• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.207-213
• /
• 1997

Purpose : Intracranial germinoma is the most radiocurable tumor of theprimary intracranial neoplasm. But, the optimum radiation dose and target volume remain controversial In this retrospective study, we analysed the spreading pattern at presentation and the pattern of the failure and survival of intracranial germinoma, Materials and Methods : From 1989 to 1996, 23 Patients were treated for intracranial germinoma at Department of Radiation Oncology, Twenty-one Patients were treated at their initial Presentation and 2 Patients were treated for recurrent disease. Six patients had multiple tumor masses on MRI and 7patients had ventricular seeding on MRI. The examination of cerebrospinal fluid cytology was done in 15 patients and 3 out of 15 patients had positive cerebrospinal cytology. In tumor marker study of $\alpha-FP\;and\;\beta-hCG$, 6 patients had mildly elevated $\beta-hCG$ in serum or cerebrospinal fluid. Twentyone Patients were treated with whole craniospinal axis irradiation and 2 Patients were given whole ventricular radiation therapy. The total dose was ranged between 4500cGy and 5600cGy to primary tumor site (median 5580cGy) Dose to the entire ventricular system ranged from 1980cGy to 3960 cGy (median 2700cGy) and dose to the spinal axis ranged from 2160cGy to 3900cGy (median 2700cGy) Results : Of 23 patients, 21 Patients are alive without evidence of diseasefor median 4 years follow-up. One Patient who had markedly elevated $\alpha-FP\;and\;\beta-hCG$, suffered from Persistent disease after radiation therapy and received 2 cycles of chemotherapy. She died 9 months after chemotherapy One patient who developed ventricular seeding after gamma-knife was treated with whole craniospinal irradiation, he died after 1 year due to probably brain necrosis. The hematologic toxicity of 3 or 4 grade were seen in 7 patients and patient's endocrinologic dysfunction was not deteriorated after radiation therapy. One patient had been treated with growth hormone replacement due to short stature. Conclusions : This retrospective study has confirmed the excellent result of radiation therapy in intracranial germinoma. The complication rate during or after radiation therapy is considered within acceptable range. ft is necessary to further investigate the optimal dose and treatment volume of radiation therapy. The role of chemotherapy in the treatment of intracranial germinoma should be further investigated.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.172-178
• /
• 2002

Purpose : X-ray film over responds to low-energy photons in relative photon beam dosimetry because its sensor is based on silver bromide crystals, which are high-Z molecules. This over-response becomes a significant problem in clinical photon beam dosimetry particularly in regions outside the penumbra. In intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), the radiation field is characterized by multiple small fields and their outside-penumbra regions. Therefore, in order to use film dosimetry for IMRT, the nature the source of the over-response in its radiation field need to be known. This study is aimed to verify and possibly improve film dosimetry for IMRT. Materials and Method : Modulated beams were constructed by a combination of five or seven different static radiation fields using 6 MeV X-rays. In order to verify film dosimetry, we used X-ray film and an ion chamber were used to measure the dose profiles at various depths in a phantom. In addition, in order to reduce the over-response, 0.01 inch thick lead filters were placed on both sides of the film. Results : The measured dose profiles showed a film over-response at the outside-penumbra and low dose regions. The error increased with depths and approached 15% at a maximum for the field size of $15{\times}15cm^2$ at 10 cm depth. The use of filters reduced the error to 3%, but caused an under-response of the dose in a perpendicular set-up. Conclusion : This study demonstrated that film dosimetry for IMRT involves sources of error due to its over-response to low-energy Photons. The use of filers can enhance the accuracy in film dosimetry for IMRT. In this regard, the use of optimal filter conditions is recommended.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.71-81
• /
• 2005

