• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.252-260
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• 2004

The purpose of study is to evaluate the clinical implication of malignant Pleural Lavage Cytology (PLC) in primary lung cancer. 315 patients were examined with pleural lavage cytology in Asan Medical Center between November 1998 and August 2002. The patients were chosen from primary lung cancer patients with no pleural effusion according to preoperative radiologic examination; no tumor invasion into the chest wall and no diffuse pleural adhesion in intraoperative findings, The pleural cavity and lung were washed with 100 $m\ell$ of warm normal saline. The 315 patients consisted of 237 men and 78 women. The incidence of malignant PLC was found in 28 patients (8.9%). For patients in early stages (I & II), survival rate was 93.9% in positive malignant PLC and 85.7% in negative malignant PLC. 31 patients (13.6%) had local or distant recurrences; 2-year recurrence-free rate was 90.1% in negative PLC and 87.5% in positive PLC. The survival and recurrence-free rate in each stage were not statistically associated with the result of PLC. Median follow-up was 16.4 months from the surgery. To access implication of malignant PLC in primary lung cancer, a long-term follow-up and further study are required.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.982-987
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• 1998

Background: Surgical resection is the standad therapy for the stage I lung cancer. We analysed the risk facturs of stage I lung cancer patent and tryed to establish more effective and aggressive treatment modality. Materials and methods: A detailed analysis was undertaken to evaluate the surgical results and to define the risk factors associated with the recurrence and the survival time in 146 consecutive patients with stage I lung cancer who were diagnosed, and resected at Yonsei Medical Center from January 1990 to December 1996. Results: There were 115 males and 31 females. Their ages ranged from 27 to 79 years(mean age:58.9$\pm$9.3 years). The histologic types were squamous carcinoma in 72 cases(49.3%) and adenocarcinoma in 45 cases(30.8%). A pulmonary resection and mediastinal lymph node dissection were done in all cases. A lobectomy was performed in 96 cases(65.7%) and a pneumonectomy in 48 cases(32.9%). There were 5 operative mortalities(3.4%) and complications occured in 24 cases(16.5%). The overall 5-year survival was 64.1%, and survival time did not depend on the type of operation or histologic type. Significant predictors of decreased survival were visceral pleural invasion(p=0.0079), T2 lesion(p=0.0462), and tumor size($\geq$5 cm) in adenocarcinoma(p=0.0472). The overall incidence of recurrence was 33.3%(47 cases; local or regional 6.4%, distant 26.9%). Almost all recurrences(44cases) occurred in T2 lesions. The distant organs that failed were the contralateral lung in 13 patients, the brain in 12, the bone in 10, and other organs in 3. Conclusions: even in stage I lung cancer, we suggest that postoperative adjuvant therapy is recommended in patients with poor prognostic factors such as visceral pleural invasion, T2 lesions, and a tumor size($\geq$5 cm) in the adenocarcinoma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.427-432
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• 1996

Eighteen patients operated on for thymoma from 1985 to 1994 were evaluated, 3 with myasthenia gravis and 15 without. Masaoka's clinical staging revealed stage I disease in 5(27.8%), stage ll in 6 (33.3%), stage 111 in 6(33.3%), and stage IV in 1 (5.6%). Of the 18 patients, 10 had surgical resection as the only treatment and the remaining 8 (stage II : 1 patient, stage III : 6 patients, stage IV: 1 patient) had surgical resection with adjuvant preoperative or postoperative radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy There was no operative mortality. Currently, 15 patients are alive, 3 are dead. The mean follow up time for all patients was 3.4 years. Acturlal survival at 5 years was 82.2 $\pm$ 9% for all patients' 100% for those in stage I and II, and 62.5% for those in stage III. Pleural and mediastinal recurrence developed in one patient in stage II which was considered to have noninvasive disease on the operating field. Two patients underwent reoperation for recurrence of thymoma a intervals of 14 months and 52 months. Clinical stage and resectability had a significant prognostic value(p < 0.05). The presence of myasthenia gravis is no longer considered as an adverse factor in survival.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.342-348
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• 2004

It is very important for hemodialysis in patients with end stage renal disease to obtain vascular access that resists repeated punctures and maintains adequate blood flow. This study was designed to indentify factors that may influence early patency rate of autogenous arteriovenous fistula. Material and Method: 49 cases in 47 patients who underwent radiocephalic fistula formation in our hospital from June 2002 through May 2003 were reviewed and analyzed. Result: The early patency rate was 79.6%. Age, sex, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were not significant factors for patency. Body mass index and duration of hypertension and diabetes did not influence the early results either. Cephalic vein diameter measured preoperatively and blood flow at radio-cephalic fistula were significantly positive correlative factors. Groups with the vein diameter less than 2.7mm, or with the blood flow less than 100 mL/min had significantly lower early patency rate than the other groups. Conclusion: To improve early patency rate of radiocephalic fistula, large sized cephalic vein should be selected and if the intraoperative flow at radiocephalic fistula is less than 100 mL/min, another arteriovenous fistula formation should be considered.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.245-250
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• 1998

