• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.903-906
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• 1991

Retrospective review of 26 patients undergoing open lung biopsy at the Yonsei University during 10 years period was conducted to evaluate open lung biopsy for DILD. From January 1980 to August 1990, open lung biopsy was performed in 26 patients through a limited thoracotomy incision[a limited anterior or a posterolateral thoracotomy]. Open lung biopsy was indicated for diffuse interstitial pulmonary diseases undiagnosed by indirect clinical and radiological diagnostic methods. The types of incision were limited anterior[11] and limited posterolateral[15]. Preoperative evaluation of the lung disease included sputum culture[26], sputum cytology [19], bronchoscopy[9] and TBLB[7]. In 23 patients the histologic appearances after open lung biopsy were sufficiently specific histologic pictures to confirm diagnosis. The results of the biopsies changed usual therapeutic plan in 17 patients among them. The complications were resp. insufficiency[3], pulmonary ed6ma[3], sepsis[2], and others[3] in 6 patients. Diagnosis from the open lung biopsy was included respiratory pneumonia[7], fibrosis[7], infection[5], malignancy[2], others[5]. 4 patients died of respiratory insufficiency. The causes of the other three death were not due to direct result of the biopsy itself. Open lung biopsy in the patient with a diffuse infiltrative lung disease is an one of the accurate diagnostic method and frequently leads to change of the therapeutic plans. So we conclude that open lung biopsy remains our diagnostic method of choice in diffuse infiltrative lung disease undetermined etiology.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2563-2566
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• 2013

Background: Interleukin-33 (IL-33) has recently been implicated in tumor immunity. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical role of serum IL-33 in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Sera collected from 250 healthy volunteers (HV), 256 patients with benign lung diseases (BLD) and 262 NSCLC cases were subjected to IL-33 ELISA and relationships between serum IL-33 and clinical characteristics were evaluated. Results: Circulating IL-33 levels were higher in the NSCLC group in comparison with the HV and BLD groups (p<0.001). Using a cut-off level 68 pg/ml (95% specificity in the HV group), IL-33 showed a good diagnostic performance for NSCLC. Multivariate survival analysis indicated that serum IL-33 was an independent prognostic factor in the entire NSCLC group [hazards ratio (HR) = 0.64 for low versus high IL-33 levels, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50-0.82; p<0.001] and in 165 selected patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease receiving chemoradiotherapy or chemotherapy (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.52-0.94; p=0.013). Conclusions: IL-33 is a promising potential diagnostic and prognostic marker in NSCLC, independent of the therapeutic intervention.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.329-337
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• 2010

Inhaled inorganic dusts, such as coal, can cause inflammation and fibrosis in the lungs, known as pneumoconiosis. Diagnosis of pneumoconiosis depends on morphological changes by radiological findings and functional change by pulmonary function test (PFT). Unfortunately, current diagnostic findings are limited only to lung fibrosis, which is usually irreversibly progressive. Therefore, it is important that research on potential and prospective biomarkers for pneumoconiosis should be conducted prior to initiation of irreversible radiological or functional changes in the lungs. Analytical techniques using exhaled breath condensate (EBC) or exhaled gas are non-invasive methods for detection of various respiratory diseases. The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between inflammatory biomarkers, such as EBC pH or fractional exhaled nitric oxide ($FE_{NO}$), and pneumoconiosis among 120 retired coal miners (41 controls and 79 pneumoconiosis patients). Levels of EBC pH and FENO did not show a statistically significant difference between the pneumoconiosis patient group and pneumoconiosis patients with small opacity classified by International Labor Organization (ILO) classification. The mean concentration of $FE_{NO}$ in the low percentage $FEV_1$ (< 80%) was lower than that in the high percentage (80% $\leq$) (p = 0.023). The mean concentration of $FE_{NO}$ in current smokers was lower than that in non smokers (never or past smokers) (p = 0.027). Although there was no statistical significance, the levels of $FE_{NO}$ in smokers tended to decrease, compared with non smokers, regardless of pneumoconiosis. In conclusion, there was no significant relationship between the level of EBC pH or $FE_{NO}$ and radiological findings or PFT. The effects between exhaled biomarkers and pneumoconiosis progression, such as decreasing PFT and exacerbation of radiological findings, should be monitored.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.107-112
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• 2003

A congenital cystic adenoid malformation of the lung(CCAM) is characterized by an anomalous fetal development of the terminal respiratory structures, resulting in the adenomatoid proliferation of the bronchiolar elements and cystic formation. CCAM has been detected on the fetus, premature babies and stillborn as well as infants and children. An adult presentation of CCAM is extremely rare. When cystic lesions occur with a repeated infection, an evaluation of the cystic lesions requires a differential diagnosis of CCAM, sequestration, a lung abscess, a pneumatocele and a bronchogenic cyst. The definite treatment of CCAM is the surgical removal of the involved lobe. We report a case of a CCAM in a 24-year-old female with a brief review of the relevant literature.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.1042-1047
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• 1996

The Swyer-James syndrome is a relatively uncommon disease entity presented with unilateral hyperlucent lung due to hypoplasia of a pulmonary artery and bronchiectasis of the affected lung. The main finding is a hyperlucent lung with small hilar shadows on the chest X-ray. Pulmonary angiography is the standard method for diagnosis. We report a case of the Swyer-James syndrome with a brief review of literature.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.5
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• pp.395-401
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• 2009

