Wonjae Cha
Seoul National University · Medicine
About the Lab
Professor Wonjae Cha's research lab specializes in head and neck oncology, with a focus on improving diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes for rare and complex head and neck pathologies. The lab investigates innovative, minimally invasive techniques such as trichloroacetic acid chemocauterization for pyriform sinus fistula and office-based biopsy for laryngeal lesions, aiming to reduce morbidity and improve patient safety. Additionally, the lab explores molecular mechanisms in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, including endoplasmic reticulum stress responses to targeted therapies like celecoxib, and evaluates surgical innovations such as endoscope-assisted latissimus dorsi flap harvest for reconstructive surgery.
Research Overview
Research Output Trend
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Selected Papers
15BACKGROUND: Pyriform sinus fistula is a rare brachial pouch anomaly. However, it is difficult and risky to remove the fistula tract completely. Circumferential chemocauterization of the internal opening with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) for pyriform sinus fistula is simple, reproducible, reliable, and causes less morbidity. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of TCA chemocauterization for pyriform sinus fistula. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 44 patients who were dia
OBJECTIVES: Current preoperative diagnosis of thyroid nodules remains imperfect despite recent advances in cytopathology and molecular diagnostics. False positivity in preoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) may lead to overtreatment of patients, including total thyroidectomy, and sometimes to lawsuits for misdiagnosis and malpractice. In this study, we analysed clinical characteristics and pathologic findings in patients with false positivity for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in
AciCC of the parotid gland is a rare malignancy that has features of less aggressive behavior, and good prognosis. Intraoperative frozen section examination may be helpful in the diagnosis of AciCC of the parotid gland because of the low sensitivity of preoperative computed tomography scan and FNAC. Surgery with adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy is satisfactory for disease control.
BACKGROUND: We investigated whether the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response could be a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2)-independent mechanism of growth inhibition by celecoxib in a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed western blotting and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to analyze the expression of ER stress response-associated proteins C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), glucose-regulated protein (GRP)-78 and X-box binding prote
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Office-based biopsy (OBB) is widely used to diagnose suspicious laryngeal lesions. However, its routine use is still controversial and the algorithm for clinical strategy is not concrete. We tried to evaluate the accuracy of OBB as a diagnostic tool for laryngeal malignancy. METHODS: Medical data of 581 patients undergoing OBB were reviewed. Diagnostic values of OBB were analyzed for malignancy and malignancy/premalignancy. False negative rates (FNRs) were analyzed accordi
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Achieving a functionally favorable and aesthetically acceptable outcome in oncologic and reconstructive surgery is important in the current era. Latissimus dorsi (LD) flap is traditionally performed with a large incision in lateral position. We report an endoscope-assisted harvest of LD muscle free flap in supine position to avoid a large scar and facilitate a two-team approach for oral cavity reconstruction. STUDY DESIGN: Consecutive case series. METHODS: Four consecutive
OBJECTIVE: Cricothyroid (CT) muscle twitch inspection with neurostimulation is a widely accepted method to identify the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) and its integrity in thyroid surgery. However, there has been no large-scale research to evaluate the diagnostic values of CT muscle twitch inspection based on postoperative electromyography (EMG) results, which are considered the gold standard. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the diagnostic value of CT muscle twitc
Prospective pilot study.
OBJECTIVES: Sialocele and salivary fistula are not serious but troublesome complications after parotidectomy. Various modalities have been introduced to prevent postoperative saliva-related complications. However, clinical trials assessing the prophylactic use of botulinum toxin (BTX) for parotidectomy have not been conducted yet. Herein, we report a pilot study investigating the safety and efficacy of intraoperative BTX (iBTX) injection in partial superficial parotidectomy (PSP). PARTICIPANTS:
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury during thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy is a challenging issue and causes significant morbidity. We adopted the supramaximal stimulation protocol for neurostimulation with laryngeal palpation (NSLP) and tried to evaluate the predictive values of supramaximal NSLP for immediate postoperative vocal fold (VF) mobility. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: Prospectively, 293 patients who underwent thyroid and parathyroid sur
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Anatomical variations of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN), such as extralaryngeal branching, are a well-known risk factor for RLN injury during thyroid surgery. This study aimed to analyze the surgical anatomy and to investigate the existence of posterior branch motor fibers of extralaryngeal RLNs. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective consecutive observational study. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 366 patients between January 2014 and February 2016. Operative data
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Vocal fold injection is a minimally invasive technique for various vocal fold pathologies. The shortcomings of the cricothyroid (CT) membrane approach are mainly related to invisibility of the injection needle. If localization of the needle tip can be improved during vocal fold injection with the CT approach, the current problems of the technique can be overcome. We have conceptualized real-time light-guided vocal fold injection that enables simultaneous injection under pr
BACKGROUND/AIM: Despite an excellent prognosis, certain patients with thyroid cancer suffer from locally invasive disease that cannot be controlled by conventional therapy. Our previous study suggested that hypoxia inducible factor-1-alpha (HIF1α) might be an important marker for the identification of and a treatment target of intractable thyroid cancer. Therefore, in the present study, we established an orthotopic mouse surgical model of thyroid cancer that mimics the clinical setting, and eval
Research Areas
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