Purpose : This study was to evaluate survival, failure patterns, and prognostic factors of stage I squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx after curative radiation therapy. Materials and Methods : A retrospective analysis was done for 57 patients with glottic cancer who were treated with curative radiation therapy from June 1985 to November 1992. There were 55 male and two female patients. Patients' age ranged from 17 to 71 years(median 39 years). Radiation therapy was delivered five times a week, 2 Gy daily, total 66 Gy using 6 MV X-ray. Results : Complete response(CR) was noted in 51 out of 57 patients (89.5%) and persistent disease (PER) in six out of 57 patients(10.5%). The disease-free survival rates at 3 and 5 years were 72.9% and 63.8%, respectively. Seven failures were observed among 51 CR patients during follow-up. Salvage total laryngectomy for six recurred patients and partial laryngectomy for one recurred patient were done with successful results, i.e., all of them were actually salvaged. Among six PER patients, salvage total laryngectomy for two patients and partial laryngectomy for two patients were done and two patients refused operation. Following salvage surgery for the four PER patients, three were salvaged and one failed locoregionally. Among the 13 failures 10(76.9%) were salvaged with surgery. The ultimate local control rate at 5 years was 92.3% and overall 47 out of 57 (82.5%) patients were able to preserve their larynx. The 5-year disease-free survival rates were 85.5% for posterior lesions, and 61.6% for anterior lesions(P<0.05). Cord mobility, involvement of anterior commissure, field size, and T stage did not impact on disease-free survival. Conclusion : Considering the high percentage of voice preservation with initial radiotherapy, radiotherapy should be the first choice in the treatment of stage 1 glottic carcinoma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.718-725
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• 2001

The implantation of malignant cells along the needle tract is an extremely rare complication after a percutaneous fine-needle aspiration biopsy(FNAB). However, it is very serious and may result in a change in the prognosis of lung cancer, especially in the curable early stage(T1-2,N0,M0). Recently, we experienced two cases of such complications. A 43 years old female underwent a fine needle aspiration biopsy and a right middle lobectomy with adjuvant chemotherapy due to an adenocarcinoma(T2N0M0). Two years later, a new tumor developed at the site of the needle aspiraton biopsy. It had the same pathological findings as the previous lung cancer. Therefore, it was concluded to be an implantation metastasis, and she was treated successfully by a right pneumonectomy and a resection of the chest wall mass with adjuvant radiotherapy. In another case, a 62 years old man was diagnosed with squamous cell lung cancer by a fine needle aspiration biopsy and underwent a right upper lobectomy(T2N0M0) with adjuvant chemotherapy. eight months later, a protruding chest wall mass developed at the aspiration site. It showed the same pathological findings as the previous lung cancer. Consequently, a total excision of the mass with adjuvant radiotherapy was done. Two years after the second operation, although the right lung was intact, a metachronous squamous cell lung cancer was found at the left lower lobe. The two patients were still alive 15 and 37months after thenresection of the chest wall mass, respectively.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.16-20
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• 2001

Purpose : To evaluate the effectiveness and tolerance of the postoperative radiation therapy for patients with Stage III thymoma and to define the optimal radiotherapeutic regimen Materials and Methods : We retrospectively analyzed the records of 24 patients with Stage III thymoma who were referred for postoperative radiation therapy in our institution from June, 1987 to May, 1999. Surgical therapy consisted of total resection in one patient, subtotal resection in seventeen, and biopsy alone in six patients. Age of the patients was ranged from 20 to 62 years with mean age of 47 years. Male to female ratio was 14 to 10. Radiation therapy was delivered with linear accelerator producing either 6 MeV or 10 MeV photons. The irradiated volume included anterior mediastinum and known residual disease. The supraclavicular fossae were not irradiated. The delivered total dose was ranged from 30 to 56 Gy. One patient received 30 Gy and eighteen patients received minimum of 50 Gy. Follow up period was ranged from 12 months to 8 years with median follow up of 40 months. Results : The overall local control rate for entire group of patients was $67\%$ at 5 years. The cumulative local failure rates at one, three and five year were $18\%,\;28\%\;and\;33\%$, respectively. In patients treated with subtotal resection and biopsy alone, local control rate was $76\%\;and\;33\%$, respectively. The actuarial observed survival rate at 5 years was $57\%$, and actuarial adjusted survival at 5 years was $72\%$. The difference between 5 year survival rates for patients treated with subtotal resection and biopsy alone was not statistically significant $(62\%\;vs\;30\%)$. Conclusion : We might conclude that postoperative radiation therapy was safe and effective treatment for patients with Stage III thymoma. Postoperative radiation therapy is recommended in cases where tumor margin is close or incomplete resection is accomplished.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.335-344
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• 2001

