Stenosing airway disease is classified as intraluminal obstruction, extrinsic compression, and malacia by the anatomical site of the lesion. Stenting therapy is indicated for symptomatic relief of life-threatening dyspnea caused by the last two types. Airway stents are made with metal mesh and/or silicone rubber, and currently more than 20 kinds of stent are available. Among many kinds of silicone stent, the Dumon stent is mostly widely used for benign and malignant airway stenoses, but general anesthesia and rigid bronchoscopy are needed for insertion. It can be removed when the stenosing airway disease subsides completely. In many clinical studies, most patients $(85-90\%)$ improved immediately after stenting, and procedure-related mortality was low $(<3\%)$ in experienced centers. Stent displacement, mucus impaction, and granulation tissue formation are potential complications. Stenting is one of many effective therapeutic modalities for stenosing central airway disease. Careful patient selection, experiences, and continuous development of new technology will bring better results.

Background Insertion of tracheal stent in the treatment of benign tracheal & bronchial disease has increased since the introduction of expandable metallic stent. Material & Methods : Between Jan, 1995 and Feb. 2004, eight patients who had benign tracheo-bronchial disease underwent insertion of expandable metallic tracheal stent. We retrospectively analyzed stent insertion indications, complications, and following the result. Results : Surgical indications were post-intubation tracheal stenosis (1 case), tracheal stenosis following tracheal surgery (2 cases), tracheo-esophageal fistula (2 cases), broncho-pleural fistula(1 case), left main bronchus stenosis following bronchoplasty (1 case), and left main bronchus stenosis due to mediastinal repositioning (1 case). Expandable metallic tracheal stent was inserted in five patients to resolve dyspnea caused by airway obstruction, and to prevent recurrent pneumonia in three patients. The complication developed in 6 patients $75\%$; 3 cases of distal stenosis due to growth of granulation tissue, and one case each of tearing of posterior membrane, aggravation of tracheo-esophageal fistula, and airway partial obstruction due to stent migration. The stent was removed in 5 patients and tracheal surgery (tracheal resection and end to end anastomosis with primary repair of esophagus, pericardial patch tracheo-bronchoplasty, tracheal repair and omental wrapping) was performed in 3 patients. Conclusion Insertion of self expandable metallic stent in benign tracheo-bronchial disease is an effective means of relieving dyspnea for only a short period, and it did not increase the long term survival. Better means of treatment of benign tracheo-bronchial stenosis in necessary.

Background : LPRD(Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease) gives rise to inflammatory change in the pharyngolaryngeal tissue with various otolaryngologic symptoms. Ranitidine, histamine H2receptor antagonists, are currently used as therapeutic medications. However, the efficacy of Ranitidine on LPRD has not been proven yet. Objectives : We intended to analyze the efficacy of the Ranitidine on LPRD. Materials :md Methods : In 20 multicenter, 607 patients with LPR(laryngopharyngeal reflux) symptom were observed to evaluate their symptoms and laryngoscopic findings after 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks of treatment of Ranitidine. Results : The symptom of LPR including globus sensation, sore throat hoarseness, regurgitatioin are improved after 4 weeks $86.2\%,\;8 weeks\;91.5\%,\;12 weeks\;92.9\%$ of Ranitidine treatment and improved after 4 weeks $91.5\%,\;8 weeks\;94.5\%,\;12 weeks\; 97.2\%$ of Ranitidine combined with prokinetics. The rates of sore throat, chronic cough, globus sensation improvement at 8 weeks after treatment are $26.7\%,\;16.7\%,\;16\%$. Conclusion : In patient with LPR, Ranitidine treatment reduces LPR symptoms very effectively.

