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To determine the efficacy of endoscopic electrocauterization for pyriform sinus fistula (PSF) using a flexible Bugbee cautery electrode. From 2009 to 2016, a total of eight patients with acute suppurative thyroiditis or cervical abscess secondary to PSF were retrospectively registered in our study (three males, five females; median age 6.5 years). All patients underwent endoscopic electrocauterization as treatment for PSF. Six of eight patients had no recurrence after the initial endoscopic electrocauterization of PSF. One patient with recurrence developed symptoms 9 days after cauterization and another experienced recurrence after 2 years. Mean follow-up for the eight patients was 50 months (range 5-96 months). No post-operative complication was reported. Endoscopic electrocauterization appears to be a less-invasive, safe, and effective method for the treatment of PSF.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetic disease inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. The prevalence of PCD is estimated to be 1 in 20,000 live births. Congenital abnormality of the primary cilia results in situs inversus in 50% of patients. Decreased function of motile cilia causes chronic rhinosinusitis, otitis media with effusion, bronchiectasis and infertility. Cases with situs inversus are considered to show "Kartagener's syndrome", and diagnosis is not difficult. However, in cases without situs inversus, the diagnosis is much more troublesome. PCD without situs inversus is thus probably underdiagnosed. Prolonged chronic cough represents an important symptom that is seen in most patients. The diagnosis of PCD requires the presence of the characteristic clinical phenotypes and either: (1) specific ciliary ultrastructural defects identified by transmission electron microscopy in biopsy samples of respiratory epithelium; or (2) identification of mutation in one of the genes known to be associated with PCD. Nasal nitric oxide concentration is extremely low in PCD, and this could be useful for screening of the disease. At present, no fundamental therapies are available for PCD. Diagnosis in the early stages is important to prevent progression of bronchiectasis and deterioration of lung function by guidance for daily life, immunization, cessation of smoking and prompt therapy at the time of respiratory tract infection. Since PCD is inherited in an autosomal-recessive manner, genetic counseling is necessary after definite diagnosis.

We report a case of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland and cervical lymph node metastases with concurrent tuberculous lymphadenitis that was diagnosed preoperatively. A 35-year-old woman presented with multiple lymph node swellings and an anterior neck mass. No findings suggesting the coexistence of pulmonary tuberculosis were present. The patient underwent a total thyroidectomy with bilateral neck dissection together with medication. Measures to prevent tuberculosis were undertaken during the perioperative period. The histopathological diagnosis was papillary carcinoma with both metastatic and tuberculous lymphadenitis of the lymph nodes in the neck. The possible coexistence of tuberculous lymphadenitis must be ruled out when lymph node swellings are observed in patients with head and neck cancer, including thyroid carcinoma.

2005年から2009年の間に当科で初回治療を行った下咽頭扁平上皮癌53例に対し検討を行った。そのうち40例は800mg/m2の5-FUを1日目から5日目にかけて投与し，6日目に80mg/m2のシスプラチンを投与するレジメンを用いた同時化学放射線療法にて治療を行った。局所CRに至ったのは40例中34例，85%であり，切除可能例では97%であった。全体では疾患特異的5年生存率は51%であり，切除可能例では68%であった。主な有害事象は白血球減少と粘膜炎であるが，それらは許容範囲内であり，死に至るような重篤な例はみられなかった。今回の検討でシスプラチン（80mg/m2）と5-FU（800mg/m2）を用いた同時併用化学放射線療法は下咽頭扁平上皮癌に対し効果的な治療法であり，有害事象も共用できる範囲であると思われた。しかしながら進行下咽頭癌に対する新しい治療戦略における更なる見当が必要と思われた。

Head and neck cancer is frequently accompanied with other primary cancers, especially esophageal cancer. Among 337 cases with head and neck cancers treated at Mie University Hospital from January 2001 to December 2005, 31 cases (9.2%) had multiple cancers. Oropharyngeal cancer and hypopharyngeal cancer cases showed esophageal cancer significantly more frequently than other head and neck cancer cases (25.0-26.7%). Brinkman's index was significantly higher in the group with cancer of the oropharynx associated with esophageal cancer than in the group without any other primary cancer. Sake index was significantly higher in the group with cancer of the oropharynx or hypopharinx associated with esophageal cancer than in the group without any other primary cancer. Endoscopic examinations should be routinely performed after the treatment of head and neck cancer.

