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Dysphagia is a clinical condition that disrupts the normal swallowing mechanism. This affliction can negatively affect an individual’s quality of life as it impedes adequate eating, nutrition, and hydration. Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a highly prevalent condition and is usually caused by impairment of the complex and integrated pharyngeal and upper esophageal systems. There are several potential causes, including neurologic, myopathic, metabolic, inflammatory, autoimmune, infectious, structural, iatrogenic, and psychiatric diseases. The various anatomical problems in the oral cavity, pharynx, and esophagus can lead to oropharyngeal dysphagia. The hypopharynx is the subregion of the pharynx that prevents food from entering the larynx and transports it safely to the esophagus. The upper esophagus is an important anatomical region involved in swallowing, which allows foods and liquids to pass into the esophagus. Anatomical abnormalities of the hypopharynx and upper esophagus result in oropharyngeal dysphagia. In the current article, we discuss the various anatomical abnormalities of the hypopharynx and upper esophagus that lead to oropharyngeal dysphagia, while focusing on common anatomical problems.
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The Korean Bronchoesophagological Society appointed a task force to develop a clinical practice guideline for tracheostomy. The task force conducted a systematic search of the Embase, Medline, Cochrane Library, and KoreaMed databases to identify relevant articles, using search terms selected according to key questions. Evidence-based recommendations for practice were ranked according to the American College of Physicians grading system. An external expert review and a Delphi questionnaire were conducted to reach a consensus regarding the recommendations. Accordingly, the committee developed 18 evidence-based recommendations, which are grouped into seven categories. These recommendations are intended to assist clinicians in performing tracheostomy and in the management of tracheostomized patients.
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No abstract available.
Subject(s)
Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus , Herpes Zoster , OphthalmoplegiaABSTRACT
BACKGROUND@#Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis during early childhood may lead to disturbances in growth and facial asymmetry and to serious difficulties in eating as well as in breathing during sleep. The purpose of this study is to describe the effectiveness of an interocclusal splint (IOS) for active mouth opening exercises in the treatment of TMJ ankylosis.@*METHODS@#A total of nine patients with 13 instances of TMJ ankylosis from 2008 to 2010 were included in this study, of which five patients were male and four patients were female. Five patients demonstrated unilateral ankylosis, while five patients showed bilateral symptoms. Ankylosed mass resection with coronoidectomy, fibrotic scar release, and resection of stylohyoid ligament calcification was performed with gap arthroplasty without an interpositional graft, and all patients were assessed for maximum mouth opening (MMO) during a mean 6.6-year follow-up period.@*RESULTS@#All patients were subjected to postoperative mouth opening exercises from the day of the operation with the help of an IOS, which was based on an impression taken during surgery. All patients were sufficiently comfortable moving their mandible according to the IOS's guiding plane and impingement, and satisfactory results were achieved, in which MMO was improved by 35 mm more than 6 years after surgery.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Complete and adequate resection of the ankylosed mass and postoperative active mouth opening exercises are essential in the treatment of TMJ ankylosis. Moreover, a more comfortable mouth opening guide and interdigitation can be achieved using an IOS, and newly organized fibrosis in the gap space between the newly made resected condylar head and temporal fossa can be suggested.
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Riedel's thyroiditis is a rare fibrotic condition that results in the destruction of the thyroid and infiltration into surrounding tissues. The exact etiology is not yet clear, although systemic fibrosing disorder, a variant of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, a primary inflammatory disorder of the thyroid, and even a manifestation of end-stage subacute thyroiditis has been suggested. Although various treatments have been applied, no definitive treatment has yet been established. We report a case of Riedel's thyroiditis treated without complications using microscopic surgery. A 54-year-old man visited our clinic presenting with neck tightness and a left neck mass. A gun biopsy revealed a benign thyroid mass, although the radiologic findings showed a malignant thyroid tumor with invasion into the trachea and strap muscles. The patient underwent a left hemi-thyroidectomy and shaving of the trachea, esophagus and recurrent laryngeal nerve under microscopy. The final pathology revealed Riedel's thyroiditis combined with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The patient had symptomatic relief without vocal fold paralysis and hypocalcemia. Surgical treatment using microscopic dissection can be considered to be one of treatment option for Riedel's thyroiditis.
