• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.550-553
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• 2017

Esophageal perforation is a rare but potentially fatal complication of robot-assisted thyroidectomy (RAT). Herein, we report the long-term outcome of an esophageal reconstruction with a jejunal free flap for esophageal rupture after RAT. A 33-year-old woman developed subcutaneous emphysema and hoarseness on postoperative day1 following RAT. Esophageal rupture was diagnosed by computed tomography and endoscopy, and immediate surgical exploration confirmed esophageal rupture, as well as recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. We performed a jejunal free flap repair of the 8-cm defect in the esophagus. End-to-side microvascular anastomoses were created between the right external carotid artery and the jejunal branches of the superior mesenteric artery, and end-to-end anastomosis was performed between the external jugular vein and the jejunal vein. The right recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was repaired with a 4-cm nerve graft from the right ansa cervicalis. Esophagography at 1 year after surgery confirmed that there were no leaks or structures, endoscopy at 1 year confirmed the resolution of vocal cord paralysis, and there were no residual problems with swallowing or speech at a 5-year follow-up examination. RAT requires experienced surgeons with a thorough knowledge of anatomy, as well as adequate resources to quickly and competently address potentially severe complications such as esophageal rupture.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 2019

Background and Objectives Reinke's edema is a benign vocal fold disease caused by an edematous laryngeal superficial layer of lamina propria. The first line treatment is cessation of smoking and laryngeal microsurgery. The aim of the study is to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of percutaneous steroid injection via cricothyroid membrane in patients with Reinke's edema. Materials and Method From Jan 2010 to July 2018, 33 Patients with Reinke's edema managed by vocal fold steroid injection via the cricothyroid membrane were included in this study. We compared medical records of laryngoscopy, stroboscopy and Multi-Dimensional Voice Program analysis at pre-treatment and post-treatment. Subjective voice improvement was evaluated using Voice Handicap Index-30 (VHI-30). Results 75.7% of the patients showed partial response and 6.06% showed complete response. 93.94% were present smokers and only 4 patients ceased smoking after the treatment. In acoustic analysis, the pre-treatment mean value of jitter, shimmer, and noise to harmonic ratio was 2.30±3.21, 9.34±10.37, 1.11±2.90 each. The post-treatment value was 2.20±1.89, 6.96±5.30, 0.20±0.09 respectively and none of the parameters were statistically significant. For subjective symptom improvement, 25 (75.8%) patients showed a better score on post-treatment VHI-30 compared to pre-treatment. Conclusion According to our study, steroid injection is a relatively safe and effective procedure for patients with Reinke's edema. A vocal fold steroid injection via the cricothyroid membrane can be an alternative treatment option for those who are not able to undergo conventional laryngeal microscopic surgery, however cessation of smoking is necessary for effective treatment.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.145-148
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• 2010

Background: Laryngeal papillomatosis, which is cased by human papillomavirus, is the most common benign neoplasm of the larynx. However, the prognosis of this disease remains really unpredictable. The aim of this paper is to determine whether any clinical features at the time of diagnosis could predict its course. Material and Method: Eighty-six patients treated at our institution during the last 20 years were analyzed retrospectively. All patients had microsurgery under general anesthesia. All patients' follow-up period was more than 1 year. We divided the patients into 1) Juvenile versus adult group based on their age 20, 2) single surgical method with laser versus dual surgical method with laser and microdebrider group, and 3) single subsite versus multiple subsites group. And we compared the therapeutic outcome. Results: The recurrence rate was 100% (15 patients) in the JP group and 56% (40 patients) in the AP group. Juvenile versus adult group was the only independent prognostic factor by univariate, and multivariate analysis. Microdebrider resection technique and multiple subsites were not associated with treatment result. Time period from the first surgery to recurrence detection was different statistically only for the age group. The number of surgery in the JP group ranged from 1 to 31 (mean 8.8). In the AP group the number of surgery ranged from 1 to 25 (mean 3.7). It was statistically different. Conclusion: Prognosis for the laryngeal papillomatosis remains unpredictable. Only patients' age was the only independent prognostic factor.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.237-239
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• 2011

Liposarcoma is the second most common sarcoma of the adult life, next to malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Liposarcoma in larynx and hypopharynx is extremely rare. The symptoms are variable, but it has a clinical importance because they can cause unpredictable airway obstruction, particularly during the induction of general anesthesia. A 79-year-old male patient was referred to our department for mild airway obstruction and throat discomfort. Neck CT scan showed a mass within both postcricoid area and pyriform sinus. The mass was removed via laryngeal microsurgery. In this article, we report a case of liposarcoma of the posterior wall of hypopharynx with a review of the related literature.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.48-50
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• 2021

More than half of patients presenting with hoarseness show benign vocal cord changes. However, in rare cases with benign mucosal lesions, it can be diagnosed as a malignant disease after histopathological examination. A 53-year-old man with a 30-pack-year smoking history was admitted for the evaluation of hoarseness, and using a laryngoscope, an enclosed, sac-like cystic lesion was detected on the midpoint of the right true vocal cord. The cystic lesion was deemed to be an intracordal cyst and treated with laryngeal microsurgery. However, pathological findings showed squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx arising in the intracordal cyst, which is exceptionally rare. Therefore, even if a benign lesion is initially suspected, a biopsy must be performed on a patient with smoking history to confirm the diagnosis. In conclusion, we report a case of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx arising in the intracordal cyst.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.298-303
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• 2023

This study aimed to describe a rare case of gnathostomiasis in the vocal cord. A 54-yearold Chinese woman living in Korea visited with a chief complaint of voice change at the outpatient department of otorhinolaryngology in Hallym Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University on August 2, 2021. She had eaten raw conger a few weeks before the voice change developed, but her medical history and physical examinations demonstrated neither gastrointestinal symptoms nor other health problems. A round and red cystic lesion, recognized in the anterior part of the right vocal cord, was removed using forceps and scissors through laryngeal microsurgery. The histopathological specimen of the cyst revealed 3 cross-sections of a nematode larva in the lumen of the cyst wall composed of inflammatory cells and fibrotic tissues. They differ in diameter, from 190 ㎛ to 235 ㎛. They showed characteristic cuticular layers with tegumental spines, somatic muscle layers, and gastrointestinal tracts such as the esophagus and intestine. Notably, intestinal sections consisted of 27-28 lining cells containing 0-4 nuclei per cell. We tentatively identified the nematode larva recovered from the vocal cord cystic lesion as the thirdstage larva of Gnathostoma, probably G. nipponicum or G. hispidum, based on the sectional morphologies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2009

Background and Objectives: Intracordal cysts may occur secondary to voice abuse and overuse or may be secondary to a remnant of epithelium trapped within the lamina propria. They may occur spontaneously or may be associated with poor vocal hygiene. As the cyst enlarges it can start to significantly affect the vibratory region of the vocal fold. With the advancement of the microsurgical technique and the laryngeal stroboscopy, correct diagnosis of intracordal cyst have been increased. The aims of this study is to review the important clinical characteristics of the intracordal cyst. Materials and Methods: In the present study, 212 cases of the intracordal cysts were treated by the microsurgical technique. These lesions were diagnosed before the operation with indirect laryngoscopy, laryngeal endoscopy, laryngeal stroboscopy and confirmed with the findings observed during operations and the results of the biopsies. Results : The intracordal cysts were 212 cases in the 4,20 I patients who underwent laryngeal microsurgery (5.04%). Ductal cysts were 156 cases and epidermoid cysts were 56 cases. The lesions are more frequent in women and anterior third of true vocal cord is more frequently involved site. With the preoperative laryngoscopic examination, the intracordal cysts were mostly misdiagnosed as other disease of the vocal cord such as vocal polyps or nodules. And main cause of intracordal cysts was thought of vocal abuse. From view of the surgical approach, Ductal cysts was difficult to remove completely than epidermoid cyst without cystic wall rupture. Conclusion : Intracordal cysts are very similar to the other mucosal disorders of the vocal cord and it may be misdiagnosed as vocal polyps or nodules, frequently. Therefore careful preoperative examinations for the vocal cord lesions with stroboscopy and other endoscopic instruments are important part of the correct diagnosis. An ideal treatment is enucleation of the cysts without rupture of the cystic wall or injury of the lamina propria. And marsupialization is meaningful to ductal cyst that cannot be enucleated completely.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 1999

