• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2011

Purpose: Europe and U.S use multi-bed therapy rooms. Hereupon, this study aims to examine the safety when current one-bed therapy rooms in Seoul National University Hospital is changed into two-bed ones. Materials and Methods: This study evaluated external exposure by gamma radiation emitted from other patients and internal and external exposure caused by pollutions from other patients in case that Seoul National University Hospital installs a shielding wall between beds in existing therapy rooms. Results: When internal and external exposure was evaluated to evaluate safety of two-bed hospital rooms, 'isolation amount of patients' 5mSv exposure or below is received according to the Atomic Energy Act. Conclusion: With the increasing number of patients with thyoid cancer, patients using therapy rooms are on the rise. Therefore, improving one-person therapy rooms to two-person ones in line with international trend would increase cost reduction and management efficiency, and patients' alienation and isolation can be reduced to increase healing effects.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.130-136
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• 2008

목적: 방사성옥소 치료를 받는 많은 환자들이 장기간의 전처치와 격리 입원 동안에 신체적 불편함을 호소하므로 이를 줄여주기 위하여 첫째, 방사성옥소 치료 전 환자들이 저옥소식을 잘 지킬 수 있도록 도움을 주며 둘째, 4일간의 격리입원기간 동안 심리적 어려움과 신체 적불편함을 줄여줌으로써 환자의 만족도를 향상시키는 효과를 기대하고자 본 연구를 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 1. 연구자들의 브레인스토밍을 통해 환자들의 불편함을 파악하였다. 2. 방사성옥소 치료를 위해 입원한 환자 36명에게 입원 기간 동안 느낀 점을 기록하게 하고 이를 조사하였다. 3. 환자 퇴원시에 치료과정에 대한 만족도 설문을 문제점 개선 전 33명, 개선 후 22명에게 조사하였다. 결과: 문제점과 개선안을 도출하였으며 가능한 범위 내에서 개선활동을 실시하였다. 그리고 만족도 설문을 조사하였으며 개선 전 후를 비교하였다. 문제점으로 1) 저옥소식: 맛이 없다, 반찬 가려 먹기가 어렵다. 2) 치료병실 생활: 속이 메스꺼워 음식 섭취가 곤란하다, 병실이 춥다. 3) 호르몬제 투여중지: 전신이 나른하다, 몸이 붓는다가 도출되었으며 이를 해결하기 위한 개선 활동은 1) 입원 전 예약 시에 음식조절(저옥소식)에 대한 설명을 자세히 하였다. 2) 타부서와의 협의-협조사항(치료병실의 청결유지와 쾌적한 병실을 만들기 위해 16층 병동과 협의, 저옥소식 영양상담을 치료 과정중에 넣기 위해 영양과와 협의, 온열매트리스 설치와 보온이불 구입을 위해 시설팀과 협의 등)을 해결하려 노력했다. 3) 전반적인 개선활동(방사성옥소를 차질없이 구입, 치료병실의 치료 전 후 방사능오염 방지, 환자의 심리적 불안감 해소 등)을 하였다. 환자의 만족도 설문에 대한 개선 활동 전 후 비교 결과에서 '치료과정 전체에 대해 힘들었다'는 개선 전 후에 각각 80.6%, 81.8%로 큰 차이가 없었다. 또한 문제점으로 도출된 '저옥소식이 힘들었다'는 개선 전 후에 각각 24.1%, 27.8%로 역시 큰 차이가 없었다. 그러나 '병실생활이 힘들었다'는 개선 전 후에 각각 48.3%, 72.2%로 큰 차이를 보였다. 그리고 '호르몬 투여중지로 인해 힘들었다'는 개선 전 후에 각각 27.6%, 0%로 큰 차이를 보였다. 고찰 및 결론: 환자들의 불편함을 줄여주기 위하여 연구자들의 개선활동이 있었고 그 중에서 입원병실의 생활환경이 특히 향상되었다. 그러나 결과에서 '병실생활이 힘들었다'에 대한 답의 비율은 오히려 더 높아졌다. 이는 '호르몬 투여 중지로 힘들었다'로 답하는 환자의 비율이 상대적으로 줄었기 때문에 높아진 것으로 생각되었다. 방사성옥소 치료로 인해 생길 수밖에 없는 신체적 반응 때문에 대부분의 환자들은 항상 힘들었다고 할 것이다. 만족도 개선 활동으로 환자의 힘든 치료과정을 완전히 해소시켜 줄 수는 없었으나 환자입장에서 생각할 수 있게 된 계기가 되었으며 좀 더 향상된 치료환경을 제공하는 기회가 되었다.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 1999

