• Title/Summary/Keyword: Diagnostic data

Search Result 2,109, Processing Time 0.027 seconds

Effects of Head Posture on the Rotational Torque Movement of Mandible in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders (두경부 위치에 따른 측두하악장애환자의 하악 torque 회전운동 분석)

  • Park, Hye-Sook;Choi, Jong-Hoon;Kim, Chong-Youl
    • Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
    • /
    • v.25 no.2
    • /
    • pp.173-189
    • /
    • 2000
  • The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of specific head positions on the mandibular rotational torque movements in maximum mouth opening, protrusion and lateral excursion. Thirty dental students without any sign or symptom of temporomandibular disorders(TMDs) were included as a control group and 90 patients with TMDs were selected and examined by routine diagnostic procedure for TMDs including radiographs and were classified into 3 subgroups : disc displacement with reduction, disc displacement without reduction, and degenerative joint disease. Mandibular rotational torque movements were observed in four head postures: upright head posture(NHP), upward head posture(UHP), downward head posture(DHP), and forward head posture(FHP). For UHP, the head was inclined 30 degrees upward: for DHP, the head was inclined 30 degrees downward: for FHP, the head was positioned 4cm forward. These positions were adjusted with the use of cervical range-of-motion instrumentation(CROM, Performance Attainment Inc., St. Paul, U.S.A.). Mandibular rotational torque movements were monitored with the Rotate program of BioPAK system (Bioresearch Inc., WI, U.S.A.). The rotational torque movements in frontal and horizontal plane during mandibular border movement were recorded with two parameters: frontal rotational torque angle and horizontal rotational torque angle. The data obtained was analyzed by the SAS/Stat program. The obtained results were as follows : 1. The control group showed significantly larger mandibular rotational angles in UHP than those in DHP and FHP during maximum mouth opening in both frontal and horizontal planes. Disc displacement with reduction group showed significantly larger mandibular rotational angles in DHP and FHP than those in NHP during lateral excursion to the affected and non-affected sides in both frontal and horizontal planes(p<0.05). 2. Disc displacement without reduction group showed significantly larger mandibular rotational angles in FHP than those in any other head postures during maximum mouth opening as well as lateral excursion to the affected and non-affected sides in both frontal and horizontal planes. Degenerative joint disease group showed significantly larger mandibular rotational angles in FHP than those in any other head postures during maximum mouth opening, protrusion and lateral excursion in both frontal and horizontal planes(p<0.05). 3. In NHP, mandibular rotational angle of the control group was significantly larger than that of any other patient subgroups. Mandibular rotational angle of disc displacement with reduction group was significantly larger than that of disc displacement without reduction group during maximum mouth opening in the frontal plane. Mandibular rotational angle of disc displacement without reduction group was significantly larger than that of disc displacement with reduction group or degenerative joint disease group during maximum mouth opening in the horizontal plane(p<0.05). 4. In NHP, mandibular rotational angles of disc displacement without reduction group were significantly larger than those of the control group or disc displacement with reduction group during lateral excursion to the affected side in both frontal and horizontal planes. Mandibular rotational angle of disc displacement without reduction group was significantly smaller than that of the control group during lateral excursion to the non-affected side in frontal plane. Mandibular rotational angle of disc displacement without reduction group was significantly larger than that of disc displacement with reduction group during lateral excursion to the non-affected side in the horizontal plane(p<0.05). 5. In NHP, mandibular rotational angle of the control group was significantly smaller than that of disc displacement with reduction group or disc displacement without reduction group during protrusion in the frontal plane. Mandibular rotational angle of disc displacement without reduction group was significantly larger than that of the disc displacement with reduction group or degenerative joint disease group during protrusion in the horizontal plane. Mandibular rotational angle of the control group was significantly smaller than that of disc displacement without reduction group or degenerative joint disease group during protrusion in the horizontal plane(p<0.05). 6. In NHP, disc displacement without reduction group and degenerative joint disease group showed significantly larger mandibular rotational angles during lateral excursion to the affected side than during lateral excursion to the non-affected side in both frontal and horizontal planes(p<0.05). The findings indicate that changes in head posture can influence mandibular rotational torque movements. The more advanced state is a progressive stage of TMDs, the more influenced by FHP are mandibular rotational torque movements of the patients with TMDs.

