Morphometric analysis of the internal auditory canal by developmental change using three-dimensional computed tomography.

Purpose: Our aim was to analyze the developmental changes in the morphology of the internal auditory canal (IAC) in both children and adults to gain a three-dimensional understanding that could enhance various surgical approaches.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated 120 ears of 60 patients, ranging in age from birth to adulthood, using 3D-reconstruction data from normal temporal bone CT scans. The volume of the IAC in the temporal bone was reconstructed in 3D using Vworks version 4.

Cavernous Hemangioma of the Mastoid Antrum.

Hemangioma is a common vascular neoplasm that arises in the head and neck regions but is rare in the petrous bone. We report the first case of a solitary cavernous hemangioma in the mastoid antrum. A 68-year-old woman visited our hospital with a complaint of tinnitus without any other symptoms.

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Facial Palsy in Patients with Vestibular Schwannoma Based on the Population Data of Korea.

Background: The prevalence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss and facial palsy in patients with vestibular schwannoma and the association of sudden sensorineural hearing loss or facial palsy with vestibular schwannoma were investigated based on the population data of Korea.

Methods: This retrospective study used the Korean National Health Insurance Service data. Patients with vestibular schwannoma and those with a previous history of sudden sensorineural hearing loss or facial palsy were identified based on diagnostic, medication, magnetic resonance imaging, or audiometric codes from 2005 to 2020.

Dermoid cyst of the infratemporal fossa: a case report of surgical resection by infratemporal fossa type B approach.

Objective: This is a case report of a dermoid cyst located in the infratemporal fossa and its surgical removal using infratemporal fossa type B approach.

Case Report: A 15-year-old male was referred from a local clinic after an incidental finding of a mass lesion in the skull base area on computed tomography (CT). Pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging showed a large cystic mass lesion, expanding to the foramen ovale with fat component in the right infratemporal fossa region.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Vestibular Schwannoma in Korea : A Population-Based Study.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the incidence of vestibular schwannoma (VS) and demographic characteristics in Korea using population-based National Health Insurance Service data.

Methods: This study analyzed Korean National Health Insurance Service data from 2005 to 2020, based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th version, Clinical Modification codes D333 and D431. Only those patients who had undergone magnetic resonance imaging and audiologic tests were considered definitive cases.

Association of Olfactory and Pulmonary Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Objectives: To identify the relationship between pulmonary function and subjective olfactory dysfunction in middle-aged and older adults.

Materials And Methods: We used Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2010 to 2012 to analyze 6191 participants in their 50s or older.

Results: The frequency of olfactory dysfunction was 6.

Protection of Medical Staff during Tracheotomy: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: During the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, tracheotomy under emergency situation is considered a high-risk procedure that causes probable expose to aerosolized secretion.

Summary: We reviewed our case and previous reports, and summarized a detailed protocol that is needed to protect medical staffs who perform tracheotomy under the COVID-19 pandemic, considering the patient's condition, experience of medical staff members, and available facilities and equipment. Key Messages: For efficient protection of medical staff who perform tracheotomy under the COVID-19 pandemic period, we suggest that the following needs to be considered: assessment of patient's condition (COVID-19 infection and the airway problem), route (safest route to the operating room), experienced surgical team, negative-pressure isolation facility and appliance (personal protective equipment) availability, and safe and appropriate post-tracheotomy care.

Emergent procedures for oropharyngeal bleeding during the COVID-19 pandemic: Protection of medical staff.

During an ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, controlling the oropharyngeal bleeding, such as post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage, with cauterization is considered a very vulnerable procedure for medical staff because of high probability of exposure to aerosolized secretion. The authors aimed to introduce an appropriate treatment protocol for oropharyngeal bleeding that provides first aid to patients while protecting medical staff at high-risk of infection such as COVID-19.

Clinicoradiologic Characteristics of Temporal Bone Meningioma: Multicenter Retrospective Analysis.

Objectives/hypothesis: Meningioma is a neoplasm arising from cells related to the arachnoid villi. The aim of the present study was to explore the clinical and radiological characteristics of temporal bone meningioma (TBM) in a multicenter cohort.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Relationships Between Perspective-Taking, Empathic Concern, and Self-rating of Empathy as a Physician Among Medical Students.

Objective: The aim of this study was to ascertain the relationships between perspective-taking, empathic concern, and self-rating of empathy as a physician among medical students.

Methods: This study analyzed the questionnaire responses of 152 medical students enrolled in Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea, in 2018. As measurement instruments, the authors applied the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and Korean Student Version of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (Korean JSPE-S), and then examined participant characteristic variables based on the obtained data and conducted subsequent correlation analyses of subscales, one-way ANOVA, and regression analyses.

Professional self-concept and burnout among medical school faculty in South Korea: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Medical school faculty members have been reported to be highly likely to suffer burnout. Research is being conducted on professional self-concepts as a factor that relieves burnout in many professions. However, there is a paucity of data on the relationship between professional self-concept and burnout among medical school faculty.

