• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2007

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare GnRH antagonist and agonist flare-up treatment in the management of poor responder patients. Methods: One hundred forty-four patients from Jan. 1, 2002 to Aug. 31, 2005 undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment who responded poorly to the previous cycle (No. of oocyte retrieved$\leq$5) and had high early follicular phase follicle stimulating hormone (FSH>12 mIU/ml were selected. Seventy-five patients received agonist flare-up protocol and 71 patients received antagonist protocol. We analyzed the number of oocytes retrieved, number of good embryos (GI, GI-1), total dose of hMG administered, implantation rate, cycle cancellation rate, pregnancy rate, live birth rate. Results: The cancellation rate was high in antagonist protocol (53.5% vs. 30.1%). The number of oocyte retrieved, the number of good embyos were high in agonist flare-up group. There was no statistical difference between GnRH agonist flare up protocol and GnRH antagonist protocol in implantation rate (14.5%, 10.1%), clinical pregnancy rate per transfer (29.4%, 21.2%) and live birth rate per transfer (21.6%, 18.2%). Although the result was not statistically significant, GnRH agonist flare up group showed a nearly doubled pregnancy rate and live birth rate per initial cycle than GnRH antagonist group. Conclusions: The agonist flare-up protocol appears to be slightly more effective than the GnRH antagonist protocol in implantation rate, pregnancy rate, live birth rate but shows statistically no significance. Agonist flare-up protocol improved the ovarian response in poor responders. However, based of the result of the study, we can expect improved ovarian response in poor responders by GnRH agonist flare up protocol.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.454-459
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• 2002

Clinical analysis of the relation between the clinical data of chest trauma patients and bone scan results was done to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of bone scan for the diagnosis of rib or chondral fracture. Material and Method： 445 patients treated due to chest trauma in Dongguk University Kyungju Hospital from July 1998 to December 2001 were studied. Age and sex distribution, causes of chest trauma, interval from the injury to arrival at hospital, final diagnosis, relationship between the chest pain and bone scan results, relationship between local tenderness and bone scan results, and sensitivity and specificity of bone scan were studied. Result： The male was 61.6% and the female was 38.4%. Age distribution was nearly even from the twenties to the sixties. The traffic accident was the most common cause of chest injury(60.4%). Most patients(76.6%) were arrived to the hospital within 6 hours after chest trauma. Rib fracture was the most common final diagnosis(46.5 %). The relationship between the duration of chest pain and tenderness and the bone scan results were significant, and the same in the relationship between the duration of local tenderness and the bone scan results, but the latter is more significant. The sensitivity of bone scan was 99.4% and the specificity was 90.4%. Conclusion： If the patient complains the chest pain continuously and the local tenderness around the chest is continued over 3 weeks, it is good to perform the bone scan. Further study including the MRI may be helpful for more evaluation in chest trauma patients.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2008

Background and Purpose：Nausea, vomiting and weight loss are common problems that are encountered in the course of cancer patient treatment who are receiving radiotherapy. In this study, we are aiming to analyze the effect of megestrol acetate on quality of life of head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy, resulting from improvement of weight loss, appetite and nutritional status via multicenter, open-labeled, observational clinical trial. Material and Methods：A total of 270 patients from 10 medical institutes who are receiving radiotherapy or who have completed radiotherapy within 3 months, between February 2007 and February 2008, were selected as candidates for the study. Megestrol acetate suspension(megace) was given to the subjectives once a week for 4 weeks with the amount of 20ml(megestrol 800mg). Measurement of weight and questionnaire surveys were carried out three times: at the start of the study, 4 weeks after the start of the medication, and 4 weeks after the end of the medication, respectively. Results：The group who has received megace had a total number of 199, and control group was 70. The group who have received megace showed mean weight loss of 1kg in 8 weeks, compared with the weight loss of 5.5kg in control group, which showed that the medication was effective in reducing the amount of weight loss(P=0.027). The group who received megace had a tendency to report a reduced rate of decrease in the score of appetite, nausea and vomiting, and QOL score, but it did not have statistical significance(P>0.05). Conclusion：Megestrol acetate have reduced the degree of weight loss significantly, and it has a tendency to reduce the rate of decrease in appetite, aggravation of nausea and vomiting, and quality of life.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2021

