• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.9
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• pp.840-843
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• 1999

We report a case of a resection of very large intracavitary metastatic malanoma causing obstruction of the right ventricular inflow and outflow tract of the heart. A 49-year-old woman with dyspnea and generalized edema was seen. Echocardiography reveal an intra cavitary mass occupying the entire right ventricle and pericardial effusion. The lesion was palliatively resected using a cardiopulmonary bypass and was confirmed as a malignant melanoma. The patient is alive and improved symptomatically 30days after the operation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.98-103
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• 2014

Objectives: Advanced malignant melanoma (MM) has a poor prognosis, with an expected 2-year survival rate of 10 to 20%. It has long been recognized as an immunogenic tumor, and is worse for elderly patients. Many studies have suggested that herbal treatments improve immune functions, but few clinical studies have reported on this topic. Patients and History: We present two cases of female patients (72 and 77 years old, respectively) with advanced MM. The 72-year-old female patient was, at first, diagnosed with MM with multiple bone metastases. She received resection of the primary lesion, but refused further chemotherapy. The 77-year-old female patient was diagnosed with cutaneous MM of the left heel, with suspicion of sentinel node lymphadenopathy; however, she also refused any conventional treatment due to old age. Course of Therapy and Results: Both patients were exclusively treated with standardized allergen-removed Rhus verniciflua stokes (aRVS) extract combined with Bojungikki-tang (BT, Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang in Chinese or Hochu-ekki-to in Japanese). Both patients are still alive and doing well (Feb. 2014), demonstrating that the 72-year-old patient has lived for 27 months and the 77-year-old patient has lived for 31 months without disease progression since the aRVS and BT administration. Conclusion: We suggest that the combination of aRVS extract and BT could be a candidate for overcoming the cancer's immunoediting process especially for elderly MM patients intolerant of conventional treatment.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.533-538
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• 2007

A 16-year-old female mixed dog was submitted for examination at the pathology division of national veterinary research and quarantine service (NVRQS). Grossly, white or grayish spherical, multinodular, firm to friable masses were present in the tibiofibula to the pharenge area of the right limb, and dysphagia, breathing difficulties and tachypnea were shown. Various-sized white or grayish black masses were scattered in lungs and diaphragm and one mass was observed in the trachea and in the jejunum, respectively. Histopathologically, the neoplastic cells were composed of polygonal or spindle shaped cells with various sized round to oval nuclei and abundant cytoplasm. These cells formed lobules or nests separated by fine connective tissue and contained little amount of melanin pigments. Melanin pigments were stained dark gray or black with Fontana-Masson method. Melanosomes were also ultrastructurally demonstrable by electron microscopy. Based on above results, the present case was diagnosed as canine malignant melanoma originating from the lower limb and digit.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.82-89
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• 1992

Electron microscopy (EM) can provide a valuable contribution to light microscopy (LM) In the Interpretation of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) specimen, especially in the diagnosis of the tumor. However, considerable care in processing the specimen is mandatory to recover the cells and avoid altering the fine structures. We experienced a case of malignant melanoma in 33-yrs-old female, diagnosed by EM study of FNAC specimen from the axillary mass, who was initially thought as disseminated carcinomatosis on LM study. The technique of EM study on FNAC specimen consisted of washing the needle and syringe in 2.5% glutaraldehyde after a rapid stain (Diff-Quik), which was used to obtain a preliminary diagnostic impression and to assure the adequacy of the EM specimen. After centrifugation in the steps of fixation and dehydration, the sediment was made into an epon block and examined. The whole processing time of EM study can be shortened within 7 or 8 hours, and results can be available within 48 to 72 hours. Our experience suggests the EM study on FNAC can be a useful diagnostic method in the diagnosis of difficult FNAC cases.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.14-28
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• 2007

Objective : Hwagi-Jokyeong-Tang (化氣調經湯, HJT) was described in DongeuiBogam(東醫寶鑑). This remedy has been used to treat patients with Naryeok, which is similar as tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis in western medicine. Methods : In this study, the present author investigated the effects of HJT on on Human HaCaT keratinocyte and malignant melanoma cells such as SK-MEL-2 and B16F10 in terms of cell viabilities, proliferations, DPPH free radical scavenging activities, oxygen free radical productions and inhibitory action on elastase activities. Results : HJT acceleated proliferation of HaCaT keratinocytes dose-dependantly. HJT also prevented cell death of HaCaT induced by Hydrogen peroxide, which products oxygen free radicals. On the contrary, HJT did not affect proliferations of SK-MEL-2 or B16F10. In addition, HJT was shown to have DPPH free radical scavenging activities and also have inhibitory effects on elastase activities too. On the fluorescent examinations, the present author know that HJT did not affect production levels of oxygen free radicals in malignant melanoma cell, SK-MEL-2. Conclusions : These results suggest that HJT has possibilities of usage for functional cosmetics which have skin regeneration or prevention from skin tissue injury.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.76-81
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• 2021

