• Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.259-266
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• 2018

Objectives. Carcinomas of the external auditory canal (EAC) are rare, and management remains challenging. Previous studies seeking prognostic factors for EAC cancers included cancers other than carcinomas. In this study, we analyzed the treatment outcomes of, prognostic factors for, and survival rates associated with specifically squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the EAC. Methods. A retrospective review of 26 consecutive patients diagnosed with SCCs of the EAC in a 10-year period was performed in terms of clinical presentation, stage, choice of surgical procedure, and adjunct therapy. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were calculated and univariate analysis of prognostic factors was performed. Results. The median age of the 26 patients with SCCs of the EAC was 63 years (range, 40 to 72 years), and 16 males and 10 females were included. According to the modified University of Pittsburgh staging system, the T stages were T1 in 11, T2 in six, T3 in four, and T4 in five cases. The surgical procedures employed were wide excision in three cases, lateral temporal bone resection (LTBR) in 17, and extended LTBR in four, and subtotal temporal bone resection in two. Two patients underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and two underwent adjuvant chemotherapy. One patient received preoperative radiation therapy, and eleven received postoperative radiation therapy. Of the possibly prognostic factors examined, advanced preoperative T stage and advanced overall stage were significant predictors of RFS, but not of OS. Conclusion. The advanced T stage and overall stage were associated with decreased survival after surgical treatment in patients with SCC of the EAC, highlighting the importance of clinical vigilance and early detection.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.198-201
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• 2023

Maintaining the patency of the external auditory canal (EAC) during reconstruction is important because of its physiological role in hearing and immunological protective functions. The curved shape of the EAC presents a challenge when performing a skin graft. One of the key points for a successful skin graft is to ensure compression on the wound bed, and many novel methods, including prefabricated ear molds, have been reported for this purpose. In this study, we present a case of a skin graft performed to reconstruct a skin defect following excision of actinic keratosis in the EAC, using the cover of an ear thermometer probe as a mold for the graft to match the curvature of the EAC. This is an economical and practical method for secure compression dressing of a skin graft in the EAC.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.151-154
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• 2009

The external ear generates resonance gain because of anatomical characteristics. The ear canal resonance is influenced by the length and volume of the ear canal, the pinna, the concha cavity, the body trunk, and the speed of sound wave. This study is focus on the influence of the volume of ear canal. 17-healthy-adult (32 ears) were participated. They did not have any medical and ear disease history. The maximum resonance frequency of the ear canal was 2675 (${\pm}265$) Hz at azimuth $0^{\circ}$ and 2784 (${\pm}268$) Hz at azimuth $45^{\circ}$. The resonance gain was 18.1 (${\pm}3.9$) dB at azimuth $0^{\circ}$ and 17.9 (${\pm}3.8$) dB at azimuth $45^{\circ}$, respectively. The ear canal volume was 0.78 (${\pm}0.2$) cc and 1.32 (${\pm}0.8$) cc including static compliance. The ear canal resonance was changed depending on the ear canal volume. It was also statistically correlated at azimuth $0^{\circ}$ (p=0.038) and $45^{\circ}$ (p=0.013), respectively. The resonance gain was not correlated with the ear canal volume. The change of resonance frequency according to the ear canal volume will be useful information in the field of audiological rehabilitation especially for hearing aids fitting. In addition, we expected this study can provide the basic information for the study of the external ear resonance characteristics.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.565-568
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• 2017

An oval-shaped mass with a smooth surface was found in the ear canal of a 22-month-old male infant. Although the mass appeared to be almost entirely blocking the ear canal, it was successfully removed under a surgical microscope without general anesthesia at the outpatient department. Under an optical microscope with hematoxylin and eosin staining, the specimen was observed to have a cuticle with a serrated surface and a pore canal, as well as parts of the capitulum, salivary glands, muscles, midgut, and the legs. The specimen was identified as a hard tick of the family Ixodidae, based on gross and histological findings. This paper is the first report in Korea on the diagnosis and treatment of a tick bite in the ear canal.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.10 no.11
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• pp.173-179
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• 2019

