Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the temporal bone and external auditory canal is a very rare tumor with a reported incidence of between 1 to 6 cases per million per year. SCC of the temporal bone and external auditory canal is very rare, an adequate tumor staging system and treatment has been difficult to develop because of limited number of cases reporting to any clinical centre. Usual presentation of a carcinoma of temporal bone is in the form of blood stained ear discharge with associated cranial nerve palsies. In this paper, we present a case of squamous cell carcinoma of the external auditory canal, who presented with an unusual presentation of a mastoid abscess which led to a diagnostic dilemma. However due to advanced age of presentation and short history, clinical suspicion of associated malignancy was made. Abscess was drained and biopsy from external auditory canal taken for histopathological analysis which confirmed it to be a well differentiated SCC.

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Eagle syndrome occurs when an elongated styloid process or calcified stylohyoid ligament causes recurrent throat pain or foreign body sensation, dysphagia, or facial pain. Diagnosis is usually made on physical examination by digital palpation of styloid process in tonsillar fossa.To study the significance of chronic throat pain and elongated styloid process. 60 patients with chronic throat pain (excluding other causes) were assessed by palpation of styloid process was recorded according to age, gender of patients. The prevalence of elongated styloid process in age groups and gender determined correlation and significance of chronic throat pain, along with palpable styloid process in tonsillar fossa and length of styloid process in tonsillar fossa and length of styloid process was determined..The maximum number of patients having chronic throat pain were between 40-49 years age group. The male to female ratio was 0.62:1. The prevalence of elongated styloid process was seen more in 50-70 years of age. There was a higher prevalence of elongated styloid process with moderate to severe pain. 76% patients with elongated styloid process had tonsillar fossa tenderness. 96.4% of patients with elongated styloid process had palpable styloid process in tonsillar fossa. There is a significant correlation between patients having chronic throat pain and elongated styloid process. X ray Skull-Towne’s view is very cost effective as a baseline radiological investigation to diagnose elongated styloid process in patients with chronic throat pain for which cause is unknown.

Introduction Quality of life questionnaires have been increasingly used in clinical studies to help estimate the magnitude of problem. Sino-Nasal Outcome Test -22 (SNOT-22) is considered to be a good tool to measure the severity of Sino-Nasal Diseases. As this test is in English, it may be difficult for the local population to express their symptoms correctly. Therefore we have translated and validated the SNOT- 22 test in local Indian language, Marathi. Materials and Methods An early Indian ( Marathi ) version of the SNOT 22 questionnaire was prepared. This was a prospective study,where forty patients with Sino-nasal Diseases confirmed on DNE & CT(PNS) filled the questionnaire. This was repeated after a period of 14 days to retest. For validation the questionnaire was also filled by healthy individuals. Results The mean SNOT-22 score ± SD was 50.17 ± 18.65 (range 10–93) in the initial test, and 49.61 ± 18.40 (range 21–91) in retest in the study group. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.835 and 0.837 at the initial and retest examination respectively, both values were suggesting a good internal consistency. The mean SNOT-22 score ± SD was 13 ± 11.68 in the control group and 49.61 ± 18.40 (range 21–91) in the sino-nasal disease group and proved by Mann- Whitney U test. Conclusion The Marathi SNOT-22 is a valid instrument to assess the symptomatology of patients of Sino-nasal Diseases in Maharashtra.