  • PDF

The Prognostic Factors Affecting the Occurrence of Subsequent Unprovoked Seizure in Patients Who Present with Febrile Seizure after 6 Years of Age (6세 이후 열경련 환자의 비열성발작으로 진행되는 위험 인자)

  • Lee, Hyeon Ju;Kim, Seung Hyo
    • Journal of the Korean Child Neurology Society
    • /
    • v.26 no.4
    • /
    • pp.215-220
    • /
    • 2018
  • Purpose: Few reports have described the prognostic factors affecting the occurrence of subsequent unprovoked seizure in patients who present with febrile seizure (FS) after 6 years of age. We investigated the prognostic factors affecting the development of unprovoked seizures after FS among patients from Jeju Island. Methods: We included patients who developed FS after 6 years of age, who presented to our outpatient clinic between January, 2011 and June, 2017. Clinical data were obtained through chart reviews and phone call interviews. We used logistic regression analysis to analyze the risk factors associated with the occurrence of subsequent unprovoked seizure. Results: Of the 895 patients who presented to our hospital due to their febrile seizure, 83 developed FS after 6 years of age. Among them, 3 patients were prescribed antiepileptic drugs before the onset of the unprovoked seizure, and 4 patients developed an unprovoked seizure before 6 years of age. Thus, overall, 76 patients were included in the study. 51 patients developed first FS before 6 years of age. In the remaining patients, the first FS developed after 6 years of age. The mean observational period since the last outpatient follow-up visit was 3.2 years (median 3.04 years, range: 1.42-4.71 years). Among them, 21% developed an unprovoked seizure. Logistic regression analysis showed that electroencephalographic (EEG) abnormalities served as an independent risk factor for a subsequent unprovoked seizure. Conclusion: EEG is the proper diagnostic tool to predict the risk of a subsequent unprovoked seizure in patients with FS after 6 years of age.

A Study on Applied to Optimal Diagnostic Device in Portal Vein Visualization: Focused on MRI and CT (간문맥 묘출을 위한 최적의 영상진단 장치에 관한 연구: MRI, CT 중심으로)

  • Goo, Eun-Hoe
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
    • /
    • v.13 no.2
    • /
    • pp.217-225
    • /
    • 2019
  • The purpose of this study was to quantitate signal to noise ratio and contrast to noise ratio of the portal vein using CT and 3.0T MRI and to investigate the optimal imaging device. Twenty patients who inspective CT and 3.0T MRI between February 2018 and April 2018 were randomly assigned to receive data from the picture archiving communication system. The SNR and CNR values were evaluated by measuring the mean and standard deviation of the region of interest of the four regions of the portal vein (the main portal vein, the right vein, the left vein, and the middle vein). The results showed that SNR was 9.180.72 in the right context, 9.410.84 in the left context, 9.540.59 in the middle context, 9.550.75 in the order context, and 22.292.03 in the right context and 25.893 in the 3.0T MRI. 19, median context: 24.392.87, and order Mac: 26.642.30 (p<0.05). CNR was 3.790.68 in the CT context, 3.740.65 in the left context, 3.710.39 in the middle context, 3.790.68 in the order context, 9.490.65 in the right context, and 11.0001.90 in the 3.0T MRI, Intermediate context: 12.701.75, order Mac: 10.010.98, 3.0T MRI was higher than CT (p<0.05). In conclusion, SNR and CNR values were higher in the 3.0T MRI than CT in the 4 portal regions. Therefore, 3.0T MRI using non-ionizing radiation was the most superior imaging equipment than CT.

Evaluation of Patient Radiation Doses Using DAP Meter in Interventional Radiology Procedures (인터벤션 시술 시 면적선량계를 이용한 환자 방사선 선량 평가)

