• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.731-736
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• 1995

Background: Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for localized, operable non-small cell carcinoma of the lung. Curative radiotherapy, however, is considered an alternative to surgery in patients with poor performance state, poor cardiopulmonary function, or who refuse surgery. However, the difference in prognosis after surgery and radiotherapy is not well established in the patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer. Method: To evaluate the difference in progonsis between surgery and radiotherapy in stage I non-small cell lung cancer, a retrospective study was done with 15 patients treated with curative radiotherapy and 24 patients treated with curative surgery. Results: The overall response rate was 80%, with 33% complete response, after radiotherapy. The median survival time of the patients with radiotherapy was 14.9 months, with 2-year and 5-year survival rates of 22% and 0%, respectively. The median survival time of the patients with surgery was 37.7months, with 2-year and 5-year survival rates of 65% and 41%, respectively. Conclusion: These results suggest that surgery is better than the radiotherpy in view of survival rate and it is necessary to recommend, more strongly, curative surgery to patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer if the patients are able to receive operation. To compare, more accurately, the difference in prognosis by the modality of therapy, large multicenter study is needed.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.237-243
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the treatment outcomes and the prognosis for gastric cancer patients with hepatic metastasis. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was based on the medical records of 85 gastric cancer patients with hepatic metastasis (62 synchronous and, 23 metachronous) who received chemotherapy with or without resectional therapy from March 1990 to March 2006. The survival rate was analyzed according to clinicopathologic factors and therapeutic factors, such as whether or not a gastrectomy, a hepatic resection, and/or chemotherapy had been performed. Results: The median survival of gastric cancer patients with hepatic metastasis was 11 months (synchronous: 11 months and metachronous: 17 months). The rates of gastrectomies and hepatic resections in the synchronous group were 24.1% and 16.1%, respectively A 23.5% prevalence of extra-hepatic metastasis was observed. The median survivals of patients who underwent a gastrectomy with a hepatic resection, a gastrectomy alone, and non-surgical treatment were 60, 18, and 9 months, respectively (P<0.05). The disease-free median survival of the metachronous group was 8 ($3{\sim}39$) months. There was no difference in initial pathologic stage and frequency of hepatic metastasis after the gastrectomy in the metachronous group. In the synchronous group, extra-hepatic metastasis, a gastrectomy as the operative procedure, a hepatic resection as the operative procedure and the response to chemotherapy were statistically significant in the univariate analysis, and a hepatic resection as the operative procedure, the response to chemotherapy, and extra-hepatic metastasis were independant prognostic factors identified by the multivariate analysis. In the metachronous group, extra-hepatic metastasis, the response to chemotherapy and differentiation were statistically significant in the univariate analysis, and extra-hepatic metastasis was an independent prognostic factor identified by the multivariate analysis. Conclusion: An aggressive surgical therapy and effective chemotherapy are necessary in the treatment of gastric cancer patients with hepatic metastasis. (J Korean Gastric Cancer Assoc 2006;6:237-243)

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.448-463
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• 2000

Background : Pulmonary infiltrate is a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with leukemia. It is often hard to obtain a reliable diagnosis by clinical and radiologic findings alone. The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic benefits of invasive procedures for new lung infiltrates in leukemia. Methods : Patients with leukemia who developed new lung infiltrates from December 1994 to March 1999 were included in this study. These patients were classified into the empirical group who received empirical therapy only and into the invasive group who underwent bronchoscopy or surgical lung biopsy for the diagnostic purpose of new lung infiltrates. A retrospective chart review was done to find the etiologies of new lung infiltrates, the yield of invasive procedures, outcome as well as predicting factors for survival. Results : 1) One hundred-two episodes of new lung infiltrates developed in 90 patients with leukemia. Invasive procedures were performed in 44 episodes while 58 episodes were treated with empirical therapy only. 2) Invasive procedures yielded a specific diagnosis in 72.7%(32/44), of which 78.1% had infectious etiology. Therapeutic plan was changed in 52.3%(23/44) of patients after invasive procedures. None of them showed procedure-related mortality. 3) The overall survival rate was 62.7%(64/102). Survival rate in the invasive group (79.5%) was significantly better than that in the empirical group (50.0%) (p=0.002). 4) Upon multivariate analysis, the performance of invasive procedures, no need for mechanical ventilation and achievement of complete remission of leukemia after induction chemotherapy were the independent predicting factors for survival in patients with leukemia and new lung infiltrates. Conclusion : Bronchoscopy and surgical lung biopsy are useful in the diagnosis of new lung infiltrates in patients with leukemia. However, survival benefits of invasive procedures should be considered together with disease status of leukemia and severity of respiratory compromise.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.389-398
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• 1998

