A Case of Retrophareangeal Tuberculosis Presenting as a Hypernasal Speech

Tuberculosis of the retropharynx is extremely rare. The diagnosis is frequently delayed because of its anatomical location and atypical symptom. It would be crucial to consider tuberculosis infection as a possible source of abscess and should be mindful about the tests to diagnose it. We experienced a 23-year-old man with retropharyngeal abscess caused by tuberculosis presenting hypernasality and hoarseness in the throat. In this article, we reviewed the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of this case, with a review of literatures.

The Analysis of Changes of Tonsillectomy after Diagnosis Related Group Based Payment System: Review of the Data Given by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Diagnosis by Related Groups (DRG), a system forcibly implemented in all medical institutions from July 2013, was applied to tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in the field of Otorhinolaryngology. We analyzed the changes in medical costs and evaluated the efficiency of the DRG system by analyzing the data collected before and after the DRG implementation. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We analyzed the total number of cases, total medical costs and per charge for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy using the data from the Korean National Health Insurance from 2011 to 2014. We compared the number and cost of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy by hospital type, region, and patient age. RESULTS: The total number of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy after the application of DRG systems in July 2013 in all medical institutions was reduced, but the total costs showed a tendancy to increase, resulting in an increase per charge of case. The number of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy was decreased in general and specialized hospitals, but the costs were increased after DRG systems. CONCLUSION: Medical costs per charge of case related to tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy was higher in the DRG system than in the 'fee for service' system. Increased medical costs, considered to be the most likely cause of patient copayments, are recognized in the DRG system. The results showed that saving effect of medical costs was not significant in the DRG system; it may appear to relieve patient burden in the short term, but the financial state of national health insurance is worsening.

A Case of Schwannoma of the Tongue Base / 대한이비인후과학회지

Schwannomas are benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors. It is found rarely in the oral cavity but most commonly in the tongue followed by the palate, floor of mouth, buccal mucosa, and mandible. Because schwannoma of the base of tongue is exceedingly rare, it is often not immediately included in the differential diagnosis, causing delay in identification and treatment. We report here, with a review of the literature, a case of schwannoma of the base of tongue, which was misdiagnosed as a lingual thyroid. A 28-year-old man presented with a base of tongue mass, which was first detected a month ago. The preoperative diagnosis was lingual thyroid on the basis of the physical findings and computerized tomographic findings. The permanent pathologic report of the mass was schwannoma. Postoperatively, the patient showed no problem with tongue function and wound healing.

Correlation between Rotating Chair Test and Dizziness Handicap Inventory in Patients with Acute Unilateral Vestibular Neuritis / 대한평형의학회지

OBJECTIVE: Vestibular neuritis (VN) is one of the most common causes of acute spontaneous vertigo. However, such dizziness symptoms in patients with VN vary among patients, and various methods are used to evaluate subjective vestibular symptoms following attack of VN. Studies on correlation between subjective vestibular symptom changes and result of rotation chair test after vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) have not been reported. Therefore, we compared change of dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) and results of rotation chair test in patients with VN between attack and 3 month later following VRT. METHODS: Forty-seven patients were included in this study. In patients with VN, DHI and rotation chair test were performed at the time of VN attack and recovery time of 3 months after VN attack. RESULTS: In general, the DHI score and the percentage of directional preponderance (DP) in a rotation chair test performed on patients with VN have all decreased. However, the changes in these results were not statistically significant. DP% difference and DHI score were compared to each other among patients with VN and showed no relational significance to each other (r=0.326). CONCLUSION: The degree of improvement in a rotation chair test done on patients with VN did not reflect the severity of improvement for symptom like dizziness.

A Case of Cavernous Hemangioma in the Submandibular Gland: A Review of Clinicoradiologic Features and Treatment Methods / 대한이비인후과학회지

Cavernous hemangiomas in the submandibular gland (SMG) are rare; therefore, there are few clinicoradiologic pathognomonic findings upon which to base a diagnosis. Thus, a preoperative diagnosis of hemangioma is rare. We reviewed all English language literature on cavernous hemangioma involving SMG published after 1990. The characteristic clinical finding of cavernous hemangiomas involving the SMG is a fluctuant swelling that is unrelated to food intake. On computed tomography, cavernous hemangiomas appear as cystic or enhancing lesions either with or without calcification; however, this is not a pathognomonic finding for diagnosis. Most cavernous hemangiomas are best treated by complete surgical excision; preoperative angiography or embolization is not always required. Cavernous hemangioma should be added to the list of the masses presented a fluctuant swelling that is not associated with postprandial swelling. The treatment of choice is surgical excision without angiography and embolization.