Objectives: We aimed to collect and report data from all patients who have been diagnosed with mucosal malignant melanoma to obtain the epidemiology and principles of current treatments. Materials and Methods: Between January 2008 and December 2018, 20 patients underwent surgery or follow-up observations at Yonsei University Dental Hospital. The patients' clinical information was reviewed retrospectively. Results: Seventeen of 20 patients had undergone definitive surgery, while only 6 patients received adjuvant radiotherapy or systemic therapy. Eight of 20 patients, including those that had recurrent lesions, were provided immunotherapy. The 3-year survival for all stages was 50%, with a local recurrence rate of 75% and a metastasis rate of 65%. Conclusion: The overall survival of patients receiving surgical treatment was longer than that of patients who did not undergo surgical resection. Eight of 20 patients received immunotherapy as the first-line regimen at our clinic, and those patients exhibited longer overall survival compared to patients in reported keynote studies.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.181-190
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• 2023

Melanoma is a malignant skin tumor caused by damage to melanocytes that can spread to other organs. Hence, various studies have been conducted on preventing the spread of melanoma. Flavonoid-structured substances such as apigenin and galanzin are effective therapeutic agents for inhibiting the proliferation and metastasis of melanoma. In this study, luteolin, quercetin, and their respective derivatives were synthesized. These compounds inhibited cell proliferation of B16 melanoma cells. These results confirmed that the derivatives of quercetin and luteolin may be useful as therapeutic agents to prevent melanoma metastasis.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.78-82
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• 2023

Blue nevi, which are characterized by collections of pigment-producing melanocytes in the dermis, have a variety of clinicopathological characteristics. Plaque-type blue nevus (PTBN) is a variant of blue nevi. PTBN presents at birth or arises in early childhood, and it shows a combination of the features found in common blue nevus and cellular blue nevus. It is typically found on the dorsal surface of the hands and feet or on the head and neck, and it is usually benign and stable over time. However, reports have occasionally described malignant melanomas developing in or associated with a PTBN. Malignant blue nevi are most commonly found on the scalp. We report the case of an 88-year-old woman with a malignant melanoma associated with a PTBN of the cheek.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.122-129
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• 2009

Purpose: To evaluate treatment outcomes of malignant melanoma and to analyze the factors that contributes to outcomes. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the 51 cases of malignant melanoma from March, 1997 to March, 2004 and were followed up more than 5 years. Average age was 49.4. We compared 5-year survival rate for each age, gender, site of occurrence, depth of tumor, metastasis of regional lymph node and immuno-chemo therapy. Results: 5-year survival rate was 88.5% for the age group below 65, 88.0% for the age group 65 and above, 62.5% for male and 100% for female. 5-year survival rate for the site of occurrence showed 100% in upper extremities, and 80.0% in lower extremities and 100% in other sites. 5-year survival rate was 100% for the stage below Clark stage III and 79.3% for the stage above IV. In surgical resection, 5-year survival rate was 66.7% for lymph node metastasis group and 94.9% for non-lymph node metastasis group. Conclusion: The prognostic factors of malignant melanoma were gender, tumor site, depth of tumor (Clark's stage) and metastasis of regional lymph node. But, there was no relation between the age and the survival rate in our study.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5709-5714
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• 2015

Aim: To assess the treatment outcome in patients with malignant skin melanoma and prognostic factors for distant metastases (DM), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 113 patients with malignant skin melanoma (60 females, 53 males, average age-55 years) who were treated surgically. Primary treatment consisted of local excision. In 12 cases, it was accompanied by lymph node excision. In 93 (82%) cases, radicalization was necessary, which was either local only (19 cases) or accompanied by lymph node surgery/biopsy (74 cases). Possible prognostic factors such as Clark's stage and Breslow's depth of invasion, ulceration, average tumor dimensions, lymph nodes metastases (pN+), gender, tumor location and primary excision margins were considered. Results: In 51 (45%) cases, treatment failure occurred. The 5-year DM rate was 47%, the 5-year DFS was 38%, and the 5-year OS was 56%. In the univariate analysis, the important factors with respect to at least one endpoint included Clark's stage, Breslow's depth of invasion, ulceration, average tumor dimensions, lymph nodes metastases, gender and primary tumor localization. The presence of metastasic nodes was the most important prognostic factor, with a 5-year DM rates of 30% for pN(-) and 76% for pN(+) and a 5-year DFS and OS of 56% and 76% for pN(-) and 13% and 24% for pN(+), respectively. The average tumor dimension was independently significant for DFS and OS, with 5-year rates of 69% and 80% for ${\leq}1cm$, 28% and 53% for 1-2 cm, and 18% and 30% for >2 cm, respectively. Tumor location was also significant for DM and OS, with 5-year rates of 69% vs 33% and 41% vs 66% for trunk vs other locations, respectively. Conclusions: The natural course of a malignant skin melanoma treated radically is disadvantageous, with unsuccessful outcome in nearly half of the cases. Common clinical factors, such as Clark's tumor stage, Breslow's depth of invasion and the presence of metastatic nodes, have high prognostic significance. The size and location of the primary lesion may be considered independent prognostic factors. The most important negative prognostic factor is the presence of metastatic regional lymph nodes. Only one quarter of patients with metastases in lymph nodes survive 5 years from primary surgery.