• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 1969

A clinical evaluation was done on a total of 41 cases of primary bronchogenic carcinoma, which came to the department of thoracic surgery, Chonnam University Hospital for the period of 5 years from May 1964, and the various factors led the patients to an inoperable stage were searched. The incidence ratio of male to female was 5.8:1 and the age group of fifty and sixty decade occupied 78% of the total. The subjective symptoms of the patients were cough with or without sputum [83%], chest pain or chest discomfort [76%], and a few incidence of bloody sputum and hemoptysis. The histological findings were 40% of squamous cell carcinoma, 35% of adenocarcinoma and 25% of anaplastic carcinoma, including 5 cases of unclassified bronchogenie carcinoma in scalene biopsy. 12 cases [29%] of a total of 41 cases received thoracotomy, but 8 cases among them were operable and 4 cases inoperable. The rest of 29 cases [71%] could not receive thoracotomy because of the various contraindication. 23 cases [70%] out of inoperable 33 cases had wasted time over 2 months duration for an operation owing to physicians` misdiagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma as pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic lung abscess, asthma, pleurisy, pneumonia. common cold, neuralgia in order. The delaying factors led the patients to an inoperable stage were physicians misdiagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma due to non-specific symptoms and signs of the patients, old aged patients dependance on herb medicine, and poor economical condition of the patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.321-329
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• 2006

Background : To evaluate the clinical characteristics of lung cancer patients in Korea, where there is a higher number of smokers than in Western countries. Methods : A retrospective study was performed on 1655 lung cancer patients, who were diagnosed at a university hospital between September 1996 and August 2005. Age, gender, cell types and clinical stage were analysed. Of 941 patients, who responded to a questionnaire at the time of diagnosis, the smoking habits, occupational history, family history of lung cancer in the first-degree relatives, coexisting diseases (diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease), body weight loss, ECOG performance status and presenting symptoms, were examined prospectively. In addition, coexisting diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and active pulmonary tuberculosis were evaluated. Results : Of the 1655 patients, the male to females ratio was 3.6. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common cancer whereas adenocarcinoma was more common in lifetime nonsmokers or women. 19.9% of the patients were non smokers and 80.1% ever smokers. Since 2000, there was an increase in the incidence of adenocarcinoma with a corresponding decrease in the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma. 6.2% of patients were asymptomatic. A coincident diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, active pulmonary tuberculosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was made in: 44.1%, 22.2%, 10.7%, 3.9%, and 1.6% of patients, respectively. A positive family history of lung cancer in the first-degree relatives was identified in 4.4% of patients. An occupational history relevant to lung cancer was identified in 12.2% of patients. Conclusion : There is a high proportion of cigarette smokers in Korean lung cancer patients. The most common cell type was squamous cell carcinoma. However, a more detailed, prospective study of the clinical characteristics will be needed to better characterize lung cancer in Korea.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.947-950
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• 1995

We have experienced a case of pulmonary adenocarcinoma looked like cavitary lesion of pulmonary tuberculosis in 49-year-old male patient. He has taken antituberculous medication for 5 months under the impression of pulmonary tuberculosis with cavity at local hospital. The cavitary lesion was changed nodular mass on follow-up chest X-ray. Transthoracic fine needle aspiration was done and cytologic specimen suggested squamous cell carcinoma. Right middle lobectomy was performed. The nodular mass, which was confirmed as adenocarcinoma on microscopic examination, had central cavity filled with hemorrhage.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.2
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• pp.58-69
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• 2016

Lung cancer causes the most cancer deaths in Korea. Although the smoking rate has begun to decrease, the prevalence of lung cancer is still increasing. We reviewed the national lung cancer registry data and the data published about lung cancer in Korea. In 2012, the crude incidence rate of lung cancer was 43.9 per 100,000. The age-standardized mortality rate of lung cancer was 19.8 per 100,000. The 5-year relative survival rate for lung cancer was 11.3% from 1993 to 1995 and increased to 21.9% in the period from 2008 to 2012. Lung cancer occurring in never-smokers was estimated to increase in Korea. Adenocarcinoma is steadily increasing in both women and men and has replaced squamous cell carcinoma as the most common type of lung cancer in Korea. In patients with adenocarcinoma, the frequency of EGFR mutations was 43% (range, 20%-56%), while that of the EMK4-ALK gene was less than 5%.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.72-82
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• 1991

From May 1978 to Sep. 1990, 106 patients who had been diagnosed as primary lung cancer and operated on at the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, Han Yang University, were clinically evaluated. 1. The peak incidence of age was 5th decade of life[37.7%] and 6th decade[29.2%]. Male to female ratio was 3.8: l. 2. Most of symptoms were respiratory, which were cough, chest pain, hemoptysis, and asymptomatic cases were 2.9%. 3. Histopathologic classifications were squamous cell carcinoma[53.7%], adenocarcinoma [23.8%], bronchioloalveolar cell carcinoma[6.6%], undifferentiated large cell carcinoma[6.6%], small cell carcinoma[3.8%], adenosquamous carcinoma[3.8%] and others[1.8%]. 4. Methods of operation were pneumonectomy 49.1%[52cases], lobectomy 21%[22cases] bilobectomy[6cases], lobectomy with wedge resection[3cases], exploration 21.9%[23cases], and resectability was 78.3%. 5. Staging classifications were Stage I [22.6%], Stage II [11.3%], Stage IIIa[42.6%], Stage IIIb[21.7%] and Stage lV[1.6%]. Resectability by Stage; Stage I was 100%, II 100%, IIIa 84.4% and IIIb 30.4%. 6. Causes of most of inoperable cases were invasion of mediastinal structures and diffuse chest wall, and others were contralateral lymph node invasion and malignant pleural effusion. 7. Operative mortality was 6.7% which caused by arrhythmia, sepsis, pulmonary edema, and radiation pneumonitis. 8. On the long term follow up of the resectable cases, overall 1 year survival rate was 58.5 %, 2 year 39%, and 5 year 19.5%. Five year survival rate was 40% in Stage I, 25% in Stage II and 11.7% in Stage Illa. As for the method of operation, the higher 5 year survival rate was observed in lobectomies[33.3%] than in pneumonectomies[10.3%].

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.265-272
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• 2004

Background : RASSF1A, which is one of tumor suppressor genes, is frequently inactivated by hypermethylation of the promoter region in a variety of human cancers, including lung cancer. This study was performed to investigate the association between RASSF1A methylation and the clinicopathological factors in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Methods : Eighty-one samples from the patients with squamous cell carcinoma of lung were examined. The promoter methyation of RASSF1A was analyzed by methylation specific PCR and sequencing. Statistical analysis was made to examine the association between RASSF1A methylation and the clinicopathological parameters. Results : RASSF1A methylation was observed in 37.0 % (30 of 81) of the patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. RASSF1A methylation was found to be associated with cellular differentiation(p=0.0097) and the overall survival(p=0.0635). However, there was no association between RASSF1A methylation and the other clinicopathological parameters, such as the pathological TNM stage, the recurrence rate, lymph node invasion and the amount of cigarettes smoked. Conclusion : RASSF1A methylation might be associated with a poor prognosis in patients with squamous carcinoma of the lung. A larger scale study is needed.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4169-4173
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• 2014

Background: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is highly accurate in diagnosing mediastinal lymphadenopathies of lung cancer and benign disorders. However, the utility of EBUS-TBNA in the diagnosis of mediastinal lymphomas is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of EBUS-TBNA in patients with suspected lymphoma. Materials and Methods: Sixty-eight patients with isolated mediastinal lymphadenopathy and suspected of lymphoma were included in the study. EBUS-TBNA was performed on outpatients under moderate sedation. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA were calculated. Results: Sixty-four patients were diagnosed by EBUS-TBNA, but four patients with non-diagnostic EBUS-TBNA required surgical procedures. Thirty-five (51.5%) patients had sarcoidosis, six (8.8%) had reactive lymphadenopathy, nine (13.3%) had tuberculosis, one (1.5%) had squamous cell carcinoma, two (2.9%) had sarcoma and fifteen (22%) had lymphoma (follicular center cell, large B-cell primary, and Hodgkin lymphomas in three, two, and ten, respectively). Of the 15 lymphoma patients, thirteen were diagnosed by EBUS and two by thoracotomy and mediastinoscopy. The sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA for the diagnosis of lymphoma were calculated as 86.7%, 100%, 96.4%, and 97%, respectively. Conclusions: EBUS-TBNA can be employed in the diagnosis of mediastinal lymphoma, instead of more invasive surgical procedures.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.846-854
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• 1995

Background: Cytokeratin 19 is a subunit of cytokeratin intermediate filament expressed in simple epithelia such as respiratory epithelial cells and their malignant counterparts. An immunoradiometric assay is available to detect a fragment of the cytokeratin, referred to as Cyfra 21-1 in the serum. This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical utility of this new marker in the diagnosis of lung cancer compared with established markers of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC Ag) and carcino-embryonic antigen(CEA). In addition, we compared the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of Cyfra 21-1 with those of SCC Ag in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. We also measured the level of Cyfra 21-1 in the different stages of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. Method: We measured Cyfra 21-1(ELSA-CYFRA 21-1), SCC Ag(ABBOTT SCC RIABEAD) and CEA(ELSA2-CEA) in 79 patients with primary lung cancer and in 78 persons as a comparison group including 32 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 23 patients with benign lung disease and 23 cases with healthy individual. Cyfra 21-1 is measured by a solid-phase immunoradiometric assay(CIS Bio International, France) based on the two-site sandwich method. SCC Ag is measured by a radioimmunoassay(Abbott Laboratories, USA). CEA is measured by a immunoradiometric assay(CIS Bio International, France). All data were expressed as the mean$\pm$standard deviation. Results: 1) The mean value of Cyfra 21-1 was $18.38{\pm}3.65\;ng/mL$ in the lung cancer and $1.l6{\pm}0.53\;ng/mL$ in the comparison group(p<0.0001). SCC Ag was $3.53{\pm}6.06\;ng/mL$ in the lung cancer and $1.19{\pm}0.5\;ng/mL$ in the comparison group(p<0.01). CEA was $35.03{\pm}13.9\;ng/mL$ in the lung cancer and $2.89{\pm}1.01\;ng/mL$ in the comparison group(p<0.0001). 2) Cyfra 21-1 level in squamous cell carcinoma($31.52{\pm}40.13\;ng/mL$) was higher than that in adenocarcinoma($2.41{\pm}1.34\;ng/mL$)(p<0.0001) and small cell carcinoma($2.15{\pm}2.05\;ng/mL$)(p=0.007). SCC Ag level in squamous cell carcinoma($5.1{\pm}7.68\;ng/mL$) was higher than that in adenocarcinoma($1.36{\pm}0.69\;ng/mL$)(p=0.009) and small cell carcinoma($1.1{\pm}0.24\;ng/mL$) (p=0.024). 3) The level of Cyfra 21-1 was not correlated with the progression of stage in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. 4) Using the cut-off value of 3.3ng/mL, the diagnostic sensitivity of Cyfra 21-1 was 83% in squamous cell carcinoma, 22% in adenocarcinoma and 17% in small cell carcinoma. The sensitivity of SCC Ag and CEA were 39% and 20%, respectively in squamous cell carcinoma, 11% and 39% in adenocarcinoma, and 0% and 33% in small cell carcinoma. 5) Comparison of the receiver operating characteristics curves(ROC curve) for Cyfra 21-1, SCC Ag and CEA revealed that Cyfra 21-1 showed highest diagnostic sensitivity among them in the diagnosis of lung cancer. Conclusion: Cyfra 21-1 is thought to be a better tumor marker for the diagnosis of lung cancer than SCC Ag and CEA, especially in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.36-41
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• 2009

Background : Controversy exists whether patients with esophageal carcinoma are best managed with classical Ivor Lewis esophagectomy(ILO) as combined thoracic and abdominal approach or transhiatal esophagectomy(THO). The THO approach is known to be superior with respect to operative time, morbidity and mortality, and length of stay, especially at poor pulmonary function patient, but may represent an inferior cancer operation due to inadequate mediastinal clearance compared with ILO. Accordingly, we estimated the THO role at esophageal cancer to compare each operative approach. Material and Method : From January 2002 to December 2007, we performed a retrospective review of all esophagectomies performed at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center; 36 underwent THO, and 11 underwent ILO. Result : There were all men and squamous cell carcinoma but 1 woman at ILO group, 2 women at THO group. There were no significant differences between THO and ILO with age, sex, location of tumor, mean tumor length. There were significant differences at preoperative pulmonary function test(In ILO group, average FEV1 is $2.65{\pm}0.6\;L/min$ and iIn THO group, average FEV1 is $2.07{\pm}0.7\;L/min$). The amount of blood transfusion, hospital stay, leak rates and respiratory complication, hospital mortality rate were not significantly different. Conclusion : There was no significant difference in the post-operative complication, hospital mortality rate, long-term survival of patients of both operative method. THO method had lower mobidity and mortality at poor pulmonary function patient than ILO method. Hence, THO is a valid alternative to ILO for patients with poor general condition or expected post-operative respiratory complication.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.81-89
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• 1990

A total of 178 patients with primary lung cancer who had undergone complete resection of the tumor in combination with complete mediastinal lymphadenectomy were reviewed at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of Yonsei Medical Center from January 1980 through July 1989. Materials; 1. There were 45 men and 33 women ranging of age from 25 to 78 years with a mean age of 55.4 years. 2. Histological types were squamous carcinoma in 115 cases [64.6%] adenocarcinoma in 42 cases [23.6 %], bronchioloalveolar carcinoma in 9 cases [5.1%], large cell carcinoma in 8 cases [4.5 %] and small cell carcinoma in 4 cases [2.2%] Results were summarized as follows: 1. The size of primary tumor was not directly proportional to the frequency of mediastinal lymph node metastasis. [P =0.0567] 2. The histologic types of the primary tumor did not related to the incidence of mediastinal lymph node metastasis. [P >0.19] 3. The chance of mediastinal lymph node metastasis in the case with lung cancer located in right middle lobe[31.8%, N=22] and left lower lobe [31.4%, N=32] were the highest and the lowest was the one located in right lower lobe, while over all incidence of mediastinal lymph node metastasis in this series was 25.4 % [N=55]. 4. The rate of mediastinal lymph node metastasis without evidence of regional and hilar lymph node metastasis was 13%. [N=23] The chance of mediastinal lymph node involvement without N1 lymph node metastasis was 16.3 % [N=17] in both upper lobes and 8.2 % [N=6] in both lower lobes. It was statistically significant that the tumors in the upper lobes had greater chance of the mediastinal lymph node metastasis without N1 than the tumors in the lower lobes. 5. In this series majority of the patients with lung cancer the mediastinal lymph node metastasis from the tumor in each pulmonary lobes usually occurs via ipsilateral tracheobronchial and paratracheal lymphatic pathway. Especially the lung cancer located in lower lobes can metastasize to subcarinal, paraesophageal and inferior pulmonary ligamental lymph node through the lymphatic pathway of inferior pulmonary ligament. It can be speculated that in some cases of this series otherwise mediastinal lymph node metastasis can also occur with direct invasion to the parietal pleura and to the mediastinal lymph node via direct subpleural lymphatic pathway .