Factors Influencing the Korean Version of the Digit-in-Noise Test

Background and Objectives@#The digits-in-noise (DIN) test was developed as a simple and time-efficient hearing-in-noise test worldwide. The Korean version of the DIN (K-DIN) test was previously validated for both normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners. This study aimed to explore the factors influencing the outcomes of the K-DIN test further by analyzing the threshold (representing detection ability) and slope (representing test difficulty) parameters for the psychometric curve fit. @*Subjects and Methods@#In total, 35 young adults with normal hearing participated in the K-DIN test under the following four experimental conditions: 1) background noise (digit-shaped vs. pink noise); 2) gender of the speaker (male vs. female); 3) ear side (right vs. left); and 4) digit presentation levels (55, 65, 75, and 85 dB). The digits were presented using the method of constant stimuli procedure. Participant responses to the stimulus trials were used to fit a psychometric function, and the threshold and slope parameters were estimated according to pre-determined criteria. The accuracy of fit performance was determined using the root-mean-square error calculation. @*Results@#The listener’s digit detection ability (threshold) was slightly better with pink noise than with digit-shaped noise, with similar test difficulties (slopes) across the digits. Gender and the tested ear side influenced neither the detection ability nor the task difficulty. Additionally, lower presentation levels (55 and 65 dB) elicited better thresholds than the higher presentation levels (75 and 85 dB); however, the test difficulty varied slightly across the presentation levels. @*Conclusions@#The K-DIN test can be influenced by stimulus factors. Continued research is warranted to understand the accuracy and reliability of the test better, especially for its use as a promising clinical measure.

Surgical Outcomes of Sigmoid Sinus Resurfacing for Pulsatile Tinnitus: The Predictive Value of the Water Occlusion Test and Imaging Studies

Objectives@#. Sigmoid sinus resurfacing (SS-R) is one of the most effective surgical treatments for patients with pulsatile tinnitus (PT) originating from anatomical variants of the vascular walls in the temporal bone. This study aimed to provide updated information on the clinical outcomes of SS-R and evaluate the efficacy of the water occlusion test (WOT) as an additional diagnostic modality. @*Methods@#. We retrospectively reviewed medical records including tinnitus questionnaires, temporal bone computed tomography (TBCT) scans, audiologic tests, and preoperative WOT results from patients who underwent SS-R. @*Results@#. In total, 26 patients were included in the study. The mean age was 44 years, and the mean symptom duration was 3 months. Fourteen patients (53.8%) were completely cured, seven (26.9%) significantly improved, and five (19.2%) remained stable. The mean visual analog scale loudness score decreased from 5.26 to 1.34 (P<0.001) and the mean Tinnitus Handicap Inventory score also improved from 50.23 to 5.5 (P<0.001) after SS-R surgery. In 10 patients with discrepancies between the preoperative TBCT and intraoperative findings, WOT showed a significant additive effect in predicting surgical outcomes. No patients experienced severe intraoperative or postoperative complications during the entire follow-up period. @*Conclusion@#. SS-R provides significant symptom improvement in patients with sigmoid sinus dehiscence who had a positive WOT without other sigmoid sinus variants. A combined diagnostic approach with TBCT, WOT, and intraoperative findings is crucial for achieving better surgical outcomes in patients with PT caused by sigmoid sinus variants.

Treatment Efficacy of Various Maneuvers for Lateral Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo With Apogeotropic Nystagmus: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives@#The aim of this study was to determine the most effective treatment approach by comparing the impacts of various otolith reduction techniques in patients with apogeotropic lateral semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (LC-BPPV). @*Methods@#We performed a multicenter randomized prospective study from January to December 2015, involving 72 consecutive patients with apogeotropic LC-BPPV. The patients were divided into three treatment groups: therapeutic head-shaking (group A), the Gufoni-Appiani maneuver (group B), and the cupulolith repositioning maneuver (CuRM; group C). Each group underwent evaluation and treatment up to the fourth week. Treatment success was defined as the disappearance of positional vertigo and nystagmus. @*Results@#This study included 72 patients (49 male and 23 female), with a mean (±standard deviation) age of 55.4±13.5 years. The mean duration of vertigo experienced prior to treatment was 3.9±4.4 days. The mean latency and duration of nystagmus were 2.7±3.0 seconds and 47.9±15.8 seconds, respectively. The overall treatment frequency was 2.0±0.9. The number of treatments differed significantly among the three groups (P0.05). However, CuRM was the only method with a 100% treatment success rate. @*Conclusion@#While no clear difference was observed among the three treatments for LC-BPPV, CuRM was found to be superior to the other approaches in the long term.