Purpose: This study examined the radiological and clinical outcomes of internal fixation using a reconstruction plate and 21G circumferential wire in comminuted midshaft clavicular fractures. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed on 51 patients between 2005 and 2019. Thirty-two patients underwent internal fixation with a reconstruction plate and a 21G circumferential wire with minimal soft tissue detachment, and 19 patients underwent surgery without a wire. The patients were assessed with the radiographic parameters, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score, and the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score. Based on this, patients who operated without a circumferential wire were set as the control group, and the differences in bone union between the two groups were compared. Results: Thirty-two patients were followed-up for an average of 65 weeks, and 19 patients in the control group were followed-up for an average of 56 weeks. The radiological evaluation confirmed the anatomical reduction and bone union in all 32 patients. No case of nonunion was present. The UCLA score was 32.38 on average and 33.11 in the control group (p=0.395). The VAS score was 1.00 on average and 0.84 in the control group (p=0.668). A significant difference in the bony union time was observed between the group who underwent internal fixation with a reconstruction plate and a 21G circumferential wire with minimal soft tissue detachment, and the control group (p=0.015). On the other hand, there was no statistical significance when other variables were controlled (p=0.107). Conclusion: For displaced midshaft clavicular fractures, internal fixation using a reconstruction plate and 21G circumferential wire maintained accurate anatomical reduction. The satisfactory clinical and radiological results mean that internal fixation using a reconstruction plate and 21G circumferential wire may be a good option for surgical treatment.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.315-327
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• 2023

Purpose: Oxaliplatin, a component of the capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX) regimen, has a more favorable toxicity profile than cisplatin in patients with advanced gastric cancer (GC). However, oxaliplatin can induce sensory neuropathy and cumulative, dose-related toxicities. Thus, the capecitabine maintenance regimen may achieve the maximum treatment effect while reducing the cumulative neurotoxicity of oxaliplatin. This study aimed to compare the survival of patients with advanced GC between capecitabine maintenance and observation after 1st line XELOX chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: Sixty-three patients treated with six cycles of XELOX for advanced GC in six hospitals of the Catholic University of Korea were randomized 1:1 to receive capecitabine maintenance or observation. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), analyzed using a two-sided log-rank test stratified at a 5% significance level. Results: Between 2015 and 2020, 32 and 31 patients were randomized into the maintenance and observation groups, respectively. After randomization, the median number of capecitabine maintenance cycles was 6. The PFS was significantly higher in the maintenance group than the observation group (6.3 vs. 4.1 months, P=0.010). Overall survival was not significantly different between the 2 groups (18.2 vs. 16.5 months, P=0.624). Toxicities, such as hand-foot syndrome, were reported in some maintenance group patients. Maintenance treatment was a significant factor associated with PFS in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 0.472; 95% confidence interval, 0.250-0.890; P=0.020). Conclusions: After 6 cycles of XELOX chemotherapy, capecitabine maintenance significantly prolonged PFS compared with observation, and toxicity was manageable. Maintenance treatment was a significant prognostic factor associated with PFS.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.1094-1104
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• 1997

Background : Spontaneous pneumothoraces(SP) are divided into primary spontaneous pneumothoraces (PSP) which develop in healthy individuals without underlying pulmonary disorders and secondary spontaneous pneumothoraces(SSP) which occur in those who have underlying disorders such as tuberculosis or chronic obstructive lung diseases. Yet there is no established standard therapeutic approach to this disorder, i.e., from the spectrum of noninvasive treatment such as clinical observation with or without oxygen therapy, to aggressively invasive thoracoscopic bullectomy or open thoracotomy. Although chest tube thoracostomy has been most widely used, the patients should overcome pain in the initiation of tube insertion or during indwelling it potential infection and subcutaneous emphysema. Thus smaller-caliber tube has been challenged for the treatment of pneumothorax. Previously, we studied the therapeutic efficacy of 8 French catheter for spontaneous pneumothorax. But there has been few data for effectiveness of small-caliber catheterization in comparison with that of chest tube. In this study, we intended to observe the long-term effectiveness of 8 French catheter for the treatment of spontaneous pneumothoraces in comparison with that of chest tube thoracostomy. Method : From January, 1990 to January, 1996, sixty two patients with spontaneous pneumothoraces treated at Chung-Ang University Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. The patients were sub-divided into a group treated with 8 French catheter(n=23) and the other one with chest tube insertion(n=39). The clinical data were reviewed(age, sex, underlying pulmonary disorders, past history of pneumothorax, size of pneumothorax, follow-up period). And therapeutic effect of two groups was compared by treatment duration(duration of indwelling catheter or tube), treatment-associated complications and recurrence rate. Results : The follow-up period(median) of 8 French catheter group and chest tube group was 28 and 22 months, which had no statistical significance. Ther was no statistically significant difference of clinical characteristics between two groups with SP, PSP, SSP. The indwelling time of 8 French catheter group was $6.2{\pm}3.8$ days, which was significantly shorter than that of chest tube group in SP, $9.1{\pm}7.5$ days(p=0.047). In comparison of treatment-related complication in PSP, 8 French catheter group as 6.25% of complication showed lower tendency than the other group as 23.8% (p=0.041 ; one-tailed, p=0.053; two-tailed). The recurrence rate in each group of SP was 17.4%, 10.3%, which did not show any statistically significant difference. Conclusion : Treatment with 8 French catheter resulted in shorter indwelling time in sponteous pneumothorax, and lower incidence of treatment-related complication in primary spontaneous pneumothorax. And the recurrence rate in each of treatment group showed no statistically significant difference. So, we can recommend the 8 French small-caliber catheter for the initial therapy for spontaneous pneumothorax for the replacement of conventional chest tube thoracostomy. But further prospective study with more subjects of spontaneous pneumothorax will be needed for the evaluation of effectiveness of 8 French cateter.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2000

Purpose: MCNS is found in approximately $85\%$ of the idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in children and shows good prognosis with initial steroid therapy. However in FSGS, there is poor prognosis with initial therapy and shows higher rate of progression to chronic renal failure and relapse after kindney transplantation. We have experienced 8 patients who were diagnosed as MCNS on initial renal biopsy and then progressed to FSGS on follow-up biopsy. So we have investigated their clinical course and risk factors for transition of MCNS to FSGS. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study with a review of histopathologic findings and clinical manifestations of 296 cases of MCNS and FSGS that were diagnosed from January 1988 to May 1999. We classified them into 3 groups according to the histopathologic finding; MCNS, FSGS, MCNS progressed to FSGS in follow-up biopsy. Results: The number of children was 296 cases comprising 241 cases($81.4\%$) showing MCNS, 8 cases($2.7\%$) transition group, 47 cases($15.9\%$) FSGS. The mean onset age was $6.0{\pm}2.6$years in MCNS, transition group $8.3{\pm}2.3$years, FSGS $7.2{\pm4.3$years, and the gender (M:F) ratio was 3.7:1 in MCNS, 3:1 in transition group, 1.8:1 in FSGS. Comparing the presence of initial hematuria, hypertension,24 hour urine protein, serum albumin, serum creatinine, there were significant difference between the transition group and the FSGS group in the following points; 24hour urine protein $684:342mg/m^2/hr$(P<0.05), serum albumin 1.92: 2.47g/dL(P<0.05), serum cholesterol 494:343mg/dL(P<0.05). Refractoriness to steroid therapy was 13.3$\%$ in MCNS. $12.5\%$ in transition group, $29.6\%$ in FSGS; significantly higher in FSGS(P<0.05). Immunosuppressant therapy was performed in $58.5\%$ of MCNS, $100\%$ in transition group, $80.8\%$ in FSGS; transition group showed significantly higher .ate(P<0.05) comparing with MCNS. Mean number of relapse and duration from onset to first relapse showed no significance difference between these groups. Conclusion: 249 patients with MCNS have been followed and $3.2\%$ (8 patients) of them has shown change in pathologic diagnosis from MCNS to FSCS. The risk factor for transition could not be found. Our results point to the need for a follow-up biopsy to certify the possibility of transition to FSCS in some MCNS cases with refractory cases to steroid therepy, frequent relapsing cases, or in case of no remission in spite of vigorous immunosuppressant therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.149-165
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• 2000

As recent developments of Immunology and Nuclear medicine, serum IgE and IgG values are helpful in the diagnosis and evaluation of the therapeutic effects of nasal allergies. But in Korea, air pollution and the increased use of food additives have become leading factors in nasal allergies, It seems to be induced by environmental change, especially industrialization and urbanization, so allergic rhinitis in our environment has changed in accordance with the changes made in the living environment. Therefore this study is attempted in order to observe a clinical analysis which places more importance on allergic rhinitis. We studied 200 patients who had visited Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center with allergic rhinitis from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 1999 The results were as follows: 1. The sex distribution was 114 males(57%) and 86 females(43%). In age distribution, the average age was 25. In males, ages ranged from 3 to 66 years old and the average was 23.81. In females, ages ranged from 4 to 67 years old and the average was 28.57. The peak age was 30～39 years old(24%); under 9 years old and 10～19 years old were each 18%; 20～29 years old was 22%; 40～49 years old was 11 %; over 50 years old 6.5%. The gulf between males and females showed a statistically significant difference(P<0.025). 2. In the age of onset, male' s maximum was 62.5, minimum was 0.25; female s maximum was 59.5, minimum was 0.2. Under 9 years old was the most with 34%(male 24%, female 10%), 10～19 years old was 18%, 20～29 years old was 22.5%, 30～39 years old was 13.50%, over 40 years old was 12%, The gulf between males and females were showed statistically significant difference.(p<0.014) 3. The average duration of the disease was 5.67 years. In male and female, the maximum was 30, the minimum was 0.05; under 5 years old was the most with 62%(male 34.50%, female 27.50%); 6～10 years old was 23%. So, under 10 years old was 85%. There was no statistically significant difference in the duration of disease. 4. Regarding type of residence, 47.50% of patients with allergic rhinitis lived in apartments, 52.50% lived in houses. In males, 29.50% lived in apartments, 27.50% lived in houses. In females, 18% lived in apartments, 25% lived in houses. There was no statistically significant difference in the residence by T-test and chi-test. 5. In the distribution of season, spring is the most with 29.5% of patients, winter 28%, fall 25.5%, and summer 17%. But there was no statistically significant difference. 6. After observing 200 patients with allergic rhinitis, classifying main symptoms into 5 types, sneezing was the main symptom in 177cases(88.50%), nasal obstruction in 176cases(88%), rhinorrhea in 169cases(84.5%), post nasal discharge in 87cases(43.50%), and itching in I04cases(52%). The Cumulus ration is 98.50% and symptoms overlapped with an average 3.57±0.1 times but in an analysis of variance of these symptoms, the gulf between males and females was not recognized as statistically significant by T-test and ANOVA. 7. Patients whose families have allergic diseases account for 90 cases(45%) : 49cases(24.50%) male and 41cases(20.50%) female. There were 4 cases (71.11 %) whose families have allergic rhinitis, 9cases(10%) of asthma, and 7.78% with allergic dermatitis. There were 61 (67.80%) cases of patients whose parents have allergic diseases; cases wherein the patient s child had allergic diseases numbered 13 (14.45%); and cases with a sibling with allergic diseases totalled 16cases (17.80%). There was no statistically significant difference in allergic disease regarding sex, parents, or siblings by chi-test. 8. Blood type: For males, type A is the most common, with 37cases(18.5%), followed by type B with 32cases(16%), type O 28cases(l4%) and type AB 13cases(6.5%). For females, type B is the most common, with 30cases(15%), followed by type O with 23cases(l1.5%), type A with 18cases(9%) and type AB with 13cases(6.5%). There was no statistically significant difference in blood type by chi-test. 9. In the selection of prefered food, most patients prefer cool food, with 98 such cases(49%), tepid food in 54cases(27%) and warm food in 48cases(24%). These showed a statistically significant difference in the selection of prefered food between males and females by chi-test(p<0.009). 10. The state of Past History was classified into II types. chronic hypertrophic rhinitis is the most common with 11cases (18.64%), tonsil and adenoid hypertrophy is 8cases(l3.56%), sinusitis is 6cases(10.17%), nasal septum deviation is 4cases, nasal polyp is 2cases, others are 10cases(l6.95%). No statistically significant difference in past history between males and females was shown, but a statistically significant difference was shown when males and females were compared with total cases by T-test(p<0.002, P<0.0008). 11. Regarding complications, 37 patients (28.91%) had sinusitis: 22cases(17.19%) in male, 15cases(11.72%) in female. Chronic hypertrophic rhinitis was found in 15cases(11.72%). Others are under 10%. There was no statistically significant difference in the type of complications between males and females, but a statistically significant difference was shown when males and females were compared with total cases by T-test(P<0.00l, P<0.007). 12. In the treatment, medication was used 1691 times, an average of 2.58 times. No.34 was used 370 times for 124 cases, an average of 2.98 times. No. 152 was used 318 times for 106 cases, an average of 3.00 times. No.151 was used 307 times for 97cases, an average of 3.16 times. No. 31 was used 117 times for 33 cases, an average of 3.55 times. No 25 was used 116 times for 33 cases, an average of 3.52 times. 13. In the duration of treatment, the most frequent is 1 week(69cases, 34.50%), the maximum is 20weeks, and the minimum is 1week. A treatment period of 2～3 weeks accounted for 32% of cases, a period of 4～5weeks accounted for 13.5%. The gulf between males and females showed a statistically significant difference in the duration of treatment.(p<0.01). There was a statistical significance when the males were compared with total cases by ANOVA(P<0.03). 14. A comparison between before-treatment and after-treatment showed a statistically significant difference in treatment by T-test (p<0.01) and F-test (p<0.0058).

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.189-196
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• 2007

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical significance of age and basal serum FSH in predicting the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in patients with poor-ovarian response. Methods: From January 2000 to December 2004, 85 second IVF cycles of 85 poor-ovarian response patients under the age of 42 with a back-ground of the first IVF cycles at our infertility center and 5 or less oocytes were retrieved and their basal serum FSH levels of 15$\sim$25 mIU/ml were enrolled in this study. Exclusion criteria were patients with a male factor for the etiology of infertility and undergoing genetic diagnosis of embryo such as PGD. Flare-up protocol was used for ovarian stimulation in all cases. Results: When we stratified the study groups by patient's age, the younger age group (age<35, n=35) showed significantly higher implantation rate (19.0% versus 4.0%, p<0.05) and higher ongoing pregnancy rate (100% versus 14.3%, p<0.05) than the older age group (age$\geq$35, n=50). And then, when we stratified the study populations by basal serum FSH level, the lower FSH group (basal serum FSH<20 mIU/ml, n=58) showed significantly higher number of retrieved oocytes (4.6$\pm$0.7 versus 2.2$\pm$0.5, p<0.05) and lower cancellation rate (19.0% versus 55.6%, p<0.05) than higher FSH group (basal serum FSH$\geq$20 mIU/ml, n=27). Conclusions: In conclusion, it was suggested that the patient's age could predict the IVF outcomes in respect to its potency of pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy. Serum basal FSH levels could predict more accurately the ovarian response of cycle, but not clinical outcomes.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.62-66
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• 2013

Purpose: I-131 is a radioisotope widely used for thyroid gland treatments. The physical half life is 8.01 and characterized by emitting beta and gamma rays which is used in clinical practice for the purpose of acquiring treatment and images. In order to reduce the recurrence rate after surgery in high-risk thyroid cancer patients, the remaining thyroid tissue is either removed or the I-131 is used for treatment during relapse. In cases of using a high dosage of radioactive iodine requiring hospitalization, the patient is administered dosage in the hospital isolation ward over a certain period of time preventing I-131 exposure to others. By checking the radiation amount emitted from patients before discharge, the patients are discharged after checking whether they meet the legal standards (50 uSv/h). After patients are discharged from the hospital, the contamination level is checked in many parts of the ward before the next patients are hospitalized and when necessary, decontamination operations are performed. It is expected that there is exposure to radiation when measuring the ward contamination level and dose check emitted from patients at the time of discharge whereby the radiation exposure by health workers that come from the patients in this process is the main factor. This study analyzed the correlation between discharge dose of patients and ward contamination level through a variety of factors such as renal functions, gender, age, dosage, etc.). Materials and Method: The study was conducted on 151 patients who received high-dosage radioactive iodine treatment at Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital during the period between 8/1/2011~5/31/2012 (Male: Female: 31:120, $47.5{\pm}11.9$, average dosage of $138{\pm}22.4$ mCi). As various factors expected to influence the patient discharge dose & ward contamination such as the beds, floors, bathroom floors, and washbasins, the patient renal function (GFR), age, gender, dosage, and the correlation between the expected Tg & Tg-Tb expected to reflect the remaining tissue in patients were analyzed. Results: In terms of the discharge dose and GFR, a low correlation was shown in the patient discharge dose as the GFR was higher (p < 0.0001). When comparing the group with a dosage of over 150mCi and the group with a lower dosage, the lower dosage group showed a significantly lower discharge dose ($24{\pm}10.4uSv/h$ vs $28.7{\pm}11.8uSv/h$, p<0.05). Age, gender, Tg, Tg-Tb did not show a significant relationship with discharge dose (p> 0.05). The contamination level in each spot of the treatment ward showed no significant relationship with GFR, Tg, Tg-Tb, age, gender, and dosage (p>0.05 ). Conclusion: This study says that discharge of the dose in the patient's body is low in GFR higher and Dosage 150mCi under lower. There was no case of contamination of the treatment ward, depending on the dose and renal association. This suggests that patients' lifestyles or be affected by a variety of other factors.