• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.281-287
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• 2011

Objective : Pituitary apoplexy is life-threatening clinical syndrome caused by the rapid enlargement of a pituitary tumor due to hemorrhage and/or infarction. The pathogenesis of pituitary apoplexy is not completely understood. We analyzed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of pituitary tumors and subsequently correlated the radiological findings with the clinical presentation. Additionally, immunohistochemistry was also performed to determine whether certain biomarkers are related to radiological apoplexy. Methods : Thirty-four cases of pituitary adenoma were enrolled for retrospective analysis. In this study, the radiological apoplexy was defined as cases where hemorrhage, infarction or cysts were identified on MRI. Acute clinical presentation was defined as the presence of any of the following symptoms: severe sudden onset headache, decreased visual acuity and/or visual field deficit, and acute mental status changes. Angiogenesis was quantified by immunohistochemical expression of fetal liver kinase 1 (Flk-1), neuropilin (NRP) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, while microvascular density (MVD) was assessed using Endoglin and CD31. Results : Clinically, fourteen patients presented with acute symptoms and 20 for mild or none clinical symptoms. Radiologically, fifteen patients met the criteria for radiological apoplexy. Of the fifteen patients with radiologic apoplexy, 9 patients presented acute symptoms whereas of the 19 patient without radiologic apoplexy, 5 patients presented acute symptoms. Of the five biomarkers tracked, only VEGF was found to be positively correlated with both radiological and nonradiological apoplexy. Conclusion : While pituitary apoplexy is currently defined in cases where clinical symptoms can be histologically confirmed, we contend that cases of radiologically identified pituitary hemorrhages that present with mild or no symptoms should be designated subacute or subclinical apoplexy. VEGF is believed to have a positive correlation with pituitary hemorrhage. Considering the high rate of symptomatic or asymptomatic pituitary tumor hemorrhage, additional studies are needed to detect predictors of the pituitary hemorrhage.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.57-61
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• 2012

Purpose : The whole body bone scan on nuclear medicine is a widely accepted examination and procedure. However, unusual nonosseous uptake can be observed, which reflects a rare interaction between the radiopharmacceutical and the patient. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of MRI(Magnetic Resonance Imaging) contrast and $^{99m}Tc$-DPD(Dicarboxpropane diphosphonate) on whole body bone scan. Materials and Methods : We analyzed the 982 patients who were examined by $^{99m}Tc$-DPD on whole body bone scan in nuclear medicine department of pusan national university hospital from january to december 2010. All these 982 patients had MRI contrast administration prior to whole body bone scan. We analyzed laboratory test. Results : 46 patients(men 39, women 7) showed diffuse hepatic uptake on whole body bone scan. These uptakes were disappeared on the follow-up whole body bone scan. There were no significant difference of CBC test, liver function tests and renal function tests. Conclusion : The study might be an indirect evidence that diffuse hepatic and splenic uptake of 99mTc-DPD on whole body bone scan after intravenous administration of Gadolinium(Gd) MRI contrast. To perform a precise examination, Gd-contrast agent should be removed from the body before performing a whole body bone scan.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.257-264
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• 1992

Diagnostic approaches such as angiography, ultrasound, computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance have limitation for contributing to the early clinical diagnosis of atherosclerosis. Recently, $^{99m}Tc-labelled$ low density lipoprotein was developed to detect early atherosclerotic lesion by external imaging with gamma camera. To determine whether $^{99m}Tc-LDL$ scintigraphy can visualize the active atherosclerotic lesion, rabbits were injected with $^{99m}Tc-LDL$, 3 months after feeding dietary fat (lanolin) and we obtained following results. 1) Labelling efficiency of $^{99m}Tc-LDL$ was $79\sim88%$. 2) Biodistribution study of normal rabbits with $^{99m}Tc-LDL$ revealed the high activities in spleen, adrenal gland, liver, kidney which are major organs of high metabolic rate of LDL. 3) Three months after feeding lanolin, serum cholesterol was markedly increased from $74{\pm}17mg/dl$ to $979{\pm}153mg/dl$ and histologic study of aorta after sacrificing the rabbit demonstrated marked atherosclerotic changes. 4) Atherosclerotic lesion of abdominal aorta which was confirmed with histologic study could be demonstrated in $^{99m}Tc-LDL$ scintigraphy after feeding lanolin for 3 months. In conclusion, the results of this preliminary investigation suggest that it may be possible to image active atheromatous lesion with $^{99m}Tc-LDL$. It is anticipated that this promising agent may allow the in vivo monitoring of preclinical atherosclerotic lesions and may be useful to evaluate the metabolic pathway of LDL in humans.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.2
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• pp.432-438
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• 2022

Colonic angiosarcoma is an extremely rare and aggressive malignant tumor with poor prognosis. We report a case of colonic epithelioid angiosarcoma with colonic obstruction and rapidly progressive hepatic metastasis in a 44-year-old female. Abdominal CT revealed a heterogeneously enhancing irregular mass in the ascending colon, causing proximal bowel distension. The patient underwent surgery, and histopathological examination revealed a poorly differentiated carcinoma. A follow-up liver dynamic MRI after 4 months revealed newly developed diffusely scattered numerous small nodules in both hepatic lobes with peripheral and nodular marked arterial hyperenhancement, raising the suspicion of hepatic angiosarcoma. A pathologic second opinion was obtained, and additional immunohistochemistry revealed colonic epithelioid angiosarcoma. The patient showed progressive hepatic metastasis on follow-up abdominal CT after 6 months and died 8 months after initial diagnosis. We describe an educational case of colonic angiosarcoma, a rare malignant tumor, with rapidly progressive hepatic metastasis that showed radiologic findings suggestive of angiosarcoma and enabled a re-diagnosis for proper treatment and prognosis prediction.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2008

Purpose: There are various methods to diagnose hemangioma, such as ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear medicine. However, by development of SPECT imaging, the blood-pool scan using $^{99m}Tc$-labeled red blood cell has been used, because it was non-invasive and the most economical method. Therefore, in this study, we proposed that the usefulness of $^{99m}Tc$-RBC scan and SPECT of the head and neck to diagnose unlocated hemangiomas. Materials and Methods: $^{99m}Tc$-RBC scan and SPECT was performed on 6 patients with doubtful hemangioma (4 person, head; 1 person, neck; 1 person, another). We labeled radiopharmaceutical using modified in vivo method and then, centrifuged it to remove plasma. After a bolus injection of tracer, dynamic perfusion flow images were acquired. Then, anterior, posterior, both lateral static blood-pool images were obtained as early and 4 hours delayed. SPECT was progressed 64 projections per 30 seconds. Each image was interpreted by physicians, Nuclear medicine specialist, and technologist blinded to patient's data. Results: In 5 patients of all the radioactivity of doubtful site didn't change in flow images, but, in blood-pool, delayed and SPECT images, it was increased. So, it was a typical hemangioma finding. The size of lesion was over 2 cm, and it could discriminate as comparing to the delayed and SPECT imaging. On the other hand, in 1 patient, the radioactivity was increased in blood-pool images, but, not in delayed and SPECT images, so, it was proved no hemangioma. Conclusion: Using $^{99m}Tc$-RBC Scan and SPECT, we could diagnose the hemangiomas in head and neck, as well as, liver, more non-invasive, economical, and easy. Therefore, it considered that $^{99m}Tc$-RBC scan and SPECT would offer more useful information for diagnosis of hemangioma, rather than otherimaging such as US, CT, MRI.