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This article examines the complications and risk factors associated with foreign bodies (FBs) in the external auditory canal (EAC). The study analyzed 455 cases over an 8-year period and found that younger age, longer duration of impaction, nongraspable and animate FBs, and FBs touching the tympanic membrane (TM) were independent risk factors for complications. The authors recommend prompt removal of FBs and direct referral to an otolaryngologist for patients with these risk factors. The findings can be used to inform triage and treatment decisions for patients with FBs in the EAC. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory diseases. The effect of chronic inflammation caused by CRS on the occurrence of various cancers has not been thoroughly evaluated. This study aimed to investigate the increased incidences of 10 types of cancers among CRS patients with/without nasal polyps (NP) using a national population‐based database from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Study Design: A case–control cohort study. Methods: We compared the prevalence of various comorbidities between CRS and control participants from a national cohort dataset of the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Methods: CRS participants (n = 6,919) and non‐CRS (n = 27,676) participants were selected from among the 514,866 participants from 2002 to 2015. A stratified Cox proportional hazards model was utilized to assess the hazard ratio (HR) of CRS for 10 types of cancers. Results: A stratified Cox proportional hazard model demonstrated that the adjusted HR for hematologic malignancy was significantly higher in the CRS patients than in the controls regardless of the presence of NP (2.90 for total CRS; 2.15 for CRS with NP; 4.48 for CRS without NP). The HR for thyroid cancer was significantly higher in the CRS patients without NP but not in those with NP (1.50 for total CRS; 1.78 for CRS without NP). Conclusion: This study showed that CRS participants had a significantly higher prevalence of hematologic malignancy and thyroid cancer. Level of Evidence: 4 Laryngoscope, 133:1044–1051, 2023 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives/Hypothesis: This study aimed to investigate the association between Meniere's disease and prior history of asthma. Study Design: A nested case‐control study. Methods: Among the patients aged ≥40 years from the Korean National Health Insurance Service‐Health Screening Cohort 2002–2015, 7,734 diagnosed with Meniere's disease between 2004 and 2015 were enrolled in this study. From the 505,834 participants without a prior history of Meniere's disease, 30,936 control participants were selected based on age, sex, income, and region of residence. The presence of a prior history of asthma before the diagnosis of Meniere's disease was compared between the Meniere's disease group and control group using conditional logistic regression with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Results: Prior history of asthma was associated with 1.30 (1.21–1.39) times higher odds of Meniere's disease (E‐value = 1.92 [1.71]). Both allergic asthma and nonallergic asthma patients demonstrated higher odds of Meniere's disease than the control group (adjusted OR = 1.21 [1.08–1.36] and E‐value = 1.72 [1.37] for allergic asthma; adjusted OR = 1.26 [1.17–1.36] and E‐value = 1.83 [1.60] for nonallergic asthma). Conclusions: This study is the first to demonstrate a positive relationship between Meniere's disease and prior asthma history in adults. The association between prior asthma history and Meniere's disease was noted in both allergic and nonallergic asthma cases. The potential development of Meniere's disease should be considered when managing the asthma patients with dizziness or vertigo. Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 132:864–872, 2022 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives/Hypothesis: This study investigated the impacts of air pollution and meteorological factors on the occurrence of epiglottitis. Study Design: A nested case‐control study. Methods: Participants ≥40 years old in the Korean National Health Insurance Service‐Health Screening Cohort were analyzed. A total of 2,615 epiglottitis patients and 10,460 matched control participants were analyzed. The odds ratios (ORs) for epiglottitis associated with meteorological and air pollution factors, including sulfur dioxide (SO2, ppb), nitrogen dioxide (NO2, ppb), ozone (O3, ppb), and carbon monoxide (CO, ppm), after 3, 7, 15, and 30 days of exposure were analyzed using conditional logistic regression adjusted for total cholesterol, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, prior upper respiratory infection, tonsillectomy, immunocompromise, autoimmune disease, and the Charlson comorbidity index. Results: The daily temperature range and NO2 exposure after 3 days were associated with increased rates of epiglottitis (OR = 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02–1.05 for temperature range and OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.14–2.77 for NO2, respectively). These results were generally consistent at 7, 15, and 30 days. Conclusions: The temperature range and NO2 exposure for 3, 7, 15, and 30 days were positively related to the occurrence of adult epiglottitis. Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 131:2483–2489, 2021 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The effect of statin on sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the association between prior statin use and SSNHL. Study Design: A nested case-control study. Setting: Participants aged ≥40 years were enrolled from the 2002-2015 Korean National Health Insurance Service–Health Screening Cohort. Methods: A total of 5876 patients with SSNHL were matched with 23,504 control participants for age, sex, income, and region of residence. History of statin use for 2 years before SSNHL onset was investigated between the groups. The odds ratios (ORs) of the length of statin use for SSNHL stratified by age, sex, income, and region of residence were analyzed with conditional logistic regression. Dyslipidemia, total cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose, hemoglobin, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and Charlson Comorbidity Index score were adjusted. The adjusted variables were subjected to subgroup analyses. Results: The SSNHL group had a longer duration of statin use than the control group (mean [SD], 81.9 [197.7] days vs 72.7 [188.0] days; P =.001). However, statin use was not associated with SSNHL after adjusting for the confounders (adjusted OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.98-1.11; P =.245). There was a positive correlation between statin use and SSNHL in the crude model (crude OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.04-1.16; P =.001). However, there was no association between statin use and SSNHL in all subgroup analyses. Conclusion: Previous statin use was not associated with SSNHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objective: Although previous studies reported the relationship between psoriasis and herpes zoster, the number of study is not sufficient to support the conclusions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between psoriasis and herpes zoster. Methods: The data of a nationally representative Korean cohort collected in the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA) System from 2002 to 2013 were used. Psoriasis was defined ≥ 2 International Classification of Diseases 10th revision (ICD‐10) L40 codes. Among them, severe psoriasis was defined as psoriatic medication use, including acitretin, systemic corticosteroid, cyclosporine and methotrexate. Other psoriasis was defined as mild psoriasis. Herpes zoster was defined as ≥ 2 ICD‐10 B02 codes or ≥ 1 B02 code with antiviral medication use. Psoriasis patients (n = 11 009) and control participants (n = 44 036) were matched 1:4 by age, sex, income and region of residence. A stratified Cox proportional hazard model was used stratified by age, sex, income and region of residence. Crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated for the risk of herpes zoster in the total psoriasis group, mild psoriasis group, and severe psoriasis group and compared with those in each matched control group. Results: The HR for herpes zoster was higher in the psoriasis group than in control group (adjusted HR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.12–1.33, P < 0.001). The findings were consistent between the mild psoriasis and severe psoriasis patients and their matched controls, and between male psoriasis patients in all age groups and their matched male controls. Conclusions: Psoriasis may increase the risk of herpes zoster, especially in males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Association between asthma and clinical mortality/morbidity in COVID-19 patients using clinical epidemiologic data from Korean Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 patients with asthma had a higher maximum morbidity score than those without asthma (EV = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.16-0.73, I P i = .003); participants with asthma ranked 0.44 points higher than participants without asthma (Tables S2 and S3). To the Editor, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread worldwide, posing a serious public health problem.1 The prevalence of asthma in COVID-19 patents differs among studies, with 0.0% reported in Wuhan, China, and markedly higher prevalence rates of 17% and 14% reported in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK), respectively.2-4 Data from the UK showed that asthma was a risk factor for severe COVID-19; however, another study from the United States showed no association between asthma and severe disease, suggesting that it is still unclear whether asthma is a risk factor for a poor prognosis.5-7 Given the variability in the reports analyzing the impact of underlying asthma on the prevalence and severity of COVID-19, there is a need to better characterize the relationship between asthma and COVID-19. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Epidemiological studies on the association between asthma and cardiovascular disease have reported conflicting results. This cross‐sectional study evaluated the association between asthma and ischaemic heart disease (IHD)/stroke in Korean adults. Materials and methods: Data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study‐Health Examinees were used. Among 173 209 participants, 3162 asthmatic and 159 408 control participants were selected. Histories of asthma, IHD and stroke were obtained. Participants were categorized according to their current status of asthma management: 'well‐controlled', 'being treated', and 'not being treated'. Crude and adjusted (age, gender, body mass index, income, smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and nutritional intake) odds ratios (ORs) for IHD and stroke in asthmatic patients were analysed using a multiple logistic regression model. Results: Participants with asthma reported a significantly higher prevalence of IHD (6.0% vs 3.0%) and stroke (2.3% vs 1.4%) than those