• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.69-84
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• 1997

Background : Although the overall prognosis of patients with lung cancer is poor, highly effective treatment exists for the small subset of patients with early lung cancer(carcinoma in situ/micro- invasive cancer). But very few patients have benefit from them because these lesions are difficult to detect and localize with conventional white-light bronchoscopy. To overcome this problem, a Lung Imaging Fluorescence Endoscopic device(LIFE) was developed to detect and clearly delineate the exact location and extent of premalignant and early lung cancer lesions using differences in tissue autofluorescence. Purpose : The purpose of this study was to determine the difference of sensitivity and specificity in detecting dysplasia and carcinoma between fluorescence imaging and conventional white light bronchoscopy. Material and Methods : 35 patients (16 with abnormal chest X-ray, 2 with positive sputum study, 2 with undiagnosed pleural effusion, 15 with respiratory symptom) have been examined by LIFE imaging system. After a white light bronchoscopy, the patients were submitted to fluorescence bronchoscopy and the findings of both examinations have been classified in 3 categories(class I, II, III). From of all class n and III sites, 79 biopsy specimens have been collected for histologic examination: a comparison between histologic results and white light or fluorescence bronchoscopy has been performed for assessing sensitivity and specificity of the two methods. Results : 1) Total 79 sires in 35 patients were examined. Histology demonstrated 8 normal mucosa, 21 hyperplasia, 23 dysplasia, and 27 microinvasive and invasive carcinoma. 2) The sensitivity of white light or fluorescence bronchoscopy in detecting dysplasia was 60.9% and 82.6%, respectively. 3) The results of this study showed 70.3 % sensitivity for microinvasive or invasive carcinoma with LIFE system, versus 100% sensitivity for white light in 27 cases of carcinoma. The false negative study of LIFE system was 8 cases(3 adenocarcinoma and 5 small cell carcinoma), which were infiltrated in submucosal area and had normal epithelium. Conclusion : To improve the ability 10 diagnose and stage more accurately, fluorescence imaging may become an important adjunct to conventional bronchoscopic examination because of its high detection rate of premalignant and malignant epithelial lesion. But. it has limitation to detect in submucosal infiltrating carcinoma.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 1994

Purpose : Metastatic cancer to the brain is a major problem for the patients with bronchogenic carcinoma, and most of these patients have a limited survival expectancy. To increase tumor control and / or to decrease late morbidity with possible shortening in over-all treatment period, multiple daily fraction technique for brain metastasis was performed. The author reperesented the results of accelerated fractionation radiotherapy in patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer. Materals and Methods : Twenty-six patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer between 1991 and 1993 received brain radiotherapy with a total dose of 48 Gy, at 2 Gy per fraction, twice a day with a interfractional period of 6 hours, and delivered 5 days a week. The whole brain was treated to 40 Gy and boost dose escalated to 8 Gy for single metastatic lesion by reduced field. Twenty-four of the 26 patients completed the radiotherapy. Radiotherapy was interupted in two patients suggesting progressive intracerebral diseases. Results : This radiotherapy regimen appears to be comparable to the conventional scheme in relief from symptoms. Three of the 24 patients experienced nausea and or vomiting during the course of treatment because of acute irradiation toxicity. The author observed no excessive toxicity with escalating dose of irradiation. An increment in median survival, although not statistically significant(p>0.05), was noted with escalating doses(48 Gy) of accelerated fractionation(7 months) compared to conventional treatment(4.5 months). Median survival also increased in patients with brain solitary metastasis(9 months) compared to multiple extrathoracic sites(4 months), and in patients with good performance status(9 months versus 3.5 months), they were statistically significant (p<0.01). Conclusion : The increment in survival in patients with good prognostic factors such as controlled primary lesion, metastasis in brain only and good perfomance status appeared encouraging. Based on these results, a multi-institutional prospective randomized trial should be initiated to compare the twice-a-day and once-a-day radiotherapy schemes on patients with brain metastasis with careful consideration for the patients' quality of life.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.208-218
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• 1999

