzed a series of adults with an implanted voice prosthesis that had malfunctioned and required removal as a result of the attachment and growth of microorganisms. Our goal was to determine the characteristics of these colonizing microbes. We swabbed the esophageal side of each prosthesis to obtain microbial flora for analysis with standard culture media. In all, we studied 22 prostheses in 18 patients (3 patients had received multiple prostheses). We found mixed contamination (both yeast and bacteria) in 19 of the 22 cultures (86.4%); the other 3 cultures yielded bacteria only, and there was no instance of yeast only. The most common yeast isolated was Candida albicans (68.2% of cultures), and the most common bacterium was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (63.6%). The average lifetime of the prostheses was 201 days (~6 mo, 3 wk). This study, which was the first of its kind in India, revealed that the microbial picture here was different from that found in previously reported studies of European populations. We presume the differences are attributable to different lifestyles and dietary habits.