• Journal of Clinical Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.235-239
• /
• 2018

Due to the structure with one end closed, the external ear resonance effect in which the high frequency is amplified can be generated, and the sound can be perceived well. The external ear resonance normally has a first peak and a second peak. On average, the first peak has a gain of 18.6 dB at 2620 Hz and the second peak has a gain of 18.2 dB at 4210 Hz. The resonance of the external auditory canal changes with the state of the tympanic membrane, the presence of the ventilation tube, and the structure (length, diameter, shape) of the external auditory canal. A patient with a postauricular meatomastoid cutaneous fistula was admitted to the hospital with a foreign body which is the molding of the hearing aid. After removal of the foreign body, the resonance of the external auditory canal was lost and the subjective sound cognitive ability decreased. In the case of postauricular meatomastoid cutaneous fistula, we confirmed the improvement of sound cognitive ability, the change of pure tone hearing threshold, and the change of the external ear resonance after reconstruction of the ear canal without middle ear reconstruction.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
• /
• v.1 no.3
• /
• pp.151-154
• /
• 2009

The external ear generates resonance gain because of anatomical characteristics. The ear canal resonance is influenced by the length and volume of the ear canal, the pinna, the concha cavity, the body trunk, and the speed of sound wave. This study is focus on the influence of the volume of ear canal. 17-healthy-adult (32 ears) were participated. They did not have any medical and ear disease history. The maximum resonance frequency of the ear canal was 2675 (${\pm}265$) Hz at azimuth $0^{\circ}$ and 2784 (${\pm}268$) Hz at azimuth $45^{\circ}$. The resonance gain was 18.1 (${\pm}3.9$) dB at azimuth $0^{\circ}$ and 17.9 (${\pm}3.8$) dB at azimuth $45^{\circ}$, respectively. The ear canal volume was 0.78 (${\pm}0.2$) cc and 1.32 (${\pm}0.8$) cc including static compliance. The ear canal resonance was changed depending on the ear canal volume. It was also statistically correlated at azimuth $0^{\circ}$ (p=0.038) and $45^{\circ}$ (p=0.013), respectively. The resonance gain was not correlated with the ear canal volume. The change of resonance frequency according to the ear canal volume will be useful information in the field of audiological rehabilitation especially for hearing aids fitting. In addition, we expected this study can provide the basic information for the study of the external ear resonance characteristics.

• Journal of Clinical Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.245-249
• /
• 2018

Neurilemmoma is a benign tumor that originates from the Schwann cell. It frequently occurs in head and neck regions, but neurilemmoma of external auditory canal is extremely rare. Here, we report a very rare case of 36-year-old male with a tumor located in the posterior wall of external auditory canal, preoperatively suspected as neurilemmoma originated from Arnold's nerve by temporal bone magnetic resonance imaging. The tumor mass was surgically excised and pathologically confirmed as a neurilemmoma.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.152-158
• /
• 2023

Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is a common cause of skin and soft tissue infections. Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) toxin-producing strain of SA has been discovered worldwide and is known to cause serious infections. However, reports of neonatal infections caused by PVL-positive SA are rare. Here, we report a case of severe skin and soft tissue infection caused by PVL-positive SA in a 7-day-old neonate. The patient was admitted to the emergency room with a history of fever for one day, tenderness, and sensation of buttocks heating. The infant presented with fever, tachycardia, poor general health, progressive tenderness, and edema of the buttocks on the day of admission. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed necrotizing fasciitis involving the skin, soft tissue, and muscles. Specimens drained from the buttock lesions confirmed the presence of PVL-positive methicillin-resistant SA (MRSA), and there was no bacteremia. She recovered after one month of intravenous antibiotics and surgical drainages. One month after discharge, she was rehospitalized for otitis externa and was infected with MRSA again. Considering the PVL-positive strain, the patient was treated with intravenous linezolid and dressing. The patient underwent decolonization therapy in a 0.5% chlorhexidine bath and recovered completely without sequelae. This case suggests that aggressive drainage and antibiotic treatment are essential for PVL-producing MRSA infections, and additional decolonization is needed to prevent recurrence and community spread.