Positional Changes of the Internal Reference Points Followed by Reposition of the Maxilla: A Study of a 3D Virtual Surgery Program

Treatment of Meniere's Disease with Low-Concentration Intratympanic Gentamicin Injection / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Intratympanic gentamicin injection is used as one of the treatment modalities for medically intractable Meniere's disease. But the ideal dosage and concentration of gentamicin were not established in consideration of therapeutic efficacy and the risk of postoperative hearing loss. We analyzed the clinical outcome of low-concentration intratympanic gentamicin injection in patients with Meniere's disease. And we also tried to find factors anticipating for the response to treatment. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective review was conducted on 45 subjects who had been diagnosed as 'definite' Meniere's disease (AAO-HNS, 1995) and had no response to medical treatment over 3 months in our clinic. The concentration of gentamicin was 7 mg/cc, which was very low compared with previous studies. We reviewed postoperative changes on vertigo, tinnitus and hearing by questionnaire and pure tone audiometry. We also analyzed preoperative patients' characteristics for acquisition of predictive factors of treatment response. RESULTS: Vertigo was completely disappeared in 37 (82%) patients and there was no vertigo improvement in 8 (18%) patients despite multiple injections. Tinnitus was controlled in 11 (24%) patients, and aggravated in 4 (8%) patients. A significant postoperative hearing loss over 10 dB occurred in only 6 (13%) patients. Preoperative patients' hearing threshold, frequency of vertigo, functional level and finding in electrical test, such as electrocochleogram, were not different regarding treatment response. CONCLUSION: Low-concentration gentamicin was enough to control vertigo and could reduce the risk of postoperative hearing loss in patients with Meniere's disease.

Clinical Outcome of Salvage Treatment for Recurrent Supraglottic Cancer / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is difficult to treat recurred supraglottic cancer safely and preserve physiologic function of the larynx. This study was designed to review the clinical manifestations of recurrent supraglottic cancer and compare the results of each salvage treatments. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: During the period from Jan 2000 to Sep 2007, thirty recurrent supraglottic cancers were reviewed retrospectively. Their mean follow-up period was 30.8+/-20.1 months. We investigated initial treatment methods, stage, recurrent sites and salvage methods, and analyzed the oncological results including disease-specific survival and overall survival. RESULTS: Ninety-seven percent of all recurrence occurred within 3 years and 76.7% of all recurrence were diagnosed at stage III-IV when recurrence was detected. Five-year disease-specific survival rate was 28.4% and five-year overall survival rate was 73.4%. Recurrence at the primary site showed significantly better overall survival rate than that at the lymph node, primary and lymph node recurrence, or distant metastasis (p=0.008). Patients who were salvaged with total laryngectomy had significantly better disease-specific survival rate and overall survival rate (p< 0.001). CONCLUSION: With careful selection of salvage treatment for recurrent supraglottic cancer, acceptable oncological result can be achieved. Further study for laryngeal preservation for recurrent cases is necessary.

Recurrence after Treatment of Salivary Gland Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary glands has distinct characteristics of indolent but persistent growth, late onset of metastasis and eventual death of patients. We performed this study to find parameters affecting the recurrence and survival of patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma in salivary glands. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective study was done on 55 patients who underwent surgery between 1990 and 2006. We analyzed the effect of patient's factors, characteristics of tumor and treatment modalities to local recurrence, distant metastasis and survival. RESULTS: There were 20 males and 35 females, with the median age of 50.2 years. The mean follow-up duration after treatment was 70.9 months. Patients who received surgery alone were 12 (22%), with radiation therapy were 34 (62%) and with concurrent chemoradiation therapy were 9 (16%). There were 7 patients who had local recurrence alone, 8 who had distant metastasis alone and 3 who had local recurrence with distant metastasis. There was no correlation between the above parameters and local recurrence. Distant metastasis was influenced by old age (p=0.018), lymph node involvement (p=0.005) and treatment with concurrent chemoradiation therapy (p<0.001). Eight patients died during the follow up period. Five-year overall survival rate was 88.2% and the disease-free survival was 72.9%. The multivariate analysis found that only lymph node involvement was associated with survival (p=0.043). CONCLUSION: Lymph node involvement was predictive of poor prognosis in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma. Therefore, it is necessary to establish highly sensitive diagnostic tools with which surgeons can find lymph node involvement.

Two Cases of Skull Base Osteomyelitis after Mastoidectomy / 대한이비인후과학회지

Skull base osteomyelitis is originated from inappropriately treated chronic infections near the skull base. If diagnosis and treatment are delayed, it occasionally causes multiple cranial nerve palsy, with the mortality rate being as high as 60%. Skull base osteomyelitis typically evolves as a complication of external otitis in diabetic patients, so it has been thought as a synonym for malignant external otitis. However, the routes of infection are diverse. We experienced two patients of atypical skull base osteomyelitis after mastoidectomy. It is an unusual complication of mastoidectomy, so we report about these cases.