Background: Total thyroidectomy and postoperative radiodiodine ablation therapy in differentiated thyroid carcinomas enhance the reliability of serum thyroglobulin(Tg) levels and radioiodine scan in detecting recurrence or distant metastasis. There have been, however, some limitations in using these methods under certain conditions. Recently, several reports have indicated that thyroid peroxidase(TPO) could be used as an alternative tumor marker. We aimed to estimate the significance of serum TPO levels in differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy due to papillary thyroid carcinomas and who had been followed-up for at least 3 years were classified into two groups: 27 patients without any evidence of recurrence in group 1; and 20 patients with recurrence or distant metastasis in group 2. All patients were examined by radioiodine scans. Serum Tg, TSH, antithyroglobulin antibody, and TPO were measured and the relationships were statistically analyzed. The sensitivity and specificity of $^{131}I$ scan, serum Tg, and serum TPO were evaluated. Results: Serum Tg levels were $3.81{\pm}5.16ng/mL$ in group 1 and $147.02{\pm}193.75ng/mL$ in group 2. Only 2 patients in group 1 showed Tg levels exceeding 10ng/mL. In contrast, 4 patients in group 2 were under 10ng/mL. Serum antithyroglobulin antibody and TSH levels showed no statistical difference between the two groups. In group 1, 16 patients showed negative serum TPO results, and 4 patients in group 2 showed negative results. There was no correlation among serum Tg levels, antithyroglobulin antibody titers, and serum TPO levels in each group. In group 2, 4 patients with negative serum Tg levels showed positive TPO results and positive whole body scans. Two cases with false negative $^{131}I$ scans showed positive serum TPO and Tg results. In 4 cases showing false negative serum TPO levels, serum Tg levels and $^{131}I$ scans were positive. Conclusion: Serum Tg levels, radioiodine scans, and serum TPO levels can be clinically used as complementary methods in the diagnosis of recurrent or metastatic thyroid carcinomas. Serum TPO levels may be helpful when other methods fail to detect recurrences or distant metastasis in highly suspected patients.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.33-40
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• 1978

Clinical features of 147 patients with biopsy-proven thyroid carcinomas were investigated from January, 1972 to April, 1978 at the Seoul National University Hospital with the following results. 1) The incidence of thyroid carcinomas according to their histopathological classification revealed 76.2% of papillary carcinoma, 19.0% of follicular carcinoma, and 3 cases of occult sclerozing carcinoma, 1 case of giant cell carcinoma and 1 case of metastatic melanoma. 2) The ratio of male to femle patients was 1:8.3 and showed no difference between papillary and follicular carcinomas. 3) The age distribution showed the peak incidence in the fourth decade (29.3%) followed by the fifth and sixth decades. 4) The average duration of illness from the onset of symptoms was about 5 years while it was 4.4 years and 7.6 years in the papillary and follicular carcinomas respectively. 5) The diameter of the thyroid masses was smaller than 5 cm in 53.6% of the patients, from 5 cm to 10 cm in 40.0% and larger than 10 cm in 6.4%. 6) In 36.4% of the patients with thyroid carcinomas the thyroid masses were fixed to adjacent tissues. 7) Metastasis to the regional lymph nodes was noted in 40.0% of the total cases, and in 45.2% and 17.6% of the papillary and follicular carcinomas respectively, while the lung and bone metastases were found in 10.0% and 4.4% in each type respectively. 8) 88.9% of the patients showed cold areas in the thyroid scans using $^{131}I$. 9) Typical psammoma bodies were observed in 21.3% of the cases in the microscopic examination of the pathological specimens. 10) The initial diagnosis of thyroid malignancy could be made before histological confirmation in 64.5% of the patients. 11) The clinical staging slightly modified from Schulz method revealed 43.6% of the patients in stage I, 26.4% in stage II, 20.9% in stags III and 9.1 % in stage IV. 12) The association with Hashimoto's thyroiditis was noted in 4 cases, with nodular goiter in 3 cases, and with follicular adenoma in 1 case.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 1986

