Craniofacial Phenotype in Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Its Impact on Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Adherence.

Positive airway pressure (PAP) is an important treatment tool for patients with moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and adherence to PAP significantly affects treatment outcomes. Disease severity, adverse effects, and psychosocial factors are known to predict medication adherence. Cephalometric parameters have been reported to positively correlate with upper airway collapse. However, research on the correlation between these cephalometric parameters and PAP adherence remains insufficient. This study aimed to identify this relationship. This study included 185 patients with OSA who were prescribed PAP. Polysomnography (PSG) was performed to diagnose OSA, and paranasal sinus computed tomography (PNS CT) was performed to check for comorbidities of the upper airway. In addition, cephalometric parameters such as the hyoid-posterior nasal spine (H-PNS), posterior nasal spine-mandibular plane (PNS-MP), and hyoid-mandibular plane (H-MP) were measured in the midsagittal and axial CT views. Adherence was evaluated 3-12 months after the PAP prescription. A total of 136 patients were PAP-adherent, and 49 were nonadherent. There were more males in the adherent group and a higher average height in the adherent group. The PSG results showed that the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), respiratory disturbance index (RDI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), arousal index (AI), rapid eye movement (REM) AHI, and supine AHI were significantly higher, and the lowest oxygen saturation was lower in the adherent group. In the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model adjusted for sex and height, among the cephalometric parameters, H-MP was significantly longer in the adherent group (p = 0.027), and H-PNS showed a longer tendency (p = 0.074). In the logistic regression analysis model, the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of adherence and severe OSA in the third tertile compared to the first tertile of H-MP were 2.93 (1.25-6.86) and 4.00 (1.87-8.56). In the case of H-PNS, they were 2.58 (1.14-5.81) and 4.86 (2.24-10.54), respectively. This study concluded that an inferiorly placed hyoid bone in adult patients is associated with PAP adherence and disease severity.

Effect of Intermittent Hypoxia on Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance in the General Male Population.

Background and objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is closely associated with insulin resistance (IR) and is an independent risk factor for incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Most studies evaluate the correlation between OSA and IR in only obese or T2DM patients. Therefore, we tried to investigate the effect of OSA on metabolic syndrome and IR in the general healthy male population. Materials and Methods: 184 subjects who visited a preventive health examination program were recruited for this study. All subjects received overnight polysomnography by a portable device (Watch-PAT 200). We examined several metabolic parameters and a homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). The subjects were divided into three groups by AHI (Apnea-hyponea index): normal group (AHI < 5), mild OSA group (5 ≤ AHI < 15), and moderate-severe OSA group (AHI ≥ 15). They were also divided into two groups according to minimum oxygen saturation: low group, Min-SpO2 < 88%; and high group, Min-SpO2 ≥ 88%. Results: Parameters of metabolic syndrome, including waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed significant differences among the AHI groups. Furthermore, HOMA-IR showed significant differences among the AHI groups. Those parameters, including metabolic syndrome and HOMA-IR, also showed differences between Min-SpO2 groups. Conclusions: In summary, this study helps confirm that AHI is associated with HOMA-IR in the general male population. Furthermore, the severity of AHI correlated with the parameters of metabolic syndrome. Therefore, AHI might be an indicator for evaluating both T2DM and metabolic syndrome, even in the general male population.

Nationwide comparative study of synchronous and metachronous spine metastasis in the adult Korean population.

This nationwide study of the adult Korean population aimed to compare the survival period between synchronous and metachronous group and to determine recent treatment trends in newly diagnosed spine metastasis patients. Data were extracted from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database. Patients in this study were newly diagnosed with metastatic spine tumors between July 1, 2011 and June 31, 2014. The metachronous group was defined when the primary tumor was diagnosed prior to the diagnosis of spine metastasis, otherwise patients were considered to be the part of the synchronous group. The survival period was calculated from the date of first diagnosis of spine metastasis. In a multivariate analysis, patients in the synchronous group survived significantly longer than those in the metachronous group (P < 0.0001). Median overall survival periods were 273.6 days for the metachronous group and 541.4 days for the synchronous group. Conventional radiation therapy (RT) was the most common treatment modality for metastatic spine tumors, whereas surgery combined with RT was a steadily increasing treatment modality during the study period. Synchronous spine metastasis patients survive significantly longer than metachronous patients. Surgery combined with RT is a recently increasing trend among spine metastasis treatments.

