• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.37-40
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• 2010

Ectopic hamartomatous thymoma is a rare benign tumor of the lower neck occurring in the male adult predominantly. The origin of this tumor has been debated, but it is now believed to arise from remnants of the cervical sinus of His from early development. They are composed of epithelial, adipocytic, and spindle cells in variable amounts. Recognition of ectopic harmatomatous thymoma is important and needs to be differentiated from high-grade sarcomas such as synovial sarcoma or glandular malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. We here report on a case of ectopic hamartomatous thymoma arising in the left lateral neck of 33-year-old male patient.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.178-182
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• 2010

서 론 : 두경부암의 예후에 가장 중요한 인자는 진단시 병기와 치료 후 재발의 유무이다. 따라서, 재발 병변을 조기에 발견하는 것이 매우 중요하다. 본 연구에서는 두경부암 환자의 추적 관찰에서 $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT의 유용성에 대해 알아보고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 2004년 4월부터 2008년 8월까지 고려대 안암병원에서 두경부암으로 치료를 완료한 후 추적관찰이 가능하였던 88 예의 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 환자는 본원의 두경부암 추적관찰 양식에 따라 술 후 6, 12개월째 $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT를 시행하였으며, 원발부위 및 경부 재발, 원격전이와 중복암의 진단에 있어 $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT의 민감도, 특이도, 양성예측율, 음성예측율을 평가하였고, 기존의 추적관찰 방법과 이를 비교하였다. 결 과 : 원발부위 재발의 진단에 있어 민감도, 특이도, 양성예측율, 음성예측율은 각각 95%, 97%, 90%, 98% 였다. 경부전이 재발의 진단에 있어서는 각각 94%, 98%, 83%, 99%였으며, 원격전이 및 이차암 진단에 있어서는 94%, 100%, 100%, 99%였다. 원발부위 재발은 고식적인 진단 방법, 원격전이와 이차암은 $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT가 진단에 의미있게 유리하였다. 결 론 : $^{18}F$-FDG PET/CT는 두경부암의 추적관찰 과정에서 재발 여부를 판정하는데 있어 매우 유용하며, 특히 원격전이 및 이차암의 발견에 있어 유용하다. 그러나, 위양성 및 위음성의 가능성으로 고식적인 진단 방법과 병행해야 진단의 효과를 높힐 것으로 생각된다.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2008

Background and Purpose：Nausea, vomiting and weight loss are common problems that are encountered in the course of cancer patient treatment who are receiving radiotherapy. In this study, we are aiming to analyze the effect of megestrol acetate on quality of life of head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy, resulting from improvement of weight loss, appetite and nutritional status via multicenter, open-labeled, observational clinical trial. Material and Methods：A total of 270 patients from 10 medical institutes who are receiving radiotherapy or who have completed radiotherapy within 3 months, between February 2007 and February 2008, were selected as candidates for the study. Megestrol acetate suspension(megace) was given to the subjectives once a week for 4 weeks with the amount of 20ml(megestrol 800mg). Measurement of weight and questionnaire surveys were carried out three times: at the start of the study, 4 weeks after the start of the medication, and 4 weeks after the end of the medication, respectively. Results：The group who has received megace had a total number of 199, and control group was 70. The group who have received megace showed mean weight loss of 1kg in 8 weeks, compared with the weight loss of 5.5kg in control group, which showed that the medication was effective in reducing the amount of weight loss(P=0.027). The group who received megace had a tendency to report a reduced rate of decrease in the score of appetite, nausea and vomiting, and QOL score, but it did not have statistical significance(P>0.05). Conclusion：Megestrol acetate have reduced the degree of weight loss significantly, and it has a tendency to reduce the rate of decrease in appetite, aggravation of nausea and vomiting, and quality of life.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 1995

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.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.259-261
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• 2010

The meningiomas are slowly growing tumors arising from meningoepithelial cells and they generally occur in the intracranial space. Tumor extension to the extracranial structures occurred in about 20 percent of intracranial meningiomas. Meningiomas extending to the cervical area are uncommom. Beacuse these patients complain of localized symptoms, sometimes those tumors have been operated as cervical tumors. In this report, we incidentally found a meningioma in the left parapharyngeal space in a 63-year-old female, who was confirmed by histopathologic diagnosis to have meningioma. We report herewith this case with the review of literatures.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.214-216
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• 2008

Parapharyngeal space tumors are extremely rare accounting for about 0.5% of all head and neck tumors and treat mostly by surgical removal. Due to their inherent location, they present with varied non-specific signs and symptoms, resulting in a delay in diagnosis and unnecessary procedures, such as a 'tonsillectomy' or 'incision and drainage' of a 'quinsy'. We recently confirmed a case about a the neurilemnoma on parapharyngeal space during tonsillectomy. To present our experience with the transoral approach for parapharyngeal space tumor and describe our technique for removal of these neoplasms. Although parapharyngeal space tumours are uncommon, recognizing them would enable the correct sequence of investigations, instead of unnecessary procedures resulting in an increased morbidity for the patient.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.337-342
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• 2021

