Traditionally, wound drainage after thyroid or parathyroid surgery has been widely used to prevent airway obstruction due to accumulation of hematoma or seroma within the paratracheal dead space. Recently, however, the routine use of drains after thyroid or parathyroid surgery has become a matter of controversy. To determine whether the rouine use of drains after thyroid or parathyroid surgery is warranted, a prospective study on the complications after various types of thyroid or parathyroid surgery without wound drains was conducted. Three hunded sixty-six consecutive patients underwent thyroid or parathyorid surgeries by one surgeon from January through December 1994 were included in this study. Of these, only 38 patients (10.4%) required the wound drains. Indications for drainage included the patients with a large dead space(n=9) or wet operative field at the conclusion of surgery(n=11), and patients with radical neck disection(n=18). In the remaining 328 patients(89.6%), the wounds were closed without drains after thyroid lobectomy and isthmusectomy(n=226), bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy(n=21), total or near-total thyroidectomy(n=62), isthmusectomy(n=9) and parathyroid surgery(n=l0). Histologic findings revealed benign tumors in 214(65.2%), carcinoma in 89(27.1%), Graves' disease in 15(4.7%), hyperparathyroidism in 7(2.1%) and parathyroid cyst in 3(0.9%). Among the 328 patients without drain used, wound related complications were seen in only 15 patients(4.6%); 12 patients with seroma and 3 patients with hematoma. All but one complications could be controlled by two or three aspirations, and the remaining one patient required re-exploration. There were no instances of laryngeal nerve palsy or wound infection. The mean length of hospital stay after surgery was 2.8 days with a range of 1 to 11 days. These results support the routine use of drains is not warranted in most thyroid or parathyroid surgeries.

The authors present 15 cases in which the diagnosis of thyroid cancer was established pathologically among 300 cases of Graves' disease diagnosed clinically at Chosun University Hospital, from January 1982 to December 1994. These cases were analyzed in order to establish guidelines for prophylactic node dissection as part of the initial management of thyroid cancer in patients with Graves' disease. The analysis revealed the following: 1) The average age of the 15 patients was 34.5 years and the male: female ratio was 1 : 4.0. 2) In 8 of the 15 cases(53.5 %) the occult thyroid carcinoma measured less than 1.5cm. 3) The degree of invasivensess manifested in these fifteen cases may be summarized as follows: In Group 1(6 cases) there was absence of microscopic capsular invasion and of lymphnode metastasis. In Group 11(4 cases) threre was microscopic capsular invasion but absence of lymphnode metastasis: In Group III(4 cases) there was either extrathyrodal soft tissue invasion or regional lymph node metastasis: and in Group IV(1 case) there was lymphnode invasion and distant metastasis. 4) Thirteen patients underwent either subtotal or near total thyroidectomy, and 2 patients underwent total thyroidectomy. Seven patients underwent some type of neck dissection, as follows: anterior compartment dissection in one of the cases in Group I; functional neck dissection in two cases and jugular node dissection in one case in Group II; and anterior compartment dissection in one case and modified radical neck dissection in two cases in Group III. 5) The author propose the following guidelines for prophylactic initial node dissection when a unexpected coexisting thyroid carcinoma in encountered on the frozen section during the surgical management of Graves' disease; Group I cases do not require initial neck dissection in group II, anterior compartment dissection in sufficient. In Group III, either jugular node dissection or functional neck dissection should be performed, and followed by postoperative Ra$^{131}$I therapy, Group IV requires Ra$^{131}$I therapy with or without modified radical neck dissection depending in the patient's condition.

The laryngeal cancer is a cancer of secondary sex organ, such as malignant tumors of the mammary gland, endometrium, and prostate. The clinical characteristics of the female laryngeal cancers are considered somewhat to be different from that of male. As cancer of the larynx is principally a disease of men, many investigations have showed the characteristics of the male laryngeal cancers. For understanding the clinical characteristics of the female laryngeal cancers, we analyzed 21 cases of laryngeal cancer in women, diagnosed and treated in our institute during the last 10 years. The results were, 1) In female subjects, supraglottis was most common subsite of laryngeal cancer(85.7%). 2) On histopathologic grade, the moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma was the most common (80.9%). 3) The positive neck nodes were 19 %, considered to be lower than that of total laryngeal cancer. 4) The treatment results, the 2 year disease free rate and 5 year survival rate were 88.9%, 83.3%, respectively. These results suggest, therefore, female laryngeal cancers are more likely to be supraglottic cancer than glottic cancer. In spite of high incidence of supraglottic cancer, the nodal metastases are rare, the prognosis appeared to be good.

