• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.91-100
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• 2013

목적: 요추 MR 영상에 추가된 경흉추 시상T2강조영상(CT SAG T2WI)의 임상적 효용성을 평가하고자 한다. 대상과 방법: 2005년 1월부터 2005년 12월까지 요추 MRI를 시행하였던 2,113명의 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 경흉추 시상T2강조영상을 후향적으로 분석하였고, 의무기록을 후향적으로 검토하여 경추 또는 흉추 병변의 추가적인 평가를 위한 MRI 또는 CT 시행여부와 이러한 병변에 대한 치료 및 경과를 알아보았다. 결과: 2,113명중 139명의 환자에게서 총 142개의 병변이 경흉추 시상T2강조영상에서 관찰되었다. 요추 MRI 촬영시, 환자의 자세변화 없이 2분 이내에 경흉추 시상T2강조영상을 추가적으로 얻었다. 13명의 환자만이 경추 또는 흉추의 병변에 대해 MR영상 또는 CT를 시행하였고, 7명의 환자는 T2강조영상 고신호강도 여부에 상관 없이 척추관협착증 또는 추간판탈출증에 대해 수술적 치료를 받았다. 결론: 요추 MRI촬영 시, 2분 이내로 소요되는 경흉추 시상T2강조영상의 추가촬영은 요추의 증상으로 오인된 경흉추의 병변을 평가하는데 유용하다.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제48권6호
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• pp.541-543
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• 2010

The purpose of this case report is to describe a rare case of a cervicothoracic spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) after anterior cervical spine surgery. A 60-year-old man complained of severe neck and arm pain 4 hours after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion at the C5-6 level. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a postoperative SEH extending from C1 to T4. Direct hemostasis and drainage of loculated hematoma at the C5-6 level completely improved the patient's condition. When a patient complains of severe neck and/or arm pain after anterior cervical spinal surgery, though rare, the possibility of a postoperative SEH extending to non-decompressed, adjacent levels should be considered as with our case.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.55-57
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• 2010

Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) in the thoracic spine is rare, even in the Far East. A 45-year-old female presented with a 4month history of progressive motor weakness in the lower extremities, numbness below the midthoracic area, and spastic gait disturbance. Neuroradiological examinations revealed massive OPLLs at the T4-T6 levels with severe anterior compression of the spinal cord. Anterior decompressive corpectomies with bone grafts were performed from T4 to T6 using a trans-thoracic approach. After surgery, the patient made an uneventful recovery. However, eleven years after surgery, the patient developed recurrent lower extremity weakness and spastic gait disturbance. De novo OPLLs at the C6-T2 levels were responsible for the severe spinal cord compression on this occasion. After second surgery, paralysis in both legs was resolved. We present a rare case of late cervicothoracic OPLL in a patient surgically treated for thoracic OPLL.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제57권1호
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• pp.42-49
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• 2015

Objective : The cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) is a biomechanically and anatomically complex region that has traditionally posed problems for surgical access. In this retrospective study, we describe our clinical experiences of the treatment of metastatic spinal tumors at the CTJ and the results. Methods : From June 2006 to December 2011, 23 patients who underwent surgery for spinal tumors involving the CTJ were enrolled in our study. All of the patients were operated on through the posterior approach, and extent of resection was classified as radical, debulking, and simple neural decompression. Adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) was also considered. Visual analog scale score for pain assessment and Medical Research Council (MRC) grade for motor weakness were used, while pre- and post-operative performance status was evaluated using the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG). Results : Almost all of the patients were operated using palliative surgical methods (91.3%, 21/23). Ten complications following surgery occurred and revision was performed in four patients. Of the 23 patients of this study, 22 showed significant pain relief according to their visual analogue scale scores. Concerning the aspect of neurological and functional recovery, mean MRC grade and ECOG score was significantly improved after surgery (p<0.05). In terms of survival, radiation therapy had a significant role. Median overall survival was 124 days after surgery, and the adjuvant-RT group (median 214 days) had longer survival times than prior-RT (63 days) group. Conclusion : Although surgical procedure in CTJ may be difficult, we expect good clinical results by adopting a palliative posterior surgical method with appropriate preoperative preparation and postoperative treatment.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.224-230
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• 2015

Purpose: To determine whether we should recommend ultrasonography (US) for an incidental thyroid nodule identified by additional cervicothoracic sagittal T2-weighted image (C-T sag T2WI) of lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of 61 patients who underwent both lumbar spine MRI and thyroid US between December 2011 and April 2015 was conducted. For all US-found thyroid nodules > 1 cm, investigators evaluated whether there was any correlation between thyroid nodule detectability by C-T sag T2WI and US features such as echogenicity, composition, or suspicion of malignancy. Results: Solid hypoechoic (2/4; 50%) or mixed echoic nodules (4/8; 50%) appeared to be found relatively more easily by C-T sag T2WI than more benign-looking solid isoechoic (1/4; 25%) or spongiform nodules (0/6; 0%). Among six nodules with ultrasonographic suspicion for malignancy, only one nodule was detected by C-T sag T2WI. Conclusion: If an incidental thyroid nodule is seen by C-T sag T2WI, it would be better to recommend thyroid US for identifying malignancy.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.42-56
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• 2019

