• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.265-272
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• 2006

Background: Chest wall deformities such as kyphoscoliosis, thoracoplasty, and fibrothorax cause ventilatory insufficiency that can lead to chronic respiratory failure, with recurrent fatal acute respiratory failure(ARF). This study evaluated the frequency and outcome of ARF, the physiologic status, and the long-term prognosis of these patients. Methods: Twenty-nine patients with chest wall disorders, who experienced the first requirement of ventilatory support from ARF were examined. The mortality and recurrence rate of ARF, the pulmonary functions with arterial blood gas analysis, the efficacy of home oxygen therapy, and the long-term survival rate were investigated. Results: 1) The mortality of the first ARF was 24.1%. ARF recurred more than once in 72.7% of the remaining 22 patients, and overall rate of successful weaning was 73.2%. 2) Twenty-two patients who recovered from the first ARF showed a restrictive ventilatory impairment with a mean FVC and TLC of 37.2% and 62.4 % of predicted value, respectively, and a mean $PaCO_{2}$ of 57mmHg. Among the parameters of pulmonaty functions. the FVC(p=0.01) and VC(p=0.02) showed a significant correlation with the $PaCO_{2}$ level. 3) There were no significant differences between the patients treated with conservative medical treatment only and those with additional home oxygen therapy due to significant hypoxemia in the patients with recurrent ARF and the mortality. 4) The 1, 3, 5-year survival rates were 75%, 66%, and 57%, respectively, in the 20 patients who had recovered from the first ARF, excluding the two patients managed by non-invasive nocturnal ventilatory support. Conclusion: These results suggest that active ventilatory support should be provided to patients with ARF and chest wall disorders. However, considering recurrent ARF and weak effect of home oxygen therapy, non-invasive domiciliary ventilation is recommended in those patients with these conditions to achieve a better long-term prognosis.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 1992

Cis-Platinum (DDP) was utilized as a radiosensitizer in a pilot study for stage III and IV squamous cell carcinoma between 1984-1987, and DDP 20 $mg/M^2$/day was administered for 4 days at 3 week interval with concurrent radiotherapy. This study consisted of three phases: cytoreduction phase, eradicative treatment phase and adjuvant phase. Total 59 patients were subjected to evaluate a tumor response and its toxicity. During the eradicative phase,27 patients underwent surgery (group I ), 29 patients were treated with radiotherapy only (group II) and 3 patients did not complete the second phase of therapy. At the cytoreduction phase, $95\%$ response rate with complete response (CR) $47.5\%$ and partial response (PR) $47.5\%$ was observed. Complete tumor clearance (CTC) rate following 2nd phase of therapy was $84\%$ (47/56) with 26/27($96\%$) in group I achieved CTC with surgery and 21/29 ($72\%$) patients In group II achieved CTC following 2nd phase. $67\%$ of primary lesions and $70\%$ of nodal diseases in group I showed no tumor in the surgical specimen. $34\%$ of patiets who achieved CTC at 2nd phase developed recurrence and median time to recur was 8 months. Actuarial disease free survival at 4 years was $59\%$ and $51\%$(24/27) of patients who achieved CTC at 2nd phase were alive without any evidence of disease at median follow-up 31 months (range, 10-48 months). There was no significant difference in overall and disease free survival between group I and II between CR and PR group following 1st Phase. Only significant Prognostic factor in this study was the complete tumor clearance following 2nd phase theapy. In general, toxicity was not excessive. Author concludes that this study confirmed the significant radiosensitizing effect of DDP with the acceptable toxicity and warrant the prospective study to determine optimum scheduling for DDP and radiotherapy which maximizes the therapeutic gain.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.52-60
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• 2001