Safety and Efficacy of Mastoidoplasty With Demineralized Bone Matrix in Canal Wall Down Mastoidectomy: A Pilot Study / 대한이비인후과학회지

Background and Objectives@#The canal wall down mastoidectomy brings changes in the anatomy of the external auditory canal (EAC), causing potential problems, such as accumulated crust, vertigo attacks, and difficulties in wearing hearing aids (HAs). The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of mastoidoplasty using the demineralized bone matrix (DBM) to obliterate the mastoidectomized cavity and reconstruct EAC.Subjects and Method Medical records of patients with chronic otitis media with or without cholesteatoma who received mastoidoplasty using DBM by a single surgeon at Seoul St. Mary’s hospital between 2014 and 2021 were reviewed retrospectively. @*Results@#A total of 27 patients were included in this study. None of the patients showed any recurrence of cavity problem, wound infection, or any other complications during their followup period of 13.07±37 months. The average air and bone conduction hearing level of pure tone audiometry showed no significant change after surgery (p=0.50, p=0.54, respectively). Five patients indicated for hearing rehabilitation could adopt canal type HAs after surgery; six patients used completely-in-the canal type HAs, and one patient used in-the-canal type HAs. None of the patients using HAs complained of acoustic feedback or any other problem in wearing HAs. @*Conclusion@#Mastoidoplasty using DBM seems to be a very safe and effective surgical procedure that shows functionally acceptable EAC for hearing rehabilitation with canal type HAs and demonstrates no specific complication.

Efficacy of the Digit-in-Noise Test: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and Objectives@#Although the digit-in-noise (DIN) test is simple and quick, little is known about its key factors. This study explored the considerable components of the DIN test through a systematic review and meta-analysis. @*Materials and Methods@#After six electronic journal databases were screened, 14 studies were selected. For the meta-analysis, standardized mean difference was used to calculate effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals. @*Results@#The overall result of the meta-analysis showed an effect size of 2.224. In a subgroup analysis, the patient’s hearing status was found to have the highest effect size, meaning that the DIN test was significantly sensitive to screen for hearing loss. In terms of the length of the presenting digits, triple digits had lower speech recognition thresholds (SRTs) than single or pairs of digits. Among the types of background noise, speech-spectrum noise provided lower SRTs than multi-talker babbling. Regarding language variance, the DIN test showed better performance in the patient’s native language(s) than in other languages. @*Conclusions@#When uniformly developed and well validated, the DIN test can be a universal tool for hearing screening.

Effect of Hearing Rehabilitation Therapy Program in Hearing Aid Users: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

Objectives@#. Despite sufficient hearing gains, many patients with hearing loss have difficulty using hearing aids due to poor word recognition ability. This study was performed to introduce our hearing rehabilitation therapy (HRT) program for hearing aid users and to evaluate its effect on hearing improvement. @*Methods@#. In this prospective randomized case-control study, 37 participants with moderate or moderate-severe sensorineural hearing loss who had used bilateral hearing aids for more than 3 months with sufficient functional hearing gain were enrolled in this study. Nineteen participants were randomly assigned to the control group (CG) and 18 patients were assigned to participate in our HRT program once a week for 8 consecutive weeks (hearing rehabilitation therapy group [HRTG]). Their hearing results and questionnaire scores for hearing handicap and hearing aid outcomes were prospectively collected and compared between the two groups. @*Results@#. After completing 8 weeks of the HRT program, the HRTG showed a significantly greater improvement in scores for consonant-only and consonant-vowel sound perception than the CG (P<0.05). In addition, the HRTG showed a significant improvement in hearing ability as measured by two questionnaires (p<0.05), while no differences were observed in the CG. However, word and sentence recognition test results did not show significant differences between the two groups. @*Conclusion@#. Even after short-term HRT, patients had subjectively better hearing outcomes and improved phoneme perception ability; this provides scientific evidence regarding a possible positive role for HRT programs in hearing aid users. Further validation in a larger population through a long-term follow-up study is needed.

