Pediatrics: Head and Neck Flashcards
What bone makes up the nasal septum at the level of the maxillary spines?
Vomer
Pyriform aperture
The osseous entrance to the nasal cavity (between the maxillary spines)
Posterior choanae
The osseous exit of the nasal cavity in the back (the posterior version of the pyriform aperture)
Narrowing of the anterior nasal cavity at the level of the maxillary spines…
Pyriform aperture stenosis
Pyriform aperture stenosis is associated with…
- Holoprosencephaly
- Pituitary dysfunction
- Central Megaincisor (75% of cases)
Note: All of these reflect a midline developmental problem, so hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction is common.
What should you recommend if you see pyriform aperture stenosis?
Brain MRI to look for other midline defects (e.g. holoprosencephaly, etc.)
Narrowing of the nasal cavity posteriorly that separates the nasal cavity from the oral cavity…
Choanal atresia
Cyclical cyanosis in an infant, respiratory distress during feeding that improves with crying…
Think bilateral choanal atresia (the infant can’t breath through the nose, but crying forces breathing through the mouth)
Can’t pass an NG tube…
Think choanal atresia (nasal cavity is not connected to the oral cavity)
Choanal atresia is associated with…
CHARGE
- Coloboma
- Heart defect
- Atresia (choanal)
- Retarded growth
- Genitourinary abnormalities
- Ear anomalies
Note: Can also be seen with Crouzons, DiGeorge, Treacher Collins, and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Pyriform aperture stenosis with a singe central megaincisor
Respiratory distress
Bilateral choanal atresia with soft tissue occluding both nasal passages
Why are congenital deformities common in the superior nasal region?
There is a dural tract during embryological development that exits in the superior nasal region. Normally this closes and regresses, but can lead to defects if this doesn’t occur properly
Midline cystic structure in the prenasal region that does not change size during crying or jugular venous compression…
Think dermoid/epidermoid cyst
Note: These are often associated with a sinus tract.
A prenasal dural diverticulum with communication to the intracranial space would require communication through the…
Foramen cecum (which normally closes during development)
Note: The foramen cecum is within the frontoethmoidal suture (anterior to the cribriform plate).
Nasal glioma
Refers to ectopic brain tissue in the prenasal region due to herniation of brain tissue through the foramen cecum prior to its closing
Note: This is NOT actually a glioma, but just ectopic brain tissue.
Nonenhancing midline soft tissue mass in the prenasal region that grows slowly over time, but does not change size when crying or jugular compression…
Think nasal glioma (ectopic brain tissue in the prenasal region)
Midline soft tissue mass in the prenasal region of an infant that gets larger while the infant is crying (or during jugular compression)…
Think encephalocele (brain herniation through an unclosed foramen cecum into the prenasal region)
Note: DO NOT biopsy this, which could cause CSF leaking and meningitis.
Prenasal encephaloceles are associated with…
Other midline defects (e.g. facial clefts, callosal issues, inter hemispheric lipomas, etc.)
Nasal catheter is laterally displaces as it traverses the nasal cavity…
Look for an encephalocele (brain herniation through an unclosed foramen cecum)
Note: If the nasal catheter was displaces medially, then you would think dacryocystocele.
Dacryocystocele
Cystic structure along the medial orbital wall due to obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct. Often presents after they get infected (dacryocystitis)
Inflamed cyst along the medial orbital wall…
Dacryocystitis (infected dacryocystocele, which forms due to an obstructed nasolacrimal duct)
What is the most common cause of neonatal nasal obstruction?
Choanal atresia (followed by dacryocystocele)
What are the major craniofacial syndromes?
- Crouzons
- Aperts
- Treacher collins syndromes (mandible-facial dysostosis)
Mandibular hypoplasia, small/absent zygomatic arches, and narrow protruding maxilla…
Treacher collins syndrome (mandible-facial dysostosis)
Narrowed mandible with inward curving of the horizontal mandibular rami…
Treacher Collins syndrome (mandible-facial dysostosis)
Where is the embryological defect that results in Treacher Collins syndrome?
The 1st and 2nd branchial arches
What is the best imaging study to look for ectopic thyroid tissue?
Nuclear imaging with I-123 or Tc-MIBI