As the prevalence of tuberculosis declines, the proportion of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease is increasing in Korea. The combined use of liquid and solid media increases the sensitivity of mycobacterial culture and shortens culture time. Because NTMs are ubiquitous in the environment, NTM lung disease requires strict diagnostic criteria to prevent over-diagnosis of NTM lung disease. Mycobacterium avium complex is the most common pathogen of NTM lung disease in Korea and present in two forms: upper lobe cavitary and nodular bronchiectatic form. Decision of treatment of NTM lung disease depends on the infecting species and overall condition of the patient. Because medical therapy requires the use of multiple drugs over 18 to 24 months, surgery for localized disease may be useful for those species refractory to medical therapy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.746-754
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• 1996

Objective: Diffuse interstitial lung disease (DILD) is a group of diverse diseases that share conUTIon clinical, radiologic, and pulomonary function features. Open lung biopsy (OLB) has been regarded as gold standard in differential diagnosis of DILD. However open lung biopsy is a invasive diagnostic tool not free of its own risk or complications. These days, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCf) has become an important diagnostic tool in DILD through its precise image analysis. In many instances, HRCT could provide specific diagnosis or, at least, provide infonnation on the disease activity of DILD. The authors re-evaluate the role of open lung biopsy in this "HRCT era" by investigating the additional diagnostic gain and impacts on the treannent plan in patients who have undergone high-resolution CT. Method : Diagnoses obtained by high-resolution CT and open lung biopsy were compared and changes of treatment plans were evaluated retrospectively in 30 patients who had undergone open lung biopsy for the purpose of diagnosis of diffuse interstitial lung disease from March 1988 to June 1994. Results : High-resolution cr suggeted specific diagnoses in 22 out of 28 patients (78.6%) and the diagnoses were confinned (0 be correct by open lung biopy in 20 of those 22 cases (91%). Open lung biopsy could not give specific diagnosis in 5 out of 30 cases (16.7%). In 5 out of 6 cases (83.3%) in whom high reolution cr was not able to suggest specific diagnosis, open lung biopsy gave specific diagnoses. Treatment plan was altered by the result of open lWlg biopsy in only 2 cases. Conclusion: The aoove fmdings suggest that in "HRCT era", when HRCT could suggest specific diagnosis, the need for open lung biopsy should be re-evaluated.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.73 no.1
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• pp.56-60
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• 2012

A patient who has multiple lung masses with a history of malignancy in organs other than the lung is more likely to be diagnosed with metastatic rather than primary lung cancer. Rarely, metastatic cancer can coexist with primary. We experienced a case of concurrent diagnosis of primary small cell lung cancer and pulmonary metastasis of uterine malignant mixed M$\ddot{u}$llerian tumor (MMMT). The patient was a 52-year-old female with femur fracture and multiple lung masses with a history of an operation for uterine MMMT. The small cell lung cancer was diagnosed by bronchoscopic biopsy. The central lung mass decreased after chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer but multiple peripheral masses increased. A percutaneous biopsy for one of peripheral masses revealed metastatic uterine MMMT. We suggest that we have to consider the possible presence of concomitant malignancies of different origins in one organ especially with patients who had a history of malignancy in another organ.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.4
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• pp.341-348
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• 2022

Background: An accurate diagnosis in patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) by multidisciplinary discussion (MDD) based on histopathologic information is essential for optimal treatment. Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) has increasingly been used as a diagnostic alternative to surgical lung biopsy. This study aimed to evaluate the appropriate methods of TBLC in patients with ILD in Korea. Methods: A total of 27 patients who underwent TBLC were included. TBLC procedure details and clinical MDD diagnosis using TBLC histopathologic information were retrospectively analyzed. Results: All procedures were performed under general anesthesia with the fluoroscopic guidance in the operation room using flexible bronchoscopy and endobronchial balloon blocker. The median procedure duration was less than 30 minutes, and the median number of biopsies per participant was 2. Most of the bleeding after TBLC was not severe, and the rate of pneumothorax was 25.9%. The most common histopathologic pattern was alternative (48.2%), followed by indeterminate (33.3%) and usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)/probable UIP (18.5%). In the MDD after TBLC, the most common diagnosis was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (33.3%), followed by smoking-related ILD (25.9%), nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (18.6%), unclassifiable-ILD (14.8%), and others (7.4%). Conclusion: This first single-center experience showed that TBLC using a flexible bronchoscopy and endobronchial balloon blocker with the fluoroscopic guidance under general anesthesia may be a safe and adequate diagnostic method for ILD patients in Korea. The diagnostic yield of MDD was 85.2%. Further studies are needed to evaluate the diagnostic yield and confidence of TBLC.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2023

Recently, the digital healthcare technologies including non-invasive diagnostics based on Internet of Things (IOT) are getting attention. Human exhaled breath contains a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can provide information of malfunctions of the body and presence of a specific disease. Detection of VOCs in exhaled breath using gas sensors are easy to use, safe, and cost-effective. However, accurate diagnosis of diseases is challenging because changes in concentration of VOCs are extremely small and lots of body factors directly or indirectly influence to the conditions. To overcome the limitations, highly selective nanosensors and artificial intelligent electronic nose (E-nose) systems have been mainly researched in recent decades. This review provides brief reviews of the recent studies for diabetes and lung cancer diagnosis using nanosensors and E-nose systems.