Abstract Introduction Adolescents with cochlear implants may have difficulty developing language and memory abilities. Objective The primary objectives of this study are (1) to evaluate the language skills and verbal working memory performance of early and late diagnosed-intervened cochlear implanted adolescents and (2) to investigate the relationship between the verbal working memory and phonemic analysis skills in adolescents with cochlear implant. Methods This study included 72 participants with cochlear implant aged between 10 and 18 years. The participants were divided into two groups; those who had first hearing aid at the age of 6 months at the latest and had a first cochlear implant in at least one ear at the latest at 24 months were included in the early group, all the others were in the late group. The phonemic analysis test, a subtest of the test of language development: Primary, 4th edition (TOLD: P-4) – Turkish version, was used to assess language-based abilities, and the meaningless word repetition (MWR) test was utilized to assess verbal working memory. Results The adolescents with cochlear implants who received early diagnosis and intervention performed statistically significantly better in phonemic analysis scores and verbal working memory tests (p < 0.001). A statistically significant relationship was found between phonemic analysis and verbal working memory skills (Pearson, r = 0.567 and r = 0.659, p < 0.001). Conclusions Rehabilitation of phonological skills can contribute to the development of verbal working memory in adolescents with cochlear implants. There is a need for further studies on this issue with more detailed tests.

Resumo Introdução Paragangliomas do osso temporal (POT) são tumores benignos derivados de células da crista neural localizados ao longo do bulbo jugular e do plexo timpânico. Em geral, a excisão cirúrgica, a radioterapia e os protocolos de acompanhamento com estudos por imagem são as principais modalidades de conduta para o POT. Objetivo Apresentar nossa experiência clínica com POT e revisar os dados da literatura. Método Os pacientes que foram submetidos a cirurgia para paraganglioma timpanomastoideo (PTM) ou paraganglioma timpanojugular (PTJ) em nossa clínica nos últimos 15 anos foram incluídos no estudo. Realizou-se retrospectivamente uma revisão detalhada dos prontuários dos pacientes. Resultados Houve 18 (52,9%) casos com PTM e 16 (47,1%) com PTJ, portanto, um total de 34 pacientes operados para POT nesse período. A idade média foi de 50,3 ± 11,7 (intervalo de 25-71 anos). Os sinais e sintomas de apresentação mais comuns foram o zumbido e perda auditiva, tanto para PTM quanto para PTJ. A ressecção tumoral completa foi obtida em 17 (94,4%) e 10 (62,5%) casos para PTM e PTJ, respectivamente. Cinco pacientes (31,2%) com PTJ apresentaram paralisia facial decorrente da cirurgia. Para todos os pacientes o tempo médio de seguimento foi de 25,8 meses (intervalo 4-108). Conclusão Com base nos nossos dados e na revisão da literatura, a excisão cirúrgica total isolada ou com embolização pré-operatória é a principal modalidade de tratamento para POT. No entanto, a radioterapia, o protocolo de observação e a ressecção subtotal devem ser considerados no caso de nervos cranianos funcionais no pré-operatório, grandes tumores e idade avançada.

Abstract Introduction Temporal bone paragangliomas (TBPs) are benign tumors arising from neural crest cells located along the jugular bulbus and the tympanic plexus. In general surgical excision, radiotherapy and wait-and-scan protocols are the main management modalities for TBPs. Objective In this paper we aim to present our clinical experience with TBPs and to review literature data. Methods The patients who were operated for tympanomastoid paraganglioma (TMP) or tympanojugular paraganglioma (TJP) in our clinic in the last 15 years were enrolled in the study. A detailed patient's charts review was performed retrospectively. Results There were 18 (52.9%) cases with TMPs and 16 (47.1%) cases with TJPs, a total of 34 patients operated for TBPs in this time period. The mean age was 50.3 ± 11.7 (range 25-71 years). The most common presenting symptoms were tinnitus and hearing loss for both TMPs and TJPs. Gross total tumor resection was achieved in 17 (94.4%) and 10 (62.5%) cases for TMPs and TJPs, respectively. Five patients (31.2%) with TJP experienced facial palsy following the operation. For all the patients the mean follow-up period was 25.8 months (range 4-108 months). Conclusion In conclusion, based on our findings and literature review, total surgical excision alone or with preoperative embolization is the main treatment modality for TBPs. However radiotherapy, observation protocol and subtotal resection must be considered in cases of preoperative functioning cranial nerves, large tumors and advanced age.