A retrospective clinical study was conducted involving 143 patients with laryngeal cancer treated in our department between 1998 and 2006. The subjects consisted of 138 males and 5 females, with a ratio of 28:1. The mean age was 68.1 years old. The subsite of origin comprised 78 (54.5%) in the glottis, 61 (42.7%) in the supraglottis, and 4 (2.8%) in the subglottis. The clinical stage according to the 1997 UICC TMN classification system was I in 53 cases (37.1%), II in 34 (23.8%), III in 20 (14.0%), and IV in 36 (25.2%). The 5-year overall survival rate was 71.2% in the total cases, 84.4% in stage I, 89.6% in stage II, 51.2% in stage III, and 38.9% in stage IV. The disease-specific 5-year survival rate was 88.3% in the total cases, 75.5% in the supraglottic type, 98.1% in the glottic type, and 100% in the subglottic type. The preservation rate of the larynx at 5 years was 83.3% in T1, 56.5% in T2, and 0% in T3 and T4.

1991年から2007年までに当科で治療を行った原発不明頸部転移癌症例27例を対象として，retrospectiveに検討した。病期はN1症例は0例，N2aは8例，N2bは9例，N2cは1例，N3は9例であった。治療としては，15例に頸部郭清が施行されており，8例に頸部郭清ならびに術後放射線治療が行われていた。5年生存率は全体で31.0%，根治治療例で45.0%であった。4例が治療開始後に原発巣が判明した。生存結果は臨床的N分類によく相関していた。結論として，潜在的原発部位に放射線治療を行うこと，N進行例には術後化学放射線同時併用療法を行っていくべきと思われた。

Fish bones as a foreign body are often present in the palatine tonsil and the base of the tongue. Such foreign bodies can often be diagnosed with inspection only. However, it is difficult to diagnose and extirpate a foreign body when it is buried in the oral/pharyngeal mucosa. We experienced a case of a fish bone foreign body buried in the tongue muscle layer. We report herein on the case of a 49-year-old man with a fish bone foreign body buried in his tongue. The patient had noticed a sore throat since eating a sea bream and was referred to our department. Visual inspection revealed no foreign body, but CT imaging revealed a fish bone in the tongue. We performed an emergency surgical exploration of tongue to locate the fish bone. Because the fish bone as a foreign body was unable to be confirmed by palpation, we identified the location of the fish bone by intraoperative CT. This is a rare case of a fish bone buried in the tongue muscle layer, and intraoperative CT was useful in identifying the positon of the foreign body.

Objectives: The purpose of the study is to know if mucin gene expression can be detected in the middle ear effusion and if so, which mucin genes are expressed in the effusions. Methods: Mucin gene expression in the middle ear effusions obtained from five patients with otitis media with effusion were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Ribonucleic acids (RNAs) were extracted from the effusion and the expression of 12 mucin genes was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results: Mucin gene expression examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction indicated the expression of MUC1 , MUC4 , MUC5AC , MUC6 , MUC7 , MUC8 , MUC9 , MUC11 and MUC12 mRNA in the effusion. This mucin gene expression was similar to that in BEAS-2B cell, a bronchial epithelial cell line. Conclusion: Middle ear effusion can give us valuable information on mucin gene expression in the middle ear. There is similarity between mucin gene expression in the middle ear effusion and that in the bronchial epithelia.