Background : Esophageal perforation due to a traumatic endoscopy or intubation is exceedingly rare. If riot noticed immediately or treated promptly, however, the morbidity and mortality is significant. We performed a retrospective review of patients with iatrogenic hypopharyngo-esophageal perforation to assess the outcome of current management techniques. Material and Methods : We retrospectively analyzed all cases iatrogenic hypopharyngo-esophageal perforation diagnosed at our hospital from January, 1999, through April, 2004. The study group consisted of 11 patients (4 men) with a mean age of 47.6 years (range, 21-83 yr). We reviewed the 11 patients with perforated injuries of the hypopharynx or esophagus during the diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Result: Perforations were due to diagnostic gastroscopy ($54.5\%$, 6/11), esophageal dilation ($27.3\%$, 3/11), endoscopic port insertion ($9.1\%$, l/11), and tracheal intrathoracic ($9.1\%$, 1/11). Seven patients had intrathoracic and 4 had cervical perforations. Treatment included incision and drainage (5), resection and reconstruction (4), drainage only (1), and observation (2). Nonfatal complications included transient pneumonia (1), and wound infection (1). They occurred in advanced mediastinal abscess ]patients. Mortality was $9.1\%$ (1/11) in old patient who managed medically in cervical esophageal perforation. Conclusions : Current mortality rates in iatrogenic esophageal perforation were improved compared to previous published rates of $19\%\;to\;66\%$ for all patients with this condition. We concluded that aggressive and definitive surgery for thoracic esophageal perforations improving the survival rate, whether diagnosed early or late.

Background and objective : Rabeprazole is a new generation proton pump inhibitor, which has a rapid onset after first dose, predictable efficacy in all patients regardless of CYP2C19 genotype status, and less nocturnal acid breakthrough. The aim of the study is to investigate clinical efficacy and safety of rabeprazole sodium (Pariet 10mg qd)when administered once daily to patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux(LPR) disease. Methods : Among the patients who had visited the Department of Otolaryngology, those with LPR symptoms, had undergone laryngoscopy. Symptoms and endoscopic laryngeal sings were recorded initially, at 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, and more than 3 months, All patients were evaluated for clinical efficacy on the basis of symptom scores, reflux finding score(RFS), and side effects. Results : In general, most symptom scores and RFS improved over the time. Efficacy of the Pariet on LPR-related symptoms were $63.2\%,\;77.5\%,\;78.7\%,\;and\;90.9\%$ before 4 weeks, 4 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 weeks, and after 12 weeks respectively. Efficacy on the RFS were $61.8\%,\;78.4\%,\;82.9\%,\;and\;85.5\%$ before 4 weeks, 4 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 weeks, and after 12 weeks respectively. Pariet was well tolerated and was associated with few drug-related side effects. Conclusion Because of its efficacy and safety, Pariet may prove to be an alternative to currently available proton pump inhibitors.

Background and Objectives : Globus pharyngeus is the feeling of a lump or foreign body in the throat. Otolaryngologists are often confronted with this condition, and some author reported that it represents 3 percent of all new clinic referral. The purpose of this study is to estimate the incidence of impalpable thyroid lesion in patients with globes pharyngeus and investigate possible association between globus pharyngeus and thyroid lesions. Material and Method : 146 patients with globus pharyngeus and 30 controls were prospectively examined by high resolution ultrasound. Results: Thyroid abnormalities were present in $75/146(51\%)$ patients with globus pharyngeus and in $7/30(23\%)$ controls. Of the patients with globus, 55 patients had a nodule or nodules, 11 patients had a cyst or cysts, 9 patients had diffuse abnormalities. Solitary nodule ranged from 4mm to 20mm. Conclusion : Impalpable, ultrasound detectable thyroid abnormailities are significantly more common in patients with globus pharyngeus than in controls. The thyroid abnormalities may be the cause of globus symptoms in some patients, and high resolution ultrasound is an important modality in patients presenting with globus.

The lodgement of foreign material in the larynx is potentially life thereatening as complete obstruction of this region does not leave the individual with a viable airway. In the literature review, laryngeal foreign bodies accounted for about $3\%$ of the whole foreign bodies in the air passage. This report describes a rare case of laryngeal obstruction by subglottic foreign body(tooth) occurred during tooth extraction, in which repeated Heimlich maneuver failed to expel the foreign body and aggravated airway obstruction.

