Abstract: The level of success of neurovascular decompression in ponto-cerebellar angle for hemifacial spasm and trigeminal neuralgia has already established the reality of the pathology to explain such symptoms. However, cochlear nerve compression syndrome by vascular loop is still a controversial topic. We have performed a retrospective cases review with long-term follow-up (5-7 years) concerning the results of microvascular decompression surgery of the cochlear nerve via an endoscopy assisted retrosigmoid approach on 15 patients suffering from unilateral incapacitating tinnitus with abnormal auditory brainstem response and an offending vessel on magnetic resonance imaging. During the surgery, a vascular compression was found on every patient. In a long-term follow-up, 53.3% (8 cases) of our tinnitus cases improved and 20% (3 cases) of them were completely cured. The ABR returned to normal in all patients who had good clinical results (diminished or disappeared tinnitus). When a vertebral artery loop (5 cases) was concerned we obtained 80% of good clinical results. No one showed amelioration or sudden aggravation of their hearing. Three cases required surgical correction of cerebrospinal fluid leak and one case developed spontaneously regressive swallowing problems. Such microvascular decompression surgery of the cochlear nerve appears to be successful in treating incapaciting tinnitus in particular when a vertebral artery loop is observed. Therefore, in such a case, one might recommend neurovascular decompression surgery, keeping in mind that the complications of this surgery should be minimized by a careful closure of the retrosigmoid approach. In order to ensure a better selection of patient more accurate cochlear nerve monitoring and functional MRI should be a promising assessment.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To report seven cases of vascular repair of the internal carotid artery (ICA) using a modified Fisch type A infratemporal approach and a venous grafting. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case review. SETTING: Tertiary care center. PATIENTS: We have analyzed the clinical presentation, paraclinical assessment, and postoperative results regarding the vascular repair and the facial and auditory function from seven consecutive patients. All patients have been operated on by a multidisciplinary team of ENT and vascular surgeons. RESULTS: The study includes four men and three women, aged from 21 to 62 years old. Six patients suffered from vascular traumatic injury after motor vehicle accident (n = 5) or cervical manipulation (n = 1) and one patient presented an atheromatous stenosis. All benefited from a vascular repair with a venous grafting through a modified Fisch Type A infratemporal approach. No death and no new stroke were noted (mean follow-up, 34 mo). The postoperative angiographies showed six functional grafts and one asymptomatic thrombosis. Six immediate postoperative facial palsy occurred but recovered to Grade I or II within 6 months. There was one traumatic injury of the facial nerve and one postoperative anacusis. For the six other patients, the reconstitution of the external auditory canal and ossicular chain allowed to limit the hearing loss to a mean air-bone gap of 22.5 dB (range, 15-35 dB). CONCLUSION: The lesions of the intrapetrous aspects of the ICA remain the subject of debates regarding the indication for a vascular repair. For young or in good health patients, the infratemporal approach provides a safe and reliable access to the horizontal segment of the ICA, offering to the vascular surgeons optimal conditions for the vascular repair.

Abstract: Middle ear implantation is an efficient procedure to restore moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss (HL) in selected patients. Implantation of such devices requires ossicular chain integrity. Patients suffering from otosclerosis with mixed HL should be eligible for this treatment after stapes surgery with air-bone gap closure. To address this issue, we report four cases of middle ear implantation after or during stapes surgery. Results and complications obtained with Vibrant SoundBridge, MedEl and Middle Ear Transducer, Otologics are reported. Audiologic results were similar to those obtained in cases of sensorineural HL. One case of postoperative labyrinthitis was observed.

