• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2000

Purpose : Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a disorder of median nerve at wrist. It is usually diagnosed through clinical manifestation and nerve conduction study (NCS). However, sometimes, NCS does not provide a reliable evidence to reach the diagnosis. Thus, authors performed this study to determine whether NCS was correlated with specific parameters measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which might become a potential complemental diagnostic tool. Methods : We performed MRI in 34 wrists of 18 patients with clinical manifestations of CTS and pathologic nerve conduction values and analyzed them at levels of the distal radioulnar joint, pisiform and hook of hamate, Results : Increase in the cross-sectional area of the median nerve at the pisiform level and flattening, increased signal intensity, and contrast enhancement of the median nerve at levels of the pisiform and hook of hamate were statistically significant. Change in cross sectional areas between the distal radioulnar joint and hamate and the signal intensities at levels of pisiform and hamate were well correlated with the median nerve conduction velocity. Conclusions : Characteristic MRI findings in CTS reported previously were well demonstrated and some of MRI parameters are well correlated with nerve conduction study. MRI, despite cost, may help in evaluating CTS.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.468-471
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• 2009

Objective : The adolescent presentation of tethered cord syndrome (TCS) is well-recognized, but continues to pose significant diagnostic and management controversies. The authors conducted a retrospective study of clinical outcomes after surgical intervention in 24 school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults with TCS. Methods : All 83 patients with a lipomyelomeningocele (LMMC) underwent untethering surgery for caudal cord tethering between 1987 and 2007. The clinical charts and follow-up data were reviewed. Of these patients, 24 school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults with TCS were studied with respect to the clinical, radiologic, pathologic features, and surgical outcomes. Results : Untethering procedures were performed in 24 patients (age range, 7-25 years) for TCS of various origins (lipoma, lipomyelomeningocele, and tight filum terminale). Specific circumstances involving additional tugging of the already tight conus, and direct trauma to the back precipitated the onset of symptom in 50% of the patients. Diffuse and non-dermatomal leg pain, often referred to the anorectal region, was the most common presenting symptom. Progressive sensorimotor deficits in the lower extremities, as well as bladder and bowel dysfunction, were also common findings, but progressive foot and spinal deformities were noted less frequently. The most common tethered lesions were intradural lipomas, thickened filum and fibrous band adhesions into the placode sac. The surgical outcome was gratifying in relation to pain and motor weakness, but disappointing with respect to resolution of bowel and bladder dysfunction. Of the 24 patients with TCS, pre-operative deficits improved after surgery in 14 (58.3%). remained stable in 8 (33.4%). and worsened in 2 (8.3%). Conclusion : The pathologic lesions of tethered cord syndrome in school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults, are mostly intradural lipomas and tight filum. It is suggested that the degree of cord traction results in neurologic dysfunction in late life due to abnormal tension, aggravated by trauma or repeated tugging of the conus during exercise. Early diagnosis and adequate surgical release might be the keys to the successful outcome in school-aged children, adolescents, and young adults with TCS.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.88-92
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• 2009

Although transfusion of blood and plasma products are accepted as the principle means of transmission of HCV, other parenteral methods, such as acupuncture, tattooing needles, piercing, and surgery are possible methods of transmission of HCV. We managed a case of chronic hepatitis C acquired through ear piercing and acupuncture. A 10-year old girl presented with nausea, abdominal pain, and anorexia for 1 month. Her laboratory finding showed the following: AST/ALT, 865/1,290 IU/L; positive anti-HCV Ab; and HCV RNA. One year previously, she was treated with acupuncture for an ankle sprain and 2 years previously, she had her ears pierced. Laboratory findings of family members showed AST/ALT in the normal ranges, and negative anti-HCV Ab and HCV RNA. The pathologic findings of a liver biopsy revealed chronic hepatitis with mild lobular activity, moderate porto-periportal activity, and portal fibrosis. She was treated with pegylated interferon ${\alpha}$-2a and oral ribavirin for 6 months, after which the clinical symptoms and laboratory findings improved.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.395-400
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• 1999

