Effect of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Mouthwash on Post-Tonsillectomy Pain: Randomized, Controlled Study / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Altough tonsillectomy is one of the most common otolaryngological procedures, a highly reliable and effective method for reducing postoperative pain has yet to be identified. This study evaluated the efficacy of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) mouthwash on postoperative pain in tonsillectomy patients. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A total of 64 patients who underwent tonsillectomy were randomly assigned to one of two groups (32 patients each). One group received the NSAID mouthwash and the other a distilled water mouthwash. Postoperative pain in the two groups was compared by assessing pain severity 1-9 days postoperatively using a visual analog scale. RESULTS: Compared to the distilled water mouthwash group, patients using the NSAID mouthwash showed a statistically significant decrease in postoperative pain over the first 9 postoperative days. CONCLUSION: A NSAID mouthwash may be a simple and effective method for controlling post-tonsillectomy pain when administered in conjunction with routine medications.

The Difference of Clinical Symptoms and Audiovestibular Function between Intrameatal and Extrameatal Acoustic Neuroma / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Various hearing tests and vestibular function tests are used to diagnose acoustic neuroma. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and the results of audiovestibular function tests between patients of intrameatal and extrameatal acoustic neuroma. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Reviewing the medical records for 64 patients with acoustic neuroma between March 2007 and February 2014, we divided the patients into two groups, intrameatal (31 patients) and extrameatal acoustic neuroma (33 patients) according to the involvement of cerebropontine angle. We compared the clinical characteristics, pure tone audiograms, speech audiometry, caloric test, and vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) between the two groups. RESULTS: While hearing loss was the most frequent presenting symptom in patients with intrameatal acoustic neuroma, dizziness was the most common symptom in patients with extrameatal acoustic neuroma. Hearing thresholds measured by pure tone audiometry and speech discrimination scores were significantly worse for patients with extrameatal acoustic neuroma. Abnormal unilateral canal paresis of caloric test was significantly higher for extrameatal acoustic neuroma than for intrameatal acoustic neuroma. Most patients with acoustic neuroma showed abnormal findings in the VEMP test, but the number of patients between intrameatal and extrameatal acoustic neuroma did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION: Clinical symptoms and the results of audiovestibular function tests differed according to the tumor size of acoustic neuroma. Physicians should counsel patients presenting with audiovestibular symptoms of the possibility of acoustic neuroma.

A Case of Cerebellar Arteriovenous Malformation with Positional Down Beat Nystagmus / 대한평형의학회지

Brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal connection between arteries and veins, bypassing the capillary system in the central nervous system. The first symptom of AVM is intracranial hemorrhage, followed by headache and seizure. However, dizziness as a symptom of AVM is very rare. We report a 16-year-old female patient who presented with disequilibrium. She showed down-beating nystamgus on Dix-Hallpike test and falling tendency on Romberg test with eyes open. Magnetic resonance image showed cerebellar AVM.

A Case of Arachnoid Cyst Presenting with Sudden Hearing Loss / 대한이비인후과학회지

Arachnoid cysts compose 1% of all intracranial tumors and are usually incidental findings in brain imaging. They may present with symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus and hearing loss, although they may be usually asymptomatic. In particular, presentation with sudden deafness is very rare. We report a case of a 21-year-old male who presented with sudden hearing loss linked to a cerebellopontine angle (CPA) arachnoid cyst. In this case, the cystic lesion at the CPA was found by magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. The hearing loss of this patient was successfully treated with steroids.

The Utility of Sono-Guided Sclerotherapy for Benign Thyroid Cyst: Prospective Study / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Ultrasonography (USG)-guided sclerotherapy using a sclerotherapic agent such as ethanol, OK-432, recently has gained popularity as a treatment for nonfunctioning benign thyroid nodules. The study evaluates the efficacy and safety of the USG-guided sclerotherapy for that purpose. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Included in the study were 23 patients who had complaints of applied pressure or cosmetic problems due to cystic thyroid nodules, which had been diagnosed as benign and nonfunctioning by fine-needle aspiration biopsy and thyroid function test. Sclerotherapy was performed with OK-432 or 99.9% ethanol following nearly complete evacuation of the fluid from the cystic portion of thyroid nodule. At each USG follow-up, we measured the volume of cysts, symptom scores, cosmetic scores using a visual analog scale, and related complications were examined at postoperative dates of one and six months. RESULTS: The volume of thyroid cysts were significantly reduced (p<0.01) with mean volume reduction rates of 77.3+/-21.2% at postoperative 6 months. The cosmetic score and symptom score were significantly improved following sclerotherapy (p<0.01). Major complications related to sclerotherapy, such as vocal cord paralysis, thyrotoxicosis and tissue necrosis, did not happen during the follow-up observation. CONCLUSION: USG-guided sclerotherapy could be a simple and effective treatment modality for benign cystic thyroid nodules.

Linear Focal Elastosis Associated with Striae Distensae / 대한피부과학회지

We report herein a case of linear focal elastosis associated with striae distensae. A 17-year-old man presented with striae-like palpable bands on his lower back. Histologic examination revealed many fine wavy and fragmented bundles of elastic fibers in the dermis. He also had typical striae distensae on the knee area. This patient can be one more case to the theory that linear focal elastosis might be the keloidal repair of striae distensae.