• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.601-604
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• 2000

Actinomycosis is an indolent, suppurative infection caused by an anaerobic gram-positive organism(usually actinomyces israelii) which usually causes infection in the face, mediastitum, lung, and abdomen. Primary esophageal actinomycosis which is not related with pulmonary or mediastinal actinomycosis, is very rare, especially in immunocompetent host. A 58-year-old woman has been suffered from dysphagia, odynophagia, and chest pain after insertion of esophageal stent in esophageal acid stricture. She underwent a esophagectomy with esophagogastrostomy for above mentioned symptoms. Pathologic diagnosis was a esophageal actinomycosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.686-689
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• 1999

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis(DNM) is a rare complication of the oropharyngeal and cervical infection. Descending necrotizing mediastinitis requires an early and aggressive surgical approach to reduce the high morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. A 39-year-old man complained of odynophagia, neck swelling, and disturbance of swallowing with dyspnea. CT scans of the neck suggested a peritonsillar abscess and retropharyngeal and peripharyngeal abscess. He underwent cervical drainage. He remained febrile and complained of severe both pain in both shoulders. On postoperative day 5, a follow-up CT scan confirmed a mediastinal abscess. Reexploration of the neck and right thoracotomy for debridement and drainage of the mediastinal abscess were performed.. A large amount of pus was drained from the anterior and posterior mediastinum and its necrotic tissue was debrided. The patient's condition and radiologic findings gradually improved. Cultures of the drain fluid revealed Klebsiella pneumoniae. He was discharged on the 85th hospital day. In our experience, both transcervical drainage and aggressive mediastinal exploration via thoracotomy can lead to an improvement in the survival of the patient with descending necrotizing mediastinitis. CT scanning is useful for early diagnosis of mediastinitis and for follow up.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.329-335
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• 1998

A 55-year-old male was admitted to our hospital complaining of chest discomfort, dysphagia and severe pain on swallowing. Esophageal manometry showed that there was no relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter to swallowing. There was double barrelled esophagus or mucosal stripe appearance on esophagogram. Endoscopy revealed an appearance as if an esophago-tracheal fistula had been made at the level of the upper thoracic esophagus. Also, two slit-like mucosal tears was seen on the lower esophagus. There after, fasting and total parenteral nutrition for several weeks failed to bring about any changes in his symptoms. So, as treatment, primary closure of the upper opening of the false lummen was performed under general anesthesia. Soon after the surgical procedure, the patient's symptoms were improved except for mild dysphagia. He was discharged after oral intake had been juduciously commenced with fluids and soft diet subsequently. During follow-up in out-patient department, he had no specific symptoms including fever or dysphagia and massive dissection of the esophagus was improved on esophagogram. We report the experience of a case of spontaneous submucosal dissection of the esophagus which required conservative and surgical management

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.182-193
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• 1996

식도내 이물은 종종 어린이나 식도질환을 가진 환자, 죄수들, 정신박약자 및 정신질환자등의 위험성이 높은 성인에서 흔히 발생한다. 그러나 대부분의 이물은 저절로 위장관을 통과하나 날카롭고 뾰족하며 긴 이물은 위장관의 천공이나 혈관과 누공형성 및 다른 합병증을 초래할 수도 있다. 이물의 섭취는 대개 환자나 다른 목격자에 의하여 복용한 병력으로 진단할 수 있다. 그러나 어린이나 정신박약자는 병력을 얻을 수 없기 때문에 우선 의심하는 것이 중요한 진단방법이 될 수밖에 없다. 연하곤란과 연하통은 식도이물의 통상적인 증상이다. 주변기도의 압박으로 인한 호흡기 증상은 어린이에 흔하며 종종 성인에서도 관찰된다. 식도내 이물을 제거하는데 많이 사용되는 방법은 굴곡형내시경을 사용하여 제거하는 것이다. 이방법은 성인이나 어린이에서 전신마취없이 기존의 진정제 투여방법으로 시술할 수 있다. 이물제거에 사용되는 파지겸자와 올가미는 내시경이물제거술을 가능하게 하였고 굴곡형내시경에 사용되는 overtube는 기존의 강직 형내시경의 장점을 얻을 수 있어 뽀족하거나 날카로운 이물을 제거하는데 사용하게 되었다. 이런 내시경적이물제거 원칙을 잘 지키고 적절한 준비가 된다면 합병증이 거의 없이 98% 정도의 이물을 제거할 수 있다. 내시경을 사용하지 않는 여러 가지 방법은 천공의 위험성이 높고 흡인성폐렴을 유발할 수 있기 때문에 사용하지 않는 것이 낫다. 수술적인 처치는 천공이 되었거나 다른 이물로 인한 합병증이 있는 경우에만 드물게 적용된다.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.70-74
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• 2008