Availability of preoperative systemic steroids on endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.

PURPOSE: To analyze the outcome of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) after preoperative systemic steroid (PSS) treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyposis (NP) and to investigate and compare clinicopathological factors associated with the outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of 468 patients with CRS with NP who underwent primary ESS between January 2005 and October 2011. 124 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included. Beginning from 2008, our clinic administered steroid preoperatively in patients of CRS with NP, thus there were 84 patients with preoperative systemic steroid (PSS group) and another 40 patients without such regimen (no PSS group). To evaluate the outcome after ESS, poor outcome and complication were analyzed according to the following parameters: age, sex, follow-up duration, eosinophilic infiltration, atopy, asthma, Lund-Mackay score, and polyp grade. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in poor outcome rates between the PSS and no PSS group (35.0% vs. 47.6%, p=0.185). There was no significant difference in complication rates between the PSS and no PSS group (10% vs. 6%, p=0.468). As with the multivariate analysis of the clinicopathological factors to the poor outcome rate, presence of asthma and eosinophilic infiltration were significantly related (odds ratio as 6.555 and 4.505, respectively), whereas PSS was confirmed as less likely related (odds ratio 0.611). CONCLUSION: Low dose PSS administration does not seem to have an effect on the outcome after ESS in patients who have CRS with NP. Eosinophilic infiltration and presence of asthma are important predictors of surgical outcome.

Effect of endoscopic marsupialization of paranasal sinus mucoceles involving the orbit: a review of 27 cases.

Paranasal sinus mucoceles (PSMs) can involve the orbit because the topographic anatomies of the paranasal sinuses and orbit are interrelated. We encountered 27 patients with PSMs involving the orbit that caused orbital symptoms. In this study, we evaluated the frequent symptoms and signs of PSMs involving the orbit, and report postoperative changes of orbital symptoms including the effects on visual acuity. A retrospective chart review, radiologic evaluation, and interviews were conducted after Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. Over the past 11 years, we encountered 27 patients with PSMs involving the orbit. We classified the patients according to orbital symptoms and PSM origin, and evaluated the surgical outcomes. A total of 27 patients (17 males and 10 females) with PSMs involving the orbit were included in the present study. The mean patient age was 51.0 ± 9.7 years (range 32-90) and the mean follow-up period was 20.5 months (range 2-84). Proptosis (15/27, 56%) was the most common symptom. Other common symptoms included orbital pain (9/27, 33%), decreased visual acuity or vision loss (9/27, 33%), and diplopia (7/27, 26%). All symptoms except for vision loss were improved by endoscopic marsupialization regardless of the disease period. Four out of five patients with decreased visual acuity experienced complete recovery. The remaining patient showed partial improvement after surgery. Four patients who were blind when they initially visited the hospital did not show any improvement after surgery. For PSM patients with decreased visual acuity, we can predict that vision will improve after surgery regardless of the disease duration. However, blindness will probably not resolve after endoscopic marsupialization. Even if the orbital symptoms (except for blindness) have persisted for a long time, surgery could still produce positive outcomes.

