• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.1098-1106
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• 1991

Atelectasis may be defined as collapse of the lung due to absence of air within the alveoli. It may involve anatomic segments, lobes, or whole lungs but also may be a diffuse miliary process, as in the adult respiratory distress syndrome. The key to treatment are the anticipation and prevention of atelectasis in various clinical situations, the recognition and treatment of underlying disease, and the prompt initiation of vigorous treatment once atelectasis is found. Repeated assessment by physical examination is necessary to determine the presence of atelectasis and its response to treatment. During the period of January, 1981 to October, 1990, 100 patients with atelectasis were treated in the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Pusan National University Hospital. There were 70 males and 30 females ranging from 3 days to 79 years of age. The occurrence ratio of right to left side was 2.1 : 1. The underlying pathologic lesions of atelectasis were pneumonia with effusion(28), lung ca.(24), pulmonary tuberculosis(24), and chronic empyema(9), The treatment procedure for atelectasis were closed thoracostomy in 26 cases, ressection in 21 cases, therapeutic bronchoscopy in 14 cases and etc.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1133-1137
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• 1996

From September 1994 to October 1995, we are reporting clinical results of 67 patients whom underwent video-assisted trio rabic surgery(VATS). 1. They were diagnosed as spontaneous pneumothorax In )5, diffuse interstitial lung disease in 9, empyema in 7, hemothorax in 5, malignant pleural effusion in 3, hyperhidrosis in 3, foreign body in chest cavity in 2, mesothelioma in 1, miliary tuberculosis in 1 and organizing pneumonia in 12. In pneumothorax, bullectomy in 33 and open bellectoiny in 2 due to pleural adhesion was done Hemostasis in 5, irrigation in 7, foreign body removal in 2, talcum powder insufrlation in 3, sympathectomy 3 as done. Thoracoscopic biopsy watt done In 12 3. For pneumothorax, operation was indicated as recurrent pneumothorax in 18, persistent air leak in 12, visible bullae In chest X-ray in 5. 4 Thoracoscopic biopsy was done in 12. They were interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in 9, miliary tuberculosis in 1, mesothelioma in 1, and organizing pneumonia in 1 .Among interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, usual interstitial pneumonia were 2 and diffuse interstitial pneumonia were 7. 5. Wo complication was found in 6) patients among 67 patients. The complication was found in 4 patients (2 persistent air leak, 2 contralateral lung atelectasis). We concluded that VATS was safe and beneficial in reducing postoperative complication and the role of thoracic surgery will increase markefdly.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.432-440
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• 2000

Background : The prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis among the elderly is increasing in Korea and in the developed countries due to the increased elderly population and their predispositions to chronic disease, poverty and decreased immunity. To define the characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis in the elderly, we evaluated the clinical spectrum of pulmonary tuberculosis. Method : We analyzed 92 patients retrospectively that were diagnosed as active pulmonary tuberculosis over the age of 65. The analysis involved patient's profiles, clinical manifestations, coexisting diseases, diagnostic methods, anti-TB medications and their side effects, and treatment outcomes. Results : The results were as follows : - 1) The ratio of male to female was 2.1:1(62:30 cases) 2) Chief complaints were a cough (47.8%), dyspnea (40.2%), sputum (38.0%), chest pain (12.0%), anorexia (10.9%), and fever (9.8%). 3) 38 (41.3%) of cases had a past history of pulmonary tuberculosis. 4) The coexisting diseases were : -COPD, 25 cases (27.2%); pneumonia, 17 cases (18.5%); DM. 13 cases (14.1%); and malignancy, 10 cases (10.9%). 5) The positivity of Mantoux test (5 TU, PPD-S) was 82.7%. 6) Pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed using the following methods : sputum AFB (Acid Fast Bacillus) smear 42.4%, sputum TB (M. Tuberculosis) culture 15.2%, sputum TB PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) 10.9%, bronchial washing AFB smear 2.1%, chest radiology only 25.0%. 7) Locations of radiologic lesions were RULF, 50 cases; RLLF, 50 cases, mostly, then LLLF ; 26 cases were leastly involved. 8) The coexisting tuberculosis were endobronchial TB(8.7%), TB pleurisy(7.6%) miliary TB(5.4%), intestinal TB(2.2%), renal TB(1.1%) 9) The proportion of treatment regimen with 1st line drug and 2nd line drug were 92.3% and 7.6%, respectively. 10) The outcome of treatment were as follows : cured 31.5%, expired 13.0%, no return 47.8%, follow-up now 7.6%. Conclusion : The pulmonary tuberculosis in the elderly has atypical patterns with chronic coexisting diseases. Therefore, the possibility of pulmonary tuberculosis should be considered in elderly patients with pulmonary symptoms.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.247-253
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• 1981

