This is the first study reporting on the incidence and clinical aspects of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in South Korea. Using Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service data from 2011 to 2015, the monthly incidence of unilateral SSNHL and incidence according to patients’ sex, age, and month of diagnosis were investigated. The monthly incidence of unilateral SSNHL increased over the 5-year study period, with a mean annual incidence of 17.76 cases/ 100,000 of the population. The incidence increased with age, with most patients presenting in their 60s. There was a slight female preponderance, with a male-to-female ratio of 1: 1.35. Most new patients were diagnosed in October, and the fewest in January. In conclusion, this large-scale study indicates that unilateral SSNHL has a higher incidence among the elderly, women, and in autumn (i.e., along with colder weather).

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Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare aggressive skin cancer with the mortality rate of 33%. MCC was first described by Toker in 1972 as a trabecular cell carcinoma and is classified as a neuroendocrine tumor similar to small cell lung carcinoma and melanoma. The pathogenesis of MCC remains largely unknown. However, ultraviolet radiation and immunosuppression are likely to play a significant pathogenic role. The primary skin lesion is usually asymptomatic and it typically presents as a red or purple dome-shaped nodule. The management of MCC is controversial, however, local wide excision followed by radiotherapy is accepted as the primary treatment modality. The regional draining nodal basin is the most common site for recurrence. Therefore, sentinel lymph node biopsy is recommended in all cases, except for the clinically node-negative cases. We herein report two cases of MCC on the left cheek with different clinical manifestations. Key WordsZZ Cheek ㆍMerkel cell carcinoma ㆍNeoplasms.

The study aimed to analyze the histopathologic types and clinical characteristics of benign oral cavity tumors and to identify their possible etiologic factors. Subjects and MethodZZThis was a 10-year retrospective analysis of histologically diagnosed benign tumors in the oral cavity. Data was compiled for each case, documenting information about gender, age, habits (smoking and alcohol), characteristics of the lesion (site, size, color, surface and consistency), comorbidities and denture. ResultsZZOf 257 pathologically confirmed cases of excisional biopsies, the most prevalent were in the order of mucocele (47.08%), fibroma (14.79%), and hemangioma (9.34%). Labium (50.19%) and oral tongue (22.18%) were among the most frequently affected sites. In this study, there was a significant female predominance in fibroma and granuloma. On comparing the mean age of the patients for the different types of tumors, we found that mucocele had the lowest age and that there is a similar mean age among the tumors. The vast majority (99.2%) was represented by non-ulcerated masses and only 2 (0.8%) were ulcerative masses. With respect to habits, we found no significance between comorbidities and denture. ConclusionZZBased on this study, we can state that while mucocele is the most frequent benign tumor of the oral cavity, labium is the most frequently affected site. The mean age of the patients is lowest for mucocele, and there is a high prevalence of fibroma and granuloma occurring among females. However, with respect to habits, we found no significance between comorbidities and denture.

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