• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.475-482
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• 1993

90 patients[75 men and 15 women] with the thoracic disease underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery[VATS] during the period March 1992 to February 1993. The thoracic diseases were classified into two groups of spontaneous pneumothorax and general thoracic patients and they were 66 and 24, respectively.The mean size of the tumor resected was 4.3 $\pm$ 2.0 cm x 3.3 $\pm$ 1.1 cm x 2.7 $\pm$ 1.0 cm. The mean time of anesthesia and operation were 90.0 $\pm$ 19.9 min and 43.7 $\pm$ 13.1 min in spontaneous pneumothorax group and 123.3 $\pm$ 40.3 min and 62.8 $\pm$ 32.2 min in general thoracic group. The mean period of postoperative chest tube drainage and hospital stay were 5.0$\pm$ 5.5 days and 6.6 $\pm$ 7.4 days in spontaneous pneumothorax group and 3.5$\pm$ 1.6 days and 9.5 $\pm$ 6.1 days in general thoracic group. The indications of VATS were 71 pleural disease[78.9%: 66 spontaneous pneumothorax; 3 pleural effusions ; 1 pleural paragonimus westermanii cyst; 1 malignant pleural tumor with metastasis to the lung], 9 mediastinal disease[10.0%: 5 benign neurogenic tumor; 2 pericardial cyst; 1 benign cystic teratoma; 1 undifferentiated carcinoma], 8 pulmonary parenchymal disease[8.9%: 3 infectious disease ; 3 interstitial disease ; 2 malignant tumor ], and 2 traumatic cases of exploration and removal of hematoma[2.2%]. The applicated objectives of VATS were diagnostic[ 7 ], therapeutic[ 67 ] and both[ 16 ] and the performed procedures were pleurodesis[ 66 ], wedge resection of lung[ 59 ], parietal pleurectomy[ 11 ], removal of benign tumor[ 9 ], excision and/or biopsy of tumor[ 4 ], pleural biopsy and aspiration of pleural fluid[ 3 ] and exploration of hemothorax and removal of hematoma in traumatic 2 patients. The complication rate was 24.2%[ 16/66 ] in the spontaneous pneumothorax group and 8.3%[ 2/24 ] in the general thoracic group and so overally 20.0%[ 18/90 ]. The mortality within postoperative 30 days was 2.2%[ 2/90 ], including 1 acute renal failure and 1 respiratory failure due to rapid progression of pneumonia. The conversion rate to open thoracotomy during VATS was 5.6%[ 5/90 ], including 2 immediate postoperative massive air leakage, 1 giant bullae, 1 malignant pleural tumor with metastasis to lung and 1 pulmonary malignancy. The successful cure rate of VATS was 75.8%[ 50/66 ] in the spontaneous pneumothorax group and 76.5%[ 13/17 ] in the general thoracic group and the successful diagnostic rate was 100%[ 7/7 ]. In conclusion, although prospective trials should be progressed to define the precise role of VATS, the VATS carries a low morbidity and mortality and high diagnostic and therapeutic success rate and now can be effectively applicated to the surgical treatment of the extensive thoracic disease.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.145-148
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• 2013

Thoracic endometriosis is an uncommon disease that has four main forms: catamenial pneumothorax, hemothorax, hemoptysis, and pulmonary nodules. Since the growth of endometrial tissue depends on the presence of estrogen, thoracic endometriosis usually occurs in menstruating women between 25 and 35 years of age. Menstrual disturbances are common in women with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, they could be reversed after kidney transplantation. Therefore, previously asymptomatic endometriosis may become symptomatic after kidney transplantation. A 49-year-old woman with CKD underwent kidney transplantation. A month later, she experienced dyspnea, and hemothorax in her right hemithorax. However, there was no evidence of infectious diseases and malignancy in thoracentesis, pleural biopsy, and computed chest tomography (CT). The serum and pleural fluid levels of his carbohydrate antigen 125 were elevated. Hemothorax secondary to pleural endometriosis was suspected. We tried hormonal therapy, and the hemothorax disappeared. At the sixth-month follow-up, there was no recurrence of hemothorax.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.360-364
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• 1996

