[Analysis of the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of multifocal motor neuropathy]

Ten patients diagnosed with multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) were recruited in the Department of Neurology at Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 1, 2009 to August 31, 2015. The clinical and electrophysiological features were analyzed retrospectively. All patients complained of progressive asymmetric limb weakness, which was more severe in distal than in proximal. Five presented muscle atrophy. None had sensory disturbances. All suffered diminished or disappeared tendon reflex, whereas Babinski signs were negative. Multi-focal conduction block (CB) was confirmed by nerve conduction studies (NCS) in all patients and 7 showed spontaneous potentials in needle electrode electromyography. Abnormal sensory nerve conduction was seen in 3 patients. Laboratory test revealed anti-ganglioside GM1 antibody in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 6 cases and elevated CSF protein in 7 cases. Limb weakness alleviated greatly in 9 cases after intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment. But the other one reported poor response, who had long course of disease, serious limb weakness and obvious muscle atrophy. Motor nerve damage is the most important manifestation of MMN and sensory nerve damage may also appear. NCS is essential to the diagnosis of this disease, with CB as the characteristic electrophysiological feature. IVIg is an effective treatment.

[Characteristics of repetitive nerve stimulation in 53 cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]

Objective: To investigate the feature of repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and correlation between RNS and clinical features and electromyography (EMG) findings of the corresponding muscle. Methods: Needle EMG and RNS were performed in 53 patients with ALS, who were recruited into Department of Neurology of Chinese PLA general hospital during April to December in 2016. Decrement of the compond muscle action potential (CMAP) in response to RNS of different nerves and stimulus frequencies was compared. The effects of gender, age of onset, disease duration, region of onset, ALS functional rating scale-revised (ALSFRS-R) and rate of disease progression (ΔFS) on the decrement were analyzed. Results: 49.1% of patients with ALS had decremental responses to low frequency RNS (LF-RNS) in accessory nerve, which was lower in ulnar nerve (4.3%) and common peroneal nerve (2.6%). Decremental responses of accessory nerve at 3 Hz were observed in 49.1% of patients with ALS, more frequent than 30.2% at 1 Hz. None of the patients had increased responses to high frequency RNS. Patients with upper-limb-onset, longer disease duration and lower ALSFRS-R tended to have more frequent decrement of CMAP in response to RNS. The decrement with LF-RNS of accessory nerve was in concert with neurogenic damage of sternocleidomastoid muscle with needle EMG (r=0.365, P=0.007). There were 3 patients who had decremental responses to LF-RNS in accessory nerve without clinical involvement and neurogenic damage of sternocleidomastoid muscle. Conclusions: There is significant decrement of CMAP in response to LF-RNS of accessory nerve in patients with ALS, which may reveal neuromuscular junction (NMJ) impairment. It may indicated a dying-back pattern of disease progression which derived from motor neuron terminal or NMJ to neuronal soma that some patients with ALS have decremental responses in RNS without clinical involvement and neurogenic damage of sternocleidomastoid muscle.

A double-edged sword: Should stage IV non-small cell lung cancer patients be informed of their cancer diagnosis?

This study aimed to examine whether awareness of cancer diagnosis and prognosis among patients with stage IV lung cancer treated with first-line erlotinib vary with psychological distress and quality of life (QoL). This study was carried out at the Comprehensive treatment Department of Tianjin Cancer Hospital between August 2013 and September 2015 among patients ≥18 years-old and suffering from EGFR mutation-positive stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with first-line erlotinib (150 mg/day; N = 137). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was administered before (baseline) and after 12 weeks of treatment. QoL was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L) questionnaire. Diagnosis and prognosis awareness was assessed by interview. Among patients, 21% reported to be fully aware of their disease; 41% were only aware of the diagnosis, not the stage; and 51% were not aware at all. Among patients, 63.5% reported elevated anxiety, 71.5% were depressed, and 75.2% had HADS score ≥15 (emotional distress). Patients who were totally and partly aware experienced improvements in HADS and FACT-L compared with baseline (all p < .05). Patients who were not aware scored better than the other patients for all FACT-L subscales from baseline to 12 weeks (all p < .05). Aware patients experienced improvements from baseline in HADS and FACT-L (all p < .05). Awareness of cancer diagnosis and stage was associated with initially high global distress and poorer QoL. Unaware patients exhibited better emotional distress and QoL during first-line therapy with erlotinib for EGFR mutation-positive advanced NSCLC.