Clinical features and treatments of odontogenic sinusitis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate how clinical features such as sex, age, etiologic factors, and presenting symptoms of odontogenic sinusitis are differentiated from other types of sinusitis. Also, this study was designed to find methods for reducing the incidence of odontogenic sinusitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart analysis was completed on twenty-seven patients with odontogenic sinusitis. They were all treated at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital between February 2006 and August 2008. The study protocol and informed consent forms were approved by the institutional review boards for human beings at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. RESULTS: Ten patients (37.0%) had dental implant related complications and 8 (29.6%) had dental extraction related complications. Unilateral purulent nasal discharge was the most common symptom (66.7%). The therapeutic modality included transnasal endoscopic sinus surgery in 19 (70.4%) patients, and a Caldwell-Luc operation in two (7.4%) patients. CONCLUSION: In our study, there was no significant difference in the incidence between genders. The average age of the patients was 42.9 years. The incidence was highest in the fourth decade. There were no significant differences between the symptoms of odontogenic sinusitis and that of other types of sinusitis. However, almost all of the patients with odontogenic sinusitis had unilateral symptoms. Iatrogenic causes, which include dental implants and dental extractions, were the most common etiologic factors related to the development of odontogenic sinusitis. Therefore, a preoperative consultation between a rhinologist and a dentist prior to the dental procedure should be able to reduce the incidence of odontogenic sinusitis.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo secondary to inner ear disease.

OBJECTIVES: To contrast clinical characteristics of secondary benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (s-BPPV) with idiopathic BPPV (i-BPPV). STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING: University hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 718 patients whose medical records were reviewed had BPPV. Sixty-nine patients had existing inner ear diseases and thus were considered to have s-BPPV. We reviewed demographics, concurrent causative disorders, involved area, and response to particle repositioning maneuvers for these s-BPPV patients in comparison with i-BPPV subjects. RESULTS: Female subjects with i-BPPV outnumbered male subjects by a ratio of 1.9:1, but there was no significant sex difference for s-BPPV patients. The diseases associated with s-BPPV were idiopathic sudden sensory hearing loss (ISSHL, 50.7%), Ménière's disease (MD, 28.9%) and unilateral vestibulopathy such as acute vestibular neuronitis and herpes zoster oticus (20.2%). The posterior canal was most commonly involved in both i-BPPV and s-BPPV. The horizontal canal was the second most common, followed by multi-canal involvement. However, MD-associated BPPV most commonly involved the lateral canal. The mean durations of treatment for i-BPPV and s-BPPV were 2.28 and 4.87 days, respectively. The mean duration of treatment was 6.28 days for ISSHL with BPPV, 5.07 days for BPPV with unilateral vestibulopathy, and 2.28 days for BPPV with MD. CONCLUSION: The mean duration of treatment for BPPV with ISSHL or unilateral vestibulopathy was longer than for other groups. The different pathophysiologies of s-BPPV associated with different inner ear diseases may explain its diverse clinical features and courses.

Comparison of clinical characteristics between primary and secondary paranasal mucoceles.

PURPOSE: Paranasal sinus mucocele is a benign, expansile mass which can occur as a result of trauma or spontaneous obstruction of a sinus tract. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the clinical characteristics of primary mucoceles occurring in patients with no previous sinus surgery history or known cause of mucoceles and secondary mucoceles resulting as a complication following endoscopic sinus surgery or the Caldwell-Luc operation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of 33 cases of primary mucoceles and 60 cases of secondary mucoceles which were diagnosed and surgically corrected between 1996 and 2008. RESULTS: The most common presenting symptoms in primary mucoceles were nasal obstruction (19.4%) and rhinorrhea (17.7%). In secondary mucoceles, the most common symptoms were cheek pain (31.7%) and nasal obstruction (18.3%). The most common origins of primary mucoceles were the ethmoid sinus (45.5%) and the maxillary sinus (18.2%). In secondary mucoceles, the maxillary sinus was the most common site (86%), followed by the ethmoid sinus (7.1%). All patients with secondary mucoceles had a history of sinus surgery. CONCLUSION: The maxillary sinus was the most common site of secondary mucoceles while the ethmoid sinus was the most common origin of primary mucoceles. Cases of secondary mucoceles that occurred following sinus endoscopic surgery developed more frequently in the ethmoid sinus than in those following the Caldwell-Luc procedure, therefore, we suggest that the incidence of maxillary sinus mucoceles in the Asian population would decrease as the rate of endoscopic sinus surgery increases.