Treatment Results of Sinonasal Sarcomas : 20 Cases in Asan Medical Center / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sinonasal sarcomas are relatively rare tumors, accounting for only about 1 percent of all sinonasal malignancies. The purpose of this study is to analyze the clinical features, treatment modalities and outcomes, survival and prognostic factors of sinonasal sarcomas. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 20 patients who were diagnosed and treated for sinonasal sarcomas between July 1993 and June 2006. Potential prognostic factors including age, tumor size, histology and adjuvant treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: According to histologic subtype, twenty cases consisted of 7 rhabdomyosarcomas, each 2 cases of spindle cell sarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, angiosarcoma, and each 1 case of fibrosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, hemangiopericytoma, peripheral neuroectodermal tumor, myxoid sarcoma, osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma. The mean follow-up period was 61 months. Fourteen patients (65%) had undergone surgical approach with adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Four patients (20%) had undergone surgical treatment only. Two patients (15%) had undergone chemotherapy or radiotherapy. At 5 years, the overall survival rates of sinonasal sarcomas were 65%. The survival rates according to the treatment modality were 100% (surgery only), 66% (surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy), and 33% (chemotherapy or radiotherapy), respectively. The overall recurrence rates of the sinonasal sarcomas were 25%. The univariate analysis showed that the treatment modality and surgical margin are important prognostic factors for survival. CONCLUSION: The 5-year survival rate of sinonasal sarcomas was 65%. Early diagnosis and wide excision with safe resection margin are important for the treatment of sinonasal sarcomas.

Compliance with Positive Airway Pressure Treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

OBJECTIVES: Positive airway pressure (PAP) is considered a standard treatment for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. However, compliance with PAP treatment is suboptimal because of several types of discomfort experienced by patients. This study investigated compliance with PAP therapy, and affecting factors for such compliance, in OSA patients. METHODS: We performed a survey on 69 patients who engaged in PAP therapy between December 2006 and November 2007. After diagnostic polysomnography and manual titration, patients trialed PAP using the ResMed instrument and explored autoadjusting PAP (APAP), continuous PAP (CPAP), and flexible PAP (using expiratory pressure relief [EPR]) at least once every week for 1 month. Compliance measures were mean daily use (hr), percentage of days on which PAP was used, and percentage of days on which PAP was used for >4 hr. Data were obtained at night using the software Autoscan version 5.7(R) of the ResMed Inc. We obtained data on anthropometric (age, BMI, neck circumflex, Epworth sleepiness scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, hypertension, alcohol intake), polysomnographic data (severity of apnea-hypopnea index [AHI], proportion of nonsupine sleep time, position dependence of sleep), PAP mode and AHI during PAP use for affecting factors. RESULTS: After 1 month, 41 of the 69 patients (59.4%) were pleased with PAP therapy and purchased instruments. Twenty-four patients (34.7%) used PAP for more than 3 months. The percentage of days on which PAP was used was statistically higher in patients with hypertension than in normotensive patients (P=0.003). There were negative correlations 1) between nonsupine position sleep time and percentage of days on which PAP was used (r=-0.424, P=0.039), and 2) between the AHI during PAP use and the percentage of days on which PAP was used for >4 hr (r=-0.443, P=0.030). There were no statistical differences between AHI, BMI, PAP pressure, or other measured parameters, on the one hand, and compliance, on the other. CONCLUSION: The affecting factors for PAP use were hypertension history, sleep posture (shorter nonsupine sleep time), and lower AHI during PAP use.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor on palate: A case report

SUMMARY: The malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor(MPNST) is an aggressive neoplasm and can either arise independently or result from malignant change in preexisting neurofibromatosis (von Recklinghausen's disease). Its histologic characteristics remain controversial, but currently it is believed that the schwann cell is the origin of the peripheral nerve sheath tumors. MPNST is an uncommon neoplasm of the head and neck region, and its presentation in the oral cavity is quite rare. In this study, we report a patient with a rare case of a MPNST involving the maxilla. A CASE REPORT: A 29-year-old female presented with a chief complaint of painless swelling with bleeding tendency on the left maxillary tuberosity area 2 months ago. Clinical examination showed a 5.0*3.0 cm2 sized, indurative swelling on the site. Conventional radiographs showed a relatively well-defined soft tissue mass involving the left maxillary sinus, and destruction of the anterior, posterolateral walls of the left maxillary sinus. Subtotal maxillectomy and split-thickness skin graft from thigh were undertaken. In histochemical and immunohistochemical studies, the specimen revealed positive reactivities to Vimentin and S-100 protein. Final diagnosis was made as MPNST.