Advantages of Cold-knife Dissection with Adjunctive Suction Cauterization Adenotonsillectomy: A Useful and Safe Surgical Technique for Pediatric Patients / 대한이비인후과학회지

Background and Objectives@#To introduce cold-knife dissection with adjunctive suction cauterization (CDASC) technique for pediatric adenotonsillectomy and to evaluate the advantages of this technique through short and long-term follow-up results.Subjects and Method Enrolled in the study were 492 subjects with a mean age of 6.5 years, who underwent adenotonsillectomy via the CDASC technique. Surgical outcomes were evaluated through the postoperative bleeding rate, days of normal diet (as a measure of pain), and improvement of obstructive symptoms at regular follow-up visits. Intraoral photography and lateral neck radiography were analyzed for long-term surgical outcomes. @*Results@#None of the enrolled patients revisited the hospital due to hemorrhage, indicating 0% immediate and delayed postoperative bleeding with this surgical technique. Most of the patients showed normal diet consumption and activity within 3 days. Postoperative intraoral photography after 6 and 12 months were graded as normal (grade 0) in 77.5% and 79.7% of the enrolled patients, respectively. Postoperative adenoid to nasopharyngeal ratios were significantly reduced (p<0.05) and no recurrence of snoring and adenoid regrowth were demonstrated during the follow-up period of 12 months. @*Conclusion@#Our CDASC technique seems to have several advantages including less postoperative pain, no postoperative bleeding, less scarring, and no recurrence of preoperative symptoms. We suggest that our CDASC technique is a very useful, safe, and effective method of surgery for pediatric adenotonsillectomy.

A Comparison Between the Korean Digits-in-Noise Test and the Korean Speech Perception-in-Noise Test in Normal-Hearing and Hearing-Impaired Listeners

Background and Objectives@#The purpose of the present study was to validate the performance and diagnostic efficacy of the Korean digits-in-noise (K-DIN) test in comparison to the Korean speech perception-in-noise (K-SPIN) test, which is the representative speech-in-noise test in clinical practice. @*Subjects and Methods@#Twenty-seven subjects (15 normal-hearing and 12 hearing-impaired listeners) participated. The recorded Korean 0-9 digits were used to form quasirandom digit triplets; 50 target digit triplets were presented at the most comfortable level of each subject while presenting speech-shaped background noise at various levels of signal-to-noise ratios (-12.5, -10, -5, or +5 dB). Subjects were then instructed to listen to both target and noise masker unilaterally and bilaterally through a headphone. K-SPIN test was also conducted using the same procedure as the K-DIN. After calculating their percent correct responses, K-DIN and K-SPIN results were compared using a Pearson-correlation test. @*Results@#Results showed a statistically significant correlation between K-DIN and K-SPIN in all hearing conditions (left: r=0.814, p<0.001; right: r=0.788, p<0.001; bilateral: r=0.727, p<0.001). Moreover, the K-DIN test achieved better testing efficacy, shorter average listening time (5 min vs. 30 min), and easier performance of task according to participants’ qualitative reports than the K-SPIN test. @*Conclusions@#In this study, the Korean version of digit triplet test was validated in both normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners. The findings suggest that the K-DIN test can be used as a simple and time-efficient hearing-in-noise test in audiology clinics in Korea.

Therapeutic Efficacy of the Modified Epley Maneuver With a Pillow Under the Shoulders

