Diagnostic Assessments Flashcards
Question
Answer
What does each wave represent?
- *I-** Eighth nerve.
- *II-** Cochlear nucleus.
- *III-** Superior olivary complex. IV-Lateral lemniscus.
- *V-** Inferior colliculus.
What disorders are associated with down-beating nystagmus?
- Arnold-Chiari
- cerebellar degeneration
- multiple sclerosis
- brainstem infarction
- Lithium intoxication
- magnesium and thiamine deficiency.
What are the indications for hearing evaluation every 6 months until age 3?
- Family history of hereditary childhood hearing loss.
- In utero infection (TORCH). Neurodegenerative disorders.
What are the indications for performing hearing screening in neonates if universal screening is not available?
- Family history of hereditary childhood SNHL. Congenital perinatal infection (TORCH).
- Head or neck malformation. Birth weight
- Hyperbilirubinemia requiring an exchange transfusion (>20).
- Bacterial meningitis.
What are the indications for performing hearing screening in infants 29 days to 2 years?
- Parent concern.
- Developmental delay.
- Bacterial meningitis.
- Head trauma associated with loss of consciousness or skull fracture.
- Ototoxic medications.
- Recurrent or persistent otitis media with effusion for at least 3 months.
What are the three types of evoked OAEs?
- SFOAE (stimulus frequency).
- TEAOE (transient evoked).
- DPOAE (distortion product).
What are the neural pathways of the acoustic reflex?
- VIII to the ipsilateral ventral cochlear nucleus to the trapezoid body to the motor nucleus of VII to VII to the ipsilateral stapedius.
- VIII to the ipsilateral ventral cochlear nucleus to the trapezoid body to the ipsilateral medial superior olive to the motor nucleus of VII to VII to the ipsilateral stapedius.
- VIII to the ipsilateral ventral cochlear nucleus to the medial superior olive to the contralateral motor nucleus of VII to the contralateral VII to the contralateral stapedius.
What is the normal interaural attenuation value for bone conduction?
0dB.
What are the clinical features of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)?
10-20-second attacks of rotational vertigo, precipitated by head movements, with spontaneous resolution after several weeks to months in So-go%.
A patient has a negative Rinne at 256 Hz AS. At 512 and 1024 Hz, it is positive as it is at all three frequencies AD. The Weber test lateralizes to the left at all three frequencies. He hears a soft whisper AD and a soft to medium whisper AS. What is his hearing loss?
15 dB CHLAS.
In patients with chronic otitis media but no cholesteatoma, what level of hearing loss is associated with ossicular chain disruption or fixation?
30 dB or more.
What is normal interaural attenuation of air-conducted tones?
40-80 dB depending on whether ear inserts or headphones are used and also on the frequency being tested.
What percent of the time will the Rinne test miss an air-bone gap
50%.
In the normal ear, contraction of middle ear muscles occurs at which pure tones?
65-95 dB HL.
What is a normal word recognition score?
90-100%.
What is rollover?
A decrease in speech discrimination scores when presented at higher intensities; suggestive of a retrocochlear lesion.
When comparing the summating to the compound action potential in electrocochleography, what value is considered abnormal?
A ratio 0-45.
How is stapedius reflex measured?
A signal is presented 10 dB above the acoustic reflex threshold for 10 seconds; if the response decreases to one half or less of the original amplitude within 5 seconds, the response is considered abnormal and suggestive of retrocochlear pathology.
What stimulus is used to evoke the ABR?
A simple acoustic click, between 2000 and 4000 Hz.
What is a spondee?
A two-syllable word spoken with equal stress on both syllables.
What is cryptotia?
Absence of the retroauricular helix.
What technique can be used to differentiate the SP from the nerve potential of VIII (AP)?
AP is a neural response that will respond to higher rates of stimulation. SP is a preneural response that is not affected by higher rates of stimulation. Therefore, increasing the click rate of the stimulus will affect the AP but not the SP.
Where are the recording electrodes for elctrocochleography placed?
As close as possible to the cochlea and auditory nerve (promontory, tympanic membrane, EAC).
