• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제52권2호
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• pp.126-132
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study was to present the MRI and CT findings of solitary spinal bone lesions (SSBLs) with the aims of aiding the differential diagnoses of malignant tumors and benign lesions, and proposing a diagnostic strategy for obscure SSBLs. Methods : The authors retrospectively reviewed the imaging findings of 19 patients with an obscure SSBL on MRI at our hospital from January 1994 to April 2011. The 19 patients were divided to benign groups and malignant groups according to final diagnosis. MRI and CT findings were evaluated and the results of additional work-up studies were conducted to achieve a differential diagnosis. Results : At final diagnoses, 10 (52.6%) of the 19 SSBLs were malignant tumors and 9 (47.4%) were benign lesions. The malignant tumors included 6 metastatic cancers, 3 multiple myelomas, and 1 chordoma, and the benign lesions included 4 osteomyelitis, 2 hemangiomas, 2 nonspecific chronic inflammations, and 1 giant cell tumor. No MRI characteristics examined was found to be significantly different in the benign and malignant groups. Reactive sclerotic change was observed by CT in 1 (10.0%) of the 10 malignant lesions and in 7 (77.8%) of the 9 benign lesions (p=0.005). Conclusion : Approximately half of the obscure SSBLs were malignant tumors. CT and MRI findings in combination may aid the differential diagnosis of obscure SSBLs. In particular, sclerotic change on CT images was an important finding implying benign lesion. Finally, we suggest a possible diagnostic strategy for obscure SSBLs on MRI.

• 한국의학물리학회지:의학물리
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.290-294
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• 2013

방사선수술은 고 용량의 방사선을 병소의 목표점에 정확하게 주위의 정상조직을 보호하면서 한 번에 혹은 수 차에 거쳐 전달하는 방법이므로 병소 국재에 대한 오차의 크기는 방사선수술에 직접적인 영향을 끼치게 된다. 본 연구에서는 영상유도 국재 장비인 ExacTrac (BrainLab, Germany)을 이용한 척추방사선수술에서 병소 목표점 국재의 오차를 평가하였다. 국재 오차를 최소화 하기위하여 방사선수술 전 '환자위치 확인장치(PPVT)'를 고안하여 부가적으로 사용하였다. 실시간 목표점오차 평가를 위하여 흉추에 전이된 종양에 대한 방사선수술 8례를 대상으로 평가하였다. 그 결과 isocenter 목표점 오차는 횡단면(lateral) 축 방향, 종단면(longitudinal) 축 방향, 수직면(vertical) 축 방향으로 각각 $0.07{\pm}0.17$ mm, $0.11{\pm}0.18$ mm, $0.13{\pm}0.26$ mm이었으며 평균 공간오차는 $0.20{\pm}0.37$ mm이었다. 병소 isocenter의 회전오차(body rotation)는 종단면(longitudinal) 축 방향 $0.14{\pm}0.07^{\circ}$, 횡단면(lateral) 축 방향 $0.11{\pm}0.07^{\circ}$, 환자테이블 각 이동 $0.03{\pm}0.04^{\circ}$로 평균오차는 $0.20{\pm}0.11^{\circ}$이었다. 본 연구결과 영상유도 국재방법을 이용한 척추방사선수술에서의 병소목표점 국재 평균오차는 임상적으로 허용할 수 있는 오차범위 이내 임을 확인하였다.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.74-77
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• 2010

Tuberculous spondylitis is a very rare disease, but it can result in bone destruction, kyphotic deformity, spinal instability, and neurologic complications unless early diagnosis and proper management are done. Because the most common symptom of tuberculous spondylitis is back pain, it can often be misdiagnosed. Atypical tuberculous spondylitis can be presented as a metastatic cancer or a primary vertebral tumor. We must make a differential diagnosis through adequate biopsy. A 30-year-old man visited our clinic due to back and chest pain after a recent traffic accident. About 1 year ago, he had successfully recovered from tuberculous pleurisy after taking anti-tuberculosis medication. We performed epidural and intercostal blocks but the pain was not relieved. For the further evaluation, several imaging and laboratory tests were done. Finally, we confirmed tuberculous spondylitis diagnosis with the biopsy results.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제45권2호
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• pp.107-111
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• 2009

