Tomohiro Anzai

The hearing loss in Wegener's granulomatosis: relationship between hearing loss and serum ANCA.

We observed the change of hearing for 1 year in a patient with Wegeners granulomatosis. We also studied anti-human neutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA), which is believed to be specific for this disease and to be associated with disease activity. From these progresses, changes in hearing were considered to be generally related with the general condition and with the ANCA titer level. Because hearing loss in our case was improved by steroids and immunosuppressants, and because ANCA is the autoantibody observed in angiitis syndrome, hearing loss in this case of Wegeners granulomatosis was suspected of being caused by angiitis of the middle and inner ear induced by autoimmune reaction.

Inner Ear Impairment Following Combined CDDP (Platinum Preparation) and Radiation Therapy

Hearing ability was examined in patients with head and neck cancer treated by combined CDDP and electron beam therapy. In 3 of 7 patients with maxillary cancer, hearing impairment apparently attributable to the therapy was noted on the affected side. In one of these 3 patients, the temporal bone was observed, but the cause of hearing impairment could not be determined. We present patients with cancer of the external ear in whom radiation-caused hearing impairment worsened probably due to combined CDDP and electron beam therapy.

Temporal Bone Findings in a Case of Drowning

The histopathological findings in the temporal bone of a 57-year-old man who died of drowning are described. Diffuse hemorrhage and congestion were evident throughout the external auditory canal, tympanic membrane, middle ear cavity, mastoid cavities, scala vestibuli of cochlea, facial nerve, and greater petrosal nerve. There were no abnormal findings in vestibular organs.