Abstract Histological changes in the human carotid body associated with increasing age are accompanied by occlusive atherosclerotic lesions in the arteries of the carotid bifurcation, and are probably ischaemic in origin. The carotid sinus, however, is unusually susceptible to the development of atheroma and its occlusion appears to have little influence in compromising blood flow through the glomic arteries.

Serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels were estimated in a group of 40 patients with head and neck cancer. The mean value was significantly higher in patients compared to controls. The increase was higher in cases of ulcerative growths than of proliferative growths, and activity was increased with advancement in the stage of the cancer. After radiotherapy, a gradual and significant decrease in serum ADA activity was observed.

Among the possible complications of stapedectomy for otosclerosis, cholesteatoma is extremely rare. We report a case which was secondary to implantation of keratinising squamous epithelium inadvertantly included in the fat graft taken from the ear lobe'to seal the footplate.

A study of velopharyngeal status after partial excision of musculus uvulae, as in total uvulectomy, has been carried out in 15 adults with normally formed soft palates. Fifteen volunteers matched for age and sex with normal palates, who had not had total uvulectomy, were used as controls. Four assessment techniques were used: (a) Air escape, with modified tongue anchor technique; (b) Production of speech sounds; (c) Transnasal nasopharyngoscopy; and (d) Radiological screening. Even though Azzam and Kuehn (1977) have stressed the importance of the musculus uvulae in velopharyngeal closure, all assessments showed that partial excision of the musculus uvulae, as in total uvulectomy, has no statistically significant effect on the velopharyngeal status in subjects with a normally formed soft palate.

Dissection of lymphatic nodes in the neck—whether radical or partial, functional or prophylactic—forms an integral part of the surgical management of cancer of the head and neck. Accurate orientation and fixation of the surgical specimen is a prerequisite for correct histopathological study of the extent of the disease and for a complete clinicopathological interpretation, which is of significant therapeutic and prognostic importance.

Two children with a congenital Cornelia de Lange syndrome and a verified sensorineural hearing loss are presented. One could be tested by conventional audiometry, the other only with the help of the newer computerized electronic methods. A short review of some earlier reports on congenital hearing loss in this syndrome is made.