A total and consecutive 46 patients have undergone cardiac valvular surgery including 8 open mitral commissurotomy and 38 mitral, aortic, mitral-aortic, mitral-tricuspid, tricuspid valve replacements using 46 artificial valves in a period between September 1976 and July 1981. They were 19 males and 27 females with the age ranging from 16 to 50 (mean 32.6) years. Out of 46 valves replaced, 6 were prosthetic valves and 40 were tissue valves, and 33 were replaced in mitral, 9 in aortic and 3 In tricuspid position. Isolated replacements were 33 mitral valves, 6 aortic valves and 1 tricuspid valve; double valve replacements were 6 mitral-aortic valves and 2 mitral-tricuspid valves. . Early mortality within 30 days after operation was noted in 4 cases; 3 after MVR and 1 after open mitral commissurotomy. Causes of death were thrombus obstruction of Beall-Surgitool, Cerebral air embolism, acute renal shut down due to low output syndrome, and left upper pUlmonary vein rupture after open mitral commissurotomy (early mortality 8.7%). 3 late deaths were noted during the follow-up period from 2 to 59 months; 1 due to cerebral hemorrhage from warfarin overdose 3 months, 1 due to miliary tuberculosis 9 months, and another 1 due to cardiac failure after open mitral commissurotomy 42 months postoperatively. Total survival rate 59 months after valvular surgery was 84.8%; there were no early and late death in the group of AVR, TVR and double valve replacements. Preoperative NYHA Class III & IV were 35 cases (76%) out of total 46 cases, and 38 cases (94.8%) out of 39 survival cases were included In NYHA Class I & II during the follow-up period.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.388-402
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• 1996

Background : To compare the diagnostic accuracies of High-resolution CT(HRCI) and chest radiography in the diagnosis of diffuse infiltrative lung disease(DILD). Methods : This study included ninety-nine patients with a diagnosis of acute or chronic DILD, representing 20 different diseases. Twelve normal subjects were included as control. The disease state was confirmed either pathologically or clinically. Radiographs and CT scans were evaluated separately by three independent observers without knowledge of clinical and pathologic results. The observers listed three most likely diagnoses and recorded degree of confidence. Results : The sensitivity of HRCT in the detection of DILD was 98.9% compared to 97.9% of chest radiography. Overall, a correct first-choice diagnosis was made in 48% using chest radiographs and in 60% using HRCT images. The correct diagnosis was among the top-three choices in 64% when chest radiographs were used, and in 75% when HRCT images were reviewed. Overally a confident diagnosis was reached more often with HRCT(55%) than with chest radiography(26%). The correct first-choice diagnosis increased remarkably when the HRCT was used in usual interstitial pneumonia, miliary tuberculosis, diffuse panbronchiolitis and lymphangitic carcinomatosis. Conclusion : HRCT is confirmed to be superior to conventional radiography in the detection and accurate diagnosis of DILD. HRCT is especially valuable in the diagnosis of usual interstitial pneumonia, miliary tuberculosis, diffuse panbronchiolitis, and lymphangitic carcinomatosis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.167-173
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• 2008

Purpose : We evaluated the prevalence and clinical, microbiological features of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPT) in pediatric patients. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed medical records of pediatric patients diagnosed with EPT at The Catholic University of Korea, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital between 2000 and 2007. Results : Of 109 patients diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB), 12 patients (11%) were admitted with EPT. At 2006-2007, the proportion of patients with EPT among patients with TB was the highest (20%) comparing with last 6 years. The ratio of male to female patients was 1.4:1 and the mean age was 9.2 years (range, 3 months-15 years). The involved sites were pleura in 5 (41.6%), central nervous system in 3 (25%), miliary TB in 2 (16.7%), gastrointestinal tract in 1 (8.3%) and bone and joint in 1 (8.3%). The most common symptom at admission was fever (91.6%) and mean duration of fever was 15.8 days (range, 0-47 days) in spite of the proper treatment. Confirmed rate for acid fast bacillus stain, culture, and polymerase chain reaction were 33.3%, 41.6% and 41.6%. Of 5 culture proven cases, 4 (80%) were resistant to more than one antituberculosis drugs. Eleven patients recovered without complication and 1 patient died. Conclusion : Total incidence of TB decreased steadily according to the nationwide survey. However, our results suggest that the proportion of diagnosis with EPT among diagnosis with TB in children has increased. Microbiological diagnosis of EPT in children was more difficult than that of pulmonary TB. And drug resistance rate has increased.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2008