Background: Lung cancer-associated hypercalcemia is one of the most disabling and life-threatening paraneoplastic disorders. Humoral hypercalcemia is responsible for most lung cancer-associated hypercalcemia. Patients with hypercalcemia are usually in the advanced stage with obvious bulky tumor and carry a poor prognosis. Materials and Methods: Total 29 patients satisfied the following criteria: histologically proven primary lung cancer, corrected calcium level ${\geq}$ 10.5 mg/dL, and symptoms which could possibly be attributed to hypercalcemia. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the various clinical aspects of hypercalcemia, in relation to cancer stage, histologic cell type, mass size, bone metastasis, performance status, and other possible characteristics. Results: Total 29 lung cancer patients with hypercalcemia were studied, and most of them had squamous cell carcinoma in their histologic finding. The incidence of hypercalcemia was significantly higher between 50 and 69 years of age, and in the advancement of cancer stage. Although serum calcium level showed positive correlation with mass size, performance status, and bone metastasis, it was not significant statistically. Altered consciousness was significantly more frequent in the patients with higher serum calcium level. There were no differences in effectiveness among therapeutic regimens. Hypercalcemia was more frequently in the later stage of disease than during the initial diagnosis of lung cancer. Most of the patients died within 1 month after development of hypercalcemia. Conclusion: We concluded that hypercalcemia in lung cancer is related to extremely poor prognosis, and may be one of the causes of death and should be treated aggressively to prevent sudden deterioration or death.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.285-293
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• 2002

Background : The lung is the most common site for a metastasis of extrapulmonary malignant tumors. however, reports on an endobronchial metastasis are rare. An endobronchial metastasis is defined as a documented extrapulmonary neoplasms metastatic to the segmental or more proximal central bronchus within a bronchoscopically visible range. The purpose of this study was to define the clinical characteristics of an endobronchial metastasis of extrapulmonary malignancies. Materials and Methods : The clinical features and treatment outcomes of 27 endobronchial metastatic cancer cases were reviewed from June, 1991 to May, 2001 in the Severance Hospital. Results : The patients' age ranged from 18 to 75. There were 17 men and 10 women. The primary tumors included the colorectum in 7, the uterine cervix in 4, the stomach and the breast in 3 patients each, and an osteosarcoma in 2 patients. The main complaint of most patients was coughing and a chest X-ray revealed a hilar mass, a parenchymal, and an atelectasis. The mean recurrence interval time was 45.5 months. The median and mean survival times were 10 and 12.3 months, respectively. Conclusion : An endobronchial metastasis is an ominous finding, and is associated with advanced-stage diseases. It requires differential diagnosis with a primary bronchogenic carcinoma. If atypical clinical features are present or an atypical cell type is discovered by a biopsy of the lesion in the lung mass, the appropriate diagnostic studies should be undertaken.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1366-1372
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• 1996

Bronchoplasty has gained popularity in the selected cAses of bronchogenic carcinoma with poor pulmonary reserve, and also has been a choice of treatment for obstructive bronchial diseases since it can cure patient completely with preservation of pulmonary function. From Apr. 1990 to hpr. 19'96 two methods of bronchoplastic procedures, d patch dilating bronchoplasty and a segmental bronchial resection with end-to-end anastomosis, were performed with or without concominant pulmonary resection in 13 patients with benign bronchial stenosis and obstruction. The patients were 8 men and 5 women with average age of 43years(range 19 to 64 years). Patch dilating bronchoplasty using autogenous perichondrium and pericardium was applied in 5 cases of bronchial stenosis. Antecedan diseases of bronchial stenosls were 3 inflammatory bronchiectas is, and 2 endobronchial tuberculose is mixed with bronchi,ectas is. Segmental bronchial resection with end-to-end anastomosis was applied in 8 cases of bronchial obstruction, which were caused by endobronchial tuberculosis in 6 and cicatrization after trauma and foreign body in one case each. Bronchial obstructive symptoms and signs including recurrent pulmonary infection, dyspnea and wheezing were disappeared postoperatively with satisfactory recovery of physical activity. There was no operative mortality. Morbidity occured in 2 patients which were one case of unstability of applied bronchial patch resulting atelectasis and one case of bronchial restenosis at the anastomotic site. Based upon our experiences, we conclude that bronchoplastic procedure can be done with great success in patients with lung atelectasis caused by bronchial obstruction or stenosis and it restores physiologic function of collapsed lung with acc ptable complication.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.2 s.259
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• pp.106-110
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• 2006