Objective To clarify 1) which mucin gene expression is influenced by glucocorticoid and 2) whether glucocorticoid influences steady-state mucin expression or mucin gene expression induced by lipopolysaccharide. Methods Dissociated cells obtained from nasal polys were cultured on a collagen gel substrate in an air-liquid interface. Dexamethasone was added to the culture medium in the steady-state and prior to the stimulation by LPS. RNAs were extracted from culture cells, and semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed for MUC2, MUC5AC, MUC5B, MUC8, and β-actin. Results Dexamethasone did not influence steady-state messenger RNA levels of either mucin gene. Dexamethasone suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced messenger RNA levels of MUC8. Conclusion Glucocorticoid does not influence steady-state mucin gene expression but suppresses mucin gene expression induced by secretagogues such as lipopolysaccharide.

Background Pendred's syndrome (PS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by goiter and congenital sensorineural hearing loss. Recent advances in molecular biology revealed the gene responsible for PS (PDS) and provided an important aid for the diagnosis of this condition. Methods A case of PS with huge goiter and congenital hearing impairment was diagnosed by mutational analysis of the PDS gene. Results Physical examination and computer tomography CT revealed a diffuse swelling of the thyroid gland. Thyroid function tests were normal, and the perchlorate discharge test was negative. Audiologic examination confirmed sensorineural hearing loss, and temporal bone CT revealed bilateral enlarged vestibular aqueducts. The mutational analysis revealed that the patient was homozygous for His 723 Arg (2168AG) in exon 19, a missense mutation. Conclusions The results of thyroid function tests in PS patients are usually normal, and the positive perchlorate discharge test has been used for the diagnosis. However, this is a nonspecific test and is not sensitive enough for PS. In our case, despite a negative perchlorate test, the patient was diagnosed by mutational analysis and received total thyroidectomy to relieve respiratory distress caused by thyroid enlargement. This is the first report of a mutation detected in the thyroid tissue and clearly shows that the mutation caused histopathologic change in that gland. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

We report the case of a 42-year-old male with Harada's disease who showed impairment of bilateral, vestibular and cochlear function. He showed bilateral sensorineural hearing loss on an audiogram and canal paresis in Caloric response. The systemic administration of betamethasone was effective: his visual acuity and hearing level normalized and vertigo subsided.

The patient was an 82-year-old female with a swelling at the left side of the soft palate. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a large cystic tumor in the left parapharyngeal space. The cystic tumor was removed via a cervical approach with mandibulotomy (mandibular swing approach). Postoperative histological examination revealed a pleomorphic adenoma with cystic formation.Pleomorphic adenoma with large cystic formation is rare in the parapharyngeal space and a differential diagnosis includes branchial cleft cyst, abcess, cystic hygroma, metastatic lymph node with central necrosis and aneurysm. CT and MRI are essential for diagnosis and provide information on the size and location of the tumor. There are several possible approaches to tumors in the parapharyngeal space: transoral excision, cervical approach with or without mandibulotomy and transparotid approach. It is preferable to perform a mandibular swing approach for the removal of the large tumor in the parapharyngeal space.

Frequently, double cancer and distant metastases have been detected by means of therapeutic techniques for head and neck cancers. Between January 1997 and February 1999, we experienced 59 cases of head and neck Squamous cell carcinoma in the department of otolaryngology at the Yamada Red Cross Hospital. Eight patients of 59 (13.6%) had pulmonary metastases and/or primary lung cancers, detected by chest CT scans. However, such lesions in 4 patients of 59 (6.8%) were detected by normal Chest X-rays. Positive correlations were observed between T stage and positive CT scans.CT scanning of the chest is more effective than chest X-ray, and is now used routinely in our department prior to undertaking major head and neck surgery.

