Endoscopic Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy: Prevention of Neo-Ostium Obstruction Using Nasal Mucosal Flap / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The success rate of endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is not satisfactory enough compared to that of external approach because the newly made ostium is easily obstructed due to granulation tissue formed around the small ostium. The objective of this study is to describe a new technique of an endoscopic DCR which minimizes the stenosis of neo-ostium and to report its success rate. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Twenty patients who had undergone endoscopic DCR with the diagnosis of proximal nasolacrimal duct obstruction were investigated retrospectively. All procedures were done by the same surgeon. The surgical technique includes elevation of mucosal flap, full sac exposure using diamond drill, and design of mucosal flap to cover the denuded bone and approximate with opened sac mucosa. Postoperative symptom improvement and endoscopic finding of the neo-ostium were evaluated. The mean duration of follow-up was 8 months. RESULTS: Ninety percent success rate was noted without any serious complications. Obstruction of the neo-ostium with granulation tissue was observed in two patients. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic DCR using mucosal flap after full sac exposure gives satisfactory success rate without any serious complications.

Lipoblastoma Arising in the Neck / 대한이비인후과학회지

Lipoblastoma is a rare benign tumor of embryonal fat. This condition most often presents during childhood, before the age of 7 years, affects males more than females, and is typified by a slowly growing, usually subcutaneous mass arising in the limbs. Cases involving the head and neck are extremely rare. Our case arose in a 44-month-old male presenting with a rapidly enlarging soft lump in the right supraclavicular area. Diagnosis is by histology, and treatment of choice is complete surgical resection. We report one case of lipoblastoma in the neck with a review of the literature.

Diagnosis of Cervical Tuberculous Lymphadenitis / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although the incidence of tuberculosis has decreased recently, cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis is one of the most common causes of neck mass in Korea. Its confirmative diagnosis is not common, especially when the presence of acid-bacilli is not proven. So, the treatment of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis is generally carried out by clinical diagnosis, not by confirmative diagnosis. In this study, we designed to verify theusefulness of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), AFB stain, Mycobacterium tuberculosis polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and excisional biopsy prospectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We underwent FNAC, AFB stain and PCR as a first stage work-up through fine needle aspiration in forty-eight patients who were suspected of cervical tuberculous lymphadenits. In patients with positive results on the first stage work-up, we treated the patients with antituberculosis chemotherapy under clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis. In patients with negative test results, we performed excisional biopsy. Also in patients who revealed positive results with no response to the antituberculosis chemotherapy, we performed an excisional biopsy too. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of first stage work-up were 64.9% and 81.8%, respectively. The sensitivity of FNAC, AFB stain and PCR were 8.1%, 13.5% and 56.8 %, respectively. The specificity of PCR was 81.8%. Thirteen (59.1%) of 22 patients who revealed negative results in their first stage work-up were proven to have cervical tuberculous lymphadentis through excisional biopsy, and two of the positive results in PCR were false positive. CONCLUSION: In clinical diagnosis of cervical tuberculous lymphadentis, the first stage work-up used in this study is found to be useful methods which resulted 64.9% sensitivity and 81.8% specificity. Especially, PCR is the most useful tool among them and suggest that, if its result is negative, excisional biopsy should be considered positively.

The Therapeutic Efficacy of Combined Antiviral Treatment in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) is a disease occurring instantly or developing over several days. An etiological role for virus families is assumed. Corticosteroids improve the prognosis for hearing recovery in ISSHL, but the effects of acyclovir are still uncertain. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of antiviral drug acyclovir (Zoylex) in ISSHL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty four ears were divided into a study (41 ears, using acyclovir and steroid) and a control (93 ears, using steroid only) groups. Prognostic factors such as initial hearing loss, pattern of initial audiogram, coexistence of dizziness or tinnitus were used for parameters of comparison between two groups. RESULTS: The overall recovery rate of the study group (53.7%) was better than that of the control group (46.2%), but it was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The recovery rate of the study group was better than that of the control group on some prognostic factors, especially the period between the symptom attack and the beginning of treatment: however, there were no statistically significant differences either (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Therefore, no beneficial effects from combining acyclovir with prednisolone could be established in ISSHL.

Diagnostic Criteria of Internal Jugular Phlebectasia in Korean Children

Internal jugular phlebectasia (IJP) is a fusiform dilatation of the internal jugular vein (IJV), usually presented as a neck mass in children. Accurate diagnosis from carefully directed history, physical examination, and radiological study could result in lifesaving therapy. We performed our study to suggest possible clinical diagnostic criteria for IJP in Korean children. We reviewed three cases of IJP (patients group) and compared the diameter of the internal jugular phlebectasias with diameters of IJVs in ten normal children (control group) using ultrasonography (USG). There were no significant differences in the range of diameters in the resting state between the two groups. The diameters on the right side, compared with those on the left side, showed no statistical significance (p < 0.05). Te range of expanding diameter and average expanding ratios (resting state to Valsalva maneuver X 100%) showed a statistical difference between the two groups (p < 0.05).

Non-traumatic Subcutaneous Emphysema in the Head and Neck / 대한이비인후과학회지

Subcutaneous emphysema often occurs as a result of surgery, trauma of the aerodigestive tract, and increased alveolar pressure. Generally, spontaneous emphysema is rare, because "spontaneous" is only used to describe emphysema that has no obvious etiology. We reviewed six cases of non-traumatic subcutaneous emphysema occurring in the head and neck. Among them, four cases were associated with pneumomediastinum. Two occurred without obvious etiology, another two were due to heavy lifting events, one due to severe vomiting, and the last one due to severe blowing. Most cases occurred in young males. Clinical symptoms, commonly involved sites, treatments and results of these cases of spontaneous emphysema were analysed.