Subject(s)
Humans , Middle Aged , Biopsy , Esophagus , Hypocalcemia , Microscopy , Microsurgery , Muscles , Neck , Paralysis , Pathology , Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve , Thyroid Gland , Thyroiditis , Thyroiditis, Subacute , Trachea , Vocal CordsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To identify post-operative computed tomography (CT) findings associated with delayed flap failures following head and neck cancer surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 60 patients who underwent flap reconstruction after head and neck cancer surgery and post-operative (3–14 days) contrast-enhanced CT scans for suspected complications. Patients were divided into two groups: delayed flap failure patients (patients required flap revision) (n = 18) and flap success patients (n = 42). Clinical data (age, sex, T-stage, type of flap, and time interval between reconstruction surgery and CT) and post-operative CT findings of flap status (maximum dimension of the flap, intra- or peri-flap fluid collection and intra- or peri-flap air collection, fat infiltration within the flap, fistula to adjacent aerodigestive tract or skin, and enhanced vascular pedicle) were assessed and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: CT findings showed that the following flap anomalies were observed more frequently in the delayed flap failure group than in the flap success group: intra- or peri-flap fluid collection > 4 cm (61.1% vs. 23.8%, p 2 cm (61.1% vs. 2.4%, p < 0.001), and fistula to adjacent aerodigestive tract or skin (44.4% vs. 0%, p < 0.001). The maximum dimension of the flap, fat infiltration within the flap, and enhanced vascular pedicle were not associated with delayed flap failures. CONCLUSION: A large amount of fluid or air collection and fistula are the CT findings that were associated with delayed flap failures in patients with suspected post-operative complications after head and neck cancer surgery.
Subject(s)
Humans , Fistula , Head and Neck Neoplasms , Head , Plastic Surgery Procedures , Retrospective Studies , Skin , Surgical Flaps , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Tinea incognito is the dermatophytoses of atypical clinical appearance that is induced by topical and systemic steroid treatment or topical calcineurin inhibitor. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and etiological aspects of tinea incognito. METHODS: In the 10-year-period 2007-2017, we reviewed fifty-one patients with tinea incognito with regards to the age, gender, duration, and associated diseases. The patients with tinea incognito were further evaluated concerning the clinical manifestations and culture of organisms. RESULTS: Age of the tinea incognito was most prevalent in the fifties (23.5%). The male-to-female ratio was 1:1.3. The most common type of infection was tinea corporis (52.9%), followed by tinea faciei (35.3%), tinea manus (5.9%), tinea barbae (3.5%), and tinea cruris (2.0%). The clinical features were to some extent diverse, ranging from eczema-like, seborrheic dermatitis-like, psoriasiform, folliculitis-like, rosacea-like, pyoderma-like, and purpura-like, and discoid lupus erythematosus-like. Trichophyton(T.) rubrum was the most common etiological agent (35.3%), followed by T. mentagrophytes (11.8%), Microsporum(M.) canis (7.8%), T. verrucosum (5.9%), T. erinacei, and M. gypseum (2.0%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Because of the increase in tinea incognito, there is a need for careful mycological examination in patients with tinea incognito.
Subject(s)
Humans , Calcineurin , TineaABSTRACT
Majocchi's granuloma is a well recognized but uncommon infection of dermal and subcutaneous layers that is caused by fungal organism. It often presents as plaques and papules on areas where trauma is common. Majocchi's granuloma appears usually in immunocompromised patient but can also appear in immunocompetent patient. Tinea incognito appears in various forms of skin diseases, but it is rarely presented as Majocchi's granuloma. We report a case of trichophytic granuloma of the knee caused by Trichophyton(T.) rubrum in a 70-year-old male, who showed a pruritic, 7.0 × 2.0 cm sized, erythematous scaly patches with multiple papules on the right knee for 2 months. Fungal culture of the biopsy specimen grew out typical white cottony colonies of T. rubrum. The nucleotide sequence of internal transcribed spacer for clinical isolate was identical to that of T. rubrum strain ATCC 52013 (GenBank accession number KX092384.1). Histiologic examination showed chronic granulomatous inflammation and fungal elements in the dermis. After one month of itraconazole 200 mg/day and sertaconzole cream treatment, the lesion was completely cleared.