Expression of cell-cycle regulators (cyclin D1, cyclin E, p27kip1, p57kip2) in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expression of cell-cycle regulators in papillary thyroid carcinoma in relation to lymph node metastatic features, and to determine whether immunohistochemical staining of cell-cycle markers can predict lymph node metastasis. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of prior surgical specimens. SETTING: Academic tertiary referral center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We reviewed the clinical records of patients who had undergone surgery for thyroid cancer and follicular adenoma between January 2005 and May 2008 at our clinic. Among these cases, 92 patients, comprising 28 patients with follicular adenoma, 32 with papillary thyroid carcinoma without lymph node metastasis, and 32 with papillary thyroid carcinoma with lymph node metastasis, were selected randomly. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from the 92 patients were immunohistochemically stained for cyclin D1, cyclin E, p27(kip1), and p57(kip2), and protein expression levels were quantified and compared among the groups. RESULTS: Tumor specimens from the papillary thyroid carcinoma group had significantly higher expression levels of cyclin D1 and cyclin E, and cytoplasmic expression of p57(kip2) than the other two groups (P < 0.05). In particular, all malignant cases expressed cyclin D1, and cytoplasmic p57(kip2) was expressed only in malignant cases. Furthermore, differences in the grade of cyclin D1 expression according to lymph node metastasis were statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that immunohistochemistry of certain cell-cycle regulators may be helpful in the diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma, and that cyclin D1 in particular may be a useful marker for evaluating lymph node metastasis.

Sclerotherapy of branchial cleft cysts using OK-432.

OBJECTIVES: OK-432 has been widely used to treat lymphangioma and ranula; however, there are few studies for its use in treatment of branchial cleft cyst (BCC). We conducted this study to evaluate the effectiveness of sclerotherapy using OK-432 in treatment of BCC. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Case series with planned data collection. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From 2004 to 2007, we treated 23 patients with BCC using OK-432 sclerotherapy. Of these 23 patients, 18 had unilocular cysts and five had multilocular cysts. The sizes of the BCCs were measured and compared before and after treatment. RESULTS: Of the 23 cases, 14 (60.8%) showed complete regression; all of these were unilocular cysts. Of the remaining individuals with unilocular cysts, only one patient failed to show any response. This individual subsequently underwent surgical excision. A total of five patients with multilocular cysts showed no or partial response and subsequently underwent surgical excision. Minor adverse effects including fever and local pain were reported by 13 (56.5%) patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that sclerotherapy using OK-432 is an effective and safe treatment modality for BCC, especially for unilocular cysts. Sclerosing of unilocular BCC with OK-432 should therefore be considered before surgical excision.

Medial fracturing of the inferior turbinate: effect on the ostiomeatal unit and the uncinate process.

It is apparently a common practice to fracture the inferior turbinate medially and superiorly to facilitate the fenestration of the inferior meatus, and to fracture medially and lateralize the inferior turbinate during turbinoplasty. However, it is also known that medial fracturing of the inferior turbinate may induce lateral displacement of the uncinate process. We investigated medial fracturing of the inferior turbinate to see whether it had any effect on changing the position of the uncinate process. A retrospective study was done on 23 patients who underwent medial fracturing of the inferior turbinate during submucosal turbinoplasty or turbinectomy from January 2004 through September 2006. By analyzing ostiomeatal-unit computed tomography, we measured the angle of the uncinate process, the minimal width of the ethmoid infundibulum, and the size of the maxillary sinus ostium. The angle of the uncinate process was 14.19-32.45 degrees , the minimal width of the ethmoid infundibulum was 0.61-2.45 mm, and the size of the maxillary sinus ostium was 2.14-6.77 mm. After the surgery, the angle of the uncinate process was 15.56-32.51 degrees , the minimal width of the ethmoid infundibulum was 0.53-2.52 mm, and the size of the maxillary sinus ostium was 2.18-7.01 mm. Pathologic change in the ostiomeatal-unit was not observed for an average period of 14.9 months (range 10.3-21.8 months) follow-up period. Our report suggests that the medial fracturing of the inferior turbinate does not alter the position of the uncinate process and the size of the maxillary sinus ostium. Clinically, it does not seem to affect normal physiology of the sinus function nor does it cause sinusitis.