External Auditory Canal Reconstruction and Mastoid Obliteration Using Modified Palva Flap in Canal Wall Down Mastoidectomy With Tympanoplasty.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a modified Palva flap used for external auditory canal reconstruction and mastoid obliteration in canal wall down mastoidectomy.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent canal wall down mastoidectomy with tympanoplasty using modified Palva flap. All patients underwent pure tone audiometry and temporal bone computed tomography (CT) before surgery, and the same tests were performed in the first year after surgery.

Contralateral Involvement of Congenital Muscular Torticollis and Clavicular Fracture.

Congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is known to concur with some conditions such as developmental dysplasia of the hip or brachial plexus injury, which gives us some insights for pathogenesis of CMT. Although clavicular fracture is the most common fracture in newborns, little is known about concurrence of CMT and clavicular fracture. Our clinical experience led us to realize that concurrence of CMT and clavicular fracture tended to occur on the contralateral side for each other rather than the ipsilateral side.

Detection of bacteria in middle ear effusions based on the presence of allergy: does allergy augment bacterial infection in the middle ear?

Background: Bacterial infection, Eustachian tube dysfunction, allergies, and immunologic factors are major causes of otitis media with effusion (OME). However, the exact pathogenesis of OME is still unclear. This study evaluated whether allergy influences bacterial growth in middle ear effusions.

Proteomic analysis of vestibular schwannoma: conflicting role of apoptosis on the pathophysiology of sporadic vestibular schwannoma.

Hypothesis: In this study, we investigated the pathophysiology and mechanism underlying sporadic forms of vestibular schwannoma (VS) by comparing VS tissue with normal nerve tissue using proteomics.

Background: Proteomic analysis by two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry facilitates identification and characterization of specific proteins related to the pathogenesis of various diseases.

Methods: Proteins were extracted from two vestibular nerve specimens and two VS specimens and analyzed in parallel using two-dimensional electrophoresis.

Meteorological conditions related to the onset of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of meteorological factors on the onset of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL).

Materials And Methods: Meteorological data from 2005 to 2011 were obtained from the web-based "Monthly Weather Reports of the Meteorological Administration" database. Patients with ISSHL who visited our hospital during this same period and presented the precise day on which hearing loss developed were included in this retrospective study.

Three-dimensional Anatomical Analysis of Surgical Landmarks for the Middle Cranial Fossa Approach.

This study describes the microsurgical anatomy of the middle cranial fossa approach using temporal bone three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) reconstruction, which should contribute to determining the drilling point for the internal auditory meatus (IAM) when bony landmarks are absent. Thirty temporal bone CT scans were reviewed retrospectively. We measured the shortest and longest distances to IAM from the petrous ridge, and measured the angle between the facial nerve and various labyrinth structures.

Clinical significance of orthostatic dizziness in the diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and orthostatic intolerance.

Purpose: Orthostatic dizziness (OD) and positional dizziness (PD) are considerably common conditions in dizziness clinic, whereas those two conditions are not clearly separated. We aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of simple OD and OD combined with PD for the diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and orthostatic intolerance (OI).

Patients And Methods: Patients presenting with OD (n=102) were divided into two groups according to their symptoms: group PO, presenting with PD as well as OD; group O, presenting with OD.

Predictive factors influencing facial nerve outcomes in surgery for small-sized vestibular schwannoma.

Conclusion: The most important predictive factor of facial nerve outcome in surgery for small-sized vestibular schwannoma (VS) is the adhesion between the tumor and the facial nerve.

Objectives: To compare the facial nerve outcomes between middle cranial fossa (MCF) and translabyrinthine (TL) approaches, and to analyze the preoperative and intraoperative factors influencing facial nerve outcome after small VS surgery in our neurotologic department.

Methods: A total of 29 patients were retrospectively analyzed, with 16 in the MCF group and 13 in the TL group.

Surgical and radiologic anatomy of a cochleostomy produced via posterior tympanotomy for cochlear implantation based on three-dimensional reconstructed temporal bone CT images.

Purpose: In this study, we evaluated the surgical and radiologic anatomy of a cochleostomy produced via posterior tympanotomy for cochlear implantation (CI).

Materials And Methods: Twenty computed tomography (CT) images of the temporal bone from patients aged between 20 and 60 years were selected. The inclusion criterion was a radiologically normal temporal bone CT scan.

Comparison of concurrent chemoradiation therapy with weekly cisplatin versus monthly fluorouracil plus cisplatin in FIGO stage IIB-IVA cervical cancer.

Objective: Concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer. Although the optimal chemotherapeutic regimen is not yet defined, previous randomized trials have demonstrated that 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plus cisplatin every 3 weeks and weekly cisplatin are the most popular regimens. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of weekly CCRT with cisplatin and monthly CCRT with 5-FU plus cisplatin for locally advanced cervical cancer.

Functional evaluation of paratubal muscles using electromyography in patients with chronic unilateral tubal dysfunction.

Eustachian tube dysfunction is closely related to the development of otitis media and result from several factors including inflammation within the nasal cavity and nasopharynx, adenoid hypertrophy, cleft palate and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. To some extent, eustachian tube dysfunction may be related to weakness of the paratubal muscles, such as the tensor veli palatini and levator veli palatini muscles. The aim of the study is to find out myogenic factors in eustachian tube dysfunction using electromyography (EMG), and to evaluate the clinical feasibility of EMG.