• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.147-153
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• 2011

Background and Objective : Peritonsillar abscess occurs when the bacterial infection of the palatine tonsil spreads to the potential peritonsillar space deep behind the tonsil. We observed and treated a case of peritonsillar abscess patient from a child acute tonsillitis. We present this case because there were no former reports of peritonsillar abscess treated by herbal medicine. Methods : We used herbal medication for 24 days. We diagnosed the patient through abdominal examination and have decided the treatment principle accordingly. We used the visual analogue scale(VAS). Results : After the treatment the grade of VAS was decreased and clinical symptoms were improved. Conclusions : Gejigajagyak-Tang in considerably effective on the treatment of pus of peritonsillar abscess.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.133-135
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• 2008

Background and Objectives: The voice changes can occur in peritonsillar abscess and the labeling of this changes as a "muffled voice". The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in acoustic feature of voice before and after treatment in patients with peritonsillar abscess. Materials and Method: 12 patients with peritonsillar abscess were enrolled in the study. Acoustic analysis on sustained Korean vowels /a/, /i/ and /u/ were performed before and after treatment. Results: In patients with peritonsillar abscess, the first formant frequency (F1) and second formant frequency (F2) of /a/ were decreased. There was tendency of articulation of back-low vowel /a/ as back-high vowel /u/. F1 of /i/ and /u/ were increased, while F2 were decreased. There was tendency of articulation of front-high vowel /i/ as back-low vowel /a/. The third, forth, fifth formant frequency (F3, F4, F5) of /a/, /i/ and /u/ were decreased although statistically not significant. Conclusion: The anatomical and functional changes of oropharynx by peritonsillar abscess can cause changes in resonance and speech quality. We suggest that these changes could be the cause of 'muffled voice' in patients of peritonsillar abscess.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 2010

Backgraound and Objectives : The voice change can occur in acute epiglottitis or peritonsillar abscess, and the labelings of both changes as a "muffled voice" or "hot potato voice", The aim of this study was to investigate the difference of changes in acoustic feature of voice before and after treatment in patients with acute epiglottitis or peritonsillar abscess. Subjects and Method: 13 patients with acute epiglottitis and 12 patients with peritonsillar abscess were enrolled in the study. Acoustic analysis on sustained Korean vowels /${\alpha}$/, /u/ and /i/ were performed before and after treatment. Results: In patients with acute epiglottitis, the first formant frequency (F1) of /${\alpha}$/ was increased, and the second frequency (F2) of /i/ was decreased. In patients with peritonsillar abscess, F1 and F2 of /${\alpha}$/ were decreased. F1 of /i/ and /u/ were increased, while F2 were decreased. Conclusion : The anatomical and functional changes of oropharynx and larynx by acute epiglottitis and peritonsillar abscess can cause different change in resonance and speech quality. We suggest that these changes could be the cause of 'muffled vocie' in patients of acute epiglottitis or peritonsillar abscess, but different characteristics of phonation in each disease should be distinguished.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.293-301
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• 1997

The tonsillitis has long been one of the most common disease in the otolaryngologic field. Peritonsillar abscess occurs when bacterial infection of the tonsil spreads to the potential peritonsillar space deep behind the tonsil, and it usually occurs in patients with recurrent tonsillitis or in those with tonsillitis who have been inadequately treated. We studied retrospectively 71 patients who had been diagnosed as acute tonsillitis and 82 patients who had been diagnosed as peritonsillar abscess and had admitted in our department of the Ulsan Dong Kang Hospital from January, 1995 to September, 1997. Especially in the bacteriologic studies, we compared acute tonsillitis and peritonsillar abscess with chronic tonsillitis. The following results were obtained： 1) The sex distributions of acute tonsillitis were 47 males(66%) and 24 females(34%) cases, but 57 males(70%) and 25 females(30%) in cases of peritonsillar abscess. There were predominant in male and frequently affected in second and third decades in 53 cases(76%) of acute tonsillitis and 56 cases(68%) of peritonsillar abscess. 2) It was same found in each season. 3) The duration from onset of symptom to visit in our department was 3.92 days in cases of acute tonsillitis and 5.95 days in cases of peritonsillar abscess in average 4) The major symptoms were sore throat, swallowing difficult. And others were fever, fatigability, dysarthria, trismus, headache, otalgia. 5) Among the 71 cases of acute tonsillitis and 82 cases of peritonsillar abscess, most temperature of patients at visit were 36.6-37.5 $^{\circ}C$ in each 36 cases(51%), 57 cases(70%). 6) In each disease, 35 cases(47%), 45 cases(75%) consisted of single infection and 39 cases(53%), 15 cases(25%) consisted of mixed infection. In acute tonsillitis, 111 strains were isolated from 74 cases, the most common strain was 69 strains(62.2%) of $\alpha$-hemolytic streptococci. In the peritonsillar abscess, 77 strains were isolated from 60 cases, the most common strain was 49 strains(63.6%) of $\alpha$-hemolytic streptococci. In chronic tonsillitis, 563 strains were isolated from 382 cases, the most common strain was 334 strains(50.3%) of $\alpha$-hemolytic streptococci. 7) In acute tonsillitis and peritonsillar abscess, the most common leukocyte levels were reported with 10, 000-15, 000/$\mu$L in 23 cases(32%). The CRP levels were reported with abnormal findings in 61 cases(97%), 63 cases(95%) above 0.3 in each cases.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.57-63
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• 2009

Background and Objectives : Peritonsillar abscess is one of the most common illnesses m the ENT field, though its prevalence has been drastically reduced with the development of antibiotics and appropriate early treatment. We analyzed recent clinical characteristics of peritonsillar abscess and compared them with ones of 7 and 14 years ago respectively. Materials and Methods : Sixty-six cases of peritonsillar abscess from 2006 through 2008 were investigated retrospectively and compared with results of 7 and 14 years ago on various clinical factors. Results : Peritonsillar abscess was prevalent in men in their 20s and 30s. Mean period from symptom onset to visit to hospital tended to decrease(5.2 days) but admission days has increased(7.4 days). Body temperature on admission was lower than that of previous studies($36.4^{\circ}C$). Bacteria were isolated in 26 cases(74.2%) out of 35 cases in which culture had been performed. The most common cultured organism was a-hemolytic streptococcus and $\beta$-hemolytic streptococcus that had been most frequently cultured 14 years ago wasn't detected in this study. Conclusion : We found some changes of clinical features in peritonsillar abscess when compared with previous researches. Although there were some differences in cultured organism, antibiotics used commonly-cephalosporin, aminoglycoside, quinolone - were still effective for their eradication.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.19-22
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• 2007

Background and Objectives: The Objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the needle aspiration method and the I&D method in the treatment of peritonsillar abscess. Materials and Methods: A prospective clinical study was performed on 83 patients. All the patients were hospitalized after random treatment with either I&D or needle aspiration alone, received the same intravenous antibiotic therapy. Among the 83 patients, 73 patients who could be observed for longer than 6 months and had not undergone a tonsillectomy during the follow-up period, were analyzed for treatment outcomes. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the initial failure rate(p=0.572), the hospitalized days(p=0.956), the recurrence rate(p=0.531) for the needle aspiration(35 patients) and I&D groups(38 patients). But, The mean duration of fever were statistically different in the needle aspiration(1.51 hours) and I&D groups(3.05 hours) (p=0.031). Conclusion: Two methods are thought to be similar in effectiveness, except that duration of fever was longer in the I&D group than in the needle aspiration group. However, taking advantages of the needle aspiration method into consideration, the needle aspiration of peritonsillar abscess may be more appropriate than I&D as an initial method for peritonsillar abscess

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.43-46
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• 2002

Branchial cleft cysts are most common neck masses in adults. Most are second branchial cysts, which occur in the neck, anterior to sternocleidomastoid muscle at the mandibular angle. Rarely these cysts may be present in the parapharyngeal space. We report a case of a second branchial cleft cysts in the parapharyngeal space of 32-year-old female, which was misdiagnosed as peritonsillar abscess. It was excised via transoral and transcervical approach.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.855-858
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• 2010

Kawasaki disease (KD) causes multisystemic vasculitis but infrequently manifests with deep neck infections, such as a peritonsillar abscess, peritonsillar or deep neck cellulitis, suppurative parapharyngeal infection, or retropharyngeal abscess. As its etiology is still unknown, the diagnosis is usually made based on typical symptoms. The differential diagnosis between KD and deep neck infections is important, considering the variable head and neck manifestations of KD. There are several reports on KD patients who were initially diagnosed with retropharyngeal abscess on on computed tomography scans (CT). However, the previously reported cases did not have abscess or fluid collection on retropharyngeal aspiration. Therefore, false-positive neck CT scans have been obtained, until recently. In this case, suspected neck abscess in patients with KD unresponsive to intravenous immunoglobulin could signal the possible coexistence of suppurative cervical lymphadenitis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.686-689
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• 1999

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis(DNM) is a rare complication of the oropharyngeal and cervical infection. Descending necrotizing mediastinitis requires an early and aggressive surgical approach to reduce the high morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. A 39-year-old man complained of odynophagia, neck swelling, and disturbance of swallowing with dyspnea. CT scans of the neck suggested a peritonsillar abscess and retropharyngeal and peripharyngeal abscess. He underwent cervical drainage. He remained febrile and complained of severe both pain in both shoulders. On postoperative day 5, a follow-up CT scan confirmed a mediastinal abscess. Reexploration of the neck and right thoracotomy for debridement and drainage of the mediastinal abscess were performed.. A large amount of pus was drained from the anterior and posterior mediastinum and its necrotic tissue was debrided. The patient's condition and radiologic findings gradually improved. Cultures of the drain fluid revealed Klebsiella pneumoniae. He was discharged on the 85th hospital day. In our experience, both transcervical drainage and aggressive mediastinal exploration via thoracotomy can lead to an improvement in the survival of the patient with descending necrotizing mediastinitis. CT scanning is useful for early diagnosis of mediastinitis and for follow up.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.152-158
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• 2000

Backgroud and Objectives： Because the pain is subjective in human, we frequently need the objective tool for estimation of pain. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is a method for pain grading, but it is also a subjective method. The purpose of this study is to seek an objective method for measurement of pain. Author suggests that the estimation of local body temperature may be associated with the severity of pain in tonsillar disease and the change of it measured by Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging (DITI), may also be correlated with the change of pain. Materials and Method : Four groups were selected and measured for VAS and body temperature in DITI. Group A and B were post-tonsillectomy groups divided by age. Group C was acute tonsillitis group. Group D was peritonsillar abscess group. Results : In Group A and B, the subjective VAS was significantly correlated with objective local body temperature (correlation coefficient r=0.673, 0.647) and significant correlation was also present in acute tonsillitis and peritonsillar abscess groups(r=0.596,0.642). Conclusion : The change of pain was strongly associated with that of local body temperature in tonsillar disease. DITI is a useful method for objective grading of pain and can be used for the study of postoperatve pain and effectiveness of pain control.