Cutaneous mucoepidermoid carcinoma is quite rare. We describe a case of extrasalivary cutaneous mucoepidermoid carcinoma in the head and neck region. The theories dealing with the origin of these tumors in the sweat and salivary glands are discussed, and the literature concerning these lesions reviewed. We believe this to be the first description of an extrasalivary mucoepidermoid carcinoma in the head and neck region or other sites that normally contain mucous glands.
Of more than 200 patients who underwent high-resolution computed tomography (CT) of the middle ear, the vast majority had tubotympanic disease in one of its forms: middle ear effusion, tympanosclerosis, granulation tissue, tympanic membrane retractions, or acquired cholesteatoma. The CT appearance of each of these conditions is discussed and illustrated. Emphasis is placed on the differential diagnosis of tubotympanic disease by determining dependent from nondependent soft-tissue opacity using two CT projections.
Twenty-two patients with fracture of the scaphoid treated by cast immobilisation underwent clinical examination, radiography and MR scanning 6 weeks after injury. On clinical and plain radiographic criteria alone, 12 patients were considered sufficiently healed to warrant mobilisation. The remaining 10 patients were considered unhealed and were immobilised for a further period. A musculoskeletal radiologist, blinded to the clinical diagnosis, reviewed the MRI scans. Of the 10 patients considered unhealed, 5 had the MR appearances of a united fracture, based on normal marrow signal across the fracture line on T1-weighted images. Of the 12 patients deemed to have united, union could be confirmed by MRI criteria in only 5, but all 12 were healed at 1 year. The results suggest that MRI can provide additional information in this group of patients. It can confirm bony union in a high proportion of patients deemed clinically non-united. Its use in this context will allow a more rapid mobilisation and return to normal function. The significance of persistent MR signal abnormalities in patients who have clinical and radiographic signs of healing merits further study.
Bilateral lesions which appeared clinically to be branchial cleft sinuses were removed from a patient's neck. One was indeed a branchial cleft sinus, with elements of salivary tissue, but the other proved to be pure salivary tissue with a duct characteristic of a salivary gland. The embryology and clinical characteristics of heterotopic salivary glands are discussed. The occurrence of a heterotopic gland together with a branchial cleft sinus supports the contention that the heterotopic glands arise through errors of development in the branchial apparatus.
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