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Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic, progressive condition affecting the oral mucosa associated with areca nut consumption. It leads to restricted tongue movement, loss of papillae, blanching and stiffening of the mucosa, difficulty in opening the mouth, and challenges in eating due to inflammation and fibrosis. This report presents a rare case of oropharyngeal stenosis secondary to OSF in a 43-year-old male with a history of chewing betel nut. A surgical procedure similar to Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty was performed to excise the submucous oropharyngeal stenosis and to reconstruct the uvula, palatoglossal arch, and palatopharyngeal arch. At 8 years postoperatively, the patient exhibited a normal mouth opening and oropharyngeal aperture., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Abstract: Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT is an imaging technique that detects primary and metastatic prostate cancer and evaluates treatment effectiveness. The radioligands for PSMA PET/CT are known to have physiological off-target uptake in various tissues. These include the well-known off-target major and minor salivary glands. We report that, in addition to this location, radioligand uptake can be seen in the uvula, which we suggest is from salivary tissue in this location. PSMA uptake in the uvula is not reported in the literature and is a rare, but normal location for tracer biodistribution in some patients., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest and sources of funding: none declared., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Nearly half of parapharyngeal space (PPS) tumors present as an intraoral mass, which is diagnostically challenging. In this study, we studied whether preoperative growth patterns were associated with histopathological diagnosis for planning surgery., Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study in patients with PPS tumors. A simplified classification scheme based on intraoral tumor growth patterns (patterns 1 and 2) was then proposed. In pattern 1, tumors bulge submucosally to the oropharynx from the soft palate, with the center convexity above the uvula. In pattern 2, tumors bulge submucosally to the oropharynx from the lateral oropharynx wall, with the center convexity below the uvula. The association of this classification with postoperative histopathological diagnosis and surgical-related events was studied., Results: Twenty-two patients were enrolled in this study (12 with pattern 1, 10 with pattern 2). Of these, 91.7% (11/12) of pattern 1 tumors were salivary gland tumors ( P < .001), and 90% (9/10) of pattern 2 tumors were neurogenic ( P < .001). Pattern 2 tumors had fewer bleeding complications or needed external approaches when a transoral approach was chosen., Conclusions: This new classification of PPS tumors facilitates the prediction of salivary gland and neurogenic tumors and can improve the accuracy of preoperative radiologic diagnosis. This system will be helpful for planning surgical interventions, such as implementing transoral approaches.

We present a case report of a gentleman presenting with a globular lesion arising from his uvula. Although elective admission was planned, he presented with airway compromise, and emergency excision was required. The patient had a background of metastatic clear cell renal carcinoma; histology confirmed the uvula lesion as a further secondary deposit. Renal cell carcinoma has a recognised metastatic propensity, but spread to the uvula is rare, with only two previously described cases in the literature. This case is notable for the unusual location of the metastasis, as well as the rapid progression of symptoms, which threatened the airway and necessitated urgent surgical intervention., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Total rhinectomy is an invasive procedure that significantly impairs the intranasal turbulence, humidification and heating of inspired air. The use of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty for the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing disorders such as primary snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea has diminished over the past years because of the emergence of less invasive procedures and alternative therapeutic options. This clinical record presents the treatment of a long-term side effect of total rhinectomy using uvulopalatopharyngoplasty., Case Report: In 1997, a 62-year-old male underwent total rhinectomy for a nasal schwannoma, followed by rehabilitation with a nasal prosthesis. Twenty-one years later, he presented with severe complaints of nasal blockage and breathing difficulties during both daytime and night-time. Clinical examination revealed no major anomalies besides significant velopharyngeal narrowing. Thus, in 2019, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty was performed to re-establish velopharyngeal patency. Hereafter, the symptoms of nasal blockage disappeared, resulting in an improved quality of life., Conclusion: Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty may prove useful to treat selected patients with daytime breathing difficulties due to velopharyngeal narrowing.

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

This study investigated the genetic basis of an unusual autosomal dominant phenotype characterized by familial absent uvula, with a short posterior border of the soft palate, abnormal tonsillar pillars, and velopharyngeal insufficiency. Cytogenetic analysis and single-nucleotide polymorphism-based linkage analysis were investigated in a 4-generation family with 8 affected individuals. Whole exome sequencing data were overlaid, and segregation analysis identified a single missense variant, p.Q433P in the FOXF2 transcription factor, that fully segregated with the phenotype. This was found to be in linkage disequilibrium with a small 6p25.3 tandem duplication affecting FOXC1 and GMDS. Notably, the copy number imbalances of this region are commonly associated with pathologies that are not present in this family. Bioinformatic predictions with luciferase reporter studies of the FOXF2 missense variant indicated a negative impact, affecting both protein stability and transcriptional activation. Foxf 2 is expressed in the posterior mouse palate, and knockout animals develop an overt cleft palate. Since mice naturally lack the structural equivalent of the uvula, we demonstrated FOXF2 expression in the developing human uvula. Decipher also records 2 individuals with hypoplastic or bifid uvulae with copy number variants affecting FOXF2. Nevertheless, given cosegregation with the 6p25.3 duplications, we cannot rule out a combined effect of these gains and the missense variant on FOXF2 function, which may account for the rare palate phenotype observed.

Background: The pathophysiology of obstruction and swallowing dysfunction in snores and sleep apnea patients remains unclear. Neuropathy and to some extent myopathy have been suggested as contributing causes. Recently we reported an absence and an abnormal isoform of two cytoskeletal proteins, desmin, and dystrophin, in upper airway muscles of healthy humans. These cytoskeletal proteins are considered vital for muscle function. We aimed to investigate for muscle cytoskeletal abnormalities in upper airways and its association with swallowing dysfunction and severity of sleep apnea., Methods: Cytoskeletal proteins desmin and dystrophin were morphologically evaluated in the uvula muscle of 22 patients undergoing soft palate surgery due to snoring and sleep apnea and in 10 healthy controls. The muscles were analysed with immunohistochemical methods, and swallowing function was assessed using videoradiography., Results: Desmin displayed a disorganized pattern in 21 ± 13% of the muscle fibres in patients, while these fibers were not present in controls. Muscle fibres lacking desmin were present in both patients and controls, but the proportion was higher in patients (25 ± 12% vs. 14 ± 7%, p = 0.009). The overall desmin abnormalities were significantly more frequent in patients than in controls (46 ± 18% vs. 14 ± 7%, p < 0.001). In patients, the C-terminus of the dystrophin molecule was absent in 19 ± 18% of the desmin-abnormal muscle fibres. Patients with swallowing dysfunction had 55 ± 10% desmin-abnormal muscle fibres vs. 22 ± 6% in patients without swallowing dysfunction, p = 0.002., Conclusion: Cytoskeletal abnormalities in soft palate muscles most likely contribute to pharyngeal dysfunction in snorers and sleep apnea patients. Plausible causes for the presence of these abnormalities is traumatic snoring vibrations, tissue stretch or muscle overload.

Background and Objective: Edema of the uvula (EU) may appear in isolation or in association with clinical manifestations such as urticaria, angioedema, and anaphylaxis. EU may lead to upper airway obstruction, provoking obstructive respiratory distress and asphyxia. Objective: We sought to investigate the etiology of and predisposing factors for EU in a large population of patients referred to an outpatient clinic., Methods: In this 3-year follow-up cohort study, 171 patients presenting with EU were identified and classified as having isolated EU or nonisolated EU. The etiology of each patient's condition was studied, and possible predisposing factors were recorded. An allergology work-up and a statistical study (bivariate/multivariate analyses) were performed., Results: The predisposing factors for both groups of EU patients were found to be different. The etiology of the problem was identified for most patients; allergy to Anisakis simplex was the most common cause in both groups. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics were also found to be triggers in both groups., Conclusions: Isolated EU was associated with snoring, an elongated uvula, and having experienced previous episodes of EU. We found no associations between groups of EU patients and gender, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, personal and family history of atopy, and obstructive sleep apnea. Allergy to A simplex was the most commonly recorded cause.

This study was conducted to explore the experiences of community members, particularly mothers, concerning their beliefs about the causes, treatment practices, and preferences for World Health Organization-defined neonatal danger signs in northwest Ethiopia. A phenomenological qualitative study was conducted in three districts of north Gondar Zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia, from March 10 to 28, 2016. Twelve focus group discussions were conducted involving 98 individuals. In-depth interviews were conducted with six health extension workers and 30 women who were either pregnant or who delivered in the past 6 months. Six subthemes emerged explaining the causes of neonatal danger signs. The causes varied from danger sign to danger sign and from person to person. Most of the perceived causes of danger signs in neonates do not align with the current biomedical science. Causal assumptions and perceived seriousness of danger signs influenced treatment practices and preferences. Four subthemes also emerged for treatment practices and preferences. In some cases, respondents indicated that non-biomedical sources of treatment were superior in outcome compared with biomedical treatment options. Unsatisfactory outcomes were mentioned as major reasons to opt for treatments from non-biomedical sources. Religious and cultural reasons were reported to be major impediments for treatment seeking for newborn danger signs. There is an urgent need to introduce or expand locally modified program interventions, such as community-based newborn care, to educate the community on the causes of neonatal danger signs and the need for prompt care seeking from qualified providers.

Abscesses can be found in several places in the oral cavity, most commonly occurring in peritonsillar and periodontal regions. In this report, the authors described a uvula abscess in a 1-month-old term newborn who was brought to the pediatric outpatient clinic with the complaints of difficulty in sucking-swallowing and refusal to suck at the breast. To the best of the authors' knowledge this is the first report of a uvula abscess in the literature.

Uvular necrosis is an extremely rare complication of gastroscopy. We describe the fifth published case of uvular necrosis following an uncomplicated diagnostic gastroscopy in a young man. Presentation with severe sore throat and inability to swallow saliva occurred within 24 hours of gastroscopy and resolved with conservative treatment., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.)

Background: OSA is associated with changes in pharyngeal anatomy. The goal of this study was to objectively and reproducibly quantify pharyngeal anatomy by using digital morphometrics based on a laser ruler and to assess differences between subjects with OSA and control subjects and associations with the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to use digital morphometrics to quantify intraoral risk factors for OSA., Methods: Digital photographs were obtained by using an intraoral laser ruler and digital camera in 318 control subjects (mean AHI, 4.2 events/hour) and 542 subjects with OSA (mean AHI, 39.2 events/hour)., Results: The digital morphometric paradigm was validated and reproducible over time and camera distances. A larger modified Mallampati score and having a nonvisible airway were associated with a higher AHI, both unadjusted (P < .001) and controlling for age, sex, race, and BMI (P = .015 and P = .018, respectively). Measures of tongue size were larger in subjects with OSA vs control subjects in unadjusted models and controlling for age, sex, and race but nonsignificant controlling for BMI; similar results were observed with AHI severity. Multivariate regression suggests photography-based variables capture independent associations with OSA., Conclusions: Measures of tongue size, airway visibility, and Mallampati scores were associated with increased OSA risk and severity. This study shows that digital morphometrics is an accurate, high-throughput, and noninvasive technique to identify anatomic OSA risk factors. Morphometrics may also provide a more reproducible and standardized measurement of the Mallampati score. Digital morphometrics represent an efficient and cost-effective method of examining intraoral crowding and tongue size when examining large populations, genetics, or screening for OSA., (Copyright © 2017 American College of Chest Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Pathogenesis and long-term outcome of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in acromegalic patients are still under debate. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and long-term follow-up of a series of acromegalic patients with OSAS and to investigate site, degree, and possible causes of upper airway obstruction by morphological study. Cross-sectional and longitudinal study was conducted in 58 acromegalic patients (33 active, 25 controlled) with polysomnography in all subjects, repeated in 25 patients with OSAS, and echocardiography. Morphological study including fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy with the Müller maneuver (FNMM), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with 3-dimensional (3D) elaboration was also performed. The prevalence of OSAS was 58.6 % in the whole series: 63.6 % in the active group and 52 % in the controlled one. Left ventricular hypertrophy was more prevalent in patients with OSAS. OSAS improved in 62.5 % of active patients after achieving hormonal control, whereas it persisted or got worse in 66.6 % of the controlled ones. The uvula and tongue base were the main site of obstruction assessed by FNMM. Uvula diameters obtained by MRI study correlated with the severity of upper airway collapse assessed by FNMM and tongue measure with apnea-hypopnea index (p = 0.044). A greater narrowing and a smaller total volume of upper airways were confirmed by 3D-MRI in patients with more severe OSAS. Uvula and tongue hypertrophy plays a relevant role in the pathogenesis and severity of OSAS. Intensive treatment of acromegaly needs to be promptly adopted in order to reverse it.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess differences in craniofacial characteristics, upper spine and pharyngeal airway morphology in patients with acromegaly compared with healthy individuals., Materials and Methods: Twenty-one patients with acromegaly were compared with 22 controls by linear and angular measurements on cephalograms. The differences between the mean values of cephalometric parameters were analyzed with Mann-Whitney U-test., Results: With respect to controls, anterior (p<0.05), middle (p<0.01) and posterior (p<0.05) cranial base lengths were increased, sella turcica was enlarged (p<0.001) and upper spine morphology demonstrated differences in the height of atlas (p<0.01) and axis (p<0.05) in patients with acromegaly. Craniofacial changes were predominantly found in the frontal bone (p<0.01) and the mandible (p<0.05). As for the airway, patients with acromegaly exhibited diminished dimensions at nasal (p<0.001), uvular (p<0.01), mandibular (p<0.01) pharyngeal levels and at the narrowest point of the pharyngeal airway space (p<0.001) compared to healthy controls. Soft palate width was significantly higher (p<0.001) and the hyoid bone was more vertically positioned (p<0.01) in patients with acromegaly., Conclusions: Current results point to the importance of the reduced airway dimensions and that dentists and/or orthodontists should be aware of the cranial or dental abnormalities in patients with acromegaly.

Objectives: To elucidate the variations of the lateral pharyngeal wall anatomy on physical examination and to assess the clinical importance of the examination of the lateral pharyngeal wall on the presence and severity of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome., Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Ege University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey, between May 2010 and April 2011. The patients were divided into four equal groups: Group 1--snoring without apnoea (age 20-40); Group 2--snoring without apnoea (age 40-60); Group 3--apnoea-hypopnoea index < 5/hr; Group 4: apnoea-hypopnoea index > 30/hr. Calibrated oropharynx pictures were taken. Distance between palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches, height of palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches, uvula width, uvula length and distance between tonsils were measured. SPSS 17 was used for statistical analysis., Results: Of the 80 patients in the study, 44 (55%) were men. Mean distance between palatopharyngeal and palatoglossal arches were 1.55 ± 0.34 cm and 2.70 ± 0.43 cm respectively. Mean height of palatopharyngeal and palatoglossal arches were 0.60 ± 0.21 cm and 1.37 ± 0.36 cm respectively (p > 0.05). Mean uvula width and uvula length were 0.80 ± 0.12cm and 1.25 ± 0.27 cm respectively (p > 0.05). Mean distance between tonsils was 2.24 ± 0.56 cm (p > 0.05). Distance between palatopharyngeal arches was significantly different between groups 3 and 4 (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Palatopharyngeal arch anatomy was found to be significantly associated with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome severity, especially in patients with normal or small tonsil size. Patients with the palatopharyngeal arches, which narrow the oropharyngeal inlet more than the tonsils, should further be investigated with polysomnography.

To clarify the mechanisms of rigid and semi-rigid mandibular repositioning devices (MRDs) in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), seven and 13 patients received rigid and semi-rigid MRDs, respectively. Each patient underwent polysomnographic and computed tomographic examinations at the initial consultation and after symptom improvement. Three-dimensional models of the upper airway (hard palate level to epiglottic base) were reconstructed by image processing software (Mimics version 14.2) to measure airway morphology. The mean age and body mass index were 58.1 years and 24.8 kg/m(2), respectively, in the rigid MRD group and 57.9 years and 23.2 kg/m(2), respectively, in the semi-rigid MRD group. The apnea-hypopnea index significantly improved (P < 0.05, Wilcoxon signed-rank test) from 22.0 to 8.9 and 20.5 to 11.5 events per hour of sleep in the respective groups. The cross-sectional areas measured at the epiglottic tip (from 2.0 to 2.6 cm(2)) and hard palate (from 2.6 to 3.3 cm(2)) levels also increased in the respective groups (P < 0.05). However, airway volume, cross-sectional area measured at the uvular tip level, and anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the airway were not significantly different. In conclusion, both types of MRDs improve respiratory status, but they affect different parts of the airway., (Copyright © 2014 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

It is rare that large mixed tumors of salivary gland located in the nose and uvula. The patient who had mixed tumors of salivary gland at nose found exophytic growth tumor for half a year. The other patient who had mixed tumors of salivary gland at uvula felt swallowing foreign body sensation for one year, and dysphagia for one month. After surgical resection, the symptoms disappear.

Snoring can range in significance from merely annoying the patient's bed partner to being a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. If conservative measures do not help, primary care physicians can refer patients for consideration of a variety of surgical procedures to keep the airway open during sleep., (Copyright© 2014 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.)

Uvular necrosis following endotracheal general anaesthesia is a rare complication. We report two cases of uvular and soft palate necrosis after atraumatic intubation with endotracheal tube and, in the second case, laryngeal mask airway., (2014 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

A uvular edema can be associated with angioedema, urticaria and anaphylaxis. Furthermore, it can be caused by medications, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Other reasons can be cannabis or cocaine use or a traumatic irritation of the uvula. This article presents the case of a patient who underwent kidney transplantation and developed extensive edema of the uvula that occurred postoperatively after general anaesthesia. The case report describes the diagnosis and therapy of this rare disease.

