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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Total laryngectomy is a radical surgery for advanced laryngeal cancer. In the present study we evaluate the influencing factors for long term quality of life of 92 laryngectomees. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 92 patients who underwent laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer in the University Hospital of Patras, Greece were evaluated using a modified version of the EORTC-QOL-C30 questionnaire. The patients were distributed into 6 groups based on time elapsed between surgical treatment and completion of the questionnaire, ranging from 2 years for group 1 to 9-10 years for group 6. RESULTS: The mean value of psychological status (p=0.01), smelling disorders (p=0.032), mood change (p=0.003) were statistically significant in regard to the patient's overall view of their life postsurgically. Coexisting illness (defined as diabetes, hypertension or prostate disease which required medication on daily basis or hospitalization more than two times a year) was also significantly affecting (p=0.021) the patient's oral communication skills. CONCLUSION: Quality of life is affected by functional disabilities and the psychological state of the patients. No statistically significant improvement over time was noted in our series.

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BACKGROUND: Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a severe, rapidly spreading soft tissue infection of polymicrobial origin. This condition most frequently affects thorax, abdominal wall, extremities, perineum and groin, but according to recent literature the head and neck area is also involved with increasing frequency. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five cases of head and neck NF were detected among patients who were admitted at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of the University Hospital of Patras, Patras, Greece, over a 5-years period. Various parameters including patients' health status, co-morbidity, etiology, microbiology, affected area, antibiotic therapy, hospital stay, surgical treatment and complications were considered. CONCLUSIONS: The management of NF should comprise of hemodynamic and respiratory evaluation and monitoring, broad-spectrum i.v. antimicrobial therapy, surgical debridement and nutritional support. Close postoperative management of NF patients remains of paramount importance.

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INTRODUCTION: Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous disease of unknown etiology, which in the majority of cases affects the lower respiratory tract. Although neck mass, parotid swelling and facial nerve palsy are considered the primary complaints in cases of head and neck sarcoidosis, sinonasal localization of the disease is also uncommonly reported. CASE: A 46 year old woman presented in our clinic with complaints of nasal congestion over a six month period. The patient reported increasing symptom severity in the last month with occasional purulent discharge. No other symptoms were reported. The patient's medical record was significant only for sarcoidosis localized to the lower respiratory tract. On anterior rhinoscopy, the nasal mucosa presented marked hypertrophy, purplish discoloration and granulomatous appearance of the inferior turbinates on the left side. The diagnosis of sinonasal sarcoidosis was made based on histopathologic examination of biopsy specimens. CONCLUSION: Sinonasal sarcoidosis presents a challenging issue for the clinicial as its mimicking features may be misleading and delay diagnosis. In the present paper we present a case of sinonasal sarcoidosis presenting as chronic rhinosinusitis.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mucormycoses are a group of invasive infections caused by filamentous fungi of the Mucoraceae family, with the rhinocerebral form of the disease being the most common in large case series. In the present paper we review the characteristics of the rhinocerebral form of the disease. EVIDENCE AND INFORMATION SOURCES: The present review is based on the analysis of the current literature on rhinocerebral mucormycosis. STATE OF THE ART: Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is associated with immunocompromised patient state, haemochromatosis, desferrioxamine therapy and prolonged corticosteroid therapy. Uncontrolled diabetes and increased serum iron are regarded as the two leading predisposing factors for the development of the disease. Currently, treatment for the disease is based on three main principles; rapid reversal of underlying predisposing factors, antifungal therapy with amphotericin B and timely surgical intervention. PERSPECTIVES: Antifungal drugs of the azole group and new iron chelating agents--deferasirox, deferiprone--have been supported as alternative options to amphotericin B or as salvage therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Rhinocerebral mucormycosis requires a high level of awareness if early diagnosis and treatment is to be achieved. Large scale evaluation of arising treatment options is a mandatory course of action in the future research of the disease.

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