Last modifiedNameSummary
Sunday, 6 January 2008, 03:57 AMClinical features and management of devaited nasal septumDeviated nasal septum is a very common occurrence. In fact it is very rare for a person to have a straight nasal septum. Treatment is hence required only for patients with problems attributed to the deviated nasal septum.
Problems caused by a deviated nasal septum could be:
1. Nasal obstruction
2. Chronic sinusitis
3. Sluder's neuralgia
4. Epistaxis
Treatment is by medical and surgical means.
Medical management:
Antibiotics, antihistamines, anti inflammatory, and nasal decongestants can be used.
Surgery includes: Septoplasty or SMR.
Septoplasty is preferred for anterior deviations, while SMR is preferred for
posterior deviations.
Sunday, 6 January 2008, 04:34 AMMalignant otitis externaMalignant otitis externa is an inflammatory condition involving the external ear. This is caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. This conditon is common in elderly diabetics. The term malignant is used to indicate the graveness of the clinical conditon.
Otitis externa is associated with scanty foul smelling discharge. This disease
can also involve the facial and lower three cranial nerves.
Treatment involves:

1. Control of diabetes

2. Antibiotics (Carbenicillin, Ciprofloxacin, or gentamycin)

3. Wound debridement
Sunday, 6 January 2008, 07:59 AMRetropharyngeal abscessRetropharyngeal abscess:Retropharyngeal abscess is a collection of pus between the poserior pharyngeal wall and the fascia and muscles covering the cervical vertebrae.

It is of two types:
1. Acute - common in children
2. Chronic - common in adults (commonly due to tuberculosis)

Xray soft tissue neck is diagnostic.

Treatment is by surgical drainage.
Monday, 7 January 2008, 01:27 PMPresbyacusisPresbyacusis Is defined as a progressive bilateral symmetrical age related sensorineural hearing loss. The hearing loss is typically confined to higher frequencies.
Depending on the pathology 4 types of presbyacusis have been identified:
1. Sensori presbyacusis
2. Neural presbyacusis
3. Strial presbyacusis
4. cochlear conductive presbyacusis
These patients can be managed with neurotrophic vitamins and hearing aids.

Tuesday, 8 January 2008, 12:57 PMTonsillitis and its management: Tonsillitis is defined as infection of tonsillar tissue. Infections could be due to viral, bacterial or fungal infections.
The cardinal feature of tonsillitis is pain in the throat. There may also be associated enlargement of jugulo digastric lymph nodes.
Management:
Medical: A course of antibiotics. Penicillin / Amoxycillin could be used
Anti inflammatory drugs can be used to reduce pain.
Chronic infections of tonsils needs to be treated surgically by tonsillectomy
Wednesday, 9 January 2008, 01:22 AMVocal Nodule / Singer's nodule Vocal Nodule:Synonyms: Singer's nodule, Teacher's nodule.
This disorder frequently affects children and adults. In children it appears as spindle shaped thickenings of the edges of the vocal cords, whereas in adults they appear as more localised thickenings, varying from small points - nodules.
These nodules typically appear at the junction of the anterior and middle 1/3 of the vocal cords, since this
is the most vibrating portion of the vocal cord. They appear almost aways symmetrically.
Vocal nodules cause:
1. Change in voice

2. Fatiguability of voice

3. Decreased pitch range

It can be managed by giving rest to the voice, treating focal infections. In
case these conservative steps fail, microlaryngeal surgery can be resorted to.
Wednesday, 24 December 2008, 10:19 PMPosterior sinus of middle ear cavityPosterior sinus of the middle ear cavity is a recently identified anatomical entity. Dissections have shown that it is present in nearly 90% of humans.
Sunday, 24 May 2009, 11:02 AMRole of ultrasound in recurrent thyroid disease Number of patients undergo total thyroidectomy for malignant lesions of thyroid. Recurrences can be identified easily and accurately by performing ultrasound examination of the thyroid bed area in the neck. This article describes the various ultrasound features seen in patients who have undergone total thyroidectomy.
Monday, 25 May 2009, 12:58 PMVerrucous carcinoma Verrucous carcinoma is a low grade malignant tumor affecting commonly the vocal cords, skin, posterior third of tongue etc.
Friday, 29 May 2009, 06:05 AMVoice change in parkinsonism and its managementVoice gets commonly affected in patients with parkinsonism.
These patients have soft breathy monotone voice. This
voice is usually perceived by the patient as normal loudness.
This is usually caused by poor effort from the bellows mechanism (bradikinetic).
The chest wall and diaphragmatic movements are also poor.
Friday, 29 May 2009, 06:12 AMFungal ball "Mycetoma"his term is used to indicate noninvasive fungal disease of paranasal sinuses. It is also known as "mycetoma".

