Tuberculous Otitis Media—A Rare Entity or a Missed Diagnosis

Objective: The aim of the study is to look for indicators of Tuberculous Otitis Media in all cases of chronic suppurative otitis media. Study Design: This is a retrospective study. Setting: This study was conducted in a tertiary care centre. Subjects and Methods: Detected cases of tuberculous otitis media (TBOM) cases studied retrospectively from January 2011 to December 2013 were included in the study. Investigations for tuberculosis were considered in the cases showing suspicious pale granulation tissue in the external auditory canal and middle ear and also in cases showing exuberant pale granulation tissue during mastoid surgery where Zeihl Nielson staining, histopathology, molecular genetic study was done. Cases showing positive result were included in the study. Results: During the study period 751 cases of CSOM were seen in outpatient room of which 18 cases of TBOM were diagnosed. Three patients were diagnosed preoperatively and 181 underwent surgery of which 15 cases were diagnosed positive, from the tissue obtained during the procedure. Direct smear was positive in four cases, concentration techniques in seven cases. Line probe assay was taken as diagnostic in all the cases. None of the cases were positive on histopathology. Conclusion: Tuberculous otitis media is often missed as the classical features are not seen in all cases of TBOM. The absence of these should not stop the clinician from diagnosing the disease. Suspicious tissue should therefore be tested properly to avoid missing the diagnosis and to prevent any complications.

Role of Fibreoptic Endoscopy in Evaluating Swallowing Disorders

Objective: The objective is to assess patients complaining of dysphagia with fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing [FEES]. Study design: It is a prospective study. Setting: The study is conducted at Tertiary referral hospital. Methods: In our study, twenty patients with complaints of dysphagia were evaluated with fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. Patients with pharyngeal cause of dysphagia were identified and recommended dietary modifications or positional manoeuvre. Results: A total of twenty patients were evaluated with FEES. Patients were categorised into two groups based on the etiological factor: neurological and non-neurological patients. In eleven of the neurological patients, premature spillage was seen in four patients. Pooling for solids was seen in one patient and for liquids in four patients, pooling for both solids and liquids was seen in six patients, penetration was seen in 1 patient and aspiration in one patient. All these patients were diagnosed to have a pharyngeal cause of dysphagia. In the nine of the non-neurological group, pooling of liquids was seen in four patients, and aspiration was seen in one patient. None of the patients of this group had spillage. One patent had penetration. Five patients had pharyngeal cause of dysphagia. Remaining four patients had normal study. These patients with pharyngeal cause were advised dietary modification or positional manoeuvre or a combination of both. Conclusion: FEES is an effective and valuable tool for evaluating pharyngeal dysphagia, and is helpful in guiding the patients for diet and rehabilitation. It is essential to assess the safety of swallowing in patients to prevent silent aspiration and aspiration pneumonia.

A New Modality of Treatment for Adult Laryngeal Haemangioma by Coblation: A Case Report

Few adult haemangiomas of larynx have been reported. Most common presentations are in infants where the incidence is about 4% - 5% [1]. In children they resolve by age of five whereas in adults they do not regress. In children the most common modality of treatment is by propranolol. In adults, there are various modalities of surgical excision by laser excision with Co2 or KTP and electrocautery assisted excision. We are presenting a case of adult laryngeal haemangioma that presented with blood-tinged sputum on coughing since 8 months and we managed with micro laryngeal surgical excision by coblation without any complications.