We reviewed 24 studies of chemical burns by means of assault in the last 40 years. We describe 771 cases of chemical assault in total. Jamaica had the largest absolute number of cases. Bangladesh had the highest reported incidence. Male victims were more common, with the exception of Bangladesh and ...

Burns are a rare but potentially serious complication of povidone-iodine use. This rare adverse drug reaction developed in a 38-year-old woman who underwent laparoscopic right ovarian cystectomy and endometrial ablation as a day procedure involving application of the topical antiseptic 10% povidone-iodine solution. Two days later, the patient was admitted ...

OBJECTIVE: Erythromelalgia is a rare condition, of uncertain etiology, characterized by episodic erythema, intense burning pain and warmth of the hands and/or feet, and when chronic, associated with significant disability. The diagnosis is based on a thorough history and physical exam during a painful episode along with diagnostic testing to ...

Patients with spontaneous pneumomediastinum present with various manifestations, but it is extremely rare for head and neck signs to be the sole presenting feature. In fact, our search of the literature found only 1 previously documented case of spontaneous facial subcutaneous emphysema of the head and neck. In this article, ...

The purpose of this study was to record and evaluate the causes and the magnitude of the fatal burn injuries retrospectively. An analysis of autopsy records revealed 19.4% cases of burn injuries amongst the total autopsies done over 10years period (1993-2002) in the mortuary of the department of Forensic Medicine ...

Cerium nitrate is a topical antiseptic used with silver sulfadiazine (Flammacerium) for the treatment of serious burns. This topical agent can induce methemoglobinemia, but no cases have been reported in the recent literature. In this article, we present the case of a 16-year old girl, with third-degree burns over 95% ...

Since the first human infection by Saksenaea vasiformis in 1976 another 26 cases have been reported. Here is a report of a new case which involved an Ecuadorian adolescent who suffered serious burns after a car accident. It developed as a localized cutaneous infection which was successfully treated with surgical ...

In burn victims, invasion by the bacteria is not unexpected, despite advances in antibiotics, and it has been reported that in the absence of topical therapy, the superficial areas of burn wound contain up to 100 million organisms per gram of tissue within 48h following the injury. We examined the ...

Burns in the elderly are extremely common. Often, the history is obscure or nonexistent because of confusion or dementia. We describe the case of a 78-year-old woman who was admitted to a burns center with the history of a 21% scald burn. However, this burn had unusual characteristics, and further ...

A case of iatrogenic full-thickness chemical burns from monochloroacetic acid (MCA) crystal application is described, followed by a brief review of the relevant literature and discussion of both local and systemic problems that may be encountered with absorption of this chemical. We believe this to be the first reported case ...

Pneumatosis Intestinalis (PI) is a rare condition characterized by gas in the intestinal wall. PI is not a disease in itself but a sign of an underlying problem. It is associated with a wide variety of underlying disorders, ranging from benign to life-threatening. When found, it should prompt a search ...

Thromboembolic phenomenon is rare but serious consequence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. We present a case of thrombosis of the right internal jugular vein presenting as a neck lump to the ENT department. Ultrasonography of the neck and upper extremity revealed thrombosis of right ...

Nodular fasciitis is a benign reactive myofibroblastic proliferative process of unknown etiology. It presents as a solitary painless, rapidly growing nodule over several weeks' duration. The condition is self-limited, and proper diagnosis is essential to avoid unnecessary aggressive treatment. Diagnosis is often a challenge because it may be confused with ...

Homicidal burning of married women in India is a major concern for the Government, law-enforcing authorities, the judiciary, the police and medico-legal experts all over the country who are associated with dowry disputes. Dowry death, a heinous crime, is gradually engulfing and polluting the entire society. Sections 304(B) and 498(A) ...

Many burn injuries are mistakenly referred to as "accidents" because they occur suddenly and seem unpredictable and uncontrollable; however, injuries often occur in predictable patterns. We reviewed all pediatric forensic cases referred to the Medical University of South Carolina Forensic Pathology Section over a 28-year period from January 1975 to ...

Infectious folliculitis of the head and neck has various etiologies, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Accurate morphologic recognition of microorganisms in biopsy and cytologic specimens is paramount in facilitating appropriate therapy. We report a case of a 37-yr-old white male with Demodex folliculitis, who presented with an extensive and ...

The development of carcinoma within a burn scar is an uncommon sequelae. When it does occur, the diagnosis is often delayed and consequently outcome less favourable. We present two cases seen and review existing literature on the aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of this problem. Delay in presentation and treatment is ...