Clinical features of 406 patients with histologically verified thyroid carcinomas were investigated from May, 1978 to April, 1985 at the Seoul National University Hospital with the following results. 1) The incidence of thyroid cancer according to their histological classification was 79.8% of papillary carcinoma, 14.5% of follicular carcinoma, 1.5% of medullary carcinoma, 2.2% of anaplastic carcinoma, 2 cases of squamous carcinoma and 3 cases of lymphoma. 2) The age distribution showed the peak incidence in the fourth decade (25.1%), followed by the fifth and the third decade. 3) The ratio of male to female patients was 1 : 6.1. The ratio is 1 : 5.9 in papillary carcinoma and 1 : 8.8 in follicular carcinoma. 4) The mean age was 40.2 year in papillary carcinoma, 37.4 year in follicular carcinoma. 36.5 year in medullary carcinoma, 60.3 year in anaplastic carcinoma, 62.0 year in squamous carcinoma, 59.7 year in lymphoma. 5) The diameter of the thyroid masses was smaller than 1.5cm in 19.9% of the patients, from 1.5cm to 5cm in 50.5%, from 5cm to 10cm in 25.4% and larger than 10cm in 25.4%. 6) Metastasis to the regional lymph nodes at diagnosis was noted in 44.2% of total patients, and distant metastasis was 5%, and local infiltration was 44.2%. 7) The clinical staging was revealed 42.1% of the patients in stage I, 9.1% in stage II, 35.7% in stage III, 5.2% in stage IV, and 7.9% in undetermined stage.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.187-199
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• 1997

Thyroid carcinoma ranks low in incidence and as a cause of death when compared to carcinomas arising in the other site. With adequate surgical treatment, the prognosis of operable thyroid carcinoma is good. However, the extent of surgical resection in treatment of thyroid cancer remains still controversy. The aim of this study was to assess the results of thyroid cancer patients treated surgically and to analyze the prognostic factors affecting survival and to improve the survival rate. We retrospectively analyzed the outcome of a total of 278 thyroid cancer patients treated surgically at Inje University Paik Hospital from 1980 to 1995 and followed for 1 to 16 years. There were man in 47 and woman in 231 patients with age range of 14 to 79 years(mean 42 years). Histopathologic findings were papillary carcinoma in 233, follicular carcinoma in 33, mixed carcinoma in 7, medullary carcinoma in 2, and undifferentiated carcinoma in 3 patients, respectively. Operative procedures were unilateral lobectomy in 111, subtotal thyroidectomy in 100, and total thyroidectomy in 67 patients. Central node dissection was performed in 92, modified neck disseciton in 62, radical neck dissection in 28, and no node dissection in 96 patients. Thyroid hormone was administered for the period of 3 to 5 years to suppress endogenous TSH production. Overall 5-year survival rate according to Kaplan-Meier method was 91.1%. Independently, significant factors affecting the prognosis were age at diagnosis, tumor size, pathologic type, tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, angioinvasion, extrathyroidal extension, and 'risk' group category. but, the prognosis were not influenced by sex and capsular invasion. Patients at low risk or with small size carcinomas had long survival over 5 years with only lobectomy. Lymph node dissection was carried out with a limited type in no jugular metastasis, radical neck dissection was performed only therapeutically in proved jugular node metastasis. Fifteen patients were dead of tumor recurrence after surviving for three months to two and half years, and the cause of death was local recurrence in nine, bone metastasis in four and lung metastasis in two patients. In conclusion, more extensive surgery including total thyroidecotmy and systematic compartment-oriented dissection of the lymph node metastases in patient at high-risk group will results in better survival and lower recurrence rate.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.213-220
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• 1997

