• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 1990

A total of 129 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of primary lung cancer were treated at Dep. of Thoracic k Cardiovascular Surgery, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, between July, 1981 and Dec., 1988. Particular emphasis was given in this review to the 72 patients that underwent surgical resection of their primary lung lesion. Factors such as histology, type of resection, sex, age, staging, and degree of dissemination were considered possible influences on survival. The age group of fifty k sixty decade occupied 55.8 %, and the youngest being 24 years and oldest 78 years. The incidence ratio of male to female was 3,2:1. The subjective symptoms of the patients were coughing [72.6%], chest pain [48.2%] and hemoptysis [35.6%], which were due to primary local influence. The confirmed diagnostic procedures were bronchoscopic biopsy, sputum cytology needle aspiration biopsy, open lung biopsy, anterior mediastinotomy & lymph node biopsy. By pathologic classifications, the squamous cell carcinoma was the most prevalent, 67 cases [51.9 %], and the adenocarcinoma in 36 cases [27.9%], undifferentiated small cell carcinoma in 13 cases [10.1 %], undifferentiated large cell carcinoma in 9 cases [6.9%], bronchioloalveolar carcinoma was 4 cases [3.1%]. The lymph node dissection with pneumonectomy [42 cases], lobectomy [14 cases] and pneumonectomy [6 cases], lobectomy [9 cases] without lymph node dissection were performed. The post operative TNM Staging[AJC] in 72 cases were Stage I in 24 cases, Stage II in 27 cases, and Stage III in 21 cases. Overall resectable was possible in 72 cases [55.8 %], and the operation mortality was 5.6 % [4 cases].

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1013-1024
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• 1989

One hundred and seventy two patients of primary lung cancer, confirmed by tissue diagnosis at the Dept. of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Korea University Hospital between June 1973 and August 1988, were evaluated and restaged with New International TNM classification, and the actuarial survival rate was obtained using Kaplan-Meier equation. The results of analysis were as follows. 1. Male to female ratio was 3.8:1, and prevalent age groups were sixth and seventh decades [76.4 %]. 2. The most common subjective symptom was cough [55.2 %], and 67.4 % of all patients were visited to hospital less than 6 months of symptoms. 3. Positive rates for tissue diagnosis were 100% in open chest or metastatic lymph node biopsy, 80 % in mediastinoscopic biopsy, 60 % in pleural biopsy, 59 % in pleural fluid cytology, 36% in bronchoscopic biopsy, and 22 % in sputum cytology. 4. The order of frequency of cell type was squamous cell carcinoma [53.0%], adenocarcinoma [22.0 %], small cell carcinoma [14.5 %], and so on. 5. Operability and resectability were 44% and 62% respectively, but they were improved recently. 6. Open and closure was done in 44 % of operated patients, uni or bilobectomy in 38 % and pneumonectomy in 24 %. 7. Overall operative mortality rate was 2.6 %. 8. The order of frequency of stage level was S3b [42.0 %], S3a [25.1 %], S1 [15.6%], and so on. 9. Distant metastasis, i.e. stage 4, was noted in 9.5 % of cases, and the sites of frequency were bone, brain, skin, and so on. 10. Actuarial survival rate was 1 year 48.2%, 2 year 36.9%, 3 year 31.2%, and 5 year 20.8%. According to above listed factors, 5 year survival rate was highest in squamous cell carcinoma, lobectomized cases, stage 1, NO in TNM system, and resectable cases. But T factor in TNM system and radiation therapy in nonresectable cases did not show statistical significance in life expectancy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.856-860
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• 1999

Diffuse pulmonary ossification is rare disease of unknown etiology. Since the first description by Luschka in 1856, about 140 cases have been reported worldwide, but no such case has been reported in Korea yet. We report 40-year-old woman who was diagnosed as diffuse nodular pulmonary ossification on open lung biopsy. She has no respiratory symptoms & physical findings and no previous disease history. She was incidentally found to have multiple pulmonary nodules on roentgenographic examination. Open lung biopsy was done for above lesion and She was proven to have diffuse nodular pulmonary ossification. She was followed by roentgenographic examination and showed no progression.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.12
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• pp.1230-1234
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• 2003