From 1990 through 1998, 143 patients with laryngeal cancer were treated in our department. Of the 143 patients, 94 had glottal, 43 had supraglottal, and 6 had subglottal cancer. The 5-year survival rate in patients with laryngeal cancer was 90.0% for stage I, 81.3% for stage II, 77.9% for stage III, and 42.6% for stage IV. The 5-year survival rate was 86.5% for glottal, 55.9% for supraglottal and 66.7% for subglottal cancer patients. The laryngeal preservation rate was 90.4% for stage I, 60.5% for stage II, 21.4% for stage III and 28.1% for stage IV.A loco-regional recurrence occurred in 24 of 143 patients (16.8%). The salvage rate for these patients was 45.8% (11/24). Six of 11 patients who died of primary disease and nodal failure (including 2 stomal recurrences) had supraglottic stage N carcinoma.In conclusion, laryngeal preservation surgery should be recommended in the early stages of cancer after radiation failure and local recurrence. It is recommended to dissect the anterior compartment including the delphian lymph node, pretracheal, and parathyroidal nodes bilaterally for patients with laryngeal tumors that have significant anterior subglottic extension, tumors arising in the subglottic region, or advanced tumors arising in any region, especially the supraglottis.

Two cases of esophageal perforations caused by endoscopy were treated at our hospital.The cause was flexible fiberscopy in one patient and rigid esophagoscopy in the other patient. Both patients were treated surgically and cured.We concluded that: (1) rigid esophagoscopy should be performed under general anesthesia; (2) a barium esophagogram indicative of an esophageal perforation should not be a contra-indication; and (3) the operation should be performed as soon as possible, and primary suture of the perforation should also be performed if possible.

Thirty-six patients with epistaxis requiring hospitalization evaluated over the previous five years were statistically. Twelve patients could not be controlled by the conventional packing method. Ligation of the ethmoidal arteries was perfomed in 4 cases, selective catheter embolization in 5 cases, and turbinectomy and electro-cauterization in 3 cases. In one patient treated by ligation of the ethmoidal artery, and in four patients treated by selective catheter embolization, control of epistaxis failed. All 4 patients were subsequently treated by turbinectomy and electro-cauterization. Because of its relative simplicity and effectiveness, turbinectomy from the infra turbinal posterior end is proposed as the standard method for treatment of epistaxis. Ligation of the ethmoidal arteries should be used for the treatment of epistaxis originating from the olfactory cleft, and selective catheter embolization for treatment of those cases in which the bleeding points were undetectable.

In the past 4 years, middle ear surgery has been performed on 166 ears. A total of 42 ears operated on by modified type III tympanoplasties, and 19 ears operated on by type IV tympanoplasties were reviewed. The type III tympanoplasty group included 12 ears with cholesteatoma and 20 with chronic otitis media. The type IV tympanoplasty group included 9 cases of cholesteatoma and 5 cases of chronic otitis media. Postoperative hearing results were evaluated, and success rates in hearing results were 81.6% of type III patients, and 66.7% of type IV tympanoplasty patients. Second surgeries were performed on 7 ears previously operated on at other hospitals, and success was observed in 6 ears. In 18 ears, artificial columella (hydroxyapatite) was used for reconstruction of the ossicular chain, and discharge of the columella was observed in only 1 ear. In 21 ears with cholesteatoma and reconstruction of the ossicular chain, residual recurrence of cholesteatoma was observed in 3, but true recurrence of cholesteatoma was not experienced.

Seventy-nine patients with head and neck abscesses were treated at our clinic between 1995 and 1997. Sixty-three cases had a peritonsillar abscess, seven were cases of deep neck infection and nine cases were other sorts of abscesses.Of the seven patients with deep neck infection, two were treated only with chemotherapy and steroids. Surgical drainage was performed in the remaining five patients.For the effective treatment of head and neck abscess, enhanced CT scanning is useful, in addi-tion, prompt surgical drainage of the abscess and therapy with antibiotics for anaerobic pathogens and with steroids for a short period are required.

