A Case of Nasal Desmoid Tumor / 대한이비인후과학회지

Desmoid fibromatosis is a very slowly growing benign fibroblast tumor. Locally aggressive and non-metastasizing, it is a well-differentiated, unencapsulated monoclonal myofibroblastic proliferation that has a tendency for local invasion and recurrence. About 15% of all desmoidtype fibromatosis develops within the head and neck. The majority of head and neck desmoid tumor is located in the neck, but less frequently in the face, scalp, oral cavity, mandible, paranasal sinuses, orbit, ear and other structures. We report a very rare case in a 55-year-old female of a desmoid fibromatosis arising from the lateral nasal wall of anterior portion of uncinated process. We discuss the clinicopathologic features and successful treatment of nasal desmoid tumor with a literature review.

Efficacy of Transcartilaginous Electrodes for Intraoperative Neural Monitoring During Thyroid Surgery

Objectives@#. This study was conducted evaluate the efficacy of electromyography (EMG) using transcartilaginous (TC) electrodes through the thyroid cartilage and perichondrium. @*Methods@#. We prospectively collected EMG data from intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) of 54 nerves at risk in 38 patients during thyroidectomy. We followed standardized IONM procedures in all operations. EMG signals from both endotracheal tube (ET) electrodes and TC needle electrodes were recorded simultaneously. We compared the characteristics of the EMG signals and the efficacy of both methods. @*Results@#. Significantly higher mean EMG amplitudes were recorded by TC electrodes than by ET electrodes in all four-step procedures (V1-R1-R2-V2, P<0.001). Loss of signal (LOS) occurred in five patients in ET electrodes, but in only two patients in TC electrodes. Postoperative laryngoscopy revealed recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in the two patients who showed LOS from both the ET and TC electrodes, and vocal cord movement was intact in the other three patients. Therefore, the positive predictive values of LOS in ET and TC electrodes were 40% and 100%, respectively. @*Conclusion@#. EMG recording using TC needle electrodes is feasible and effective, making it a good alternative technique for IONM.

A Case of Cervical Pott's Disease Presenting as Huge Retropharyngeal Abscess / 대한이비인후과학회지

Tuberculous spondylitis, also known as Pott's disease, is a disease involving the spine with progressive destruction. It most commonly involves the thoracic and lumbosacral spine and may result in severe deformity or neurologic deficit. Although cervical spine involvement is rare, it can cause life threatening event. Recently, 70-year-old man presented with progressive dyspnea and dysphagia. Physical examination and radiologic studies showed a huge retropharyngeal abscess with bony erosion and sclerotic change at the adjacent cervical spine. After incision and drainage, it was finally confirmed as a tuberculous abscess. Herein, we report our experience with literature review.

A Case of Cervical Pott's Disease Presenting as Huge Retropharyngeal Abscess / 대한이비인후과학회지

Tuberculous spondylitis, also known as Pott's disease, is a disease involving the spine with progressive destruction. It most commonly involves the thoracic and lumbosacral spine and may result in severe deformity or neurologic deficit. Although cervical spine involvement is rare, it can cause life threatening event. Recently, 70-year-old man presented with progressive dyspnea and dysphagia. Physical examination and radiologic studies showed a huge retropharyngeal abscess with bony erosion and sclerotic change at the adjacent cervical spine. After incision and drainage, it was finally confirmed as a tuberculous abscess. Herein, we report our experience with literature review.

Acoustic Outcomes After Laryngomicrosurgery for Reinke's Edema

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The management of Reinke's edema includes usually medical treatment and voice therapy. Laryngomicrosurgery (LMS) is also necessary, especially to improve airway obstruction. However, voice outcome after LMS has not been determined well. The aim of this study was to evaluate effectiveness of LMS for Reinke's edema and analyze the voice outcomes after LMS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients with Reinke's edema who underwent LMS from September 2007 to December 2016 were enrolled in this study. We analyzed reflux finding score (RFS), reflux symptom index (RSI), and acoustic parameters before and after surgery. RESULTS: Male was 15 (60%) and female was 10 (40%), and mean age was 49.6 years. Preoperative mean value of RFS decreased significantly up to 3 months after LMS (18.3±2.2 and 10.0±2.2 at preoperative and 3 months postoperatively, respectively). The mean value of Jitter decreased significantly before and after surgery (2.71±2.81% and 1.06±1.21% before and after LMS, p=0.041). The mean value of Shimmer also decreased significantly before and after surgery (7.97±3.63% and 4.83±1.85%, respectively, p=0.006). CONCLUSION: LMS is effective in the treatment of Reinke's edema. It results in favorable acoustic outcomes and laryngoscopic findings in properly selected patients.

Effectiveness of Proton Pump Inhibitor in the Treatment of Contact Granuloma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Contact granuloma is granulation tissue that occurs mainly in the vocal process of arytenoid cartilage. Among several etiological factors, gastric acid reflux is known to be an important cause. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical characteristics of contact granuloma and analyze the effectiveness of proton pump inhibitor in the treatment of contact granuloma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 40 patients who were treated with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for contact granuloma from January 2011 to December 2015. Reflux finding score (RFS), reflux symptom index (RSI) and size of granuloma were evaluated before and after treatment serially to assess the effectiveness of proton pump inhibitor. RESULTS: Of 40 patients, 25 patients (62.5%) and 10 patients (25%) showed improvement and partial improvement of granuloma, respectively. Five patients showed no response. The mean times of partial improvement and improvement were 2.08±2.23 months and 4.60±2.77 months, respectively and mean duration of PPI treatment was 6.8±5.2 months. CONCLUSION: Proton pump inhibitors is effective in the treatment of contact granuloma.

Significance of Sublingual Gland Excision in Surgical Treatment of Ranula / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ranulas, pseudo cysts found on the floor of mouth, develop from the retention or extravasation of saliva from the sublingual gland. The main treatment of ranula is surgical excision but the extent of surgery is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of sublingual gland excision in the surgical treatment of ranula. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed 112 patients with ranula who had undergone surgical excision from January 2004 to April 2016. Those who underwent any previous treatment such as sclerotherapy, marsupialization, or excision of cyst were excluded in the study. Surgical outcomes including complications and recurrence were compared between the group that went through simple cyst excision and the group that went through cyst and sublingual gland excision. RESULTS: Of 112 patients, 94 were simple ranula and 18 were plunging ranula. Thirty-seven (33%) were male and 75 (67%) were female. Of the 94 simple ranula patients, 23 underwent excision of cyst only; the remaining 71 patients and all other patients with plunging ranula underwent excision of cyst and sublingual gland together. The recurrence rate was significantly lower for the cyst and sublingual gland excision group than for the simple cyst excision group (2.2% vs. 17.4%, p=0.004). The complication rate did not differ between the two groups (4.3% vs. 1.1%, p=0.298). CONCLUSION: The excision of sublingual glands as well as cysts is an important option to reduce recurrence in the surgical treatment of ranula.