Amyloidosis refers to the idiopathic, extracellular deposition of fibrillar proteins, termed amyloid, in tissues. Although amyloidosis is a rare disease, the head and neck region has been reported as a frequent site of amyloid deposits, accounting for approximately 19% of reported amyloid cases in one review. Fifteen cases of head ...

Melanoma arising in a burn scar is extremely uncommon. We report two recent cases, including one patient in whom six distinct primary melanomas arose in the setting of an extensive truncal burn scar. Only 27 patients have been reported previously, and only three previous cases of multiple primary melanomas arising ...

There are only few studies about the relationship of skin lesions and the percutaneous uptake of hazardous substances in exposed workers. Several aromatic amines are well known carcinogens for humans and/or animals. This case report emphasizes the relevance of dermal absorption of the aromatic amine ortho-toluidine considering four workers with ...

The Spring issue (Rudy, 2005) of ORL-Head and Neck Nursing presented a broad review of endoscopic procedures for evaluation and management of upper airway problems. Zarnitz (2005) briefly addressed billing for the most commonly performed upper airway endoscopies in that issue. This paper presents, in detail, the coding for a ...

Penile entrapment is a rare but serious urological emergency, which can easily lead to stangulation and infarction. We report a case of penile entrapment in a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle in a 49-year-old male. Attempts to cut the bottle with a scalpel or a glass saw were ineffective. Finally, the ...

BACKGROUND: Accidental deaths from electrocution in this environment are sometimes related to charm and witchcraft caused by one's enemies. The aim of this article is to highlight the problems of beliefs and accidental electrocution. METHOD: We report three cases of accidental electrocution which was believed to be associated with traditional ...

A case of an osteochondral autograft transfer performed at the head of the first metatarsal for an acute incidence of traumatic osteochondritis dissecans was presented. The donor site for the osteochondral graft was from the medial and plantar aspect of the talar head, which was found to be composed entirely ...

We present a case of massive subcutaneous emphysema mimicking necrotizing fasciitis after uncomplicated dacryocystorhinostomy surgery. Subcutaneous emphysema progressing down fascial planes of the head and neck after dacryocystorhinostomy has not been reported in the literature. Using the clinical presentation and radiographic imaging, we briefly review the underlying cause of subcutaneous ...

Central line complications are common, and extravasation injuries related to infusion of caustic substances have been previously described. Although hydrochloric acid has been used for many years to treat metabolic alkalosis, there have been no reported fatal complications. We report the case of a 53-year-old female who received a fatal ...

BACKGROUND: The introduction of early excision of the burn eschar has contributed to a reduction in burn-related mortality but is not appropriate in all circumstances. Cerium nitrate has been used since 1976, usually in combination with silver sulphadiazine, to improve outcome where early excision is not performed. However, has still ...

In a series of 30 patients affected by severe anorexia nervosa (AN) we examined hair samples to detect the prevalence of acquired pili torti (APT). True APT were not detected but in two cases (6.6%) twisted hair was observed. The first case was a 24-year-old woman with secondary amenorrhoea for ...

Ocular emergencies are not uncommon and one of the causes is chemical burns. Irrigation is the major emergency therapeutic measure of such burns and this also has an impact on the prognosis. We hereby present a case report of chemical burns. The case report of a 33year old factory worker ...

A 48-year-old man who presented with papules on his neck was reported. The patient had multiple, discrete, non-follicular papules on the neck that were round-to-oval, 2--3 mm in diameter and pale. They had remained entirely asymptomatic. On histologic examination, there were circumscribed areas of thickened collagen bundles in the papillary ...

Acne keloidalis, also known as folliculitis nuchae, is a form of chronic scarring folliculitis characterized by fibrotic papules and nodules of the nape of the neck and the occiput. It particularly affects men of African descent and is rarely ever seen in women. We here report the clinical findings of ...

Chondrosarcoma of the head and neck region is a rare disease, representing approximately 0.1% of all head and neck neoplasms. The 5-year survival rate of chondrosarcoma is 70-80%, showing relatively good prognosis; however, it is known to progress slowly and eventually cause multiple metastases. In this study, we reviewed chondrosarcoma ...

The present paper is a review of articles on the onset of subepidermal blisters in neoformed integuments. Considering the discrepancy between the literature data and our clinical experience concerning spontaneous onset of subepidermal blisters in neoformed integuments, we decided to conduct an extensive review of the literature. The main finding ...