  • Kang, Byung-Sam;Yoon, Yong-Su
    • Journal of radiological science and technology
    • /
    • v.40 no.1
    • /
    • pp.27-34
    • /
    • 2017
  • The author investigated interventional radiology patient doses in several other countries, assessed accuracy of DAP meters embedded in intervention equipments in domestic country, conducted measurement of patient doses for 13 major interventional procedures with use of Dose Area Product(DAP) meters from 23 hospitals in Korea, and referred to 8,415 cases of domestic data related to interventional procedures by radiation exposure after evaluation the actual effectives of dose reduction variables through phantom test. Finally, dose reference level for major interventional procedures was suggested. In this study, guidelines for patient doses were $237.7Gy{\cdot}cm^2$ in TACE, $17.3Gy{\cdot}cm^2$ in AVF, $114.1Gy{\cdot}cm^2$ in LE PTA & STENT, $188.5Gy{\cdot}cm^2$ in TFCA, $383.5Gy{\cdot}cm^2$ in Aneurysm Coil, $64.6Gy{\cdot}cm^2$ in PTBD, $64.6Gy{\cdot}cm^2$ in Biliary Stent, $22.4Gy{\cdot}cm^2$ in PCN, $4.3Gy{\cdot}cm^2$ in Hickman, $2.8Gy{\cdot}cm^2$ in Chemo-port, $4.4Gy{\cdot}cm^2$ in Perm-Cather, $17.1Gy{\cdot}cm^2$ in PCD, and $357.9Gy{\cdot}cm^2$ in Vis, EMB. Dose referenece level acquired in this study is considered to be able to use as minimal guidelines for reducing patient dose in the interventional radiology procedures. For the changes and advances of materials and development of equipments and procedures in the interventional radiology procedures, further studies and monitorings are needed on dose reference level Korean DAP dose conversion factor for the domestic procedures.

Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Common Human Coronaviruses in Children: A Single Center Study, 2015-2019

  • Choi, Youn Young;Kim, Ye Kyung;Choi, Eun Hwa
    • Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
    • /
    • v.28 no.2
    • /
    • pp.101-109
    • /
    • 2021
  • Purpose: Common human coronaviruses (HCoVs) are relatively understudied due to the mild nature of HCoV infection. Given the lack of local epidemiology data on common HCoVs, we aimed to describe clinical and epidemiological characteristics of common HCoVs in children. Methods: Respiratory viral test results from 9,589 respiratory samples from Seoul National University Children's Hospital were analyzed from January 2015 to December 2019. Viral detection was done by the multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Demographics and clinical diagnosis were collected for previously healthy children tested positive for HCoVs. Results: Of the 9,589 samples tested, 1 or more respiratory viruses were detected from 5,017 (52.3%) samples and 463 (4.8%) samples were positive for HCoVs (OC43 2.8%, NL63 1.4%, 229E 0.7%). All 3 types co-circulated during winter months (November to February) with some variation by type. HCoV-OC43 was the most prevalent every winter season. HCoV-NL63 showed alternate peaks in late winter (January to March) and early winter (November to February). HCoV-229E had smaller peaks every other winter. Forty-one percent of HCoV-positive samples were co-detected with additional viruses; human rhinovirus 13.2%, respiratory syncytial virus 13.0%, influenza virus 4.3%. Common clinical diagnosis was upper respiratory tract infection (60.0%) followed by pneumonia (14.8%), croup (8.1%), and bronchiolitis (6.7%). Croup accounted for 17.0% of HCoV-NL63-positive children. Conclusions: This study described clinical and epidemiological characteristics of common HCoVs (OC43, NL63, 229E) in children. Continuing surveillance, perhaps by adding HKU1 in the diagnostic panel can further elucidate the spectrum of common HCoV infections in children.

Evaluation and Verification of the Attenuation Rate of Lead Sheets by Tube Voltage for Reference to Radiation Shielding Facilities (방사선 방어시설 구축 시 활용 가능한 관전압별 납 시트 차폐율 성능평가 및 실측 검증)

