Patterns and Clinical Significance of Nodal Metastasis in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Hypopharynx / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and prognostic significance of cervical lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the hypopharynx. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective review of the 64 patients who were previously untreated for SCC of the hypopharynx and underwent surgery was performed from October 1993 to June 2008. Fifty-six patients had simultaneous bilateral neck dissection, whereas eight had unilateral neck dissection. RESULTS: The median age was 61.0 years (range, 34-75 years) for the study group consisting of 62 males and two females. Evaluating according to the N stages, there were 15 (23.4%), 10 (15.6%), 37 (57.8%), and 2 (3.1%) cases with N0, N1, N2 and N3, respectively. Forty-nine patients (76.6%) had pathologically proven cervical metastasis. Contralateral occult lymph node metastasis occurred in 20.5%. Ipsilateral and contralateral occult metastasis rates for clinically node negative patients were 41.2% and 11.8%, respectively. The most frequent sites for positive neck nodes occuring at each level were as follows: II (48.5%), level III (40.6%), level IV (26.6%), paratracheal node (21.4%), level V (9.4%), levels I (7.8%), and retropharyngeal node (6.3%). The 5-year overall survival and disease-specific survival rates were 50% and 53%, respectively. Cervical nodal metastasis (p=0.044) was statistically significant prognostic factors for disease-specific survival. CONCLUSION: Metastasis to the cervical lymph node group is very frequent and has an impact on survival in patients with hypopharyngeal SCC. Therefore, we advocate bilateral neck dissection in patients with hypopharyngeal SCC with clinically positive metastasis. Ipsilateral elective neck dissection may be needed for clinically node negative patients.

A Case of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Ectopic Lacrimal Gland

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the lacrimal gland is a rare malignant tumor accounting for 1.6% of all orbital tumors. We report a case of ectopic adenoid cystic carcinoma that developed on the nasal orbital side of the face adjacent to the nasal cavity. A 60-year-old man developed progressive right ocular proptosis and pain for over three years. The orbit MRI and CT revealed a 24x36x17 mm-sized lower signal mass on the medial side of the right medial rectus muscle. It also showed an erosion of the orbital bone in the superior and medial orbital walls. An endoscopic biopsy was performed and a frozen section of the tissue in the operating room showed no evidence of a malignancy. The mass was excised by endoscopic surgery. The final pathology was an adenoid cystic carcinoma. An orbital exenteration was recommended but the patient refused the procedure and, after receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy, his condition is being followed. Some of the orbital mass remains in the posterior orbital area immediately after the endoscopic excision. The patient underwent his first session of Cyberknife radiosurgery therapy after concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Treatment Response of Modified Tinnitus Retraining Therapy with Medical Therapy in the Patients with Tinnitus / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: According to the neurophysiologic model of tinnitus, emotion and autonomic nervous systems are closely related to generation of tinnitus. We performed this study to evaluate the treatment response of modified tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) with medication in the patients with sensorineural tinnitus. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Forty-three tinnitus patients who were diagnosed as sensorineural tinnitus through audiologic evaluation and have normal hearing in speech frequency were included in this study. Tinnitus and psychological status were measured by tinnitus questionnaire, Korean version of Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument (BEPSI) scale, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Patients treated with anxiolytics and microcirculation enhancer were Group 1 and those treated with modified TRT and medications were Group 2. Short-term therapeutic response was analyzed and compared between two groups. RESULTS: Loudness, awareness, annoyance and effect on life of tinnitus and tinnitus handicap score were significantly decreased in Group 2. Relief of tinnitus in more than 2 of 4 subjective parameters was achieved in 4 patients (30.7%) in Group 1 and 15 patients (75%) in Group 2. Stress score was also decreased significantly after treatment in Group 2. CONCLUSION: Tinnitus patients in Group 2 treated with medication and modified TRT showed the higher compliance and the response rate of treatment than the patients in Group 1 treated with medication alone. Modified TRT, in addition to medical therapy, should be considered to increase the therapeutic response in patients with sensorineural tinnitus.

Anchoring Suture for the Correction of Anterior Nasal Septal Deviation / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is difficult to correct anterior nasal septal deviation using classical septoplasty technique such as crosshatch incision. The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficiency of anchoring suture for the correction of anterior nasal septal deviation during septoplasty. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Retrospective review of medical records for the 126 patients who have undergone septoplasty using anchoring suture was performed. Minimal cross sectional area (MCA) and nasal volume were measured preoperatively, and repeated at eight or twelve weeks postoperatively using acoustic rhinometry. Subjective symptoms for nasal obstruction was evaluated using visual analogue scale. RESULTS: The rate of major complication such as septal perforation was extremely rare. There was a significant improvement of MCA and nasal volume in the patients undergone anchoring suture except MCA of the concave side (p<0.05). Subjective symptoms for nasal obstruction was improved after septoplasty using anchoring suture (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Anchoring suture is relatively easy to perform and is an effective operative technique for the correction of anterior nasal septal deviation during septoplasty.

Therapeutic Efficacy and Prognostic Factors of Canalith Repositioning Maneuver in the Patients with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study were to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of canalith repositioning maneuver (CRP) according to accompanying mastoid percussion and to investigate the prognostic factors that may affect successful repositioning maneuver and the recurrence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A total of 70 patients with canalith type BPPV visiting the dizziness clinic of Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital were included in this study. Variables identified for statistical analysis were patient's age, sex, maneuver method, number of involved canal, number of CRP and dizziness handicap inventory. RESULT: Overall success rate of CRP was 90%. The mean number of maneuver was 1.6 and the recurrence rate was 25.7% during the follow up period. Success rate of CRP (94.9%) was higher than maneuver without mastoid percussion (83.9%) though it was not statistically significant. Successful CRP group showed the significant less number of maneuvers at initial treatment session and less number of involved canal than failed CRP group at the time of one week-follow up visit. Patients with recurrence of BPPV had the more number of CRP during the period of previous BPPV. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic efficacy of CRP with mastoid percussion was higher than CRP without mastoid percussion though it was not statistically significant. Suggesting prognostic factors for effective CRP and recurrence were number of CRP and number of involved canal.