Adult laryngeal rhabdomyosarcomas are rare tumours commonly treated by laryngectomy.

We present a case of subglottic laryngeal rhabdomyosarcoma in an elderly woman, treated by endoscopic resection.

Despite the fact that this tumour is traditionally treated aggressively, this approach is not supported by the literature. Due to the varying biological behaviour of this tumour in adults, we believe that conservative surgical procedures or combination therapies should be preferred, rather than total laryngectomy.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of cochlear implant electrode insertion on middle-ear low frequency function in humans.

Preservation of residual low frequency hearing with addition of electrical speech processing can improve the speech perception abilities and hearing in noise of cochlear implant users. Preservation of low frequency hearing requires an intact middle-ear conductive mechanism in addition to intact inner-ear mechanisms. Little is known about the effect of a cochlear implant electrode on middle-ear function.

Stapes displacement was measured in seven patients undergoing cochlear implantation. Measurements were carried out intra-operatively before and after electrode insertion. Each patient acted as his or her own control. Sound was delivered into the external auditory canal via a speaker and calibrated via a probe microphone. The speaker and probe microphone were integrated into an individually custom-made ear mould. Ossicular displacement in response to a multisine stimulus at 80 dB SPL was measured at the incudostapedial joint via the posterior tympanotomy, using an operating microscope mounted laser Doppler vibrometry system.

Insertion of a cochlear implant electrode into the scala tympani had a variable effect on stapes displacement. In three patients, there was little change in stapes displacement following electrode insertion. In two patients, there was a significant increase, while in a further two there was a significant reduction in stapes displacement. This variability may reflect alteration of cochlear impedance, possibly due to differing loss of perilymph associated with the electrode insertion.

Insertion of a cochlear implant electrode produces a change in stapes displacement at low frequencies, which may have an effect on residual low frequency hearing thresholds.

The aim of this study was to present the management and survival data of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the temporal bone, and to discuss whether extensive surgery improves survival.

Retrospective, case-series review of 17 patients (18 cases) with temporal bone carcinoma (15 primary and three recurrent tumours), over a period of 20 years.

Tertiary referral centre – university hospital.

Disease-specific and overall five-year survival.

The mean age at presentation was 63 years, with a range of 39 to 75 years. Twelve cases of de novo tumour were managed by surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy in 10 cases, while three such patients were considered incurable from the outset and were given a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Of the three patients referred to our unit with recurrent disease, two were treated elsewhere with radical mastoidectomy and one with chemoradiation; all were subsequently managed by subtotal petrosectomy. The disease-specific and overall five-year survival for the entire cohort was 64.17 per cent (mean 89 months; 95 per cent confidence interval, 62–117) and 47.06 per cent (mean 70 months; 95 per cent confidence interval, 43–98), respectively. The disease-specific and overall survival for patients with advanced T3 and T4 tumours was 59 per cent (mean 83 months; 95 per cent confidence interval, 53–113) and 40 per cent (mean 62; 95 per cent confidence interval, 33–91 months), respectively. All but one recurrence developed within 12 months of initiating treatment. No deaths occurred after 26 months of follow up.

A lateral temporal bone resection is adequate treatment for T1 and T2 tumours. Post-operative radiotherapy should probably be offered for large T2 tumours. For T3 and T4 tumours, a subtotal petrosectomy with parotidectomy followed by post-operative radiotherapy is adequate treatment, as it offers a similar outcome to that of more extensive procedures.

To study the development of the organ of Corti in the human cochlea, and to correlate our findings with the onset of auditory function.

Step sections of 81 human fetal temporal bones were studied, from eight weeks of gestation to full term.

By the end of the 10th week, the tectorial membrane primordium could be traced even in the most apical turns. Individual hair cells became identifiable at the basal turn at 14 weeks. At the same time, a small but well formed oval space was observed between the inner and outer hair cells in the basal turn. This does not correspond to the tunnel of Corti, as is erroneously quoted in the literature, as the individual pillar cells develop at later stages. Between 14 and 15 weeks, Hensen's cells were recognised for the first time. Individual pillar cells were identifiable at 17 weeks and the tunnel of Corti opened at 20 weeks. By 25 weeks, the cochlea had reached its adult size, but continued to develop until full term.

A temporal coincidence of different developmental events is responsible for early fetal audition at 20 weeks, including growth of pillar cells, opening of the tunnel of Corti and regression of Kollicker's organ, with the subsequent formation of the inner spiral sulcus and then separation of the tectorial membrane. The fine structures of the organ of Corti continue to develop well after the 25th week, and this may well alter the mechanical properties of the vibrating parts of the cochlea, which may in turn account for the frequency shift observed in preterm infants. These changes will have to be taken into account in the development of prenatal hearing screening tests.