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Sensorineural hearing loss is a well-known complication of Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis. Given the propensity for fibrosis and ossification of the cochlea in bacterial meningitis, implantation must be performed in a timely fashion because a delayed attempt at implantation can frustrate obtaining an optimal technical result or lead to an inability to implant. Obtaining optimal audiometric outcomes is reliant on early hearing screening in patients with streptococcal meningitis. In the absence of standardized protocols, audiometric testing is often overlooked or delayed in the workup and management of meningitis. Our institution implemented a meningitis protocol with a particular focus on timing of audiometric testing in patients with meningitis. We present a patient diagnosed with streptococcal meningitis in the first week of life. Early hearing screening allowed the diagnosis of profound unilateral sensorineural hearing loss and subsequent cochlear implantation at 10 weeks of age, the youngest described in the medical literature. Despite early implantation, there was cochlear fibrosis at the time of implantation. Fortunately, the majority of electrodes were implanted to achieve a serviceable hearing outcome. Serial magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained because of her contralateral ventriculoperitoneal shunt that allowed unique visualization of the progression of cochlear fibrosis over time. This case demonstrates the importance of including audiometric testing in a standardized meningitis protocol to diagnose hearing loss in a timely and accurate way and to achieve optimal long-term hearing outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Retrospectively analyze head and neck Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis at a rural tertiary referral center and compare results with previously published data. Methods: Electronic health record review was performed from 2003 to 2019. Patients with biopsy proven LCH with primary head and neck involvement were included. Demographics, presentation, imaging characteristics, treatment modality, delay in diagnosis (DD, ≥60 days), and outcomes were analyzed and reported. Results: Twenty-four patients were included. The most common presenting symptoms were otorrhea (n = 6) and scalp pain or swelling (n = 6). All patients had bony involvement. The most common site was facial or skull lesions (n = 20). Most skull lesions (75%) demonstrated CNS risk. Six patients were treated with primary surgery, 15 with primary chemotherapy, and 3 with surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy. Nine patients experienced relapse of disease with median time to documented relapse of 11.4 months; all were treated with salvage chemotherapy to achieve complete remission (median follow-up: 72 months). Patients most likely to relapse were those with multisystem disease (5/7, 71.4%), temporal bone lesions (4/7, 57.1%), and DD (7/12, 58.3%). Of the 9 total patients who experienced relapse, 78% had a delay in diagnosis. Conclusions: LCH is a complex disease process in which diagnosis can be delayed if not considered in the differential. Within the head and neck, the skull, including isolated temporal bone involvement, is the most common site of involvement. Treatment modality does not appear to have an influence on relapse rates. Relapse was more likely to occur in the first year after treatment and close monitoring is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]