The laryngopharyngectomy for tumor ablation is the most common indication for pharyngoesophageal reconstruction in our country. Most of these cases are advanced laryngeal cancer that has spread beyond the larynx, pharynx and cervical esophagus. Such patients are obviously unable to breathe, swallow, or speak in the normal manner. The ideal reconstruction would restore normal anatomy, permitting patients to breathe and swallow without aspiration, and would not require a permanent tracheostomy. Reconstruction of the pharyngoesophageal defect traditionally been carried out with tubed local random flap, deltopectoral or musculocutaneous flap. Another approach is the pedicled enteric flap. But microsurgical reconstruction of the pharyngoesophagus, using either the free jejunal or the tubed radial forearm flap, have now become the preferred technique. Among them, we used jejunal free flap in 39 cases, tubed radial forearm free flap in 5 cases, patched radial forearm free flap in 2 cases and pectoralis major myocutaneous island flap in 2 cases from December 1990 to Febrary 1999. In this paper we illustrated that both forearm and jejunal free flap is a usful alternative in reconstruction of hypopharynx and cervical esophagus.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.96-99
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• 2017

Background and Objectives : The management of Reinke's edema includes usually medical treatment and voice therapy. Laryngomicrosurgery (LMS) is also necessary, especially to improve airway obstruction. However, voice outcome after LMS has not been determined well. The aim of this study was to evaluate effectiveness of LMS for Reinke's edema and analyze the voice outcomes after LMS. Materials and Methods : Twenty-five patients with Reinke's edema who underwent LMS from September 2007 to December 2016 were enrolled in this study. We analyzed reflux finding score (RFS), reflux symptom index (RSI), and acoustic parameters before and after surgery. Results : Male was 15 (60%) and female was 10 (40%), and mean age was 49.6 years. Preoperative mean value of RFS decreased significantly up to 3 months after LMS ($18.3{\pm}2.2$ and $10.0{\pm}2.2$ at preoperative and 3 months postoperatively, respectively). The mean value of Jitter decreased significantly before and after surgery ($2.71{\pm}2.81%$ and $1.06{\pm}1.21%$ before and after LMS, p=0.041). The mean value of Shimmer also decreased significantly before and after surgery ($7.97{\pm}3.63%$ and $4.83{\pm}1.85%$, respectively, p=0.006). Conclusion : LMS is effective in the treatment of Reinke's edema. It results in favorable acoustic outcomes and laryngoscopic findings in properly selected patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2021

Background and Objectives Vocal polyp is one of the most common benign diseases of vocal fold caused by overuse of voice. Laryngeal microsurgery is the first treatment of choice for vocal polyp. However, surgery has many risks such as side effects of general anesthesia, injury of tooth and psychological burden. And we often experience reduction of vocal polyps without surgical procedure. The purpose of study is to evaluate the effect of non-surgical treatment such as vocal hygiene education and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in patients with vocal polyp. Materials and Method We performed retrospective study for seventy-three patients of vocal polyp who treated with non-surgical modalities such as vocal hygiene education and PPI over three months. Treatment outcomes and risk factors such as age, sex, polyp size, position, symptom duration, presence of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) symptoms, smoking history, voice abuse history and vocal hygiene education were evaluated by comparison between polyp size improved group and non-improved group. Results 5.5% of enrolled patients showed complete response and 23.3% showed partial response without surgery. Polyp size improved group significantly carried out more practice of vocal hygiene education treatment than the non-improved group (p=0.040). And the presence of LPR symptoms [hazard ratio (HR) 3.368, confidence interval (CI) 1.055-10.754, p=0.040] and not performing of vocal hygiene education (HR 3.664, 95% CI 1.078-12.468, p=0.038). Conclusion Vocal hygiene education can be a useful treatment option when making a decision to treat with vocal polyp.