What test can be use to exclude the absence of aidable hearing when the ABR is absent at maximum levels?
ASSEP (auditory steady-state evoked potentials).
What is the significance of a negative Rinne at 256 Hz, 512 Hz, and 1024 Hz?
At least a 15 dB conductive hearing loss (CHL), 25-30 dB CHL, and 35dB CHL, respectively.
What test should be used to assess auditory function in these patients?
Auditory brainstem response (ABR).
What disorders are associated with bidirectional gaze-fixation nystagmus?
Barbiturate, phenytoin, and alcohol intoxication.
What three audiometric test techniques are used to obtain behavioral response levels from a child?
Behavioral observation audiometry (BOA), visual reinforcement audiometry (VRA), and conditioned play audiometry (CPA).
Where is the peak pressure point in a normal tympanogram in an adult?
Between -100 and +40 daPa.
What is lobule colobomata?
Bifid lobule.
When does masking dilemma occur?
Bilateral so dB or greater air-bone gaps.
What is the best audiometric method to use when assessing the hearing level of a 15-month-old child?
BOA (observing reflexive/behavioral responses to sound stimuli at different frequencies) and VRA (employing lighted transparent toys to reinforced responses (head turn) to auditory stimuli.)
What disorders are associated with up-beating nystagmus?
Brainstem tumors, congenital abnormalities, multiple sclerosis, hemangiomas, vascular lesions, encephalitis, and brainstem abscess.
How are air and bone conduction thresholds measured?
By first obtaining a positive response, then lowering the intensity by 10 dB increments until no response is obtained.
How is SRT measured?
By starting at minimal intensity and ascending in 10 dB increments until the correct response is identified.
What features distinguish BPPV from vertigo due to CNS disease?
CNS disease: no latent period, direction of nystagmus varies, nystagmus and vertigo are nonfatigable.
What is measured in electrocochleography?
Cochlear microphonic action potential (CM), action potential of VIII (AP), the summating potential (SP), and compound action potentials.
What does the audiogram typically look like in a child with SNHL secondary to rubella?
Cookie-bite pattern.
What is the best audiometric method to use for a 4-year-old child?
CPA where the child is trained to respond to auditory stimuli with a motor response (e.g., pointing to pictures).
In the workup of congenital hearing loss, what test has the highest diagnostic yield?
CT scan.
What are the typical objective auditory findings in patients with auditory neuropathy?
Decreased or absent ABR, normal OAEs, absent auditory reflexes, very poor speech discrimination, mild-to-profound pure tone hearing loss.
Where is bone-conducted sound transmitted?
Directly to the cochlea.
What findings on videonystagmography (VNG) are seen with central vestibular disorders?
Disconjugate eye movements, skew deviation, vertical gaze palsy, inverted Bell’s phenomenon, seesaw nystagmus, bidirectional nystagmus, periodic alternating nystagmus, and nystagmus that is greater with eyes open and fixed on a visual target than in darkness.
Which type of OAEs is evoked by two pure tones?
DPOAE.
How is the diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) syndrome made?
Exclusion of lesions producing intracranial hypertension, lumbar puncture with CSF pressure of more than 200 mm H 20 and normal CSF constituents.
What instrument is most helpful in examining nystagmus on physical exam?
Frenzel goggles.
What is the speech detection threshold (SDT)?
Hearing level at which so% of the spondaic words are detected; usually 6-7 dB lower than the SRT.
What is Hitzelberger’s sign?
Hypoesthesia of the postauricular area associated with VIIth nerve compression secondary to an acoustic neuroma.
When determining interpeak latencies, which waves are compared?
I-III, I-V.
What finding on pneumatic otoscopy is most specific for otitis media?
Immobility of the tympanic membrane.
How does the hearing impairment from malleus ankylosis differ from that of otosclerosis?
In patients with malleus ankylosis, hearing impairment is mostly unilateral (78%); the air-bone gap is smaller (majority less than 20 dB); SNHL is more frequent, particularly at 4 kHz; acoustic reflex is more likely to be present on the contralateral ear and absent on the impaired ear.