  • Ki-Yoon Lee;Kyung-Hwan Jung;Dong-Hee Han;Jang-Oh Kim;Man-Seok Han;Jong-Won Gil;Cheol-Ha Baek
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
    • /
    • v.17 no.4
    • /
    • pp.489-495
    • /
    • 2023
  • Radiation shielding facilities are constructed in locations where diagnostic radiation generators are installed, with the aim of preventing exposure for patients and radiation workers. The purpose of this study is seek to compare and validate the trend of attenuation thickness of lead, the primary material in these radiation shielding facilities, at different maximum tube voltages by Monte Carlo simulations and measurement. We employed the Monte Carlo N-Particle 6 simulation code. Within this simulation, we set a lead shielding arrangement, where the distance between the source and the lead sheet was set at 100 cm and the field of view was set at 10 × 10 cm2. Additionally, we varied the tube voltages to encompass 80, 100, 120, and 140 kVp. We calculated energy spectra for each respective tube voltage and applied them in the simulations. Lead thicknesses corresponding to attenuation rates of 50, 70, 90, and 95% were determined for tube voltages of 80, 100, 120, and 140 kVp. For 80 kVp, the calculated thicknesses for these attenuation rates were 0.03, 0.08, 0.21, and 0.33 mm, respectively. For 100 kVp, the values were 0.05, 0.12, 0.30, and 0.50 mm. Similarly, for 120 kVp, they were 0.06, 0.14, 0.38, and 0.56 mm. Lastly, at 140 kVp, the corresponding thicknesses were 0.08, 0.16, 0.42, and 0.61 mm. Measurements were conducted to validate the calculated lead thicknesses. The radiation generator employed was the GE Healthcare Discovery XR 656, and the dosimeter used was the IBA MagicMax. The experimental results showed that at 80 kVp, the attenuation rates for different thicknesses were 43.56, 70.33, 89.85, and 93.05%, respectively. Similarly, at 100 kVp, the rates were 52.49, 72.26, 86.31, and 92.17%. For 120 kVp, the attenuation rates were 48.26, 71.18, 87.30, and 91.56%. Lastly, at 140 kVp, they were measured 50.45, 68.75, 89.95, and 91.65%. Upon comparing the simulation and experimental results, it was confirmed that the differences between the two values were within an average of approximately 3%. These research findings serve to validate the reliability of Monte Carlo simulations and could be employed as fundamental data for future radiation shielding facility construction.

Unenhanced Breast MRI With Diffusion-Weighted Imaging for Breast Cancer Detection: Effects of Training on Performance and Agreement of Subspecialty Radiologists

  • Yeon Soo Kim;Su Hyun Lee;Soo-Yeon Kim;Eun Sil Kim;Ah Reum Park;Jung Min Chang;Vivian Youngjean Park;Jung Hyun Yoon;Bong Joo Kang;Bo La Yun;Tae Hee Kim;Eun Sook Ko;A Jung Chu;Jin You Kim;Inyoung Youn;Eun Young Chae;Woo Jung Choi;Hee Jeong Kim;Soo Hee Kang;Su Min Ha;Woo Kyung Moon
    • Korean Journal of Radiology
    • /
    • v.25 no.1
    • /
    • pp.11-23
    • /
    • 2024
  • Objective: To investigate whether reader training improves the performance and agreement of radiologists in interpreting unenhanced breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Materials and Methods: A study of 96 breasts (35 cancers, 24 benign, and 37 negative) in 48 asymptomatic women was performed between June 2019 and October 2020. High-resolution DWI with b-values of 0, 800, and 1200 sec/mm2 was performed using a 3.0-T system. Sixteen breast radiologists independently reviewed the DWI, apparent diffusion coefficient maps, and T1-weighted MRI scans and recorded the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category for each breast. After a 2-h training session and a 5-month washout period, they re-evaluated the BI-RADS categories. A BI-RADS category of 4 (lesions with at least two suspicious criteria) or 5 (more than two suspicious criteria) was considered positive. The per-breast diagnostic performance of each reader was compared between the first and second reviews. Inter-reader agreement was evaluated using a multi-rater κ analysis and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: Before training, the mean sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the 16 readers were 70.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 59.4-79.9), 90.8% (95% CI: 85.6-94.2), and 83.5% (95% CI: 78.6-87.4), respectively. After training, significant improvements in specificity (95.2%; 95% CI: 90.8-97.5; P = 0.001) and accuracy (85.9%; 95% CI: 80.9-89.8; P = 0.01) were observed, but no difference in sensitivity (69.8%; 95% CI: 58.1-79.4; P = 0.58) was observed. Regarding inter-reader agreement, the κ values were 0.57 (95% CI: 0.52-0.63) before training and 0.68 (95% CI: 0.62-0.74) after training, with a difference of 0.11 (95% CI: 0.02-0.18; P = 0.01). The ICC was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.69-0.74) before training and 0.79 (95% CI: 0.76-0.80) after training (P = 0.002). Conclusion: Brief reader training improved the performance and agreement of interpretations by breast radiologists using unenhanced MRI with DWI.

