Biomedical subjects

C H K Goh

Publications and source records attributed to C H K Goh.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Enlarged cervical sympathetic ganglion: an unusual parapharyngeal space tumour.

Primary parapharyngeal space tumours are rare, but they pose not only diagnostic but also therapeutic challenges in head and neck surgery. Imaging studies, in particular magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, play a central role in the diagnosis of parapharyngeal space (PPS) tumours. Besides schwannomas, primary lesions arising from the sympathetic chain within the PPS are extremely rare. We describe a 49-year-old man in whom the cervical sympathetic ganglion became enlarged after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and appeared as a parapharyngeal mass. This phenomenon has not been reported in the literature. We also discuss the features of the enlarged cervical sympathetic ganglion on MR imaging.

Ganglia, Sympathetic↗

PubMed2005

Metastatic angiosarcoma to the thyroid.

BACKGROUND: Angiosarcoma (AS) in non-alpine areas is exceptionally rare, and so is metastatic AS to the thyroid. The difficulties and controversies associated with its diagnosis and management are highlighted in this case report. METHOD: Case report. RESULTS: A Chinese gentleman with AS metastatic to the thyroid presented a year after radiotherapy to his scalp AS. There was rapid expansion of the metastasis over 2 weeks and invasion of the pyriform fossa caused dysphagia and haemoptysis. The diagnosis was established by paraffin histology of the tumour post-hemithyroidectomy, after repeated fine-needle aspiration cytology was not diagnostic. Patient opted for external beam radiotherapy to the pyriform fossa instead of pharyngolaryngectomy. Residual pyriform tumour was treated with brachytherapy delivered via nasogastric tube. Unfortunately, the patient died 4 months later due to cardiac failure which was unrelated to his oncologic condition. CONCLUSION: AS metastatic to the thyroid is possible. The unexpectedly acute presentation and difficulties associated with diagnosis and management are highlighted. A useful method of delivering brachytherapy to the pyriform fossa is described.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in young patients.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is rare in under 20-year-olds. Early diagnosis greatly improves survival. A retrospective review of 12 young NPC patients (seven males, five females, mean age 16 years) was performed to identify differing patient and tumour characteristics from adult NPC. Seventy-five per cent presented with neck lumps and 25% with headache. None had a family history of NPC or epistaxis. One patient had early stage NPC, and 11 had late stage NPC. Three late stage patients who received chemoradiotherapy had better clinical outcomes than six late stage patients receiving only radiotherapy. There were six deaths, five bony recurrences and one postnasal space recurrence. The 11 late stage patients' five-year actuarial survival was only 29%. Headache is an important symptom for young NPC. Late stage presentation and distant recurrences are also more common, supporting an increased role of chemotherapy.

Adolescent↗