[Clinical and electrophysiological studies of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy]

OBJECTIVE

To identify the sensitive scales and the early change of nerve conduction for chronic oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OXLIPN), and to investigate correlation between the symptoms of acute OXLIPN and chronic OXLIPN.

METHODS

Between December 2014 and August 2015, 16 colorectal cancer patients confirmed by pathology, from department of Oncology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, scheduled to receive XELOX, completed the acute neurotoxic symptoms questionnaire at the end of 1 cycles and the scales of TNSc and NCI-CTC at the baseline and the end of 4 cycles. Nerve conduction studies (bilateral peroneal nerves and sural nerves) were performed in 11 patients at the baseline and the end of 4 cycles.

RESULTS

After chemotherapy, TNSc increased 1-9 points for all cases, while NCI-CTC increased 1 point for only 9 cases, the remaining 7 cases had the same NCI-CTC score before and after chemotherapy, where TNSc increased 1-6 points. Left sural nerve a-SNAP (amplitude of sensory nerve action potential) was (15.3±5.8)μV before chemotherapy and(12.3±5.0)μV after chemotherapy. Right sural nerve a-SNAP was (17.4±8.6)μV before chemotherapy and (13.3±6.7)μV after chemotherapy. After chemotherapy, these datum were significantly reduced for left peroneal nerve distal and proximal a-CMAP (amplitude of compound muscle action potential), bilateral sural nerve a-SNAP and left sural nerve SCV (sensory conduction velocity) (P<0.05). After chemotherapy, TNSc was correlated significantly with the acute neurotoxic symptoms questionnaire (Spearman r=0.698, P=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

TNSc is more sensitive to the severity and changes in chronic OXLIPN than NCI-CTC. Sural nerve a-SNAP has a higher sensitivity for the early changes of nerve conduction studies in chronic OXLIPN. Patients who have more symptoms of acute OXLIPN are those who eventually develop more severe chronic OXLIPN.

[Impact of different degree pulpitis on cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of dental pulp stem cell in Beagle immature premolars]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of dental pulp stem cell (DPSC) isolated from normal and inflamed pulps of different degrees in Beagle immature premolars, and provide evidence for the use of inflammatory DPSC (IDPSC).

METHODS

This study evaluated 14 Beagle's young premolars (21 roots). In the experiment group, irreversible pulpitis was induced by pulp exposure and the inflamed pulps were extracted 2 weeks and 6 weeks after the pulp chamber opening.For the control group, normal pulps were extracted immediately after the exposure. HE staining and real-time PCR were performed to confirm the inflammation. The cells were isolated from the inflamed and normal pulps (IDPSC and DPSC). Cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation potentials of the two cells were compared.

RESULTS

Inflammation cells infiltration was observed in the inflamed pulps by HE staining. The expression of inflammatory factor was much higher in the 6 week inflamed pulp. IDPSC had higher potential of cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation potentials. Furthermore, the osteoblastic differentiation potentials of IDPSC from 2 week inflamed pulp were higher than those from 6 week inflamed pulp.

CONCLUSION

The potential of cell proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of DPSC was enhanced at early stage of irreversible pulpitis, and reduced at late stage in Beagle immature premolars.

