• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.387-393
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• 2023

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a modified surgical procedure for the treatment of varicose veins. Methods: This retrospective analysis was conducted on lower extremities with symptomatic great saphenous vein (GSV) incompetence that underwent stripping from the groin to the knee, with preservation of the superficial epigastric vein (SEV), between January 2015 and April 2022. Follow-up assessments were performed using Doppler ultrasound, Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), and the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ) at 6 and 12 months after surgery. Results: The study included 179 limbs from 120 patients (47 men and 73 women). The mean patient age was 56.5 years (range, 20-78 years), and the distribution of preoperative Clinical-Etiology-Anatomy-Pathophysiology clinical classes was 8% C0-C1, 88% C2, and 4% C3-C6. The preoperative diameter of the saphenofemoral confluence averaged 6.9 mm (range, 2.7-15.8 mm). After a mean postoperative follow-up period of 24 months, evidence of neovascularization around the stump of the saphenofemoral junction (SFJ) was observed in 2 limbs (1.1%). Additionally, varicose vein recurrence was found in 1 limb (0.6%) and was associated with an incompetent thigh perforator. At postoperative follow-up, both VCSS and AVVQ scores were significantly lower than the preoperative scores. Conclusion: Modified surgical treatment of GSV incompetence, involving preservation of the SEV and stripping of a short segment up to the knee, demonstrated favorable clinical results in terms of postoperative complication rate, neovascularization rate around the SFJ stump, varicose vein recurrence rate, and improvement in lower extremity symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.156-163
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• 1998

Background & Objectives: Frameless fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy(FFSRT) is a modification of stereotactic radiosurgery(SRS) with radiobiologic advantage of fractionation without losing mechanical accuracy of SRS. Local recurrence of head and neck cancer at or near skull base benefit from reirradiation. Main barrier to successful palliation is dose limitation secondary to normal tissue tolerance. We try to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FFSRT as a new modality of reirradaton in these challenging patients. Materials & Methods: Seven patients with recurrent head & neck cancer involving at or near skull base received FFSRT from September 1995 to November 1997. Six patients with nasopharyngeal cancer had received induction chemotherapy and curative radiation therapy. One patient with maxillary sinus cancer had received total maxillectomy and postoperative radiation therapy as a initial treatment. Follow-up ranged from 11 to 32 months with median of 24 months. Three of 7 patients received hyperfractionated radiation therapy(1.1-1.2Gy/fraction, bid, total 19.8-24Gy) just before FFSRT. All patients received FFSRT(3-5Gy/fraction, total 15-30Gy/5-10fractions). Chemotherapy(cis-platin $100mg/m^2$) were given concurrently with FFSRT in four patients. Second course of FFSRT were given in 4 patients with progression or recurrence after initial FFSRT. Because IF(irregularity factor; ratio of surface area of target to the surface area of sphere with same volume as a target) is too big to use conventional stereotactic RT using multiple arc method for protection of radiation damage to critical normal tissue, all patients received FFSRT with conformal method using irregular static ports. Results: Five of 7 patients showed complete remission in follow-up CT &/or MRI. Three of these five patients who developed marginal, in-field, and out-field recurrences, respectively. Another one of complete responders has been dead of G-I bleeding without evidence of local recurrence. One partial responder who showed progressive disease 15 months after initial FFSRT has received additional FFSRT, and then he is well-being with symptomatic improvement. One minmal responder who showed progression of locoregional disease 9 months after $1^{st}$ FFSRT has received 2nd FFSRT, and then he is alive with stable disease. Five of 7 case had showed direct invasion to skull base and had complaint headache and various symptoms of cranial nerve involvement. Four of these five case showed improvement of neurologic symptoms after FFSRT. No significant neurologic complicaltion related to FFSRT was observed during follow-up periods. Tumor volumes were ranged from 3.9 to 50.7 cc and surface area ranged from 16.1 to $114.9cm^2$. IF ranged from 1.21 to 1.74. The average ratio of volume of prescription isodose shell to target volume was 1.02 that indicated the improvement of target coverage and dose distribution with FFSRT with conformal method compared to target coverage with FFSRT with multiple arc method. Conclusion: Our initial experience suggests that FFSRT with conformal method was relatively effective and safe modality in the treatment of recurrent head and neck cancer involving at or near skull base. Treatment benefit included good palliation of symptoms and reasonable radiographic response. However, more experience and additional follow-up are needed to better assess its ultimate role in treating these challenging patients.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.5 no.6
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• pp.391-400
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• 2011

