• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권4호
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• pp.1503-1510
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• 2014

Breast cancer bone metastasis causing severe morbidity is commonly encountered in daily clinical practice. It causes pain, pathologic fractures, spinal cord and other nerve compression syndromes and life threatening hypercalcemia. Breast cancer metastasizes to bone through complicated steps in which numerous molecules play roles. Metastatic cells disrupt normal bone turnover and create a vicious cycle to which treatment efforts should be directed. Bisphosphonates have been used safely for more than two decades. As a group they delay time to first skeletal related event and reduce pain, but do not prevent development of bone metastasis in patients with no bone metastasis, and also do not prolong survival. The receptor activator for nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ ligand inhibitor denosumab delays time to first skeletal related event and reduces the skeletal morbidity rate. Radionuclides are another treatment option for bone pain. New targeted therapies and radionuclides are still under investigation. In this review we will focus on mechanisms of bone metastasis and its medical treatment in breast cancer patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.763-771
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• 2000

Objectives : Thoracolumbar burst fractures(TBLF) result in not only compressive deformity of vertebral body but also spinal cord compression by bony fragments. Many thoracolumbar burst fractures demand both anterior decompression and intervertebral fusion. Most of spinal surgeons use anterior instrumentation for anteior intervertebral bony fusion. The use of Z-plate has been increased recently, however there has been only a few reports regarding its clinical long-term strength. We studied nineteen patients with TBLF to find out the long-term stability of Z-plate. Methods : We have operated 19 patients from March 1996 to August 1998. They were treated with anterior decompression through either a transthoracic, retroperitoneal extrapleural or retroperitoneal approach. Retropulsed bony fragments were removed completely by corpectomy. Iliac bone graft was used for interbody fusion in all of the cases. They were evaluated by plain X-ray films including flexion and extention lateral films. Cobbs angle was used to evaluate kyphotic and lateral wedging deformity. Results : Burst fractured sites were T11 in two, three T12, nine L1, and five L2. Mean follow-up duration was fifteen months. Preoperative average kyphotic angle was 23.7 degree. Immediate postoperative kyphotic angle was 10.2 degree. Follow-up resluts of average kyphotic angles revealed 14 degrees. Four patients(21%), including two spinal 3-column injury, showed increasement of kyphotic angle more than 5 degree or breakage of intrumentation. Two patients showed the difference of kyphotic angle more than 3 degree. Five patients(26%) revealed lateral wedging deformity more than 3 degrees. Postoperative complications were two meralgia parestheticas, one pulmonary atelectasis and two donor site infections. Four of the eight patients, who initially showed incomplete spinal cord deficits, were nerologically improved by Frankel's grade. Conclusion : Z-plate fixation and iliac bone graft after anterior decompression in thoracolumbar burst fractures is a safe and easy method. Immediate postoperative results revealed excellent correction of posttraumatic kyphosis, but long-term follow-up evalution showed insufficient strength. Therefore we believe that use of Z-plate should be carefully decided, especially in the case of large lumbar fracture or 3-column injury.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.393-399
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• 1994

최근 혈액암에 있어서 적극적인 복합항암요법및 골수이식등으로 장기 생존자의 수가 증가함에 따라 과거에 흔하지 않았던 합병증, 특히 척추 신경의 침범으로 인한 압박증상을 보이는 환자들의 수가 점차 증가하고 있다. 혈액종양과 고형종양간에 방사선 감수성의 현저한 차이가 있음에도 불구하고, 척수압박증상에 관한 대부분의 보고들이 혈액종양을 따로 구분하여 분석하지 않았으며, 충분한 수의 혈액종양환자를 대상으로 한 보고가 드문 실정이다. 이에 저자들은 1988년부터 1993까지 척수압박으로인해 응급방사선치료를 받은 32명의 혈액종양 환자를 대상으로 후향적 분석을 시행하여 치료결과 및 예후인자를 알아보고자하였다. 신경학적 진찰이나 방사선학적 검사 (척수조영술, 전산화단층촬영, 자기공명영상촬영)로 진단된 경우가 27례 이었고, 환자가 호소하는 증상 을 중심으로 'high index of suspicion' 으로 진단한 5례를 포함하였다. 발병당시 조직학적 진단이 없어 수술을 시행한 1례를 제외한 모든 환자가 방사선 단독으로 치료받았으며, 조사량의 범위는 800 cGy 에서 4000 cGy로 중앙값은 2000 cGy 이었다. 혈액종양의 방사선 감수성을 고려하여 200 cGy이하의 분할조사량이 사용되었으며, 신경학적 증상의 진행속도_가 빠른 13례에 있어서는 치료초기 2회 내지 3회에 걸쳐 250 cGy 이상의 고분할선량이 사용되었다. 전체환자의 $50\%$에서 좋은 반응을 보였고, $37.5\%$에서 부분반응을 보였으며, $12.5\%$는 치료에 반응이 없었다. 이러한 반응율은 문헌에 보고된 고형암에 비해 높았으며, 혈액종양만을 대상으로한 다른 보고들과 유사하였다. 진단당시 신경학적증상의 정도가 치료결과에 영향을 미치는 가장 중요한 예후인자였고, 증상의 출현에서 치료시작까지 소요된 기간도 치료결과에 유의한 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 반면에 조직학적 진단의 종류, 총방사선량, 초기고분할선량의 사용여부등에 따른 치료결과의 차이는 관찰되지 않았다.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.88-94
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• 2009

흉통은 외래 및 응급실에서 볼 수 있는 흔한 증상으로 그 원인 또한 다양하다. 또한 흉통의 원인에 따라 치료와 예후가 다르기 때문에 흉통의 원인을 정확히 진단하는 것은 무엇보다 중요하다. 흉통을 호소하는 환자들 중 대부분은 개인병원, 종합병원의 내과, 흉부외과 등을 거쳐 기본적인 검사를 실시하고 특별한 이상이 없다고 진단 받고 통증클리닉으로 보내지는 경우가 많지만, 최근에 다른 과를 거치지 않고 직접 통증클리닉을 찾는 환자가 많아짐을 고려할 때 정확한 진단이 필수적이다 하겠다. 본원에 흉통을 주소로 입원치료 중에 있던 환자에서 전이성 척추종양에 의해 급속도로 진행된 척추파괴 및 척수압박 증상을 경험하였기에 문헌 고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

• 대한정형외과학회지
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• 제54권6호
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• pp.562-566
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• 2019

골연골종은 흔한 양성골병변이나 척추에서는 비교적 드물게 발견된다. 척추의 골연골종은 주로 척추후주에서 기원하며, 척수강 내로 확장하거나 척수병증을 유발하는 경우는 흔하지 않다. 36세 남자 환자가 2년 전부터 시작된 경부통을 주소로 내원하였다. 영상학적 검사상 흉추 제1번의 상관절돌기에서부터 척수강을 침범하는 골연골종 소견이 관찰되었다. 척추 골연골종의 대부분은 경추에서 기원하는 반면 경흉추 이행부에서의 기원은 보고된 바가 극히 드물다. 이에 저자들은 경흉추 이행부에서 발생한 골연골종을 그 발생 부위의 희귀성에 비추어 문헌 고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

• 한국임상수의학회지
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.713-717
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• 2010

추간판 탈출증은 개에서 일반적인 신경학적 질병이다. 수의 신경학 임상에서 흉요추 추간판 탈출증의 비수술적 치료 또는 수술적 치료의 결과는 잘 보고되어 있다. 그러나 경추 추간판 탈출증의 비수술적 치료 또는 수술적 치료의 결과에 대해서는 상대적으로 적게 알려져 있다. 우리의 목적은 경추 추간판 탈출증을 가진 개에서의 수술적 치료와 비수술적 치료후의 결과에 대해 체계적으로 조사하는 것이다. 수술적 치료를 실시한 개의 치료 성공률(100%, 25/25) 이 비수술적 치료를 실시한 개의 치료 성공률(51.4%, 18/35) 에 비해 유의적으로 높았다. 비수술적 치료군에서 치료 성공률과 척수 압박률과는 부정적인 상관관계가 있음을 확인하였다. 본 연구에서는 경추 추간판 탈출증을 가진 개에서의 수술적 치료는 비수술적 치료에 비해 더 효과적이었다. 또한 CT 또는 MRI 상에서 확인된 척수압박의 정도는 비수술적 치료에서 유용한 예후의 지표가 되었다.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.163-169
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• 2010

Purpose: Spinal epidural hematoma (EDH) is a rare condition requiring an urgent diagnosis and management. We describe here the clinical features, magnetic resonance image (MRI) findings, and outcomes of surgery in six patients with spinal EDH. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed six patients who underwent surgery for spinal EDH between April 2004 and May 2010. Preoperative MRI findings within 48 hours of symptom occurrence were analyzed for cord compression, extent of EDH, and presence of vascular abnormalities. Pre- and postoperative neurological status was also assessed comparatively. Results: Our six patients consisted of three men and three women, with a mean age of 70 years (range: 54-88 years), who presented with the back pain or motor weakness. The mean follow-up period was 34 months (range: 2-72 months). Two patients had cardiovascular disease and were taking warfarin, but the others had no history of medical comorbidity. Those two patients taking warfarin had a history of trauma, another one experienced symptoms during a strenuous effort, and the others developed spontaneously. Before surgery, motor power was grade III in three patients, grade 0 in two patients, and normal in one patient. Preoperative MRI showed no vascular abnormalities except for the EDH in any patient. At the last follow-up, all those five patients with motor weakness showed neurological improvement compared to their preoperative status. There were no complications related to surgery. All six patients were able to ambulate with or without an assistive device. Conclusion: Spinal EDH can occur in patients without trauma, bleeding diathesis, or combined vascular pathology. The surgical outcomes of spinal EDH seem to be satisfactory, even in quadriplegic patients.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제30권7호
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• pp.907-915
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• 2001