Malignant lymphoma is a systematic disease which frequently manifests itself first in the head and neck region.Although the diagnosis of a malignant lymphoma is not difficult, the addition of infection in the affected lymphoid tissues makes the histological diagnosis complicated. A prudent evaluation and repeated biopsies are required in cases complicated by infected lymphoid tissues. On the other hand, the administration of antibiotics, drainage and debridement of the affected region are essential for the severe inflammation of the deep neck. We recently experienced a 60-year-old male patient with a malignant lymphoma and severe infection of the neck.Debridement of the infected neck region and subsequent reconstruction of the defect in the neck were performed in this case.A pectoralis major musculocutaneous flap was elevated, passing through the retro-clavicular space, and the defect in the neck was then covered by this flap without any complication.Combined chemotherapy was performed by the medical department, and achieved a complete response.This reconstructive procedure enabled the satisfactory covering of defects in the upper neck region.

Osteosarcoma arising from the maxilla is a rare tumor of the head and neck region, accounting for only 6% to 7% of all osteosarcomas. Although therapy for maxillary cancer is well established, that for sarcoma of the maxilla, especially osteosarcoma is less clearly defined. In our department, a case of osteosarcoma arising from the maxilla was treated with surgery and chemo-radiotherapy. Surgery preceded postoperative irradiation with adjuvant intra-arterial chemotherapy. In the literature, surgery is the most readily available form of therapy, whereas radiotherapy and chemotherapy are not commonly used in the treatment of osteosarcoma. The Japanese literature suggests that a combination of chemotherapy and surgery might improve the outcome in cases of osteosarcoma of the maxilla.In cases of osteosarcoma, recurrence at the primary site is common, and the prognosis in these cases is generally poor. Therefore, precise evaluation of the extent of the osteosarcoma is more essential. In our patient, 3-dimension CT was used preoperatively, and proved useful for the evaluation of the extent of disease and the determination of suitable operative procedures.

This study aims to identify predisposing characteristics of descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) arising from deep neck infection (DNI) and to determine appropriate therapeutic intervention strategies. We retrospectively reviewed 54 patients (male, n = 34; female, n = 20; mean age, 64.5 years) who had been treated at Mie University Hospital for DNI between April 2001 and October 2011. Eight of nine patients who developed DNM confirmed by computed tomography of the neck and chest, underwent mediastinal drainage (video-assisted thoracic surgical drainage, n = 6; mediastinoscopy-assisted drainage, n = 2). A patient developed uncontrolled acute respiratory distress syndrome after aggressive surgery, resulting in a mortality rate of 12 %. High blood CRP values, and the pharynx and tonsils as origins of infection were factors involved in the development of DNM arising from DNI. In conclusion, DNM remains a destructive and fatal disease that requires aggressive treatment including mediastinal exploration.

Malignant external otitis is a severe infection of the external auditory canal, generally caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in elderly diabetics patients. We describe a case of malignant external otitis in a 63-year-old man with severe otalgia, purulent otorrhea and polypoid granulation of the external auditory canal. Local debridement, insulin treatment and 6-week intravenous antibiotic therapy with carbapemens were very effective and the granulation tissue disappeared completely. However, the patient readmitted for recurrent disease 3 weeks later, despite the oral and ear drop administration with new quinolone. No recurrence has been noted after 4-week additional treatment with intravenous carbapenems followed by 3-week treatment with Burow's solution as ear drops.

We describe a rare case of high-pressure grease injury of the face in a 48-year-old man with severe facial edema, soft palate swelling, and bleeding from the nose and mouth. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple low-density areas in nasal cavity, subcutaneous tissue of the cheek, soft palate, right maxillary sinus, and right infratemporal fossa. The patient complained of a dyspnea feeling, and immediate tracheostomy was performed. The grease was removed by the Caldwell-Luc incision approach but was partially left in the infratemporal fossa. After the operation, the patient still complained cheek and temporal pain. CT and magnetic resonance imaging were useful to diagnose the remaining grease, and the remnant of the grease was completely removed by the Weber-Fergusson incision approach.

