• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1199-1213
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• 1998

Background : The number of immunocompromised hosts has been increasing steadily and a new pulmonary infiltrate in these patients is a potentially lethal condition which needs rapid diagnosis and treatment. In this study we sought to examine the clinical manifestations, radiologic findings, and therapeutic outcomes of pulmonary mycoses presenting as a new pulmonary infiltrate in immunocompromised hosts. Method : All cases presenting as a new pulmonary infiltrate in immunocompromised hosts and confirmed to be pulmonary mycoses by pathologic examination or by positive culture from a sterile site between October of 1996 and April of 1998 were included in the study and their chart and radiologic findings were retrospectively reviewed. Results : In all, 14 cases of pulmonary mycoses from 13 patients(male : female ratio = 8 : 5, median age 47 yr) were found. Twelve cases were diagnosed as aspergillosis while two were diagnosed as mucormycosis. Major risk factors for fungal infections were chemotherapy for hematologic malignancy(10 cases) and organ transplant recipients(4 cases). Three cases were receiving empirical amphotericin B at the time of appearance of new lung infiltrates. Cases in the hematologic malignancy group had more prominent symptoms : fever(9/10), cough(6/10), sputum(5/10), dyspnea(4/10), chest pain(5/10). Patients in the organ transplant group had minimal symptoms(p<0.05). On simple chest films, all of the cases presented as single or multiple nodules(6/14) or consolidations(8/14). High resolution computed tomograph showed peri-lesional ground glass opacities(14/14), pleural effusions(5/14), and cavitary changes(7/14). Definitive diagnostic methods were as follows : 10 cases underwent minithoracotomy, 2 underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, 1 underwent percutaneous needle aspiration and 1 case was diagnosed by culture of abscess fluid. All cases received treatment with amphotericin B with 1 case each being treated with liposomal amphotericin B and itraconazole due to renal toxicity. Lung lesion improved in 12 of 14 patient but 4 patients died before completing therapy. Conclusion : When a new lung infiltrate develops presenting either as a nodule or consolidation in a neutropenic patient with hematologic malignancy or in a transplant recipient, you should always consider pulmonary mycoses as one of the differential diagnosis. By performing aggressive work up and early treatment, we may improve prognosis of these patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.1298-1304
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• 1998

The reports of sarcoidosis have increased in Korea since 1968. Osseous sarcoidosis is 3%-5% of sarcoidosis, but it is not reported upto date in Korea. So, we report a case of sarcoid dactylitis. A 47-year old woman who complained of painful swelling in her fingers was admitted in Korea University Guro Hospital. She had visited local clinics 3 years ago for chronic cough, multiple subcutaneous nodules and erythematous elevated regions on extensor sides of both extremities, and taken medicine under the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis for 3 years. On admission her distal phalanges showed fusiform swelling, and multiple 1 cm-sized papules were found on the extensor area of extremities. The chest CT scan and the skin biopsy which had been performed in local clinics were reviewed to examine whether it was tuberculosis or not, but the results were compatible to sarcoidosis. So, under the impression of sarcoidosis chest CT and biopsy of hand lesions were performed again. And the patient was prescribed prednisolone 30 mg, and Hydroxychloroquine 400 mg per day, and then showed improvement of pain and skin lesions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.750-754
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• 2002

Primary cardiac tumors are rare and about 20~25% of primary cardiac tumors are malignant. Moreover, primary malignant mesenchymoma of the heart is extremely rare. Recently, we have experienced two cases of cardiac malignant mesenchymoma. In the first case, malignant mesenchymoma which was originated from the posterior wall of the left atrium obstructing the mitral orifice was revealed pathologically in a 61-year-old woman with mitral regurgitation. The mass, which was 2.7$\times$3.7cm in size on the posterior wall of left atrium, was extended to the posteromedial commissure and annulus of the mitral valve. The mass was resected partially without excision of the left atrial free wall. She was discharged after 30 days without any problems and she received chemotherapy and followed up for 19months. The second case was a 4$\times$5cm in size, friable, yellow-whitish multilobulated mass in the left atrium which was originated from the left lower pulmonary vein. Multiple minor tumor nodules were found in the wall of the left atrium and the posterior leaflet of mitral valve. Partial mass excision and mitral valve replacement were performed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 1994

Background: Bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma today needs further studies as an early diagnosis will drastically improve the chances of cure. Methods: Twenty-four cases of bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma for the period of 5 years were studied in terms of incidence, age, sex, underlying diseases, symptoms, radiographic findings, methods of diagnosis, clinical and pathologic staging, methods of treatment, and survival retrospectively. Results: No correlation was found between patients' age, sex and underlying diseases. Most common symptoms were cough(62.5%), chest pain(29.2%), and sputum(29.2%). Of the 24 cases, 13 patients(54.2%) had solitary nodule, 6 patients(25%) had multiple nodules. At the time of diagnosis, 3 patients(12.5%) had the stage I diseases, 3 patients(12.5%) had the stage II diseases, 4 patients(16.7%) had the stage IIIa diseases, 3 patients(12.5%) had the stage IIIb diseases, and 11 patients(45.8%) had the stage IV diseases. 14 cases(58.3%) were found inoperable at the time of admission; they all died within 17 months. In 7 cases with stage I, II, IIIa diseases curative resection were attempted, in 1 case with stage IV disease wedge resection for palliative management was performed, and in 4 cases patients were still alive at the time of conclusion of this study. Conclusion: We conclude that early diagnosis of disease will increase operability and improve chances of survival and that aggressive diagnostic workup for suspicious pulmonary infiltrate is essential as early operation offers the best chances of cure.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.239-245
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• 2005

Purpose: Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is an infiltrative disease of eosinophils affecting multiple organs including the iung. F-18 2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) may accumulate at sites of inflammation or injection, making interpretation of whole body PET scan difficult in patients with cancer. This study was to evaluate the PET findings of HES with lung involvement and to find out differential PET features between lung malignancy and HES with lung involvement. Material and Methods: F-18 FDG PET and low dose chest CT scan was performed for screening of lung cancer. light patients who showed ground-glass attenuation (GGA) and consolidation on chest CT scan with peripheral blood eosinophilia werr included in this study. The patients with history of parasite infection, allergy and collagen vascular disease were excluded. CT features and FDG PET findings were meticulously evaluated for the distribution of GGA and consolidation and nodules on CT scan and mean and maximal SUV of abnormalities depicted on F-18 FDG PET scan. In eight patients, follow-up chest CT scan and FDG PET scan were done one or two weeks after initial study. Results: F-18 FDG PET scan identified metabolically active lesions in seven out of eight patients. Maximal SUV was ranged from 2.8 to 10.6 and mean SUV was ranged from 2.2 to 7.2. Remaining one patient had maximal SUV of 1.3. On follow-up FDG PET scan taken on from one to four weeks later showed decreased degree of initially noted FDG uptakes or migration of previously noted abnormal FDG uptakes. Conclusions: Lung involvement in the HES might be identified as abnormal uptake foci on FDG PET scan mimicking lung cancer. Follow-up FDG PET and CT scan for the identification of migration or resolution of abnormalities and decrement of SUV would be of help for the differentiation between lung cancer and HES with lung involvement.