• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.126-132
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study was to present the MRI and CT findings of solitary spinal bone lesions (SSBLs) with the aims of aiding the differential diagnoses of malignant tumors and benign lesions, and proposing a diagnostic strategy for obscure SSBLs. Methods : The authors retrospectively reviewed the imaging findings of 19 patients with an obscure SSBL on MRI at our hospital from January 1994 to April 2011. The 19 patients were divided to benign groups and malignant groups according to final diagnosis. MRI and CT findings were evaluated and the results of additional work-up studies were conducted to achieve a differential diagnosis. Results : At final diagnoses, 10 (52.6%) of the 19 SSBLs were malignant tumors and 9 (47.4%) were benign lesions. The malignant tumors included 6 metastatic cancers, 3 multiple myelomas, and 1 chordoma, and the benign lesions included 4 osteomyelitis, 2 hemangiomas, 2 nonspecific chronic inflammations, and 1 giant cell tumor. No MRI characteristics examined was found to be significantly different in the benign and malignant groups. Reactive sclerotic change was observed by CT in 1 (10.0%) of the 10 malignant lesions and in 7 (77.8%) of the 9 benign lesions (p=0.005). Conclusion : Approximately half of the obscure SSBLs were malignant tumors. CT and MRI findings in combination may aid the differential diagnosis of obscure SSBLs. In particular, sclerotic change on CT images was an important finding implying benign lesion. Finally, we suggest a possible diagnostic strategy for obscure SSBLs on MRI.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.379-382
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• 2016

Cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia (CLH) is a cutaneous pseudolymphoma with a worldwide distribution, equally affecting all races and ethnic groups. Due to its vast array of characteristics, it is most often missed in the differential diagnosis of firm to soft lumps on the head and neck. A systematic approach to the workup and diagnosis along with treatment of such lesions is discussed in this article. A 20-year-old Asian Indian female presented to our Oral and Maxillofacial unit with a lump on the left side of her forehead for 1 month. Local examination revealed a $2.5{\times}3.0cm^2$, well circumscribed swelling over the left para median region that was firm to doughy and non-tender. There was no other significant finding on general examination. Excisional biopsy of the lesion was performed, followed by histopathologic processing. The general etiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, clinical course, prognosis, treatment, and prevention have been discussed in line with the recent modalities of diagnosis and treatment of CLH. Due to the overlapping clinical and histological characteristics of CLH with many other lesions, it is important to consider this lesion in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous lesions.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2081-2085
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• 2012

Background: To investigate the value of ultrasound elastography (UE) in the differentiation between benign and malignant enlarged cervical lymph nodes (LNs). Methods: B-mode ultrasound, power Doppler imaging and UE were examined to determine LN characteristics. Two kinds of methods, 4 scores of elastographic classification and a strain ratio (SR) were used to evaluate the ultrasound elastograms. Results: The cutoff point of SR had high utility in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant of cervical lymph nodes, with good sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. Conclusion: UE is an important aid in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant cervical LNs.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 2005

Anemia can be defined as a reduction in blood hemoglobin concentration or red cell mass relative to age matched normal values. Clinical presentation may range from obviously pale and lethargy to an incidental finding during screening of an otherwise well appearing child. The differential diagnosis of anemia in each instance is broad with numerous possible etiologies. A careful history and physical examination as well as complete blood count, peripheral blood smear and additional laboratory tests are necessary in defining underlying cause of the anemia and guide in further treatment plans. In addition, Iron deficiency anemia and anemia of inflammation are common causes of mild to moderate anemia in children, but most pediatricians have some confusions to differentiate these two entities.

• Proceedings of the Korea Information Processing Society Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.326-327
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• 2007

We investigated whether the CT images of hepatic lesions could be analyzed by computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) tool. We retrospectively reanalyzed 14 liver CT images (10 hepatocellular cancers and 4 benign liver lesions; patients who presented with hepatic masses). The hepatic lesions on CT were segmented by rectangular ROI technique and the morphologic features were extracted and quantitated using fractal texture analysis. The contrast enhancement of hepatic lesions was also quantified and added to the differential diagnosis. The best discriminating function combining the textural features and the values of contrast enhancement of the lesions was created using linear discriminant analysis. Textural feature analysis showed moderate accuracy in the differential diagnosis of hepatic lesions, but statistically insignificant. Combining textural analysis and contrast enhancement value resulted in improved diagnostic accuracy, but further studies are needed.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.sup1
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• pp.166-171
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• 2008