Purpose: To test the accuracy and reliability of Dolphin 3-dimensional (3D) software airway analysis compared with manual segmentation in patients who underwent a Le Fort III osteotomy., Materials and Methods: Computed tomographic scans of 20 patients with syndromic craniosynostosis at Sophia's Children's Hospital (Rotterdam, The Netherlands) were used for airway volume measurements using Dolphin 3D. The same scans had been used for measurement using a manual segmentation method. The results of this previous study were reported in 2010. The manual segmentation measuring result was used as a gold standard. The airway was subdivided into the oropharynx and the nasal passage. A linear mixed effects statistical model was applied., Results: Dolphin 3D measurements differed from manual segmentation by 9 to 43%, depending on the observer, the time at which the measured scan was acquired (pre- or postoperative), and the airway compartment being measured. The highest accuracy for Dolphin 3D was found for measurements from postoperative scans of the nasal passage., Conclusion: The airway analysis tool of Dolphin 3D is not accurate or reliable enough to use in a Le Fort III osteotomy evaluation. When scanning properties are conditioned and measurements are standardized, accuracy and reliability may increase., (Copyright © 2014 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Uvular necrosis after long-term endotracheal intubation has been previously reported, but there have been no reports regarding soft palate necrosis after endotracheal intubation. Recently, we encountered 2 patients who had a high degree of soft palate necrosis following endotracheal intubation during long-term care in the intensive care unit. This study reports noncongenital soft palate cleft caused by endotracheal intubation. Two patients, aged 30 and 38 years, with noncongenital cleft palate were treated with pharyngeal flap and/or palatoplasty at our institution from March 2011 to May 2013. Initially, the patients complained of acquired speech disorder and severe oronasal regurgitation caused by a palatal defect. Speech ability was evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively by a perceptual language test and nasopharyngoscopy. The cleft soft palates of both patients were completely repaired, and the aforementioned symptoms improved after surgery. Postoperative courses were uneventful in both of the cases, and neither patient experienced a recurrence. Although rare, long-term intensive care unit care with endotracheal intubation can cause noncongenital soft palate cleft. In cases with iatrogenic cleft palate that does not heal with conservative treatment, surgical procedures such as pharyngeal flap and palatoplasty can be helpful.

Congenital epidermal inclusion cysts of the soft palate or the uvula are uncommon mass lesions, and there have been only limited case reports of these in the literature. Although epidermal cysts are benign in nature and develop slowly, mass lesions growing near the soft palate or the uvula can result in velopharyngeal insufficiency, affecting both speech and swallowing. We present such a condition in a 7-month-old male infant with an epidermal inclusion cyst involving both the soft palate and the uvula.

Purpose: To evaluate the change in the upper airway in a Class II malocclusion deformity after counterclockwise maxillomandibular advancement., Materials and Methods: Seventeen young Korean women with a Class II malocclusion deformity who had undergone Le Fort I and bilateral mandibular ramus sagittal split osteotomy in a counterclockwise rotation were enrolled in the present study. The upper airway was measured at 3 different levels (uvula tip, low C2, and mid C3) using lateral cephalograms at 3 points: preoperatively (T0) and 2 (T2) and 12 (T12) months postoperatively. The changes in the upper airway were then compared., Results: The mandible advanced an average of 7.0 ± 3.8 mm. The upper airway had widened considerably at all 3 levels at T2 and had decreased slightly at T12, especially at the low C2 level compared with T0. However, the upper airway at T12 remained wider than at T0 at all 3 levels. The mandibular advancement and upper airway width correlated only at T12 at the mid C3 level., Conclusions: The upper airway became wider in patients with a Class II malocclusion deformity who had undergone mandibular advancement. However, this might become narrower with time., (Copyright © 2013 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Pemphigus vulgaris is a potentially fatal mucocutaneous, vesiculobullous disorder of autoimmune etiology. Regrettably, affected patients frequently experience considerable discomfort and diagnostic delay for months in spite of multiple clinician contacts. The high likelihood of disease manifestations in the oral cavity and serious nature of potential oral and systemic complications mandates dental professionals to recognize early oral signs and symptoms of pemphigus vulgaris and contribute to timely diagnosis and medical intervention to prevent disease progression. This case report presents a young man with pemphigus vulgaris whose oral disease caused him significant suffering and spread to the skin before he was finally diagnosed 3 months after the onset. The signs and symptoms of the disease are reviewed and the potential role of dental providers in timely recognition and management is emphasized.