Purpose: Due to local recurrence of tumor, metal failure usually develops in patients who underwent internal fixation or hip joint arthroplasty after curettage in the case of metastatic tumor of proximal femur. The aim of this study is to find out the appropriateness of reconstruction using recycling autograft after wide excision in the case of metastatic bone tumor by performing recycling autograft and hip joint arthroplasty after wide excision, and through presence or absence of local recurrence, functions of lower limbs and occurrence of complications. Materials and Methods: Five patients, in 6 cases, who had undergone reconstruction using recycling autograft prosthetic composite after wide excision in the metastatic tumor from May 2000 to May 2003 were included in this study. The average age of the patients was 60.8 years of age with male to female ratio of 3:2. Average duration of lives following surgery was 23.3 month (7-57 months). Primary lesion included 2 cases of lung cancer, and 1 each of stomach cancer, renal cancer and multiple myeloma. After wide excision, the hip joint was reconstructed with recycling autograft prosthetic composite ; 4 cases of extracorporeal irradiation and 2 cases of pasteurization. Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score(1993) for 6-month period after surgery, as well as presence of complication and local recurrence during the rest of their lives, were studied. Results: Average Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score over the 6-month period after surgery was 63.3% and 1 case of dislocation of hip joint, as a complication following surgery, was discovered. Local recurrence during the lives of the patients was not observed. Conclusion: In the case of metastatic tumor of proximal femur, in which the life span following surgery is expected to be more than 6 months, undergoing reconstruction using recycling autograft after wide excision, in comparison to internal fixation or hip joint arthroplasty after curettage, is deemed to have better results in prevention of local recurrence, and preservation of the functions of all limbs during the life span of the patient.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.53-66
• /
• 1993

By this time, a few of previous studies of factors related to separation from their jobs and job satisfaction only have dealt with the separation rate. the cause of separation and related factors that induce job satisfaction and incentive factors, the actualities of morale some suggestions for reduction of the separation rate. This study is attempted to determine factors that have effect on job satisfaction of national hospital nurses. and to proide information and materials for the development of the administration of nursing through the appreciation of factors influencing on job satisfaction between isolated ward nurses and general ward nurses working at national hospitals. 185 nurses of national hospitals responsed th this study, and were divided into two groups. Group 1: 57 nurses working at isolated wards for tuberculosis patients and Group 2 : 128 nurses at general wards. Relevant data were collected from August, 5, 1992 through August 20, 1992. The questionnaire consisted of 8 genalized items and 4 items concerning job satisfaction. The collected data were processed with SPSS, and the relationship among vaviables was analyzed by means of $X^2-test$, Pearson Correlation, Multiple Regression. The results of this study are as follows: 1. There is no significant difference between two groups in terms of generalized items. Age distributions show $44.3\%$ under the category of less than 34. and $55.7\%$ under the category more than 35, $19.3%$ was single and $74.6\%$ was married respectively. 2. $79.4\%$ of the nurses have the desire to have in-service education under the satisfactory physical environments such as welfare system, accommodating structures and facilities, instruments or management systems of the hospital, but under the category of unsatisfactory circumstances, $60.3\%$ have the intention of having in- service education. The concern in terms of in-service education shows statistically significant difference between two groups $(X^2=8.85,\;p<0. 05)$. This result accepts the hypothesis that good physical environments could intensify interests in service education. 3. The extent of satisfaction related to psychological environments is heightend according to good physical environments. In result, the hypothesis that the extent of satisfaction in terms of physical environments could raise satisfaction about psychological environment is accepted. 4. In the light of the extent of satisfaction about physical environments, $33.3\%$ of isolated ward nurses are satisfied with physical environments, but only $11.7\%$ of general ward nurses are satisfied. $(X^2=10.88,\; p<0.01)$. This result shows that the satisfaction degree about phusicalenvironments of isolated war nurses was higher than that of general ward nurses in spite of high physical and psychological risks due to exposure to infection. Consequently. the hypothesis was rejected that the satisfaction degree about physical environments would be lower in isolated ward nurses than in general ward nurses. 5. The fact that $87.7%$ of isolated ward nurses took interest in service education and $53.19\%$ of general ward nurses took interest in service education demonstrats that isolated ward nurse have more interest in service education than gerneral ward nurses. The result shows that the hypothesis is accepted that isolated ward nurses would have mor interests in service education than general ward nurses. 6. In the extent of satisfaction about physical environments such as morale human relationship promotion, there is no significant difference between two groups in terms of statistics. The hypothesis is rejected that satisfaction about psychologic environments would be high in isolated ward nurses than in general ward nurses. In conclusion. factors influencing on job satisfaction are considered to have effect on. another, and also interdisciplinary amelioration of factors accompanied with systematic inter cooperative investigation is necessary.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.205-212
• /
• 2006

