• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.63-76
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• 2011

The objective of this study is to analyze the utilization patterns of other region inpatients in general hospitals located in Seoul area. For the analysis, the study utilize the nationwide data on '2008 Survey of Patients' of Ministry of Health & Welfare. The statistical methodology used in the study is the logistic regression model. This study has three major findings. First, the significant affecting sociodemographic factors in selecting general hospitals located in Seoul area was sex, age, type of payment and inpatients residence region. Second, compared to other disease groups, the inpatients on both 'congenital malformation, deformity and chromosomal abnormalities' and 'neoplasm' groups are more likely to utilize general hospitals in Seoul area. Furthermore, in 'neoplasm' disease group, inpatients with 'bones and articular cartilage malignant neoplasm' are more likely to utilize general hospitals in Seoul area. Finally, hospitals with more than 1,000 beds was chief factor in selecting Seoul-based hospitals by other region inpatients. In conclusion, the study showed that other region inpatients are more likely to utilize general hospitals located in Seoul area in case of severe disease, rare case and surgical case. Therefore, central and local authority is required to monitor local hospitals on quality of the medical service as well as support them to establish specialized medical centers by providing human and physical resources.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.10
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• pp.115-124
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• 2017

The purpose of the study was to investigate the convergence factors to posttraumatic growth(PTG) in survivors with female urogenital neoplasm survivors. A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 141 female urogenital neoplasm survivors via e-mail from September to October, 2016. The questionnaire consisted of PTG inventory, illness intrusiveness rating scale, cancer coping, family cohesion evaluation scale, and medical outcomes study social support survey. The data were analyzed by ANOVA, Pearson-correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis. Total score of PTG was 84.13points and statistically significant according to age, religion, marital status and positively associated with coping, family cohesion and social support. Results of the regression analysis showed religion(${\beta}=.127$), marital status(${\beta}=.081$), coping(${\beta}=.232$) and family cohesion(${\beta}=.415$), it were explained 44.7%. This study indicates that it is important to understand general characteristics of personal. And a convergent approach is needed to promote PTG by hospital and community.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 2019

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare cutaneous carcinoma, featured by an aggressive clinical course and a mortality rate of 28% at 2 years. A 71-year-old female was affected by a 4.1-cm-wide locally advanced Merkel cell carcinoma of the upper eyelid, previously misdiagnosed as chalazion, with involvement of the extraocular muscles. Although the tumor showed a macroscopic spontaneous regression in size after the incisional biopsy, the mass was treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgical excision. Good functional and aesthetic result with preservation of the eyeball and absence of tumor recurrence were achieved at 3-year follow-up. In our experience, the combination of the inflammatory cascade due to the incisional biopsy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy led to the regression of a locally advanced large Merkel cell carcinoma of the eyelid.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.117-127
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• 2009

Objectives: The primary objective of the study is to analyze the utilization patterns of provincial patients discharged from hospitals located in Seoul area. Methods: For the analysis, the study employed the nationwide data on 'Survey of Injured Patients Discharged from Hospitals' conducted by KCDC (Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The statistical methodology used in the measurement model is a logistic regression model. Results: The study has three major findings. First, compared to other disease groups, the discharged on both 'neoplasm(cancer)' and 'congenital malformation, deformity and chromosomal abnormalities' disease groups are more likely to utilize hospitals in Seoul area. Second, as for 'neoplasm(cancer)' disease group, patients with 'bones and articular cartilage' areas are more likely to utilize hospitals in Seoul area. Finally, Hospitals with more than 1,000 beds was primary factor in selecting Seoul-based hospitals by the discharged in provincial areas. Conclusion: In sum, the study showed that patients in provincial areas are more likely to utilize hospitals located in Seoul area regardless of the severity of their cases. Local authority, therefore, is required to monitor local hospitals on regular basis, as well as support them to establish specialized medical centers by providing human and physical resources.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1224-1228
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• 2001

Germinoma is a rare central nervous system neoplasm in children and young adults. It is well known that a malignant primary neoplasm can be cured by conventional radiation therapy alone or reduced-volume and field irradiation in combination with chemotherapy. The authors report a very rare case of a pineal germinoma, which was completely disappeared after repeated diagnostic brain computed tomography(CT) with review of pertinent literature. There has been neither tumor recurrence nor metastasis during follow-up period.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.119-123
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• 2019

Spontaneous regression of lung cancer is a very rare and poorly understood phenomenon. A 64-year-old man presented to Dong-A University Hospital with a shrunken nodule in the right lower lobe. Although the nodule showed a high likelihood of malignancy on needle aspiration biopsy, the patient refused surgery. The nodule spontaneously regressed completely in the next 17 months. However, the subcarinal lymph node was found to be enlarged 16 months after complete regression was observed. We pathologically confirmed metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma and performed neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery, and adjuvant chemoradiation. Regardless of tumor size reduction, it is preferable to perform surgery aggressively in cases of operable lung cancer.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.121-125
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• 2022