Background: Bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) is an uncommon primary malignancy of the lung, and it accounts for $2{\~}14\%$ of all pulmonary malignancies. According to World Health Organization (WHO) categorisation, BAC is a subtype of adenocarcinoma. The current definition of BAC includes the following: malignant neoplasms of the lung that have no evidence of extrathoracic primary adenocarcinoma, an absence of a central bronchogenic source, a peripheral parenchymal location, and neoplastic cells growing along the alveolar septa. Previous reports had demonstrated a better prognosis following surgery for patients affected by BAC than those affected by other type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aim to analyse Asan Medical Center experiences of BAC. Material and Method: Between 1990 and 2002, 31 patients were received operations for BAC. We analyse retrosepectively sex, age, disease location, preoperative clinical stage, postoperative pathologic stage & complications, survival according to medical record. Result: There were 12 men and 19 women, the average age was 61.09$\pm$10.63 ($31{\~}79$) years. Tumor locations were 7 in RUL, 1 in RML, 4 in RLL, 8 in LUL, 11 in LLL. Operations were 28 lobectomies, 2 pneumonectomies. Postoperative pathologic stage were 12 T1N0M0, 15 T2N0M0, 1 T1N1M0, 1 T1N2M0, 1 T2N2M0, 1 T1N0M1. Mortality were 4 cases ($12.9\%$) and there were no early mortality. Cancer free death was 1 cases, other 3 were cancer related deaths. All of them were affected by distal metastasis and received chemotherapy and each metastatic locations were right rib, brain, and both lung field. The average follow up periods were 50.87$\pm$24.77 months. The overall 3, 5-year survival rate among all patients was $97.1\%,\;83.7\%$, stage I patients overall 2, 5year survival rate was $96.3\%$. The overall disease free 1, 2, 5-year survival rate among all patients was $100\%,\;90\%,\;76\%$ and 2, 5-year survival rate in cases of stage I was $96.4\%,\;90.6\%$. 7 cases ($22.58\%$) were chemotherapies, 1 case ($3.22\%$) was radiation therapy, and 2 cases ($6.45\%$) were chemoradiation therapies. Metastatic locations were 3 cases in lung, 1 case in bone, 1 cases in brain. Conclusion: BAC has a favourable survival and low recurrence rate compare with reported other NSCLC after operative resections.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.407-416
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• 1992

Background: Endobronchial tuberculosis is an important complication of pulmonary tuberculosis. It is highly infetious, difficult to diagnose mimicking bronchogenic carcinoma or bronchial asthma and it can leave bronchial stenosis with parenchymal collapse or bronchiectasis as complications. Early diagnosis, adequate treatment and follow-up are crucial in the management of endobronchial tuberculosis. The most important diagnostic tool in its diagnosis is bronchoscopic examination. Authors have tried to elucidate changes in sequential bronchoscopic findings in these patients to help diagnose and manage these patients. Method: We have analysed the sequential bronchoscopic findings and clinical features of 83 endobronchial tuberculosis patients admitted in Seoul National University Hospital from August 1987 to December 1990. Results: We can observe the following results: 1) In the actively caseating type, improvement of the bronchial stenosis was observed in 29 patients (76.3%) up to 5 months of treatment. Caseation disappeared in 31 patients (81.6%) during the same period. 2) In the stenotic without fibrosis type, improvement of the stenosis was observed in 8 patients (66.4%) during the same period. 3) In the tumorous type, improvement of the stenosis was observed in 12 patients (92.3%) during the same period. Conclusion: We can conclude that improvement of the endobronchial lesions may occur up to about 5 months after adequate treatment of endobronchial tuberculosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.854-861
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• 1997