Background: Malignant pulmonary nodules account for about 30 to 40 percent of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN). Therefore, tissue characterization of SPNs is very important. Recently, PET/CT has been widely used for tissue characterization, and has become of importance. The purpose of this study was to compare and to assess multiple factors in PET/CT comparing benign and malignant nodules. Materials and Method: Nineteen patients with SPN underwent PET/CT and biopsy. The difference of standardized uptake value 1 (SUV1), standardized uptake value 2 (SUV2) and retention index in PET/CT between malignancy and benignancy were compared by Levene's test. Result: There were twelve malignant and seven benign nodules. SUV1 and SUV2 were significantly different between malignant nodule and benign nodule (p=0.006 and 0.022), but retention index was not significantly different between malignant nodule and benign nodule (p=0.526). By receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) analysis, the sensitivity was 66.7% and the specificity was 71.4% at a cut off value of 5.40 in SUV1. The sensitivity was 75% and the specificity was 71.4% at cut off value of 7.45 in SUV2. Conclusion: There was a statistically significant difference in SUV1 and SUV2 between benign and malignant nodules. However, the cut off value of SUV1 and SUV2 by receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) analysis was 5.40 and 7.45 which is different from previous studies. Therefore, studies on a larger sample of patients are required for confirmation.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.275-286
• /
• 2007

Background : Acute renal failure is one of the leading causes of postoperative morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors that are associated with acute renal failure after colorectal surgery. Materials and Methods : Five hundred seventy patients who operated colorectal surgery at the Yeungnam University Medical Center over three years from 2004 to 2006 were enrolled in this study. The effects of gender, age, ASA classification, concomitant disease, surgery type and duration, reoperation, urogenital manipulation, medication, hypotension, hypovolemia, transfusion, and postoperative ventilatory care on the occurrence of acute renal failure after colorectal surgery were studied. Results : The major risk factors of acute renal failure after colorectal surgery were age of patients (P=0.003), ASA classification (P<0.001), concomitant disease (P<0.001), duration of the time surgery (P=0.034), reoperation (P=0.001), use of intraoperative diuretics (P=0.005), use of postoperative diuretics (P<0.001), intraoperative hypotension (P=0.018), intraoperative transfusion (P<0.001), postoperative transfusion (P<0.001), and postoperative ventilatory care (P=0.001). Conclusion : Multiple factors cause synergistic effects on the development of acute renal failure after colorectal surgery. Therefore, efforts to reduce the risk factors associated with acute renal failure are needed. In addition, intensive postoperative care should be provided to all patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.29 no.12
• /
• pp.1555-1562
• /
• 2000

Objects : Surgical management of the distal anterior cerebral artery(DACA) aneurysms presents several unique problems to surgeons, such as difficulty in early identification of parent arteries, high incidence of rebleeding and premature rupture, and requirement of unfamiliar approach other than conventional frontotemporal craniotomy. Therefore, preoperative anatomical knowledge of anterior interhemispheric fissure and entry point of dissection is prerequisite. Authors utilized a frontobasal approach for DACA aneurysms by using consistent external landmark for guidance to the deep structure. Materials and Methods : From Nov. 1995 to Jun. 1999, a surgical clipping of DACA aneurysms was carried out in 9 patients among a total 131 patients with intracranial aneurysms. In each case, the clinical and aneurysmal features were carefully reviewed through the angiograms, medical records, and intraoperative findings. Results : The incidence of DACA aneurysms was 6.9% from our series. All cases were arisen from juxtacallosal por-tion ; 6 cases from pericallosal-callosomarginal(PC-CM) junction and 3 from pericallosal-frontopolar(PC-FP) junction. Associated vascular anomalies were noted in 3 cases and multiple aneurysms in 3 cases, respectively. The preoperative clinical grades were generally poor. An early surgery was performed in 7 cases and frontobasal interhemispheric approaches in 7 cases. Postoperatively, two patients died of complications ; one delayed ischemic vasospasm and one aspiration pneumonia but remaining patients recovered well. Conclusion : The frontobasal interhemispheric approach was useful for DACA aneurysms in early surgery. Division of superior sagittal sinus(SSS) enabled a minimal retraction of brain on both sides, and prevention of intraoperative rupture was possible. Authors suggest the frontopolar(first frontal bridging) vein as a constant external landmark for approaching the genu of the corpus callosum and juxtacallosal DACA aneurysms.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.275-285
• /
• 2013