Esophageal foreign bodies are common problems in the part of otolaryngology department, and may cause severe complications such as esophageal ulceration, esophageal perforation, periesophagitis, tracheoesophageal fisula, pneumothorax and pyothorax. Therefore, early diagnosis and intervention is needed to reduce morbidity and motality. But, calcification of the laryngeal cartilages may masquerade as foreign body in some patients with a history of foreign body ingestion. Recently, We experienced a case of calcification of thyroid cartilage which was misunderstood as an esophageal foreign body and report this case with a review of literatures.

We report a case of successful transesophageal drainge of thoracic esophageal perforation with mediastinal cavities using two 5Fr angiographic pigtail catheters with portable suction bag(Hemovac)

Spontaneous rupture of the pulmonary alveoli after a sudden increase intra-alveolar pressure is a common cause of pneumomediastinum, which is usually seen in healthy young men. Other common causes are traumatic and iatrogenic rupture of the airway and esophagus; however, pneumomediastinum following cervicofacial emphysema is much rarer and is occasionally found after dental surgical procedures, head and neck surgery, or accidental trauma. We present two cases of pneumomediastinum following cervicofacial subcutaneous emphysema after oral trauma. They constitute an uncommon clinical entity, So its radiologic appearance, clinical presentation, and diagnosis are described.

Tracheomalacia can be a life threatening upper air way obstructive disease in an infant and vascular rings can be also a major rare cause of tracheoesophageal obstruction. These two rare entities can be combined in one patient because the vascular ring can cause secondary tracheomalacia during development of fetus. The diagnosis of this combination and adequate surgical correction is occasionally difficult. This is a report of an infant who had not diagnosed tracheomalacia associated with vascular ring until 5 months of age because of the prolonged tracheal intubation. The rigid bronchoscopic examination performed under impression of tracheomalacia revealed a concentric tracheal collapse, an unusual bronchoscopic findings of tracheomalacia, which raised a suspicion of the tracheal compression by vascular rings. The 3-D reconstructive DT aortography clearly demonstrated the double aortic arch. The patient was treated surgically by simple division of the left aortic arch and aortopexy with good result. The vascular ring such as double aortic arch should be considered during the diagnosis of tracheomalacia in infants. If the tracheomalacia is associated with vascular ring, simultaneous surgical correction should be performed.

Thymic cysts are uncommon tumors which usually occur in the neck and mediastinum. It is known to arise from embryonic remnants of the thymopharyngeal duct or from inflammation of thymic tissues. Patients with thymic cyst are often asymptomatic and identified after surgical removal and histologic examination. We experienced a 73 year-old man with recently developed dyspnea. During the examination, chest CT showed a $5\times6cm$ sized cystic mass causing deviation of the trachea. It was located in between the right thyroid gland and anterior mediastinum. It also caused tracheal narrowing noted by bronchoscopy. Right anterior cervical incision and removal of the mass was performed and a histological diagnosis of thymic cyst was confirmed. The patient was discharged without complication.

Pemphigus vulgaris is a rin, chronic intraepidermal bullous disease with potentially fatal outcome. Oral lesions precede skin lesions in at least $70\%$ of cases, and in cutaneous disease, concomitant oral lesions are encountered in $90\%$ of patients. This disorder involve the skin and mucous membranes, especially the oral and pharyngeal mucosa, but may also involve the nasal, oropharyngeal, laryngeal and esophageal mucosa. Oral lesions are initially vesicobullous but rapidly rupture, leaving a painful erosion that shows little tendency to heal. Pemphigus vulgaris affecting the oral mucosa is still diagnosed only after considerable delay, because oral ulceration in common, and clinicians believed the lesions to be caused by more common conditions such as recurrent aphthous stomatitis rather than a rare disorder such as pemphigus vulgaris. The definitive diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris should be undertaken as early as possible, so that treatment can be started at an earl·y stage. Because of the presence of nonspecific oral ulcer, high degree of suspicion is often required to ultimately make the diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris and then we report a case of pemphigus vulgaris with a literature review.