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Microspoum canis is a zoophilic dermatophyte that is often transmitted to humans from cats and dogs. It has become one of the most important causative agents in tinea capitis ane kerion celsi. Tinea capitis is uncommon in an adult. Moreover, tinea capitis caused by Microspoum canis is rare in an elderly. The location of the lesion and the clinical course of tinea capitis might have led physicians into misdiagnosis as the seborrheic dermatitis. Therefore, we report this case to emphasize the importance of KOH mount and fungal culture of the skin lesions mimicking seborrheic dermatitis. We report a case of tinea capitis caused by Microspoum canis in a 79-year-old woman. The lesions were manifested by fine scaly erythematous patches on the fronto-vertex scalp for 2 weeks. She was diagnosed as seborrheic dermatitis in local clinic and was treated with topical steroid. However, the lesion was not improved. She kept a cat as a pet. Culture from biopsy specimen on Sabouraud's dextrose agar showed typical cottony colonies of Microspoum canis. The nucleotide sequence of internal transcribed spacer for clinical isolate was identical to that of Arthroderma otae strain ATCC 23828 (GenBank accession number AY213657). She was treated with 200 mg of oral itraconazole daily for 12 weeks. The skin lesions improved after treatment, and recurrence has not been observed.
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Kerion celsi is a severe inflammatory type of tinea capitis that presents as a boggy mass studded with broken hairs, oozing purulent material from follicular orifices. This infection is caused most commonly by zoophilic or geophilic pathogens. Trichophyton(T.) rubrum is an anthropophilic dermatophyte that is found all over the world. It has become one of the most important causative agents in tinea unguium and tinea pedis. But, kerion celsi caused by T. rubrum is rare. Kerion celsi is uncommon in adult. We report a case of kerion celsi caused by T. rubrum in a 72-year-old woman. She presented with localized tender erythematous plaques with pustules with oozing purulent material on the frontal scalp. A fungal culture from tissue of the lesions was grown on Sabouraud's dextrose agar and showed typical whitish cottony colonies of T. rubrum. The nucleotide sequence of internal transcribed spacer region for clinical isolate was identical to that of T. rubrum strain UZ1588_14 (GenBank accession number KP326579.1). She was treated with 200 mg of oral itraconazole daily for 3 months. The skin lesions improved 1 month after treatment, and recurrence has not been observed.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Agar , Arthrodermataceae , Base Sequence , Glucose , Hair , Itraconazole , Onychomycosis , Recurrence , Scalp , Skin , Tinea Capitis , Tinea Pedis , TrichophytonABSTRACT
Onychomycosis is caused by dermatophytes usually, but some species of nondermatophytic molds and yeasts are also associated with invasion of nails. Aspergillus(A.) terreus is a nondermatophytic mold which is opportunistic filamentous fungus in all environments. We report a case of onychomycosis caused by A. terreus in a 60-year-old male. The patient showed brownish yellow discoloration with hyperkeratotic change on the distal and lateral portion of both toenails. Direct microscopic examination of scraping on the potassium hydroxide preparation revealed septate hyphae and repeated cultures on Sabouraud's dextrose agar showed the velvety, cinnamon brown colonies. Biseriate and compactly columnar phialides that cover upper vesicle with conidial structure were shown in the slide culture. The DNA sequence of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of clinical sample was 99% match to that of A. terreus strain ATCC 20542 (GenBank accession number GU256759.1). We confirmed A. terreus by KOH mount, colony, light microscopic morphology and DNA sequence analysis. The patient was treated with 200 mg oral itraconazole daily and topical 5% amorolfine nail lacquer for 3 months.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Agar , Arthrodermataceae , Aspergillus , Base Sequence , Cinnamomum zeylanicum , Fungi , Glucose , Hyphae , Itraconazole , Lacquer , Nails , Onychomycosis , Potassium , Sequence Analysis, DNA , YeastsABSTRACT
One complication related to local anesthesia in the dental clinic is a broken needle. Although rare, a broken needle may be difficult to retrieve. Dental radiographs and 3D CT have been used in the past to confirm the location of a broken needle. We present the case of a broken needle, which was successfully removed using a careful, microscopic approach.