without asthma (P <.001). Asthmatic participants had a higher OR (1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.251‐1.71, P <.001) for IHD than those without asthma. The association between asthma and IHD was significant only in patients aged ≥53 years (men: adjusted OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.01‐1.70, P =.046; women: adjusted OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.32‐2.03, P <.001) according to age and sex and in the 'not being treated' asthma group (adjusted OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.14‐1.91, P =.003) according to the asthma management status. Stroke was not significantly associated with asthma (adjusted OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.92‐1.48, P =.203) in the adjusted model and all subgroup analyses. Conclusion: Asthma was associated with IHD, mainly in older patients and untreated asthma patients, but not with stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Few studies have reported that mood disorders increase the risk of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). The purpose of our study was to demonstrate whether the incidence of BPPV in those with mood disorders differs from that in a matched control group.Study Design: Nationwide cohort observational study.Methods: Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service-National Patient Samples were collected from 2002 to 2013. A 1:4 matched mood disorder group (n = 59,340) and control group (n = 237,720) were selected. The crude and adjusted (cerebral stroke, ischemic heart disease, anxiety disorder, and osteoporosis histories) hazard ratios (HRs) for depression and BPPV were analyzed using a stratified Cox proportional hazard model. The results were stratified by age, sex, income, region of residence, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia in these analyses.Results: The incidence of BPPV was significantly higher in the mood disorder group than in the control group (3.2% vs. 2.1%, P < .001). Mood disorder increased the risk of BPPV (adjusted HR = 1.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.23-1.39, P < .001). In subgroup analyses, the incidence of BPPV in all age groups and in both sexes was significantly higher in the mood disorder group than in the control group.Conclusion: This population-based cohort study demonstrates that mood disorder was significantly associated with BPPV.Level Of Evidence: N/A. Laryngoscope, 131:380-385, 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long‐term mortality and cause of death in patients with tracheostomy. Methods: Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service‐Health Screening Cohort were collected from 2002 to 2013. A total of 2394 tracheostomy participants and 9536 control participants were included in this study. The crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for tracheostomy‐associated mortality were analyzed. Subgroup analysis according to age and cause of death was analyzed. Results: The tracheostomy group showed a significantly higher rate of death (69.1%) than the nontracheostomy group (13.3%). The adjusted HR for mortality was 13.5 in the tracheostomy group. The most common cause of death after tracheostomy was a circulatory disease, followed by neoplasm, respiratory disease, and trauma. Conclusions: Patients with tracheostomy had a significantly increased long‐term mortality rate compared with patients with nontracheostomy. The circulatory disease was the most common cause of death following tracheostomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship among smoking, alcohol consumption, and peritonsillar abscess in a Korean population. Study Design Individuals ≥40 years old from the Korean National Health Insurance Service‐Health Screening Cohort were assessed from 2002 to 2013. Methods: In total, 1,285 peritonsillar abscess participants were matched with 5,140 controls at a ratio of 1:4 with respect to age group, sex, income group, region of residence, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. We analyzed the participants' previous histories of smoking (current smokers vs. nonsmokers or past smokers) and alcohol consumption (drinkers vs. nondrinkers) in the peritonsillar abscess and control groups. Peritonsillar abscess was defined using the International Classification of Disease‐10 code J36 combined with claim codes for incision and drainage or aspiration. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were analyzed using unconditional logistic regression analyses, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results: The rates of smoking and consuming alcohol were higher in the peritonsillar abscess group than in the control group. The adjusted OR of smoking for peritonsillar abscess was 1.23 (95% CI = 1.06–1.44, P =.009), and that of alcohol consumption was 1.18 (95% CI = 1.02–1.36, P =.024). Conclusion: The odds of smoking and alcohol consumption were increased in peritonsillar abscess patients compared to those in the control group. Level of Evidence: NA Laryngoscope, 2020 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to delineate the causal relationship between Ménière's disease and depression. Design: Two longitudinal follow‐up studies. Main Outcome Measures: The 2002‐2013 Korean National Health Insurance Service‐Health Screening Cohort was used. In study I, Ménière's disease patients were 1:4 matched with the control I group for age group, sex, income group and region of residence, and the occurrence of depression was observed. In study II, the depression patients were 1:4 matched with the control II group for the same variables, and the occurrence of Ménière's disease was observed. The stratified Cox proportional hazard model was used. Subgroup analyses were performed according to age and sex. Results: In study I, 6.9% (420/6044) of the Ménière's disease patients and 3.7% (885/24 176) of the control I participants experienced depression. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of Ménière's disease for depression was 1.94 (95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.73‐2.18, P <.001). In study II, 1.6% (490/31 649) of the depression patients and 1.0% (1240/126 596) of the control II participants were diagnosed with Ménière's disease. The adjusted HR of depression for Ménière's disease was 1.58 (95% CI = 1.43‐1.76, P <.001). All age and sex subgroups demonstrated higher HRs of Ménière's disease for depression (study I) and depression for Ménière's disease (study II). Conclusion: Ménière's disease patients showed an increased likelihood of depression. Conversely, depression patients showed an elevated likelihood of Ménière's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are suspected of being associated with non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL); however, persuasive data are lacking. Hence, a nested large‐population case‐control study was performed to investigate such associations in Koreans. Methods: Data were collected from 929 patients with NHL and 3716 healthy subjects, who were matched 1:4 for age, sex, income, and region of residence, from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service‐National Sample Cohort. The diagnoses of NHL and HBV/HCV infection were based on the International Classification of Diseases (version 10) codes. Conditional logistic regression models were used to assess odds ratios (ORs) for NHL with respect to HBV or HCV with adjustment for the Charlson comorbidity index. Results: HBV and HCV rates were higher in the NHL group (3.3% and 1.3%, respectively) than in the control group (0.9% and 0.3%, respectively; P <.001 for each). The adjusted OR of hepatitis infection in patients with NHL were 3.25 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.99‐5.31) for HBV and 3.36 (95% CI = 1.51‐7.46) for HCV (P <.001 for each). Subgroups categorized by age (<55 vs ≥55 years) or sex showed significantly higher adjusted ORs of HBV for NHL. Moreover, patients with NHL ≥ 55 years of age or those who were female showed significantly higher adjusted ORs of HCV; those <55 years or who were male also tended to have higher ORs of HCV. Conclusion: Infection with either HBV or HCV is associated with NHL in Koreans. Highlights: The rates of HBV and HCV infections were higher in the NHL group than in the control group. Patients with NHL had higher odds ratios for HBV and HCV infections than control patients without NHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives/hypothesis: Pregnancy-induced systemic physiological changes appear to be associated with reversible hearing changes in pregnant/postpartum women. However, most studies are case reports due to the rare occurrence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) during pregnancy. We aimed to evaluate the risk of SSNHL during the pregnancy and postpartum periods.Study Design: A longitudinal case-control study using a nationwide population cohort.Methods: Using the Korean National Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, we collected data from 63,331 pregnant/postpartum participants who were matched 1:2 by age, income, region of residence, and medical history with 126,662 control participants. We included participants who had International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes indicating delivery (O80-O84). For SSNHL (ICD-10 code H91.2), we included only those participants who underwent audiometry and were treated with steroids. The incidence of SSNHL was measured for the periods corresponding to pregnancy (conception through delivery) up to 1 year postpartum in the pregnant participants.Results: During the pregnancy period, the SSNHL rate was not higher (19.5 per 100,000) compared with the control group (60.7 per 100,000). The adjusted odds ratio of SSNHL during pregnancy was 0.32 (95% confidence interval: 0.16-0.65, P = .002). The SSNHL rate during the postpartum period (37.9 per 100,000) was similar to that of the control group (36.3 per 100,000). The adjusted odds ratio of SSNHL during the postpartum period was 1.04 (95% confidence interval: 0.64-1.71, P = .867). The risk of SSNHL in the patients during the pregnancy/postpartum period was not higher than that in controls, regardless of age and specific subperiod.Conclusions: The pregnant and postpartum women were not at higher risk of SSNHL.Level Of Evidence: NA Laryngoscope, 130:E237-E242, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to further clarify the relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and osteoporosis in a Korean population. Methods: The Korean National Health Insurance Service‒National Sample Cohort, with subjects ≥50 years old, was assessed for the time period 2002‐2013. In total, 68,459 osteoporosis participants were matched with 68,459 control participants at a ratio of 1:1 with respect to age, sex, income group, region of residence, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. We analyzed previous histories of CRS with/without nasal polyp in the osteoporosis and control groups. CRS and osteoporosis were included using codes from the International Classification of Diseases―tenth edition and claim codes. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were analyzed using conditional logistic regression analyses. The 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were then calculated. Subgroup analyses were performed according to age and sex. Results: The rate of CRS with/without nasal polyp was higher in the osteoporosis group (3.0% [2078 of 68,459]) compared with the control group (2.0% [1344 of 68,459]) (p < 0.001). The adjusted OR of CRS with/without nasal polyp was 1.47 (95% CI, 1.37‐1.58; p < 0.001) in the osteoporosis group. The results of the subgroup analyses were consistent. Conclusion: The ORs of CRS were increased in osteoporosis participants. This relation was consistent in all age and sex groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The present study evaluated the associations between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and head and neck cancer using a national sample cohort of the Korean population. Design: We designed two studies using data collected from patients aged ≥40 years in the Korean National Health Insurance Service‐National Sample Cohort from 2002 to 2013. Main outcome Measures: Study I included participants with GERD matched 1:2 with controls and analysed the incidences of lip and oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx and larynx cancers. Study II included participants with larynx cancer matched 1:4 with controls and analysed the previous histories of GERD. Head and neck cancer was identified using medical claim codes for surgical, radiation and chemotherapeutic treatments and death records from the National Statistical Office. Crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were analysed using the Cox proportional hazard model. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were analysed using unconditional logistic regression analyses. Subgroup analyses were performed on groups stratified by age and sex. Results: The adjusted HR for larynx cancer was 2.32 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.53‐3.52, P < 0.001) in the GERD group. However, the HRs for lip and oral cavity cancer, oropharynx cancer and hypopharynx cancer were not statistically significant (study I). The adjusted OR for GERD was 2.03 (95% CI = 1.40‐2.96, P < 0.001) in the larynx cancer group; consistent results were obtained in subgroup analyses. Conclusion: Gastroesophageal reflux disease increases the risk of larynx cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study compared the frequency of depressive disorder in patients with thyroid cancer who had undergone thyroidectomy with the frequency in control individuals.Study Design: Retrospective population-based cohort study.Setting: This study used data from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service-National Sample Cohort.Subject and Methods: A total of 3609 participants with thyroid cancer who had undergone thyroidectomy between 2003 and 2011 were enrolled in this study and matched 1:4 with 14,436 control participants by age, sex, income, and region of residence. The cumulative incidence of postoperative depressive disorder was evaluated over a period of 10 years after the thyroidectomies and compared with the incidence in controls. Depressive disorder was diagnosed by a psychiatrist.Results: The incidence of depressive disorder was significantly higher in the thyroid cancer with thyroidectomy group than in the controls up to postoperative year 1. A subgroup analysis showed the same higher incidence of depressive disorder in the thyroid cancer group than controls for up to 1 year after operations in young adult (≤44 years old), female, urban, and low-income groups. However, the incidence was elevated only in the year of the thyroidectomies themselves in middle-aged and older, rural, and high-income groups.Conclusion: Patients with thyroid cancer who undergo thyroidectomy have depressive disorder more frequently than normal controls. However, the frequency of depressive disorder after thyroidectomy recovers in a shorter period in middle-aged or older, high-income, and rural-dwelling patients, compared to younger, low-income, and urban-dwelling patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives/hypothesis: Despite the high prevalence of voice disorders, the prevalence of laryngeal disease in the general population has not been determined using laryngoscopy. Factors considered associated with laryngeal disease have mostly been assessed using patient data or highly specific populations. We evaluated the prevalence of and associated factors with laryngeal diseases in the general Korean population.Study Design: Cross-sectional study.Methods: We analyzed data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 19,039 participants assessed between 2008 and 2011. The prevalence, subjective discomforts rates of, and odd ratios (demographics, life-style factors, and diseases factors) for laryngeal disease were analyzed using simple and multiple logistic regression analyses, taking into account the complex sampling structure of the data.Results: The top five laryngeal diseases in prevalence were laryngitis (3,513/100,000), vocal nodules (1,487/100,000), vocal polyp (404/100,000), Reinke's edema (347/100,000), and epiglottic cyst (296/100,000). Prevalence of laryngeal disease was higher in males, whereas the rate of subjective voice complaints was higher in females. In the logistic regression analysis, gender was not associated with laryngeal diseases after adjusting for other factors. We observed a positive association between low body mass index (BMI) and vocal nodules, and between high BMI and laryngitis, smoking and epiglottic cyst/hyperkeratosis/laryngeal cancer, higher education level and vocal nodules, and allergic rhinitis and vocal nodules/laryngitis/epiglottic cyst.Conclusions: The rate of subjective voice complaints and laryngeal disease co-occurrence was low. This study provides more reliable information of laryngeal disease because it includes participants without subjective complaints.Level Of Evidence: 2b. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Purpose The object of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of preoperative transbuccal ultrasound (US) for the evaluation of tongue tumors. Thus, we evaluated the correlation between preoperative US measurements and postoperative pathologic measurements of tongue tumor size. Methods From January 2003 to March 2011, 29 patients with tongue tumors were evaluated. All patients underwent preoperative transbuccal US at 1 day before surgery. Preoperative US was compared with pathology findings, including specimen size. The maximum anterior-posterior (AP) diameter of the long axis of the tumor, the maximum width (WD), and the maximum thickness (TH) of the tumor were measured with US along with a pathologic evaluation of the specimens. Results The mean AP was 22 ± 1 mm; WD was 13 ± 6 mm, and TH was 10 ± 5 mm using US. The pathologic mean AP was 21 ± 12 mm; WD was 12 ± 6 mm, and TH was 9 ± 4 mm. The Spearman's correlation coefficients of the AP, WD, and TH were 0.905 ( p < 0.001), 0.918 ( p < 0.001), and 0.971 ( p < 0.001), respectively. Conclusions Transbuccal US is a useful tool for predicting tongue tumor extent. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 43:412-416, 2015 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate ranula development according to anatomic variation of the sublingual gland (SLG). Methods We conducted a prospective, consecutive case series considering other clinical conditions. Twenty-five cases treated by SLG excision were enrolled in this study. The ductal structures of the SLGs of another 11 patients undergoing similar surgeries for other conditions were compared. Results In 19 of a total of 25 ranulas (76.0%) and 16 of 18 oral nonplunging ranulas (88.9%), the SLG showed an anatomic variation of the main duct called Bartholin's duct structure. Meanwhile, only 3 of 7 plunging ranulas (42.9%) had Bartholin's ducts. Bartholin's duct structure of the SLG was not found in the 11 control cases. Conclusion Anatomic variation of the ductal system of the SLG might be a possible cause of ranulas. Surgical resection of the SLG is a better treatment choice for ranulas than other, more conservative treatments. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 540-544, 2014 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect of sleep position on surgical outcomes in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Study Design: Retrospective review of 69 consecutive patients. Subjects and Methods: Preoperative and postoperative polysomnographic data and Epworth sleepiness scale were obtained. Patients were categorized into success, response, no response, and failure groups according to apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. Proportions of supine or lateral position and AHI of each position were evaluated. Position-corrected AHI was developed in order to eliminate the effect of sleep position. Results: Preoperative proportion of supine position in the failure group (n = 26) was 41.3 percent, which was the lowest among four groups (P = 0.010), and increased to 60.8 percent postoperatively (P = 0.028). Twenty-two (84.6%) among the failure group had supine position dependency. Regrouped by position-corrected AHI, 15 patients moved into different groups. Postoperative AHI showed positive correlation with increased supine position when BMI was controlled (r = 0.515, P = 0.006). Conclusion: Without appropriate correction based on the change of sleep position, the fluctuation of sleep position in each polysomnography might confound surgical outcomes in OSA patients. Thus, it is a substantial issue how to control or reflect the positional effect on AHI when treatment results are evaluated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: The goal of the present study was to estimate the risk of hearing impairment in patients with COPD using huge nationwide population., Methods: A retrospective case-control study was performed using the National Health Insurance Database in South Korea from 2002 through 2019. Totally 614,370 COPD patients and matched 2,170,504 control participants were selected at a 1:4 ratio. Hearing impairment was defined based on the registered data in the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Korea with six levels of severity of hearing impairment. The propensity score was calculated, and overlap-weighted multinomial logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratios of COPD for hearing impairment., Results: A total of 2.67% of COPD patients and 1.9% of control participants had hearing impairment. The COPD patients indicated 1.10-1.21 times higher odds for hearing impairment according to the severity of hearing impairment than the control group. In accordance with age and sex, the younger age group (<65 years old) and female group demonstrated higher odds for hearing impairment related to the presence of COPD. The high odds for hearing impairment in patients with COPD was consistent in all other subgroups, except for the underweight group., Conclusions: COPD was associated with an increased risk of hearing impairment in the general population in Korea., Level of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 2024., (© 2024 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.)