The transmeatal approach (TMA) is a new approach for cochlear and middle-ear implantation. It is an open-tunnel technique that differs from closed transcanal non-mastoidectomy approaches. The TMA involves creating an open transcanal tunnel starting from the annulus superior to the chorda tympani laterally towards the suprameatal region. Then, through the open tunnel, a bony groove is created in the bone underneath the length of the external auditory canal (EAC) to protect the electrode from extrusion

Solitary fibrous tumors are uncommon spindle cell neoplasms generally associated with serosal surfaces, especially the pleura. Recently, these tumors have been documented in a number of extrapleural sites including the head and neck. So far only two cases of parapharyngeal solitary fibrous tumor have been reported in the English literature. Rare location of an uncommon lesion often gives rise to difficulty in diagnosis or to misdiagnosis. In both the previously reported cases, as well as in our case, the diagnosis of solitary fibrous tumor was not made until the excised tumor was subjected to histopathology and immunohistochemistry.

We describe a case of lingual thyroid (LT) with primary hypothyroidism, presenting during pregnancy and continuing beyond it with oropharyngeal obstructive symptoms and sleep apnoea syndrome (SAS) of mixed type. Although SAS of a combined obstructive and central type should not be too surprising in a case of LT with hypothyroidism, we were unable to find such a documentation previously. Only four weeks of L-thyroxin treatment resulted in a dramatic improvement in dysphagia, disturbed phonation, haemoptysis, arterial desaturation, sleep apnoea and overall sleep efficiency, in conjunction with a regression in the size of the lingual mass. This case highlights the vagaries confronted in the management of such a case and focuses on efforts towards accurate diagnosis and treatment.

The transmeatal approach (TMA) is a new approach for cochlear and middle-ear implantation. It is an open-tunnel technique that differs from closed transcanal non-mastoidectomy approaches. The TMA involves creating an open transcanal tunnel starting from the annulus superior to the chorda tympani laterally towards the suprameatal region. Then, through the open tunnel, a bony groove is created in the bone underneath the length of the external auditory canal (EAC) to protect the electrode from extrusion through the EAC. We report on the use of this approach in 131 patients (115 consecutive paediatric and 16 adult) between May 2004 and December 2007. During 2 to 46 months of follow-up there was no electrode extrusion.

Cell lines were established from fresh tumor biopsies from two Saudi patients with poorly differentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Cytogenetic analysis on Giemsa-banded metaphase cells revealed complex, abnormal karyotypes in both patients with modal chromosome numbers of 77 and 52. A der(3)dup(3)(q25-q2?7) or t(3;?)(q27;?) was observed in both cell lines. The rearrangements involving chromosomes X, 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15, 17, and 22 in the first patient and 1, 6, and 22 in the second patient could represent clonal evolution.