• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.98-104
• /
• 1997

We carried out a prospective study of the effectiveness of a diagnostic strategy in thirty consecutively seen patients who had skeletal metastasis. The diagnostic strategy consisted of the recording of a medical history, physical examination, routine laboratory analysis, plain radiography of the involved bone and chest, whole-body technetium-99m-phosphonate bone scintigraphy, abdominal ultrasound, computed tomography of the chest, abdomen and pelvis, fiberbronchoscopy and fibergastroscopy. After this evaluation, a biopsy of the most accessible osseous lesion was done in twenty four patients. On the basis of the our diagnostic strategy, we were able to identify the primary site of the malignant tumor in nineteen patients(63%). The laboratory values were non-specific in all patients. The history and physical examination revealed the occult primary site of the malignant tumor in one patient(3.3%) who had carcinoma of the breast. Plain radiographs of the chest established the diagnosis of carcinoma of the lung in three patients(9.9%). Computed tomography of the chest identified an additional three primary carcinoma of the lung(9.9%). Fiberbronchoscopy identified an additional one primary carcinoma of the lung(3.3%). Abdominal ultrasound established the diagnosis in three patients(9.9%). Computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis established the diagnosis in four patients(13.2%). Fibergastroscopy established the diagnosis in two patients(6.6%). Examination of the biopsy tissue established the diagnosis in one patient(3.3%). So we recommend to perform plain radiographs of chest, abdominal ultrasound, chest C-T, abdomino-pelvic C-T, fiber-bronchoscopy, fibergastroscopy sequentially.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.45-52
• /
• 2021

PURPOSE: This study examined the imaging procedure of pectoralis minor muscle thickness and assessed the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the muscle thickness measured by two raters using rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) in healthy individuals. METHODS: Fifteen participants (aged 21 - 28, seven females, and eight males) were involved in the study. The primary rater palpated the coracoid process and the fourth rib, defined as the width of the index finger lateral to the sternum to avoid breast tissues, and lined the two landmarks. The second examiner checked 1 / 3 (1st point) and 1 / 2 (2nd point) of the line length as measurement points. The two raters obtained right side muscle images of the participants at a standardized sitting position using RUSI with a 7.5 MHz linear transducer at 40mm depth. For intra-rater reliability, the principal rater took three images per point and tried to take one more with an interval. For the inter-rater reliability, the other rater performed the same tasks as the principal rater on the same day. The reliability was analyzed using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), the standard error of the measurement (SEM), and Bland and Altman plots. RESULTS: The reliability at all points was excellent for the same rater (ICC_3,1 = .973 - .978, SEM = .042 - .046), and between raters (ICC_2,1 = .939 - .959, SEM = .059 - .097). CONCLUSION: These findings show that the RUSI could be reliable for examining the pectoralis minor muscle thickness in healthy individuals at all measurement sites.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.81 no.2
• /
• pp.379-394
• /
• 2020

Purpose To design a scoring system to predict malignancy of additional MRI-detected lesions in breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods Eighty-six lesions (64 benign and 22 malignant) detected on preoperative MRI of 68 breast cancer patients were retrospectively included. The clinico-radiologic features were correlated with the histopathologic results using the Student's t-test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression analysis. The scoring system was designed based on the significant predictive features of malignancy, and its diagnostic performance was compared with that of the Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category. Results Lesion size ≥ 8 mm (p < 0.001), location in the same quadrant as the primary cancer (p = 0.005), delayed plateau kinetics (p = 0.010), T2 isointense (p = 0.034) and hypointense (p = 0.024) signals, and irregular mass shape (p = 0.028) were associated with malignancy. In comparison with the BI-RADS category, the scoring system based on these features with suspicious non-mass internal enhancement increased the diagnostic performance (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.918 vs. 0.727) and detected three false-negative cases. With this scoring system, 22 second-look ultrasound examinations (22/66, 33.3%) could have been avoided. Conclusion The scoring system based on the lesion size, location relative to the primary cancer, delayed kinetic features, T2 signal intensity, mass shape, and non-mass internal enhancement can provide a more accurate approach to evaluate MRI-detected lesions in breast cancer patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.82 no.6
• /
• pp.1606-1612
• /
• 2021

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) is a syndrome characterized by digital clubbing, periosteal bone formation, and synovial effusions. Secondary HOA is associated with intrathoracic malignancy in most cases; however, in rare cases, HOA can be caused by extrathoracic conditions. We report early ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and bone scintigraphy findings of HOA in a patient with breast cancer. Its ambiguous clinical and imaging findings that mimicked malignant conditions are particularly interesting and informative.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.84 no.5
• /
• pp.1176-1180
• /
• 2023