Objectives@#. Canalolithiasis of the posterior semicircular canal (PC) is the most common reason for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). If a patient is diagnosed with PC-BPPV through the Dix-Hallpike test, the modified Epley maneuver (mEpley) is used as the gold standard treatment. To reduce the discomfort of the standard mEpley, we proposed placing a pillow under the shoulders during this therapeutic maneuver. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the therapeutic efficacy of the mEpley with a pillow under the shoulders (mEpley-PS) was comparable to that of the standard mEpley. @*Methods@#. A randomized controlled study at three academic referral hospitals was conducted in compliance with the CONSORT statement. Patients who were diagnosed with PC-BPPV through the Dix-Hallpike test were randomly assigned to groups A or B. Patients in groups A and B were treated with the standard mEpley and mEpley-PS, respectively. The resolution of vertigo and nystagmus on the Dix-Hallpike test at a 1-week follow-up after treatment was the main outcome measurement to assess the efficacy of treatment. @*Results@#. Forty-one patients diagnosed with PC-BPPV were enrolled in this study. Twenty-one patients were assigned to group A and 20 were assigned to group B. The success rate at 1 week after treatment was 85.7% in group A and 80.0% in group B. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P=0.697). @*Conclusion@#. The therapeutic efficacy of the mEpley-PS was comparable to that of the standard mEpley. The use of the pillow modification may be an excellent alternative if a patient cannot tolerate the head-hanging position, and it is helpful for patients who have anxiety about the head-hanging position. The mEpley-PS can be performed on a bed with or without a headboard. It is both a patient-friendly and a clinician-friendly maneuver.

Impact of the Preoperative Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio on Patients with Head and Neck Cancer / 대한이비인후과학회지

Background and Objectives@#To investigate the prognostic value of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC).Subjects and Method Clinical data from 259 patients with HNSCC were collected retrospectively. NLR was adopted as potential prognostic biomarkers. @*Results@#NLR was associated with cancer recurrence (p=0.002 and p＜0.001, respectively). Patients with a NLR ＞2.15 had significantly decreased 5-year disease specific survival (DSS) based on the Kaplan-Meier survival curves (p＜0.001 and p=0.029, respectively). The Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed a significant association between 5-year DSS and the NLR (using 2.15 as the cut-off; hazard ratio, 1.852; 95% confidence interval, 1.237-2.771; p= 0.003). @*Conclusion@#A NLR cut-off value ≥2.15 was associated with adverse outcomes in patients with HNSCC.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Ototoxic Sensorineural Hearing Loss / 대한이비인후과학회지

Background and Objectives@#Ototoxic sensorineural hearing loss causes permanent hearing loss in most cases. Recently there have been many reports describing cell base therapy with stem cells that has some effect on hearing recovery. We evaluated the efficacy of clinical grade, pre-made, human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in ototoxic deaf animal model.Materials and Method BM-MSCs were cultured in a clinical grade laboratory. The animals were divided into 2 groups as follows: a saline injected control group and a stem cell injected group (MSC-group). Cultured MSCs were transplanted into the brachial vein of the deaf mice model. We recorded auditory brainstem response (ABR) and conducted immunohistochemistry at 1, 3, and 5 weeks. @*Results@#After the transplantation of MSC, a significant improvement in the hearing threshold of ABR was observed in the MSC transplanted group. Five weeks after transplantation of MSCs, hair cell regeneration was confirmed from the basal to the apex of the cochlea in fluorescent dyed image under the microscope compared to the control group. @*Conclusion@#BM-MSCs were effective in an acute ototoxic deaf animal model. These results show that stem cell transplantation mediate inner ear regeneration.

The Association between Sleep Duration and Dizziness in Korean Women: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between sleep duration and dizziness in a representative Korean population. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2010–2012). A total of 12,499 adults who completed otolaryngologic examinations were evaluated. RESULTS: Both men and women with severely short sleep duration (≤ 5 hours) and severely long sleep duration (≥ 9 hours) tended to have higher dizziness prevalence. However, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for sleep duration was only significant in women with dizziness after adjusting for confounders. Compared to that in an optimal sleep group (6–8 hr/day), the OR (95% confidence interval) for dizziness prevalence after adjusting for age and health behaviors (body mass index, smoking habit, alcohol consumption, level of exercise, metabolic syndrome, and tinnitus) was 1.473 (1.194–1.818) for the severely short sleep group (≤ 5 hr/day) and 1.472 (1.078–2.009) for the severely long sleep group (≥ 9 hr/day) only in women. CONCLUSION: In the Korean population, dizziness was associated with shorter or longer sleep durations only among women. Further epidemiologic and experimental studies are necessary to clarify the impact of dizziness on sleep disorders.