[An analysis of characteristics of nerve conduction in 154 cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]

Objective: To analyze the features of nerve conduction in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and explore the correlation between compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude and disease duration and revised amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale (ALSFRS-R). Methods: Standard motor and sensory nerve conduction studies were performed in 154 patients with ALS. The following parameters were collected including CMAP amplitude, distal motor latency (DML), motor conduction velocity, sensory conduction velocity and sensory nerve action potential amplitude. Regression study was done to explore the correlation between CMAP amplitude and disease duration and ALSFRS-R. Results: Motor nerve conduction abnormalities were presented in a majority of the patients with prolonged DML in the tibial nerve, median nerve and ulnar nerve as the most common form (61.06%-81.42%), followed by decreased CMAP amplitude (30.12%-53.98%), decreased MCV (12.05%-16.81%) and absence of CMAP (2.65%-9.73%). Sensory nerve conduction abnormalities were detected in a small proportion of patients and the decreased SCV, decreased SNAP amplitude and absence of SNAP in the sural nerve, median nerve and ulnar nerve were found in 1.22%-2.73%, 0-1.82% and 0-1.22% patients respectively. No correlation was found between CMAP of the common peroneal nerve, tibial nerve, median nerve and ulnar nerve and the disease duration (P>0.05), while significant positive correlation was established between CMAP amplitude of the median nerve and ulnar nerve and ALSFRS-R (r=0.273, P=0.016; r=0.357, P=0.001). Conclusions: Motor nerve conduction is abnormal in a majority of ALS patients with prolonged DML as the most common form, while abnormal sensory nerve conduction is only found in a few of ALS patients. CMAP amplitude of the median nerve and ulnar nerve might be of certain clinical value in evaluating the severity of ALS.

[Needle electromyography features and values of paraspinal muscle parameters in assessment of respiratory function of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]

Objective: To analyze the features of needle electromyography (EMG) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and explore the correlation between EMG parameters of the tenth thoracic paraspinal muscle and disease duration, rate of disease progression, forced vital capacity (FVC) and revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R). Methods: Standard EMG was recorded from unilateral sternocleidomastoid muscle and/or tongue muscles, upper and lower limbs muscles and the tenth thoracic paraspinal muscle in 112 patients with definite ALS between March 2012 and June 2013 in the Department of Neurology at Chinese PLA General Hospital. Parameters studies included spontaneous potentials, duration and amplitude of motor unit potentials (MUP), pattern of recruitment. Results: EMG revealed diffuse neurogenic changes in each case. Fibrillation potential or positive sharp waves were found in some muscles in all of patients, and both of them were found in most of the cases. Fasciculation potentials (FPs) were found in 8 patients and accompanied with fibrillation potential and positive sharp waves in 5 of them. Complex repetitive discharges (CRDs) were found in only 1 patient. Duration and amplitude of MUP was prolonged and increased in ALS patients, and the rate of high amplitude and decreased recruitment pattern were 35.71% and 72.32%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed an association of the FVC loss with the drop of ALSFRS-R and peak amplitude of the tenth thoracic paraspinal muscle. Conclusions: The abnormal spontaneous activity with high frequency are fibrillation potentials and/or positive sharp waves. However, FPs is observed in a small number of patients and CRDs is rarely seen in ALS. The ALSFRS-R and peak amplitude of thetenth thoracic paraspinal muscle may be of certain clinical value in estimating the severity of disease especially the respiratory dysfunction in ALS patients.

Molecular characterization of a Han Chinese family with essential hypertension

Mutations in the mitochondrial genome have been found to be associated with essential hypertension. Here, we report the clinical and molecular characterization of a three-generation Han Chinese family with maternally inherited hypertension. Most strikingly, this pedigree exhibited a high penetrance of hypertension. Sequence analysis of the mitochondrial genome showed the presence of a homoplasmic T16189C mutation in the D-loop and the intergenic CO2/tRNA(Lys) 9-bp common deletion, as well as a set of polymorphisms belonging to the East Asia haplogroup B5b1. The well-known T16189C mutation, which is in the first hypervariable segment of the mitochondrial control region, is implicated to be associated with a wide range of clinical disorders. Moreover, the genetic polymorphism 9-bp common deletion is found to be associated with hepatocellular carcinoma in the Han Chinese population. Thus, the combination of T16189C mutation and the 9-bp deletion may have caused mitochondrial dysfunction and contributed to the development of essential hypertension in this Chinese family.

