• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.142-147
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• 2003

Purpose: Accurate evaluation of metastatic cervical lymph nodes plays a decisive role in the treatment and prognosis of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The purpose of this study is to investigate the usefulness of FDG-PET for diagnosis of cervical metastasis in the head and neck cancer by comparing with the conventional imaging study. Materials and Methods: The subjects on this study were 30 patients (24 males and 6 females, aged 39 to 76, mean 57.1) diagnosed as pathologic-proven squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. All patients underwent preoperative FDG-PET, CT(n=27) or MRI (n=3). Their medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Using pathologic reports as a golden standard, the results of FDG-PET were compared with conventional imaging study (CT/MRI) in the evaluation of cervical metastasis. Results: Thirty patients had five different primary sites which were tongue (11), supraglottis (10), glottis (6), hypopharynx (2) and tonsil (1). A total of 40 neck dissections were performed unilaterally in 20 patients and bilaterally in 10 patients. Of these, 16 showed pathologically positive for lymph node metastasis. The sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET for the diagnosis of cervical metastasis was 75% and 100% respectively, compared with conventional imaging of 56.3% and 95.8%, respectively. The difference of sensitivity was not statistically significant (p=0.453). Of 5 cases with small metastatic node (<1cm), 3 were detected on PET detected correctly but none were detected by CT. Conclusion: FDG-PET was more accurate than conventional imaging study in the diagnosis of metastatic lymph nodes in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck, especially detection of small metastatic node. FDG-PET might be useful adjunct to conventional image in the preoperative evaluation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.309-315
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• 2006

Purpose: Accurate evaluation of cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis of head and neck squamous cell canter (SCC) is important to treatment planning. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for the detection of cervical LN metastasis of head and neck SCC and performed a retrospective comparison with CT/MRI findings. Materials & Methods: Seventeen patients with pathologically proven head and neck SCC underwent F-18 FDG PET/CT and CT/MRI within 4 week before surgery. We recorded lymph node metastases according to the neck level system of imaging-based nodal classification. F-18 FDG PET/CT images were analyzed visually for assessment of regional tracer uptake in LN. We analyzed the differences in sensitivity and specificity between F-18 FDG PET/CT and CT/MRI using the Chi-square test. Results: Among the 17 patients, a total of 123 LN levels were dissected, 29 of which showed metastatic involvement. The sensitivity and specificity of F-18 FDG PET/CT for detecting cervical LN metastasis on a level-by-level basis were 69% (20/29) and 99% (93/94). The sensitivity and specificity of CT/MRI were 62% (18/29) and 96% (90/94). There was no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between F-18 FDG PET/CT and CT/MRI. Interestingly, F-18 FDG PET/CT detected double primary tumor (hepatocellular carcinoma) and rib metastasis, respectively. Conclusion: There was not statistically significant difference of diagnostic accuracy between F-18 FDG PET/CT and CT/MRI for the detection of cervical LN metastasis of head and neck SCC. The low sensitivity of F-18 FDG PET/CT was due to limited resolution for small metastatic deposits.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.11-17
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• 2019

Background/Objectives: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has generally an indolent character with a good prognosis. However, recurrence remains a major concern for the patients during their lifetime. Despite the slowly progressing character of PTC, recurrence can occur within a short period after initial surgery. This study aimed to determine the clinical findings and cause of recurrence in patients who underwent re-operative surgery due to neck node recurrence by reviewing the CT (computed tomographic) scan imaging of the recurrence of PTC retrospectively. Materials & Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients referred to Ajou University Hospital from January 2002 to January 2018. All patients had re-operative surgery due to neck node recurrence and CT scan results of preoperative evaluation and postoperative follow up. Over this period, 110 patients who underwent re-operation due to neck node recurrence with a CT scan were included in our cohort, resulting in a total of 220 re-operations. Results: The time from initial operation to first re-operation was examined in 110 patients. The median time to re-operation was 28 months, with a range of 4 months to 186 months. Most re-operations (82.7%) occurred within the first five years, 43.6% were in the first two years from the initial surgery. The result of the retrospective CT review showed newly developed cases (21,19.1%), missed diagnosis cases (42,38.2%), real recur cases after surgery (33,30.0%), and remnant lymph nodes (LNs) cases (14,12.7%). We further sub-analyzed 14 cases with remnant LNs. Reasons for remnant LNs included insufficient operation (N=5) and beyond general surgical extent. (N=9). Conclusion: Re-operation due to cervical lymph node recurrence is mostly a persistent disease. They included a missed diagnosis and incomplete operation. These finding may reduce the reoperation of cervical lymph node recurrence by accurate preoperative evaluation and complete surgical resection at the initial surgery.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.52-61
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• 2004

Purpose: Cervical lymph node metastasis is the most important factor of the prognosis and therapeutic planning in head and neck cancer. With increasing interest of minimally invasive neck surgery, more accurate preoperative assessment of cervical lymph node becomes more essential. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of $^{18}F$ FDG-PET in the assessment of lymph node metastasis in patients with primary head and neck cancer and compared the results with those of CT/MRI. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two patients (M/F=27/5, $56{\pm}10yr$) with biopsy proven head and neck cancer (16 supraglottic cancer, 9 tongue cancer, 7 others) underwent FDG-PET and CT/MRI (25/7) within 1 month before neck dissection. Based on lymph node level, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of FDG PET and CT/MRI for the metastasis of cervical lymph node were compared. Results: Of 153 lymph node levels dissected in 32 patients, 32 lymph node levels of 19 patients were positive for metastasis by histopatholologic examination. The overall sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET were 88% (28/32) and 93% (113/121), whereas those of CT/MRI were 56% (18/32) (p=0.002) and 92% (112/121), respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of FDG-PET were different according to location of lymph node levels, and those of ipsilateral level 11 were lower than those of other levels. Conclusion: FDG-PET is more sensitive in detecting metastatic cervical lymph node in head and neck cancer than CT/MRI. FDG-PET might be useful in guiding the extent of neck dissection.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.85-89
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• 2017

A 62-year-old female patient had goiter for twenty years. She visited out-patient clinic with a hoarse voice and intermittent breathing difficulties. About protruding 15cm sized mass located the anterior neck and right vocal cord paralysis was observed. Preoperative CT scan was strongly suspected of thyroid gland cancer and cervical lymph node metastasis. Therefore, fine needle aspiration test was performed and surgical treatment was planned with the histopathologic results (papillary thyroid carcinoma). Surgery was performed with total thyroidectomy, bilateral cervical lymph node dissection, and right selective nodal lymph node dissection (level II-V). During operation right thyroid seemed to be adherent to surrounding tissue and the blood vessels were extremely engorged. There was hypotensive crisis because of intraoperative excessive bleeding. However it was managed by repetitive transfusion. The operation was completed without abnormalities. She underwent 4 times of bleeding control operation due to postoperative bleeding. After complications were improved, we are currently undergoing out-patient follow up without morbidity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.409-412
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• 1993

We report a case of subglottic stenosis by blunt neck trauma. Preoperative CT showed a stenosis extending distally from just below the vocal cords for 4cm. Concomittent bilateral vocal cords paralysis and quadriplegia were present. At operation the lesion was severely adhesed and the lumen was nearly obstructed. The recurrent laryngeal nerves were embedded in fibrous tissue and were not identified at ease. The stenosed segment was resected and direct end-to-end anastomosis with preservation of the recurrent laryngeal nerves was performed. Six months latar he discharged with intermediate position of vocal cord paralysis.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.201-205
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• 2000

Objectives: Despite of high prevalence of tuberculosis in Korea, thyroid tuberculosis is very rare and only a few records are available. This study was carried out to evaluate the clinicopathologic characteristics of thyroid tuberculosis and to find out optimal therapeutic strategies for these lesions. Materials & Methods: From Jan. 1986 to July. 2000, of 5,493 patients who were underwent thyroidectomy, only 8(0.14%) had discovered to have thyroid tuberculosis. The medical records of them were analyzed retrospectively. Results: There were one man and seven women with a mean age of 40.3 years. Only one had tuberculosis sequalae on chest X-ray and two had past history of tuberculous lymphadenitis. However, none of them had symptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis. Most frequent symptom was palpable neck mass. The preoperative U/S, CT and FNAB failed to diagnose thyroid tuberculosis. The pathologic reports were chronic granulomatous thyroiditis with caseous necrosis in all the cases and AFB stain was positve in 5 cases. All cases were successfully treated by surgical resection and anti-Tbc. medications. Conclusions: The incidence of thyroid tuberculosis was extremely low and most of them have been presented as a palpable neck mass especially in relatively young-aged female patients. Although any diagnosis for thyroid tuberculosis prior to microscopical study of tissue removed at operation was not yielded, the preoperative diagnostic workups will be available with experience. Surgical resection and anti- Tbc medication would be the choice in the management of thyroid tuberculosis.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.46-49
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• 2008

Neurofibroma is a neurogenic tumor arising from schwann cells or peripheral tissues of nerve sheaths. Neurofibroma rarely occurs as a solitary lesion but mostly occurs as part of neurofibromatosis and reports of neurofibromas developed in the nasal cavity or paranasal sinus are very rare. We report on a case of neurofibroma of the nasal cavity treated by endoscopic surgery. Preoperative computed tomography(CT), and punch biopsy suggested that the tumor was benign neurogenic tumor cofined to right nasal cavity. The tumor was removed with endoscopic surgery completely, and confirmed as neurofibroma by histological and immunohistochemical examination. We discuss the clinical and pathological characters of neurofibroma arising in the nasal septum.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.27-31
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• 2020

Neck mass has various etiologies, including inflammatory, congenital, neoplastic causes. The IgG4-related disease can cause symptoms in the head and neck areas with an inflammatory neck mass. It also shows clinical and pathological findings from inflammation caused by immune reactions, such as lymphocyte and plasma cell infiltration, storiform fibrosis, obliteration phlebitis, and invigorated serum IgG4 levels. The treatment guideline has not been established and still under debate, but systemic glucocorticoid seems to be effective in the most cases. In this brief report, a 48-year-old male patient presented with voice change for 3 weeks. Left side paramedian vocal fold palsy was observed in the flexible laryngoscopy. About 2.5×2.0×1.2cm size, heterogeneously enhanced neck mass with irregular margin encasing left carotid artery was noted on preoperative contrast enhanced neck CT scan, and it was suspicious of left carotid body tumor. The pathology shows IgG4-related disease rather than carotid body tumors. We report this case of IgG4-related disease, which can be misdiagnosed to carotid body tumors.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2018

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the changes of uptake around the sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) according to 18F-FDG PET images in patients with head and neck cancer who underwent neck dissection. Materials & Methods: Retrospectively, the medical records of patients who received selective or comprehensive neck dissection were reviewed. Preoperative and 1-year postoperative 18F-FDG PET images, if available, were analyzed by nuclear medicine physicians in both qualitative and quantitative manners. Correlation between the changes of uptake around SCJ and perioperative data were statistically analyzed. Results: Thirty-seven patients satisfying the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Seven patients with increased uptake around SCJ on 1-year postoperative 18F-FDG PET showed a correlation with radical or comprehensive neck dissection, accessory nerve sacrifice, and high postoperative SUVmax. When 20 patients with increased uptake around SCJ according to quantitative measurement were compared with other patients without increased uptake, no parameter was significantly different, except postoperative SUVmax. Bivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the clinical symptom (shoulder or sternal pain) was significantly correlated with the extent of neck dissection (OR 0.227, CI 0.053-0.966, p=0.045) and spinal accessory nerve sacrifice (OR 13.500, CI 1.189-153.331, p=0.036). Conclusions: Increased uptake around SCJ on 1-year postoperative 18 F-FDG PET was correlated with either the radical or comprehensive procedure, as well as with accessory nerve sacrifice. This suggests that subjective analysis of 18F-FDG PET can be used to detect subclinical shoulder instability.