Purpose : To evaluate the role of conventional postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy in the management of supratentorial malignant glioma and to determine favorable prognostic factors affecting survival. Materials and Methods : From Sep. 1985 to Mar. 1997, the number of eligible patients who received postoperative radiotherapy completely was 69. They ranged in age from 7 to 66 years (median, 47). Forty-two (61$\%$) patients were glioblastoma multiforme and the other 27 (39$\%$) were anaplastic astrocytoma. Twenty patients (29$\%$) had Karnofsky score equal or more than 80 preoperatively. Forty-three patients (62$\%$) had symptom duration equal or less than 3 months. Twenty-four patients (35$\%$) had gross total resection and forty patients(58$\%$) had partial resection, the remaining five patients (7$\%$) had biopsy only. Radiotherapy dose ranged from 50.4 Gy to 61.2 Gy (median, 55.8; mode, 59.4) with fraction size of 1 8 Gy-2.0 Gy for 33-83 days(median, 48) except three patients delivered 33, 36, 39 Gr, respectively with fraction size of 3.0 Gy due to poor postoperative performance status. Follow-up rate was 93$\%$ and median follow-up period was 14 months. Results : Overall survival rate at 2 and 3 years and median survival were 38$\%$, 20$\%$, and 16 months for entire patients; 67$\%$, 44$\%$, and 34 months for anaplastic astrocytoma; 18$\%$, 4$\%$, and 14 months for glioblastoma multiforme, respectively (p=0.0001). According to the extent of surgery, 3-year overall survival for gross total resection, partial resection, and biopsy only was 38$\%$, 11$\%$, and 0$\%$, respectively (p=0.02) The 3-year overall survival rates for patients age 40>, 40-59, and 60< were 52$\%$, 8$\%$, and 0$\%$, respectively (p=0.0007). For the variate of performance score 80< vs 80>, the 3-year survival rates were 53$\%$ and 9$\%$, respectively (p=0.008). On multivariate analysis including covariates of three surgical and age subgroups as above, pathology, extent of surgery and age were significant prognostic factors affecting overall survival. On another multivariate analysis with covariates of two surgical (total resection vs others) and two a9e (50> vs 50<) subgroups, then, pathology, extent of surgery and performance status were significant factors instead of age and 3-year cumulative survival rate for the five patients with these three favorable factors was 100$\%$ without serious sequela. Conclusion : We confirmed the role of postoperative conventional radiotherapy in the management of supratentorial malignant glioma by improving survival as compared with historical data of surgery only. Patients with anaplastic astrocytoma, good performance score, gross total resection and/or young age survived longest. Maximum surgical resection with acceptable preservation of neurologic function should be attempted in glioblastoma patients, especially in younger patients. But the survival of most globlastoma patients without favorable factors is still poor, so other active adjuvant treatment modalities should be tried or added rather than conventional radiation treatment alone in this subgroup.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.220-225
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• 2009

Background: Sternoclavicular septic arthritis manifests serious complications such as abscess, osteomyelitis, mediastinitis and empyema; therefore, a prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment are necessary. Material and Method: The treatment results of eight patients with sternoclavicular septic arthritis and who had been surgically treated at our institutions between September 2005 and July 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. The surgical treatment they underwent was en bloc resection, including partial resection of the sternum, the clavicular head and the 1st rib. Result: The patients ranged in age from 40 to 74 years with an average of $55.1{\pm}10.3$ years. Five were men and three were women. There were 6 patients with spontaneous sternoclavicular septic arthritis and 2 patients had their condition induced by central venous catheters. The pathogens isolated from the patients’ blood and wounds were MRSA (3), Streptococcus intermedius (1), Streptococcus agalactiae (1) and Pseudomonas luteola (1). One patient expired from aggravation of preoperative sepsis on POD 31. Conclusion: The life-threatening complications from sternoclavicular septic arthritis can progress and lead to death unless appropriate treatment is administered. A prompt diagnosis, appropriate antibiotics therapy and effective surgical treatment such as radical en bloc resection can reduce the morbidity and mortality of this malady.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.434-440
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• 2009

