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Introduction A foreign body aspiration is a risky situation, common in pediatric emergency. The “gold standard” to rule out a foreign body or proceed to its extraction, is rigid bronchoscopy (RB) under general anesthesia. However, RB is an intrusive exam with possible complications. Depending on authors, RB in emergency is a procedure at risk of complications in 4–17% of cases. Advances in radiology allow CT-scanners of fast acquisition and high definition, which could be used as an alternative to RB. Materials and methods This is a retrospective analysis of 6 years from May 2010 to May 2016, in a tertiary referral center. All children that presented a foreign body aspiration suspicion and had a cervical-thoracic CT with multiplanar reconstruction were analyzed. Results 200 children were included. The average age was 30 months. 132 were considered normal and 68 pathological. Among the 68 RB performed for pathological scanner, a foreign body was found in 59 cases, and we had 9 cases of false positives. Among the 132 considered normal, 27 have had a RB despite this, due to persistent symptoms, all were negative; 105 were discharged home without endoscopy with monitoring instructions. 1 child was reviewed three months later for asthma, without second choking event reported. A new CT-scan found a foreign body that was removed by RB. Due to the nature of the foreign body it is very unlikely to link it to the first choking event, but retrospectively we cannot be certain. Considering this case as the only false negative, the negative predictive value (NPV) of CT was 99.2% and positive predictive value (PPV) of 83.8%. Conclusion The use of CT -scan with multiplanar reconstruction in suspected foreign body aspiration is a reliable alternative to endoscopy under general anesthesia, especially in asymptomatic patients, avoiding too many negative endoscopies.

SummaryLaryngomalacia is the most common laryngeal disease of infancy. It is poorly tolerated in 10% of cases, requiring assessment and management, generally surgical. Surgery often consists of supraglottoplasty, for which a large number of technical variants have been described. This surgery, performed in an appropriate setting, relieves the symptoms in the great majority of cases with low morbidity. However, few data are available concerning the objective results: preoperative and postoperative objective assessment of these infants is therefore necessary whenever possible. Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) may be indicated in some infants with comorbid conditions or failing to respond to surgical management.

Objectives: Report a rare congenital salivary gland tumor and its clinical, radiological and histopathologic aspects. Discuss the differential diagnosis and treatment. Methods: A case report is described. A literature review of the incidence, disease course, radiological and histopathologic aspects and treatment are presented. Results: This case report presents a neonate with an asymptomatic left cervical mass. Ultrasounds and MRI showed a circumscribed soft tissue mass measuring 60mm×42mm×52mm and extending from the left parotid region to the left submandibular region, but radiological exams could not lead to a diagnosis. A biopsy demonstrated a sialoblastoma. The treatment consisted in a surgical resection with no adjuvant therapy. One year after surgery there is no clinical nor radiological sign of recurrence. Conclusion: Sialoblastomas are rare congenital epithelial salivary tumors and have been reported to occur predominantly in the parotid gland. They are locally aggressive with a high recurrence rate needing a prolonged follow up. When they are completely resectable, surgical resection is the mainstay for treatment of these tumors and no adjuvant therapy is needed.

Objective Preliminary assessment of the efficacy of propranolol on subglottic hemangioma in children on a nation-wide scale. Methods Multicentric, retrospective study of clinical files of 14 children; pre- and post-treatment endoscopies. Results Mean age at diagnosis was 2.3 (0.7–4) months. Mean percentage of airway obstruction was 68% (15–90) before propranolol introduction. Propranolol was started at 5.2 (0.7–16) months of age. This treatment was effective in all cases with a mean regression of the stenosis to 22% after 2 weeks and 12% after 4 weeks. Other medical treatments (steroids) could be stopped. In one patient, a side effect of propranolol motivated the switch to another β-blocker. In four patients, treatment was stopped after 5.2 (1–10) months with a relapse in 2 (50%) cases. One of these two patients developed a resistance to propranolol and required a surgical procedure by external approach. Conclusion This preliminary nation-wide survey confirms propranolol high effectiveness against airways’ localization of infantile hemangiomas. Propranolol also allows alleviation or cut-off of previous medical treatments. However, recurrences are possible after early treatment interruption.

To specify the characteristics of the thulium laser and to evaluate the advantages and possibilities of treatment with this laser in laryngotracheal diseases in children.Fiber-based lasers have facilitated a new style of surgery. When performing therapeutic airways endoscopies there is the possibility of good control of lesions and adequate visualization of the surgical field using the telescope. Different types of laser may be used but the 2013-nm thulium laser shows promise as a laser that is efficient in soft tissues with the advantages of the other lasers without their problems. The thulium laser has been described in treating urinary tract abnormalities and recently airways diseases in adults, but there are no reports of other uses for this technique in the pediatric airway.The thulium laser appears to be an interesting tool in the management of laryngotracheal diseases such as subglottic stenosis, tracheal granuloma and laryngomalacia. The use of this laser in laryngotracheal diseases in children will probably progress in the future.