Granular cell tumors (GCTs) are rare soft tissue tumor, originating from neural or perineural cells. We present a case of axillary GCT in a 69-year-old woman with breast cancer history and discuss the various radiologic findings. US revealed a circumscribed oval heterogeneous iso- and hyperechoic mass in the left axilla. Chest CT showed a well-defined, oval, and mildly enhancing mass in the left axilla on the lateral aspect of the pectoralis muscle. A final diagnosis of GCT was made through US-guided core needle biopsy. Follow-up US showed no significant changes in the axillary GCT. Familiarity with GCT may facilitate early diagnosis and subsequent management.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.743-749
• /
• 2023

Breast ductal carcinoma in situ(DCIS) refers to cases in which breast epithelial cells have become malignant but are still limited to normal ducts, and has been increasing rapidly in recent years. In this case, a two-year follow-up revealed findings on mammography and ultrasonography that indicated a small mass classified as BI-RADS Category 3, However far from typical malignant tumor these findings were. In the second year of follow-up, a hypoechoic mass with an indistinct boundary of the right breast in the 6 o'clock direction, on mammography appeared to be about 2.1×1.3 cm in size, and biopsy diagnosed it as ductal carcinoma. Since ductal endothelial cancer has no characteristic clinical findings and can show positive clinical and imaging findings in the early stages, regular follow-up is considered important for early diagnosis, and detection of ductal endothelial cancer through mammography and ultrasound is important for improving the prognosis of all breast cancer patients. During the initial examination conducted four years ago, we reported cases of intra ductal cancer in which asymmetric shading, microcalcification, and branched mass, indicative of intra ductal cancer, were observed during follow-up. It is advisable to concurrently explore methods for reducing X-ray dosage to mitigate potential side effects of contrast medium.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.53 no.10
• /
• pp.917-920
• /
• 2010

Although milky nipple discharge appears frequently in infants, bloody nipple discharge is a very rare finding. We experienced a 4-month-old, breast-fed infant who showed bilateral bloody nipple discharge with no signs of infection, engorgement, or hypertrophy. The infant's hormonal examination and coagulation tests were normal, and an ultrasound examination revealed mammary duct ectasia. The symptoms resolved spontaneously within 6 weeks without any specific treatment, except that we advised the mother to refrain from taking herbal medicine. Since no such case has been previously reported in Korea, we present this case with a brief review of the literature.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.83 no.3
• /
• pp.750-750
• /
• 2022

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.106-113
• /
• 2021

Background: We aimed to investigate the analgesic efficacy of an erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) with a tissue expander. Methods: Adult women undergoing IBR with a tissue expander after mastectomy were randomly assigned to either intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) alone (group P) or IV-PCA plus ESPB (group E). The primary outcome was the total amount of opioid consumption during 24 hours postoperatively between the two groups. Secondary outcomes were patient satisfaction, pain score at rest and on shoulder movement using numerical rating scale, incidences of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and a short form of the brief pain inventory (BPI-SF) at 3 and 6 months after surgery between the groups. Results: Fifty eight patients completed the study. At 24 hours postoperatively, total opioid consumption was significantly less in group E than in group P (285.0 ± 92.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 250.1 to 320.0 vs. 223.2 ± 83.4, 95% CI: 191.5 to 254.9, P = 0.005). Intraoperative and cumulative PCA fentanyl consumption at 3, 6, 9, and 24 hours were also less in group E than in group P (P = 0.004, P = 0.048, P = 0.020, P = 0.036, and P < 0.001, respectively). Patient satisfaction was higher in group E (6.9 ± 1.8 vs. 7.8 ± 1.4, P = 0.042). The incidences of PONV was similar. Conclusions: The ESPB decreased postoperative opioid consumption and increased patient satisfaction without significant complications after IBR with a tissue expander after mastectomy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.83 no.6
• /
• pp.1385-1393
• /
• 2022

Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast is a heterogeneous group of neoplasms with mixed epithelial and mesenchymal differentiation. Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast is a rare and aggressive malignancy, with high recurrence and metastasis. Metaplastic carcinoma with chondroid differentiation is an uncommon subtype that tends to have a relatively good prognosis than that of other subtypes. We report the imaging features of three cases of pathologically proven metaplastic carcinoma with chondroid differentiation as follows: a high-density mass with amorphous or coarse heterogeneous calcifications on mammography; a microlobulated or partially indistinct, complex cystic, and solid mass on sonography; and a relatively circumscribed or partially indistinct, irregular mass with heterogeneous T2 high-signal intensity and heterogeneous or rim enhancement with initial fast enhancement and delayed washout on MRI.