• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 2011

Objective : To present the profiles of spinal cord tumors that can be removed through a unilateral hemilaminectomy and to demonstrate its usefulness for benign spinal cord tumors that significantly occupy the spinal canal. Methods : From June 2004 to October 2010, 25 spinal cord tumors were approached with unilateral hemilaminectomy. We calculated the cross-sectional occupying ratio (CSOR) of tumor to spinal canal before and after the operations. Results : The locations of the tumors were intradural extramedullary in 20 cases, extradural in 2, and intramedullary in 3. The levels of the tumors were lumbar in 12, thoracic 9, and cervical 4. In all cases, the tumor was removed grossly and totally without damaging spinal cord or roots. The mean height and width of the lesions we195re 17.64 mm (3-47.5) and 12.62 mm (4-32.7), respectively. The mean CSOR was 69.40% (range, 27.8-96.9%). Postoperative neurological status showed improvement in all patients except one whose neurologic deficit remained unchanged. Postoperative spinal stability was preserved during the follow-up period (mean, 21.5 months) in all cases. Tumor recurrence did not develop during the follow-up period. Conclusion : Unilateral hemilaminectomy combined with microsurgical technique provides sufficient space for the removal of diverse spinal cord tumors. The basic profiles of the spinal cord tumors which can be removed through the unilateral hemilaminectomy demonstrate its role for the surgery of the benign spinal cord tumors in various sizes.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.753-761
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• 2018

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) is identified as a signaling adaptor protein that regulates bone metabolism, immunity, and the development of several tissues. Therefore, its functions are closely associated with multiple diseases. TRAF6 is also involved in the regulation of hematopoiesis under steady-state conditions, but the role of TRAF6 in modulating hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) during the developmental stages remains unknown. Here, we report that the deletion of TRAF6 in hematopoietic lineage cells resulted in the upregulation of HSPCs in the fetal liver at the prenatal period. However, in the early postnatal period, deletion of TRAF6 drastically diminished HSPCs in the bone marrow (BM), with severe defects in BM development and extramedullary hematopoiesis in the spleen being identified. In the analysis of adult HSPCs in a BM reconstitution setting, TRAF6 played no significant role in HSPC homeostasis, albeit it affected the development of T cells. Taken together, our results suggest that the role of TRAF6 in regulating HSPCs is altered in a spatial and temporal manner during the developmental course of mice.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.255-258
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• 2005

Many patients with intractable chest pain visit pain clinics, two of which, with rare cases of an intraspinal tumor and malignant mesothelioma were experiences at our clinic. A 37-year old female patient presented with exacerbating chest pain, but without neurological manifestations, of 15-months duration. Her laboratory findings, such as blood tests, chest X-ray, EKG, abdominal ultrasonography and chest CT, were normal. MRI revealed an intradural extramedullary schwannoma at the T 5 and 6 levels of the thoracic spine. She completely recovered following a laminectomy, with removal of the tumor. The other case was a 65-year old male patient, who presented with chest and back pain in the thoracic area of 6 months duration. He had no cough and dyspnea, and was initially misdiagnosed with intercostal neuralgia; therefore, pain control medication was administered, but all trials were ineffective. Finally, chest CT revealed a malignant mesothelioma, with multiple spine metastases. In conclusion, patients with intractable chest pain should be re-examined both clinically and radiographically.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.701-705
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• 2000

Solitary plasmacytomas are rare and account for 5-10% of all plasma cell disorders. These tumors are categorized as solitary plasmacytomas of bone(osseous) or extramedullary plasmacytomas(non-osseous). About a half of solitary plasmacytomas of bone occur in the spine but rarely in the skull. We report a case of solitary plasmacytoma of the skull presented with a painless palpable left parietal calvarial mass in an otherwise asymptomatic 38- year-old man. Skull radiographs showed a large radiolucent lesion with well defined non-sclerotic margins. Computed tomograph scan demonstrated a markedly enhancing mass extending from the epidural to the subcutaneous space. The patient underwent surgery and tumor was completely excised. Pathological examination showed tumor to be a plasmacytoma synthesizing IgG. Postoperatively, the patient received radiotherapy. There was no evidence of systemic involvement on postoperative laboratory wokups. Our recommended treatment is a complete surgical excision combined with postoperative radiation therapy. The patient should be follwed carefully for more than 10 years because of either local recurrence or possible progression to multiple myeloma.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1241-1244
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• 2001

The authors report a very rare case of tuberculous spondylitis combined with a schwannoma of spinal cord. A 39- year-old man was admitted because of paraparesis(G1/G2). MRI showed severe cord compression at two different levels. One was by the bulged soft tissue and subligamentous abscess extending from T7 to T9 and the other was by an intradural extramedullary cord tumor at the level of T1-2. At first operation, T8 corpectomy and T7-9 plate fixation with autogenous iliac bone graft were performed. After then, Paraparesis was improved(G2/G3) postoperatively. The second operation underwent two weeks later. The tumor was totally removed and shortly after second operation, paraparesis was markedly improved(G3/G4). Histological diagnosis were tuberculous spondylitis and schwannoma, respectively. The authors reviewed this case where good surgical outcome was obtained by two stage operation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.1080-1084
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• 2000

Spinal neurenteric cyst results from the persistence of an abnormal communication between endodermal and ne-uroectodermal layer. Embryologically, neurenteric cyst is derived from endoderm that is fused with the developing notochord during the third week of gestation. It is a rare malformation that lead to spinal cord compression. The patient is 19-year-old male presented with chest pain, paresthesia and progressive weakness in his low extremities(grade II/II). Preoperative MR imaging revealed intradural extramedullary cyst with intracystic hemorrhage in T1 and T2 level that is ventrally located and compressed the spinal cord. Involved vertebral bodies were scalloped and fused. The cystic tumor were totally removed through costotransversectomy approach. Postoperatively, motor weakness of the low extremities were improved to the level of grade IV/V. And chest pain and paresthesia were gradually disappeared. Postoperative MR imaging showed the decompression of the thoracic spinal cord. Histologic examination revealed a ciliated columnar epithelial neurenteric cyst. The pre- and postoperative clinical, radiological features of a case of upper thoracic neurenteric cyst is described with review of literature.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.436-440
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• 2007

Objective : Spinal cord hemangioblastoma is an uncommon vascular neoplasm with a benign nature and is associated with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease in 20-30% of patients. Total removal of these tumors without significant neurological deficit remains a great challenge. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of VHL mutation analysis and to evaluate surgical outcome of patients with spinal cord hemangioblastomas. Methods : This study included nine patients treated for spinal cord hemangioblastomas at our institute between December 1994 and March 2006. There were four male and five female patients. Mean age was 37.8 years. The mean follow-up period was 22.4 months. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the complete neuraxis was done in all cases and VHL mutation analysis was performed in three cases for a definite diagnosis. Results : Six patients had intramedullary tumor, and the remaining patients had intradural extramedullary lesions. Five patients were associated with VHL disease. The von Hippel-Lindau mutation analysis was done in three patients and two of them showed VHL gene abnormality. Tumors were located in the cervical cord in five cases and in the thoracic cord in four cases. All patients underwent surgical intervention, and total removal was achieved in six cases. All patients showed improvement or, at least, clinically stationary state. Surgical complications did not develop in any cases. Conclusion : Spinal hemangioblastoma in this series has been safely and effectively removed via a posterior approach. Postoperatively, clinical outcome was excellent in the majority of cases. The VHL mutation analysis was useful in patients with family history and in those with multiple hemangioblastomas.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.88-92
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• 2009

Granulocytic sarcoma is a rare extramedullary tumor composed of immature granulocytic precursors. Usually, granulocytic sarcoma is seen in association with acute myeloid leukemia, or other myeloproliferative disorders. Rarely, it may manifest as a primary presentation before the onset of systemic disease in acute myeloid leukemia. The clinical suspicion of granulocytic sarcoma based on imaging findings is important for the management of the patient especially when systemic disease of acute myeloid leukemia is not confirmed as in our case. We report the MR findings of a granulocytic sarcoma in the left leg mimicking hemorrhagic abscess in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia. We believe that MRI can be a helpful diagnostic method of making a differential diagnosis of granulocytic sarcoma in a patient with leukemia, and this can be done by analyzing the signal intensity and the enhancement pattern.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.592-607
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• 2021

Objective : Few studies exist on primary spinal cord tumors (PSCTs) in pediatric patients. The purpose of this study was to perform descriptive analysis and detailed survival analysis for PSCTs. Methods : Between 1985 and 2017, 126 pediatric patients (male : female, 56 : 70) with PSCTs underwent surgery in a single institution. We retrospectively analyzed data regarding demographics, tumor characteristics, outcomes, and survival statistics. Subgroup analysis was performed for the intramedullary (IM) tumors and extradural (ED) tumors separately. Results : The mean age of the participants was 6.4±5.04 years, and the mean follow-up time was 69.5±46.30 months. The most common compartment was the ED compartment (n=57, 45.2%), followed by the IM (n=43, 34.1%) and intradural extramedullary (IDEM; n=16, 12.7%) compartments. Approximately half of PSCTs were malignant (n=69, 54.8%). The most common pathologies were schwannomas (n=14) and neuroblastomas (n=14). Twenty-two patients (17.5%) died from the disease, with a mean disease duration of 15.8±15.85 months. Thirty-six patients (28.6%) suffered from progression, with a mean period of 22.6±30.81 months. The 10-year overall survival (OS) rates and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 81% and 66%, respectively. Regarding IM tumors, the 10-year OS rates and PFS rates were 79% and 57%, respectively. In ED tumors, the 10-year OS rates and PFS rates were 80% and 81%, respectively. Pathology and the extent of resection showed beneficial effects on OS for total PSCTs, IM tumors, and ED tumors. PFS was affected by both the extent of removal and pathology in total PSCTs and ED tumors; however, pathology was a main determinant of PFS rather than the extent of removal in IM tumors. The degree of improvement in the modified McCormick scale showed a trend towards improvement in patients with IM tumors who achieved gross total removal (p=0.447). Conclusion : Approximately half of PSCTs were malignant, and ED tumors were most common. The most common pathologies were schwannomas and neuroblastomas. Both the pathology and extent of resection had a decisive effect on OS. For IM tumors, pathology was a main determinant of PFS rather than the extent of removal. Radical excision of IM tumors could be a viable option for better survival without an increased risk of worse functional outcomes.