Granular cell tumors are relatively uncommon benign laryngeal lesions thought to originate from Schwann cells. The granular cell tumor occurs everywhere in the body, especially in the oral cavity. Most oral cases are located in the tongue. It has no preference for race, sex, and age. Because pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia is frequently associated with granular cell tumors, it should be differentiated from squamous cell tumors. Confirmative diagnosis should be made histopathologically and supported by immunohistochemical staining using S-100. Treatment of a granular cell tumor consists of a wide local excision by the endoscopic, transoral or laryngofissure methods. Recently, CO2 laser has been used to remove granular cell tumor with clear resection margin. We have recently experienced a granular cell tumor of larynx, so we report it with a review of literatures.
Continental Population Groups ; Diagnosis ; Granular Cell Tumor* ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Larynx* ; Lasers, Gas ; Mouth ; Schwann Cells ; Tongue

OBJECTIVES: Euthymic patients with bipolar disorder have been reported to show deficits in sustained attention. This study aimed to compare the attention capacities of euthymic bipolar patients with those of control subjects using the sustained attention to response task (SART) and to examine the differences in the performance of SART related to the type of the stimulus. METHODS: The four SART tasks were performed to measure attention capacities in 42 euthymic patients with bipolar disorder and 28 control subjects. Happy, neutral, fearful faces and digit '3' were used as target stimuli in happy, neutral, fear and digit task conditions, respectively. The severity of mood symptoms was assessed with 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depressive symptoms and Young Mania Rating Scale for manic symptoms. The efficiency estimate which reflects both the response accuracy and speed was used as the main outcome variable. RESULTS: Bipolar patients showed significantly lower correct response rate than control group in all task conditions. Efficiency estimates of the bipolar patient group were significantly lower than those of the control group in the SART using facial stimuli, but not in the digit task condition. There was no significant difference in task performances related to the emotional categories of facial stimuli. CONCLUSION: Bipolar patients showed deficits in sustained attention even in the euthymic state. The attention deficits shown in the euthymic bipolar patients may be prominent in a more complex task condition with stimuli such as facial stimuli.
Bipolar Disorder ; Depression ; Humans ; Task Performance and Analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The combined Laryngotracheal stenosis produces cripling complications of respiratory and phonation difficulty. The area between cricoid cartilage and first tracheal ring is the most common site of stenosis and is the most difficult area to manage, therefore, appropriate selection of surgical method is the important factor determining the success of treatment. The authors treated laryngotracheal stenosis with thyrotracheal anastomosis and here we report the results and problems of thyrotracheal anastomosis to provide aid in the management of laryngotracheal stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Authors retrospectively studied 11 cases of laryngotracheal resection with thyrotracheal anastomosis patients for clinical characteristics, site and degree of stenosis, operation technique such as granulation tissue removal under bronchoscopy, CO2 laser excision, insertion of T-tube, insertion of laryngeal stent, and its results. RESULTS: 1) Decannulation was possible in seven cases (63.6%). 2) The success rates of patients under the ages of 20years was 80%, patients with normal vocal cord movement was 85.7%. 3) The patients with residual neurologic symptom, or with decreased coughing reflex failed in decannulation. CONCLUSION: Treatment of combined laryngotracheal stenosis is very difficult and our study showed a success rate of 63.6%. Laryngotracheal resection and end to end thyrotracheal anastomosis showed to be the most effective treatment method and in general the patients under the ages of 20 years, or with normal vocal cord movement showed better prognosis. Therefore, a radical treatment planning with efforts to reduce complication at this group may produce satisfactory results in the management of laryngotracheal stenosis.
Bronchoscopy ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Cough ; Cricoid Cartilage ; Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Lasers, Gas ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Phonation ; Prognosis ; Reflex ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Vocal Cords