ENT 2 Flashcards
What are the causes of otitis externa?
infection: bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) or fungal
seborrhoeic dermatitis
contact dermatitis (allergic and irritant)
recent swimming is a common trigger of otitis externa
How does otitis externa present? Mx?
ear pain, itch, discharge
otoscopy: red, swollen, or eczematous canal
Mx:
topical antibiotic / combined topical antibiotic with a steroid
if the canal is extensively swollen then an ear wick is sometimes inserted
Second-line:
oral antibiotics (flucloxacillin) if the infection is spreading
swab inside the ear canal
Malignant otitis externa is an uncommon type of otitis externa that is found in immunocompromised individuals.
Which patient group are commonly affected?
Diabetic patients
What causes malignant otitis externa?
most commonly caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Infection starts in the soft tissues of the external auditory meatus, then progresses to involve the soft tissues and into the bony ear canal
Progresses to temporal bone osteomyelitis
How does malignant otitis externa present?
Severe, unrelenting, deep-seated otalgia
Temporal headaches
Purulent otorrhea
Possibly dysphagia, hoarseness, and/or facial nerve dysfunction
How is malignant otitis externa investigated and managed?
Dx: CT scan is typically done
Managment:
non-resolving otitis externa with worsening pain should be referred urgently to ENT
Intravenous antibiotics that cover pseudomonal infections
Otosclerosis is an autosomal dominant condition that causes progressive conductive deafness in young adults.
How can it be managed?
hearing aid
stapedectomy - removal of the stapes bone
What are the most common location of salivary gland tumours?
What patient population do they largely effect?
80% of all salivary gland tumours occur in the parotid gland (and 80% of these are benign)
middle aged patients, with the exception of Warthins tumours, they are commoner in women than men
List the key benign parotid neoplasms
Benign pleomorphic adenoma or benign mixed tumor
Warthin tumor
Monomorphic adenoma
Haemangioma
What is the most common parotid neoplasm?
Outline its key features :
Benign pleomorphic adenoma
Slow growing, lobular, and not well encapsulated
Malignant degeneration occurring in 2-10%
What is a Warthin tumor?
Second most common benign parotid tumor
Most common bilateral benign neoplasm of the parotid
Occurs later in life
Presents as a lymphocytic infiltrate and cystic epithelial proliferation
What are the associations of Warthin tumours?
strongly associated with smoking
Marked male predominance
What is a Monomorphic adenoma of the parotid?
Slow growing benign tumour of the parotid gland
Consist of only one morphological cell type (hence term mono)
Outline the key features of a parotid Haemangioma
Accounts for 90% of parotid tumours in children less than 1 year of age
Hypervascular on imaging
Spontaneous regression may occur
List the key malignant parotid neoplasms
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma
Adenoid cystic carcinoma
Mixed tumours
Adenocarcinoma
Lymphoma
How may parotid tumours be investigated?
Plain x-rays to exclude calculi
Sialography to delineate ductal anatomy
FNAC is used in most cases
Superficial parotidectomy may be diagnostic/ therapeutic
CT/ MRI may be used in cases of malignancy for staging primary disease
Lymphoepithelial cysts associated with HIV occur almost exclusively in which gland?
the parotid
Typically presents as bilateral, multicystic, symmetrical swelling
Risk of malignant transformation is low and management usually conservative
What is Sjogren’s syndrome?
How does it present with regards to the parotid gland?
How is this managed?
Autoimmune disorder characterised by parotid enlargement, xerostomia and keratoconjunctivitis sicca
Bilateral, non tender enlargement of the gland is usual
Tx is supportive, there is risk of subsequent lymphoma
Parotid involvement occurs in 6% of patients with sarcoid. How does this present?
Bilateral in most cases
Gland is not tender
Xerostomia may occur
Management of isolated parotid disease is usually conservative
What is the most common cause of a perforated tympanic membrane?
Infection
other causes include barotrauma or direct trauma.
What is the risk of a perforated tympanic membrane? How can it be managed?
may lead to hearing loss depending on the size and also increase the risk of otitis media
will usually heal spontaneously after 6-8 weeks
avoid getting water in the ear during this time
prescribe antibiotics for perforations which occur following an episode of acute otitis media
A peritonsillar abscess (quinsy) typically develops as a complication of bacterial tonsillitis.
How may it present?
severe throat pain, which lateralises to one side
deviation of the uvula to the unaffected side
trismus (difficulty opening the mouth)
reduced neck mobility
How should quinsy be managed?
urgent review by an ENT specialist
needle aspiration or incision & drainage + intravenous antibiotics
tonsillectomy should be considered to prevent recurrence
Pleomorphic adenoma (also known as a benign mixed tumour) is a benign tumour of the parotid gland. It is the most common tumour of the parotid gland and typically appears at the age of 40-60 years.
How does it appear on examination?
What is the prognosis?
gradual onset, painless unilateral swelling of the parotid gland
typically movable on examination rather than fixed
recurrence rate of 1-5% with appropriate excision (parotidectomy)
malignant transformation if not removed
What are the main post operative complications of tonsillectomy?
Pain - may increase for 6 days post surgery
Haemorrhage
How may post tonsillectomy haemorrhage be managed?
All should be reviewed by ENT
Primary:
6-8 hours following surgery
immediate return to theatre
Secondary:
5 - 10 days after surgery
often associated with a wound infection
admission and antibiotics