Herpes simplex virus has rarely been identified as a cause of esophagitis in immunocompetent children. This virus affects predominantly males presenting with symptoms of fever, odynophagia, dysphagia, and retrosternal pain of acute onset. Esophagoscopy typically reveals exudative well-circumscribed ulcerations of the distal and/or mid-esophagus. Further investigations using biopsy, viral culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and seroconversion of antibodies to Herpes simplex are recommended to assist with a definitive diagnosis. This esophagitis is often a self-limited infection in immunocompetent children. Nevertheless, antiviral treatment may expedite symptom relief with Herpes simplex virus infection. It is imperative to document herpes esophagitis in cases with subsequent severe odynophagia in immunocompetent children. Here we present the case of a 12-year-old immunocompetent boy with herpes esophagitis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.657-661
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• 2009

Intramural esophageal dissection is a rare disorder that's characterized by a lengthy laceration between the mucosal and submucosal layers of the esophageal wall, and the esophageal wall is without perforation. The three different types of acute esophageal injury are a mucosal tear (Mallory-Weiss syndrome), full-thickness rupture (Boerhaave's syndrome) and intramural esophageal dissection. Most intramural esophageal dissections respond to conservative management with a very good prognosis. This rare condition should be considered in patients who present with acute chest pain, dysphagia or odynophagia, and particularly in the presence of a bleeding disorder or where there has been recent administration of antiplatelet medication, anticoagulantsorthrombolyticsto avoid inappropriate treatment with surgery. We present here a rare case of intramural dissection of the esophagus that occurred when the patient was taking anti platelet medication.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1981.05a
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• pp.11.2-11
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• 1981

Compared with other medical parts, there are relatively rare cases of the calculi in the Otolaryngologic field. The authors have recently experienced cases of the tonsillolith and huge rhinolith. They were removed successfully under the local anesthesia. Small quantities of calcareous or gritty particles are often found in the center of the caseous plugs filling the crypts of the tonsil in chronic follicular tonsillitis. The patients usually give a history of repeated tonsillitis in the earlier years. The patient may be aware of a constant sensation as of a foreign body in the throat. The breath is often fetid. The tonsillar calculi was found to be the accumulated keratohyalin masses in the crypts. The rhinoliths are rare in nasal cavity. They usualy have a foreign body nucleus of bacteria, blood, pus cells, mucus, crusts, or some foreign material from outside the body. They are largely composed of calcium and magnesium salts, principally carbonate with traces of sodium chloride. The condition is commonly found in adults and in female. They are usualy unilateral and are located, in the majority of instances, in the lower portion of the nasal cavity. The first well documented cases of rhinolithiasis, however, were reported by Bartholin in 1654. Since then over 400 cases have been reported.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1981.05a
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• pp.8.5-9
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• 1981

Foreign body in the esophagus is not uncommon in the otolaryngological field and esophageal perforation followed by mediastinitis is one of the most serious complications. Authors had experienced such case developed in 69 year old female patient. This woman swallowed a piece of sharp glass accidentally. Severe pain and swelling around the neck developed after ingestion. Marked subcutaneous emphysema was noted on first examination. By esophagoscopy, longitudinal laceration at right lateral wall of the cervical esophagus was noted and a lot of food debries were removed through this perforation, but foreign body could not be found. On third hospital day, patient complained chest pain and dyspnea. Mediastinal widening was noted on chest P-A. Tracheostomy was performed on next day and neck swelling decreased much. In spite of massive antibiotics, mediastinal abscess was developed and external drainage was performed on 15th hospital day. She was discharged on 38th hospital day with marked improvement and recovered completely on follow-up study. Still, we do not know where the foreign body is located.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.1 s.246
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• pp.76-79
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• 2005

The coexistence of mesenchymal tumor and carcinoma in the esophagus is extremely rare. We report a case of squamous cell carcinoma located at the mucosal surface over leiomyoma of the esophagus. A 76-year-old man with complaints of 3 months onset of odynophagia was diagnosed preoperatively as squamous cell carcinoma over submucosal tumor with calcification. Esophagectomy and esophagogastrostomy were performed through the right thoracotomy and upper median laparotomy. The patient is doing well without evidence of recurrence in the 25 months after resection. We discuss the pathogenesis and possible relations between the two tumors.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.179-183
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• 1984

In recent years, an increasing number of drugs have been reported to cause direct esophageal damage. More than 30 cases on tetracyclines induced esophageal ulcer have been reported since the first description of tetracycline induced esophageal ulcer by Bokey and Hugh in 1975. In Korea, only one case of doxycycline-induced esophageal ulcer has been reported. Authors have experienced 3 cases of esophageal ulcer probably caused by tetracyclines. The patients had taken their capsules just before going to bed with little fluid intake. About 6-8 hours later they had felt substernal burning sensation and epigastric discomfort. Gastrofiberscopy revealed relatively well demarcated circular ulcers on the mid esophagus. An esophagogram showed no apparent abnormality. Patients's symptomas became negligible with antacid treatment within 2-5 days. One of the causes of the esophageal ulcer is thought to be the delay in transit time of drugs and direct esophageal damage from mucosal contact when tablets are ingested in the recumbent position without an accompanying proper quantity of fluid. If only physicians endow patients with more concern about drug induced esophageal ulcer, they could find out more increasing number of drug induced esophageal ulcers by gastroscopic examination and thereby could prevent tetracycline induced esophageal ulcer.