Abstract: The present study was undertaken to develop an improved cryoembedding method for analysis of mice and rat cochleae, which permits high-quality cryosections and preserves overall structure and cellular resolution as shown by hematoxylin/eosin staining. The preservation of morphology and antigenicity is mandatory to achieve optimal results. A total of 20 male cd/1 mice and 14 male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in experiments for optimization of preservation, fixative, decalcification, embedding and cryosectioning of cochleae from adult and aged rodents. In addition, a novel immunohistochemical procedure (using Hydroxyprobe-1 kit) was developed for detecting regions of hypoxia in mice and rat cochlea. This method employs a primary fluorescent-conjugated monoclonal antibody directed against pimonidazole protein adducts that are created in hypoxic tissues. Subsequent studies of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) by immunofluorescence in the cochlea of these animals were performed in order to confirm that immunochemical detection of pimonidazole protein is representative of a hypoxic environment. We conclude that the present method results in high-quality cryosections of cochlear tissues presenting good anatomical and histological preservation. Furthermore, our optimized procedures provide novel tools for the investigation of neuro-sensory-epithelium in physio-pathological situations associated with hypoxia and/or ischemia, such as inner ear development, plasticity, regeneration and senescence.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To assess outcome following excision of meningiomas of the posterior aspect of the petrous bone through transpetrosal approaches. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We carried out a retrospective case-series study in a multidisciplinary tertiary care center on all patients who underwent meningiomas removal from January 1989 to September 2005. Surgical approaches were transpetrosal: widened retrolabyrinthine, translabyrinthine, transotic and transcochlear, occasionally combined with a subtemporal transtentorial approach. Epidemiology, symptoms, preoperative evaluation, surgery, postoperative complications and facial and auditory results were analyzed using standardized grading systems. The Desgeorges and Sterkers classification was used to assess tumor size and location. RESULTS: Forty women and three men underwent surgery (mean age: 56.7). Medium-sized tumors stages 2 and 3 (84%) and AM and P localization (34% and 20.4%) predominated. In 65% of cases, the tumor extended beyond the CPA. Main presenting symptoms were balance disorders (72%) and sensorineural hearing loss (53.5%). Mortality was nil. A preoperative facial nerve paresis was present in 14% of patients. Tumor removal was complete in 79.1% of cases. At 1-year post-op, 73% of patients had a normal or subnormal facial function and 55% had serviceable hearing. A cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in 6.9%. DISCUSSION: Posteriorly attached meningiomas are less symptomatic and of better prognosis than medially inserted ones. Transpetrosal approaches are reliable for the removal for all types and sizes of such tumors, and can be easily combined in the same procedure with a subtemporal transtentorial approach to remove extensions to the clivus and tentorium. They offer low morbidity and a high proportion of facial nerve and hearing preservation.

Abstract:

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the contribution of 18FDG positron emission tomography for the post treatment surveillance of head and neck carcinomas.METHODS: : This prospective study included 61 patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the upper airways and/or digestive tract and who underwent curative treatment. Patients underwent a standard workup (physical examination, CT scan and panendoscopy) and a PET/CT image fusion 3 months after the end of treatment. The follow-up was 6 months minimum in all patients after this workup. PET/CT was evaluated in terms of: primary tumor, cervical lymph nodes, metastases and overall patient assessment.RESULTS:: For diagnosis of the primary tumor, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of PET/CT were respectively 86.7%, 82.6%, 62%, 95% and 83.6%. Values for cervical lymph nodes were: 100%, 98.2%, 80%, 100% and 98.3%. Values for metastases were: 100%, 92.2%, 66.7%, 100% and 93.2%. Values for overall patient assessment were: 88.8%, 78.1%, 64%, 94.1% and 81.4%. Performances of PET/CT were better than standard workup in 22% of patients.CONCLUSION: PET/CT contributes useful information in this indication, particularly an excellent negative predictive value.

Abstract: Objective: The authors present their experience in using an endoscope-assisted procedure to manage functional surgery of the auditory nerve in selected patients suffering from disabling vertigo. Materials and methods: The value of endoscopy was retrospectively evaluated in 2 groups of patients. Over a period of 10 years, 25 patients suffered from disabling positional vertigo with vascular compression of the eighth cranial nerve; during a shorter period of 3 years, 45 patients with Meniere‘s disease required vestibular neurotomy. Both series were performed via a minimally invasive retrosigmoid approach. Results: Endoscope-assisted surgery is very useful for a sure and safe vascular decompression of the auditory nerve, with no induced side effects. Of 25 patients who had endoscopic-assisted surgery for disabling positional vertigo syndrome, 14 were actually cured. In contrast, the usefulness of the endoscopic procedure has not yet been demonstrated in vestibular neurotomy.

