• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.103-108
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• 1993

Among the patients with rectal cancer who entered Yonsei University Hospital for management from Jan. 1980 to Dec. 1990, we selected 23 subjects who were received surgical resection of tumor in rectum, and who proved to have liver metastasis during the diagnostic work-up, at the time of the operation, or within 3 months after starting definitive treatment. With those subjects, we investigated the role of radiation therapy by comparison of the treatment results of the patients without radiation therapy (S group) with those of the patients with radiation therapy to the primary site (S+R group). The local control rates of S group and S+R group were $64{\%}$ and $89{\%}$, and 2-year survival rates were $50{\%}$ and $78{\%}$, respectively. Although there was not statistically meaningful difference, local control rate and 2-year survival rate were higher in the group with radiation therapy to primary site than that without radiation therapy. The 2-year survival rates of the case with resection of the liver and the case without it were $63.6{\%}$ and $58.3{\%}$ respectively, which was not statistically significant. Also, the 2-year survival rate of the case with sustained local control was higher than that of the case with local failure, which was statistically significant ($76.5{\%}$ and $16.7{\%}$, p<0.005). From the above results, it is thought that radiation therapy to the primary site might improve the local control rate even in the patients with liver metastasis, which seems to be correlated to the higher survival rate.

• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.48-51
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• 2013

We report an unusual case of postoperative early gastric cancer with liver metastasis mimicking pancreaticobiliary carcinoma. A 73-year-old man with early gastric cancer was transferred for endoscopic treatment. The patient underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection for the treatment of the early gastric cancer. The pathological diagnosis was adenocarcinoma with extension to the deep submucosa and some lymphatic invasion. Therefore, subsequent a subtotal gastrectomy was performed. The histological results demonstrated residual adenocarcinoma confined to the mucosa. The resection margin and lymph node metastasis were negative. Thus, he was closely monitored for recurrence every 6 months. After 2 years, he was suddenly suspected of developing liver metastasis and local recurrence. He received a liver biopsy, and the pathological result was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining suggested pancreaticobiliary carcinoma rather than metastatic adenocarcinoma from the stomach or colon, but primary focus was not found. We were sure that the recurrent stomach cancer metastasized to the liver because stomach cancer can show heterogeneous cytokeratin (CK) expression pattern with various histological features. Therefore, no single CK expression pattern has diagnostic value for distinguishing gastric carcinoma. The patient underwent chemotherapy for metastatic stomach cancer.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.485-488
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• 2009

Purpose: Malignant melanoma of the lower extremity is well known to metastasize to the lymph nodes of the groin. However, in rare cases, the initial site of the nodal disease can be the popliteal fossa. As of yet, there has not been any report on cases with popliteal lymph node metastasis in Koreans. In the following report, authors would like to present two cases of popliteal node metastasis. Methods: A 60 - year - old male patient presented with nodular mass at his left sole. He had popliteal node metastasis detected on preoperative positron emission tomography(PET). Another 67 - year - old man presented with pigmented lesion at his right heel. He also had popliteal node metastasis detected on the MRI. They underwent wide excision of the primary lesion with popliteal node dissection. Results: In the first case, $2.5{\times}2.5cm$ sized metastatic melanoma in popliteal node was pathologically confirmed. There were no postoperative complications, and to date(18 months after the surgery), the patient is alive with no evidence of disease. In the second case, multiple(4) metastatic melanoma in popliteal nodes was confirmed. The patient is alive, but has had interferon therapy for liver metastasis. Conclusion: By increasing the use of lymphoscintigraphy or PET as a preoperative diagnostic work - up for metastasis, even popliteal node metastasis undetectable in a physical exam becomes detectable. When metastatic lymph node is found, node dissection is the standard of care. Therefore, it is essential that we know the anatomy and surgical technique for popliteal lymph node dissection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.322-324
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• 2002

Herein we report a rare case of primary esophageal malignant melanoma in a 56-year-old gentleman who presented with a 2-month dysphagea. Esophagoscopy reveals a polypoid tumor and a total thoracic esophagectomy was performed through a right thoracotomy and esophageal replacement with stomach. The tumor was proven to be a primary esophageal malignant melanoma by histological and immunohistochemical studies. The pathologic stage was IIa. He received no postoperative adjuvant therapy. He died of liver metastasis at 8 months postoperatively.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2006

Four children with solid and papillary epithelial neoplasm of the pancreas are reported. Three were girls. Mean age at operation was 12 years and 7 months (10-13 years). Clinical presentation included nausea, vomiting, and apalpable mass. One had hemoperitoneum due to tumor rupture. In two cases, tumors were in the body of the pancreas, and one the body and tail, and in one,the tail. Mean diameter of the tumors was 10.8 cm (8-15cm). Surgical procedures were distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy in 2 cases, distal pancreatectomy in one, and subtotal pancreatectomy and splenectomy in one. Mean follow-up period was 61 months (6-121 months). Three patients are still alive without any recurrence. However, in the one case of ruptured tumor, portal vein thrombosis and liver metastasis developed after subtotal pancreatectomy and splenectomy during the course of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2014

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET), which belongs to the Ewing's sarcoma (ES) family of tumors, is mainly seen in children and young adults. PNETs are extremely rare in the maxilla. Here, we report a case of PNET of the left maxillary sinus in an elderly male. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a slightly enhanced solid mass occupying the left maxillary sinus and infiltrating into the retroantral space. A partial maxillectomy was performed. Despite postoperative chemotherapy, follow-up computed tomography (CT) and MRI revealed a nodal metastasis in the submandibular space. Neck dissection was performed. However, the patient died 10 months after the second surgery because of distant metastasis to the liver. MRI and CT were particularly useful in detecting the extent of the tumor, recurrence, and metastasis. Further, a literature review of the previously reported PNET cases of the maxilla was carried out. In this paper, we also discuss the current approach for the diagnosis and management of these tumors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6455-6461
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• 2012

Objective: E-cadherin has been identified as a tumor suppressor in many types of carcinoma. However, some studies recently suggested that the role and expression of E-cadherin might be more complex and diverse. In the present study, we evaluated the prognostic value of E-cadherin expression with reference to levels in membranes and cytoplasm, and the membrane/cytoplasm ratio, in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) after curative hepatectomy. Methods: The expression of E-cadherin was assessed by immunohistochemistry in HCC tissue microarrays from 125 patients, and its prognostic values and other clinicopathlogical data were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were followed for a median period of 43.7 months (range 1 to 126 months). Results: Univariate analysis demonstrated that a high membrane/cytoplasm (M/C) ratio of E-cadherin expression was associated with poor overall survival (OS) (P =0.001) and shorter time to recurrence (TTR) (P=0.038), as well as tumor size, intrahepatic metastasis, and TNM stage. In contrast, neither membrane nor cytoplasmic expression of E-cadherin was related with OS and TTR. Furthermore, multivariate analysis confirmed the M/C ratio to be an independent predictor of OS (P=0.031). ${\chi}^2$ tests additionally showed that the M/C ratio of E-cadherin expression was related with early stage recurrence (P=0.012), rather than later stage recurrence. Conclusion: The M/C ratio of E-cadherin expression is a strong predictor of postoperative survival and is associated with early stage recurrence in patients with HCC.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.133-141
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• 1993

From Jan.1982 to Dec.1990, 77 patients with rectal cancer were treated with curative surgical resection followed by postoperative adjuvant irradiation alone or combined with chemotherapy at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Korea University Hospital (KUH). Fifty-four (54/77, $70.1{\%}$) patients underwent abdominoperineal resection , 20 (20/77, $26{\%}$) patients underwent low anterior resection, and 3 (3/77, $3.9{\%}$,) patients had wide excision only. Thirty-nine (39/77, $50.5{\%}$) received sequential chemotherapy (2 cycles to 12 cycles). The 5-year survival rate for the entire group was $43{\%}:\;78.2{\%}$ in B2+B3, $39.4{\%}$ in stage C1+C2+C3. Survival rates decreased with increasing penetration of the bowel wall by tumor and the presence of regional lymph node metastasis. Those patients survival who underwent an abdominoperineal resection also experienced a significant decrease in compared to low anterior resection ($23.1{\%}$ vs. $63.8{\%}$ in 5-year survival, p <0.05). Local failure occurred in 15 ($19.5{\%}$) out of the 77 patients overall, 1($5.3{\%}$) of 19 in stage B2+B3, and 14 ($24.1{\%}$,) of 58 in stage C1+C2+C3. Presacral area was most common site of local failufre (8/17, $47.1{\%}$). Distant failure occurred in 13 ($16.9{\%}$) of 77 patients. The most frequent site of distant failure was the lung followed by the liver, the bone, and the brain. Combined locoregional and distant failure occurred in 2 ($2.6{\%}$) of 77 patients. Pathological confirmation of perirectal fat and/or regional lymph node involvement resulted in a singificant decrease in survival and local control.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.222-227
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate prognostic factors for survival from first relapse (SFFR) in stage I-III breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: From June 1994 to June 2008, 3,835 patients were treated with surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy for stage I-III breast cancer at Samsung Medical Center. Among them, a total of 224 patients died by June 2009, and 175 deaths were of breast cancer. Retrospective review was performed on medical records of 165 patients who met the inclusion criteria of this study. Univariate and multivariate analysis were done on survivals according to variables, such as age, stage, hormone status of tumor, disease-free interval (DFI), sites of first failure, number of organs involved by recurrent disease (NOR), application of salvage treatments, and existence of brain or liver metastasis (visceral metastasis). Results: Patients' median overall survival time was 38 months (range, 8 to 123 months). Median SFFR was 17 months (range, 5 to 87 months). Ninety percent of deaths occurred within 40 months after first recurrence. The patients with SFFR ${\leq}1$ year had tendency of triple-negativity, shorter DFI (${\leq}2$ years), larger NOR (>3), visceral metastasis for first relapse than the patients with SFFR >1 year. In multivariate analysis, longer DFI (>2 vs. ${\leq}2$ years), absence of visceral metastasis, and application of salvage treatments were statistically significant prognosticators for longer SFFR. Conclusion: The DFI, application of salvage treatments, and visceral metastasis were significant prognostic factors for SFFR in breast cancer patients.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.226-231
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• 2013

Purpose: The role of metastasectomy has been debatable and unclear in the treatment for patients with metastatic gastric cancer. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the role of metastasectomy on the overall survival of these patients. Materials and Methods: In 2,406 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer between 1998 and 2010, 188 (7.8%) patients had their first surgery for metastatic gastric cancer. To minimize the bias of systemic chemotherapy, 99 patients who received postoperative chemotherapy (fewer than 2 cycles) were excluded. The primary gastrectomy or metastasectomy had not been enforced in the following cases. Patients with far advanced peritoneal dissemination, multiple liver and lung metastasis (more than 2), and a poor general condition (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group>2) were excluded. Based on the metastasectomy, the patients were classified into two groups, gastrectomy with metastasectomy and gastrectomy only group. Results: There was no significant difference between both groups in clinicopathological characteristics except for the mean age (P=0.047). The univariate analysis for overall survival show statistical significances in metastasectomy (P=0.026), distal gastrectomy (P=0.047), and combined resection of another organ (P=0.047) group. With a multivariate analysis, metastasectomy was a significant factor in patient survival after surgery (odds ratio 1.679; P=0.034). Conclusions: Based on our results, we assume that a detailed strategy for surgery is needed to improve the overall survival of patients with metastatic gastric cancer. Therefore, we suggest that a metastasectomy can help prolong overall survival in some patients with metastatic gastric cancer.