Clinical Characteristics of Temporal Bone Metastases

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the clinical characteristics of temporal bone metastasis (TBM) and to determine whether the characteristics differed according to primary malignancy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data on 20 patients diagnosed with TBM between January 2000 and January 2017. Demographics, the period from diagnosis of primary malignancy to TBM diagnosis, the period from TBM diagnosis to death, the type and staging of primary malignancy, otologic manifestations, and TBM sites were assessed. After the primary malignancies were divided into solid cancers and hematologic malignancies, each parameter was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The most common primary malignancy with TBM was lung cancer (45%). The most common otologic symptoms and signs were facial palsy (30.5%) and hearing loss (30.5%). The temporal squama (23%) and the facial nerve (20%) were the most commonly involved. Most TBMs occurred late in the disease process after the primary malignancy first metastasized to other organs. Hematologic malignancies metastasized significantly more frequently to the external auditory canal and the middle ear/mastoid compared to solid cancers (P=0.001 and P=0.004, respectively). CONCLUSION: If otologic manifestations such as facial palsy and hearing loss are presented in patients at advanced stages of malignancy, TBM of primary malignancy should be suspected. In addition, hematologic malignancies tend to metastasize to the external auditory canal and the middle ear cleft more commonly than solid cancers do.

A Case of Scala Vestibuli Cochlear Implantation in Tympanogenic Labyrinthitis Ossificans / 대한이비인후과학회지

Labyrinthitis ossificans (LO) is a pathologic formation of fibrosis and new bone within the lumen of the otic capsule. The LO is a challenging issue in cochlear implantation since obliteration and obstruction of the cochlea make electrode insertion through scala tympani (classic route) difficult. Moreover, tympanomastoidectomy for resolution of chronic otitis media is also simultaneously considered for tympanogenic LO with severe to profound hearing loss because ossification could progress in case of staged or delayed implantation after initial tympanomastoidectomy. We report a patient with tympanogenic LO, who received subtotal petrosectomy with simultaneous cochlear implantation via scala vestibuli instead of the scala tympani for hearing rehabilitation.

Is It Necessary to Examine Precisely about Extrahepatic Duct in Patients with Normal Liver Function Showing EHD Dilatation Alone on Abdominal Ultrasonography? / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It is necessary to study about extrahepatic bile duct (EHD) lesions in cases with abnormal liver function test (LFT) and clinical symptoms, even though abdominal ultrasonography could not find out the bile duct lesions. It is unclear however, whether the precise examination of EHD lesions are necessary in asymptomatic patients with normal liver function showing EHD dilatation without any lesions on abdominal ultrasonography (US). METHODS: We examined prospectively about EHD using endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), followed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in fifty-three patients with normal LFT showing only EHD dilatation on US. The mean EHD diameter on US was 9.1 1.4 mm. RESULTS: The EHD dilatations alone on EUS were 41.5% and the EHD dilatations with lesions were 58.5%. The observed lesions of EHD by EUS were bile duct stones in 32.1%, thickening or stricture of distal bile duct in 17.0%, ampullary mass in 5.7% and CBD polyps in 3.8%. Three cases of ampullary mass were confirmed as 2 cases of T1 ampullary cancer and 1 case of papillitis. Examination by ERCP revealed EHD dilatation alone in 49.1% and bile duct lesions in 50.9%. ERCP could not detect the 2 cases of CBD polyp and 2 cases of distal bile duct thickening. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with normal LFT showing only EHD dilatation on abdominal US, EHD lesions can be detected in high frequency. Therefore, further examination about dilatated EHD should be conducted and for this purpose, EUS is be recommended as a useful tool.