• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2024

Background: Visceral pleural invasion (VPI) is a poor prognostic factor that contributes to the upstaging of early lung cancers. However, the preoperative assessment of VPI presents challenges. This study was conducted to examine intraoperative pleural carcinoembryonic antigen (pCEA) level and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) as predictive markers of VPI in patients with clinical T1N0M0 lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of the medical records of 613 patients who underwent intraoperative pCEA sampling and lung resection for non-small cell lung cancer. Of these, 390 individuals with clinical stage I adenocarcinoma and tumors ≤30 mm were included. Based on computed tomography findings, these patients were divided into pleural contact (n=186) and non-pleural contact (n=204) groups. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to analyze the association between pCEA and SUVmax in relation to VPI. Additionally, logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate risk factors for VPI in each group. Results: ROC curve analysis revealed that pCEA level greater than 2.565 ng/mL (area under the curve [AUC]=0.751) and SUVmax above 4.25 (AUC=0.801) were highly predictive of VPI in patients exhibiting pleural contact. Based on multivariable analysis, pCEA (odds ratio [OR], 3.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-7.87; p=0.026) and SUVmax (OR, 5.25; 95% CI, 1.90-14.50; p=0.001) were significant risk factors for VPI in the pleural contact group. Conclusion: In patients with clinical stage I lung adenocarcinoma exhibiting pleural contact, pCEA and SUVmax are potential predictive indicators of VPI. These markers may be helpful in planning for lung cancer surgery.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.253-262
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• 2023

Purpose To assess the clinicoradiological features of pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included immunocompetent patients who had been diagnosed with pulmonary cryptococcosis on the histopathologic exam and underwent chest CT between January 2008 and November 2019. Imaging features were divided into major imaging patterns, distributions, and ancillary imaging findings. Univariable analysis was performed to evaluate clinicoradiological features according to the presence of serum cryptococcal antigen. Results Thirty-one patients were evaluated (mean age: 60 years, range: 19-78 years). A single nodular lesion confined to a single lobe was the most common imaging pattern (14/31, 45.2%). Serum cryptococcal antigen tests were performed in 19 patients (19/31, 61.3%). The presence of serum cryptococcal antigen was observed in six patients (6/19, 31.6%), all of whom showed a consolidation-dominant pattern. The presence of serum cryptococcal antigen was significantly associated with the consolidationdominant pattern compared to those associated with a nodule-dominant pattern (p = 0.011). Conclusion A combination of CT findings of consolidation and a positive serum cryptococcal antigen test may be helpful for diagnosing pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.2082-2093
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• 2021

Objective: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the tissue adequacy and complication rates of percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) for molecular analysis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods: We performed a literature search of the OVID-MEDLINE and Embase databases to identify original studies on the tissue adequacy and complication rates of PTNB for molecular analysis in patients with NSCLC published between January 2005 and January 2020. Inverse variance and random-effects models were used to evaluate and acquire meta-analytic estimates of the outcomes. To explore heterogeneity across the studies, univariable and multivariable metaregression analyses were performed. Results: A total of 21 studies with 2232 biopsies (initial biopsy, 8 studies; rebiopsy after therapy, 13 studies) were included. The pooled rates of tissue adequacy and complications were 89.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 85.6%-92.6%; I² = 0.81) and 17.3% (95% CI: 12.1%-23.1%; I² = 0.89), respectively. These rates were 93.5% and 22.2% for the initial biopsies and 86.2% and 16.8% for the rebiopsies, respectively. Severe complications, including pneumothorax requiring chest tube placement and massive hemoptysis, occurred in 0.7% of the cases (95% CI: 0%-2.2%; I² = 0.67). Multivariable meta-regression analysis showed that the tissue adequacy rate was not significantly lower in studies on rebiopsies (p = 0.058). The complication rate was significantly higher in studies that preferentially included older adults (p = 0.001). Conclusion: PTNB demonstrated an average tissue adequacy rate of 89.3% for molecular analysis in patients with NSCLC, with a complication rate of 17.3%. PTNB is a generally safe and effective diagnostic procedure for obtaining tissue samples for molecular analysis in NSCLC. Rebiopsy may be performed actively with an acceptable risk of complications if clinically required.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.742-755
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• 1997

