• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2020

Objective: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a major sequela after surgery or radiotherarpy for breast cancer. Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is designed to reduce lymph swelling by facilitating lymphatic drainage. This study attempted to determine the histologic changes in the skin and subcutaneous layer, and the immediate effect of MLD in decreasing lymphedema using ultrasound imaging, which is the method used most commonly to eliminate BCRL. Design: A single-group experimental study. Methods: Five subjects who were diagnosed with hemiparetic upper extremity lymphedema more than six months after breast cancer surgery participated in the study. MLD was performed for 60 minutes in the order of the thorax, breast, axilla, and upper arm of the affected side. In order to determine the effect of MLD, ultrasound imaging and limb volume were assessed. Two measurement tools were used for asessing lymphedema thickness among the pretest, posttest, and 30-minute follow-up period. Results: Significant diferences in ultrasound imaging and upper limb volume were found between the affected side and non-affected side (p<0.05). On the affected side, although ultrasound imaging showed a significant decrease after MLD (p<0.05), there were no significant difference in upper limb volume when compared to the baseline. Conclusions: In this study, a significant decrease in lymphedema by MLD was demonstrated by ultrasound imaging, which is considered to be more useful in assessing histological changes than limb volume measurements. Further research on the protocol for eliminating lymphedema will be needed.

• Journal of Breast Cancer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.447-452
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• 2018

Purpose: The recent trend in breast cancer treatment is to minimize axillary dissection. However, no pattern of axillary metastasis has been precisely established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the metastatic lymphatic pattern using near-infrared fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green (ICG) in breast cancer with cytologically proven axillary metastasis. Methods: This was a prospective single-center study. We evaluated 147 patients with breast cancer involving cytologically proven axillary metastasis, and compared physiological and nonphysiological lymphatic metastasis. Results: We performed lymphatic mapping for 64 patients who exhibited level II lymphatic flow on near-infrared fluorescence imaging with ICG, and found that all had axillary metastasis: 51 patients who did not receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and 13 patients post-NAC. Of patients who did not receive NAC, 32 had physiological lymphatic metastasis and 19 had nonphysiological lymphatic metastasis. The risk factors for nonphysiological lymphatic metastasis were age ${\geq}55$ years, high Ki-67 index (>20%), and perinodal extension in both univariate and multivariate analysis (p<0.05). Conclusion: Patients with identified risk factors in cytologically-proven axillary metastasis who did not receive NAC may have nonphysiological lymphatic metastasis.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.19-28
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to apply manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) and high-frequency diathermy (HFD) to patients with axillary web syndrome (AWS), one of the side effects of breast cancer surgery, and to treat upper extremity pain, volume, function of the upper extremity, (joint range of motion; ROM, disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand; DASH) and quality of life before and after treatment. It is to determine the effect of treatment by checking the level change. Methods : This study is a case series. A total of 5 patients diagnosed with AWS after breast cancer surgery voluntarily participated in this study. The intervention program consisted of stretching, MLD and HFD. It was conducted 3 times a week for 30 minutes for 4 weeks. In order to compare the effects of pain (numeric pain rating scale; NPRS), volume, upper limb function (ROM, DASH) and quality of life (the European organization for research and treatment of cancer quality of life questionnaire-breast, EORTC QLQ-BR23) evaluations were compared before and after 4 weeks of intervention. All measured variables were analyzed and expressed as mean, standard deviation and percentage. Results : The shoulder NPRS level of the subjects in all case groups decreased, the volume decreased and the shoulder flexion, abduction ROM increased. It showed improvement in DASH and quality of life, QLQ-BR23. Conclusion : After breast cancer surgery, we confirmed the possibility that MLD and HFD treatments could be effective in improving pain, decreasing volume, increasing upper extremity function, and quality of life for patients who have difficulties with AWS. The possibility has been confirmed, and additional research is needed by increasing the number of participants in the experiment in the future.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.246-253
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• 2021

