ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The influence of anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) loop on sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) remains controversial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the anatomical type of AICA loop and SSHL. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We reviewed the medical records of 69 ears from 60 patients with SSHL between January 2005 and April 2008, retrospectively. AICA loops were classified according to the Chavda classification method by magnetic resonance imaging. According to the extension depth of the loop in the internal auditory canal, it was classified as type I, II and III. The loop was classified as S (small diameter) and L (large diameter) by comparing the thickness of the loop with adjacent facial nerves. RESULTS: The predominant type of AICA loop was type I (68.1%) and type S (78.3%). There was no significant correlation between the pretreatment hearing level, extension depth and diameter. There was also no significant correlation between the rate of hearing recovery by Siegel's criteria and diameter. However, there was significant correlation between the rate of hearing recovery by Siegel's criteria and the types of the extension depth (p< 0.05). The ears with type II and III of AICA loop presented higher rates of hearing recovery by Siegel's criteria than those with type I. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the type II and III of AICA loop may be considered a good prognostic factor in SSHL.
Subject(s)
Humans , Arteries , Ear , Facial Nerve , Hearing , Hearing Loss, Sensorineural , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Medical Records , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
The incidence and prevalence of human fungal sinusitis are increasing, because of recently increased immunocompromised host and developed diagnostic tool. Aspergillosis is the most common fungal infection of the paranasal sinuses. The maxillary sinus is most commonly affected by Aspergillus, followed by the sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses. However, isolated frontal fungal sinusitis is extremely rare. Recently, we experienced that a cases of Aspergillus sinusitis of isolated frontal sinus successfully was treated by endoscopic sinus surgery combined with frontal sinus minitrephination (the above and below approach). Therefore, we report this case with a review of the literatures.
Subject(s)
Humans , Aspergillosis , Aspergillus , Ethmoid Sinus , Frontal Sinus , Immunocompromised Host , Incidence , Maxillary Sinus , Paranasal Sinuses , Prevalence , SinusitisABSTRACT
Tumoral calcinosis is characterized by the deposition of calcium phosphate in periarticular soft tissues and mainly occurs around large joints of the hips, shoulders, and elbows. However, it occurs very rarely at the auricle. The etiology of tumoral calcinosis is unknown with a greater prevalence among blacks. Tumoral calcinosis must be differentiated from other more common causes of calcification. The most effective treatment for a tumoral calcinosis is complete surgical excision. Recently, we experienced a case of tumoral calcinosis at the right auricle in a 10 year-old male patient. So we report this case with the literature review.