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Treatment of locally advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers often requires total laryngectomy with partial pharyngectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy. Dysphagia is common after such aggressive treatment which is often under reported, but adversely affects the quality of life in these patients. The cause for this dysphagia is loss of pharyngeal mucosa, fibrosis, disruption of constrictors and loss of skeletal support to soft tissues. In this study 32 patients treated by laryngectomy with partial pharyngectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy underwent fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing at 6 and 12 weeks after completion of treatment. Majority of them had delayed transit of bolus, dryness and edema and 6 of them had pharyngeal stenosis, 2 had fibrotic band and 2 had adynamic pharyngeal segments. These findings were the cause of dysphagia. The frequency of occurrence of the above findings and their association with extent of resection of pharyngeal mucosa and adjuvant treatment have been documented. Bilateral neck dissection, post operative chemotherapy with radiotherapy and use of myocutaneous flap for the reconstruction of neopharynx were found to cause severe dysphagia in our series. Some of these patients benefitted by swallowing therapy, diet modifications and nasogastric feeding. Therefore early identification of cause of dysphagia in these patients and timely intervention to facilitate rehabilitation can improve the quality of life and reduce the long term morbidity in these patients.

<p class="abstract">Retrobulbar orbital tumours are rare and treatment is challenging. These tumors include cavernous hemangioma, neurofibroma, A-V malformations, glioma etc. A variety of approaches have been used in resection of these tumours. The various approaches in literature include endoscopic transethmoidal and sphenoidal, lateral orbitotomy, transmaxillary infraorbital, and cranial and sub cranial approaches. Such tumours located inferior to the optic nerve can be reached through infraorbital approach avoiding traction on optic nerve or pressure on globe. We are reporting a retrobulbar orbital neurofibroma in a middle aged lady who presented with unilateral loss of vision, episodic giddiness, severe left sided headache, left orbital pain and epiphora on exposure to sunlight. MRI showed well defined 1.8×1.8×1.7 cm enhancing lobulated solid left intraorbital mass extending along the substance of inferior aspect of left optic nerve with mass effect. With transmaxillary infraorbital endoscope assisted approach, the retrobulbar tumor was exposed and enucleated. Floor of orbit was reconstructed with tensor fascia lata and nasal septal cartilage graft. The patient had uneventful recovery and immediate post operative visual acuity was perception of light and likely to improve further. Histopathology revealed neurofibroma. This case report highlights the advantages of infraorbital approach as it is a simple approach along the suture lines through the orbital floor with the help of endoscopic guidance. It has the advantages of avoiding traction on optic nerve or optic chiasma, no retraction of brain, no communication with cranial cavity, no pressure on globe and easy reconstruction of orbital floor.</p>

<p class="abstract">Actinomycosis is a rare anaerobic bacterial infection that presents in the form of cervicofacial, pulmonary, thoracic and abdominopelvic infections. It is usually caused by <em>Actinomyces israelii </em>which are a part of normal flora of aerodigestive tracts. They are opportunistic pathogens and cause infections which have odontogenic origin in oral cavity. Cervicofacial actinomycosis accounts for more than half of the cases and commonly affects the mandible. We are reporting a case of actinomycosis of left maxillary antrum presenting as a nasal polypi in a young man. He had presented with nasal discharge and yellowish crusts from left nasal cavity. Diagnostic nasal endoscopy revealed yellowish polypoidal mass arising from the left middle meatus. CT PNS showed soft tissue density mass measuring 3.7×4.3×4.1 cms in left maxillary antrum extending through and obliterating osteomeatal complex extending into left ethmoidal sinus. Patient underwent Functional endoscopic sinus surgery. The yellowish polypoidal mass in left nasal cavity was attached to the floor of the maxillary antrum by a thin stalk and had filled up the antrum. Histopathology of the specimen revealed inflammatory polyp with actinomycosis. Patient had an uneventful recovery and was put on long term antibiotics and regular follow up.</p>