Kazuhiro Kurashima

Perilymph fistula — 45 case analysis

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Though perilymph fistula (PLF) is not a rare disease, preoperative diagnosis still remains to be established. Some new diagnostic methods are challenging, but there is still no established diagnostic method except exploratory tympanotomy that verifies the occurrence of leakage. Early diagnosis of PLF is fully depending on history taking and some clinical examinations. To know the clinical features of PLF is one of the greatest helps to make both earlier and accurate diagnosis. In spite of some innovations in clinical examinations classic diagnostic procedure is thought to be still reliable. PROCEDURES We investigated the clinical symptoms, basic tests results and therapeutic results in patients with PLF. RESULTS From 1983 to 1998 PLF was identified in 44 patients (45 ears) with exploratory tympanotomies in our hospital. With respect to clinical history the predisposing factors such as blowing the nose, lifting heavy goods, and landing in an airplane were found in almost half of the patients, while the rest of them had no clear inducing factors. Their major symptoms included hearing loss (93%), vertigo and dizziness (91%), tinnitus (76%), and aural fullness (31%). The patients who have a clear predisposing factor tended to make diagnosis easily; on the other hand the rest of the patients who do not have clear etiology had some diagnostic difficulty. Subjective positive fistula signs were observed in 71% of patients. Vestibular symptoms improved in 80% of patients after closure of PLF. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the variety of clinical manifestation make diagnosis more difficult. At the moment meticulous clinical history taking and close follow-up applying repeating fistula tests are the most important for not only earlier but also accurate diagnosis.

Connexin 26 distribution in gap junctions between melanocytes in the human vestibular dark cell area

We have previously demonstrated the presence of gap junctions between melanocytes in the human vestibular organ and have speculated that melanocytes function in maintaining the homeostasis of the microenvironment of the inner ear. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the expression and ultrastructural localization of connexin (Cx) protein in melanocytes of the human vestibular organs. Surgical material was obtained from patients operated on for vestibular schwannoma and was processed for light microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, conventional TEM, and immuno TEM. The specimens were labeled with anti‐Cx26, Cx32, and Cx43 antibodies and examined by light microscopy. Specimens were also labeled with anti‐Cx26 antibody and examined by laser microscopy and immuno‐TEM methods. The specimens examined in this study were mainly dark cell areas from the human vestibular organ, whose epithelial and subepithelial layers are rich in melanocytes. Light‐microscopic immunohistochemical studies showed positive labeling for Cx26 protein between subepithelial melanocytes, and Cx32 was also detected. Use of anti‐Cx26 antibody and confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed high levels of Cx26 around the subepithelial melanocytes. Post‐embedding immuno‐gold transmission electron microscopy showed significant aggregation of gold particles (33.97 ± 8.01% of total gold particles) around the gap junctions of the subepithelial melanocytes. The results of this study indicated that melanocytes are connected through gap junctions that mainly contain Cx26. This suggested that the melanocytes in the human vestibular organ may play a role in transporting material between the endolymph and perilymph. Anat Rec 262:137–146, 2001.

Long-Term Prognosis of Profound Facial Nerve Paralysis Secondary to Acoustic Neuroma Resection

The long-term prognosis of profound facial nerve paralysis was reviewed in 107 patients who, despite preserved nerve continuity, showed no facial movement after acoustic neuroma resection. Spontaneous recovery occurred in 77 patients. However, there was no apparent recovery in 30 patients. Twenty-two of these patients underwent hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis 7–33 months after tumor resection. When spontaneous recovery occurred, the first sign of remission was observed between 3 and 4 months after surgery in nearly half of the patients. Such a sign did not appear after 12 months. The recovery of facial movement deteriorated depending on how long remission onset was delayed. However, the quality of facial movement in patients with such delayed remission was still identical or better than that in those after hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis. These results showed that hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis should be performed approximately 1 year after tumor resection if no sign of remission has been observed by then.