What is the difference in these interpeak latencies?
Increased I-III intervals are almost always indicative of retrocochlear pathology, whereas increased I-V intervals is more likely associated with noise-induced SNHL.
What is the significance of the ability to hear a tuning fork placed on the teeth?
Indicates that cochlear reserve is present and surgery may be beneficial.
What maneuvers on physical exam will decrease or completely eliminate pulsatile tinnitus of venous origin?
Light digital pressure over the ipsilateral internal jugular vein and head turning toward the ipsilateral side.
In patients with IIH, what is the usual pitch of the tinnitus?
Low frequency.
Why is it particularly difficult to assess the auditory function in patients with bilateral aural atresia?
Masking dilemma.
What does an abnormal ratio suggest?
Meniere’s disease.
What is the significance of hearing loss in the absence of middle ear effusion in patients with congenital cholesteatoma?
Most lesions begin anterosuperiorly and extend posteriorly with growth. Hearing loss indicates posterior extension with involvement of the stapes superstructure and/ or the lenticular process of the incus.
Why are OAEs useful as a screening tool in infants?
Nearly 100% of people demonstrate evoked OAEs; testing is noninvasive and inexpensive; test time is short; cochlear hearing loss exceeding 30 dB can be detected.
If otoacoustic emissions are present, can retrocochlear pathology be ruled out?
No.
What proportion of patients with IIH will have an abnormal ABR?
One-third.
Apgar 0-4 at 1minute or o-6 at 5 minutes. Prolonged ventilation (>5 days).
Ototoxic medications.
What is the significance of speech discrimination scores?
Patients with cochlear and retrocochlear pathology will have poor to very poor scores, respectively; those with only CHL will have normal scores when the intensity level is sufficiently loud.
How is speech discrimination testing performed?
Phonetically balanced monosyllabic word lists (so) are administered at 30-50 dB above threshold and the correct percentage is identified.
What auditory tests are performed in tinnitus analysis?
Pitch matching, loudness matching, minimum masking level (MML), and residual inhibition.
What does computerized dynamic platform posturography specifically measure?
Postural stability and sway.
What sort of hearing loss is most common in patients with Cogan’s syndrome?
Progressive to total deafness.
How will a retrocochlear lesion affect the ABR?
Prolongation of absolute wave V latency, I-V latency, and interaural wave V latency.
What is the likely diagnosis for someone who presents with vesicles on the pinna and external auditory canal (EAC), facial nerve weakness, and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL)?
Ramsey-Hunt syndrome.
What is opsoclonus?
Rapid, uncontrolled, mulitvectorial, conjugate eye movements, usually seen on physical exam and difficult to detect on VNG.
What is “Schwartze’s sign”?
Reddish hue on the promontory associated with otosclerosis.
How can one differentiate between relapsing polychondritis involving the ear and other causes of external otitis?
Relapsing polychondritis spares the lobule.
What does the finding of elevated acoustic reflex in the presence of normal hearing or mild SNHL and a normal tympanogram suggest?
Retrocochlear pathology
A patient with an SRT of 55 dB HL and a speech discrimination score of 64% at 75 dB HL has what kind of hearing loss?
Sensorineural.
What is the Brown sign?
Sign seen with glomus tympanicum tumors where the tympanic membrane blanches when pressure is applied from the pneumatic otoscope.
What are the stimuli used to obtain a speech reception threshold (SRT)?
Spondees.
What finding on VNG is pathognomonic for a lesion at the craniocervical junction?
Spontaneous downbeat nystagmus with the eyes open, in the primary position that increases with lateral gaze or head extension.
What do the peaks of the ABR represent?
Synchronous neural discharge at various locations along the auditory pathway.
What is the Stenger’s test?
Test to see if the patient is malingering; appropriate to administer if there is >20 dB difference between ears in voluntary thresholds.
What does acoustic reflex delay measure?
The ability of the stapedius muscle to maintain sustained contraction.
What is crossover?
The attained responses represent the performance of the nontest ear rather than the test ear due to a large sensitivity difference between the ears.