Subject(s)
Anesthesia, Local , Dental Clinics , NeedlesABSTRACT
Rhinogenic headache is a headache or facial pain syndrome secondary to mucosal contact points or rhinogenic causes in the absence of rhinitis/sinusitis. The authors report a case of atypical rhinogenic headache in a 72-year-old woman who presented with recurrent right side headache, which was aggravated by nasal breathing. A computed tomographic scan showed no evidence of rhinosinusitis and mucosal contact points. However, during nasal endoscopy, she had multiple pain-trigger points on the septum and lateral nasal wall. Treatment involved endoscopic reduction and radiofrequency diathermy of the pain-trigger point. Postoperatively, the headache was successfully relieved, and there was no evidence of recurrence. In this article, the authors present surgical option for the treatment of atypical rhinogenic headache.
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Diathermy , Endoscopy , Facial Neuralgia , Headache , Recurrence , RespirationABSTRACT
Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma from a cancer of unknown primary (CUP) affecting the intrathoracic lymph node is very rare. We reported a case of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in the hilar and interlobar lymph node from a patient with CUP and reviewed the associated literature. Abnormal mass in the right hilar area was incidentally detected. A chest computed tomography scan showed a 2.5-cm diameter mass in the right hilum that had changed little in size for 3 years. The patient underwent a right pneumonectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection. A metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in the hilar and interlobar lymph nodes without a primary lung or other lesion was diagnosed. The patient received adjuvant chemotherapy for a diagnosis of T0N1M0 lung cancer.
Subject(s)
Humans , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell , Chemotherapy, Adjuvant , Diagnosis , Lung , Lung Neoplasms , Lymph Node Excision , Lymph Nodes , Pneumonectomy , ThoraxABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Transfer from long-term care (LTC) hospitals to the emergency department (ED) of larger hospitals has increased due to limited capability for management of patients needing special diagnostic tools or emergency treatment in the LTC hospital. We investigated the characteristics of geriatric trauma patients transferred from LTC hospitals to the ED. METHODS: A retrospective analysis included data on geriatric trauma patients (age> or =65) who visited two EDs in Korea. All data of patients transferred from the LTC hospital were compared with those of patients who visited the ED from home. Patients visiting from home were selected according to age, sex, and main diagnosis, using the statistical matching method. RESULTS: A total of 44 patients were transferred, and 132 patients were selected after matching. No differences in mechanism of injury, injury severity score (ISS), outcomes, transfusion, length of hospital stay, or mortality were observed between the two groups. The odds ratios (OR) of transferred patients for stroke and dementia were 5.027 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.292-16.915) and 13.941 (95% CI: 5.112-38.015), respectively. In addition, the OR of transferred patients for dependent activities of daily living was 8.165 (95% CI: 2.886-23.104). Thirty five transferred patients (79.5%) had been injured in the LTC hospital (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The transferred patients had more stroke, dementia, and dependent activities, but showed no significant difference in severity or prognosis. Most transferred patients had been injured in the hospital. Greater attention to hospitalized patients and system development are required in order to prevent injuries in the LTC hospital.
Subject(s)
Humans , Activities of Daily Living , Dementia , Diagnosis , Emergency Service, Hospital , Emergency Treatment , Geriatrics , Injury Severity Score , Korea , Length of Stay , Long-Term Care , Mortality , Odds Ratio , Prognosis , Propensity Score , Retrospective Studies , StrokeABSTRACT
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a highly aggressive malignant tumor that originates from mesenchymal cell and invades soft tissue. While the head and neck is the common site of the rhabdomyosarcoma, the parapharyngeal space is rarely reported as a primary site of rhabdomyosarcoma. Therefore, we present a case of rhabdomyosarcoma in the parapharyngeal space.