Analysis of Relationship between Reflux Symptom Index and Psychiatric Problems / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the relationship between reflux symptom index (RSI) and psychiatric problems such as depression, somatization, and anxiety. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We prospectively analyzed 231 patients with symptoms with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) using the RSI and the reflux finding score. RESULTS: Seventy nine patients (34.2%) were diagnosed with LPR. A significant correlation was detected between the RSI and depression (18.4±8.3 vs. 12.3±7.0, p < 0.001), anxiety (19.5±8.5 vs. 13.0±7.3, p < 0.001), and somatization (19.2±9.1 vs. 13.6±7.5, p < 0.001). A multivariate analysis confirmed a significant association between heartburn and depression [odds ratio (OR): 1.241, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.003–1.537, p=0.047], choking and anxiety (OR: 1.747, 95% CI: 1.297–2.352, p < 0.001), and choking and somatization (OR: 1.707, 95% CI: 1.248–2.336, p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results suggest that patients with high RSI may need to be carefully evaluated for psychiatric problems.

Microbiological Results From Middle Ear Effusion in Pediatric Patients Receiving Ventilation Tube Insertion: Multicenter Registry Study on the Effectiveness of Ventilation Tube Insertion in Pediatric Patients With Chronic Otitis Media With Effusion: Part

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this multicenter registry study was to investigate the effectiveness of ventilation tube insertion and the microbiology of otitis media with effusion (OME) in children. This part I study was conducted to evaluate the microbiological profile of children with OME who needed ventilation tube insertion. METHODS: Patients < 15 years old who were diagnosed as having OME and received ventilation tube insertion were prospectively enrolled in 16 tertiary hospitals from June 2014 to December 2016. After excluding patients with missing data, the data of 397 patients were analyzed among a total of 433 enrolled patients. The clinical symptoms, findings of the tympanic membrane, hearing level, and microbiological findings were collected. RESULTS: In 103 patients (25.9%), antibiotics were used within 3 weeks before surgery. Ventilation tube insertion was performed in a total of 710 ears (626 in both ears in 313 patients, 55 in the left ear only, and 29 in the right ear only). Culture of middle ear effusion was done in at least one ear in 221 patients (55.7%), and in a total of 346 ears. Only 46 ears (13.3%) showed positive results in middle ear effusion culture. Haemophilus influenzae (17.3%, followed by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and Staphylococcus auricularis) was the most common bacteria detected. CONCLUSION: H. influenzae was the most commonly found bacteria in middle ear effusion. Relatively low rates of culture positivity were noted in middle ear effusion of patients with OME in Korea.

Long-Term Recurrence Rates of Peptic Ulcers without Helicobacter pylori

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study is to investigate the recurrence rate of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) over a long follow-up period with PUD patients without Helicobacter pylori. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with PUD on endoscopy and divided them into two groups: a H. pylori-negative group (HP-negative group), and a group of patients with untreated H. pylori (HP noneradicated group). We compared the recurrence rates of PUD in these two groups and analyzed the factors that affected ulcer recurrence. RESULTS: Total of nine hospitals in Korea participated, and a total of 1,761 patients were retrospectively reviewed. The HP-negative group included 553 patients, and the HP noneradicated group included 372 patients. The 5-year cumulative probabilities of PUD recurrence were 36.4% in the HP-negative group and 43.8% in the HP noneradicated group (p=0.113). The factors that were found to affect recurrence in the HP-negative group were elder, male, and comorbid chronic kidney disease. CONCLUSIONS: The 5-year cumulative probability of PUD recurrence without H. pylori infection after a long-term follow-up was 36.4% and the factors that affected recurrence were elder, male, and comorbid chronic kidney disease.

Cochlear Implantation after Subtotal Petrosectomy in Patients with Chronic Otitis Media / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the surgical and rehabilitative results of cochlear implantation combined with subtotal petrosectomy in patients with chronic otitis media. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of nine adult patients (7 men and 2 woman; mean age 58.9 years), who were operated between 2004 and 2014. Out of the nine, seven patients received simultaneous cochlear implantation and subtotal petrosectomy and two patients were operated by stage depending on the condition of the middle ear. All cases underwent closure of the external auditory canal and Eustachian tube, and the obliteration of mastoid cavity using abdominal fat. Surgical outcomes and performance of the patients after cochlear implantation were analyzed. RESULTS: Middle ear inflammation was completely managed with this surgical technique. No patients showed postoperative symptoms related to otitis media after the surgery. Cochlear implant was successfully replaced and active electrodes were fully inserted in all of the cases. There were no immediate complications including abscess, infection, meningitis, cerebrospinal fluid leakage and ear canal problem. One patient was observed with delayed extrusion of the ball electrode, which was replaced with cartilage reinforcement under local anesthesia. Patient performance, measured in terms of speech evaluation and quality of life during the medical interview, were successful and satisfactory. CONCLUSION: Cochlear implantation with subtotal petrosectomy seems to be very safe and effective for patients deafened by chronic otitis media. Long term follow-ups for possible extrusion of the electrode or other complications are still necessary.