Elongation of the styloid process (styloid syndrome, Eagle's Syndrome) is named after Eagle who insisted the styloid process as a cause of pain but distinguishable from the glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Eagle's syndrome is characterized by a dull nagging pharyngeal pain, a palpable hardness in the tonsillar fossa, radiopaque elongation and enlargement of the syloid process. This is to report two cases of Eagle's Syndrome. The clinical and radiological features, development and pathogenesis of the Eagle's Syndrome and pathologic findings of the calcified styloid ligaments were described with review of literatures. The external cervical approach to resect the enlarged calcified processes can be an option due to better visualization and accessbility, less infection at risk than intra-oral approach. The findings and results were as follows ; 1. The calcified styloid ligaments accompanied with throat pain were reseded in size of $5.5{\times}48mm(#1,\;Rt)$, $3.6{\times}5mm(#1,\;Lt)$, $5.2{\times}51mm(#2,\;Rt)$ and $3.1{\times}38mm(#2,\;Lt)$. 2. The submandibular approach to resect the calcified styloid process is of help to get better visibility and accessiblilty avoiding the injury to the deep cervial vital structures. 3. The resected styloid processes were examined histopathologically as the matured cortical bones with marrow structures or cartilagenous cells without any findings of neoplasmic changes. 4. The remained process did not show any noticeable regrowth in 3 years after surgical amputation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.241-249
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• 1985

Twenty-one patients with Double Chambered Right Ventricle [DCRV] associated with Ventricular Septal Defect [VSD] were treated by open heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass with moderate hypothermia in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hanyang University Hospital between June 1982 and October 1984. The following results were obtained 1. The symptoms and physical signs, specific for DCRV, could not be identified. 2. The radiologic findings on simple chest X-ray, specific for DCRV, could not be identified. 3. Electrocardiographic findings, specific for DCRV, could not be identified. 4. Cardiac catheterization was found to be the most important diagnostic method, revealing pressure gradient between proximal chamber and distal chamber in the right ventricle. The average pressure gradient between two chambers showed 48.1523.29 mmHg[varying from 15mmHg to 94mmHg]. 5. Cardiac angiography was found to visualize the anomalous muscle bundles in right ventricle [in 17 cases, 81%] but the evidence of pressure gradient between two chambers within right ventricle is considered necessary for the diagnosis of DCRV. 6. Via surgical observation, anatomical and pathologic findings of the anomalous muscle bundles, associated DCRV were identified. 7. As the direct pressure was measured on the operating table before and after surgery, the average pressure gradient across the muscle bundles showed 40.5219.75mmHg [varying from 16 to 89mmHg] preoperatively and 8.909.72mmHg [varying from 0 to 32mmHg] postoperatively, indicating significant surgical correction of the obstruction present. 8. The presence of anomalous muscle bundles, dividing the right ventricle into two separated chambers, and the presence of the pressure gradient over 15mmHg are considered necessary for the diagnosis of DCRV.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.255-261
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• 2007

Purpose : The objective of this study is to observe high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings of lung parenchyme in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants between the corrected age of 38-42 weeks who were treated with oxygen after birth, and to compare them to the clinical severity of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Methods : The lungs of fourty-four VLBW infants with gestational ages of less than 32 weeks and birth weights of less than 1,500 g who were treated with oxygen after birth were examined using HRCT taken when the corrected age was between 38-42 weeks. Common findings among the infants and the frequency of their occurrences were noted. Total CT scores obtained by the summation of air trapping and actelectasis scores and the ratio of bronchus-to-pulmonary artery diameter were used to quantitatively evaluate HRCT findings and correlate them with the clinical severity of BPD as defined by Jobe-Bancalari diagnostic criteria. Results : 1) The most common findings in HRCT images of the lungs were air trapping (56%), atelectasis (70.5%), linear opacity (77%), and distortion of the bronchopulmonary bundle (65.9%). These findings were more commonly observed in infants with BPD in a mixed pattern than those without (P<0.05). However, abnormal findings were also found in HRCT images of some infants without BPD. In infants with BPD, air trapping, atelectasis and total CT scores were higher than those without BPD. Also infants with BPD had a lower bronchus-to-pulmonary artery diameter than those without BPD (P<0.05). 2) The total CT scores (r=0.799, P<0.0001) and the ratio of bronchus-to-pulmonary artery diameter (r=0.576, P<0.0001) showed a linear correlation with the clinical severity of BPD. Conclusion : HRCT findings in VLBW infants between the corrected age of 38-42 weeks who had been treated with oxygen after birth are useful in revealing pathologic changes in the lung parenchyme and show a good correlation with the clinical severity of BPD.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.91-95
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• 2005