Background : Endobronchial tuberculosis(ET) is still relatively common disease in Korea. We intended to evaluate the length of endobronchial lesion, peribronchial thickness, luminal irregularity and associated mediastinal lymph node enlargement with Chest CT to get information for such aggressive treatment as electrocautery, laser therapy and so on of bronchial stricture in ET, and also to compare the change of Chest CT finding with that of bronchoscopic finding after one month of anti-tuberculosis treatment. Method : We performed CT in 26 patients who were diagnosed as ET by bronchoscopy at Boramae Hospital from November 1991 to March 1996. After classifying ET into seven subtypes according to bronchoscopic finding, we analyzed the CT finding of each subtype. And we followed up the bronchoscopy, CT, and PIT after one month of anti-tuberculosis treatment, and compared the change of CT findings with those of bronchoscopic findings in nine patients. Results : Age of the patients was from 17 to 73 years old, and the ratio of male to female was 1 : 25 with absolute female predominance. The site(s) of bronchial involvement by tuberculosis is one in 14 cases, two in nine cases and three in one case, respectively, and the left main bronchus was the most frequently involved site (13 cases for multiple involvements and 7 cases for single involvement among 26 cases). The length of bronchial involvement by tuberculosis which was measured by CT was from 10 to 55 mm, and there was a tendency that the length of involved lesion in fibrostenotic type was shorter than that of actively caseating type. Bronchial stricture on CT was noticed in 25 (96%) cases and the range of severity was from total occlusion to near-normal and also showed wide variation even though the subtype of ET was same. The increase of peribronchial thickness which was measured by CT, was noticed in 21 cases (91%) among 23 cases (in which the measurement was possible), and there was no improvement of peribronchial thickness in those cases which showed little improvement in bronchial stricture despite anti-tuberculosis treatment. There was no difference in the luminal irregularity of involved bronchi on CT in relation to bronchoscopic subtypes. The mediastinal lymph node enlargement, defined as the diameter of lymph node was larger than 1cm on CT, was detected in 20 cases (77%), and right side was more frequently involved (L : R = 1 : 5.2). The CT finding usually showed extrinsic bronchial compression but showed direct invasion in two cases which were bronchoscopically classified as tumorous type. When follow-up bronchoscopy and CT was performed after one month of anti-tuberculosis treatment in nine patients, CT showed significant improvement in peribronchial thickness and mediastinal lymph node enlargement. Bronchial stricture was also improved in 6 cases but aggravated in 3 cases despite anti-tuberculosis therapy. In two cases which were classified as fibrostenotic type by bronchoscopy, CT showed significant improvement in bronchial stricture, interestingly. Conclusion : We concluded that the role of Chest CT was complimentary to bronchoscopy in ET, since CT was useful in evaluating the length of bronchial involvement, peribronchial thickness, and mediastinal lymph node enlargement.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.776-780
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• 1998

Background: In patients with coronary artery disease, dysfunctional hypoperfused myocardium at rest may represent either nonviable or viable hibernating myocardium. Two-dimensional echocardiography can detect regional wall motion abnormalities resulting from myocardial ischemia by dobutamine infusion. The purpose of the present study was to identify the prediction of improvement of regional left ventricular(LV) function after surgical revascularization. Materials and methods: Sixteen patients with chronic regional LV dysfunction underwent dobutamine stress echocardiography(DSE) (dobutamine: baseline, 5, 10, 20$\mu$g/kg/min) before coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) and underwent echocardiography at least 2 months after CABG. Results: All patients were male with mean age of 58 years ranging from 42 to 73 years. The mean LV ejection fraction was 41.8% with a range from 19% to 55%. During DSE, there were no complications, also, there were no operative morbidities or mortalities. Improvement of wall motion within the dysfunctional myocardium was found in 8(50%) of 16 patients in DSE. Among them, 6 patients(75%) showed functional recovery after CABG. Another 8 patients did not show improvement of wall motion in DSE. But among them, 3 patients(38%) showed functional recovery after CABG. 84 dysfunctional segments were found in 256 segments of 16 patients. Improvement of wall motion was found in 34 of 84 segments in DSE. Among them, 23 segments(74%) showed functional recovery after CABG. Another 53 segments did not show improvement of wall motion in DSE. But among them, 12 segments(23%) showed functional recovery after CABG. The sensitivity and specificity of DSE for the prediction of postoperative improvement of segmental wall motion were 66% and 84%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive value of DSE were 74% and 77%, respectively. In patients with chronic regional LV dysfunction, think that DSE is a good predictor of the improvement of dysfunctional segments after CABG.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.335-342
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• 2008

Background: Congenital cystic diseases of the lung are uncommon, and they share similar embryogenic and clinical characteristics. But they are sometimes vary widely in their presentation and severity. Therefore they are often difficult to make different diagnosis each other, and all require surgical treatment. Material and Method: From 1993 to 2006, 38 patients underwent surgical procedures under these diagnostic categories in the Depart. of Thoracic and. Cardiovascular Surgery, Busan-Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University. And we retrospectively reviewed these patients' charts for clinical presentations, surgical procedures, pathologic findings and postoperative morbidity and mortality. Result: There were 22 males and 16 females, ages ranged from 1 month after birth to 51 years and mean age was 20.8 years. The main symptoms were 19 fever, cough, sputum production due to recurrent infection, 7 dyspnea, 8 chest discomfort, 4 hemoptysis, but eight patients were asymptomatic. Computed tomography was chosen as diagnostic modalities and available for operation plan for all of patients. For all the cases, surgical resection were performed. Lobectomy was performed in 28 patients, simple excision (resection) in 8 patients, segmentectomy or wedge resection in 2 patients. There were 10 pulmonary sequestrations, 15 congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations (CCAM), 11 bronchogenic cysts, and 2 congenital lobar emphysemas. They all were confirmed by pathologic exams. The complications were 6 wound disruption or infection, 2 chylothorax, 1 ulnar neuropathy, but all of them were resolved uneventful. There was no persistent air leakage, respiratory failure, operative mortality and recurrence. Conclusion: We performed immediate surgical removal of congenital cystic lung lesions after diagnosis and obtained good results, so reported them with literature review.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.585-590
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• 2004

Bronchogenic cyst is a rare and benign disease. Because of its complication or associated disease, Bronchogenic cyst requires surgical treatment. Recently, with the development of diagnostic methods, its incidence has increased. So we reviewed our results from the past 30 years. Material and Method: We reviewed 27 cases surgically treated from March 1971 to March 2003. This investigation is designed to illustrate the peak age incidence, sex ratio, symptoms, anatomic location, radiologic imagings, associated diseases, operative methods, postoperative pathologic findings and postoperative complications. Result: The peak age incidence laid in the 1st to 3rd decade and the ratio of male and female was 1 : 1.5. The most common complaints were cough and dyspnea, but some had hemoptysis. There were 22 cases (81%) of Intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts and 5 cases(19%) of mediastinal bronchogenic cysts. Thirteen cases (48.1%) showed cystic lesion in simple chest X-ray. Ten cases showed cystic lesion among 13 cases that had taken computed tomography. We found associated disease in 15cases (56%). The inflammatory diseases from infection were many in intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts and especially, one case showed carcinosarcoma. Mitral regurgitation and Bronchial obstruction could be seen in mediastinal bronchogenic cysts. The 13 cases (48%) were managed by lobectomy, and cystectomy, pneumonectomy, and segemental resection were done in 7 cases (26%), 4 cases (15%), 3 cases (11%) respectively. Cystic contents were mucus in 9 cases, pus in 9 cases, blood in 2 cases, and carcinosarcoma in 1 case. Bronchotracheal communications were in 13 cases (48%). Five cases showed Postoperative complications, which were pneumothorax, empyema, bleeding. Postoperative death could not be found. Conclusion: Almost all patients had clinical symptoms. Severe complications could be associated with bronchogenic cysts. Recently, With the development of diagnostic methods, preoperatively accurate diagnosis is possible; therefore, invasive study has decreased. Bronchogenic cyst is a benign disease. However, because of its clinical symptoms, complications, and possibility of malignant change, immediate surgical treatment is needed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.242-249
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• 2004