Assessment of Age-Related Dimensions of the Salivary and Thyroid Glands Using Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography in Children / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the dimensions of normal salivary and thyroid glands and assess their relationship with respect to age and sex using three-dimensional imaging in children. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: One hundred twenty patients were divided into four age groups: group 1 (0-5 years), group 2 (6-10 years), group 3 (11-15 years), and group 4 (16-20 years). The volume, thickness, width, and length of the each gland were measured. RESULTS: The parotid glands exhibited a growth spurt in group 2. There were no differences between genders for parameters of the parotid gland in groups 1, 2, and 3 except in group 4. The length of submandibular gland exhibited a monomodal growth pattern, which increased until 20-years-of-age. There was a significant difference of volume and thickness between the right and left thyroid gland in all groups. CONCLUSION: Volume and other parameters of the salivary and thyroid gland increase with age.

Emphysematous Gastritis with Concomitant Portal Venous Air / 대한소화기학회지

Emphysematous gastritis is a rare form of gastritis caused by infection of the stomach wall by gas forming bacteria. It is a very rare condition that carries a high mortality rate. Portal venous gas shadow represents elevation of intestinal luminal pressure which manifests as emphysematous gastritis or gastric emphysema. Literature reviews show that the mortality rate is especially high when portal venous gas shadow is present on CT scan. Until recently, the treatment of emphysematous gastritis has been immediate surgical intervention. However, there is a recent trend of avoiding surgery because of the frequent occurrence of post-operative complications such as anastomosis leakage. In addition, aggressive surgical treatment has failed to show significant improvement in prognosis. Recently, the authors experienced a case of emphysematous gastritis accompanied by portal venous gas which was treated successfully by conservative treatment without immediate surgical intervention. Herein, we present a case of emphysematous gastritis with concomitant portal venous air along with literature review.

Current Trends in the Assessment of Patients with Tinnitus and the Proposal of Tinnitus Assessment in Korea / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The effective management of tinnitus should start with an accurate diagnosis, but no concensus has been developed in Korea concerning how to measure the features of tinnitus. This study surveyed otologists in the training hospitals and hospitals specialized in otologic care in Korea to identify the current status in the assessment of patients with tinnitus. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The questionnaire on the assessment of tinnitus was sent by email to otologists in training and to specialized hospitals specializing in otologics in Korea. The questionnaire included inquiry about various types of tests conducted, such as the audiologic test, tinnitus test, blood test, radiologic test, and the methods of history taking and physical examination for somatic tinnitus. RESULTS: Regarding the audiologic assessment of tinnitus, all the otologist were using pure tone audiometry, 97% speech audiometry, and 87% tinnitus test. For the psychophysical measure of tinnitus, both loudness and pitch matching were conducted by all the otologists. The performance rate of blood test were 38.5%, and the most preferred radiologic test in pulsatile tinnitus was temporal bone computed tomography (59%). Finally, the rate of investigation including the history taking and physical examination of somatic tinnitus was between 74-84%. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that although the tests perfermed by otologists varied, the essential tests for assessing tinnitus were commonly practiced. We analyzed the current status of tinnitus assessment and supplemented guidlines to help measure tinnitus. Further concensus on tinnitus diagnosis is needed, particularly about the standadized and unified principles.

A Case of Descending Thoracic and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm with Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a systemic inflammatory disorder that affects the axial skeleton. It often involves the extra-articular organs. Cardiovascular involvement is one of the extra-articular manifestations, which is mostly represented by aortic root, valvular heart disease, and conduction disturbances. An aortic sclerosing inflammatory process induces aortic root thickening and rigidity. An aortic aneurysmal change is a rare complication that often leads to life threatening conditions. A few cases regarding aortic aneurysm have been reported, but there are no reported cases in Korea. We report the first case of descending thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis.