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Discusses different cases of Lemierre syndrome. Details of the cases; Criteria that describe postanginal septicemia according to Lemierre; Pathogenesis of Lemierre syndrome; Information on the Fusobacterium necrophorum; Manifestations of metastatic infection.

This article focuses on case studies related to Castleman's disease (CD) which is a rare lymphoproliferative disease that was first identified in the mediastinum in 1956. A 22-year-old woman presented to the clinic with a preauricular mass that had noticeably enlarged during a recent pregnancy. The mass was first noticed 7 years previously and had been enlarging slowly, but the patient was otherwise asymptomatic. An otherwise asymptomatic 26-year-old man presented with a 1-year history of a slowly enlarging mildly tender mass of the left neck. Clinically, the mass was about 2 x 2 cm in site, mobile and located in the parotid tail. Facial nerve function was intact, and there was no neck adenopathy. Routine blood work was noncontributory.

Objective: To perform a number to treat analysis for planned neck dissection after organ preservation protocols (OPPs) in N2-3 neck disease for head and neck cancer. Methods: We performed a literature review from 1993 to the present and collected aggregate data to produce the following four variables: (1) percentage of N2-3 necks still harbouring cancer after radiotherapy in OPPs (C); (2) percentage of regional recurrence after planned neck dissection (P); (3) unsuccessful salvage rate in patients in whom a watch and wait strategy for neck disease was employed (S); and (4) the mortality rate of planned neck dissection (M). The number to treat can be estimated as 1/ (C*S+C*M) (P+M) Results: The number to treat in this analysis was 4.4. Summary: In organ preservation therapy with N2-3 disease, one needs to perform 4.4 neck dissections to prevent one fatal regional recurrence. Although this calculation does have some inherent biases and errors, it may form the basis for an informed discussion with patients faced with the option of planned neck dissection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the effectiveness of intratympanic gentamicin therapy for vertigo in Meniere's disease. Confirmation of the utility of gentamicin labyrinthectomy in treating intractable meniere's disease; Repetitive occurrence of ablation if it was unsuccessful in controlling vertigo; Association between intratympanic gentamicin and the deterioration in hearing threshold in 12 of 16 cases.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of suction drainage in preventing postoperative hematoma formation in thyroid surgery. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis using only randomized controlled trials in which the incidence of post-thyroidectomy hematoma was compared directly in patients with and without suction drains (eight studies since 1980; N = 944). The odds ratio (OR) with respective confidence intervals (CIs) using the fixed effects model was reported. We used an OR < 1.0 as being in favour of treatment (ie, the use of suction drains). Results: In our recta-analysis, there was no statistically significant difference between the rates of post-thyroidectomy hematoma whether or not suction drains were used when the results were combined using a fixed effects model (OR 1.04, 95% CI-1.93), with p = .90. In this comparison, a fixed effects model was used rather than a random effects model because there was no statistically significant heterogeneity (χ² = 6.26, p = .28). Conclusions: We conclude that the use of suction drains in thyroid surgery to prevent postoperative hematoma is not evidence based. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Then article offers information on the causes and treatment of postoperative Meleney's ulcer. The ulcer is characterized by polymicrobial infection caused by microaerophilic streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus, resulting to synergistic gangrene. Meleney's ulcer usually begins as a superficial ulcer after trauma or surgery. A wide local resection of peristomal tissue is discussed.