Within the black population of South Africa tuberculosis and leprosy are endemic. There is also a significant incidence of laryngeal carcinoma. A patient who presented in acute respiratory stridor to a rural hospital with limited resources is reported. The differential diagnosis and management is discussed in the light of the available literature.

Neurofibromatosis (NF) or von Recklinghausen's disease is frequently accompanied by malignant tumours, which can occur at any site in the body. These malignancies are mainly of soft tissue origin. Of all head and neck malignancies, the number of soft tissue sarcomas is limited and in combination with NF this type of tumour is a rare event. In this report we describe the clinical course of a young female patient with NP, who presented with a massive malignant schwannoma in the parapharyngeal space, and review the pertinent literature.

The first case of pigmented villonodular synovitis of the temporomandibular joint in a Chinese patient is reported. The dinicopathological features are described and the presentation as a parotid mass is emphasized. This rare tumour requires a high clinical suspicion for diagnosis. For removal, meticulous dissection of tumour and facial nerve is necessary.

Cystic hygroma of the parotid gland is an uncommon benign congenital neoplasm that presents as an asymptomatic soft fluctuant mass. Cervical ultrasonography, computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used to assess the size and extent of the lesion and to assist in planning the surgical approach. Ultrasonography may demonstrate a multilocular cystic mass containing septa of variable thicknesses. Extension of the mass into deeper structures is more accurately assessed by CT or MRI. A CT scan may show thin-walled cystic masses filled with material of density close to that of water. The use of contrast medium can demonstrate the relationship of the lesion to the surrounding structures. Magnetic resonance imaging is superior to CT in defining the nature and extent of the lesion.

In order to test the clinical and prognostic significance of flow cytometrically assessed DNA content in minor salivary gland tumours we evaluated 75 neoplasms of the palate, 55 of which were carcinomas. Benign neoplasms were exclusively DNA diploid with low S-phase fractions while 22 per cent of malignant tumours manifested a DNA aneuploidy and 23.5 per cent high S-phase fractions (>5 per cent). Significant statistical correlations between DNA content and tumour size, histological grade, lymph node metastasis and lethality were observed. Our findings suggest a potentially important role for flow-cytometry in the evaluation of these neoplasms.

Basal cell adenocarcinoma is a rare salivary gland tumour. A DNA diploid parotid gland basal cell adenocarcinoma, with a low mitotic rate, in a 78-year-old female patient is described. Total removal of the affected salivary gland without sacrificing the facial nerve gave a good therapeutic result.