Is Hypozincemia Related to Tinnitus?: A Population Study Using Data From the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

OBJECTIVES: The aim of present study was to determine the relationship between serum zinc level and tinnitus using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). METHODS: The present study examined the relationship between serum zinc level and tinnitus using data from the KNHANES. A total of 2,225 KNHANES participants responded to the tinnitus questionnaire and provided blood samples to measure serum zinc concentration. Based on questionnaire responses, participants were categorized into control, mild tinnitus, moderate tinnitus, and severe tinnitus subgroups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups in serum zinc level after adjustment for sex, age, and hearing loss. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that hypozincemia is not related to tinnitus in a large population.

Histopathologic Diagnosis Associated with Delayed Diagnosis of Inferior Turbinate Pathology / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Conditions of inferior turbinate other than hypertrophy are rare and its morphology of inferior turbinate is variable. Therefore, the diagnosis of this fatal disease is often delayed. In the present study, histopathologic characteristics of inferior turbinate lesions associated with delayed diagnosis are determined by reviewing the clinical and diagnostic outcomes in patients with inferior turbinate lesions. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The medical records of patients who underwent endoscopic inferior turbinate biopsy following histopathologic evaluation from 2002 to 2013 were retrospectively reviewed, including the previous medical history, physical examination, radiologic findings, histopathologic results, therapy, and follow-up examination. RESULTS: A total 21 patients were included. The most common primary symptoms were nasal obstruction and frequent epistaxis. Diagnosed were 9 benign tumors, 7 malignant tumors, 2 infectious lesions, and 3 autoimmune lesions. Six of 21 patients visited more than three different hospitals before visiting our hospital. One-third of the cases with delayed diagnosis were malignant tumors, which included mucosal melanoma and natural killer/T cell lymphoma. CONCLUSION: In patients with nasal obstruction unresponsive to multiple therapeutic attempts, inferior turbinate neoplasia should be suspected to avoid delaying diagnosis and proper treatment.