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs and respiratory system and can be classified by a variety of factors such as infectious agents, etiology, infection area, and other criteria. From a 46-year-old male, who was suspected of being infected with atypical pathogen pneumonia and underwent such tests as serological testing, examination of sputum, urine examination, parasite examination, bronchoscopy, needle biopsy and so on, no significant abnormality was found. This patient also showed no specific symptoms like auscultatory abnormalities, high fever, nonproductive cough, muscle stiffness, sputum production, dyspnea. Prescription of broad-spectrum oral antibiotics and ant-parasitic didn't seem to be effective against bacterial and atypical pathogen. The patient's condition alternately repeated between natural cure and recurrence. The average healing process during which scarring, nodule recurrence and disappearance on the lungs happened was about 20 days. Chest radiography and chest high resolution computerized tomographic scans(HRCT scan) was performed to depict parenchymal aberrations and demarcate the extent and distribution of atypical pathogen pneumonia. As a result, chest radiography did not show the specific symptoms, whereas areas of opacity (seen as white) which represent consolidation were revealed in chest HRCT scan. This indicates that only chest radiography is not that useful for early diagnosis of atypical pathogen pneumonia in patients, since it can't show exactly what the symptom is because of the barriers such as diaphragm, liver, and spine. Therefore, it is desirable that chest HRCT should be used in the diagnosis to compare with the results of chest radiography. Here, report with literature investigations the case of recurrent atypical pathogen pneumonia.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.925-928
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• 2014

Background: Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is a spectrum of disease with abnormal trophoblastic proliferation. Treatment is based on FIGO stage and WHO risk factor scores. Patients whose score is 12 or more are considered as at extremely high risk with a high likelihood of resistance to first line treatment. Optimal therapy is therefore controversial. Objective: This study was conducted in order to summarize the regimen used for extremely high risk or resistant GTN patients in our institution the in past 10 years. Materials and Methods: All the charts of GTN patients classified as extremely high risk, recurrent or resistant during 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2011 were reviewed. Criteria for diagnosis of GTN were also assessed to confirm the diagnosis. FIGO stage and WHO risk prognostic score were also re-calculated to ensure the accuracy of the information. Patient characteristics were reviewed in the aspects of age, weight, height, BMI, presenting symptoms, metastatic area, lesions, FIGO stage, WHO risk factor score, serum hCG level, treatment regimen, adjuvant treatments, side effects and response to treatment, including disease free survival. Results: Eight patients meeting the criteria of extremely high risk or resistant GTN were included in this review. Mean age was 33.6 years (SD=13.5, range 17-53). Of the total, 3 were stage III (37.5%) and 5 were stage IV (62.5%). Mean duration from previous pregnancies to GTN was 17.6 months (SD 9.9). Mean serum hCG level was 864,589 mIU/ml (SD 98,151). Presenting symptoms of the patients were various such as hemoptysis, abdominal pain, headache, heavy vaginal bleeding and stroke. The most commonly used first line chemotherapeutic regimen in our institution was the VAC regimen which was given to 4 of 8 patients in this study. The most common second line chemotherapy was EMACO. Adjuvant radiation was given to most of the patients who had brain metastasis. Most of the patients have to delay chemotherapy for 1-2 weeks due to grade 2-3 leukopenia and require G-CSF to rescue from neutropenia. Five form 8 patients were still survived. Mean of disease free survival was 20.4 months. Two patients died of the disease, while another one patient died from sepsis of pressure sore wound. None of surviving patients developed recurrence of disease after complete treatment. Conclusions: In extremely high risk GTN patients, main treatment is multi-agent chemotherapy. In our institution, we usually use VAC as a first line treatment of high risk GTN, but since resistance is quite common, this may not suitable for extremely high risk GTN patients. The most commonly used second line multi-agent chemotherapy in our institution is EMA-CO. Adjuvant brain radiation was administered to most of the patients with brain metastasis in our institution. The survival rate is comparable to previous reviews. Our treatment demonstrated differences from other institutions but the survival is comparable. The limitation of this review is the number of cases is small due to rarity of the disease. Further trials or multicenter analyses may be considered.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.2 s.28
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• pp.28-39
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• 1994