Abstract: The diagnosis of a permanent facial paralysis can be devastating to a patient, because of the cosmetic, functional and psychological disorders. Our society places on physical appearance and leads to isolation of patients who are embarrassed with their paralyzed face. The objectives of the facial rehabilitation is to correct the functional and cosmetic losses of the patient. The main functional goals are to protect the eye and reestablish oral competence. The primary cosmetic goals are to create balance and symmetry of the face at rest and to reestablish the coordinated movement of the facial musculature. The surgeon should be familiar with the variety of options available so that an individual plan can be developed based on each patient's clinical picture. History of the facial paralysis, its etiology and the duration of the paralysis are of particular interest as they orientate the rehabilitation plan strategy.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical results and peri- and postoperative complications of otoneurosurgical procedures by the retrosigmoid approach performed in a series of patients aged 70 or over. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1993 to January 2004, 111 consecutive patients (age range 70 to 83 years) underwent surgery with the use of the retrosigmoid approach for trigeminal neuralgia (n=36), hemifacial spasms (n=35), Ménière’s disease (n=13), tinnitus (n=2), and tumors of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) (n=26). One patient with Ménière’s disease also had an asymptomatic meningioma of the CPA. RESULTS: The time for complete recovery for hemifacial spasms was usually less than three months. Hemifacial spasms recurred in six patients after a mean of eight months, five of whom underwent revision surgery that was successful in three. The overall rate for complete recovery was 91.4%. For trigeminal neuralgia, recurrences or failure were encountered in eight patients, of whom four underwent revision surgery resulting in recovery in two, and significant improvement in one. The overall rates for complete relief and significant improvement were 66.7% and 19.4%, respectively. Problems arising from the otoneurosurgical procedures were relatively low, accounting for 13.8%. Mortality did not occur. Of 16 postoperative problems encountered in 15 patients, only six were life threatening. The most common problems were cerebrospinal fluid collection/ leakage (n=4), wound infection/inflammation (n=3), and deep venous thrombosis (n=3). None of these required revision surgery except for a wound infection. CONCLUSION: As life expectancy increases, a growing number of elderly patients suffer from neurovascular conflicts and acoustic tumours which are associated with significant deterioration in quality of life. Our results show that minimally invasive retrosigmoid approach is a safe and efficient procedure, even for this fragile population. In this respect, documentation favoring the safety of the retrosigmoid approach may be encouraging for elderly patients in choosing surgical treatment to return to a more desirable level of living.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the management of carcinoma of the external auditory canal and the middle ear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty patients (14 women, 16 men; mean age 65 years; range 41 to 79 years) underwent treatment for carcinoma of the temporal bone between 1981 and 2002. Histopathological diagnoses were squamous cell carcinoma in 27 cases, adenoid cystic carcinoma in two cases, and melanoma in one case. Seventeen patients received primary treatment while 13 patients presented with residual disease after primary treatment. The patients were classified according to the classification system proposed by the Belgium Consensus Conference in March 2002. The mean follow-up period was five years (range 2 to 276 months). RESULTS: The mean interval between the appearance of symptoms and first consultation was 22 months (range 1 to 168 months). The first symptoms were otalgia in 16 cases, otorrhea in 16 cases, bleeding from the ear in six cases, hearing impairment in 11 cases, facial paralysis in 11 cases, and neuralgia in two cases. Twelve patients had T1 and T2, six patients had T3, and 12 patients had T4 tumors. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed twoyear survival as 82%, 67%, and 32%, and five-year survival as 82%, 67%, and 17% for T1 or T2, T3, and T4, respectively. At the end of a follow-up period of nine years, the survival rates were 66%, 66%, and 17% for T1 or T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Overall, complete remission was found in 64.7% and 23.1%, and mortality rates were 35.3% and 76.9% for primary treatment and salvage surgery, respectively. CONCLUSION: Long-term prognosis of carcinoma of the external auditory canal mainly depends on the stage and primary treatment. Surgery (lateral or subtotal temporal bone resection, in combination with neck dissection and parotidectomy) and adjuvant radiotherapy is the treatment of choice for part of stage T1 and all T2 and T3 tumors. In T1 tumors, histopathologically confirmed free excision margins may obviate radiotherapy. Additional subclassification based on extension of T4 tumors may be effective in advanced tumors. Surgery may be considered in T4a tumors, and palliative treatment in most T4b tumors and in all patients with T4c disease.

Abstract: The sphenoid localization of aspergillosis is a rare sinusal disease, often latent or asymptomatic. The neurological complications are the result of invasive forms occurring in most cases for the immunocompromised or diabetic patients. Nevertheless, non-invasive sphenoid aspergillosis may cause also several complications and affect the vital prognosis of nonimmunocompromised patients. This report is about two cases of cavernous sinus thrombosis secondary to a non-invasive sphenoid aspergillosis. The authors refer to the clinical and radiological findings and therapeutic approach of this rare complication.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to describe and evaluate the efficacy of the endoscope assisted minimally invasive retrosigmoid approach. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study and literature review. METHODS: From December 1993 to December 2004, a total of 1,177 cases of endoscope assisted minimally invasive retrosigmoid approach were performed at the Otorhinolaryngology unit of Hôpital Nord in Marseille. By using this approach, we performed microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm and trigeminal neuralgia, vestibular neurotomy for refractory Ménière's disease with repeated attacks of dizziness, and tumor removal of acoustic neurinoma. We examined the results and postoperative complications. RESULTS: All the results were positive, and we did not experience any mortal complications. The most common complication was cerebrospinal fluid leakage, encountered in 42 (3.6%) cases. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that the combination of an endoscope and microscope that provides accurate information with low invasion is becoming indispensable for these types of operations, which are in the category of functional surgery. We report the merits and significance of the approach of combining the endoscope and microscope and discuss the operational technique to perform a minimally invasive surgery as an oto-neurosurgeon.