Purpose : The aim of this study is to evaluate the value of lung biopsies for the management of children with lung disease. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 19 lung biopsies done at Asan Medical Center, Seoul between 1993 and 2001. Data gathered included demographic information, underlying conditions, diagnosis before biopsy, final diagnosis, change in therapy, morbidity and mortality. Results : Nineteen patients underwent lung biopsy. Among them, 13 patients were male and six patients were female; the median age was 3.6 years(0.8 to 8.6 years). Twelve patients underwent open lung biopsies and seven patients had thoracoscopic biopsies. The overall diagnosis rate was 95 %. The most common diagnosis was interstitial lung disease(12 patients, 64%) and infection was detected in four patients(21%). The biopsy-proven bronchiolitis obliterance was confirmed in two of seven patients suspected by CT findings. Specific treatment was changed after biopsy in 16 patients (85%). The morbidity & overall mortality rates of the patients were 5%(one patient) and 21%(four patients) respectively. Only one complication was seen : empyema. The causes of death were acute respiratory distress syndrome(one patient), respiratory failure(two patients), and septicemia(one patient). Conclusion : The lung biopsy is a safe procedure and it contributes to more accurate diagnosis and proper management of pediatric lung diseases. We recommend lung biopsies should be considered more positively in the diagnosis of pediatric lung diseases.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 1999

Background : Open lung biopsy(OLB) has conventionally been regarded as the gold standard for the diagnosis in interstitial lung disease. With recent advances in diagnostic technique such as high resolution computed tomography(HRCT), and transbronchial lung biopsy(TBLB) which provide relatively accurate diagnosis of ILD, it is necessary to reevaluate the role of these methods in the diagnosis of ILD. Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of nineteen patients who underwent OLB at Dankook University Hospital for the diagnosis of acute and chronic ILD, between May 1995 and June 1998. By reviewing the medical records, the demographic findings, underlying conditions, HRCT and TBLB findings, OLB diagnosis, therapy after OLB, and complication of OLB were evaluated. Results: Thirteen patients(68.4%) had chronic ILD(symptom duration over 2 weeks prior to OLB), and six patients(31.6%) had acute ILD(symptom duration less than 2 weeks). Specific diagnosis were reached in 92%(12/13) of chronic ILD(5 bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia(BOOP), 2 constrictive bronchiolitis, 3 usual interstitial pneumonia, 1 hypersensitivity pneumonitis, 1 eosinophilic pneumonia), and in all patients of acute ILD(5 acute interstitial pneumonia, 1 pneumocystis carinii pneumonia). HRCT were performed in all patients and a correct first choice diagnosis rate of HRCT was 42%(5/12) in chronic ILD. In chronic ILD patients, 62%(8/13) received specific therapy(steroid therapy in 7 patients and moving in one patient), after OLB, but in acute ILD, all patients received specific therapy(steroid therapy in 5 patients and steroid and antibiotic therapy in one patient) after OLB. The in-hospital mortality after OLB was 5.3%(1/19). Conclusion: OLB is an excellent diagnostic technique with relatively low complications in patients with ILD. Therefore OLB should be considered in patients with ILD when the specific diagnosis is important for the treatment, especially in patients with acute ILD.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.85-88
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• 1998