In order to provide a physiological solution for patients with breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL), the surgeon must understand where and how the pathology of lymphedema occurred. Based on each patient's pathology, the treatment plan should be carefully decided and individualized. At the authors' institution, the treatment plan is made individually based on each patient's symptoms and relative factors. Most early-stage patients first undergo decongestive therapy and then, depending on the efficacy of the treatment, a surgical approach is suggested. If the patient is indicated for surgery, all the points of lymphatic flow obstruction are carefully examined. Thus a BCRL patient can be considered for lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA), a lymph node flap, scar resection, or a combination thereof. LVA targets ectatic superficial collecting lymphatics, which are located within the deep fat layer, and preoperative mapping using ultrasonography is critical. If there is contracture on the axilla, axillary scar removal is indicated to relieve the vein pressure and allow better drainage. Furthermore, removing the scars and reconstructing the fat layer will allow a better chance for the lymphatics to regenerate. After complete removal of scar tissue, a regional fat flap or a superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap with lymph node transfer is performed. By deciding the surgical planning for BCRL based on each patient's pathophysiology, optimal outcomes can be achieved. Depending on each patient's pathophysiology, LVA, scar removal, vascularized lymph node transfer with a sufficient adipocutaneous flap, and simultaneous breast reconstruction should be planned.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.2
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• pp.439-443
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• 2022

Hibernoma is a rare benign tumor of brown adipose tissue. Herein, we report a case of axillary hibernoma in a 53-year-old female and discuss the various radiologic findings. The US revealed a 4.5-cm well-defined oval heterogenous hyperechoic mass in the right axilla with anterior displacement of the axillary vessels. Non-enhanced chest CT showed a 5.0-cm well defined, oval, and low-attenuated mass. MRI demonstrated a 5.5-cm mass with heterogeneous intermediate-to-high signal intensity on T1-and T2-weighted images and irregular enhancement at the peripheral portion. The patient underwent an US-guided core needle biopsy and the final diagnosis was hibernoma.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.2
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• pp.423-428
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• 2021

Progressive transformation of germinal centers (PTGC) is a rarely diagnosed, benign disease of the lymph nodes that commonly manifests as chronic lymphadenopathy. PTGC may be characterized by single or multiple non-tender lymph nodes, and it commonly involves the cervical, axillary, and inguinal areas. Although PTGC is identified with concurrent lymphoma in some patients, it is not considered as a premalignant entity. Histopathologic diagnosis of PTGC is rarely made, and imaging findings have been reported in very few studies. We present a case of PTGC that occurred at the contralateral axillary lymph nodes and mimicked metastatic lymphadenopathy after breast cancer surgery. We also discuss its imaging findings.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.6
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• pp.1486-1491
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• 2020

Kikuchi disease is a type of benign, self-limiting necrotizing lymphadenitis that occurs most commonly in young women and usually manifests as palpable cervical lymph nodes and fever. Patients with an unusual location of lymph node involvement can be misdiagnosed with malignant disease. Here, we report a case of Kikuchi disease in a 15-year-old girl presenting with persistent fever for 2 weeks. Imaging studies, including ultrasonography, CT, and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT, revealed splenomegaly and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, axilla, abdomen, retroperitoneum, and inguinal region. Laparoscopic excision of the celiac lymph nodes confirmed histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, also known as Kikuchi disease. Conservative treatment with corticosteroids improved the patient's condition.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.240-247
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• 2011

Purpose: The rationale for skin surface cultures is that bacterial colonization precedes infection and, as a result, that identification of a potential pathogen is predictive of later systemic infection in preterm infants. We aimed to analyze results of surveillance surface cultures in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants and seek for effective ways of performing surveillance surface cultures. Methods: We analyzed the surveillance surface cultures of 113 ELBW infants over a 4-year period. Surveillance cultures were obtained routinely from five sites: axilla, external ear canal, nasopharynx, throat (or tracheal aspirate if intubated) and anus. Each surface culture obtained during the 13 days, prior to the date of the blood culture, was compared with the blood culture obtained when sepsis was suspected. The sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) of the surveillance cultures were calculated among 1894 blood-surface culture pairs by surface sites, recovered organisms and interval between surveillance samples and blood cultures. Results: The overall sensitivity, specificity and PPV of surface cultures were 45.9, 22.4 and 6.8%, respectively. The PPV was highest for the throat/tracheal cultures (11.0%) and lowest for the anal cultures (2.3%). As the time of culturing progressed toward the day of blood culturing, the sensitivity and specificity of the surface cultures significantly increased. Only axillary and throat/tracheal cultures were useful in predicting the microorganisms causing sepsis. Conclusion: Surface cultures could help to predict sepsis pathogens and infection surveillance in preterm infants could be continued with a reduced number of cultured sites focusing on the axilla and throat/trachea.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.999-1003
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• 1998

Background: Thoracoscopic sympathetic block in palmar hyperhidrosis has merits in its immediate responsiveness and recovery. In palmar hyperhidrosis, the level of sympathetic chain to be blocked has been somewhat obscure. Materials and methods: To compare the results of T2 with T2,3 sympathetic block, we retrospectively studied 192 patients (T2 group: 84, T23 group: 108) operated on at SNUH with palmar hyperhidrosis between April 1994 and July 1997. We reviewed medical records and recently interviewed the patients by telephone call. Sex and age distribution between two groups showed no significant differences. We performed sympathectomy at the early phase of the syudy until April 1997, and after then, we adopted sympathicotomy rather than sympathectomy. Results: All patients showed symptomatic improvement after the operation. Mean operation times of T2, T23 groups were 61.3$\pm$22.5min, 82.7$\pm$24.8min, respectively(p<0.01). Early postoperative complications, such as Horner's syndrome or chest tube insertion, were not different in two groups. There were no statistical differences of late complications such as compensatory truncal hyperhidrosis, gustatory sweating, and phantom sweating. No patient experienced recurrence of palmar hyperhidrosis during the study period. The only difference was the extent of compensatory truncal hyperhidrosis. The compensatory sweating occurred from axilla to suprapatella in T2 group whereas its extent was from nipple to suprapatella in T23 group. Conclusions: We concluded that T2 thoracic sympathetic block is mandatory for the treatment of primary palmar hyperhidrosis.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.218-225
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• 2017

Effects on skin caused by the dose from linear accelerator (LINAC) opposing portal irradiation and TomoDirect 3-D modeling treatment according to the radiation devices and treatment methods were measured, and a comparative analysis was performed. Two groups of 10 patients each were created and measurements were carried out using an optically stimulated luminescence dosimeter. These patients were already receiving radiation treatment in the hospital. Using the SPSS statistical program, the minimum and maximum average standard deviations of the measured skin dose data were obtained. Two types of treatment method were selected as independent variables; the measured points and total average were the dependent variables. An independent sample T-test was used, and it was checked whether there was a significance probability between the two groups. The average of the measured results for the LINAC opposing portal radiation was 117.7 cGy and PDD 65.39% for the inner breast, 144.7 cGy and PDD 80.39% for the outer breast, 143.2 cGy and PDD 79.56% for the upper breast, 151.4 cGy and PDD 84.11% for the lower breast, 149.6 cGy and PDD 83.11% for the axilla, and 141.32 cGy and PDD 78.51% for the total average. In contrast, for TomoDirect 3-D conformal radiotherapy, the corresponding measurement values were 137.6 cGy and PDD 76.44%, 152.3 cGy and PDD 84.61%, 148.6 cGy and PDD 82.56%, 159.7 cGy and PDD 88.72%, and 148.6 cGy PDD 82.56%, respectively, and the total average was 149.36 cGy and PDD 82.98%. To determine if the difference between the total averages was statistically significant, the independent sample T-test of the SPSS statistical program was used, which indicated that the P-value was P=0.024, which was 0.05 lower than the significance level. Thus, it can be understood that the null hypothesis can be dismissed, and that there was a difference in the averages. In conclusion, even though the treatment dose was similar, there could be a difference in the dose entering the body surface from the radiation treatment plan; however, depending on the properties of the treatment devices, there is a difference in the dose affecting the body surface. Thus, the absorbed dose entering the body surface can be high. During breast cancer radiotherapy, radiation dermatitis occurs in almost all patients. Most patients have a difficult time while undergoing treatment, and therefore, when choosing a radiotherapy treatment method, minimizing radiation dermatitis is an important consideration.