Abstract: PURPOSE: The aim of this paper is to present the functional outcomes after translabyrinthine approach (TLA) for vestibular schwannoma (VS). We analyzed data from 95 patients who had undergone surgery on between 1991 and 2001. METHODS: This retrospective study of clinical and radiological data concerned 95 patients operated on by TLA for a unilateral vestibular schwannoma, excluding NF2 patients and those who have been operated on after a gamma-knife treatment. Results were evaluated with at least 2 Years follow-up and compared with recent data in the literature. RESULTS: Complete tumor removal was achieved in 84% of cases. The facial nerve was normal at the end of the operative procedure in 85%. Facial nerve function was evaluated in 90 patients with two Years follow-up: 62% were grade I or II according to the House and Brackmann scale, 21% were grade III and 16.5% grade IV to VI. CSF leakage was noted in 8.4% including rhinorrhea in 4.2%. No deaths occurred during this period. CONCLUSION: The results related here show that TLA is a safe and efficient procedure for the removal of large acoustic neuromas.

Abstract: One of the primary criticismes of vestibular schwannoma (VS) radiosurgery is that the risk of surgical morbidity is increased for patients whose tumor progresses after the procedures. We reviewed the French experience of operated patients after failed Gamma Knife radiosurgery. From July 1992 to January 2002, 25 out of the 1000 treated patients underwent another treatment procedure for a gamma knife failure. Excluding the NF2 patients, 21 patients have been operated and the present study shows the data collected for 20 of them. In order to analyze the difficulties observed during the surgery, a questionnaire was filled by the surgeons. The mean interval between radiosurgery and removal was 36 Months, from 10 to 83 Months. The mean increase in Volume was 559% (37 to 3036%, median 160%). Evolution of the Koos grading was found from 8 grade II, 10 grade III et 2 grade IV to 10 grade III and 10 grade IV. Patients have been operated for radiological tumor growth in 7 cases and for clinico-radiological evolution in 13 cases. In 9 cases, the surgeon considered that he had to face unusual difficulties mainly because of adhesion of the tumor to neurovascular structures. Tumor removal was total in 14 cases, near total in 4 cases and subtotal in 2 cases. One case of venous infarction was noticed at the second day following surgery responsible of hemiparesis and aphasia that gradually recovered. At last follow-up examination, facial nerve was normal (House and Brackmann grade I and II) in 10 cases while it was a grade III in 7 cases and grade IV and V in 3 cases. We recommend that the decision for surgical removal of growing vestibular schwannoma after Gamma Knife treatment should be done after a sufficiently long follow-up period. Our results show that the quality of removal and of facial nerve preservation might be impaired by radiosurgery in half of cases. However these results do not support a change in our policy of radiosurgical treatment of small to medium size vestibular schwannoma.

Abstract: Regular treatment of large vestibular schwannomas (VS) is surgical resection of the tumor with attempt of facial nerve preservation. In a very reduced number of tumors, microsurgery is not warranted mainly because of controlateral deafness or the risk of life-threatening open surgery. The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of Gamma Knife radiosurgery delivered for large VS. Between July 1992 and January 2002, we treated 50 patients harboring a large VS defined as a Koos grade IV tumor. Data and follow-up were available for 45 tumors involving 44 patients, including 12 neurofibromatosis type 2. Mean age at the time of treatment was 43,5 (range: 14-84), mean diameter of the tumor in the CPA was 18mm (range: 12-30) and the mean Volume was 4301 mm3 (range: 1340-11405). Gamma knife treatment was undertaken using on average 13.4 isocenters (range: 4-48) and 10.2 Gy at the tumor margin (range: 8-14). Median follow-up was 45.5 Months (from 24 to 108 Months). Tumor control was 69% (interval confidence: 52-83%) and 3 patients had to be operated because of continuous tumor growth. Statistical analysis showed that tumor Volume was correlated to Gamma Knife failure in a uni-and multivariate model (p=0.027). No brain stem complication was observed. No facial nerve deterioration was found and hearing preservation could be obtained at a useful level in 12 out of 20 patients (60%). These results suggest that in a highly selected subgroup of patients with large VS, radiosurgery can be an interesting alternative to open surgery, particularly if hearing preservation is required. Information should be given to the patients that the risk of failure is greater than for small and medium sized VS.