Which part of the auditory system is assessed by air conduction tests?
The entire auditory system.
What is the definition of SRT?
The lowest hearing level at which half of the words are heard and repeated correctly, followed by at least two correct ascending steps. SRT should be within 10 dB dB of pure tone average (PTA).
What is the definition of auditory threshold?
The lowest level at which the patient can detect a sound so% of the time.
What is the acoustic reflex threshold?
The lowest stimulus level that elicits the stapedial reflex.
What is inter-aural attenuation?
The reduction of sound when it crosses from one ear to another.
What does the interwave latency reflect?
The time necessary for neural information to travel between places in the auditory pathway; any pathology that interferes with this transmission will prolong the latency.
How is ABR most commonly used?
To test newborns, difficult to test children, and malingerers.
True/False: The acoustic reflex threshold is absent in patients with middle ear disease.
True.
True/False: Brainstem lesions may abolish the acoustic reflex without affecting the pure tone thresholds.
True.
True/False: The ABR is unaffected by state of sleep or medications.
True.
True/False: ASSEP has little predictive value for hearing levels in children with auditory neuropathy.
True.
True/False: ASSEP cannot distinguish between cochlear and retrocochlear hearing loss.
True.
What is cockleshell ear?
Type III cup ear where the ear is malformed in all directions.
When is the interaurallatency difference of wave V important?
Used to document retrocochlear pathology when wave I is absent.
Is the acoustic reflex present in patients with otosclerosis?
Usually it is absent bilaterally, even if the disease is unilateral.
Which of the ABR waves is the largest and most consistent?
V (representing inferior colliculus)
What is Tullio’s phenomenon?
Vertigo with loud noise, commonly seen in patients with superior semicircular canal dehiscence.
What would the tympanogram look like in an ear with an interrupted ossicular chain?
Very steep amplitude, high peak (type Ad).
How is hearing threshold estimation performed using ABR?
Wave Vis tracked with decreasing sound intensity until it can no longer be observed.
When is wave I absent?
When hearing loss exceeds 40-45 dB at higher frequencies.
When should masking be used?
When the air conduction threshold of the test ear exceeds the bone conduction threshold of the nontest ear by a value greater than interaural attenuation.
What are the physical exam findings in patients with BPPV?
With the Dix-Hallpike maneuver, rotatory nystagmus toward the undermost ear accompanied by vertigo, both with a latent period of 5-30 seconds and duration
Is the acoustic reflex present in patients with superior semicircular canal dehiscence?
Yes.
What is the ideal alar-to-lobular ratio?
1:1
What is the ideal ratio of the length of the lower lip to the upper lip?
0.0840277777777778
What is the ideal nasofrontal angle?
125-135 degrees.
What is the normal incline of the vertical axis of the auricle?
20 degrees.
What is the normal angle between the ear and the head?
25-30 degrees.
What is the normal intercanthal width?
30-35 mm in Caucasians or roughly the width of the alar base.
What is the ideal nasofacial angle?
36-40 degrees.
What is the ideal nasolabial angle?
90-120 degrees.
How do adnexal carcinomas arising from hair follicles classically present?
A tuft of white hair emerges from the central portion of the tumor.
What is the “bowstring sign”?
An obvious give that occurs with lateral tension on the lower lid, indicating disruption of the medial canthal tendon.
In a female, where should maximum brow elevation occur?
At a line tangent and vertical to the lateral limbus of the eye.
What is the ideal brow position in a man?
At the level of the supraorbital rim with a less pronounced arch.
What is the significance of a “negative vector” profile?
Describes patients with protuberant eyes and hypoplastic malar eminence-fat should not be removed from these patients during blepharoplasty.
A 6-year-old boy presents with the following rash on his face. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Erythema infectiosum, or Fifth disease. Usually the first sign of illness is the characteristic maculopapular rash on the cheeks that coalesces to give a “slapped-cheek” appearance.
What test is performed to evaluate for entrapment of the extraocular muscles?
Forced duction test.
How is lower lid laxity defined?