Vocal analysis related to changes in frequency of pure tone auditory feedback.

PURPOSE: Many studies have shown that subjects show a change of vocal fundamental frequency (F0) when phonating subjects hear their vocal pitch feedback shifted upward or downward. This study was performed to demonstrate whether vocal parameters [F0, intensity, jitter, shimmer, and noise to harmonic ratio (NHR)] in normal males respond to changes in frequency of pure tone masking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty healthy male subjects participated in this study. Subjects vocalized /a/ vowel sounds while listening to a pitch- shift pure tone through headphones (upward pitch-shift in succession: 1 kHz to 2 kHz and 1 kHz to 4 kHz at 50 dB or 80 dB, respectively, downward pitch-shift in succession: 1 kHz to 250 Hz and 1 kH to 500 Hz at 50 dB or 80 dB, respectively). RESULTS: Vocal intensity, F0, was increased, whereas jitter was decreased as the pitch of pure tone was shifted upward. However, there was no correlation between shimmer and NHR with pitch-shift feedback for pure tones. Unlike vocal pitch- shift feedback in other studies, upward pitch-shift feedback of pure tones caused the vocal F0 and intensity to change in the same direction as pitch-shift. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that auditory kinesthetic feedback is affected by pitch-shift in pure tone.

Surgical treatment using an allograft dermal matrix for nasal septal perforation.

PURPOSE: Numerous methods have been utilized to repair nasal septal perforation with varying degrees of success; however, no consensus has been reached on nasoseptal perforation repair. Here, the authors describe a surgical method based on human dermal allograft (Surederm, Hans Biomed Corp. Korea) for the repair of nasal septal perforations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven patients with a nasal septal perforation were included in this study. The causes of these septal perforations included previous nasal surgery, trauma, foreign body (button battery), and idiopathy. There were several sites of perforation: 9 in the central area, 1 in the posterior-central area, and 1 in the anterior area. An interpositional graft incorporating Surederm was positioned between bilateral mucoperichondrial flaps using an intranasal approach. A silastic sheet was then left in the nasal septum bilaterally until complete healing had occurred through new nasal mucosa, which took a mean duration of 6 weeks. RESULTS: Outcomes in ten of the eleven patients were successful, with complete septal perforation closure. The remaining perforation, which was caused by a button battery, closed incompletely; however, its initial size of 2 cm was reduced to 5 mm. CONCLUSION: The described technique has a high success rate and can be performed under local anesthesia without external scarring. In the absence of donor site morbidity, this technique can also be utilized to repair posterior or multiple septal perforations without difficulty.

Outcomes of posterior lacrimal sac approach in endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy: review of 35 cases.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to describe the posterior lacrimal sac approach in endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) performed at our institute and report perioperative results achieved with this procedure. METHODS: A prospective clinical study was performed of 35 adult patients with nasolacrimal duct obstruction who underwent posterior lacrimal sac approach DCR from March 1998 to May 2005. Follow-up period ranged from 13 to 30 months (average, 17.5 months; SD, 6.8 months). "Surgical success" was defined as complete relief of epiphora and patent surgical ostium on endoscopic assessment. RESULTS: Surgical success was achieved in 30/35 (85.7%) patients after the primary surgery. Of 5 unsuccessful patients who complained of occasional epiphora, 4 patients had formed stenosis and 1 patient had granulation around the surgical opening, and all had revision surgery. Four of 5 (80.0%) patients achieved surgical success. Thus, including the result of revision surgery, 34/35 (97.1%) patients were successful. CONCLUSION: Posterior lacrimal sac approach in endoscopic DCR has several advantages: good sac accessibility, a low complication rate, and a relatively high success rate. Therefore, the posterior lacrimal sac approach appears to offer a useful alternative approach for the surgical treatment of nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Paper-patch myringoplasty with CO2 laser for chronic TM perforation.