The recreational use of gamma hydroxy butyrate (GHB) has gained popularity over the last decade. GHB was initially sold as a safe body building and fat burning compound. It is now also widely abused by body builders and young ravers. GHB attracts young people due the euphoria that it initially ...

BACKGROUND: Mortality from rattlesnake envenomation in the United States is rare. Despite approximately 8000 crotaline (pit vipers) bites annually, it is estimated that only 10 to 15 deaths occur. Besides direct intravascular envenomation and anaphylaxis, bites to the head and neck may account for some of these rare fatalities. We ...

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a heritable group of disorders of connective tissue characterised by skin hyperlaxity, joint hypermobility and tissue fragility. We report on a 49-year-old man with EDS who presented with spontaneous swelling at the root of the right neck during coughing. The size and site of the lesion ...

Solid sodium hydroxide compounds are used to unclog drains. In Turkey, these agents are easily available and commonly used by housewives. They are sold in weak bags and usually stored within these bags. We present the case of an elderly woman with dementia who developed severe alkaline tongue burn and ...

Erythromelalgia is known as a rare syndrome of unknown etiology, characterized by redness with burning pain, edema associated with increased skin temperature in the upper and/or lower extremities. Various treatments such as drug therapies and sympathetic blockade were reported. We report two cases including a 57-year-old woman and a 64-year-old ...

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a rare condition that may follow increases in intrathoracic pressure. Patients may present with symptoms isolated to the head and neck. Although this condition is usually benign, there are other potentially fatal conditions, which often present similarly and clinically are difficult to differentiate from this entity. Despite ...

Consequences of envenomation from the bite of a brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa) range from mild itching to death. The bite of this spider causes the most severe form of arthropod-induced tissue necrosis. These bites pose several challenges to the clinician in that diagnosis can be difficult, systemic manifestations can ...

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been described as a preexisting psychiatric disorder for patients with burns that may have contributed significantly to their injury. The authors are not aware of any studies that have specifically looked at ADHD in burn patients and its role in the injury. A retrospective ...

This paper reviews the literature on deliberate self-burning (DSB) and compares patterns in various countries. Fifty-five studies of deliberate self-harm or suicide by fire published in the last 20 years were reviewed. They reported on 3351 cases of DSB, including 2296 deaths. India had the highest absolute number of cases, ...

Intramuscular myxomas of the head and neck are rare entities. Primarily found in the myocardium, these lesions also affect the bones and soft tissues. We present a case of an intramuscular myxoma of the temporalis muscle. After reviewing the literature, this case constitutes, to our knowledge, the second reported occurrence ...

We report the first record of a Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota) feeding on a long-tongued bat (Glossophaginae) in a secondary forest in southwestern Costa Rica. The motmot incapacitated the bat, then swallowed it alive, head first. Motmots and bats are found in close proximity along river banks where the former ...

Lymphatic malformations (LMs), primarily diagnosed in children, are uncommon in adults. Nevertheless, one should consider LM in one's differential diagnosis in cases of adult neck masses. We report the oldest known patient with an LM, a 91-year-old woman. We also provide a review of the literature encompassing all reported adult ...

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this paper is to increase awareness of electrode burns that occur in the operating room (OR), to discuss their causes, warning signs, and methods that may reduce their occurrence. Two general sources of electrical burns are described: 1) Excessive radio-frequency current density usually originating from a ...

INTRODUCTION: Airbags are intended to minimize facial injuries, alone and when used in combination with seatbelts in high-velocity motor-vehicle accidents. They may occasionally perforate, resulting in the release of sodium azide or sodium hydroxide, which result in chemical burns when in contact with skin. The force of deployment may itself ...

PURPOSE: To report a case of a microwave-oven superheated petroleum-based liquid causing severe chemical and thermal ocular burns treated successfully with amniotic membrane transplantation. DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: Retrospective review of clinical case. RESULTS: A 77-year-old woman sustained a severe combined chemical and thermal burn from microwave-heated Vicks Vapo-Rub ...

Surgical diathermy is an invaluable aid in modern surgery, and most contemporary diathermy machines are considered safe. The literature has proven to be very sparse in terms of reference to complications, although prolonged courses of treatment are required in individual cases. We report a case of burns that occurred during ...

Cryogenic burns are uncommon. We present two patients who presented to a Regional Burns Unit on consecutive days with almost identical burn injuries caused by exposure to a unique source of sub-zero temperature, the spray from an aerosol deodorant. The clinical features and management of the cases are outlined, and ...