Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP) is considered unique to Japan, with few reports of Non-Japanese suffering from this phenomenon. In 2002, we treated 20 non-Japanese with JCP diagnosed with symptoms, nasal observation, and serum-allergen-specific IgE antibodies. About 50% of the serum of these patients was also positive for cypress and house dust mites. The period for developing JCP living in Japan was about 4 years. These patients developed JCP presumably due to high exposure to Japanese cedar pollen in the last 3 years in Tokyo.

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The clinical features of 100 patients with peritonsillar absceses treated between 1999 and 2001 at Tokyo Medical University Hospital were analyzed. The patients consisted of 69 males and 31 females, aged 17 to 66 (mean, 31.6 years old). The abscess was removed with needle aspiration in 29 cases, and incision drainage in 49 cases. The others were treated conservatively. There was no significant difference in the clinical course between the group treated with needle aspiration and the group treated with incision. Bacteriological examination was carried out on 63 cases. The bacteria consisted of 75 strains. The most commonly detected bacteria were 41 strains (54.7%) of α-streptococcus. Anaerobes were detected only in 3 strains (4.0%). However, the latest bacteriological examination showed a considerably high incidence of anaerobes, suggesting that not only drainage and incision but also appropriate antibiotic therapy is required for treatment.

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A 24-year-old man reporting pulsatile tinnitus, ear fullness and hearing loss in the left ear was found to have his external auditory canal obstructed by skin ballooning caused by subdermal air. CT showed pneumocephalus in the extradural space of the posterior fossa and subdermal space of the external auditory canal. After mastoidectomy, we found a pathological bony defect around the sigmoid sinus. The defect was covered With bone paste, then the mastoid cavity was filled using abdominal fat tissue. All symptoms and pneumocephalus disappeared postoperatively. The pneumocephalus was thought to be caused by Valsalva's maneuver following eustachian tube dysfunction.

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Relapsing polychondritis is characterized by systematic inflammatory symptoms affecting the cartilage tissue throughout the entire body. The disease is caused by autoantibody type II collagen, and the fatality rate has been reported to be about 20%. Most diagnoses depend on the observation of clinical symptoms and often require a long time before they can be confirmed. Therefore, a pathology examination should be considered if symptoms occur or repeat. Obtaining a diagnosis and initiating appropriate treatment before serious complications occur is highly desirable. Onset and course : A 64-year-old man presented with pain, swelling of the left auricle and eye symptoms. Thereafter, inflammation of the right auricle swelling of the back of the right hand, and swelling in the base of the nose appeared. A diagnosis of relapsing polychondritis was made based on these clinical symptoms.

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