Chylothorax is denned by extravasation of the milky fluid to pleural cavity from the thoracic duct or it's main branches due to operative trauma, congenital lesions, diagnostic procedures, tumor, etc. Another rare cause is diffuse pulmonary Iymphangiomatosis which is uncommon and not well charact rized. We experienced a case of the bilateral chylothorax caused by the diffuse pulmonary Iymphangiomatosis. The patient was at years old girl with symptoms of coughing and febrile sensation, and the chest radiographs showed bilateral pleural effusion and interstitial infiltrates. The laboratory data of the pleural effusion was identified as chile. Uncontrollable with closed tube thoracostomy, division of tHe thoracic duct and biopsy were decided. Biopsy showed anastomosing endothelial lined spaces along the pulmonary Iymphatic routes especially in pleural and interlobar septum, and smooth muscle at the proliferative interstitium of the Iymphatic duct was observed. Postoperatively, chylothorax was controlled with several trial of chemical pleurodesis. Af'leer discharge from the hospital, she was well for ten months follow up.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.3
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• pp.297-301
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• 2015

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare malignant neoplasm that arises from mesothelial surfaces of the pleural cavity, peritoneal cavity, tunica vaginalis, or pericardium. Typically, pleural fluid cytology or closed pleural biopsy, surgical intervention (video thoracoscopic biopsy or open thoracotomy) is conducted to obtain pleural tissue specimens. However, endobronchial lesions are rarely seen and cases diagnosed from bronchoscopic biopsy are also rarely reported. We reported the case of a 77-year-old male who was diagnosed as malignant mesothelioma on bronchoscopic biopsy from obstructing masses of the endobronchial lesion.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.35-46
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• 1997

The authors reviewed 167 malignant effusions from 110 patients, of which the primary site was established on the basis of either biopsy or surgical resection of the primary neoplasm. Main factors analysed were the distribution of primary organs and the cytohistoiogic correlation of body cavity effusions. The 167 fluid specimens from 110 patients consisted of 90 cases(53.9%) of pleural, 68(40.7%) of peritoneal, and 9(5.4%) of pericardial origins. Histologically they consisted of 82 cases(74.5%) of adenocarcinoma, 8(7.3%) of malignant lymphoma, 6(5.5%) of squamous ceil carcinoma, and 3(2.7%) of small cell carcinoma. The most common site among the primary lesions was the stomach in 25 cases(22.7%) followed by the lung in 21(19.1%), ovary on 17(15.5%), and breast in 7(6.4%). As for the distribution of primary tumors in adenocarcinoma, the most common site was lung un 16 cases (48.5%) in pleural fluid and stomach in 22(48.9%) in peritoneal fluid. In pericardial effusions, all 5 cases were from the lung. As a whole, the cytologic findings of malignant effusion were fairly representative of histologic characteristics of primary lesions. Thus, when the primary lesion Is unknown, careful evaluation of effusion cytology is presumed to be a helpful tooi for tracing the primary tumor.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2022

In clinical practice, the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a challenge. The goal of this study was to evaluate the reliability and impact of adenosine deaminase (ADA) enzyme testing as a biochemical marker in the continued management of suspected tuberculosis in a limited resource setting hospital. The retrospective data were collected from 2018 to 2021 and comprised the results of all ADA test assays done in the laboratory. All types of body fluids received for ADA testing were analyzed. Over the course of two years, 1461 samples for ADA assay testing were received. The average age of the study population was 56.69±11.7 years, with males accounting for the majority of the subjects (55.72%). Pleural fluid (N=817, 55.92%) was the most common type of sample received for the ADA assay. 114 (13.95%) of the 817 pleural fluid samples were found to be positive. A survey was conducted to obtain physician's response regarding reliability on ADA testing. 100% of them reported the supportive role of ADA levels in the workup of patients with suspected tuberculosis. In a limited resource setting, the ADA test, in conjunction with clinical and other laboratory findings, can help physicians to initiate early treatment in hospitals for the benefit of patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.156-164
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• 1995