Meningiomas are usually benign neoplasms in which extracranial metastases occur very rarely. We report a case of multiple extracranial metastases of an atypical meningioma following a local recurrence. A 68-year-old man presented with left-side motor weakness and dysarthria for two weeks. A computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an intraventricular tumor. We performed a total mass removal, and the histopathologic findings were consistent with benign meningioma. Eight months later, the meningioma recurred. We performed a reoperation and whole brain radiation therapy postoperatively. The histopathologic findings showed atypical meningioma. Six months later, CT and MRI revealed metastases to multiple vertebrae, lung, ribs and perirenal soft tissue so a decompressive laminectomy with mass removal was performed. The histopathologic findings of the spinal tumors showed atypical meningioma. The results from perirenal biopsies were consistent with metastatic meningioma. In conclusion, extracranial metastasis as well as local recurrence must be considered in atypical or anaplastic meningioma. There must be regular follow-ups. Finally, an evaluation of the chest, abdomen and bone is necessary, especially when related symptoms or signs develop.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제62권1호
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• pp.106-113
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• 2019

Objective : The efficacy of preoperative embolization for hypervascular metastatic spine disease (MSD) such as renal cell and thyroid cancers has been reported. However, the debate on the efficacy of preoperative embolization for non-hypervascular MSD still remains unsettled. The purpose of this study is to determine whether preoperative embolization for non-hypervascular MSD decreases perioperative blood loss. Methods : A total of 79 patients (36 cases of preoperative embolization and 43 cases of non-embolization) who underwent surgery for metastatic spine lesions were included. Representative hypervascular tumors such as renal cell and thyroid cancers were excluded. Intraoperative and perioperative estimated blood losses (EBL), total number of transfusion and calibrated EBL were recorded in the embolization and non-embolization groups. The differences in EBL were also compared along with the type of surgery. In addition, the incidence of Adamkiewicz artery and complications of embolization were assessed. Results : The average age of 50 males and 29 females was $57.6{\pm}13.5$ years. Lung (30), hepatocellular (14), gastrointestinal (nine) and others (26) were the primary cancers. The demographic data was not significantly different between the embolization and the non-embolization groups. There were no significant differences in intraoperative EBL, perioperative EBL, total transfusion and calibrated EBL between two groups. However, intraoperative EBL and total transfusion in patients with preoperative embolization were significantly lower than in non-embolization in the corpectomy group (1645.5 vs. 892.6 mL, p=0.017 for intraoperative EBL and 6.1 vs. 3.9, p=0.018 for number of transfusion). In addition, the presence of Adamkiewicz artery at the index level was noted in two patients. Disruption of this major feeder artery resulted in significant changes in intraoperative neuromonitoring. Conclusion : Preoperative embolization for non-hypervascular MSD did not reduce perioperative blood loss. However, the embolization significantly reduced intraoperative bleeding and total transfusion in corpectomy group. Moreover, the procedure provided insights into the anatomy of tumor and spinal cord vasculature.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.311-316
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• 2007

Objective : The objective of this study is to investigate the safety, surgical efficacy, and advantages of a polyaxial screw-rod system for posterior occipitocervicothoracic arthrodesis. Methods : Charts and radiographs of 32 patients who underwent posterior cervical fixation between October 2004 and February 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. Posterior cervical polyaxial screw-rod fixation was applied on the cervical spine and/or upper thoracic spine. The surgical indication was fracture or dislocation in 18, C1-2 ligamentous injury with trauma in 5, atlantoaxial instability by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) in 4, cervical spondylosis with myelopathy in 4, and spinal metastatic tumor in 1. The patients were followed up and evaluated based on their clinical status and radiographs at 1, 3, 6 months and 1 year after surgery. Results : A total of 189 screws were implanted in 32 patients. Fixation was carried out over an average of 3.3 spinal segment (range, 2 to 7). The mean follow-up interval was 20.2 months. This system allowed for screw placement in the occiput, C1 lateral mass, C2 pars, C3-7 lateral masses, as well as the lower cervical and upper thoracic pedicles. Satisfactory bony fusion and reduction were achieved and confirmed in postoperative flexion-extension lateral radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans in all cases. Revision surgery was required in two cases due to deep wound infection. One case needed a skin graft due to necrotic change. There was one case of kyphotic change due to adjacent segmental degeneration. There were no other complications, such as cord or vertebral artery injury, cerebrospinal fluid leak, screw malposition or back-out, or implant failure, and there were no cases of postoperative radiculopathy due to foraminal stenosis. Conclusion : Posterior cervical stabilization with a polyaxial screw-rod system is a safe and reliable technique that appears to offer several advantages over existing methods. Further biomechanical testings and clinical experiences are needed in order to determine the true benefits of this procedure.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제57권6호
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• pp.594-598
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• 2004

원발성 반지세포 폐암종은 점액을 분비하는 독특한 선암의 일종으로 매우 드물게 발생한다. 예후가 불량하므로 타 원발성 및 전이성 폐암종과 감별이 필요하고 임상적인 검사로 원발병소를 찾기가 어려울 경우 조직면역학적 방법이 감별에 도움이 된다. 본 저자들은 다발전 골전이를 동반한 진행된 원발성 반지세포 폐암종의 증례를 문헌고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.