DICOM(Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) imaging plays a significant role in the diagnosis and treatment of the human body, and design modeling is a technology of planning shapes in three dimensions according to the purpose. In this study, we converge these two technologies to observe the relationships of the cross-section, volume, and surface area to the morphological changes of the external ear canal. The experiment applied medical imaging technologies to acquire sections of the human body to create and divide centerlines using 3D shapes extracted from 19 external ear canals by applying stereolithography and 3-matic program. The results showed that the cross-sectional structure of the external ear canal had various shapes, such as oval (38.5%), semicircular (28.2%), mixed (17.9%), square (10.2%), and wrinkled (5.1%). In addition, the cross-sectional area of each phase increased as the length of the external ear canal increased, and the volume and surface area decreased towards the direction of the eardrum. However, the surface area reduction rate was relatively low. This indicates that the structure becomes irregular towards the direction of the eardrum.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.467-473
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• 2017

Using Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine(DICOM) and a 3D medical imaging program, the characteristics of the external auditory canal(EAC) were compared. Using images of the ears of 63 different male and female subjects of varying age, this study measured and compared EAC transverse axis lengths, internal diameter circumferences, and upper and lower curvature angles. The findings of the study indicated differences in EAC shapes according not only to age and sex but also to the left and right of the same subject. A comparison between the sexes of the subjects (35 males and 28 females) indicated that, on average, the length of the EAC was 4.75mm longer in males. Based on the lower curvature angle, the interior side of the diameter circumference of the EAC was found to be reduced on average by 37.2% compared to the exterior side. Although the upper curvature angle was on average $25.7^{\circ}$ larger than the lower curvature angle, 4 subjects showed a larger lower curvature angle and large differences between the upper and lower curvature angles were observed in 8 subjects of the younger age group (4~14 years old). This indicated changes in EAC curvature shapes during growth. This study presents a method to raise safety and precision by comparing direct measurements taken through physical means and indirect measurements acquired from existing ear samples. This was possible due to technological developments in which 3D medical image representation technology creates images close to reality, and, through further development, this method is expected to be used for standardization research of EAC shapes.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.92-101
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• 2021

Objectives : Otomycosis is superficial fungal infection of external auditory canal accompanied with itching, pain, discharge, hearing loss, tinnitus and ear fullness. And chronic inflammation like chronic suppurative otitis media exacerbates otomycosis. The purpose of this study is to report one case of Korean medical treatment for otomycosis with chronic suppurative otitis media. Methods : This study was conducted with one case of otomycosis with chronic suppurative otitis media patient hospitalized in Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology & Dermatology Clinic of Korean medical Hospital. This patient was treated with Korean medical treatment including herbal medicine, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture and venesection. After the treatment, we took picture of external auditory canal by otoscope and evaluated subjective symptoms. Results : After the treatment, this patient had improved condition of external auditory canal and subjective symptoms. Conclusions : This study suggests that Korean medical treatment may be effective for otomycosis with chronic suppurative otitis media.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.570-572
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• 2017

• 대한두경부종양학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.215-215
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• 2007

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.189-193
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• 2004

Basaloid squamous carcinoma (BSC) is an uncommon aggressive variant of squamous cell carcinoma with a predilection for hypopharynx, tongue base, and larynx. We present 5 cases of BSC of unusual sites, each from maxillary sinus, external auditory canal, submandibular gland, tonsil, and nasopharynx. Only a few cases arising in these sites have been reported to date. Patients included 3 men and 2 women with the age range of 45-69 years (mean, 56.4 years). Microscopically, the tumors were characterized by solid lobules and nests of ovoid basaloid cells with abundant desmoplastic stroma. Comedonecrosis, peripheral palisading of tumor cells, trabecular pattern, and rosette-like arrangement were commonly observed. Tumor cells had scanty cytoplasm and their nuclei were ovoid, relatively uniform, and hyperchromatic. In two cases, concomitant squamous cell carcinoma in situ was identified. Immunohistochemical stains revealed that tumor cells were strongly positive for pancytokeratin and negative or weakly positive for p63. Being aware of BSC that can arise from unusual sites would help diagnose correctly and treat properly this rare and distinct clinicopathologic entity.