Background: We had undergone this study to investigate clinical progress of this disease and to decide the role of aggressive diagnostic approaches, the efficacy of treatments and prognoses. Methods: A retrospective study was done on 113 patients who had been diagnosed to metastatic adenocarcinoma of pleura by pleural fluid cytology(106 cases) or pleural needle biopsy(22 cases), at Presbyterian Medical Center, from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 1994. Results: 1) The patients were composed of 59 males(52.2%) and 54 females(47.8%), and the mean age distribution was $57.4{\pm}12.1$ years. 2) The site of origin was lung cancer 46.9%(53/113), stomach cancer 20.4%(23/113), breast cancer 11.5%(13/113), and unknown primary site 6.2%(7/113 cases), as a whole. In male, lung cancer was 55.9%(33/59), stomach cancer was 28.8%(17/59), and in female, lung cancer was 37%(20/54), breast cancer was 24.1%(13/54) of cases. 3) The cardinal symptoms were dyspnea(69%), cough(61%), chest pain(50%), weight loss(50%), anorexia(49%), sputum(43%), malaise(30%). 4) The pleural fluid findings were exudative in 94.4%(102/108), serosanguinous or bloody in 36~53%, unilateral involvement in 74.3%(84/113) of cases, and lymphocyte predominance($71{\pm}27%$) in differential count of WBC. 5) CEA levels in pleural fluid or plasma were over 10ng/ml in 60.6%(40/66), and ADA levels in pleural fluid were under 40U/L in 95%(57/60) of cases. 6) The patients were managed by various methods, but the efficacy of treatment was uncertain. 7) The mean survival time was $12.7{\pm}13.5$ weeks. Conclusion: It seems to be no effective treatment methods yet and the prognosis was very poor in this disease, so the objectives of diagnostic approaches and treatment methods should be directed to early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of curable disease. And we must make our best endeavors to lengthen the survival time and improve the quality of patients' life.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.733-739
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• 2000

Background : Pleural eosinophilia is rare and commonly considered to be an indicator of good prognosis. The diagnostic significance of eosinophilic pleural effusions remains controversial despite a century of observation and discussion. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of eosinophilia in 446 consecutive samples of pleural fluid, to review the cause of eosinophilic pleural effusion and to determine whether the presence of eosinophils increases the likehood of benign conditions. Method : A retrospective analysis was performed upon patients that underwent first thoracentesis due to pleural effusion between January 1999 and December 1999. Results : Eosinophilic pleural effusions were identified in 24 of the 446 patients (5.4%). Malignancy, parapneumonic effusion and tuberculosis were determined the major causes of pleural effusion (80.6%). Malignancy was diagnosed as frequently in eosinophilic effusions as in non-eosinophilic effusions (54.2% vs 50.5%, p=0.725). No difference was found in the prevalence of eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic effusion according to the etiology. The mean blood eosinophil ratio in patients with eosinophilic pleural effusion was 5.4% and no significant correlation existed between the blood and pleural eosinophilic count. Conclusion : Pleural eosinophilia is not helpful for differentiating benign and malignant etiology and is not related with bood eosinophilia or repeated tapping.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2003

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for decortication or debridement in the management of empyema thoracis has increased the available treatment options but requires validation. We present and evaluate our technique and experience with thoracoscopic management of pleural empyema, irrespective of chronicity. Material and Method : VATS debridement or decortication was performed with endoscopic shaver system in 40 consecutive patients presented with pleural space infections. A retrospective review was performed and the effect of this technique on perioperative outcome was assessed. Result : VATS evacuation of infected pleural fluid and decortication was successfully performed in 35 of 40 patients. The mean duration of preoperative symptoms before referral was 23$\pm$1.8 days. The mean duration of hospitalization before transfer was 13.5$\pm$1.5 days. Blood loss was 250 to 200 mL. Intercostal drainage was required for 5$\pm$3 days. The postoperative hospital stay was 5 $\pm$0.7 days. There were no operative mortalities. Conclusion : Video-assisted evacuation of infected pleural fluid and decortication is an effective modality in the management of the fibropurulent stage of empyema. An organized empyema should be approached thoracosco-pically, but may require open decortication.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 1997

Background : The standard treatment of recurrent, symptomatic malignant pleural effusion is intrapleural instillation of a chemical agent in an attempt to achieve a sterile inflammation and pleurodesis. There are many drugs used as pleural sclerosing agents, but the efficiency and side effects are different. The present study was undertaken to compare the commonly used drugs, doxycycline and bleomycin. Methods : Thirty-four patients with malignant pleural effusion who needed repeated thoracentesis were randomized to receive treatment with intrapleural instillation of doxycycline or bleomycin Fluid volumes before and after pleurodesis, drainge time, and side effects were analyzed, and the response to treatment was evaluated by clinical examination and chest radiography during admission in the hospital. Also median survival rime were evaluated according to the responses. Results : The response rate was higher in the patients receiving doxycycline than in those receiving bleomycin (87.5% vs 50.0%, p=0.02), and fever, nausea and vomiting were more common in the patients receiving bleomycin. The median survival time was significantly longer in the patients who responded to the sclerotherapy regardless of sclerosing agents. Conclusions : Chemical pleurodesis with doxycycline or bleomycin could reduce or stop pleural effusions and prolong the median survival rimes in these patients. Doxycycline appeared to be more efficient as sclerosing agent than bleomycin in the short-term follow-up periods. But a prospective study with a larger number of patients is warranted.