• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.994-997
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• 1990

We are reporting a case of esophageal hemangioma, which is a very rare disease with only 24 cases having been reported. A 31-year-old male with dysphagia was shown to have a hemangioma of the upper thoracic esophagus and resection of the lesion cured this problem. Once diagnosed in symptomatic patient, treatment should be instituted because of followings; 1. growth potency to large size, 2. possible complications such as hemorrhage and obstruction, and 3. exclusion diagnosis of malignancy. Surgery is the treatment of choice due to its effectiveness and safety, but endoscopic removal may be possible for small tumors and those on a pedicle.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.111-117
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• 1987

From March, 1983 to March, 1987, 16 patients with esophageal steno-obstruction due to nonesophageal tumors were treated in the Division of Therapeutic Radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College. The patient characteristics, effect of radiotherapy (XRT) on esophageal steno-obstruction and survival were evaluated. The most common primary tumor was lung cancer (14/16) and the middle third of the esophagus was most frequently involved (14/16). Improved clinical response was observed in $80\%$ of the patients who finished the planned courses of XRT. The mean radiation dose evoking the improvement of dysphagia was 2,993 cGy given over a period of 3 to 4 weeks. The Kaplan-Meier estimates of survival at 15 and 30 weeks of follow-up were $60\%$ and $46\%$, respectively. In the completed group who finished the whole planned courses of XRT, survival rates were $77\%\;and\;51\%$, respectively. Four patients were alive over 90 weeks with normal passage of food.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.46-51
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• 1998

Treatment of esophageal perforation when diagnosed late remains controversial. Ten consecutive patients since 1990 were treated late(later than 24 hours) for esophageal perforation with primary repair. Four perforations were iatrogenic, 3 were spontaneous, 2 were foreign body aspiraton and 1 was trauma. The interval from perforation to operation was 116 hours in mean and 48 hours in median value. The principles of repair included (1) a local esophagomyotomy proximal and distal to the tear to expose the mucosal defect and intact mucosa beyond, (2) debridement of the mucosal defect and closure, (3) reapproximation of the muscle, and (4) adequate drainage. The repair was buttressed with parietal pleura or pericardial fat in 9 patients. Associated distal obstruction was treated with dilation and esophagomyotomy intraoperatively. There was one mortality and cause of death was massive gastric bleeding due to gastric ulcer on 33rd day after operation. Five patients had leak at the site of repair and these cases were treated completely with conservative treatment except a mortality case. In conclusion, in the absence of malignant or irreversible distal obstruction, meticulous repair of perforated esophagus and adequate drainage are preferred approach, regardless of the duration from the injury to the operation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.269-272
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• 2001

Fourteen dogs referred to veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Seoul National University were diagnosed as esophageal foreign body (9 cases), megaesophagus (4 cases) and esophageal stricture (1 case). Patients showed a variety of clinical signs including regurgitation, vomiting, anorexia, hypersalivation, and retching. Survey radiographic examination included the entire esophagus, including the caudal pharynx and cranial abdomen. contrast radiographs were done to identify lesions or to characterize abnormal radiographic findings on survey films. In case static contrast studies were not sufficient were not sufficient to differentiate the diseases, dynamic fluoroscopic studies were performed. In thoracic megaesophagus, when gas filled, it provided several hallmark findings such as visualization of paired longus colli muscle and tracheal stripe sign. When gas-distended, the caudal thoracic esophagus was seen as a pair of thin, soft-tissue stripes that converged into a point overlying the diaphragm and cranial abdomen. All cases of megaesophagus could be solely identified by survey radiographs. In esophageal foreign body, 6 cases out of 9 patients had the history of having foreign body and others not. Most of esophageal foreign body could be diagnosed on survey radiographs and one case with radiolucent foreign body was confirmed by esophagram. It appeared as radiopaque material along the path of esophagus and the radiopacity was determined by its nature. Obstruction caused by foreign body eventually led to dilation of the esophageal lumen cranial to the site in 3 cases. In esophageal stricture, there was no remarkable findings on survey radiograph of the thorax. However, esophagography with barium sulfate showed the narrowing of the esophagus near hiatus. On fluoroscopy, swallowed barium was stagnated cranial to the site despite the esophageal peristalsis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.470-474
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• 1980

Achalasia is a neurogenic esophageal disorder, characterized by incomplete relaxation of the gastroesophageal sphincter in response to deglutition and absence of peristalsis from the body of the esophaugs. Because there is no known method by which esophageal peristalsis can be restored, therapy is directed toward the relief of dital esophageal obstruction. During the period of June 1965 to September 1980, 13 cases of achalasia were operated at the Department of Thoracic SUrgery, Seoul Natonal University Hospital. 1. Among 13 cases, 5 were male and 8 were female. 2. Esophagomyotomy was performed in 12 cases, and 1 case was treated with transverse suture of lower esophagus after longitudinal incision. 3. There was no operative mortality, but 2 cases subsequently underwent esophagogastrostomy after esophagomyotomy. 4. One of 13 cases was combined with mongolism.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.371-374
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• 2006

A 4-month-old, intact male, Tosa with a history of a regurgitation, vomiting, and weight loss for three weeks was presented to Animal Medical Center, Chonbuk National University. In Serial plain radiographs, a severely distended stomach was seen and ultrasonogram revealed a nonfunctional pylorus with normal layer comparable with an obstruction of pyloric region by pyloric achalasia. An esophagram and endoscopy revealed normal peristalsis with failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to open, supporting the diagnosis of esophageal achalasia. Megaesophagus was observed on reradiograph and esophagram 11 days later. The clinical signs and esophageal dilation were resolved without resorting to any treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 1968