Chronic tympanic membrane (TM) perforations are a common problem in otolaryngology. However, there are controversies of how best to treat TM perforation. Recently, we successfully managed TM perforation with paper patch after trimming the perforated TM margin with the CO2 laser. The purpose of this report is to demonstrate the trial of this method and effectiveness. The authors conducted a retrospective case series from March 2000 to January 2005. Ninety patients underwent paper-patch myringoplasty with the CO2 laser. The procedure was performed in an office setting under local anesthesia. We investigated perforation size and postoperative success rate. Successful closure of the TM was achieved in 52.2% of cases (47/90) without any severe complication. The procedure was successful in 16 of 19 (84.2%) cases in perforation smaller than 2 mm, 19 of 29 (63.0%) cases when the size was 2-4 mm, 10 of 25 (40.0%) cases when the size was 4-6 mm, and 2 of 17 (11.8%) cases when the size was > or =6 mm. A significant difference was found: Perforation with <4 mm had the higher closure rate (chi2 test, P < 0.01). There was no correlation between the size of perforation and the number of patch graft (chi2 test, P > 0.05). The results showed paper-patch myringoplasty after CO2 laser trimming is simple and safe to perform, and suitable as an outpatient procedure, especially in small perforations (<4 mm).

Transcutaneous injection laryngoplasty through the cricothyroid space in the sitting position: anatomical information and technique.

A variety of approaches have been introduced to perform injection laryngoplasty under local anesthesia. Among these reported methods, transcutaneous injection through the cricothyroid space offers many advantages, but it possesses some technical difficulties during access to the vocal fold. The aim of this study was to assess the anatomic references related to transcutaneous injection laryngoplasty through cricothyroid space using 3-dimensionally reconstructed computed tomography to provide guidelines and to achieve higher efficacy during the procedure. The study group consisted of 14 patients (7 male, 7 female) with unilateral vocal fold paralysis and who had undergone multi-detector array computed tomography (MDCT) between January 2004 and December 2005. Assumption was made that transcutaneous injection is approached from the surface at lower margin of the thyroid cartilage and 7 mm lateral to the midline through the cricothyroid membrane and spot at the posterior 1/3 of true vocal cord is the target for injection laryngoplasty. From the surface of the injection point to the target, a line was drawn. Its length and the angle formed between it and the approach direction of needle was measured. Based on these measurements, 15 patients (8 male, 7 female) with unilateral vocal fold paralysis received 15 trials of transcutaneous injection laryngoplasty through the cricothyroid space. The average length from the surface of the injection point (7 mm lateral to the midline) to the posterior 1/3 of the true vocal cord (target of the injection) was 15.75 mm in men and 13.91 mm in women. The average of the angle in medial direction at the surface needed to reach the target of the injection was 10.57 degrees in men and 12.71 degrees in women, and in superior direction was 47.57 degrees in men and 47.43 degrees in women. Injection laryngoplasty performed under acquired reference measurements were successful in 14 trials (93.3%) out of 15 trials in 15 patients. We suggest that knowledge of the anatomic references regarding the transcutaneous injection laryngoplasty through cricothyroid space will provide guidelines for beginners and improve the understanding of the procedure, eventually leading to easier and more precise access to the vocal cord.

Investigation into psychological correlates of patients with vocal nodules using the Symptom Checklist-90-Revision.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the psychological characteristics of patients with vocal nodules and to establish the relationship between these characteristics and the development of vocal nodules. SETTING: A tertiary medical centre. DESIGN AND METHOD: The patient group consisted of 41 housewives with vocal nodules, and the control group consisted of 35 housewives who did not have any vocal pathology. The subjects completed questionnaires related to the voice disorder and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revision. OUTCOME MEASURES: The scores of the patient group with less than 1 year of symptom duration (acute) and more than 1 year of symptom duration (chronic) were also compared with those of the controls. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The total patient group differed statistically from the control group on seven neurotic dimensions (p < .001) and one psychotic dimension (p < .05). The acute group differed on two neurotic dimensions (p < .05). We suggest that the neurotic traits found in the acute group may play a role in the development of vocal nodules. The dimensions in which the total patient group differed significantly from the control group may indicate the changes that occur in the psychological characteristics following voice change. The collective results indicate that psychological characteristics play an important role in the pathogenesis of vocal nodules. Hence, greater attention should be given to the psychological and emotional aspects of patients for the treatment and prevention of vocal nodules.