후두에 생긴 원발성 임파종은 성문상부에 잘 생기며 일차치료로 방사친치료가 이용되나 후두외로 퍼진 경우는 항암화학치료와의 병용요법이 필요하다. 후두악성임파종의 전이나 재발여부에 대해 장기적 추적 관찰이 중요함을 문헌고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

A retrospective analysis was performed to ascertain the relationship between the treatment modalities and their treatment results. From July 1980 to June 1993, 115 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus were: treated at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University. There were 88 men and 27 women with median age of 57 years. According to AJCC TNM system of 1992. eight patients of T2, 54 patients of T3 and 53 patients of T4 were available, respectively. Cervical lymph node metastases at diagnosis was observed in 11 patients. 87 patients were treated with radiotherapy and 28 patients were treated with combination of surgery and radiotherapy. The overall 5 year survival rate was 32 %, patients that were treated with radiotherapy alone had a 5 year survival rate 24.3 % and patients who were treated with combination of surgery and radiation therapy had a 5 year survival rate of 52.8 % (p<0.05). Combination of surgery and radiotherapy resulted in a better treatment modality for squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus. Improved radiotherapy technique and development of multimodality treatment are needed to improve the local control and the survival rate in patients with advanced maxillary sinus carcinoma.

The effects of radiation therapy on salivary function of parotid gland were studied 20 male patients by radiation for tumors of head and neck. Saliva samples were collected before, during the radiotherapy and follow up. Parotid salivary function was quantitatively evaluated using a sialometry, sialochemistry, and scintigraphy. Salivary flow rates decreased in all individuals after irradiation. Glands than were partially irradiated were more likely to have some residual function than fully irradiated glands. Sodium and chloride contents were increased in parotid saliva of radiation patients where as potassium content was not changed definitively, pH was not changed during radiotherapy, but increased during follow up period. Scintigraphic stimulatory response rates showed similar result as flow rates. These results showed that exclusion of partial parotid gland from radiation is necessary to prevent severe xerostomia.

Planning of the skin incision is one of the most important point for safe removal of the head and neck cancer. The fact that so many types of incisions exist is strong testimony that there is hardly one incision that fits all situation. Factors that influence the choice are adequate exposure, changeability to other types of neck dissection, optimal exposure of the primary site and/or opposite side of the neck, and safety of the neck flap and cosmesis. Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas are the most common tumor of the head and neck, even though there are so many diverse situation exist, there must be an optimal approach to each case. From 1992 to 1994 surgical approaches used for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma at the Severance Hospital were reviewed. Types of surgical approaches, its pitfall, advantage and disadvantages were reviewed.

Pharyngocutaneous fistula(PCF) is one of the complications following total laryngectomy in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer. Fistula lead to delayed wound healing, more serious complications such as carotid blow-out, prolonged hospitalization, significant patient morbidity and occasional mortality. Identification of patients at high risk for fistula formation, appropriate preventive measures, and appropriate management are the head and neck surgeon's responsibility. So we analyzed the clinical data of pharyngocutaneous fistula which was developed after total laryngectomy. Following results were obtained: 1) Occurrence of PCF increases with salvage surgery compared to curative surgery. 2) Early detection and effective management of PCF are the key factors to decreasing the hospitalization period. 3) Constructing a pharyngostoma seems to be an ideal method of preventing dangerous complications and ultimately closing the fistula. 4) Simultaneous reconstruction is necessary in the high risk group.

Multiple primary malignant neoplasms occur relatively frequently today and are important especially in the head and neck area for they usually carry a bad prognosis. Detection of a synchronous primary tumor at the time of initial work-up is crucial both for management and final outcome. The first case was a T1 hypopharyngeal cancer with a mid-esophageal second primary who complained of a huge neck node. The second case was a T3 hypopharyngeal cancer who was initially seen by the chest surgeons for a large lower esophageal tumor. The third case was a patient previously operated for stomach adenocarcinoma three years ago, who had newly developed symptoms like dysphagia and hoarseness, and was diagnosed as hypopharyngeal T3 with oropharyngeal second primary cancer. Three cases were all heavy smokers and had histories of heavy alcohol consumption. They were all treated at the same sitting by en-block resection of the involved organs and postoperative radiation therapy. The authors have recently experienced 3 cases of synchronous second primary cancers in association with hypopharyngeal cancer and a report is made.

Melanoma of the scalp is rare condition and seems to be to have a poor prognosis than melanoma of other portion of the body. We had 2 patients suffering from malignant melanoma of scalp. Their charts were reviewed for epidemiologic data, location, Breslow thickness, lymph node involvement and outcome. The therapeutic treatment was wide excision and skin grafting or free flap reconstruction. The early recognition of all the nevi at scalp and proper follow-up of the lesion are key stones to eradicating the changing mole and to preventing this thread to life.

Transient and permanent hypocalcemia after various types of thyroidectomy are well-known complications, and are more common after bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy for Graves' disease. However, their causative mechanisms are not well explained. Four hundred thirty patients with Graves' disease who underwent bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy from January 1983 through December 1992 were analyzed to determine the incidence and risk factors for the development of postthyroidectomy hypocalcemia. Of the 430 patients underwent bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy, symptomatic transient and permanent hypocalcemia developed in 24.2 % (104/430) and 0.5 % (2/430), respectively. With analysis of potential risk factors, the increase in incidence of the postthyroidectomy hypocalcemia was found to be statistically related to the larger thyroid gland, the larger amount of blood loss during thyroidectomy, the smaller remnant thyroid tissue, the higher levels of serum alkaline phosphatase and TBII titers. Our data suggest that impairment of parathyroid gland blood supply, degree of thyrotoxic osteodystrophy and autoimmune process of each patient are regarded as main mechanisms of postthyroidectomy hypocalcemia in patients with Graves' disease.