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Nodal metastases from head and neck primary cancer presenting as a parapharyngeal space mass are rare. This paper reports two cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma metastatic to the parapharyngeal space. This finding can be related to Rouviere's description of a direct lymphatic pathway from the posterior surface of the superior thyroid lobe to the lateral retropharyngeal nodes. Metastatic thyroid cancer should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a parapharyngeal space mass.

Background: Evaluation of circulating anti-p53 antibodies is an easy-to-perform, widely employed, procedure to assess the p53 status in cancer patients., Materials and Methods: Levels of circulating anti-p53 antibodies in patients affected either by oral SCC or by pre- malignant oral lesions were assayed using a commercial ELISA kit. Autoantibody titers to Hsp60 and Hsp72 were determined by conventional ELISA., Results: Anti-p53 antibodies were detected in 3 out of 16 SCC-bearing patients (18.7%) and in 9 out of 13 patients suffering from pre-malignant oral lesions (69.2%). High titers of anti-Hsp60 autoantibodies were detected in 3 out of 29 patients (10.3%), while in all patients anti-Hsp72 titers were in the normal range., Conclusion: The presence of anti-p53 antibodies in both SCC-bearing patients and in patients with pre-malignant lesions support the notion that p53 gene mutation is an early event in oral tumorigenesis and suggest that this assay could be useful for diagnostic screening of pre-neoplastic lesions at high risk of recurrence and/or transition towards overt malignancy.

Laryngotracheal reconstruction after trauma with extensive tissue loss is one of the most controversial issues in head and neck surgery today. The main goal is to provide a durable supportive framework over which endolaryngeal mucosa can regenerate. Although a variety of single-stage and multiple-stage reconstructive techniques are available, all have limitations. As there is no single universally applicable technique, it is necessary to know most of them and to realize the advantages and limitations of each procedure. On the basis of 18 years' experience we show the results from a series of 18 patients who underwent multiple-stage laryngotracheal reconstruction done with almost all available procedures (Laser surgery, Aubry technique, laryngotracheoplasty with cartilage grafting, subtotal laryngectomy, tracheal and laryngo-tracheal anastomosis, sternocleidomastoid myoperiosteal flap, composite hyoid sternohyoid muscle flap). Fourteen of the 18 patients were successfully decannulated. All of the mentioned procedures have been previously reported to be successful by their proponents, with variable complication rates. Subsequently, every case requires individual evaluation to determine which reconstructive technique is most appropriate for the patient's particular disease process.

Neoplastic proliferation of plasma cells results in a population of immunologically homogeneous cells that can produce diffuse (multiple myeloma) or localized (extramedullary plasmacytomas and solitary plasmacytoma of bone) disease. In otorhinolaryngologic literature these neoplasms are rarely described and their nosological arrangement is often confused. The presence of a plasma cell neoplasm can be a surprise and sometimes a diagnostic challenge to the head and neck surgeon. Proper management of such lesions needs to be individualized according to their expected biologic behaviour. The recent observation of a case of maxillary sinus plasmacytoma suggested the Authors to carefully review the literature, drawing their attention mainly on the current histogenetic hypotheses and their consequences in therapeutic strategy. The correct diagnostic procedure is also explained, highlighting the difficulties due to both the protean nature of the disease and the still existing nosological confusion. The possibility of a plasma cell tumour should be never forgotten in presence of an head and neck neoplasm. Because these neoplasms may signal the presence of multiple mieloma, full evaluation is required to exclude disseminated disease. In light of recent histogenetic acquisitions it is suggested that extramedullary plasmacytomas can be classified among the so-called "mucosa-associated" lymphomas. Possible following differences in therapeutic approach and long-term follow-up are also indicated, stressing the role of surgery in managing these disorders. Surgical excision of extramedullary plasmacytomas followed by complementary radiotherapy on the site of tumour is proposed as the best treatment for these kind of neoplasms. This is in opposition with "classical" statement considering radiotherapy the only treatment for this kind of disorders.

Necrotizing lesions of upper respiratory tract have always been among the most enigmatic diseases of the head and neck region. Nowadays a great deal of nosographic confusion still remains along with numerous doubts concerning diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to be followed in dealing with many diseases often erroneously defined "midline granuloma". In fact, a large variety of diseases appear or may appear as midline destructive lesions in the upper respiratory tract. Each of these, including infections, immune and neoplastic disorders, obviously requires a different therapy. The clinician must have a very good knowledge of the problem in order to make a rational approach to diagnosis and therapy. Wegener's granulomatosis is quite different from "midline granuloma" and must be diagnosed promptly so that an appropriate therapy may be determined as soon as possible. Unlike in the case of "midline granuloma", a prompt therapy is often very effective and gives long periods of remission. In this disease, nevertheless, the etiopathogenesis of both diseases is unknown, precise protocols for diagnosis or treatment do not exist (every case must be considered separately) and prognosis is very poor. On the basis of their personal experience and of an accurate review of Literature, the Authors present a systemic and up-to-date monographic study focusing particular attention on the most recent diagnostic techniques, such as immunohistochemical techniques which utilize monoclonal antibodies, indispensable in the cases of "midline granuloma", and immunofluorescent techniques searching antibodies to cytoplasmic antigens of neutrophil granulocytes, of great value in dealing with Wegener's granulomatosis not only in establishing an initial diagnosis, but also in making prognosis and in controlling the evolution of the disease. The paper also discusses differential diagnosis of midline destructive disorders, highly important for a correct and rational initial approach in diagnosis. Every disease described in the section concerning differential diagnosis must be excluded in order to make an accurate diagnosis of "midline granuloma" in that no typical histopathologic or clinical signs of this particular, destructive disorder. Finally, the authors focus their attention on new etiopathogenetic hypotheses and their therapeutic implications. The most interesting of them are surely those that consider "midline granuloma" the manifestation of a malignant lymphoma as well as those that explain the recent success obtained in treatment of Wegener's granulomatosis using trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole asserting a possible essential role of infections in the etiology of the disease.

Owing to improvements made during the last 15 years in the pathophysiological and pharmacological research, many new corticosteroids have been successfully experimented. They have high activity on the target organ and they are suitable for long term therapies since they have not any systemic and/or local side effects. Nowadays the topical intranasal corticosteroid therapy is indispensable for allergic rhinitis treatment and it is very useful for many nasal and bronchopulmonary diseases (some chronic rhinitis, nasal polyposis, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive bronchopulmonary diseases). The authors use their personal experience and carefully review the literature to describe the general aspects (pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, side effects and contraindications) and to analyze the single drugs currently used in Italy and abroad. Finally, they compare the efficacy of each topical intranasal glucocorticoid among themselves and with other drugs.

In the last few years, owing to new pathophysiological and pharmacological notions, the therapy of allergic rhinitis has achieved some remarkable goals. On the basis of personal experience and of the literature, a close examination of drugs used for aspecific treatment of allergic rhinitis is carried out, mainly regarding the most currently useful and effective.