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Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare and aggressive form of mature B cell neoplasms almost exclusively identified in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The small number of HIV-negative PBL cases reported in the literature to date is composed of single case reports and small case series which characteristically are present involving the oral cavity mucosa or gingiva. We present a 72-year-old HIV-negative Australian patient without any cause of immunodeficiency, with an isolated left maxillary sinus PBL.

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Background: The external auditory canal’s unique anatomical characteristics made the presence of foreign bodies (FBs) a clinical challenge, particularly in rural settings without ready access to tertiary care and specialist intervention. Aims: Our study surveys the experience in aural FBs surgical management in a rural Australian tertiary center. It proposes a safe, easy, and affordable technique to remove stones from the ear canal. Methods: We have completed a 10-year retrospective surgical chart review, including 474 patients (52 adults and 428 children) requiring surgical management to remove aural FBs at the Royal Darwin Hospital, Northern Territory, Australia. We surveyed for patient demographics, foreign-body description, complications, location, and removal attempts. We identified what factors determine the need for surgical management and propose a technique for a safe, uncomplicated, and affordable removal of stones from the ear canal after applying this method in a small subgroup. Results: The most common FBs requiring surgery in children were stones. A predominance in the Aboriginal population from remote communities was found, leading to a nasal bridle magnet technique to remove stones in rural settings. This method reduces the number of extraction attempts of the most frequent FB found in children’s ears, aiming to minimize complications, negative experiences, and health cost. Conclusion: Contrary to international literature, stones were found to be the most common FB in remote aboriginal populations. The proposed technique reduces the number of extraction attempts of the most frequent FB found in children’s ears, aiming to minimize complications, negative experiences, and health cost.

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Sleep apnoea and poor sleep quality are growing public health issues which may begin in childhood and progress to significant lifelong morbidity. Literature regarding the prevalence of surgery for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) among Indigenous Australian children however is sparse. Children and polysomnographic (PSG) characteristics among children undergoing adenotonsillectomy (AT) for clinically suspected sleep-disordered breathing were assessed in this retrospective study. Paediatric patients Indigenous and non-Indigenous children referred for a diagnostic (PSG) via ENT service at the Top End Northern Territory of Australia for a sleep study between 2016 and 2020 were included. Of the 375 patients referred through an ENT service for a diagnostic PSG, 115 were identified to have undergone an AT and were included. The majority of patients were male (58%) and non-Indigenous (88%), in the normal weight category (64%) with a median age of 4.1 years. The median reported PDSS was 12, and snoring was reported in 77% of patients, with witnessed apnoeas in 31% and excessive daytime sleepiness in 23%. Most patients were identified to have OSA on PSG (65%, median AHI 1.6, 64% mild, 12% moderate, 23% severe). Median sleep efficiency was 85%, with a total sleep time of 520 minutes and WASO of 74 minutes. Total average SpO2 was a median of 93.5% and SpO2 Nadir 85%. We discuss how our findings can translate to future service planning and delivery whilst respecting cultural safety and indigenous group engagement.

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