• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.209-212
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• 1995

Cystic hygroma is a cystic tumor developed by lymphatic stasis due to congenital blockage of regional lymphatic drainage. It ususally occurs at neck and axilla. However, in some cases of cervical cystic hygroma, cervical portions of the cysts may extend into the mediastinum. We experienced a case of huge cervico-mediastinal cystic tumor in 11 month old girl presenting a large fluctuating neck mass and severe respiratory distress. Surgical resection was done through combined approach of cervical incision and median sternotomy. Pathological diagnosis was confirmed to cervico-mediastinal cystic hygroma.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.316-319
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• 2005

A 42-year-old female was admitted with an 11-month history of progressive spastic paraparesis and ataxic gait. Magnetic resonance imaging showed intraspinal space occupying lesion compressing the spinal cord posteriorly, located from C5 to T2 with iso to high signal intensity at T2-weighted images and high signal intensity at T1-weighted images. The patient underwent surgery for decompression of the affected spinal cord because of the progressive neurological deficit. At surgery, the lesion was intradural extramedullary lipoma composed with mature adipose tissue. Partial tumor removal to decompress the neural structures and laminoplasty to avoid postoperative instability and deformity were performed. Postoperatively, she demonstrated improvement in paraparesis and was able to walk without assistance. Though attempts to decrease the size of or even to totally remove a lipoma are not required to achieve satisfactory results and carry considerable risks of surgical morbidity, a careful and limited decompression of the affected spinal cord through a partial removal of the tumor and laminoplasty could result in a significant neurological improvement.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.225-227
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• 2010

Actinomycosis is an unusual granulomatous infection caused by gram-positive anaerobic bacteria called Actinomyces species(predominantly Actinomyces israelii), which is a common and normally nonpathogenic organism found in the nose and throat. The three major clinical presentations of actinomycosis include the cervico-facial(the most common, 55%), thoracic, and abdominopelvic region. Actinomycosis typically has a chronic, indolent course characterized by swelling and induration of the soft tissues and eventual spontaneous drainage through multiple sinus tracts. Actinomycosis is difficult to diagnose because of variable presentation mimicking neoplasm and fastidious nature of the organism in culture. We present a case of actinomycosis in the parotid tip area which was mistaken for a salivary tumor.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.71-73
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• 2005

A case of intramedullary spinal cord lipoma is presented. A one month-old male infant presented with irritability and weakness on his upper extremities. A magnetic resonance[MR] image of the cervical spine demonstrated a well defined, high signal intensity lesion on both T1 and T2-weighted MR images and suppression on the fat saturation sequence. The tumor mass extended from the foramen magnum to T2 vertebra level. Ventral displacement of the spinal cord with kinking of the cervico-medullary junction was evident on the T2-weighted sagittal image. Partial resection of the tumor mass through laminoplastic laminotomy from C1 to T2 resulted in improved motor weakness on his upper extremities.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.448-450
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• 2003

Lipoma is a circumscribed mesenchymal tumor originating from the adipose tissue. The lesion is usually small and asymptomatic. The most common location is in the neck region, however, lipoma can be found in the mediastinum in rare occasions. Although lipoma reach to the large proportions in the mediastinum, it rarely compresses the neurovascular structure. We present a case of a 58-year-old man, in which a hourglass-type cervicomediastinal lipoma produced Horner's syndrome with voice change. The man presented a swelling at the right side of his neck, ptosis and anhidrosis on the right side of his face, and right chest discomfort. After the removal of the mass, all the symptoms which had been provoked by compression, as well as Horner's syndrome and hoarseness, nearly disappeared.