A 1-year-old neutered male Maltese dog was presented with a mass on the upper eyelid of the left eye (OS). A pinkish and alopecic mass was located in the nasal portion of the upper eyelid of OS. The mass was firmly attached to the eyelid and round-shaped with a diameter of 11 mm. Any spread to conjunctiva was not identified. On a cytological examination, cutaneous histiocytoma was confirmed, with the presence of small lymphocytes indicating later regression stage. The patient received no treatment and complete regression of the mass was verified 2 months later. The cytological examination was helpful for the diagnosis and staging of cutaneous histiocytoma. Canine eyelid histiocytoma can regress spontaneously, and thus medical or surgical treatment for removal should be considered carefully.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.39-50
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• 2023

Objective: To assess the contrast-enhanced CT and ultrasonography (US) findings of intracholecystic papillary neoplasm (ICPN) and determine the imaging features predicting ICPN associated with invasive carcinoma (ICPN-IC). Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, we enrolled 119 consecutive patients, including 60 male and 59 female, with a mean age ± standard deviation of 63.3 ± 12.1 years, who had pathologically confirmed ICPN (low-grade dysplasia [DP] = 34, high-grade DP = 35, IC = 50) and underwent preoperative CT or US. Two radiologists independently assessed the CT and US findings, focusing on wall and polypoid lesion characteristics. The likelihood of ICPN-IC was graded on a 5-point scale. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify significant predictors of ICPN-IC separately for wall and polypoid lesion findings. The performances of CT and US in distinguishing ICPN-IC from ICPN with DP (ICPN-DP) was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: For wall characteristics, the maximum wall thickness (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-1.9) and mucosal discontinuity (aOR = 5.6; 95% CI: 1.3-23.4) on CT were independently associated with ICPN-IC. Among 119 ICPNs, 110 (92.4%) showed polypoid lesions. Regarding polypoid lesion findings, multiplicity (aOR = 4.0; 95% CI: 1.6-10.4), lesion base wall thickening (aOR = 6.0; 95% CI: 2.3-15.8) on CT, and polyp size (aOR = 1.1; 95% CI: 1.0-1.2) on US were independently associated with ICPN-IC. CT showed a higher diagnostic performance than US in predicting ICPN-IC (AUC = 0.793 vs. 0.676; p = 0.002). Conclusion: ICPN showed polypoid lesions and/or wall thickening on CT or US. A thick wall, multiplicity, presence of wall thickening in the polypoid lesion base, and large polyp size are imaging findings independently associated with invasive cancer and may be useful for differentiating ICPN-IC from ICPN-DP.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2019

Objectives: This study evaluated the predictive factors for survival of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and investigated the overall and disease-specific survival (DSS) outcomes. Materials and Methods: A total of 67 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for OSCC from January 2006 to November 2014 were included in this study. Patients were classified according to age, sex, pTNM stages, primary sites, smoking and alcohol drinking habits, depth of invasion, perineural and lymphovascular invasion, cell differentiation and postoperative radiotherapy. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to estimate the survival categorized by patient groups. Cox regression methods were used to investigate the main independent predictors of survival. Results: Nineteen patients died of OSCC during follow-up periods. Another five patients died of other diseases including lung adenocarcinoma (n=1), cerebral infarction (n=1), general weakness (n=2), and pneumonia (n=1). The tongue (n=16) was the most common site for primary origin, followed by buccal mucosa (n=15), mandibular gingiva (n=15), maxillary gingiva (n=9), floor of mouth (n=9), retromolar trigone (n=2), and palate (n=1). Eleven patients had pTNM stage I disease, followed by stage II (n=22) and stage IV (n=34). No patients had pTNM stage III disease in this study. The overall survival of all patients was 64.2% and the DSS was 71.6%. DSS of patients with stage I and II disease was 100%. Stepwise Cox regression showed the two predictors for DSS were pTNM stage (P<0.0001, odds ratio=19.633) and presence of metastatic lymph nodes (P=0.0004, odds ratio=0.1039). Conclusion: OSCC has been associated with poor prognosis; however, there were improved survival outcomes compared with past studies. Advanced-stage disease and presence of metastatic lymph nodes were associated with poorer survival compared with early-stage OSCC and absence of neck node metastasis. Stage I and II OSCC were associated with excellent survival results in this study.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.62 no.6
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• pp.723-726
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• 2019

We report two rare cases of spontaneously regressed Rathke's cleft cyst (RCC). A 52-year-old woman presented with headache. A pituitary hormone study was normal. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a $0.45-cm^3$ cystic sellar lesion. The cyst was hyperintense on T1-weighed imaging and hypointense on T2-weighted imaging without rim enhancement, comparable to a RCC. Six months later, brain MRI showed no change in the cyst size. Without any medical treatments, brain MRI 1 year later revealed a spontaneous decrease in cyst volume to $0.05cm^3$. A 34-year-old woman presented with headache and galactorrhea lasting 1 week. At the time of the visit, the patient's headache had disappeared. Her initial serum prolactin level was 81.1 ng/mL, and after 1 week without the cold medicine, the serum prolactin level normalized to 11.28 ng/mL. Brain MRI showed a RCC measuring $0.71cm^3$. Without further treatments, brain computed tomography 6 months later showed a spontaneous decrease in cyst volume to $0.07cm^3$. Another 6 months later, brain MRI revealed that the cyst had remained the same size. Neither patient experienced neurological symptoms, such as headache or visual disturbance, during the period of cyst reduction. The RCCs in both patients underwent spontaneous regression without any medical treatment during a period of 6 months to 1 year. Although spontaneous regression of a RCC is rare, it is still possible and a sufficient follow-up period should be considered.