Background: Thyroid cancer is a relatively rare neoplasm and its incidence varies geographically and ethnically around the world. Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, but it has a wide spectrum of biologic behavior, histologic appearance, and management. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to analyse and evaluate all aspects of the clinical consideration in thyroid cancer. Method: Between 1986 and 1995, a retrospective analysis of 77 thyrod cancer patients admitted at the Department of Surgery, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University was made to assess clinical entities. Result: By the pathological classification, the papillary carcinoma was the most common type(83.1%). Male to female ratio was 1 : 5.4 and most prevalent age group was noted from fourth decade to fifth decade(46.8%). The most common duration of illness between the appearance of the symptoms and the treatment was below 6 months(44.2%), and the most common symptom was the palpable mass at the anterior portion of the neck(96.1%). Most cases of the thyroid cancer were appeared as cold nodule in the $^{99m}$Tc-thyroid scan(95.7%). In the site of tumor location, the right and left lobe was distributed similarly. In the extent of tumor, incidence of intrathyroidal location was 41.6%, and that of the metastasis to the cervical lymph nodes was 44.2% and that of the direct capsular invasion was 27.3%, and incidence of both involved case was 13%. Surgical procedures were total thyroidectomy alone in 27 cases(35.1%) or with modified neck dissection in 6 cases(7.8%), or with radical neck dissection in 2 cases (2.6%), near total thyroidectomy alone in 22 cases(28.6%), ipsilateral lobectomy with isthmectomy alone in 12 cases(15.6%) or with modified neck dissection in 1 case(1.3%), and biopsy only in 7 cases(9.1%). The most common postoperative complications were transient hypoparathyroidism(5.2%) and transient unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis(5.2%). Conclusion: The major problem of management of thyroid cancer include a wide spectrum of clinical behaviour of this tumor entity, the lack of reliable prognostic factors and lack of an objective assessment of the various treatment modalities. But because of showing the favorable prognosis for most thyroid cancer, appropriate and aggressive management should be recommended.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.220-227
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• 1998

The clinical and pathological features of 35 cases of anaplastic thyroid cancer were studied. These tumors occurred in 12 men and 23 women ranging in age from 19 to 83 years(mean age; 61.7 years). A rapidly enlarging thyroid mass was the most common presentation. The duration of the presence of mass varied from 20 days to 12 months with an average of 2.7 months. Systemic metastasis at the time of initial examination was found in 14 patients(40.0%) and the lung was the most common site of involvement. The overall rate of distant metastasis was about 65.7%. The tumors were subdivided morphologically into giant cell type of 10 cases, spindle cell type of 7 cases, epidermoid cell type of 1 cases, and mixed giant cell and spindle cell type of 5 cases. The mean survival period of 6 among 35 patients who had biopsy alone was 1.4 months. The 22 patients underwent the incomplete combined treatment modalities (palliative surgery with or without chemotherpy or radiation therapy) survived for a mean period of 3.0 months, among them, 7 patients who had surgery combined with chemotherapy and radiation therapy showed mean survival period of 3.7 months. The mean survival of 7 patients who had complete combined treatment modality(curative surgery combined with chemotherapy and hyperfractionated radiation therapy) was 6.6 months, only one patient survived for 21 months and one patient has been alive for 1 month after operation, and the others survived for a mean period of 4.8 months. So far, as of July 31, 1998, 34 patients among 35 were died(one has been survived for 1 month) despite the various treatment modalities, and the main cause of death were failure of local control and systemic metastasis. None of the various treatment modalities gave consistently favourable results. However, a combination of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy seemed to have a slight positive effect on survival. Furthermore, the aggressive treatment modalities will be indicated only in the early diagnosed and minimal cases.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.228-235
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• 1998

