Otologic and Audiologic Characteristics in Children with Turner Syndrome / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Turner syndrome (TS) is known to be caused by a total or partial deletion of one X-chromosome. Besides short stature and failure to enter puberty due to ovarian dysgenesis, auricular malformations, middle ear diseases and hearing impairment are also other clinical features of Turner syndrome. The goal of this study is to report otologic and audiologic characteristics in a group of children with Turner syndrome and correlate with these findings to karyotype. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the outpatient charts of those who visited at our department for otologic and audiologic screening test between 2008 and 2011. All 23 TS children (46 ears) were enrolled under regular control of their pediatric endocrinologist for treatment with growth hormon and Estrogen. The mean age was 12.6 years (6-24 years). All children were evaluated by otologic history taking, otoscopy, pure tone audiometry and karyotyping. Furthermore, 16 children undertook auditory brain stem response (ABR) test and 10 children temporal bone computed tomography (CT). RESULTS: Abnormal otoscopic findings were found in 48% (22 ears), abnormal otologic history in 70% (16 children), and abnormal audiologic findings in 70% (32 ears). According to karyotyping, the total p-arm deletion group (74%) showed unfavorable audiologic results. ABR test and temporal bone CT did not show any unique findings, except five poor pneumatization of mastoid. CONCLUSION: Hearing impairment can be present at early age in Turner syndrome. Careful follow up during childhood is necessary to detect early ear and hearing problems for active intervention. Karyotype may be used as a predictor for future hearing impairment.

Incidence of Malignancy within Cytologically Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES : The optimal management of cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules is controversial given the variable malignancy rates reported in this patient population. We examined the prevalence of malignancy within cytologically indeterminate atypical and follicular thyroid lesions in an attempt to predict malignancy based on cytologic features. Subjects and METHOD : Cytopathologic reports obtained after fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) examination of indeterminate follicular thyroid lesions were studied over a 2-year period. The prevalence of malignancy on final pathology was determined in 2 indeterminate cytopathologic categories. RESULTS : A total of 138 records were available (122 women, 16 men). The mean patient age was 45.5+/-13.5 years. All patients underwent surgery and had histopathologic diagnosis. The prevalence of malignancy in atypical and follicular thyroid lesions were 77.7% (42 of 54) and 17.8% (15 of 84), respectively. CONCLUSION : The high prevalence of malignancy within indeterminate atypical and follicular thyroid lesions may necessitate thyroidectomy for patients with indeterminate atypical and follicular lesions on the FNAB examination.