Does an extensive diagnostic workup for upfront resectable pancreatic cancer result in a delay which affects survival? Results from an international multicentre study

  • Thomas B. Russell;Peter L. Labib;Jemimah Denson;Fabio Ausania;Elizabeth Pando;Keith J. Roberts;Ambareen Kausar;Vasileios K. Mavroeidis;Gabriele Marangoni;Sarah C. Thomasset;Adam E. Frampton;Pavlos Lykoudis;Manuel Maglione;Nassir Alhaboob;Hassaan Bari;Andrew M. Smith;Duncan Spalding;Parthi Srinivasan;Brian R. Davidson;Ricky H. Bhogal;Daniel Croagh;Ashray Rajagopalan;Ismael Dominguez;Rohan Thakkar;Dhanny Gomez;Michael A. Silva;Pierfrancesco Lapolla;Andrea Mingoli;Alberto Porcu;Teresa Perra;Nehal S. Shah;Zaed Z. R. Hamady;Bilal Al-Sarrieh;Alejandro Serrablo;Somaiah Aroori
    • Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
    • /
    • v.27 no.4
    • /
    • pp.403-414
    • /
    • 2023
  • Backgrounds/Aims: Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) is recommended in fit patients with a carcinoma (PDAC) of the pancreatic head, and a delayed resection may affect survival. This study aimed to correlate the time from staging to PD with long-term survival, and study the impact of preoperative investigations (if any) on the timing of surgery. Methods: Data were extracted from the Recurrence After Whipple's (RAW) study, a multicentre retrospective study of PD outcomes. Only PDAC patients who underwent an upfront resection were included. Patients who received neoadjuvant chemo-/radiotherapy were excluded. Group A (PD within 28 days of most recent preoperative computed tomography [CT]) was compared to group B (> 28 days). Results: A total of 595 patents were included. Compared to group A (median CT-PD time: 12.5 days, interquartile range: 6-21), group B (49 days, 39-64.5) had similar one-year survival (73% vs. 75%, p = 0.6), five-year survival (23% vs. 21%, p = 0.6) and median time-to-death (17 vs. 18 months, p = 0.8). Staging laparoscopy (43 vs. 29.5 days, p = 0.009) and preoperative biliary stenting (39 vs. 20 days, p < 0.001) were associated with a delay to PD, but magnetic resonance imaging (32 vs. 32 days, p = 0.5), positron emission tomography (40 vs. 31 days, p > 0.99) and endoscopic ultrasonography (28 vs. 32 days, p > 0.99) were not. Conclusions: Although a treatment delay may give rise to patient anxiety, our findings would suggest this does not correlate with worse survival. A delay may be necessary to obtain further information and minimize the number of PD patients diagnosed with early disease recurrence.

A Comparative Study of the Standard Uptake Values of the PET Reconstruction Methods; Using Contrast Enhanced CT and Non Contrast Enhanced CT (PET/CT 영상에서 조영제를 사용하지 않은 CT와 조영제를 사용한 CT를 이용한 감쇠보정에 따른 표준화섭취계수의 비교)