Purpose : The objective of this study was to investigate effects of different smoothing kernel sizes on brain tissue-masked susceptibility-weighted images (SWI) obtained from normal elderly subjects using voxel-based analyses. Materials and Methods: Twenty healthy human volunteers (mean $age{\pm}SD$ = $67.8{\pm}6.09$ years, 14 females and 6 males) were studied after informed consent. A fully first-order flow-compensated three-dimensional (3D) gradient-echo sequence ran to obtain axial magnitude and phase images to generate SWI data. In addition, sagittal 3D T1-weighted images were acquired with the magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition of gradient-echo sequence for brain tissue segmentation and imaging registration. Both paramagnetically (PSWI) and diamagnetically (NSWI) phase-masked SWI data were obtained with masking out non-brain tissues. Finally, both tissue-masked PSWI and NSWI data were smoothed using different smoothing kernel sizes that were isotropic 0, 2, 4, and 8 mm Gaussian kernels. The voxel-based comparisons were performed using a paired t-test between PSWI and NSWI for each smoothing kernel size. Results: The significance of comparisons increased with increasing smoothing kernel sizes. Signals from NSWI were greater than those from PSWI. The smoothing kernel size of four was optimal to use voxel-based comparisons. The bilaterally different areas were found on multiple brain regions. Conclusion: The paramagnetic (positive) phase mask led to reduce signals from high susceptibility areas. To minimize partial volume effects and contributions of large vessels, the voxel-based analysis on SWI with masked non-brain components should be utilized.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.40-45
• /
• 2000

Purpose : To evaluate the histopathological prognostic factors, relapse pattern and survival in patients with endometrial carcinoma who were treated with surgery and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). Methods and Materials : From September 1991 to December 1997, 27 patients with endometrial carcinoma treated with surgery and postoperative adjuvant RT at Asan Medical Center were entered in this study. Surgery was peformed with total abdominal hysterectomy in six, total abdominal hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection in eight and radical hysterectomy in 13 patients. External RT of 50.4 Gy was done to all patients and among these, additional high dose rate vaginal vault irradiation of 20$\~$25 Gy with fractional dose of 4$\~$5 Gy was boosted In 16 patients. The patients were followed for 6$\~$95 months(median 30). Results : The number of patients according to FIGO stage were I 18 (67$\%$), II 1 ($4\%$) and III 7 ($26\%$). Patients with poor histologic grade, deep myometrial invasion, adnexal involvement, lymphovascular invasion showed more pelvic lymph node involvement, but no statistical significance was indicated. The 5 year overall and disease free survival were 100$\%$ and 76.8$\%$, respectively. Relapse sites were pelvic, para-aortic lymph node, and multiple metastases including lung, and no vaginal relapse was developed. Factors that were associated with disease free survival were FIGO stage (p=0.01), lymphovascular invasion (p=0.03), pelvic lymph node involvement (p=0.0001). There was only one Grade 1 rectal bleeding without moderate to severe complications. Conclusion : Postoperative adjuvant RT is considered to reduce the loco-regional failure, resulting the improvement of survival. The group of patients with the risk of vaginal failure without vaginal vault irradiation should be investigated according to stage and grade.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.67-72
• /
• 2000

Background :The authors have developed a Digital image chart(DIC) and digital Radiotherapy Record System (DRRS). We have evaluated the DIC and DRRS for reliability, usefulness, ease of use, and efficiency. Materials and Methods :The basic design of the DIC and DRRS was to build an digital image database of radiation therapy Patient records for a more efficient and timely flow of critical image information throughout the department. This system is a submit of comprehensive radiation oncology management system (C-ROMS) and composed of a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), a radiotherapy information database, and a radiotherapy imaging database. The DIC and DRRS were programmed using Delphi under a Windows 95 environment and is capable of displaying the digital images of patients identification photos, simulation films, radiotherapy setup, diagnostic radiology images, gross lesion Photos, and radiotherapy Planning isodose charts with beam arrangements. Twenty-three clients in the department are connected by Ethernet (10 Mbps) to the central image server (Sun Ultra-sparc 1 workstation). Results :From the introduction of this system in February 1998 through December 1999, we have accumulated a total of 15,732 individual images for 2,556 patients. We can organize radiation therapy in a 'paperless' environment in 120 patients with breast cancer. Using this system, we have succeeded in the prompt, accurate, and simultaneous access to patient care information from multiple locations throughout the department. This coordination has resulted in improved operational efficiency within the department. Conclusion :The authors believe that the DIC and DRRS has contributed to the improvement of radiation oncology department efficacy as well as to time and resource savings by providing necessary visual information throughout the department conveniently and simultaneously. As a result, we can also achieve the 'paperless' and 'filmless' practice of radiation oncology with this system.