Purpose: In young male patients who suffered several kinds of trauma with subsequent suspicious reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, we performed three-phasic bone scan in order to investigate its usefulness. Materials and Methods: Patients with narrow range of age (21-25. mean $22.8{\pm}1.3$, all male) were included with suspicious reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome of 12 feet and 5 hands. Only one was bilateral feet case and 16 were ipsilateral (Rt:13, Lt:3). The etiologic traumas were 4 fractures, 4 sprains, 3 blunt trauma, 2 cellulitis, 1 tendon tear, 1 crush injury, 1 overexercise, and 1 unknown. Radiologically 3 showed osteoporotic changes. Three-phasic bone scans were performed $21.2{\pm}7.3wks$ after trauma. Results: According to symptom complex, confirmatory reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome 4 cases and suspicious 13 were analyzed. All confirmatory cases (100%) showed increased uptake at delay phase with periarticular accentuation. Of confirmatory 4 cases, 2 showed increased uptake in all three phases (perfusion: P, blood pool: B, and delay: D), and other 2 revealed decreased P but, both increased B and D. Of suspicious 13 cases, 9(69.2%) had increased D (4 periarticular and 5 focal), 2 decreased D, and 2 symmetric D. In 12 foot cases, so-called weight hearing patterns - increased contralateral sole at P and B - were revealed in 7(58.3%). Conclusion: Diffuse periarticular increased uptake at delay phase of three-phasic bone scan was a compatible finding to reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome in young male patients whose symptom complex strongly designated post traumatic reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2006

Purpose: To analyze the clinical outcome of stage IIB osteosarcomas arisen in the long bones. Materials and Methods: Since February 1993, 58 Enneking stage IIB osteosarcomas arisen in long bones were managed and followed at least one year at our four university hospitals. There were 48 wide resections, 2 marginal resections and 8 amputations. The mean follow up period was 4.1years (up to 12.2years). Local recurrence, distant metastasis, complication, survival rate, and oncologic and functional results were evaluated. Results: At the last follow up, 35 patients were CDF, 9 were NED, 5 were AWD, 7 were DOD and the remained 2 died with unrelated disease. Eight local recurrences (13.8%) and 18 distant metastases (31.0%) were occurred. Nine infections were developed after 48 reconstructions (18.8%). Overall functional outcome was 24.3 (81.%). The 5 year overall survival rate was 84.6% and the continuous disease-free survival rate was 68.7% at 5 years and 42.3% at 10 years. Conclusion: Forty-six of 58 stage IIB osteosarcomas arisen in long bones (79.3%) showed CDF or NED at an average 4.1 year follow up. Overall 5-year survival rate was 84.6% and overall functional outcome score was 24.3, which were comparable to those of other studies.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 1999

Purpose : To discuss the technical aspect of interstitial brachytherapy including method of implant, insertion time of radioactive source, total radiation dose, and complication, we reviewed patients who had diagnoses of soft tissue sarcoma and were treated by conservative surgery, interstitial implant and external beam radiation therapy Materials and Methods : Between May 1995 and Dec. 1997, ten patients with primary or recurrent soft tissue sarcoma underwent surgical resection (wide margin excision) and received radiotherapy including interstitial brachytherapy. Catheters were placed with regular intervals of 1 ~l.5 cm immediately after tumor removal and covering the critical structures, such as neurovascular bundle or bone, with gelform, muscle, or tissue expander in the cases where the tumors were close to those structures. Brachytherapy consisted of high dose rate, iridium-192 implant which delivered 12~15 Gy to 1 cm distance from the center of source axis with 2~2.5 Gy/fraction, twice a day, starting on 6th day after the surgery, Within one month after the surgery, total dose of 50~55 Gy was delivered to the tumor bed with wide margin by the external beam radiotherapy. Results : All patients completed planned interstitial brachytherapy without acute side effects directly related with catheter implantation such as infection or bleeding. With median follow up duration of 25 months (range 12~41 months), no local recurrences were observed. And there was no severe form of chronic complication (RTOGIEORTC grade 3 or 4). Conclusion : The high dose rate interstitial brachytherapy is easy and safe way to minimize the radiation dose delivered to the adjacent normal tissue and to decrease radiation induced chronic morbidity such as fibrosis by reducing the total dose of external radiotherapy in the management of soft tissue sarcoma with conservative surgery.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.93-98
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• 2009

