Association Between Particulate Matter Exposure and Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a relatively common inflammatory disease of the nasal and paranasal sinus mucosa. Several epidemiological studies have established an association between particulate matter (PM) and CRS. Based on those data, PM has emerged as an important environmental factor in the development of CRS. Recent research has investigated the mechanisms and treatment options for CRS caused by PM through cellular experimentation. Therefore, the authors would like to explain the definition of PM, present research investigating the relationship between PM and CRS, and summarize the involved mechanisms reported to date.

Malignant Melanoma of the Temporal Bone Initially Presenting with Dizziness / 대한이비인후과학회지

Malignant melanoma of the temporal bone is a very rare disease. We report here a case of malignant melanoma of the temporal bone initially presenting as dizziness. The patient was a 48-year-old man presenting with dizziness. Physical examination showed horizontal nystagmus toward the left on the left lateral gaze and an intact tympanic membrane. Caloric tests demonstrated right-sided unilateral weakness. Vestibular neuritis was suspected, and conservative treatment was thus carried out. On follow-up, other symptoms were noted and the tumor of the temporal bone was diagnosed by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the temporal bone. This case shows that if the dizziness symptom is not improved after conservative management in patients who present with vestibular neuritis, an imaging evaluation could be necessary, taking into consideration the possibility of a tumor in the temporal bone.

A Case of Bilateral Second Branchial Cleft Anomaly / 대한이비인후과학회지

The branchial cleft anomaly is found in the cervical mass, rising usually from an incomplete obliteration of the branchial apparatus during fetal development. This anomaly might be confused with and mistaken for other potentially more serious lesion, such as cystic hygromas, teratomas, and lymphomas. The abnormality is typically revealed in the pediatric and adolescent population and is unilateral; bilateral manifestations are rare. We present a case of bilateral second branchial cleft sinus in a 21-year-old woman with a review of the literature.

Ventricular Tachycardia due to Submucosal Epinephrine Injection during Septoplasty / 대한이비인후과학회지

Local infiltration of dilute solutions of epinephrine is widely used for the purpose of hemostasis during septal surgery. However, infiltrated epinephrine often make several side effects such as palpitation, hypertension, or arrhythmia. Also, it may be possible to experience the catastrophic events such as intracranial hemorrhage, pulmonary edema, and cardiac arrest when we use overdose of epinephrine. We experienced ventricular tachycardia in a 36-year-old male with no significant medical history, after submucosal infiltration of epinephrine with appropriate dose during septoplasty. Intraoperative cardiopulmonary resuscitation by external chest compression and direct current cardioversion was successful. We thoroughly evaluated the patient and proved the diagnosis of variant angina pectoris using coronary angiography.

2 Cases of Intracranial Meningioma Extending into the Middle Ear / 대한이비인후과학회지

The meningiomas are slowly growing tumors arising from meningoepithelial cells and they generally occur throughout the craniospinal axis. Meningiomas extending to the middle ear cavity are uncommom and these patients complain of otologic symptoms such as hearing loss, ear fullness, or otorrhea. Clinical findings frequently suggest otitis media resistant to conventional treatments, thereby facilitating misdiagnosis. CT and MRI of the temporal bone are essential and important for the radiologic differential diagnosis with other tumors. The ideal treatment of these tumors is a total surgical removal. In this report, we describe 2 cases of middle ear meningioma originating from middle and posterior cranial fossas with a review of the literatures.