Abstract: A non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve (NRILN) is a rare anomaly that may increase the risk of injury during thyroid surgery. A NRILN results from an embryologic developmental abnormality of the aortic arches, demonstrated by the absence of the brachiocephalic artery and the presence of an aberrant subclavian artery (arteria lusoria). In our experience 100% of 104 patients with a NRILN were shown to have these abnormalities. We postulated that duplex scanning of the brachiocephalic artery could identify patients at risk of a NRILN. Twelve patients with an operative diagnosis of a right NRILN and associated vascular abnormalities underwent postoperative duplex scanning of the brachiocephalic artery. The examination was performed using a 7.5 or 3.5 MHz transducer. The average duration of assessment was 5 min. The absence of the brachiocephalic artery and the direct origin of the right common carotid artery from the arch of the aorta were demonstrated in each patient. Duplex scanning is a simple noninvasive method of identifying patients with the arterial abnormalities responsible for a NRILN. This may be used in the preoperative assessment of selected patients.

Abstract: AIM OF THIS STUDY: Hypokaliemic thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (HTPP) is an uncommon complication of hypothyroidism. Mostly described among Asian patients, it is rare in the other ethnic groups, in particular in caucasians people. Among the possible mechanisms, modification of potassic flows in relation to anomalies of the sodium-potassium pump were evoked. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We present the cases of three caucasians patients operated on for HTPP. These patients had all previous history of several paretic episodes. The flask paralytic attacks occurred in a brutal way or were preceded by diffuse myalgias. They reached the proximal muscles, especially in inferior limbs. No patient had any respiratory complications. These three patients underwent total thyroidectomy to treat the symptoms of HTPP. RESULTS: In the three cases, a total thyroidectomy allowed the recovery of the symptoms. After a four years average period of post-operative follow-up, no patient presented any repetition of HTPP. The hyperthyroidism is the cause of decompensation of the molecular anomaly. CONCLUSION: In our opinion, surgical treatment (total thyroidectomy) is needed in order to reduce the potential gravity of this pathology.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Different minimally invasive techniques of parathyroidectomy have been described. We performed a retrospective study to evaluate the indications and results of video-assisted parathyroidectomy by lateral approach (VAPLA) in the management of our patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). METHODS: From December 1997 to December 2000, we operated on 293 patients with PHPT. VAPLA was proposed for patients with sporadic PHPT in whom a single adenoma was localized by means of sonography or sestamibi scanning, or both. VAPLA was performed on the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. A quick parathormone (PTH) assay was used during the surgical procedures. RESULTS: Of the 293 patients, 127 (43.3%) were not eligible for VAPLA: ipsilateral previous neck surgery (28 cases), associated nodular goiter (59 cases), suspicion of multiglandular disease (15 cases), no preoperative localization (17 cases), and miscellaneous causes (8 cases). VAPLA was performed in 166 patients (56.7%). Conversion to conventional parathyroidectomy was required in 26 patients (15.6%). Morbidity included 2 local hematomas, 1 definitive recurrent nerve palsy, and 4 capsular fractures. All of the 166 patients were normocalcemic, with follow-up ranging from 3 to 33 months. CONCLUSIONS: VAPLA is safe and effective. It should be reserved for patients with sporadic PHPT, with a small single adenoma clearly localized preoperatively.

Abstract: To discuss the interest of the etiologic diagnosis of a facial palsy. STUDY DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Two cases of geniculate ganglion hemangioma with progressive facial palsy are reported. RESULTS: Hemangioma of the facial nerve is a rare and benign vascular tumor that originates from the venous plexus surrounding the facial nerve. The most common locations are the internal auditory canal and the geniculate ganglion. Diagnosis of these small tumors is radiological with CT-scan and MRI studies. Surgical excision through a supra-petrosal approach is the gold standard treatment. Hemangiomas of the facial nerve and particularly those developed in the geniculate ganglion area constitute a rare but not inconsiderable facial palsy etiology. An acute diagnosis and an early excision are fundamental to preserve a satisfactory facial function.