  • Lee, Seung-Jae;Park, Hoon-Hee;Ahn, Sha-Ron;Oh, Shin-Hyun;NamKoong, Heuk;Lim, Han-Sang;Kim, Jae-Sam;Lee, Chang-Ho
    • The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
    • /
    • v.12 no.3
    • /
    • pp.235-240
    • /
    • 2008
  • Purpose: At the beginning of PET/CT, Computed Tomography was mainly used only for Attenuation Correction (AC), but as the performance of the CT have been increase, it could give improved diagnostic information with Contrast Media. But it was controversial that Contrast Media could affect AC on PET/CT scan. Some submitted thesis' show that Contrast Media could overestimate when it is for AC data processing. On the contrary, the opinion that Contrast Media could be possible to affect the alteration of SUV because of the overestimated AC. But it does not have a definite effect on the diagnosis. Thus, the affection of Contrast Media on AC was investigated in this study. Materials and Methods: Patient inclusion criteria required a history of a malignancy and performance of an integrated PET/CT scan and contrast- enhanced CT scan within a 1-day period. Thirty oncologic patients who had PET/CT scan from December 2007 to June 2008 underwent staging evaluation and met these criteria. All patients fasted for at least 6 hr before the IV injection of approximately 5.6 MBq/kg (0.15 mCi/kg) of $^{18}F$-FDG and were scanned about 60 min after injection. All patients had a whole body PET/CT performed without IV contrast media followed by a contrast-enhanced CT on the Discovery STe PET/CT scanner. CT data were used for AC and PET images came out after AC. The ROIs drew and measured SUV. A paired t-test of these results was performed to assess the significance of the difference between the SUV obtained from the two attenuation corrected PET images. Results: The mean and maximum Standardized Uptake Values (SUV) for different regions averaged over all Patients. Comparing before using Contrast Media and after using, Most of ROIs have the increased SUV when it did Contrast Enhanced CT compare to Non-Contrast enhanced CT. All regions have increased SUV and also their p value was under 0.05 except the mean SUV of the Heart region. Conclusion: In this regard, the effect on SUV measurements that occurs when a contrast-enhanced CT is used for attenuation correction could have significant clinical ramifications. But some submitted thesis insisted that the percentage change in SUV that can determine or modify clinical management of oncology patients is small. Because there was not much difference that could be discovered by interpreter. But obviously the numerical change was occurred and on the stage finding primary region, small change would be base line, such as the region of liver which has greater change than the other regions needs more attention.

  • PDF

Analysis of Prognostic Factors Related to Survival Time for Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer (소세포폐암 환자의 생존기간에 관련된 인자 분석)

  • Kim, Hee-Kyoo;Yook, Dong-Seung;Shin, Ho-Sik;Kim, Eun-Seok;Lim, Hyun-Jeung;Lim, Tae-Kwan;Ok, Chul-Ho;Cho, Hyun-Myung;Jung, Maan-Hong;Jang, Tae-Won
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
    • /
    • v.54 no.1
    • /
    • pp.57-70
    • /
    • 2003
  • Background : Small cell lung cancer represents approximately 20% of all carcinomas of the lung, and is recognized as having a poor long term outcome compared to non-small cell lung cancer. Therefore, this study investigated the prognostic factors in small cell lung cancer patients in order to improved the survival rate by using the proper therapeutic methods. Material and method : The clinical data from 394 patients who diagnosed with small cell lung cancer and treated from 1993 to 2001 at the Kosin University Gospel Hospital, were analyzed. Result : There were 314 male patients (79.7%), and 80 female patients (20.3%). The number of those with limited disease was 177 (44.9%), and the number of those with extensive disease was 217 (55.1%). Overall, 366 out of 394 enrolled patients had died. The median survival time was 215 days (95% CI : 192-237days). The disease stage, Karnofsky performance state, 5% body weight loss for the recent 3 months, chemotherapy regimens, and the additive chest radiotherapy were identified as being statistically significant factors for the survival time. The median survival times of the supportive care group, one anticancer therapy, and two or more treatment groups were 17 days, 211 days, and 419 day, respectively (p<0.001). These data emphasize the importance of anticancer treatment to improve survival time for patients. The group of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (30 patients) showed significantly longer survival time than the group given sequential chemoradiotherapy (55 patients) (528 days versus 373 days, p=0.0237). The favorable prognostic factors of laboratory study were groups of leukocyte =8,000/mm3, ALP=200 U/L, LDH=450 IU/L, NSE=15 ng/mL, s-GOT=40 IU/L. In extensive disease, there was no difference according to the number of metastatic site. However, the median survival time of patients with ipsilateral pleural effusion had longer than patients having other metastatic sites. According to the survey periods, three groups were divided into 1993-1995, 1996-1998, and 1999-2001. The median survival time was significantly prolonged after 1999 in comparison to previous groups (177 days, 194 days, 289 days, p=0.001, 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: Disease stage and 5% body weight loss for recent 3 months at diagnostic state were significant prognostic factors. In addition, the performance status, serum ALP, LDH, NSE, CEA levels also appear to be prognostic factors. The survival time of those patients with small cell lung cancer has been prologned in recent years. It was suggested that the used of the EP (etoposied and cisplatin) chemotherapy method and concurrent chemoradiotherapy for patients with a limited stage contributed to the improved survival time.