Purpose : According to the 2008 WHO report, incidence, prevalence, and mortality of tuberculosis are decreasing globally. The 7th National Tuberculosis Survey of 1995 in Korea showed that the prevalence of tuberculosis was also decreasing. This study was performed to review the hospitalized childhood tuberculosis in a children's hospital over a 20 year period. Methods : Medical records of children <16 years of age hospitalized with the diagnosis of tuberculosis at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital between 1988 and 2007 were reviewed retrospectively. Changes in number of patients and involved sites were also analyzed by four 5-year periods. Results : Out of the 186 hospitalized patients, 59.1% were male. Median age at diagnosis was 5.5 years old (range, 10 days-15 years). The main involved sites included the lung (n=54, 29%) or pleura (n=12, 6.5%), central nervous system (n=49, 26.3%), lymph node (n=15, 8.1 %), bone and joint (n=9, 4.8%), gastrointestinal tract (n=5, 2.7%) or peritoneum (n=5, 2.7%), pericardium (n=2, 1.1%) and others (n=3, 1.6%). Total 32 patients (17.2%) showed miliary pattern. The proportion of hospitalization with newly diagnosed tuberculosis among all cause hospitalization decreased from 0.61% to 0.09%, comparing the period of 1988-1992 and 2003-2007 (P<0.001) and the incidence of hospitalized tuberculosis of any involved organs also decreased with a statistical significance. Conclusion : The data from a single children's hospital suggest that the number of hospitalized childhood patients with tuberculosis has decreased over a 20 year period in Korea.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.340-346
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• 1991

Tuberculous tracheobronchitis is defined as a specific inflammation of the trachea or major bronchi caused by the tubercle bacillus and recognized as one of the most common and serious complication of pulmonary tuberculosis. It had been a diagnostic challenge in prebronchoscopic era and since 1968, fiberoptic bronchoscopy has been accepted as a safe and valuable diagnostic procedure of tuberculous tracheobronchitis. Now, it remains a troublesome therapeutic problem due to its sequelae such as bronchostenosis, bronchiectasis and bronchial deformity. The authors analyzed the clinical features, radiological findings and bronchoscopic findings with pathologic and bacteriologic study on 61 cases of tuberculous tracheobronchitis and following results were obtained. 1) The peak incidence was in the fourth decade and male to female ratio was 1:3.4. 2) The most common symptom was cough (86.9%) and followed by sputum (49.2%), dyspnea (27.9%), fever (19.8%), weight loss (11.5%), hemoptysis (6.6%), hoarseness (6.6%) and chest discomfort (3.3%) and localized wheezing was heard in 18%. 3) In chest X-ray, consolidation with collapse was observed in 70.5%, and followed by consolidation only (18.0%), mediastinal node enlargement (8.2%), cavitary lesion (6.6%), suspicious hilar mass (3.3%) and miliary lesion (1.6%) and there was no abnormal findings in 4.9%. 4) Bronchoscopy showed hyperplastic lesion in 67.2%, mucosal lesion (18.0%), ulcerative lesion (9.8%) and stenotic lesion (4.9%). The most common site of bronchial lesion was right upper bronchus (36.1%) and followed by right main bronchus (34.4%), left main bronchus (29.5%), left upper bronchus (16.4%), right middle bronchus (8.2%), right lower bronchus (6.6%) and left lower bronchus (3.3%). 5) Chronic granulomatous inflammation with or without caseation necrosis on microscopic examination was confirmed in 69.7%, bronchial washing AFB stain was positive in 34.1%, prebronchoscopic sputum AFB stain was positive in 88.1% and postbronchoscopic sputum AFB stain was positive in 30.1%.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.2
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• pp.150-154
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• 2011

We report a case of Caplan's Syndrome, which presented as multiple pulmonary nodules. A 58-year-old male was admitted to hospital due to multiple pulmonary nodules. In addition, the patient presented with multiple arthritis, and dyspnea on exertion. Rheumatoid arthritis had been diagnosed 35 years ago. The patient had worked as a stonemason for 20 years. Computed Tomography (CT) revealed numerous well-defined tiny nodules scattered in both lungs, which was suspicious of miliary tuberculosis or malignancy. The patient was started on antituberculous medications and referred to our hospital. First, a transbronchial lung biopsy was performed, which showed no evidence of granuloma. It was our opinion that the biopsy was insufficient, and a follow-up video-associated thoracoscopy was performed. The pathological report determined necrotizing granulomatous inflammation and silicosis on background. According to imaging studies, pathologic reports, and clinical symptoms, we concluded that the patient had Caplan's syndrome. We controlled his rheumatic medications, and instructed him to avoid exposure to hazardous dust.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.307-310
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• 2015

We report a case of a paradoxical response of a tuberculoma in the brain mimicking a brain tumor. A 76-year-old woman presented with a 2 week history of headache, dysarthia, and orthopnea. Brain magnetic resonance images (MRI) revealed two rim-enhancing lesions on the pons and occipital lobe, and chest computed tomography showed randomly distributed miliary nodules. The tentative diagnosis was tuberculosis (TB) of the brain and lung. She complained of right hemiparesis and worsening general weakness after taking the anti-TB medication. On the monthly follow-up images, the enhanced lesions were enlarged with increased perfusion and choline/creatinine ratio, suggesting a high grade glioma. A surgical resection was completed to diagnose the occipital lesion, and the tuberculoma was pathologically confirmed by a positive TB-polymerase chain reaction. The anti-TB medication was continued for 13 months. A follow-up MRI showed decreased size of the brain lesions associated with perilesional edema, and the clinical symptoms had improved. Brain tuberculoma could be aggravated mimicking brain malignancy during administration of anti-TB medication. This paradoxical response can be effectively managed by continuing the anti-TB drugs.