If >10 mm or > 25% of the skin can be gathered without distortion of the rim.
Where should the chin lie in relation to a vertical line dropped from the lips?
In men, the chin should meet the line; in women, the chin should lie 2-3 mm posterior.
Skin that rarely burns and tans more than average is which Fitzpatrick’s class?
IV.
A 3-year-old boy presents with a to-day history of irritability, diarrhea, and malaise followed by a s-day history of swollen, red lips, a polymorphous rash, fever, and peeling of the skin on his hands and feet. What is the diagnosis?
Kawasaki disease or mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome.
On physical examination, the nose and the maxillary alveolar process are found to be free floating. What type of fracture has occurred?
LeFort II.
What are two angles used to determine chin projection?
Legan angle (normal 12 degrees +/- 4), Merrifield Z angle (normal So degrees +/-5).
What is the ideal brow position in a woman?
Medial segment club shaped and inferior to the lateral segment; peak of arch above the orbital rim at the lateral limbus; lid margin to brow distance >2 em.
The pneumonic “AEIOU” is useful for which type of tumor?
Merkel cell carcinoma; “A” is for asymptomatic-nontender (seen in 88% patients); “E” is for expanding rapidly (63% of patients); “I” is for immune suppressed (8% of patients); “O” is for over age 50; “U” is for ultraviolet light exposed site (81% of patients); 89% of patients with Merkel cell carcinoma will have three of these features at presentation.
Which angle used for measuring chin projection uses the Frankfort horizontal line as a reference?
Merrifield Z angle.
What is the difference between microgenia and micrognathia?
Microgenia is a small mandible with normal occlusion; micrognathia is an underdeveloped mandible with class II occlusion.
Define mild, moderate, and marked ptosis.
Mild: 1-2 mm, moderate: 2-3 mm, marked: > 4 mm.
How does the ideal supratip break differ between men and women?
More pronounced in women.
What is retrognathia?
Normal sized mandible with class II occlusion.
What is the most commonly used system to classify alopecia?
Norwood’s system.
What is the most sensitive test to detect optic nerve injury after facial trauma?
Pupillary reaction to light.
What physical exam findings are classic for measles?
Rash, conjunctivitis, and Koplik’s spots.
What is the ideal configuration of the alar margin?
S-shaped, exposing 2-3 mm of the caudal columella on lateral view.
What is the single most important aesthetic quality of the nasal tip and base?
Symmetry.
What measurement can be used to determine deficiency in the malar area?
The distance from the malar prominence to the nasolabial groove on lateral projection (ideally > 5 mm).
What is the normal superior limit of the auricle?
The level of the brow.
What is the normal position of the lower lip in relation to the upper lip and chin?
The most anterior portion of the white roll should lie slightly posterior to the upper lip and lie in the same plane as the soft tissue chin point.
What are the physical signs of aponeurosis disinsertion?
Thin upper lid skin and high lid fold with good levator function (>10 mm).
On physical examination, digital pressure on the nasal tip causes prolapse of the distal nose into the pyriform aperture. Which type of nasoethmoidal fracture is this according to Gruss’ classification of nasoethmoidal injuries?
Type II
What is Hering’s law?
Unilateral ptosis with contralateral lid retraction-if you cover the ptotic eye with a patch for 30-60 minutes, the retracted eye will settle into the normal position and the ptotic eye will reveal itself.
What is the significance of the presence of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak when assessing a patient with a frontal sinus fracture?
Usually associated with a displaced posterior table fracture and a dural tear.
What are the levels defined in Clark’s system for classifying malignant melanomas?
- Level I: Epidermis.
- Level II: Invasion of basal lamina into the papillary dermis.
- Level III: Fill the papillary dermis.
- Level IV: Invasion into the reticular dermis. Level V: Invasion into subcutaneous fat.
What are the classifications of nasopharyngeal cancer designated by the WHO?
- Type I: Well-differentiated, keratinizing SCCA.
- Type II: Poorly differentiated, nonkeratinizing SCCA.
- Type III: Lymphoepithelioma or undifferentiated.