Background: Individuals with mechanical neck pain show biomechanical and neurophysiological changes, including cervical spine muscle weakness. As a result of deep muscle weakness, it causes stability disability and reduced upper thoracic spine mobility, which finally leads to functional movement restriction such as limited range of motion and dysfunction. Recent studies have shown that thoracic spine manipulation and mobilization could reduce symptoms of mechanical neck pain in patients. Objects: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of thoracic mobility exercise on cervicothoracic function, posture feature, and pain intensity in individuals with mechanical neck pain. Methods: The study subjects were 26 persons who were randomly assigned to the experimental (with thoracic mobility exercise) and control groups (without thoracic mobility exercise), with 13 subjects in each group. The cervicothoracic function (neck functional disability level and cervicothoracic range of motion), posture feature, and pain rating (using a quadrupled visual analogue scale [QVAS]) were measured before, after 3 weeks, and after 6 weeks. Results: Statistically significant group-by-time interactions were found with repeated analyses of variance for the Korean neck disability index (KNDI), all cervical range of motion (CROM), all thoracic range of motion (TROM), cranial rotation angle, sagittal shoulder posture (SSP), and QVAS (p<.05). All groups showed significant improvements from all times in all the evaluated methods. The KNDI, CROM, TROM of left rotation, and SSP in the experimental group showed significant improvements after 3 weeks, and the TROM of the right rotation and QVAS in the experimental group showed significant improvements after 6 weeks when compared with the control group. Conclusion: Thoracic mobility exercise during 6 weeks might be effective intervention to improve the functional level, posture feature, and QVAS pain rating for managing individuals with mechanical neck pain.

• 대한정형외과학회지
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• 제54권6호
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• pp.562-566
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• 2019

골연골종은 흔한 양성골병변이나 척추에서는 비교적 드물게 발견된다. 척추의 골연골종은 주로 척추후주에서 기원하며, 척수강 내로 확장하거나 척수병증을 유발하는 경우는 흔하지 않다. 36세 남자 환자가 2년 전부터 시작된 경부통을 주소로 내원하였다. 영상학적 검사상 흉추 제1번의 상관절돌기에서부터 척수강을 침범하는 골연골종 소견이 관찰되었다. 척추 골연골종의 대부분은 경추에서 기원하는 반면 경흉추 이행부에서의 기원은 보고된 바가 극히 드물다. 이에 저자들은 경흉추 이행부에서 발생한 골연골종을 그 발생 부위의 희귀성에 비추어 문헌 고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

• 대한기관식도과학회지
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.76-79
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• 2001

A 60-year-old male was admitted due to cervical spine injury (C7-T1 fracture dislocation) and quadriparesis after slip down. During conservative management in department of neurologic surgery, he complainted of fever, dyspnea, neck swelling. Follow up cervicothoracic CT revealed abscess pocket in paraglottic, retropharyngeal, anterior cervical spaces and mediastinum. Also noted bilateral pleural effusions. Under impression of descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM). cervical drainage and bilateral chest tube insertion was performed immediately. On next day. mediastinal drainage through mediastinotomy was performed with careful handling of cervical spine. Escherichia coli was identified in bacteriologic culture. Wire fixation of dislocated C7-T1 spine through Posterior approach was performed on 30th days after mediastinotomy. Right chest tube was removed on 40th days. At now, the patient is on rehabilitation and physical training program. DNM is relatively rare, but lethal disease with high mortality. Immedate and sufficient mediastinal drainage is essential in treatment.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제56권3호
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• pp.265-268
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• 2014

Solitary fibrous tumor is rare benign mesenchymal neoplasm. The spinal solitary fibrous tumor is extremely rare. The authors experienced a case of intramedullary solitary fibrous tumor of cervicothoracic spinal cord in a 48-year-old man with right lower extremity sensory disturbance. Spinal MRI showed intradural mass lesion in the level of C7-T1, the margin between the spinal cord and tumor was not clear on MRI. A Left unilateral laminectomy and mass removal was performed. Intra operative finding, the tumor boundary was unclear from spinal cord and it had intramedullary and extramedullary portion. After surgery, patient had good recovery and had uneventful prognosis. Follow up spinal MRI showed no recurrence of tumor.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.511-514
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• 2014

7년령 암컷 비글이 심한 경부 통증과 보행 이상으로 내원하였다. 신경계 검사를 통해 경추 6번에서 흉추 2번사이 척수로 병변을 국소화하였다. 또한 경흉추 부위 자기 공명 영상으로 경추 7번과 흉추 1번 사이 추간강에 척수를 심하게 압박하는 추간판 탈출이 있는 것을 확인하였다. 이 부위의 치료를 위해 편측추궁절제술이 실시되었다. 수술은 효과적이었으며 환자의 상태가 현저히 개선된 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 이 결과를 통해 편측추궁절제술이 개의 경흉연접부에 발생한 추간판 탈출증을 치료하는데 효과적인 방법임을 확인할 수 있었다.