Clinical features of the paranasal sinus fungus ball.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to delineate the clinical features of the paranasal sinus fungus ball and to evaluate the effectiveness of transnasal endoscopic sinus surgery as a primary surgical method for treating the paranasal sinus fungus ball. SETTING: A tertiary medical centre. DESIGN AND METHODS: Eighty-five patients (86 cases) who were treated for paranasal sinus fungus ball with transnasal endoscopic sinus surgery between 1995 and 2004 in our Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical features, surgical techniques, operative findings, postoperative results, and complications were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: All cases were treated successfully by transnasal endoscopic sinus surgery. No recurrences or postoperative complications were observed. However, in 18 cases, fungal debris was observed when sinus irrigation was carried out at the first follow-up visit. In these cases, no additional fungal debris was found by 1.7 weeks (average) postoperatively, and no recurrences were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Transnasal endoscopic sinus surgery, followed by postoperative nasal cavity and paranasal sinus irrigation, is effective as a primary treatment method for paranasal sinus fungus ball.

Glycerol pure tone audiometry and glycerol vestibular evoked myogenic potential: representing specific status of endolymphatic hydrops in the inner ear.

This prospective study attempts to explore the effect of glycerol on vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) in patients with definite unilateral Meniere's disease (MD) and to investigate whether the test reflects different pathologic states of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) in the inner ear by comparing the results of glycerol pure tone audiometry (PTA). Twenty-eight patients with definite unilateral MD were studied. As a control group, 11 patients with vestibular neuritis were selected. Sixteen ears of normal volunteers were enrolled to acquire normal range of the test. Each MD patient underwent glycerol testing measure with both conventional PTA and VEMP testing. Eleven vestibular neuritis patients also underwent glycerol-VEMP testing. The difference ratio was adopted to compare the changes in p1-n1 amplitude and latency of VEMP after the administration of glycerol (1.3 g/kg). Significant changes in the VEMP wave after the glycerol loading were seen in amplitude, but not in latency with MD patients. On the affected side, the amplitude of the p1-n1 biphasic wave significantly increased in 11 of 28 (39.3%) ears and decreased in 2 (7.1%) ears. On the unaffected side, 5 (17.9%) ears showed significant increase in amplitude. Significant changes in PTA were noted after administration of glycerol in 14 of 28 (50%) patients with MD. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between the test results. Glycerol administration had no significant effect on VEMP in patients with vestibular neuritis. The amplitude of VEMP in some patients with MD was increased, but the latency was not influenced by oral administration of glycerol. The severity of EH appears to vary in different parts of the inner ear. Glycerol-VEMP test results in patients with vestibular neuritis suggest that the VEMP reflects potential abnormality in the sacculocollic pathway, while glycerol-VEMP identifies the existence of EH in the saccule. VEMP and PTA after glycerol administration provide potential status of MD.

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the external auditory canal: case report.

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a rare malignancy, with features of both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The tumor has a predilection for the upper aerodigestive tract, and has been suggested to behave more aggressively than squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). To the author's knowledge, BSCC confined to the external auditory canal (EAC) has not been previously described. BSCC of EAC manifests similar characteristics as the conventional EAC cancer, presenting a mass with chronic otorrhea and itching sense. Excision of the tumor was accomplished by modified lateral temporal bone resection. This report describes the first case of BSCC in this location, and includes reviews of the pathologic and clinical aspects of this disease.