Background: Surgical closure of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) can be considered when conservative medical treatment is ineffective or contraindicated. Low weight and earlier gestational age neonates who are treated with conservative medical therapy generally showed a higher failure rate. The morbidity of surgical PDA closure in such extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates is also high. Here we present the early results of a new technique for approaching the PDA through a dorsal minithoracotomy. Material and Method: From March 2006 to November 2008, 24 premature neonates underwent surgical PDA closure. The procedures were performed in the newborn intensive care unit via a 2 cm long dorsal minithoracotomy with the baby in the prone position with the left hemithorax elevated 30$^{\circ}$. Bimanual cotton swab blunt dissection completed the extrapleural accesstothe PDA and then two clips were applied. Tube thoracostomy was avoided if there was no meaningful pleural laceration. Result: The infants mean gestational age was 26.5$\pm$2.1 weeks (range: 23 to 30 weeks) and the average age at operation was 11$\pm$11 days. The mean body weight at operation was 933$\pm$271 grams (range: 570 to 1,700 grams). Eight patients expired, but there was no procedure-related death. Postoperative echocardiography revealed two cases of residual shunt but none of these shunts were detected on the follow up echocardiogram that was performed on the post operative 5 and 59 days. Conclusion: We concluded that the technique described here is an effective procedure in view of the satisfactory operative exposure and the low rate of complications.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.195-202
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• 2010

Purpose : Despite recent advances in pulmonary hypertension management and surgery, appropriate guidelines remain to be developed for operability in congenital heart disease with pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). Our aim was to evaluate clinical outcomes of patients with severe PAH who underwent surgical closure of left-to-right shunt lesions (LRSL) on the basis of pulmonary reactivity. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 21 patients who underwent surgical closure of LRSL with severe PAH (${\geq}8$ Wood unit) from January 1995 to April 2009. The median age at operation was 26 years. Atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect (VSD), VSD and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), and PDA was present in 11, 4, 4, and 2 patients, respectively. Results : Operability was based on vasoreactivity of PAH. Of the 21 patients, 5 showed response to pulmonary vasodilator therapy and 8 showed vasoreactivity after balloon occlusion of defects. The remaining 8 patients were considered operable because of significant left-to-right shunt (Qp/Qs ${\geq}1.5$). Five patients underwent total closure of defects and 16 were left with small residual shunts. The median follow-up duration was 32 months. There was no significant postoperative mortality or morbidity. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) decreased in all but 2 patients. All patients except 1 showed improvement of New York Heart Association functional class. Conclusion : Closure of LRSL in patients with severe PAH on the basis of pulmonary vasoreactivity seems reasonable. PAP and clinical symptoms improved in most patients. Further research is needed for the evaluation of long-term results.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effects of erythritol powder air polishing device (EPAP) in addition to scaling and root planing (SRP) in non-surgical periodontal treatment in moderate chronic periodontitis patients. Materials and Methods: Clinical evaluation was performed at 21 sites treated with SRP (control) and 21 sites treated with the addition of SRP+EPAP (test). All examinations were performed before treatment, 1 month after treatment, and 3 months after treatment. Depth of the periodontal pocket, gingival recession, clinical attachment level, plaque index, and bleeding of probing were measured as clinical parameters. Results: In both test and control groups, there was a significant decrease in the depth of the periodontal pocket, plaque index, bleeding of probing, increased gingival recession, and gain of clinical attachment level at 1 month and 3 months after treatment. However, there was no significant clinical difference between the test group and the control group. Clinical result was improved after 1 month compared to the baseline; in contrast, results at 3 months after treatment were worse than at 1 month after treatment. Conclusion: In this study, we cannot suggest that SRP + EPAP is clinically more effective than SRP alone as non-surgical periodontal treatments. Periodic periodontal therapy, at intervals of at least every three months, is important for sustaining effects of this treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.3
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• pp.654-669
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• 2021

Purpose To evaluate the accuracy of MRI in predicting the pathological complete response (pCR) and the residual tumor size of breast cancer after neoadjucant chemotherapy (NAC), and to determine the factors affecting the accuarcy. Materials and Methods Eighty-eight breast cancer patients who underwent surgery after NAC at our center between 2010 and 2017 were included in this study. pCR was defined as the absence of invasive cancer on pathological evaluation. The maximum diameter of the residual tumor on post-NAC MRI was compared with the tumor size of the surgical specimen measured pathologically. Statistical analysis was performed to elucidate the factors affecting pCR and the residual tumor size-discrepancy between the MRI and the pathological measurements. Results The pCR rate was 10%. The diagnostic accuracy of MRI and the area under the curve for predicting pCR were 90.91% and 0.8017, respectively. The residual tumor sizes obtained using MRI and pathological measurements showed a strong correlation (r = 0.9, p < 0.001), especially in patients with a single mass lesion (p = 0.047). The size discrepancy between MRI and the pathological measurements was significantly greater in patients with the luminal type (p = 0.023) and multifocal tumors/non-mass enhancement on pre-NAC MRI (p = 0.047). Conclusion MRI is an accurate tool for evaluating pCR and residual tumor size in breast cancer patients who receive NAC. Tumor subtype and initial MRI features affect the accuracy of MRI.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Purpose: This retrospective study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of radiation therapy (RT) and to investigate the prognostic factors for thymoma when treated with RT. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 21 patients with thymoma and also received RT from March 2002 to January 2008. The median follow-up time was 37 months (range, 3 to 89 months). The median patient age was 57 years (range, 24 to 77 years) and the gender ratio of males to females was 4：3. Of the 21 patients, complete resections (trans-sternal thymectomy) and R2 resections were performed in 14 and 1 patient, respectively. A biopsy was performed in 6 patients (28.7%). The WHO cell types in the 21 patients were as follows: 1 patient (4.8%) had type A, 10 patients (47.6%) had type B1-3, and 10 patients (47.6%) had type C. Based on Masaoka staging, 10 patients (47.6%) were stage II, 7 patients (33.3%) were stage III, and 4 patients (19.1%) were stage IVa. Three-dimensional RT was adminstered to the tumor volume (planned target volume), including the anterior mediastinum and the residual disease. The total RT dose ranged from 52.0 to 70.2 Gy (median dose, 54 Gy). Consistent with the WHO criteria, the response rate was only analyzed for the 6 patients who received a biopsy only. The prognostic factors analyzed for an estimate of survival included age, gender, tumor size, tumor pathology, Masaoka stage, the possibility of treatment by performing surgery, the presence of myasthenia gravis, and RT dose. Results: The 3-year overall survival rate (OS) and the progression free survival rate (PFS) were 80.7% and 78.2%, respectively. Among the 10 patients with WHO cell type C, 3 of 4 patients (75%) who underwent a complete resection and 3 of 6 patients (50%) who underwent a biopsy survived. Distant metastasis developed in 4 patients (19.1%). The overall response rate in the 6 patients who received biopsy only were as follows: partial remission in 4 patients (66.7%), stable disease in 1 patient (16.6%), and progressive disease in 1 patient (16.6%). Acute RTOG radiation pneumonitis occurred in 1 patient (4.8%), grade 2 occurred in 2 patients (9.5%), grade 3 occurred in 1 patient (4.8%), and grade 4 occurred in 1 patient (4.8%). A univariate analysis revealed that the significant prognostic factors for OS were age (${\geq}60$, 58.3%; <60, 100%; p=0.0194), pathology (WHO cell type A-B3, 100%; C, 58.3%; p=0.0194) and, whether the patient underwent surgery (yes, 93.3%; no, 50%; p=0.0096). Conclusion: For the 15 patients who received surgery, there was no local failure within the radiation field. In patients with WHO cell type C, surgical procedures could have resulted in a more favorable outcome than biopsy alone. We report here our clinical experience in 21 patients with thymoma who were treated by radiation therapy.