Influence of Diazepam on Video Head Impulse Test in Patients with Acute Vestibular Neuritis: Preliminary Study / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although video head impulse test (V-HIT) has emerged as a popular test for vestibular function, there have been no reports about the influence of benzodiazepine on the test. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of diazepam on the V-HIT in patients with acute vestibular neuritis. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively analyzed charts and medical records of 10 patients diagnosed with acute vestibular neuritis. The patients repeated V-HIT before and after intravenous (IV) injection of diazepam. Gain and presence of catch-up saccade (CUS) were compared. RESULTS: Gain in the affected ear was decreased compared to that in the unaffected ear. After the injection of IV diazepam, the presence of CUS was not changed significantly. Gain of CUS in V-HIT was also unchanged both in the affected and unaffected ear after the injection of IV diazepam. CONCLUSION: The influence of IV diazepam on the gain and presence of CUS in V-HIT were insignificant, indicating that it could be considered as a useful test to evaluate vestibular function in patients treated with diazepam.

A Case of Cervical Thoracic Duct Cyst / 대한이비인후과학회지

Thoracic duct cysts are very rare. They are usually asymptomatic but sometimes cause compressive effects on structures near them due to enlarged supraclavicular mass. The etiology of thoracic duct cysts is not fully understood, but the possibility of congenital weakness or atherosclerotic changes of ductal wall, trauma, and inflammatory reactions have been suggested. Although image studies are helpful, the excision of mass and the histological studies are needed for definite diagnosis. We now report this extremely rare case of cervical thoracic duct cyst in the left supraclavicular fossa, including its diagnostic methods and pathogenesis.