• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.703-709
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• 2008

Background: Diagnosis and treatment are often successful in the setting of cardiac myxomas. However, cardiac myxomas can lead to catastrophic complications, due to intracardiac obstruction and embolism preoperatively, and can recur postoperatively. Material and Method: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical characteristics, surgical treatment, and recurrence data of 85 patients who underwent cardiac myxoma surgery at Asan Medical Center between November 1994 and June 2007. We analyzed the morphologic characteristics of 58 patients with left atrial myxomas and determined the development of functional mitral valve stenosis and systemic embolism through reviewing the results of preoperative echo-cardiograms to find potential preoperative risk factors. Result: Twenty-seven (31.8%) patients were men, and 58 (68.2%) were women. The mean patient age was $54.5{\pm}14.3$ years. Preoperative symptoms included obstructive symptoms in 41 (48.2%) patients, signs of embolism in 19 (22.4%), constitutional symptoms in 8 (9.4%), and no symptoms in 19 (20.0%). Among the 58 patients with left atrial myxomas, the mean maximal tumor diameter was $4.3{\pm}1.8$ (range $1.1{\sim}8\;cm$)cm. Twenty-six (44.8%) patients had a prolapsing type, defined as a tumor mobile enough to move down. to the mitral. annular plane during diastole, and 32 (55.2%) had villous type, defined as a tumor consisting of multiple fine villous extensions on the surface. Twelve (20.7%) patients had severe functional mitral valve stenosis, and 15 (25.9%) had systemic embolism preoperatively. The incidence of severe functional mitral valve stenosis was significantly higher in patients with the prolapsing type than in those with the non-prolapsing type (p=0.001). The mean maximal tumor diameter in patients with severe functional mitral valve stenosis was $5.1{\pm}1.0\;cm$, significantly larger than that seen in patients without severe functional mitral valve stenosis (p=0.041). The incidence of systemic embolism was significantly higher in patients with the villous type than in those with the smooth type (p=0.006). Postoperative complications were noted in 6 (7.1%) patients, and early mortality was noted in 1 (1.2%). The mean postoperative follow-up duration was $36.2{\pm}37.5$ months, with recurrence reported in 2(2.4%) patients during the follow-up period. The disease free interval were 48, 12 months, respectively. Conclusion: Surgical treatment for cardiac myxomas was performed safely, and long-term prognosis was good. In patients with left atrial myxoma, close attention should be maintained and surgery should be performed promptly in those of prolapsing type, those with large maximal diameter in order to prevent severe functional mitral valve stenosis, and those of villous type in order to prevent systemic embolism. Echocardiography should be followed serially in order to detect recurrence.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1982.05a
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• pp.17.2-19
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• 1982

The sinus tympani is subject to great variability in the size, shape and posterior extent. A heavy compact bony zone, especially in the posterior portion and the narrow space between the facial nerve and posterior semicircular canal are the limitation of surgical approach. The facial recess should be opened, creating a wide connection between the mesotympanum and mastoid in the Intact canal wall tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy. The surgically created limits of the facial recess are the facial nerve medially, the chorda tympani laterally and the bone adjacent to the incus superiorly. Using adult Korean's thirty-five temporal bones, the authors measured the osteologic reslationship in the posterior tympanum, especially sinus tympani and facial recess. The result was as followed. 1. The average distance from the anterior end of the pyramidal eminence. 1) to the edge of the sinus tympani directly posterior was 2.54(1.05-5.40)mm. 2) to the maximum posterior extent was 3.22(1.25-7.45)mm. 3) to the maximum cephaled extent was 0.67 (0.40-1.75)mm. 2. The boundary of the sinus tympani was 82.9% from the lower margin oval window to the upper margin round window niche. 3. The deepest part of the sinus tympani was 62.9% in the mid portion, between the ponticulus and subiculum. 4. The oblique dimension from the fossa incudis above to the hypotympanum below was 8.13(7.90-9.55)mm. 5. The transverse dimensions midway between the oval window above and round window below was 3.00(2.85-3.45)mm. 6. The transverse dimension at the level of the fossa incudis was 1.81(1.40-2.15)mm. 7. The facial nerve dehiscence was 14.3%. 8. Anterior-posterior diameter of the footplate was 2.98(2.85-3.05) mm. 9. The average distance from the footplate. 1) to the cochleariform process was 1.42(1.35-1.55) mm. 2) to the round window niche was 1.85(1.45-2.10) mm.