Objective : Percutaneous vertebroplasty is often complicated by the presence of multiple fractures or non-localizing pain in the patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. The purpose of this study is to estimate the value of preoperative radiologic studies in the localization of symptomatic vertebrae and to determine the factors which can influence on the clinical results. Materials and Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and radiologic data of 57 vertebrae in 30 patients underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. Inclusion criteria was severe pain(McGill-Melzack score 3, 4 or 5) associated with the acute vertebral fractures and absence of spinal nerve root or cord compression sign. Acute symptomatic vertebral fracture was determined by the presence of signal change on MR images or increased uptake on whole body bone scan. Results : Pain improvement was obtained immediately in all patients and favorable result was sustained in 26 patients(86.7%) during the mean follow-up duration of 4.7 months(5 complete pain relief, 21 marked pain relief). Those who underwent vertebroplasty for all acute symptomatic vertebrae had significantly better clinical result than those who did not. Further vertebral collapse and eventual bursting fracture occurred in 1 vertebra which showed intradiskal leakage of bone cement and disruption of cortical endplate on postoperative CT scan. Conclusion : Preoperative MR imaging and whole body bone scan are very useful in determining the symptomatic vertebrae, especially in the patients with multiple osteoporotic vertebral fractures. To obtain favorable clinical result, the careful radiologic evaluation as well as clinical assessment is required. Control of PMMA volume seems to be the most critical point for avoiding complications.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제52권6호
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• pp.513-516
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• 2012

Objective : It is rare that the medial loop in the V2 segment of the vertebral artery (VA) causes compression of the proximal cervical root of the spinal cord without leading to bony erosion and an enlarged foramen. We evaluated the clinical significance and incidence of the medial loop in the V2 segment of the VA. Methods : We reviewed the records from 1000 consecutive patients who had undergone magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of the cervical spine between January 2005 and January 2008. The inclusion criteria were that over a third of the axial aspect of the VA located in the intervertebral foramen was inside the line between the most ventral points of the bilateral lateral mass, and that the ipsilateral proximal root deviated dorsally because of the medial loop of the VA. We excluded cases of bone erosion, a widened foramen at the medial loop of the VA, any bony abnormalities, tumors displacing VA, or vertebral fractures. The medical records were reviewed retrospectively to search for factors of clinical significance. Results : In six patients (0.6%), the VA formed a medial loop that caused compression of the proximal cervical root. One of these patients had the cervical radiculopathy that developed after minor trauma but the others did not present with cervical radiculopathy related to the medial loop of the VA. Conclusion : The medial loop of the VA might have a direct effect on cervical radiculopathy. Therefore, this feature should be of critical consideration in preoperative planning and during surgery.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제64권1호
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• pp.78-87
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• 2021

Objective : Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) has been widely used during spine surgery to reduce or prevent neurologic deficits, however, its application to the surgical management for cervical myelopathy remains controversial. This study aimed to assess the success rate of IONM in patients with cervical myelopathy and to investigate the factors associated with successful baseline monitoring and the effect of increasing the stimulation intensity by focusing on motor evoked potentials (MEPs). Methods : The data of 88 patients who underwent surgery for cervical myelopathy with IONM between January 2016 and June 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The success rate of baseline MEP monitoring at the initial stimulation of 400 V was investigated. In unmonitorable cases, the stimulation intensity was increased to 999 V, and the success rate final MEP monitoring was reinvestigated. In addition, factors related to the success rate of baseline MEP monitoring were investigated using independent t-test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, chi-squared test, and Fisher's exact probability test for statistical analysis. The factors included age, sex, body mass index, diabetes mellitus, smoking history, symptom duration, Torg-Pavlov ratio, space available for the cord (SAC), cord compression ratio (CCR), intramedullary increased signal intensity (SI) on magnetic resonance imaging, SI length, SI ratio, the Medical Research Council (MRC) grade, the preoperative modified Nurick grade and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score. Results : The overall success rate for reliable MEP response was 52.3% after increasing the stimulation intensity. No complications were observed to be associated with increased intensity. The factors related to the success rate of final MEP monitoring were found to be SAC (p<0.001), CCR (p<0.001), MRC grade (p<0.001), preoperative modified Nurick grade (p<0.001), and JOA score (p<0.001). The cut-off score for successful MEP monitoring was 5.67 mm for SAC, 47.33% for the CCR, 3 points for MRC grade, 2 points for the modified Nurick grade, and 12 points for the JOA score. Conclusion : Increasing the stimulation intensity could significantly improve the success rate of baseline MEP monitoring for unmonitorable cases at the initial stimulation in cervical myelopathy. In particular, the SAC, CCR, MRC grade, preoperative Nurick grade and JOA score may be considered as the more important related factors associated with the success rate of MEP monitoring. Therefore, the degree of preoperative neurological functional deficits and the presence of spinal cord compression on imaging could be used as new detailed criteria for the application of IONM in patients with cervical myelopathy.