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with neuroblastoma aged less than 1 year. Methods : From January 1997 to December 2007, 41 patients aged less than 1 year were diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Patients were divided into 3 risk groups according to the stage of the disease and N-myc amplification. Low-risk patients underwent surgery with (stage 2) or without (stage 1) short-term chemotherapy. Intermediate-risk patients underwent chemotherapy and surgery with or without local radiation therapy. High-risk patients underwent chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, and high-dose chemotherapy/autologous stem cell rescue (HDCT/ASCR). Results : While tumor relapse occurred in only 1 patient, 7 patients died of treatment-related toxicities. Causes of treatment- related death included infection during conventional chemotherapy in 5 patients and acute myocarditis during HDCT/ASCR in 2 patients. The overall 5-year survival (${\pm}$ standard error) and 5-year event-free survival (EFS) rates after diagnosis for all 41 patients were $82.8{\pm}5.9%$ and $80.0{\pm}$6.3%$, respectively, with a median follow-up of 58 (9-137) months. The 5-year EFS rates for low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk patients were 100%, $68.4{\pm}10.8%$, and $66.7{\pm}19.3%$, respectively. Conclusion : Increased efforts to reduce infection-associated toxicity deaths during conventional chemotherapy are needed to further improve the survival of patients with neuroblastoma aged less than 1 year.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.317-322
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• 1996

Purpose : Patients with cervical cancer who have positive resection margins after radical hysterectomy are at increased risk for local recurrence. The result of postoperative pelvic radiotherapy for cervix cancer with positive resection margins were analyzed to evaluate the role of radiotherapy. Materials and Methods : Between n 1979 and 1992, 60 patients of cervix carcinoma were treated with postoperative radiotherapy after radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy because of positive vaginal (48 patients) or parametrial resection margins (12 patients). Patients were treated with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) alone (12 Patients) or EBRT plus vaginal ovoid irradiation (VOI) (48 patients). The median followup period was 55 months. Results : The 5-year actuarial disease free and overall survival rates for all patients were $75.2\%$, $84.1\%$, respectively. The overall recurrence rate was $23\%$ (14/60). In 48 patients with Positive vaginal resection margins, the pelvic recurrence was $8\%$ (4/48). Distant metastasis was $15\%$(7/48). Of the 43 patients with positive vaginal resection margins treated with EBRT and VOI, recurrence rate was $21\%$(9/43) , while recurrence rate was $40\%$(2/5) in the EBRT only treated group. In 12 patients with positive parametrial margins, three patients ($25\%$) had distant metastases. The most significant prognostic factor was lymph node metastasis. Complications resulting from radiotherapy occurred at a rate of $32\%$(19/60) and grade III complications occurred in three patients ($5\%$). Conclusion : Postoperative radiotherapy can produce excellent pelvic control rates in patients with positive resection margins. In patients with positive vaginal margins, whole pelvic EBRT and VOI is recommended.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.201-205
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• 2007

Purpose: This retrospective study was conducted to assess outcome and to determine the prognostic factors in patients with a desmoid tumor treated with postoperative radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: Twenty-seven patients with a desmoid tumor who were treated with postoperative radiotherapy between June 1984 and October 2005 were analyzed. There were 13 male and 14 female patients. The age of the patients ranged from 3 to 79 years (median age, 28 years). Tumors were located in an extra-abdominal area (21 cases), and in the abdominal walls (6 cases). The tumor size ranged from 2.5 to 25 cm (median size, 7.5 cm) in the largest linear dimension. Thirteen cases received radiotherapy after initial surgery, and 14 recurrent cases received radiotherapy after additional surgery. The total radiation dose given was $45{\sim}66$ Gy (median dose, 59.4 Gy), and the fraction size was $1.8{\sim}2.0$ Gy. Results: The median follow-up period was 61 months (range, $12{\sim}203$ months). Two patients developed local progression and six patients experienced local recurrence. The 5-year disease-free survival rate and the 5-year progression-free survival rate were 61 % and 70%, respectively. Wide local excision was associated with better disease free survival with statistical significance (p=0.028). Radiotherapy after initial surgery (p=0.046) and a higher radiation dose of more than 60 Gy (p=0.049) were associated with better progression free survival with statistical significance. At the time of the last follow-up, the number of additional surgeries was higher in patients that received radiotherapy after reoperation (p<0.001). Conclusion: Radiotherapy after the initial operation improved local control and decreased the number of subsequent operations. Thus, postoperative radiotherapy after an initial operation is recommended in patients with a high risk of recurrence for a desmoid tumor.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.295-302
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• 2002