The familial environment may also play an important role in the epidemiology of HCV infection through vertical and horizontal transmission by infected household members. However, it is still controversial whether familial clustering of HCV occurs. We experienced a case of familial clustering of hepatitis C virus. A 10-year old girl presented with nausea, vomiting and anorexia for a month was diagnosed as hepatitis C. Her mother, grandmother, a maternal aunt and her daughter had contracted with HCV. Her laboratory findings showed AST/ALT 63/122 IU/L, positive anti-HCV Ab and HCV RNA ($3.54{\times}10^5copies/mL$). Pathologic findings of the liver biopsy revealed chronic hepatitis with minimal lobular activity, mild porto-periportal activity and mild portal fibrosis. After treatment with interferon-${\alpha}$ 2b for 6 months, the clinical symptoms and laboratory findings were normalized.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.519-531
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• 1993

Background: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis(LAM) is a very rare disease occurring in women of reproductive age and leading to progressive respiratory failure despite therapy. But the natural history of this disease is uncertain and although anti-estrogenic agents have been used for more than twenty years, it's efficacy is still in debate. This study was performed to enhance understanding of this fatal disease in Korea by examining clinical, radiological, and pathologic findings of all the previously reported cases of LAM on Korea along with four new cases of LAM whom we report in this paper. Method: Out of twlve cases of LAM previously unpublished and published in domestic papers, two cases whose diagnoses were considered doubtful after review of clinical, radiological, and pathologic findings at "Asian Congress on Lymphangioleiomyomatosis" at Kyoto, Japan in feburary of 1993 were excluded from this study. Six cases which were reported previously and four new cases of LAM whom we report in this paper were analysed for the clinical, radiological, and pathologic characteristics. Results: All ten patients were women with mean age of $33{\pm}7$. The most common symptom was exertional dyspnea and most patients had history of pneumothoraces. Pulmonary function tests showed decreased diffusing capacity. on high resolution computed tomography(HRCT), all the cases had characteristic cysts. Most of the patients did not respond to hormonal therapy. Conclusion: In women of reproductive age, presenting with dyspnea who has a history of pneumothorax, LAM should always be considered as one of the diagnostic possibilities. If suspected, HRCT should be done to look for characteristic cysts and if needed, open lung biopsy should be done to confirm the diagnosis.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2003

Alport syndrome is the most common type of hereditary nephritis, and acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis(APSGN) is a common disease in children. We experienced the clinical and pathologic findings of Alport syndrome and APSGN in brothers of one family. Both patients presented with heavy gross hematuria and proteinuria. ASO titer was elevated in both cases, and the C3 level was reduced in one of the cases. In renal pathology, both showed characteristics of Alport syndrome as well as the glomerular changes of APSGN with hump-like subepithelial deposits by electron microscopy. These clinical observation indicated that the patients had APSGN superimposed on Alport syndrome, and that the episode of APSGN might exacerbate the clinical course of Alport syndrome.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.788-793
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• 1989

We have observed 501 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax from January 1981 to June 1989 at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital. Of these, 57 patients have undergone thoracotomy to treat the pneumothorax after closed thoracostomy. These 57 patients were based on this retrospective clinical analysis, and the results were as follows: The ratio of male to female was 4.2:1 in male predominance and the old aged patients, over 50 years old, occupied 47.3% of all patients. Primary spontaneous pneumothorax was 19 cases and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax was 38 cases. The underlying pathology in secondary spontaneous pneumothorax was tuberculosis emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 35 cases. The indications of thoracotomy were persistent air leakage in 23 cases recurrent pneumothorax in 21 cases, inadequate expansion in 13 cases. Rupture of bullae or blebs were most frequent operative and pathologic findings in persistent air leakage group and recurrent pneumothorax group. In inadequate expansion group, predominant finding was destructive lung lesion. Bullectomy and/or bullae ligation was most effective procedures in 36 cases [63%] for operative management of spontaneous pneumothorax. Duration of preoperative and postoperative chest tube indwelling day was 13.35 days and 8.05 days in persistent pneumothorax group, 8.92 days and 7.77 days in recurrent pneumothorax group, 13.23 days and 10.21 days in inadequate expansion group.