Petrous Apex Pneumatization on Computed Tomography / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The mastoid air cell system has been recognized as an important contributor to the function of middle ear ventilation. And, mastoid pneumatization is thought to be correlated with the petrous apex pneumatization. We attempted a comparative analysis of petrous apex pneumatization and the mastoid portion by using target imaging CT. MATERIALS AND MEDTHOD: Pneumatization of the petrous apex v as investigated in 100 subjects without middle ear disease by computer-assisted digital processing of CT images of' the hone. RESULTS: The rate of pneumatization of the petrous apex in all subjects was 22% (44/200 ears), and there was no difference in the degree of pneumatization between the left and the right ears or between sexes. In 44 ears that showed pneumatization of the petrous apex, a higher degree of pneumatization was found in larger mastoid cavities, suggesting a correlation between pneumatization of the petrous apex and the pneumatized air cells in other parts of the temporal bone. Pneumatization in all parts of the petrous apex was found in about 5% (2/44 ears), and pneumatization in some parts of the petrous apex eas about 95% (42/44 ears). In the latter cases, there was no difference in the degree of pneumatization between the lower portions of the CT slices and the higher ones. SUMMARY: These results indicate that the effects of pneumatization of the petrous apex must be taken into consideration in studies measuring the gas composition and volume of the middle ear, and in temporal bone peumatization which acts as a pressure buffer in middle ear diseases.

The Relationship between Expression of E-Cadherin, Clinical Staging and Differentiation in Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Head and Neck / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In recent years, much attention has been directed towards cell adhesion molecules. This study was designed to confirm the significance of E-cadhcrin as a marker for differentiation and invasiveness of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were used in this study. The specimens of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues were investigated by immunohistochemical analysis using monoclonal anti-E-cadherin antibody. RESULTS: The results showed that here was a statistically significant correlation in the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma between the T and the N stage and the expression of E-cadherin (p=0.025, p=0.015). The cell differentiation was also correlated with the reduction of E-cadherin (p =0.005). CONCLUSION: E-cadherin may be linked to progression and differentiation of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. E-cadherin immunostaining in the primary tumor appear to be a good marker for the invasiveness and the metastasis of tumors.

The Effects of Pregnancy Conditions on the Incidence of Nasal Septal Deformities in Neonates

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To study the incidence of nasal septal deformities (NSD) in neonates and to identify pregnancy conditions related with NSD occurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective study of 131 women and their newborns. Incidences of neonatal NSD were looked for with a cotton wool test and through direct visual examination of the neonatal nasal cavity with an otoscope. Under study were arbitrary but possibly related factors of neonatal NSD : the mother's age, parity, medical history, the duration of total labor, the duration of second-stage labor, the delivery type, neonatal birth weight and gestational age. The contributions of these factors were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The incidence of neonatal NSD as identified through otoscopic examination was 11.5%. All studied factors indicated no statistically significant relationship with neonatal NSD. CONCLUSION: Probable nasal trauma during pregnancy and delivery is likely not a factor in the occurrence of NSD in neonates.