Relationship between B-type natriuretic peptide and short-term prognosis in non-diabetic patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the differences of the B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels in serum or plasma of the STEMI patients with different infarction sites. To explore the relationship between the BNP level and the short-term prognosis in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 216 STEMI patients were enrolled in this study from June 2012 to June 2014. All patients received coronary angiography (CAG). Based on electrocardiography (ECG) and CAG results, patients were divided into three groups. Group A included 80 patients with anterior/lateral wall myocardial infarction, group B included 76 patients with inferior/posterior wall myocardial infarction and group C included 60 patients with right ventricular myocardial infarction. We enrolled 53 patients with normal CAG results as Group D. BNP levels were compared among these groups. and according to BNP levels, all patients were subdivided into normal BNP group (< 100 ng/mL, n = 53), mild-higher BNP group (100-400 ng/mL, n = 105) and marked-higher BNP group (≥ 400 ng/mL, n = 58). The occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) including secondary heart failure, severe arrhythmia, post-infarction angina, recurrent myocardial infarction, and cardiac death within 6 months after disease onset were assessed.

RESULTS

BNP levels showed a gradually decreasing trend in groups A, B, C and D (p < 0.05). Significant differences in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were found among normal BNP group, mild-high BNP group and marked-higher BNP group (p < 0.05). The MACE occurrence presented no statistical differences between normal BNP group and mild-higher BNP group (p > 0.05). The MACE prevalence in marked-higher BNP group was significantly higher than normal BNP group and mild-higher BNP group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

BNP levels can be used as a clinical indicator to predict short-term prognosis in STEMI patients.

Self-reported illnesses and service utilisation among migrants working in small-to medium sized enterprises in Guangdong, China

OBJECTIVES

As one of the most vulnerable populations in China, many migrants work in the small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This study aims to describe the self-reported illnesses and service utilization of the migrants working in the SMEs in Pearl River Delta Areas (PRDA) of Guangdong province, China.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey.

METHODS

We interviewed 856 migrants working in the SMEs of different manufacturing industries in 2012. Descriptive analysis was employed to report self-reported illnesses and service utilisation among migrants in the last two weeks and in the last year. Statistical tests such as χ2 test were used to explore factors influencing their service utilisation.

RESULTS

In the last two weeks, 91(11%) of the respondents reported having any illness. The most reported illness was respiratory problem (69%), while 9.9%, 7.7% and 13% reported having digestive, skin and other problems respectively. The most important symptom was cough (39%). Thirty-seven percent of the respondents who reported any illness had visited health facilities. The lower income group were more likely to visit health facilities than the higher income group (P = 0.006). The most reported reason for not visiting health facilities was 'feeling not serious' (65%). In the last year, 13% reported having respiratory problems and 7.8% reported accidental injuries. Less than 3% received hospitalization care. The proportion of those without hospitalization to those who should have been hospitalized was 31%.

CONCLUSION

Underuse of the health service among migrants working in the SMEs could be associated with the 'healthy migrant' effect. However, when assessed among the ill migrants in the SMEs, the utilisation rate was still low mainly due to their poor health awareness. Improving their risk perception and integration of occupational and general health service is crucial to improve the health conditions and utilisation of service among migrants in the SMES.

Self-concept of left-behind children in China: a systematic review of the literature

The aim of our study was to systematically review studies which had compared self-concept in left-behind children with the general population of children in China. Relevant studies about self-concept of left-behind children in China published from 2004 to 2014 were sought by searching online databases including Chinese Biological Medicine Database (CBM), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, Vip Database, PubMed Database, Google Scholar and Web of Science. The methodological quality of the articles was assessed by using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Poled effect size and associated 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using the random effects model. Cochrane's Q was used to test for heterogeneity and I(2) index was used to determine the degree of heterogeneity. Nineteen studies involving 7758 left-behind children met the inclusion criteria and 15 studies were included in a meta-analysis. The results indicated that left-behind group had a lower score of self-concept and more psychological problems than the control group. The factors associated with self-concept in left-behind children were gender, age, grade and the relationships with parents, guardians and teachers. Left-behind children had lower self-concept and more mental health problems compared with the general population of children. The development of self-concept may be an important channel for promoting mental health of left-behind children.