Objective: Forward head posture can caused by deformation of structures and soft tissues around the neck, which has an uncomfortable effect on daily life as well as functional disorders of the neck. However, studies related to direct forward head posture, neck function, and quality of life have not yet been conducted. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of improving the forward head posture on the function of the neck and to examine the change in the quality of life. Design: A randomized controlled trial Methods: The participants were 41 adults (22.17±2.67 years) recruited and redivided randomly into two group (Biofeedback, BFG vs. Control). The Biofeedback group was proceeded according to the over load principle through 4 steps. (n=21). The control (n=20) was not applied after TENS padding was applied and 20 minute. This study was conducted three times a week for a total of four weeks. Results: Forward head posture for showed significant improvement in the results in the craneocervical angle (p<0.05, 95% CI: 0.130, 2.858). In neck disability index more significant improvement in BFG than group (p<0.05, 95% CI: 14.346, 17.825), and BFG showed significant increased in the results in the Quality of life (p<0.05, 95% CI: 0.392, 9.549) Conclusions: This study suggected that forward head posture treatment and effective for neck function and quality of life

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.4273-4278
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• 2013

Objective: We aimed to define clinicopathologic risk factors associated with regional recurrence (RR) and thus the effectiveness of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) for neck control for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) with differing cervical lymph node status. Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 196 HNSCC patients with pathologically positive neck node (N+) to evaluate the high-risk factors for RR and to define the role of PORT in control after neck dissection and postoperative radiotherapy (PORT). Results: Overall, the RR rate after neck dissection and PORT was 29%. Extracapsular spread (ECS) was confirmed to be the only independent risk factor for RR. There were no significant risk factors associated with RR in the ECS- group. The 5-year disease-specific survival rate was 45%, which descended to 10% with the emergence of RR. Conclusions: ECS remains a determined risk factor for RR after neck dissection and PORT in patients with N+. PORT alone is not adequate for preventing RR in the neck with ECS after neck dissection. More intensive postoperative adjuvant therapies, especially combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy, are needed to prevent regional failure in HNSCC patients with ECS.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.148-154
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• 2001

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the significance of serum SCC antigen, CA 19-9, CA 125 level and DNA microsatellite alterations (MSA) as prognostic factors and indicators for recurrences in the pre-treatment and post-treatment state, respectively in head and neck cancer patients. Materials and Methods: 120 patients who received curative treatment for head and neck cancer from 1995 to 2000 were followed up successfully, and were analyzed retrospectively. Thirty healthy subjects served as normal controls. Serum SCC Ag levels were measured by microparticle enzyme immunoassay technique via IMX SCC assay, CA 19-9 levels were measured by CA 19-9 RIA test kit, and CA 125 levels were measured by CA 125 IRMA kit. MSA were identified after PCR amplification. Heterozygosity was considered lost if the ratio of one allele was significantly decreased (>50%) in serum DNA compared with normal DNA from lymphocytes. Results: Preoperative tumor markers were higher in cancer patients than control, but not significant. Postoperative SCC Ag levels were lower than preoperative levels. The SCC Ag levels were remained low in no evidence of disease (NED) group, but increased in locoregional recurrence and distant metastasis group. CA 19-9 and CA 125 levels showed no correlation between levels and recurrences and were not decreased significantly after primary tumor removal. MSA were detected in five out of 21 cases, and highly detected in distant metastasis group. Conclusion: SCC Ag seems to be a helpful serum tumor marker for early detection of recurrence and distant metastasis of head and neck cancer after curative treatment. But, CA 19-9 and CA 125 were not reliable markers for head and neck tumors. MSA were not statistically significant because of the small number of study group. However they may be helpful for screening serum molecular markers for early detection of distant metastasis of head and neck cancers.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.142-146
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• 2006

Background and Objectives : This study reports our clinicopathological experiences of major salivary gland tumors. Materials and Methods : This study included 302 patients with major salivary gland tumors who had got the diagnosis from January 1995 through December 2004. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Results : We found 244 benign and 58 malignant major salivary gland tumors. Among 267 parotid tumors, the most common benign parotid tumor was pleomorphic adenoma. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and acinic cell carcinoma were three most common parotid malignancies. Among 33 submandibular gland tumors, 20 cases were benign and 13 were malignant. There were one benign and one malignant sublingual gland tumors. The duration of symptom of submandibular gland tumors was longer than that of parotid tumors. Most patients presented with asymptomatic mass. Seventy-one percent of salivary gland malignancies underwent postoperative radiation therapy. Five-year disease free survival rate of parotid malignant tumors seemed to be higher than that of submandibular one, although there was no statistical significance. Conclusion : Malignancy rate of each salivary gland followed old axiom that it is inversely related with the size of gland. Submandibular gland tumor tends to be delayed to reach diagnosis. Clinicians must be alert about this finding because submandibular gland tumors are known to have poorer prognosis than parotid tumors.