Objectives: Papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid was evaluated as to the effectiveness of diagnostic modalities, lymphatic spread pattern, and therapeutic decision according to tumor size. Material and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a clinicopathologic findings of 72 papillary microcarcinoma patients who were treated at the over 11 years between 1985 and 1995. The authors divided papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid into two subgroups according to tumor size: $0{\leqq}5mm$ and $5<0{\leqq}10mm$. An analysis including age and gender distribution, diagnostic tools(thyroid sonogram, thyroid scan, thyroid function test, fine needle aspiration cytology, frozen section), pathological examination of lymphnode, and surgical procedures was carried out in each subgroups. Results: The carcinoma of smaller than 5mm were found in 32 patients, and of 6 -10mm were in 40 patients. The average age of patients was 45years and all of them were female. Cold nodules on thyroid scan were noticed in 53 patientss and normal findings were in 15 patients. Suspicious malignant lesions(fine calcification, solid mass, irregular margin) on thyroid sonography were detected in 23 patients and the sonography was more useful in detecting $0{\leqq}5mm$ small sized lesions than other diagnostic methods. FNAC were performed in 17 patients, and 7 patients were diagnosed as having thyroid papillary cancer. But diagnotic rate in $0{\leqq}5mm$ small sized lesions was very low(one of eights).Frozen section were performed in all patients, among these 15 patients were diagnosed as being benign diseases and false negative rates were higher in $0{\leqq}5mm$ small sized lesions than in $5<0{\leqq}10mm$ sized lesions(p-value<0.006). Only thyroidectomies were performed in 24 patients and thyroidectomy with node dissections in 48 patients. The lymphnode metastatic rates were much higher in multifocal lesions(61.5%) than in single lesion. The incidence of cervical lymphnode metastasis was 19.4% in $0{\leqq}5mm$ sized lesions and 47.9% in $5<0{\leqq}10mm$ sized lesions. Postoperative management were performed with TSH suppression therapy(T4, synthroid) in all patients and RI therapy in 29 patients. Conclusion: On the basis of our study, improved preoperative diagnostic tools for papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid was helpful in the choice of surgical treatment. As a result of techninological progress(ultrasonography, FNAC), the pencentage of the discovery of papillary microcarcinoma has been increased. The thyroid ultrasonography was useful in detecting small sized lesions($0{\leqq}5mm$), but FNAC may not be beneficial in detecting small sized lesions($0{\leqq}5mm$). In the surgical procedure, thyroid lobectomy alone should be avoided because of the high rate of bilaterality and multifocality.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.19-25
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• 2019

Background/Objectives: Although anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is rare, it is one of the deadliest forms of thyroid cancer. The fatality rate for ATC is high, and the survival rate at one year after diagnosis is <20%. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-tumor activities of paclitaxel, radiation, and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) combined therapy in anaplastic thyroid cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo and explore its effects on apoptotic cell death pathways. Materials & Methods: ATC cell line was exposed to TKI, lenvatinib in the presence or absence of paclitaxel with radiation, and cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Effects of the combined treatment on cell cycle and intracellular signaling pathways were assessed by flow cytometry and western blot analysis. The ATC cell line xenograft model was used to examine the anti-tumor activity in vivo. Results: Our data revealed that the combined administration of paclitaxel, TKI, and radiation decreased cell viability in ATC cells, and also significantly increased apoptotic cell death in these cells, as demonstrated by the cleavage of caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation. This combination therapy reduced anti-apoptotic factor levels in ATC cells, while significantly decreasing tumor volume and increasing survival in ATC xenografts. Conclusion: These results indicate that administering the combination of paclitaxel, TKI, and radiation therapy may exert significant anticancer effects in preclinical models, potentially suggesting a new clinical approach for treating patients with ATC.