A Case of Removal of Medial Maxillary Intraosseous Hemangioma through an Intranasal Endoscopic Prelacrimal Recess Approach / 대한이비인후과학회지

The intranasal endoscopic prelacrimal recess approach (PLRA) is a novel technique that was recently introduced for the management of maxillary sinus lesions. We utilized this approach for the surgical resection of a medial maxillary bony lesion; gross total resection was achieved without significant complications. The PLRA appears to be an effective and safe technique for the treatment of bony lesions of the maxilla as well as the maxillary sinus, particularly those confined to the medial maxillary wall.

Arthroscopic Assessment of Potential Intra-articular Ankle Injury in Treatment of Ankle Fracture / 대한족부족관절학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the frequency and patterns of intra-articular lesions detected during ankle fracture surgery using ankle arthroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients (31 ankles) who underwent open reduction and internal fixation combined with ankle arthroscopy for acute ankle fracture at Inje University Busan Paik Hospital from June 2011 to September 2013 were evaluated. The ankle fractures were classified according to the AO/OTA (AO Foundation and Orthopaedic Trauma Association) classification and the intraarticular injuries were identified by ankle arthroscopy. Osteochondral lesions of the talus were divided into nine subtypes based on their locations, and the ligament injuries were classified according to avulsion fracture and rupture. RESULTS: Using arthroscopy, abnormality in the distal tibiofibular ligament was found in 21 cases and osteochondral lesions and defects of the talus larger than 5 mm were detected in 26 cases. Among ligament injuries, anterior inferior tibio-fibular ligament injury was found in 14 cases, posterior inferior tibio-fibular ligament injury was found in two cases, deep deltoid ligament injury was found in three cases, and deep transverse tibio-fibular ligament injury was found in five cases. The locations of the osteochondral lesions were on the antero-lateral, antero-medial, centro-medial, centro-central, centro-lateral, and postero-lateral talus in 11, one, two, one, two, and nine cases, respectively. CONCLUSION: With early diagnosis and treatment arthroscopy performed at the time of intra-articular fracture surgery is expected to result in a good outcome.

Results of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Second Look Arthroscopic Examination: Focus on Graft Material and Age / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: We classified patients who underwent arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction into six groups according to graft material and age, and clinical, radiological, and second look arthroscopic results were compared and analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2006 to December 2009, 57 patients underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction and second look arthroscopic examination. We divided patients according to graft materials into the autogenic hamstring tendon group (group 1) and the allogenic tibialis tendon group (group 2), and according to age into three groups (A, B, and C). The mean age at follow-up for second look arthroscopy was 34 years old. Fifty four patients were male and three patients were female, and mean follow-up period was 21.8 months. The result was clinically evaluated using a KT-1000 arthrometer under anesthesia, and the subjective and objective score of International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), and radiologically evaluated using the Telos(TM) stress test. We observed graft tension, synovialization and gross findings through a second look arthroscopic examination. RESULTS: The clinical and radiographic results in patients in group 1 and group A showed excellent finding, however, no statistically significant difference was observed. Second look arthroscopic examination in group 1 and group A showed excellent finding. In particular, the formation of synovialization showed excellent finding (50% or more synovialization) in 75% of patients in group 1A who were young and used an autogenic tendon graft, and 45% of patients in group 2C (over 50 years old and allogenic graft), and they were significantly different (p=0.046). There was significant difference in that tension of graft was excellent in group 1A (less than 3 mm). Through the IKDC evaluation method, 93% of cases that showed normal formation of synovialization and 50% of cases that showed inadequate formation of synovialization showed 'like normal' abnormality, so that was correlation was observed between synovialization and IKDC evaluation (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients who used autogenic hamstring tendon and who were young showed excellent synovial membrane formation. In the old age group, autogenous graft will be more optimal.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Congenital Radial Dysplasia

Congenital radial dysplasia is a rare disease with the defect or hypoplasia of radial side of forearm and hand. Congenital radial dysplasia is often accompanied by deformities of other parts. However, carpal tunnel syndrome caused by congenital radial dysplasia is very rare. We report one case of 53-year-old man with congenital radial dysplasia who underwent surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome.