Recurrent parotitis in children is a well-described but rare condition of unknown cause. In this follow-up investigation the long-term course of the disease was studied both clinically and radiographically. In 23 of 25 patients investigated, the clinical symptoms disappeared before the patients were 22 years of age, independent of a given therapy. However, sialographic changes, mostly in the form of sialectasis, were seen on follow-up in the majority of cases, in spite of the fact that the patients were clinically symptom free.

Since 1979, we have treated patients suffering from bilateral vocal cord paralysis with laterofixation of one vocal cord, a simple and comparatively atraumatic method. To evaluate the long-term results of this method of laterofixation, 11 consecutive patients were examined at least 5 years postoperatively regarding breathing capacity, voice function, and swallowing ability. Breathing capacity was assessed by determination of orolaryngeal (upper) airway resistance and spirometry. Voice function was judged by two listening panels. Swallowing ability was studied by barium contrast radiography. Postoperative improvement of breathing capacity was, in most cases, found to be long lasting. Furthermore, there was no deterioration of voice function, nor were there aspiration problems during the postoperative follow-up period. We suggest this method of laterofixation as the treatment of choice in patients suffering from breathing difficulties due to bilateral vocal cord paralysis.

The present results do not support gastroesophago-hypopharyngeal reflux as being an independent risk factor for laryngeal cancer.

Different treatment modalities for advanced laryngeal cancer are much discussed in the literature. One-hundred-and-sixty patients with T3-4, N0-3, M0-1 laryngeal cancer diagnosed in Sweden between 1986 and 1990 were retrospectively analysed. One hundred (65 T3: 35 T4) received radical radiotherapy with salvage surgery (RRSS) in case of residual or recurrent disease. Thirty-eight (11T3: 27 T4) patients received surgery with or without radiotherapy (S +/- RT). Twenty-two patients received no treatment. After a median follow up of 4.4 years, the estimated 5-year actuarial corrected survival and 3-year locoregional control were 59% and 44% for T3 RRSS and 47% and 54% for T3 S +/- RT. No significant difference between the different treatment modalities was found. The 5-year corrected survival rate and the locoregional control at 3 years between T4-RRSS (32%; 26%) and T4-S + RT (58%; 68%) groups were significantly different (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). This might suggest that surgery with or without radiotherapy still has its place as a treatment modality for patients with advanced T4 laryngeal carcinoma.

Cell-kinetics and spatial relations between the cellular elements in the secretion on the mucosal surfaces of the oral cavity and the pharynx were studied with a new imprint technique whereby pieces of foam-plastic are pressed against the mucosal surfaces and then immediately against a glass slide. For visualisation of leukocytes, epithelial cells and bacteria, imprints were stained according to May Grünewald-Giemsa and with acridine orange. For visualisation and discrimination between T and B-cells, slides were stained with immunohistochemical technique using anti-CD-3 and anti-CD-19, respectively, as antibodies. Imprints were also prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that there are large numbers of morphologically intact cells in the secretions and that there are statistically significant differences between the different mucosal areas as regards numbers, types and spatial relations between the cellular elements in the surface secretions. Rather great inter- and intra-individual differences in cellular composition were observed, indicating a dynamic system. This was further documented by observation of a dominance of polymorphonuclear leukocytes on the tonsillar surface, in contrast to the dominance of mononuclear leukocytes in secretion from the mesopharynx. We consider that this new imprint method is reliable and gives representative samples from the surface secretion. The results clearly show the need for further studies concerning the physiological role of the cellular elements in the surface secretion of the oral cavity and mesopharynx.