We reported a case of thyroglossal duct cancer, which metastasized to the bilateral cervical lymph nodes. The cervical lymph node metastases were detected in the upper portion of the neck. According to the results obtained in the preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology, the lymph node metastases were classified as group V and a diagnosis of papillary carcinoma was made. The preoperative studies with 123 I revealed no concentration in the submittal tumor. In our surgical procedure, bilateral supraomohyoid neck dissection was added to excision of the tumor. Conclusion: In view of the fact that thyroglossal duct cancer metastasized bilaterally to cervical lymph nodes in the present case, we experienced an extremely rare case.

Postoperative parathyroid function was evaluated in 24 total thyroidectomy and 8 subtotal thyroidectomy patients seen by our department between January 1995 and July 1997. Parathyroid function was assessed by measuring the level of serum intact parathyroid hormon (intact-PTH). Hypoparathyroidism was avoided in 23 patients (95.8%) who received a total thyroidectomy and in 7 patients (87.5%) who received a subtotal thyroidectomy. Supplementary therapy for hypoparathyroidism was not required as long as the blood supply to more than two parathyroid glands was preserved. Half of the patients in this study did not require any postoperative supplementary therapy. Thus, the preservation of more than two parathyroid glands is essential for the prevention of hypoparathyroidism. In cases where the parathyroid glands had been resected, parathyroid gland transplantation were performed. In all cases, supplementary therapy was eventually no longer required. In two cases requiring supplementary therapy, a normal range of parathyroid activity was observed 30 months after surgery. The administration of vitamin D3 may suppress the recovery of parathyroid function in patients recieving parathyroid transplantations.

In our hospital, ultrasonography is performed for patients who come for thyroid cancer screening. Seventy-eight patients with thyroid cancer which was found by such screening were operated on from 1989 to 1998, while 287 patients with thyroid cancer found by other methods were operated on during the same period in our department. The age of the patients at surgery in the screening group was younger than that of the contrast group. In the screening group, 41 (52.6%) patients had small thyroid cancer, a higher rate that in the contrast group. Invasion of surrounding organs by the primary cancer was observed in only one patient (1.3%) in the screening group, a rate of invasion that was statistically lower than that in the contrast group. Twenty-six patients with benign thyroid disease detected in our screening were operated on during the same period. Careful selection of patients who need fine-needle aspiration cytology is demanded of head and neck surgeons, and careful evaluation of indicators is necessary to avoid surgery in the case of benign thyroid disease.

During a 66-month period, 2849 patients with thyroid gland tumor were examined by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNA) under ultrasonographic imaging at Yamada Red Cross Hospital. Of these patients, 333 received surgical therapy and histological examinations were performed. FNA yielded an accuracy of 92.4%, a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 88.3%. There were 16 false-negative reports which were mainly considered to be due to calcified lesions, cystic lesion, or follicular carcinoma. Among the 188 negative cases, 24 cases (12.8%) proved to be positive by repeated FNA-Preoperative FNA provides cytological information and may assist in the determination of the operative indication. This approach resulted in an increased rate of surgery of thyroid malignancies among all thyroid gland surgeries. This method need to be improved to reduce false-negative results and the combination of FNA diagnosis and other examination is necessary.

Anterior craniofacial resection is now recognized as one of the best treatment for nasal and paranasal tumors involving the cribriform plate. This approach allows for a more oncologically sound en bloc tumor removal. Here we report 6 cases of anterior skull base surgery for malignant neoplasms. The mean age was 54.0 years ranging from 30 to 70. There were 5 men and 1 woman. The pathological diagnoses were as follows: squamous cell carcinoma (4), adenocarcinoma (1), and malignant melanoma (1). Three patients required free tissue transfer and anterior skull base was reconstructed using a pericranial flap in 3 patients. Four patients are alive without disease, and two died. Major complications occurred in 1 of 6 patients and that patient developed a cerebellar hemorrhage. Infectious complications occurred in 2 patients. There were no perioperative deaths. We concluded that craniofacial resection is an effective surgical treatment for nasal and paranasal tumors.