Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the larynx is very rare, with only a few individual cases or studies in small patient groups reported in the literature. Treatment modalities for this type of carcinoma are not uniform; in addition, errors in the recognition and pathologic diagnosis are not uncommon. During the period 1991–2000, 771 cases of malignant laryngeal tumours were recorded and histologically verified at the University Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery, Zagreb University Hospital Centre, three of them were mucoepidermoid supraglottic carcinomas. The experience acquired in the treatment of these tumours is presented along with a review of the literature.

Pleomorphic adenoma arising from the external auditory canal is a very rare neoplasm, and there has been no report on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of pleomorphic adenoma of the external auditory canal. We report here a case of 65-year-old male with this tumour, measuring 12 mm in a diameter. Histopathology was confirmed from the specimen obtained at the surgical excision. MR revealed that the tumour had a well-defined margin showing hypointensity on T1-weighted images and hyperintensity on T2-weighted images relative to the parotid gland. The tumour was well enhanced by contrast material. No invasion to the surrounding tissue was observed. These MR findings were compatible with pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary gland origin. In treating pleomorphic adenoma of the external auditory canal, complete surgical excision is essential for the prevention of recurrence. It can be concluded that MR imaging is helpful for making a differential diagnosis of external auditory canal tumours and selection of adequate treatment.

With an incidence of less than 0.3 per cent, post-radiation sarcomas are rare malignant neoplasms with a very poor prognosis. On average, they occur after a latency period of at least 15 years following radiation therapy with doses ranging from 24 to 80 Gy. We present the case of a post-irradiation malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) on the floor of the mouth in a 79-year-old male patient arising only five and a half years after radiation therapy. The primary tumour was classified as a well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the right rim of the tongue. Primary therapy was surgical resection of the tumour and post-operative radiation with 50 Gy. Five and a half years later, the patient developed a rapidly progressing MFH within the field of radiation.

Ectopic submandibular thyroid tissue is a rare entity and poses difficult diagnostic and management problems. The first case of ectopic submandibular thyroid with a normotopic multinodular goitre is presented

We present a case of a papillary tumour of the petrous bone. The established terminology for this rare neoplasm is endolymphatic sac tumour (ELST) but the true origin remains controversial. ELSTs are associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease. They are locally invasive, highly vascular and often require endovascular embolization prior to surgery. Both radiologically and histologically ELSTs are easily mistaken for other more common tumours such as paragangliomas and renal or papillary thyroid carcinoma metastases. This is important because local excision is curative.

Glomus tumours are the most common primary neoplasms of the middle ear, typically benign and slowly progressive. Pulsatile tinnitus and ipsilateral hearing loss are the most common symptoms at presentation by far; otalgia, aural fullness and otorrhoea being less frequent. A case of primary glomus tympanicum presenting with recurrent epistaxis, previously unreported in the literature, is described and associated imaging presented.

We report a case of tracheal stenosis in which a migrated Polyflex (Rusch AG, Germany) stent entered the right main bronchus but could not be identified on the chest radiograph. The stent was identified at bronchoscopy and removed under general anaesthesia.

Polyflex stents are radiopaque but may not always show up on radiograph. We recommend reliance on clinical symptoms rather than imaging to diagnose migration. If stent migration is suspected then imaging should include thoracic inlet films that incorporate a lateral view.

Primary thyroid leiomyomas are rare, and only four cases have been reported to date. This is a report of an additional case of primary thyroid leiomyoma in a 40-year-old male who was admitted with a painless swelling in the right thyroid lobe and underwent subtotal thyroidectomy. The surgical specimen showed a well-circumscribed, greyish-white solid nodule. Histologically, the tumour was composed of spindle cells with blunt-ended nuclei that were arranged with short intersecting bundles.

Immunohistochemical staining revealed reactivity with smooth muscle actin, vimentin and desmin. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical assessments produced the diagnosis of thyroid leiomyoma.

Although primary thyroid leiomyoma is rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a cold thyroid nodule.

Angiomyoma is a common soft tissue tumour of the head and neck that sometimes presents to the otolaryngologist; however, it seldom occurs in the major salivary glands. We present a case of angiomyoma arising in the submandibular gland, a tumour not described previously in the English literature.

It is well known that in advanced cervical metastatic disease of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, the incidence of distant metastasis is high. A case of distant metastasis to the scapular muscles from an uncontrolled cervical metastasis of laryngeal carcinoma is presented. Other unusual metastatic sites are reviewed and the possible mechanism of the spread is discussed.

The purpose of this study was to define the histopathological changes in the temporal bone of a fetus with trisomy 18 syndrome, a stillborn due to perosplanchnia. Several anomalies were found including malformation of the auditory ossicles, residual mesenchyme in the middle ear, aberrant tensor tympani muscle, absence of stapedial tendon, aberrant lateral ampullary nerve and wide endolymphatic sinus. The incus body was deformed and separated from the long process by connective tissue and monocrural stapes was noted in the right ear. Three-dimensional reconstruction images provided a clear view of the auditory ossicle malformation. The abnormal findings in our case indicate that ear anomalies in this syndrome might be derived from the component around the first and second branchial arches.

A variant of a type 2 first branchial cleft anomaly, in which accessory ossicles were found, is described. There follows a discussion of the classification of first branchial cleft abnormalities and how this particular case falls outside the standard classification. CT scanning is mentioned as the investigation that is most useful for defining these abnormalities.

Melioidosis is an infectious disease caused by a saprophytic bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei. It is endemic to Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. The spectrum of melioidosis in humans varies from sub-clinical to overwhelming protean manifestations resembling other acute and chronic bacterial infections. Disseminated septicaemia melioidosis presenting as a masticator space infection is reported here. This is germane to those treating diabetic patients with deep neck infections living in, or having visited, areas endemic for B. pseudomallei.

We present a series of three case reports of patients over the age of 40 with cystic swellings in the lateral neck. Clinically they masqueraded as branchial cysts, but subsequently were diagnosed as being squamous cell carcinoma cystic lymph node metastasis arising from an occult tonsillar primary.

Currently there is an absence of national guidelines for the treatment of lateral neck cysts in the over 40s’ age group that subsequently prove to be cystic metastases from occult tonsillar primaries. This disease process is more common than thought, with up to 80 per cent of so-called branchial cysts in the over 40s’ age group being malignant.

We recommend that patients over the age of 40 presenting with lateral cystic swellings in the neck should have a high suspicion of malignancy and require a panendoscopy, ipsilateral tonsillectomy and blind biopsies of Waldeyer’s ring. This avoids inadvertent excision of a possible cystic lymph node metastasis. If the panendoscopy histology proves to be benign, then proceed to excision of the cyst with frozen section analysis of it. If this confirms it to be benign then that is all that is necessary; if the frozen section is however positive for carcinoma then the surgeon can proceed at that time to a formal neck dissection and therefore avoid a further procedure. In the event of an occult tonsillar malignancy, excision of the cyst as part of a neck dissection with post-operative radiotherapy is recommended.

It is our aim to treat a cystic lymph node metastasis as you would a solid lymph node metastasis.