Transgenic characterization of two testis-specific promoters in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Sex-specific regulatory elements are key components for developing insect genetic sexing systems. The current insect genetic sexing system mainly uses a female-specific modification system whereas little success was reported on male-specific genetic modification. In the silkworm Bombyx mori, a lepidopteran model insect with economic importance, a transgene-based, female-specific lethality system has been established based on sex-specific alternative splicing factors and a female-specific promoter BmVgp (vitellogenin promoter) has been identified. However, no male-specific regulatory elements have yet been identified. Here we report the transgenic identification of two promoters that drive reporter gene expression in a testis-specific manner in B. mori. Putative promoter sequences from the B. mori Radial spoke head 1 gene (BmR1) and beta-tubulin 4 gene (Bmβ4) were introduced using piggybac-based germline transformation. In transgenic silkworms, expression of the reporter gene enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) directed by either BmR1 promoter (BmR1p) or Bmβ4p showed precisely testis-specific manners from the larval to adult stage. Furthermore, EGFP expression of these two transgenic lines showed different localization in the testis, indicating that BmR1p or Bmβ4p might be used as distinct regulatory elements in directing testis-specific gene expression. Identification of these testis-specific promoters not only contributes to a better understanding of testis-specific gene function in insects, but also has potential applications in sterile insect techniques for pest management.

Functional characterization of the vitellogenin promoter in the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Genetic transformation and genome editing technologies have been successfully established in the lepidopteran insect model, the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori, providing great potential for functional genomics and practical applications. However, the current lack of cis-regulatory elements in B. mori gene manipulation research limits further exploitation in functional gene analysis. In the present study, we characterized a B. mori endogenous promoter, Bmvgp, which is a 798-bp DNA sequence adjacent to the 5'-end of the vitellogenin gene (Bmvg). PiggyBac-based transgenic analysis shows that Bmvgp precisely directs expression of a reporter gene, enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), in a sex-, tissue- and stage-specific manner. In transgenic animals, EGFP expression can be detected in the female fat body from larval-pupal ecdysis to the following pupal and adult stage. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that EGFP expression can be activated by 20-hydroxyecdysone, which is consistent with endogenous Bmvg expression. These data indicate that Bmvgp is an effective endogenous cis-regulatory element in B. mori.

Ultrasound measurement for abdominal aortic aneurysm screening: a direct comparison of the three leading methods

OBJECTIVES

Ultrasound (US) is non-invasive and cost-effective for screening abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) but there is no universally accepted method to measure the aortic diameter. This study evaluates the accuracy, reproducibility, and repeatability of three methods: inner-to-inner (ITI), leading-to-leading edge (LTL), and outer-to-outer (OTO). The secondary objective of this study was to determine whether aneurysm size or grade of operator had any effect on either intra- or inter-observer variability.

METHODS

Fifty static US images were measured by six assessors (2 vascular radiologists, 2 interventional radiology trainees, and 2 sonographers) on two separate occasions 6 weeks apart. Repeatability and reproducibility were calculated and compared with computed tomography (CT) as the gold standard.

RESULTS

All three methods have high repeatability and reproducibility when static images are used. The inter-observer reproducibility coefficients between assessors were 0.48 cm, 0.35 cm, and 0.34 cm for ITI, LTL and OTO, respectively. The intra-observer repeatability coefficients between assessors were 0.30 cm, 0.20 cm, and 0.19 cm for ITI, LTL and OTO, respectively. The mean difference between CT and OTO, LTL, and ITI was 1 mm, 3 mm, and 5 mm, respectively (all underestimations) (p < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

US consistently underestimates aortic size when compared with CT, with ITI demonstrating the greatest underestimation (on average 5 mm). In the UK, this underestimation by the NHS Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm screening programme reduces the sensitivity of the screening test and may impact on the way in which vascular specialists interpret the findings of the screening programme.

Correlation between the severity of periodontitis and coronary artery stenosis in a Chinese population

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the severity of periodontitis and the extent and degree of coronary artery stenosis in a Chinese population.