Dieffenbachia is a common domestic plant. Oral contact with the plant generally causes slight effects, but when chewed it may result in painful oropharyngeal edema. Even though the mechanism through which this plant causes toxicity is not known, calcium oxalate crystals (rhaphides) and protease in the idioblast of the plant are considered to be the causes. Our aim was to show the lethal effects of a common domestic plant named Dieffenbachia.A 70-year-old male patient applied to our clinic with aphasia, dysphagia, sialorrhea, wounds on the lips and tongue, and swelling on the face. There was edema on his tongue, soft palate, uvula, anterior pharyngeal plica, epiglottis and aryepiglottic fold, and ulceration on the right side of his tongue, the right cheek mucosa, right-lower gingival, soft palate, tongue base, epiglottis anterior surface, and free edge.Dieffenbachia toxicity presents both minimal and serious problems, which can be life threatening, as in our case. Toxic cases resulting in serious clinical pictures due to Dieffenbachia are rare.

Although sore throat is a very common complaint in the emergency department and is often associated with benign conditions, such as pharyngitis, it can be the early onset of something much more serious and even life threatening. A thorough history and examination are vital to the correct diagnosis but a high index of suspicion must be maintained to diagnose less common but serious pathology, such as epiglottitis and retropharyngeal abscess. Airway management is paramount to survival, and aggressive means should be taken early when epiglottitis is considered., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives/hypothesis: Uvular squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is usually considered with soft palate tumors as an oropharyngeal cancer subsite. This investigation aims to determine whether the uvula itself is a high-risk subsite in the oropharynx for primary squamous cell carcinomas., Study Design: Retrospective analysis of a large population database., Methods: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we identified patients with T1 and T2 SCC of the oropharynx. Patients were categorized into two groups based on primary site: 1) uvula; and 2) oropharynx not otherwise specified. Clinicopathologic characteristics and disease-specific survival (DSS) were compared between the two groups., Results: Of the 9,833 patients we identified, 129 (1.3%) had primary uvular tumors. Primary tumors of the uvula were more likely to be smaller lesions at diagnosis (P < .001) and to present at a lower anatomical stage (P < .001). They also presented with less concurrent nodal metastasis (P < .001) and lower histological grade (P < .001). There was no evidence that size of uvular SCC lesion had any effect on nodal disease (P = .54), and survival was the same for T1 and T2 uvular SCC patients (P = .14). DSS was similar between the two groups as well (P = .7629)., Conclusions: Our data indicate that primary SCC of the uvula does not have a worse prognosis, and tends to be recognized earlier and treated more definitively than SCC found in other oropharyngeal regions. However, survival being equivalent between two distinctive groups is perplexing, and may indicate an underlying aggressiveness to uvular cancers., (Copyright © 2013 The American Laryngological, Rhinological, and Otological Society, Inc.)

Flexible optic laryngoscopy (FOL) allows us to visualize the obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-related airway passages. Retropalatal region is a part of upper airway contributing to the OSA. We aimed to demonstrate the changes in the retropalatal surface area (RPSA) after submucosal uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (smUPPP) in an attempt to exhibit enlargement as a predictor of surgical treatment. It is a prospective, case-control study and conducted at the Otolaryngology department in a university hospital. Twenty patients with OSA who underwent smUPPP were prospectively evaluated. Pre and postoperative respiratory disturbance index (RDI) and RPSA measurements were studied. Retropalatal region videos were obtained at the base of uvula during FOL. Photographic images were captured at the same level of a virtual horizontal line passing through the base of uvula posteriorly to measure RPSAs using AutoCad2004. RDI levels, RPSA measurements were compared using paired t test. Twenty patients underwent smUPPP. There were 17 (85 %) male and 3 (15 %) female. The mean age was 37 years. The RPSA measurements were between 18.41 and 144.102 (mean 63.39) preoperatively. The RPSA measurements were between 83.784 and 255.463 (mean 143.87) postoperatively. The RPSA measurements were significantly enlarged postoperatively (p < 0.0005). The mean RPSA increased from 63.39 ± 29.3 to 143.82 ± 57.8. The mean RDI decreased from 22.95 ± 19.2 to 9.0 ± 8.2 (p = 0.011). RPSA increases in smUPPP patients postoperatively, evidencing enlarged retropalatal region. Decreased RDI levels indicate amelioration in OSA. RPSA measurements can be used to predict UPPP surgical treatment success.