Achalasia is a functional disorder of a short segment of the lower esophagus showing obstruction of the esophagogastric junction. Dysphagia. regurgitation and weight loss are outstanding features,however, complicated pulmonary troubles aspiration pneumonitis, bronchiectasis, lung abscess etc. --are sometimes more apparent than the disease entity in children though achalasia is rarely encountered in children. During the period of January, 1961, to May, 1968, the authors experienced 9 cases of achalasia of the esophagus in Chest Surgery Department,N.M.C. 1. Seven of nine were male and four were under 5 years of age. 2. So-called symptoms triad noted in almost every case, and 3 of 4 children showed recurrent attacks of pneumonitis. 3. Chest film showed widened superior mediastinum by dilated esophagus in 6 cases, and pulmonary infiltrations in 3 cases of children. 4. Preoperative diagnosis were achalasia,esophageal stricture by rodent-cidal ingestion and suggestive esophageal cancer in 7 cases,one case and remaining one case. respectively. 5. Modified Heller procedure was performed in all cases with definite diagnosis of achalasia at operation table in misdiagnosed 2 cases. 6. Immediate postoperative complications were 2 cases of wound infection and one case of atelectasis and no operative mortality encountered. 7. Seven of nine showed excellent result of operation, and good in one case. Remaining one case failed relieving obstruction and underwent interposition of ileocolonic segment with excellent result.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2010

The pathophysiology of Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been known that it is developed when the offense-primarily the gastric acid-pepsin content of the refluxate-overcomes a 3-tiered esophageal protective defense. consisting of antireflux mechanisms, luminal clearance mechanisms, and tissue resistance. Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), which is known as an extraesophageal variant of GERD, has been considered to be developed by transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR), direct mucosal injury by gastric contents, more sensitive mucosa compared to esophagus, and absence of buffering effect and aggravation of the injury due to pepsin. However, hypothesis of the pathophysiology in both entities are numerous and still lack of understanding for being a theory. There is no conflict that understanding the pathophysiology is necessary for resolving the problems of these diseases and numerous studies and results have been releasing. This review could provide clinicians dealing with GERD and LPR with applicable new information and help for overcoming the clinical obstruction.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2002

We arrived at the following conclusions after we have studied esophagitis through the literatures of oriental and western medicine. 1. The western medical causes of acute esophagitis are corrosiveness chemical material, esophageal or gastric disease, trauma, blister stomatitis, filamentous fungus infection and uremia of chronic patient etc, and the oriental medical causes are qi and blood stagnation, blood stasis and stagnation, stagnant phlegm by coldness, heating, dyspepsia and food poisoning etc. 2. The western medical causes of chronic esophagitis are malfunction of lower esophageal sphincter, esophageal tom chink and hernia, increase of gastric pressure by overeating, fatness, pregnancy and ascites etc, and the oriental medical causes are asthenic cardiac qi, hepatic qi attacking stomach by seven kinds of depression, cold-damp stagnation and insufficiency of gastric qi by overeating, excessive drinking and sexual indulgence etc. 3. The main symptoms of acute esophagitis are severe chest pain, instantly vomiting, swallowing pain etc, and chronic esophagitis are occasionally light chest pain, heart bum, anorexia, dysphagia, dizziness, general body weakness etc. These symptoms are come under thoracic obstruction, acid regurgitation, vomiting and chest pain of oriental medicine. 4. The western medical diagnoses of acute and chronic esophagitis have used radiation test, esophageal endoscopy, esophageal pressure test and biopsy etc, and the oriental medical diagnoses have used syndrome differentiation by four examination of inspection, listening and smelling examination, inquiring, pulse-taking and palpitation. 5. The western medical treatments of acute esophagitis have regarded preservation stability of esophagus as a principle, and the oriental medical treatments mainly have used expelling pathogen of expelling cold and regulating qi, cooling and removing stasis, promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, eliminating phlegm and regulating qi. 6. The western medical treatments of chronic esophagitis have regarded decrease flowing backward of gastric juice as a purpose, and the oriental medical treatments mainly have used strengthening body resistance of replenishing and strengthening cardioqi, dispersing stagnated hepatoqi, expelling cold and dehygrosis, invigorating stomach and nourishing qi.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.449-453
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• 2007

Totally implanted central venous access devices for chemotherapy (chemoport) are being used increasingly in lung cancer patients. Vascular catheters are associated with various complications including infection, thrombosis as well as spontaneous fractures and embolization of the catheter, which is known as 'pinch-off syndrome'. 'Pinch-off syndrome' refers to the compression of a subclavian central venous catheter between the clavicle and first rib resulting in an intermittent or permanent obstruction, which can lead to tears, transection, or embolization. We report two cases of fractured and embolized implanted subclavian venous catheters in which the fragments were removed percutaneously. A 62-year-old man presented with back pain with a duration of a few weeks. The chest radiograph revealed complete transsection and embolization of the catheter into the right atrium. In addition, a 47-year-old woman with a chemoport had a grade 3 pinch-off sign in a chest radiograph demonstrating complete transsection and embolization of the catheter into the pulmonary artery. Both cases were managed by retrieving the embolized distal fragment percutaneously and removing the proximal section of the catheter.