To discuss management of postcricoid and upper esophageal hemangiomas in infants. Four children presenting with progressive feeding and/or respiratory disturbance underwent endoscopy including systematic esophagoscopy revealing the hemangioma of the postcricoid area and extending to the lumen of the upper esophagus. In the three children with severe disturbance, systemic steroids were insufficient and open surgical excision brought the hemangioma under control. No significant stenosis occurred despite prolonged progressive oral feeding up to 1 month after surgery. The fourth child whose disturbance was moderate, was managed by intralesional steroids. Various solutions have been proposed for the treatment, i.e. conservative approach or partial or complete destruction or excision, management of postcricoid hemangioma by intralesional steroids or by open surgical excision. Indications will require greater series.

Objectives: We assessed the intermediate-term and long-term efficacy of intralesional injection of cidofovir used with surgical excision in juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Methods: The protocol was revised during the study, from endoscopy at 4-week intervals with intralesional injection of cidofovir at 5 mg/mL, to a 2-week interval and a 7.5-mg/mL dosage. Partial surgical excision of hypertrophic papillomas was performed before the initiation of injection. Further injections at 4-week (or 2-week) intervals were performed until complete remission. Results: Sixteen patients received a mean 8.9 injections. Complete remission was obtained in 12 patients (75%) after a mean 7.2 endoscopic treatments. Remission was stable at a mean 33.6 months' follow-up. Five of these 12 patients received 5.2 injections and remained disease-free at a mean 39.3 months' follow-up. Seven of the 12 had 1 relapse; they needed complementary treatment to become disease-free, and remained so thereafter over a mean 27.3 months' follow-up. The other 4 of the 16 patients (25%) continued to present active disease. Conclusions: Active endoscopic treatment until complete remission led to a higher-than-expected complete remission rate on intermediate-term to long-term follow-up, with or without relapse. Transient relapse was associated with a long delay in initiating cidofovir treatment.

Objective: To assess cidofovir plasma concentration after intralesional airway administration for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients and Method: The study comprised 21 patients (10 children and 11 adults). Plasma samples were collected at 10 and 45 minutes (T10, T45) or at 10 and 60 minutes (T10, T60) after injection. The measurements of cidofovir were performed using a high-performance liquid chromatographic method. Results: Plasma samples were collected at T10 and T45 on 19 occasions from the children and on 17 from the adults. A linear relationship was found between plasma concentration and dose in children (mean dose 1.2 mg/kg; mean cidofovir plasma levels 0.91 and 0.81 μg/mL) but not in adults (mean dose 0.2 mg/kg; mean plasma levels 0.21 and 0.31 μg/mL). The same relationships were found between dose and area under the concentration/time curve (AUC). Four plasma samples were taken in children at T10 and T60: mean dose 1.2 mg/kg and mean plasma concentrations 1.11 and 1.24 μg/mL. Maximum plasma concentration averaged 34% (SD 11%) in children and 62% (SD 33%) in adults, with equivalent plasma level after intravenous infusion of the same dose. Conclusions: The cidofovir plasma levels were below those leading to toxicity. The levels and the AUC were dose dependent in children but not in adults. Diffusion from the injected site was greatest in a few adults and unpredictable. Because of the great individual variation in diffusion in adults, cidofovir should be used at less than the recommended intravenous dose to prevent any risk of systemic toxicity.

SummaryLaryngomalacia is defined as collapse of supraglottic structures during inspiration. It is the most common laryngeal disease of infancy. Laryngomalacia presents in the form of stridor, a high-pitched, musical, vibrating, multiphase inspiratory noise appearing within the first 10 days of life. Signs of severity are present in 10% of cases: poor weight gain (probably the most contributive element), dyspnoea with permanent and severe intercostal or xyphoid retraction, episodes of respiratory distress, obstructive sleep apnoea, and/or episodes of suffocation while feeding or feeding difficulties. The diagnosis is based on systematic office flexible laryngoscopy to confirm laryngomalacia and exclude other causes of supraglottic obstruction. Rigid endoscopy under general anaesthesia is only performed in the following cases: absence of laryngomalacia on flexible laryngoscopy, presence of laryngomalacia with signs of severity, search for any associated lesions prior to surgery, discrepancy between the severity of symptoms and the appearance on flexible laryngoscopy, and/or atypical symptoms (mostly aspirations). The work-up must be adapted to each child; however, guidelines recommend objective respiratory investigations in infants presenting signs of severity.