This disease was first described by Mackenzie in 1893.
This disorder is characterized by sequestration within paranasal sinuses
of densely tangled, concentrically arranged fungal hyphal elements. There is no evidence of mucosal invasion / granulomatous reaction.
Friday, 29 May 2009, 06:20 AMCauses and treatment of chronic nasal obstructionThis table illustrates the common causes of nasal obstruction and their management
Saturday, 30 May 2009, 07:22 AMMyospherulosis of nose and sinusesMyospherulosis of nose and sinuses. This is a iatrogenic condition.
Friday, 5 June 2009, 08:22 AMOlfactory epithelium Olfactory epithelium is found to line the olfactory area of the nasal cavity. It sub serves a special function (olfaction). This article describes the olfactory epithelium and its histology.
Sunday, 7 June 2009, 12:57 AMOlfactory neuroblastoma Olfactory neuroblastoma is a very rare tumor involving the nasal cavity. It presents as a hemorrhagic mass with evidence of bone destruction.
Sunday, 7 June 2009, 09:52 AMAllergic fungal rhinosinusitisAllergic fungal rhinosinusitis: In this condition the colonizing fungi elicits allergic mucosal inflammation without features of invasion. The protein components of fungi elicit IgE mediated allergic mucosal inflammation.
Thursday, 18 June 2009, 09:30 PMFunctions of paranasal sinusesThis article explores the various theories that explain the possible functions of paranasal sinuses.
Friday, 19 June 2009, 10:28 PMLevels of lymphatics in neckA study of various levels of neck lymphatics helps us to manage secondary deposits to neck nodes much better.
Monday, 22 June 2009, 04:38 AMRole of imaging in salivary gland disordersThis article discusses the role of various imaging modalities in diagnosing various disorders of salivary glands
Monday, 20 July 2009, 01:00 PMCaustic injuries to aerodigestive tractThis topic describes the injuries caused by caustic agents to aerodigestive tract and its management
Wednesday, 22 July 2009, 12:33 PMLaryngeal leukoplakia <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> The term laryngeal leukoplakia was first introduced by Pierce in 1920. Gnepp used the term laryngeal keratosis to describe the same condition. Leukoplakia is a Greek terminology to indicate “white plaque”. Laryngeal leukoplakia indicates presence of keratin on the epithelial surface.
Wednesday, 29 July 2009, 06:14 AMClassification of orbital complications of sinusitis <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0pt; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> Classification of orbital complications of sinusitis will help otolaryngologist in devising effective treatment modalities. Any classification system devised will have to take into consideration the anatomy of the orbit and the mechanism causing it.
Monday, 17 August 2009, 09:27 PMMastoidectomy some drilling tips

Here you will find some important tips to drilling while performing mastoidectomy. 

     drtbalu

Saturday, 20 March 2010, 02:22 AMMedian rhomboid glossitis <!-- @page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } -->

This condition affects the dorsum of the tongue. Usually it affects the junction between the anterior 2/3 and posterior 1/3 of the tongue. This is a chronic lesion about which very little is known. It usually appears as atrophic, erythematous, depapillated area.

Saturday, 3 April 2010, 01:00 AMAnosmia in elderly by drtbalu <!-- @page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } -->

Anosmia in geriatric age group is really common. Statistically speaking about 15% of geriatric population are anosmic. Anosmia in geriatric age group has disastrous consequences, including safety hazard. It affects the food preferences and nutritional status of the already compromised population. The absolute odor sensitivity as well as sensitivity to suprathrehold odors decreases in aging population. Loss of smell sensation could be a component of degenerative disorders like Alzeimer's disease and Parkinson's disease which commonly affect elderly age group.

Anosmia in elderly could very well be caused by pathologies involving either the transport of odoriferous molecules to the olfactory cleft or central processing mechanisms.

Sunday, 4 April 2010, 09:42 AMTaste disturbances following tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy is a commonly performed surgical procedures these days. Even though it has its
own set of complications, disturbance in taste following surgery should be considered rare.
This article tries to dwell into the possible causes of taste disturbance following tonsillectomy.
Tuesday, 27 April 2010, 09:59 AMLaryngeal mask airway <!-- @page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } -->

Laryngeal mask was developed in 1980's, and recently is being used extensively in emergency medicine. It affords excellent ventilation without going through the normal intubation process and visualization of laryngeal inlet. It should be considered as a supraglottic airway management device.