We described the findings of fine needle aspiration cytology of the lung from a patient with Wegener's granulomatosis. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of the patients with Wegener's granulomatosis is essential for a better prognosis. However, the variety of clinical presentations and nonspecific radiologic infiltrates of Wegener's granulomatosis frequently make the diagnosis difficult. Although an open lung biopsy is required for a firm diagnosis, fine needle aspiration cytology & biopsy preparation can also provide an adequate tissue sample, when the findings of fine needle aspiration are considered with clinical manifestations and ANCA value in the serum. The cytologic smears showed scattered necrotic tissue fragments entrapping many neutrophils and occasional epithelioid cells. Multinucleated giant cells were infrequently observed. Ziehl-Neelsen stain for acid fast bacilli was negative. All the cytologic features recapitulated the histopathologic findings of purulent and necrotizing granulomatous inflammation seen in Wegener's granulomatosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.256-259
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• 1995

The diffuse nodular lung lesion has a diagnostic problem and should be made differential diagnosis. A chest X-ray of 62-year-old male patient with dyspnea showed small-sized scattered multinodular lesion on entire lung field. Bronchoalveolar lavage and transbronchial needle aspiration showed the non-specific findings, so open lung biopsy was done and revealed bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.416-423
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• 1993

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis(PAP) is thought to be a rare disease of unknown etiology characterized by the accumulation of strong PAS-positive lipoproteinaceous material in the pulmonary alveolar spaces. The defect in the clearance and degradation of intra-alveolar phospholipoproteinaceous material in PAP likely represents dysfunction of type II pneumocytes. Although the causative treatment of PAP is not well known, yet whole lung bronchopulmonary lavage is a relatively safe and effective treatment. We experienced three cases of PAP, which were confirmed by light and electron microscopic examinations of lung tissues obtained by open lung biopsy, transbronchial lung biopsy and lung lavage, so we present 3 cases of PAP with a review of the literature.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.82-88
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• 1999

Herpes simplex virus pneumonia in immunocompromised host is difficult to diagnose with non-invasive method, and has high mortality rate. Because early diagnosis and early treatment can significantly decrease the mortality rate, the enthusiastic efforts for the early diagnosis should be done. A 41-year-old woman who took prednisolone due to mixed connective tissue disease developed gradually increasing dyspnea with radiological features of interstitial lung disease. Initially, we treated her with empirical antibiotics, but failed to improve her dyspnea. So we performed bronchoalveolar lavage and open lung biopsy. Open lung biopsy specimen showed herpes simplex virus pneumonia. Herpes simplex virus was also isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. There was both clinical and radiological improvement after treatment with acyclovir for 14 days.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.373-379
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• 1993

Primary lung cancer has increased markedly in its incidence and prevalence rate recently in Korea. In frequency, it occupies the second rank cancer preceded by stomach cancer in korean male. From February 1986 to December 1992, we have operated on 55 cases of primary lung cancer in Korea Veterans Hospital and followed them. The results are as follows; 1. The peak incidence of age of primary lung cancer was 6th decade and 5th decade and those were 87.3% of study group, mainly in male. 2. Symptoms were cough [63.6%], dyspnea [41.8%], chest pain and discomfort [38.2%], blood tinged sputum and hemoptysis [21.8%]. Symptoms were frequently encountered before hospitalization and asymptomatic cases were 9.1% of study group. 3. Methods of diagnostic confirmation were bronchoscopic biopsy [52.7%], percutaneous needle aspiration[PCNA][21.8%], sputum cytolgy [12.7%], open biopsy [12.7%]. 4. Histopathologically, squamous cell carcinoma [76.4%] was the most frequent cancer and adenocarcinoma [10.9%], giant cell cancer [7.3%], and the others in order. 5. Methods of operation were pneumonectomy [32.7%], bilobectomy [18.2%], lobectomy [27.3%], lobectomy and segmenectomy [1.8%], exploration [20%], and overall resectability was 80%. 6. Operative mortality was 5.5% [3 cases] and there were 5 cases of complication. 7. Postoperative long-term follow up reveals that the cumulative survival rates in 6 months, 12 months, 26 months, 34 months, 43 months, 64 months were 89.5%, 71.7%, 66.7%, 57.2%, 50.8%, 42.3% respecively.