Benign tumours of both the pharynx and oesophagus are rarely seen, cavernous haemangiomas even less so. We present a case in which a large lesion was the cause of non-specific symptoms but which only appeared intermittently on nasendoscopic examination of the pharynx.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is significant for the otologist although the nasopharynx is located outside the anatomical confines of the ear. Middle-ear effusion resulting from NPC is well-known. There are however, other less common ear symptoms of NPC that many physicians are not sufficiently aware of. A personal series of patients with NPC presenting with uncommon symptoms relating to the ear is presented. These include NPC presenting as a) haemotympanum b) a peri-auricular mass c) referred sensation to the ear d) blocked ear e) barotrauma f) an ear polyp g) sudden sensorineural hearing loss. These symptoms may pose diagnostic difficulties, resulting in the diagnosis of NPC being delayed. It was concluded that a high index of suspicion for NPC is warranted in high risk patients presenting with unexplained otological symptoms.

Plummer-Vinson (Paterson, Brown-Kelly) syndrome refers to the association of iron-deficiency anaemia with dysphagia secondary to a post-cricoid web. Only seven cases of Plummer-Vinson syndrome in children and adolescents between the ages of 14 and 19 have been reported in the world literature. We report a case of the syndrome occurring in a child of 14 years and provide a short review of the present knowledge concerning the symptom complex.

A 49-year-old woman treated with increasing dosage of propylthiouracil (PTU) in order to control hyperthyroidism, developed progressive necrotic ulcers in the oral cavity, oropharynx and rhinopharynx and vasculitic ulcers on both auricular pinnae after a few days. The PTU treatment was immediately discontinued and the mucosal and skin manifestations resolved promptly. Laboratory findings, including anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), suggested allergic vasculitis. This is to our knowledge the first reported case of oral manifestations of PTU-induced allergic vasculitis.

Dercum's disease (adiposis dolorosa) is a rare condition characterized by progressively painful fatty deposits, usually, in menopausal women with obesity, asthenia and mental phenomena. We report a case of a 48-year-old woman with recurrent neck swelling and pain in the neck and parotid region, and a review of management of this uncommon problem.

A rare cause of parapharyngeal abscess in association with a wooden skewer is presented. Despite the use of both ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scanning as diagnostic tools, the foreign body could not be identified. Only through a meticulous exploration of the neck was the foreign body located. The importance of surgical exploration even with negative imaging is discussed.

The first case of traumatic myositis ossificans (TMO) involving a strap muscle of the neck is reported. TMO typically presents with an unresolved mass following trauma or surgery, requiring differentiation from other soft tissue and bone neoplasms. Opacification may be present on soft tissue X-rays. Computed tomography (CT) scan may demonstrate a characteristic zoning phenomenon to establish the diagnosis. The disorder is frequently self-limiting but surgery may be required for persistent symptoms.

An unusual case of encephalocele causing obstruction of the upper airway in a neonate is described. The patient presented with a large mass in the neck, which extended from the base of the skull to the level of the larynx. Although there was no evidence of a defect of the skull base, subsequent excision and histological examination confirmed an encephalocele.

The hypothesis that primary branchiogenic carcinoma originates from a branchial cleft cyst is controversial. Many reports regarding primary branchiogenic carcinoma failed to provide sufficient evidence to distinguish it from metastatic cervical lymph nodes arising from previously unrecognized primary tumours. The radiological appearance of malignant transformation from a branchial cleft cyst has not been reported previously in the English literature. A radiological study is presented that confirms the primary branchiogenic carcinoma. The management in suspected cases would be wide surgical excision of the tumour including ipsilateral radical neck dissection followed by radiation therapy.

Hodgkin's disease is a neoplasm of lymphoid tissue defined histopathologically by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells in an appropriate cellular background. Hodgkin's disease extends only rarely into the skin. Sinus and fistula formation has been reported in very occasional cases. We now report a case of a 34-year-old woman presenting with a cutaneous lesion surrounding a discharging blind-ending sinus in the neck, subsequently diagnosed as Hodgkin's disease. To our knowledge this form of presentation of Hodgkin's disease has not been reported in the English literature before, and at the same time we would like to outline the difficulties in diagnosis encountered with these cutaneous lymphoid lesions.