CYPRA 21-1 is known to be a cytokeratin 19 fragment, and it can be detected by using two specific monoclonal antibodies (KS 19-1 and BM 19-21) and can be clinically applied as a useful circulating tumor marker The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) expression was evaluated and characterized by its tyrosine protein kinase activity and by its ligand-stimulated autophosphorylation, a property shared with other peptide growth factor receptors. Autocrine or para'urine action was initiated by a growth factor, or by a transforming growth factor o, which had an extensive homology with EGP and which also stimulated tyrosine kinase activity on the EGF-R. The CYFRA 21-1 and the EGF-R levels in 30 patients with primary lung tumors were investigated. There were 24 patients with squamous cell carcinomas and 6 patients with adenocarcinomas. Specimen 5 mm3 in size were sampled at three different locations ; the main lesion, the boundary between the lesion and the unaffected tissue, and the unaffected tissue of the patients. The results were as follows 1. The CYPRA 21-1 concentration in the cancer boundary, the most malignant region,(348.6 : 89.9 ng/ml) was the lowest value. The CYFRA 21-1 concentration in unaffected tissue,(718.4$\pm$77.8 ng/ml) was higher than that in the main lesion. which had intact cellularity. 2. The EGF-R concentration in the main lesion was higher than that in the unaffected tissue, and the EGF-R concentration in a squamous cell cacinoma was higher than that in an adenocarcinoma. also, the EGF-R concentration in the cancer b undary was highest at stage 1, ll. The EGF-R concentration was higher in the main cancer lesion that in the unaffected tissue at stage 111, IV. 3. The CYFRA 21-1 was a cytoplasmic skeleton and the EGF-R was a cell-wall component; there was no correlation. In conclusion, CYFRA 21-1 was abundant in the cytoplasm but had a higher concentration in the unaffected tissue than in the main cancer lesion. The CYFRA 21-1 concentration of the tissue did not reflect the amount of cancer activity, the EGP-R was located in the cell membrane, the level of tissue that reflects cancer activity, so the main cancer lesion had a higher concentration than the unaffected tissue. CYFRA 21-1 is not a useful tumor maker at the tissue level. Because the EGF-R concentration re(looted the cancer activity, its a useful tumor marker for lung cancer.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.248-254
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• 1992

Background: Pleural effusion is one of the most common clinical problems in pulmonology because of high prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis and bronchogenic carcinoma in Korea. The differential diagnosis between pleural transudate and exudate is very important, but it is very difficult in some cases. Methods: In order to assess the clinical usefulness of cholesterol levels for the differential diagnosis of pleural transudate and exudate, we measured pleural fluid cholesterol levels by enzymatic method in 45 patients who were admitted due to pleural effusion. Results: The mean cholesterol level of transudate was $33.1{\pm}12.9\;mg%$, tuberculous exudate was $97.3{\pm}28.2\;mg%$ and malignant exudate was $97.3{\pm}28.2mg%$. When the cut-off value of pleural cholesterol level was 60 mg%, one case (6.7%) of tuberculous exudate and two cases (13.3%) of malignant exudate were incorrectly classified, but all cases of transudate were classified correctly. When the cut-off value of pleural/serum cholesterol ratio was 0.3, one case (6.7%) of transudate and two cases (13.3%) of malignant exudate were incorrectly classified, but all cases of tuberculous exudate were classified correctly. When the cut-off value of pleural cholesterol level to differentiate pleural transudate from exudate was 60 mg%, sensitivity was 90% and specificity was 100%. When the cut-off value of pleural/serum cholesterol level to differentiate pleural transudate form exuidate was 0.3, sensitivity was 93% and specifiity was 93%. Conclusions: From the above results, it can be concluded that measurement of pleural fluid cholesterol levels is useful for the differential diagnosis between pleural transudate and exudate.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2002

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases(MMP) are essential enzymes for tumor invasion and metastasis. Among the MMP family, elevated MMP-9 and stromelysin-3(STR-3) expression have been reported to be poor prognostic factors in lung cancer patients. To evaluate the possibility of a molecular diagnosis of lung cancer using peripheral blood, the mRNA expression level of MMP-9 and STR-3 was measured using a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in patients with lung cancer. Methods : Ninety six patients(44 patients with lung cancer, 19 pulmonary infection, and 33 control) were included. To detect MMP-9 and STR-3 mRNA expression, RT-PCR was performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. ELISA was also used to measure the serum level of MMP-9. Results : MMP-9 was expressed more frequently in patients with a pulmonary infection(18/19, 94.7%) compared to lung cancer patients(26/44, 59.1%) or the controls (23/33, 69.7%) (p=0.018). On the other hand, STR-3 expression was observed more frequently in patients with lung cancer(37/44, 84.1%) compared to the lung infection patients(8/19, 42.1%) or control(20/33, 60.6%) (p=0.003). Among the lung cancer patients, MMP-9 was expressed more frequently when a tumor invaded the lymph nodes(17/24, 70.8%) compared to when a tumor did not(3/13, 23.1%) (p=0.005). The MMP-9 and STR-3 expression levels had no relationship with age, sex, tumor size, distant metastasis, or tumor histology. The serum MMP-9 concentration was not higher in lung cancer patients compared to patients with a pulmonary infection or the control subjects. Conclusion : STR-3 may be used as a diagnostic marker in the peripheral blood of lung cancer patients using RT-PCR. Further studies to evaluate the clinical significance of elevated STR-3 expression in lung cancer patients is recommended.