Purpose : The aim of this study was to clarify the role of VEGF expression as an independent prognostic factor and to identify the patients at high risk for poor prognosis in stage IB cervical cancer. Materials and methods : A total of 118 patients with stage IB cervical cancer who had radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection were included in the study. All known high risk factors of the patients were pathologically confirmed from the surgical specimen. Of the 118 patients, n patients were treated with postoperative radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. VEGF expression was examined using immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of post-hysterectomy surgical materials. A semiquantitative analysis was made using a scoring system of 0, +, ++, and +++ for increasing intensity of stain. We classified the patients with scores from 0 to ++ as low VEGF expression and the patients with a score of +++ as high VEGF expression. Results : Of the 118 patients, 35 patients $(29.7\%)$ showed high VEGF expression. Strong correlations were found between the high VEGF expression and both deep stromal invasion (p=0.01) and the positive pelvic node (p=0.03). The 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates for all 118 patients were $95.5\%\;and\;93.8\%$. The 5-year overall (p=0.03) and disease-free survival (p<0.001) rates were $98.5\%\;and\;100%$ for low VEGF expression (0, +, and ++) and $85.5\%\;and\;79.7\%$ for high VEGF expression, respectively. Pelvic and distant failures for low versus high VEGF expression were $1.2\%$ versus $17.1\%$, (p=0.001) and $0\%$ versus $14.3\%$ (p<0.001), respectively. In a Cox multivariate analysis of survival, the high VEGF expression (p=0.02) and the bulky mass (p=0.02) were significant prognostic factors for overall survival. The high VEGF expression (p=0.002), and bulky mass (p=0.01) demonstrated as significant prognostic indicators for disease free survival. Conclusion : These results showed that VEGF expression was a highly significant predictor for pelvic and distant failure and the most significant prognostic factor of overall and disease free survival for the patients with stage IB cervix cancer treated with radical surgery. We strongly suggest that the immune-histochemistry for VEGF expression be performed in a routine clinical setting in order to identify the patients at high risk for poor prognosis in early stage cervical cancer. Furthermore, postoperative and/or chemotherapy did not reduce the pelvic failure and distant metastasis. To improve the cure rate for the patients with high VEGF expression in stage IB cervical cancer, antiangiogenic therapy including anti-VEGF Ab may be new treatment option.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.473-481
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• 2002

Purpose : Ascending cholangitis is the most common complication after Kasai operations. The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of cefotaxime as an empirical antibiotic on ascending cholangitis after Kasai operations. Methods : Thirty-nine episodes of cholangitis in twenty-nine children who underwent Kasai operations at Seoul National University Children's Hospital from January 1991 to December 2000 were included in this study. Empirical cefotaxime treatments were divided into three groups : cefotaxime and amikacin treatment group(CA group), cefotaxime and gentamicin treatment group(CG group) and cefotaxime treatment group(C group). A diagnosis of cholangitis was made on the basis of unexplained fever(>$38^{\circ}C$) and either development of acholic stool or elevation of serum total bilirubin (>1.5 mg/dL). Therapeutic efficacy was judged by elimination of fever up to 72 hours, 120 hours, and 168 hours after antibiotic treatment. Results : There were therapeutic responses in 51%(20/39) up to 72 hours after antibiotic treatment : 54%(13/24) in CA group, 43%(3/7) in CG group and 50%(4/8) in C group. There were therapeutic responses in 69%(27/39) up to 120 hours, in 79%(31/39) up to 168 hours and in 82%(32/39) up to 2 weeks. There were no differences in therapeutic efficacy among the three regimens. In 12 of 39 episodes, the etiologic pathogens including Escherichia coli and enterococcus were cultured from the blood. Conclusion : Cefotaxime can be tried as an initial antibiotic in Korean children with ascending cholangitis after Kasai operation prior to the identification of microorganism on culture. However, further evaluation of pathogen and its resistant strain to cefotaxime should be done.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2009

Purpose : This study aimed to determine the influence of low-dose oxygen ($FiO_2$ <25%) therapy through nasal cannulae on the progress and prognosis of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) as well as methods of preventing ROP. Methods : Our subjects comprised premature infants (gestation period <37 weeks; birth weight <1,750 g) born in Daegu Fatima Hospital between February 1, 2001 and January 31, 2006. We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the medical records of 273 patients who were available for eye examination and follow up over 6 months. Results : The factors maximally influencing the occurrence of ROP were low gestation age and low birth weight. We observed that the incidence of ROP increased with the increasing duration of low-dose oxygen therapy. ROP onset was delayed during ongoing oxygen therapy; however, rapid progression of ROP occurred after the discontinuation of oxygen therapy among premature infants up to the prethreshold stage. Conclusion : To prevent of occurrence of severe ROP and its rapid progression, the period of low-dose oxygen therapy needs to be shortened. Moreover, frequent eye examinations should be performed after the discontinuation of oxygen therapy.