PET of the cerebral metabolic rate of glucose is increasingly used to support the clinical diagnosis in the examination of patients with suspected major neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. $^{18}F-FDG$ PET has been reported to have high diagnostic performance, especially, very high sensitivity in the diagnosis and clinical assessment of therapeutic efficacy. According to clinical research data hitherto, $^{18}F-FDG$ PET is expected to be an effective diagnostic tool in early and differential diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Since 2004, Medicare covers $^{18}F-FDG$ PET scans for the differential diagnosis of fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) under specific requirements; or, its use in a CMS approved practical clinical trial focused on the utility of $^{18}F-FDG$ PET in the diagnosis or treatment of dementing neurodegenerative diseases.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.6331-6335
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• 2013

Objective:To evaluate the performance of combined quantitative analysis of thyroid blood flow and static imaging data in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules. Method: Thyroid blood flow and static imaging were performed in 165 patients with thyroid nodules. Patients were divided into a benign thyroid nodule group (BTN, n=135) and a malignant thyroid nodule group (MTN, n=30) based on the results of post-surgical pathologic examination. Carotid artery thyroid transit times (CTTT), perfusion ratio of thyroid nodule blood/thyroid blood (TNB/TB), and perfusion ratio of thyroid nodule blood/carotid artery blood (TNB/CAB) were measured using thyroid blood flow imaging. The ratios between thyroid nodule and ipsilateral submandibular gland (TN/SG) and thyroid nodule and normal thyroid tissue (TN/T) were measured from thyroid static imaging. The differences between the BTN and MTN groups were compared. Results: 1) CTTT was markedly lower in the MTN group than the BTN group, the difference being statistically significant. 2) TNB/TB and TNB/CAB were both significantly higher in MTN than BTN groups. 3) TN/T was significantly lower in MTN group than BTN group. 4) TN/SG was lower in MTN group than BTN group, but the difference was not statistically significant. 5) Using the combination of CTTT and TN/T, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 93.1%, 95.3% and 94.9% respectively for the diagnosis of MTN. Using the combination of CTTT, TNB/TB and TN/T, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy changed to 89.7%, 100%, and 98.1% respectively. 6) Correlation analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between TN/T and TNB/TB (r=-0.384, P=0.036) and TNB/CAB (r=-0.466, P=0.009) in the MTN group. Conclusion: The combination of quantitative markers from thyroid blood flow and thyroid static imaging had high specificity and accuracy in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules, thus providing an important imaging diagnostic approach.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.101-106
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• 1998

The present study attempted to apply polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to develop a rapid differential diagnosis among Marek's disease, reticuloendotheliosis and avian leukosis. The primers chosen to detect Marek's disease virus (MDV) flank the 132bp tandem direct repeat of the MDV genome. The primers selected for reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) and avian leukosis virus (ALV) are based on proviral long terminal repeats of spleen necrosis virus and Rous-associated virus-2 genomes, respectively. The specific PCR products of MDV, REV and ALV were observed with each primer and the reaction was not cross-reacted among the viruses. MDV-specific DNA was also amplified from the MDV-induced lymphoma (MDCC-MSB1) but not from the REV-induced tumor and ALV-induced lymphoma (LSCC-1104B1). In addition, proviral DNA of REV from REV-induced tumor and proviral DNA of ALV from ALV-induced lymphoma were also amplified by REV-specific and ALV-specific PCRs, respectively. Therefore these three PCR methods may be used to rapidly differentiate among MDV, REV and ALV-associated tumors in diagnosis.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.256-260
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• 2012

Purpose: Actinomycosis is an uncommon chronic granulomatous disease that presents as a slowly progressive, indolent, indurated infiltration with multiple abscesses, fistulas, and sinuses. The purpose of this article is to report on a case of actinomycosis with clinical findings similar to periodontitis. Methods: A 46-year-old female presented with recurrent throbbing pain on the right first and second molar of the mandible three weeks after root planing. Exploratory flap surgery was performed, and the bluish-gray tissue fragment found in the interproximal area between the two molars was sent for histopathology. Results: The diagnosis from the biopsy was actinomycosis. The clinical and radiographic manifestations of this case were clinically indistinguishable from periodontitis. The patient did not report any symptoms, and she is scheduled for a follow-up visit. Conclusions: The present study has identified periodontitis-mimicking actinomycosis. Actinomycosis should be included in the differential diagnosis in cases with periodontal pain and inflammation that do not respond to nonsurgical treatment for periodontitis. More routine submissions of tissue removed from the oral cavity for biopsies may be beneficial for differential diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.254-261
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• 1996

Somatoform disorders are a group of syndromes in which patients focus on and complain of physical symptoms when there is no demonstrable underlying organic pathology or when complaints are in excess of what is expected. The author reviewed concept, sociocultural etiology, differential diagnosis and methods of evaluation of somatoform disorder. The symptoms of Korean culture-specific somatizing cluster, so called Wha-Byung, are discussed.