A seven-year-old child sustained a fracture of her basisphenoid resulting in profuse, life-threatening haemorrhage which could not be controlled with a post-nasal pack. The fracture site was identified using rigid endoscopy and packed with oxidized cellulose, resulting in immediate control of the haemorrhage. The use of the nasal endoscope in the management of posterior epistaxis is discussed.

Parathyroid cysts are rare. Most of them present in the anterior neck as cystic neck swellings. A case of cervical parathyroid cyst is presented, along with a brief review of the literature regarding the aetiology, clinical features, diagnosis and management of this condition.

A 50-year-old man presented with a left-sided neck mass. Clinical examination revealed a large fluctuant 7 cm × 7 cm mass in the left posterior triangle. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an encapsulated soft tissue lesion. He underwent exploration of the neck and a 14 cm by 8 cm mass enfolding the accessory nerve was identified and completely excised. Histological examination of the surgical specimen showed features in keeping with a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour (MPNST). We present the clinical and pathological features, of this condition.

This report documents an unusual case of buccal mucosa swelling due to a giant (25 × 13 mm), parotid duct sialolith. Review of the literature disclosed that this is the largest parotid sialolith ever reported. Diagnostic imaging and treatment are described.

We present a rare presentation of myasthenia gravis as acute inspiratory stridor in a 16-year-old girl. Prompt diagnosis and medical treatment avoided the need for tracheostomy. Although an uncommon cause, myasthenia gravis should be included in the differential daignosis of stridor.

Secondary tracheo-oesophageal puncture is frequently used for voice restoration after laryngectomy. A method utilizing a flexible gastroscope passed via a mini-laparotomy and gastrotomy in a retrograde manner is described in a patient where extensive pharyngeal resection made it impossible to cannulate the upper aerodigestive tract. The patient suffered minimal morbidity and produced reasonable speech.

Facial palsy after pre-operative embolization of glomus tumours is a rare complication. In our case, complete facial palsy occurred within four hours after embolization with polyvinyl alcohol foam. Three days later, embolization material was found in the perineural vessels of the facial nerve in its mastoidal segment. Six months after complete tumour removal, facial decompression with perineural incision, and steroid therapy, facial function recovered completely. In cases of embolization of both stylomastoid and branches of the middle meningeal artery with resorbable material, temporary facial palsy can occur.

We present a case of subcutaneous plexiform schwannoma, a rare benign peripheral nerve sheath tumour characterized by a multinodular and plexiform growth pattern. A review of the literature was performed to identify the relationship between plexiform schwannoma and neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2, and schwannomatosis.

It is also important to distinguish plexiform schwannoma from plexiform neurofibroma, a particular type 1 neurofibromatosis lesion, because of the propensity of the latter for malignant degeneration.

This rare case of brain stem tethering presented with chronic and progressive geniculate neuralgia. In view of the fact that an occipital subcutaneous lipoma had been resected in childhood, it probably concerned a primary tethering, fitting in with an occult occipital dysraphism.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) clearly demonstrated an underlying tethering, causing a distortion of the brain stem. Consequently, this led to the hypothesis that the geniculate neuralgia could be explained by traction on the lower cranial nerves secondary to the brain stem displacement. Untethering resulted in a considerable decrease of the neuralgia.

MRI proved to be essential in the diagnosis and treatment of this unusual case.

Although injuries to the vertebral arteries are relatively uncommon, there are several different methods used to gain access to these vessels, and to control any bleeding arising from them. We describe a case of torrential oropharyngeal bleeding following a stab wound to the neck in which rapid access to the vertebral artery was gained using a paramedian mandibulotomy; this approach has not previously been documented. The other approaches are discussed.