Objective To evaluate the efficiency of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and high-resolution computed tomographic (CT) scan coregistration in predicting and adequately locating primary or recurrent cholesteatoma in children. Design Prospective study. Setting Tertiary care university hospital. Patients Ten patients aged 2 to 17 years (mean age, 8.5 years) with cholesteatoma of the middle ear, some of which were previously treated, were included for follow-up with systematic CT scanning and MRI between 2007 and 2008. Interventions Computed tomographic scanning was performed on a Siemens Somaton 128 (0.5/0.2-mm slices reformatted in 0.5/0.3-mm images). Fine cuts were obtained parallel and perpendicular to the lateral semicircular canal in each ear (100 × 100-mm field of view). Magnetic resonance imaging was undertaken on a Siemens Avanto 1.5T unit, with a protocol adapted for young children. Diffusion-weighted imaging was acquired using a single-shot turbo spin-echo mode. To allow for diagnosis and localization of the cholesteatoma, CT and diffusion-weighted MRIs were fused for each case. Results In 10 children, fusion technique allowed for correct diagnosis and precise localization (hypotympanum, epitympanum, mastoid recess, and attical space) as confirmed by subsequent standard surgery (positive predictive value, 100%). In 3 cases, the surgical approach was adequately determined from the fusion results. Lesion sizes on the CT-MRI fusion corresponded with perioperative findings. Conclusions Recent developments in imaging techniques have made diffusion-weighted MRI more effective for detecting recurrent cholesteatoma. The major drawback of this technique, however, has been its poor anatomical and spatial discrimination. Fusion imaging using high-resolution CT and diffusion-weighted MRI appears to be a promising technique for both the diagnosis and precise localization of cholesteatomas. It provides useful information for surgical planning and, furthermore, is easy to use in pediatric cases.

The database revealed severity factors relating to human papillomavirus (HPV) type and age at diagnosis. While not exhaustive, the database is easy to use and could serve for a European multicentre epidemiological study.To propose a database as a starting point for a national registry and to estimate prognostic factors in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP).This was a retrospective study carried out in a tertiary care teaching hospital. From January 2005 to July 2007, epidemiological, clinical and treatment information on patients undergoing endoscopy for RRP in the department was entered in a database. Data were collected on three forms: the first comprised information about disease history before assessment in the department, the second about the disease and its treatment in the department, and the third about evolution after treatment.Data on 72 patients were entered into an RRP database between January 2005 and July 2007. In all, 82% had already been treated for RRP in a different centre; 24 had juvenile-onset (JORRP) and 48 adult-onset (AORRP) papillomatosis. Cidovir injections had been administered to 91% of the patients. Histology found nine cases of dysplasia, one of carcinoma in situ and one of invasive carcinoma. Subglottic and tracheal locations were significantly more frequent in JORRP than in AORRP, as were the maximum Derkay scores and annual numbers of endoscopies. Patients with type 11 HPV had significantly more endoscopies per year than those with type 6.

Objectives: A prospective study was performed to assess the intermediate and long-term efficacy of intralesional cidofovir therapy associated with surgical excision in laryngeal papillomatosis in adults. Methods: Endoscopy with intralesional injection of cidofovir 5 mg/mL was performed 3 times at 4-week intervals. The concentration was later increased to 7.5 mg/mL and the interval between injections shortened to 2 weeks. Further treatment was performed at 3 or 6 months, depending on the evolution of the papillomas. After complete remission, the treatment was stopped and the patients were reviewed every 6 months. Results: Nineteen patients completed the protocol, with a mean of 4.5 injections each. Complete remission was obtained in 17 cases (89%) after a mean of 3.8 procedures. Remission was stable after a mean follow-up of 24 months (range, 8 to 57 months). With higher cidofovir concentrations at shorter intervals, patients needed fewer injections to achieve remission (mean, 2.1 versus 4.7 injections). Conclusions: The effectiveness of intralesional cidofovir therapy in adult-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis was impressive. Once obtained, complete remission was stable on intermediate or long-term follow-up. The concentration and the interval between injections seemed to influence the number of injections necessary to achieve remission.

Objective To evaluate the risk of subglottic stenosis after surgical excision of congenital subglottic hemangioma. Design Retrospective analysis and case series. Setting Tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients A total of 13 pediatric patients diagnosed with subglottic hemangioma with unilateral, bilateral, or circular lesions and more than 50% airway obstruction between 1992 and 2001. Intervention Open surgical excision was performed as a single-stage procedure either as primary or secondary intention. The cricoid cartilage was left open at the end of the procedure. Postoperative intubation was carried out in a pediatric intensive care unit. Main Outcome Measure An adequate airway after surgical excision. Results All patients were successfully extubated. No recurrence was noted. Three patients developed subglottic stenosis, two grade 1 and one grade 2. All 3 showed a favorable outcome and did not require reintubation. One needed endoscopic management of the stenosis. Of these 3 cases, 2 occurred after carbon dioxide laser treatment (out of 3) and 1 after circumferential dissection (out of 3). Conclusions Extubation after surgery was successful in all cases of subglottic hemangioma. Risk of subglottic stenosis was limited and occurred only after circumferential dissection, especially if associated with prior traumatic laser damage of the hemangioma.