The low-grade malignant tumor shown below is most commonly found in the parotid gland, typically encased in a fibrous capsule, and is more common in females.What is your diagnosis?
Acinic cell carcinoma, characterized histologically by two cell types: serous-acinar cells and cells with clear cytoplasm.
Which genus is responsible for the infection shown below, sometimes referred to as lumpy Jaw
Actinomyces
Which genus is responsible for the infection shown below, sometimes referred to as “lumpy jaw”?
Actinomyces. Histopathology shows a sulfur granule.
What cell patterns are characteristic of vestibular schwannomas?
Antoni A (tightly arranged) and Antoni B (loosely arranged).
In which cell pattern of vestibular Schwannoma are Verocay’s bodies found?
Antoni A (tightly packed).
The benign tumor shown below accounts for 2% of salivary gland tumors, occurs most frequently in the parotid gland, is slightly more common in females, and shows a number of histologic patterns. What is your diagnosis?
Basal cell adenoma.
The tumor shown below occurs most frequently in the parotid gland, is slightly more common in females, is benign and shows a number of histologic patterns. What is your diagnosis
Basal cell adenoma.
What feature seen on renal biopsy with electron microscopy is pathognomonic for Alport syndrome?
Basket-weave configuration of the glomerular basement membrane.
Which malignant melanoma classification system is millimeters?
Breslow’s. This system is based on the depth of invation.
What are the histologic differences between a hemangioma and avascular malformation?
Cellular proliferation is characteristic of hemangiomas; vessel dilatation is characteristic of vascular malformations.
This lesion is from the mandible of a 19-year-old female near the mental foramen, what is the diagnosis
Central giant cell granuloma.
Which classification system for melanoma is based on histologic layers?
Clark’s.
What are the histologic features of basal cell carcinoma of the skin?
Clefting, lack of intracellular bridges, nuclear palisading, and peritumorallacunae.
What are the histologic features of vascular malformations?
Dilated, ectatic vascular channels with a normal endothelial lining and areas of thrombosis.
What are the three main histologic types of rhabdomyosarcoma?
Embryonal, alveolar, and pleomorphic.
Which rhabdomyosarcoma is most common in the head and neck?
Embryonal.
What is the cell of origin of parotid gland squamous cell carcinoma?
Excretory duct cell.
What are the characteristic histologic findings of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis?
Exophytic papillary fronds of multilayered benign squamous epithelium containing fibrovascular cores; cytologic atypia, in particular, koilocytotic atypia, is not unusual.
True/False: Tumors with a high percentage of Antoni A cells relative to Antoni B cells have a better prognostic outcome.
False: Outcome is independent of cell proportions.
Name the thyroid tumor. Cuboidalepithelialcells with large nuclei in a well-structured follicularpattern extending beyond the tumor’s capsule
Follicular thyroid cancer
This firm, noncompressible nasal mass was resected from a young child. What is your diagnosis?
Glial heterotopia (nasal glioma).
This soft, polypoid nasal mass was resected from a young child. What is your diagnosis
Glial heterotopia (nasal glioma).
What histological pattern is characteristic of olfactory neuroblastoma?
Homer-Wright rosettes.
Name the thyroid tumor. Large polygonal thyroid follicular cells with abundant granular cytoplasm and numerous mitochondria
Hurthle cell thyroid cancer
What are the histologic findings of invasive fungal sinusitis?
Hyphae with tissue invasion and noncaseating granulomas.
What histologic characteristic of recurrent basal cell cancers has negative prognostic significance?
Irregularity in the peripheral palisade.
15-year-old boy presented with nasal obstruction and recurrent epistaxis. The polypoid mass shown below was resected and bled extensively. What is your diagnosis?
Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. Histological features include an unencapsulated admixture of vascular tissue and fibrous stroma where the vessel walls lack elastic fibers and have decreased or no smooth muscle; mast cells are abundant in the stroma.
15-year-old boy presented with nasal obstruction and the polypoid mass shown above was resected and bled extensively. What is your diagnosis
Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.
What are the histologic features of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin?