Background : Because of the low sensitivity of sputum smear and culture, diagnosis of nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) pulmonary disease, especially in patients with bronchiectasis, is often difficult. We investigated the usefulness of bronchoscopy for the diagnosis of NTM pulmonary disease including M. avium complex (MAC) and M. abscessus in patients with bronchiectasis and multiple pulmonary nodules on chest computed tomography (CT). Methods : We reviewed 48 cases of patients who were performed bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) under suspect of NTM pulmonary disease based on CT findings of bronchiectasis and multiple nodules from April 2002 to June 2003. Results : Twenty five of the 48 patients (54%; 12 MAC, 14 M. abscessus) were diagnosed as NTM pulmonary disease on the basis of the American Thoracic Society diagnostic criteria for NTM pulmonary disease. Sixteen of the 21 patients (76%; 5 MAC, 11 M. abscessus) with 3 or more positive sputum cultures of NTM were confirmed tissue invasion by TBLB. Five of the 24 patients (21%; 4 MAC, 1 M. abscessus) who could not be diagnosed with sputum cultures were diagnosed by bronchoscopic BAL and TBLB. Conclusion : Bronchoscopy is helpful for the diagnosis of NTM pulmonary disease and confirmation of tissue invasion by NTM, not only MAC but also M. abscessus, in patients with bronchiectasis and multiple nodules on chest CT scan.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.357-364
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• 2000

Background : Complicated exudative pleural fluid collections have traditionally been treated by either closed tube thoracostomy drainage or by open surgical drainage. Complete drainage is important in order to control pleural sepsis, restore pulmonary function, and entrapment. Recently intracavitary fibrinolytic therapy has been advocated as a method to facillitate drainage of complicated exudative pleural effusion and to allow enzymatic debridemant of the restrictive fibrinous sheets covering the pleural surface. The purpose of this study is to prospectively evaluate the effects of image-guided catheter drainage with high dose urokinase(UK) instillation in the treatment of complicated pleural effusions. Patients : Twenty complicated pleural effusion patients that poorly respond to image-guided drainage were allocated to receive UK. There were 8 pneumonia and 12 tuberculosis. Methods : Drugs were diluted in 250 mL normal saline and were infused intrapleurally through the chest tube or pig-tail catheter in a daily dose of 250,000 IU of UK. Response was assessed by clinical outcome, fluid drainage, chest radiography, pleural ultrasound and/or computed tomography. Results : The mean UK instillation time was $1.63{\pm}0.10$. The mean volume drained UK instillation was $381.3{\pm}314.4\;mL$, and post-UK was $321.6{\pm}489.5\;mL$. The follow up duration after UK therapy was mean $212.9{\pm}194.5$ days. We had successful results in 19 cases (95.0%). There were 12 pleural thickenings (60.0%), 2 markedly decreased effusions (10.0%) and 5 cases of no thickening or effusion. There was recurrence after treatment in only one patient(5%) with complicated pleural effusiondue to tuberculosis. Conclusions : Image-guided drainage with high dose UK instillation (250,000 U/day) in complicated pleural effusion is a safe and more effective method than closed thoracostomy drainage. And this management, in turn, can obviate surgery in most cases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.45-56
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• 2003

Background : Mycobacterium abscessus is the most common respiratory pathogen in rapidly growing mycobacteria and is resistant to all of the first-line antituberculosis drugs. This report describes the clinical and radiographic characteristics in patients with pulmonary disease caused by M. abscessus. Materials and Methods : Twelve patients with pulmonary disease caused by M. abscessus who fulfilled the 1997 American Thoracic Society diagnostic criteria for a nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary infection were observed over a five-and-a-half year period. The clinical characteristics and chest radiographic findings were analyzed, retrospectively. Results : The patients were predominantly female(11/12, 92%) and nonsmokers(12/12, 100%). Coughing (10/12, 83%), sputum(10/12, 83%) and hemoptysis(10/12, 83%) were the common symptoms and they had prolonged periods from the onset of symptoms to the diagnosis of their disease(median 6.5 years). Eleven (92%) patients had a previous history of being treated for pulmonary tuberculosis. The sputum specimens were acid-fast bacilli smear-positive in all patients. All patients were administered antituberculosis drugs. Six (50%) patients were treated with second-line antituberculosis drugs on account of persistent smear-positive sputum specimens. The chest radiographs showed that reticulonodular opacities(11/12, 92%) were the most common pattern of abnormality, followed by cavitary lesions(5/12, 42%). The computed tomography findings suggested bronchiolitis from the centrilobular nodules with a tree-in-bud appearances(9/10, 90%) and bronchiectasis (9/10, 90%) were the most common, followed by well-defined nodules smaller than 10-mm in diameter(7/10, 70%). Conclusions : M. abscessus pulmonary disease should be recognized as a cause of chronic mycobacterial lung disease, and respiratory isolates should be assessed carefully.