METHODS

Patients (n = 853) with coronary artery stenosis confirmed by coronary angiography were eligible to take part in the study. Only subjects that were ≥60 years old, had ≥50% stenosis in at least one coronary artery, and did not have diabetes or a history of smoking were included (n = 115). After periodontal examination, including bleeding index, probing depth calculus index, plaque index and periodontal attachment loss, four groups were defined based on the severity of periodontitis: no periodontitis/gingivitis (M0, n = 19); mild periodontitis (M1, n = 27); moderate periodontitis (M2, n = 31); and severe periodontitis (M3, n = 38). The extent and degree of coronary artery stenosis was obtained by calculating the Gensini score (GS).

RESULTS

The GS was significantly greater in the M3 group compared with the M0 group. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that probing depth and plaque index were significantly correlated with the GS.

CONCLUSIONS

The extent and severity of coronary artery stenosis in Chinese patients ≥60 years old is positively correlated with the severity of periodontitis.

Affinity-selected heparan sulfate for bone repair

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 is a potent bone healing compound produced at sites of bone trauma. Here we present a therapeutic strategy to harness the activity of endogenously produced BMP-2 by delivery of an affinity-matched heparan sulfate (HS) glycos aminoglycan biomaterial that increases the bioavailability, bioactivity and half-life of this growth factor. We have developed a robust, cost effective, peptide-based affinity platform to isolate a unique BMP-2 binding HS variant from commercially available preparations of HS, so removing the manufacturing bottleneck for their translation into the clinic. This affinity-matched HS enhanced BMP-2-induced osteogenesis through improved BMP-2 kinetics and receptor modulation, prolonged pSMAD signaling and reduced interactions with its antagonist noggin. When co-delivered with a collagen implant, the HS was as potent as exogenous BMP-2 for the healing of critical-sized bone defects in rabbits. This affinity platform can be readily tuned to isolate HS variants targeted ata range of clinically-relevant growth and adhesive factors.

Phylogeny Based on Whole Genome as inferred from Complete Information Set Analysis

Previous molecular phylogeny algorithms mainly rely onmulti-sequence alignments of cautiously selected characteristic sequences,thus not directly appropriate for whole genome phylogeny where eventssuch as rearrangements make full-length alignments impossible. Weintroduce here the concept of Complete Information Set (CIS) and itsmeasurement implementation as evolution distance without reference tosizes. As method proof-test, the 16s rRNA sequences of 22 completelysequenced Bacteria and Archaea species are used to reconstruct aphylogenetic tree, which is generally consistent with the commonlyaccepted one. Based on whole genome, our further efforts yield a highlyrobust whole genome phylogenetic tree, supporting separate monophyleticcluster of species with similar phenotype as well as the early evolution ofthermophilic Bacteria and late diverging of Eukarya. The purpose of thiswork is not to contradict or confirm previous phylogeny standards butrather to bring a brand-new algorithm and tool to the phylogeny researchcommunity. The software to estimate the sequence distance and materialsused in this study are available upon request to corresponding author.

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography findings in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma of the larynx: a case report and literature review

Laryngeal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is rare, with only 25 cases reported in the literature. This report presents a case of laryngeal MALT lymphoma in a 35-year-old female with a 6-year history of progressively worsening hoarseness. MALT lymphoma was diagnosed based on biopsy and immunohistochemical analysis. The patient received two cycles of cyclophosphamide + epirubicin + vincristine + prednisone (CHOP) chemo therapy, which was ineffective. (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) showed (18)F-FDG accumulation in the larynx only and identified stage IE lymphoma. CHOP chemotherapy was terminated and the patient was treated with radiotherapy. After 3 months (total radiation dose 27 Gy), (18)F-FDG PET/CT scan showed that the laryngeal lesion was in complete remission. A review of the literature on the MEDLINE(®)/PubMed(®) databases regarding laryngeal MALT lymphoma and the use of PET/CT found that radiotherapy is the first-line treatment for stage I and II MALT lymphoma.