Purpose : The Purpose of this study was to establish general guidelines for the treatment of patients with early glottic carcinoma (T1-2N0M0), by assessing the role of primary radiotherapy and by analyzing the tumor-related and treatment-related factors that have an influence on the treatment results. Materials and Methods : This retrospective study was composed of 80 patients who suffered from early glottic carcinoma and were treated by primary radiotherapy at Pusan National University Hospital, between August 1987 and December 1996. The distribution of patients according to T-stage was 66 for stage T1 and 14 for stage T2. All of the patients were treated with conventional radical radiotherapy using a 6MV photon beams, a total tumor dose of $60\~75.6\;Gy$ (median 68.4 Gy), administered in 5 weekly fractions of $1.8\~2.0\;Gy$. The overall radiation treatment time was from 40 to 87 days, median 51 days. All patients were followed up for at least 3 years. Univariate and multivariate analysis was done to identify the prognostic factors affecting the treatment results. Results : The five-years survival rate was $89.2\%$ for all patients, $90.2\%$ for T1 and $82.5\%$ for T2. The local control rate was $81.3\%$ for all patients, $83.3\%$ for T1 and $71.4\%$ for T2. However, when salvage operations were taken into account, the ultimate local control rate was $91.3\%,\;T1\;94.5\%,\;T2\;79.4\%$, reprosenting an increase of $8\~12\%$ in the local control rate. The voice preservation rate was $89.2\%,\;T1\;94.7\%,\;T2\;81.3\%$. Fifteen patients suffered a relapse after radiotherapy, among whom 12 patients underwent salvage surgery. We included T-stage, tumor location, total radiation dose, fraction size, field size and overall radiation treatment time as potential prognostic factors. T-stage and overall treatment time were found to be statistically significant in the univariate analysis, but in the multivariate analysis, only the over-all treatment time was found to be significant. Conclusion : The high cure and voice preservation rates obtained when using a procedure, comprising a combination of radical radiotherapy and salvage surgery, may make this the treatment of choice for patients with early glottic carcinoma. However, the prognostic factors affecting the treatment results must be kept in mind, and more accurate treatment planning and further optimization of the radiation dose are necessary.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2007

Objective: To examine determinants of successful pregnancy and evaluate COH-IVF outcomes of infertile patients after conservative surgical treatment of borderline ovarian tumor (BOT). Methods: In women of BOT (n=93), from January 1995 to December 1999, 44 of 93 women underwent conservative surgical treatment. From theses 44 women, patients characteristics, surgical and histological parameters were compared between 14 women who conceived and 30 women who failed to conceive. For 5 infertile women of 30 women who failed to conceive, 10 attempt IVF cycles were analysed; clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), implantation rate (IR) and live birth rate (LBR). Results: Women who conceived tend to be younger (25.9 vs 27.0 years) and lower serum CA-125 level (59.7 vs 72.9) compared to women who failed to conceive without significant difference. For 8 cycles out of 10 attempt IVF cycles, except for 2 cancellation cycles, the mean number of oocytes retrieved was 5.6 (range 2$\sim$16) with a mean fertilization rate of 74.4%. The CPR, IR and LBR per embryo transfer were 50.0% (4/8 cycles), 31.6% (6/19) and 50.0% (4/8 cycles) respectively. During the mean follow-up period after COH-IVF initiation, 29.6 (range 14$\sim$61) months, no recurrence was found. Conclusion: No determinant of successful pregnancy was found after conservative treatment for BOT. COH-IVF may be considered for infertile patients after conservative treatment of BOT. However, larger clinical studies with longer follow-up are necessary to evaluate the safety and efficacy of COH-IVF. All patients should be informed of the potential risks associated with ovarian hyperstimulation and close follow-up is necessary after COH-IVF.