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External auditory canal (EAC) carcinoma is a rare and unusual malignancy. The complex anatomy and relationship between the tumor and surrounding tissues in a limited space render it difficult to attain safe resection margins during surgery. A high jugular bulb (HJB) is one such anatomical variation that has important surgical implications that complicate the surgical procedure for EAC carcinoma. A 73-year-old woman presented with a 3-month history of right ear pain. Pathological findings and computed tomography (CT) revealed EAC carcinoma, which was expanding to the middle ear (ME). Although there was no cavity inside the ME, an HJB was detected. Surgical treatment using a temporal incision for temporal craniotomy achieved complete resection of the tumor and preserved facial nerve function. The patient recovered without complications and was discharged 17 days after the operation. Temporal incision and temporal craniotomy is a useful approach for EAC carcinoma with HJB.

The photoreaction of tetrakis(2-methylthien-3-yl)ethene ( 1a ) and its tetrakis(methylthio) derivative 1b was investigated in the context of a potentially new chromic system responsive to both photoexcitation and electron transfer. UV irradiation of 1 at low conversion leads to production of its cyclic isomer 2 while 2 returns to 1 upon vis irradiation, representative of facile photochromic behavior. In contrast, UV irradiation at high conversion transforms 1b to rearranged product 3b via the intermediacy of 2b .

As part of an effort to develop a new chromic system that responds to both photoexcitation and electron transfer, tetrakis(2-methylthien-3-yl)ethene (3a) and its tetrakismethylthio derivative (3b) were synthesized. The results of X-ray crystallographic and theoretical analyses of these substances suggest that (1) conformers of 3 with an antiparallel arrangement of two vicinal thienyl groups will undergo photocyclization, and (2) the most stable conformer of 3 having an anti-double parallel conformation will not. These predictions were preliminarily confirmed by the results of photochemical and cyclic voltammetry studies.