Intramuscular Hematoma Following Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Neurogenic Heterotopic Ossification: A Case Report.

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has been reported to be a safe and effective method for decreasing pain and relieving range of motion (ROM) limitations caused by neurogenic heterotopic ossification (NHO), though there has been no report that it might cause hematoma if applied to NHO. We hereby report a case of massive hematoma after ESWT, specifically the radial shockwave therapy (RSWT) device at both hips in a 49-year-old female patient with NHO. She had developed NHO after extensive subarachnoid hemorrhage. We had applied RSWT according to the previous report. The pain and the ROM limitations were gradually improved. Six weeks later, she reported pain and ROM limitations on the right hip. From a medial aspect, swelling and bruising of the right thigh could be seen. Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography suggested a large hematoma between right hip adductor muscles. The symptoms disappeared after conservative treatment for one month, and subsequent follow-up imaging studies demonstrated resolution of the hematoma.

Ultrasonographic Measurement of Thickness of the Thyrohyoid Muscle: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the normal thickness of the thyrohyoid muscle, which is one of the key muscles related to swallowing, by ultrasonography. METHODS: The thickness of the left and right thyrohyoid muscles was measured in normal male and female adults ranging in age from 20 to 79 years by ultrasonography. The groups were classified according to age as follows: subjects ranging in age from 20 to 39 years were classified into group A, subjects ranging in age from 40 to 59 years were classified into group B, and subjects ranging in age from 60 to 79 years were classified into group C. The measurement level was the line that joins the upper tip of the superior thyroid notch and the oblique line of the thyroid cartilage. Also, a correlation with the thyrohyoid muscle was investigated by collecting information regarding height, weight, body mass index (BMI), age, and gender of subjects in the healthy group. RESULTS: The number of subjects in each group was as follows: group A (n=82), group B (n=62), and group C (n=60). Also, the thicknesses of the left and right muscles were 2.72±0.65 mm and 2.87±0.76 mm in group A, 2.83±0.61 mm and 2.93±0.67 mm in group B, and 2.59±054 mm and 2.73±0.55 mm in group C, respectively. Thyrohyoid muscle had a correlation with height, weight, and BMI. The thickness of the left and right thyrohyoid muscles was greater in male subjects than in female subjects and the right side muscle was thicker than the left side muscle. CONCLUSION: The average thickness of the left and right thyrohyoid muscles was 3.20±0.54 mm in male subjects and 2.34±0.37 mm in female subjects. The thickness of the thyrohyoid muscle was positively correlated with height, weight, and BMI, and the thyrohyoid muscle was thicker in male subjects than in female subjects and the right side muscle was thicker than the left side muscle.

Urgent recanalization with stenting for severe intracranial atherosclerosis after transient ischemic attack or minor stroke.

OBJECTIVE: Stenting of symptomatic intracranial stenosis has recently become an alternative treatment modality. However, urgent intracranial stenting in patients with intracranial stenosis following a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke is open to dispute. We sought to assess the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of urgent intracranial stenting for severe stenosis (>70%) in TIA or minor stroke patients. METHODS: Between June 2009 and October 2010, stent-assisted angioplasty by using a balloon-expandable coronary stent for intracranial severe stenosis (>70%) was performed in 7 patients after TIA and 5 patients after minor stroke (14 stenotic lesions). Technical success rates, complications, angiographic findings, and clinical outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Stenting was successful in all 12 patients. The mean time from symptom onset to stenting was 2.1 days (1-8 days). Post-procedural angiography showed restoration to a normal luminal diameter in all patients. In-stent thrombosis occurred in one patient (n=1, 8.3%), and was lysed with abciximab. No device-related complications, such as perforations or dissections at the target arteries or intracranial hemorrhaging, occurred in any patient. The mortality rate was 0%. No patient had an ischemic event over the mean follow-up period of 12.5 months (range, 7-21 months), and follow-up angiography (n=7) revealed no significant in-stent restenosis (>50%). CONCLUSION: Urgent recanalization with stenting is feasible, safe, and effective in patients with TIA or acute minor stroke with intracranial stenosis of ≥70%.

Evaluation of acoustic rhinometry in a nasal provocation test with allergic rhinitis.

OBJECTIVE: The nasal provocation test is not widely available due to lack of standardized methods and related research. We evaluated the clinical utility of the nasal provocation test using acoustic rhinometry. STUDY DESIGN: All patients underwent skin tests and were graded according to severity of reaction. METHODS: We performed nasal provocation tests using acoustic rhinometry in patients with allergic rhinitis from January 2003 to December 2006. A total of 836 patients participated in our study. The mean age was 36 years and the male:female ratio was 5:4. RESULTS: The mean nasal volume was 10.86 cm(3) and the mean minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) was 0.66 cm(3) before the study. Relationship between the severity of the reaction and change in mean nasal volume and MCA was statistically significant. The relationship between the severity of the reaction against the antigen and the severity of clinical symptoms was also statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The nasal provocation test can be helpful in evaluating the severity of allergic rhinitis. However, we must be careful in interpreting the results alone.

Management of thyroid gland invasion in laryngopharyngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The incidence of thyroid gland involvement in laryngopharyngeal cancer ranges from 0 to 23%. Therefore, ipsilateral hemithyroidectomy and isthmusectomy are routinely performed with total laryngectomy in many clinics. Hemithyroidectomy causes hypothyroidism in 63% of patients, and if combined with radiotherapy, the incidence increases to 89% of patients. But there is no consensus about using thyroid surgery in the treatment of laryngopharyngeal cancer. The purpose of this study was to identify criteria to use in the decision of whether, in cases of laryngopharyngeal cancer, hemithyroidectomy should be performed with total laryngectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 28 patients with a mean age of 63.2 years (range 42-77 years). All patients were treated by thyroidectomy with total laryngectomy. We evaluated the incidence of thyroid gland invasion, clinical predisposing factors, pathologic features, and prognosis in cases of laryngopharyngeal cancer. RESULTS: The incidence of thyroid gland invasion was 14% (4/28). Subglottic extension was the only statistically significant factor in thyroid invasion. All cases of laryngopharyngeal cancer that invaded the thyroid gland had vocal cord fixation, anterior commissure invasion, and were advanced stage. The most common mechanism of spread to the thyroid was by direct extension through thyroid cartilage and anterior commissure. While the prognosis of patients with thyroid gland invasion was worse than that of patients with no invasion, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic thyroidectomy should be performed in cases of laryngopharyngeal cancer where there is subglottic extension of the tumor.