Timing of Sequential Bilateral Mastoidectomy and Functional Recovery with Respect to Taste / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: After bilateral mastoidectomy, taste change is common because of injury to chorda tympani nerve. We aimed to understand about the appropriate interval of sequential bilateral mastoidectomy. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Retrospective review was carried out for 25 patients who underwent sequential bilateral mastoidectomy from March 2004 to November 2011. RESULTS: Among the 25 patients, there were 19 patients whose chorda tympani nerve was injured after bilateral mastoidectomy, and eight of those 19 patients complained of taste disturbance. The rates of dysfunction according to operation interval were within 6 month (55%, 5/9), between 6 and 12 months (33%, 2/6), and above 12 months (10%, 1/10). Compared to canal wall up mastoidectomy, for canal wall down mastoidectomy, taste disturbance was more common (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The result supports that at least 6 months interoperative period for bilateral chronic otitis media may be needed to avoid taste disturbance. A further large study may validate this result.

Acute Dizziness With Down Beat Nystagmus in a Patient With Parkinson's Disease / 대한평형의학회지

A 80-year-old man presented with recently aggravated dizziness. He has taken an anti-Parkinson drug before 2 years ago. Left spontaneous down beating nystagmus was observed, also ataxic gait. Brain MRI showed diffuse brain atrophy, otherwise no abnormal finding. Rotation chair test showed decreased gain, phase lead and no asymmetry. Saccadic test showed delayed latency and decreased accuracy. And Calroic test didn't show no canal paresis. Dizziness due to Parkinsonism has been known relatively common, especially in old age. However, it is often difficult to diagnosis a Parkinson disease when old age patient present with dizziness. Hence, we report a case of old aged Parkinsonism patient who presented with acute dizziness in perspective of diagnostic careful point with literature review.

Age and Gender Specific Reference Value of Ocular Torsion by Using Funduscope in Korean / 대한평형의학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ocular torsion may be a result of vestibulopathy. The funduscopy is the most reliable method of measuring an ocular torsion. However, the reference value of ocular torsion in Korean is available at only limited ages. Therefore, we analyzed the angle of ocular torsion more age-specific than previous study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the fundus photograph of health check-up visitor. And age and sex specific average angle of ocular torsion was measured. RESULTS: The right and left average angle of ocular torsion were 7.7+/-3.6degrees, 5.3+/-3.0degrees, respectively. In addition, there was no significant difference in age or sex specific angle of ocular torsion. CONCLUSION: This result might give an aid to evaluating the function of otolithic organ by measurement of ocular torsion.