Keratin pearls in well-differentiated lesions; poorly differentiated lesions may require identification with a cytokeratin or vimentin.
Name the thyroid tumor. Nests of small,round cells;amyloid;dense,irregular areas of calcification
Medullary thyroid carcinoma
Which of these is most common in North America? Least common?
Most common is type III (70%); least common is type II (10%).
The tumor below is the most common malignant tumor of the salivary glands and is more common in females. What is your diagnosis?
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma, showing the low-grade variant, which has a s-year survival rate of 70% and 1s-year disease-free survival rate of so%.
What are the typical histologic characteristics of lymphatic malformations?
Multiple dilated lymphatic channels lined by a single layer of epithelium.
The tumor shown below is shown ultrastructurally to be composed of tumor cells filled with abundant mitochondria. It is most commonly found in the parotid gland but accounts for less than 1% of salivary gland tumors. What is your diagnosis?
Oncocytoma.
The tumor shown below is shown ultrastructurally to be composed of tumor cells filled with abundant mitochondria. What is your diagnosis
Oncocytoma.
Calcified laminated bodies called psammoma bodies; elongated,pale nuclei with a ground glass appearance (Orphan Annie eyes)
Papillary thyroid cancer
Which cells in the thyroid gland secrete calcitonin?
Parafollicular or C cells.
What are the histopathologic features of synovial sarcoma of the head and neck?
Poorly differentiated, high-grade malignant neoplasms arising from pluripotential mesenchymal cells; biphasic cellular pattern containing spindle cells and epithelioid cells; microcalcifications in 30-60%; the existence of monophasic forms, containing either spindle or epithelioid cells, is controversial.
What cells are unique to Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
Reed-Sternberg cells.
The tumor shown below most commonly arises in the parotid gland of older males and is highly aggressive with a mean survival of 3 years. What is your diagnosis?
Salivary duct adenocarcinoma.
The tumor shown below most commonly arises in the parotid gland of older males and is highly aggressive. What is your diagnosis
Salivary duct carcinoma.
The tumor depicted below is most commonly found near the eyelid and in previously irradiated areas and is more common in patients with Muir-Torre syndrome. What is your diagnosis?
Sebaceous carcinoma, characterized histologically by variously sized and irregularly shaped groups of sebaceous cells that contain lipid globules.
The tumor depicted below is most commonly found near the eyelid and is associated with a poor prognosis. What is your diagnosis
Sebaceous carcinoma.
What other test can be useful in diagnosing Alport syndrome?
Skin biopsy.
What histologic finding distinguishes cholesteatoma from cholesterol granuloma?
Squamous epithelium is present only in cholesteatomas.
What histological subtypes of thyroid tumors are associated with an increased risk of local recurrence and metastasis?
Tall cell, columnar, insular, solid variant, and poorly differentiated.
What feature distinguishes low-grade from high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma?
The amount of mucin in the tumor.
Which histologic growth pattern of the tumor shown below is associated with the highest recurrence rate
The three growth patterns of adenoid cystic carcinoma are tubular, cribiform, and solid. The solid pattern is associated with essentially 100% recurrence, the cribiform is characterized by a 90% recurrence rate, while the tubular pattern is associated with a 60% recurrence rate.
How does one differentiate between a benign and a malignant paraganglioma?
There are no clear histologic characteristics of malignancy; malignant lesions are defined by the presence of metastases.
Following are three histopatholgical slides taken from parotid gland tumors. Narne the type of tumor and their subtypes.
These are all adenoid cystic tumors. “A” shows the cribriform pattern, which is the most common subtype (44%) and has a “Swiss cheese” appearance. “B” shows the cribriform and tubular pattern, which is slightly less common (35%) and has the best prognosis. “C” shows the solid pattern, which is the least common subtype (21%) and has the worst prognosis.
What test is used to diagnose invasive fungal sinusitis?
Tissue biopsy.
What are the two primary cells of paragangliomas?
Type I granule-storing chief cells and type II Schwann-like sustentacular cells (S-100 positive) arranged in a cluster called a Zellballen.