Clinical studies were made on 79 cases with thalamic hemorrhage diagnosed by computed tomographic scan and only localized on the thalamic area, were admitted to the Kyung San University Taegu Oriental Medical Hospital from August 1990 to March 1994. The age and sex distribution, sites of hematoma, recurrence rate, incidence of hypertension, inducing factor, prodromal syndroms, symptoms and neurologic signs on admission, relationship between the hospital course and many factors affecting the prognosis such as age, side of hematoma, level of consciousness, volume of the hematoma. ventricular hemorrhage were analysed. The results were summarized as follows; 1. The most prevalent age group was above 60 years of age with 50-59 years, 70-79 years, 40-49 years and 80-89 years of age in the order of frequency. Male to female ratio was 1:1.55. 2. The ratio of left hematoma to the right was 1.32:1. The recurrence rate of cerebrovascular accident was 17.7% 3. The incidence of hypertension was 69.6% and inducing factors of thalamic hemorrhage in the order of frequency were physical work(29.1%), drinking or eating(13.9%), walking(12.7%) and rest(12.7%), The prodromal syndroms were numbness of extremities(5.1%), headache(2.5%), fatigue(2.5%), dizziness(1.3%), insomnia(1.3%), but prodromal syndrom was not found in 89.9% of thalamic hemorrhage. 4. The symptoms and neurologic signs on admission in the order of frequency were motor disturbance(98.7%), dysarthria(82.3%), positive Babinski sign(78.5%), headache(69.6%), dizziness(62.0%). hemisensory deficit(48.1%). nausea or vomiting(39.2%), absent or sluggish light reflex(35.4%), changes of consciousness (35.4%), dysphagia (20.3%), voiding difficulty.(13.9%), facial palsy(6.3%), aphasia(3.8%), seizure(38%), 6th N. palsy(3.8%) and small pupil(1.3%). 5. The rate of improvement was found almost equally in the 4th, 5th and 6th decades, but it was shown with dramatic decrease in the over 7th decades. The hospital course had no relationship with the side of hematoma but the level of consciousness had influence upon the prognosis. 6, The small hematoma had better outcome than large in the volume of hematoma under 15cc, but volume of the hematoma had no influence upon the prognosis because the rate of improvement was 75.0% in the volume of hematoma over 15cc. The hospital course had no relationship with ventricular hemorrhage.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.617-622
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• 2009

Purpose: Endoscopic transnasal correction of the blowout fractures has many advantages over other techniques. But after removal of packing material, there were some patients with recurrence of preoperative symptoms. Authors tried to make a quantitative anterograde analysis of orbital volume change over whole perioperative period which might be related with recurrence of preoperative symptoms. Methods: 10 patients with pure medial wall fracture(Group I) and 10 patients with medial wall fracture combined with fracture of orbital floor(Group II) were selected to evaluate the final orbital volume change, who took 3 CT scans, pre-, postoperative and 4 months after packing removal. By multiplying cross - section area of orbit in coronal view with section thickness, orbital volume were calculated. Then, mean orbital volume increment after trauma, mean orbital volume decrement after endoscopic correction and volume increment after packing removal were found out. And we tried to find correlations between type of fracture, initial correction rate and final correction rate. Results: The mean orbital volume increment of the fractured orbits were 7.23% in group I and 13.69% in group II. After endoscopic surgery, mean orbital volume decrement were 11.0% in group I and 12.46% in group II. Mean volume increment after packing removal showed 3.10% in group I and 6.50% in group II. The initial correction rate(%) showed linear correlation with final correction rate(%) after packing removal. And there were negative linear correlation between increment percentage of orbital volume by fracture and final correction rate(%). Conclusion: Orbital volume was proved to be increasing after removal of packing or foley catheter and it was dependent upon type of fracture. Overcorrection should be done to improve the final result of orbital blowout fracture especially when there are severe fracture is present.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.343-346
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• 2008

Background: Thoracoscpic sympathicotomy is an effective treatment for essential hyperhidrosis. Patients are generally satisfied with the surgery at the early post operative period, but they suffer from recurrence and compensatory sweating at the late post operative period. There are many sympathicotomy methods for minimizing recurrence and the compensatory sweating. We compared the outcome from between the R3 and R4 sympathicotomy methods for the symptoms, atisfaction, recurrence and compensatory sweating. Material and Method: From January 1999 to July 2007, 39 cases of thoracoscopic sympathicotomy at the 3rd rib (R3) and 72 cases of thoracoscopic sympathicotomy at the 4th rib (R4) for treating palmar hyperhidrosis were compared for the early and late satisfaction, the compensatory sweating and recurrence. Result: There is no difference of gender and age for the 2 groups. Early satisfaction was reported by 94.9% of the R3 patients and by 98.7% of the R4 patients. 84.6% of the R3 patients reported late satisfaction and 87.5% of the R4 patients reported late satisfaction. There were no significant differences between the groups for the early and late satisfaction. But there was a difference between the groups for compensatory sweating (23.1% in the R3 group and 9.7% in the R4 group (p=0.020)). The reoperation rate due to recurrence was 5.1% in the R3 group and 4.2% in the R4 group. There was no significant difference between the groups for recurrence. Conclusion: R4 sympathicotomy has excellent therapeutic results for compensatory sweating as compared to R3 sympathicotomy for treating palmar hyperhidrosis.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.148-154
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• 2005

Purpose: To evaluate the long term results of surgical treatment for sacral chordoma. Material and Method: We reviewed the records of 4 patients with sacral tumor treated surgical resection. Mean follow-up duration was 8.3 year(3~11). All cases were performed complete resection of tumor mass through posterior approach in 3 cases and anterior-posterior approach in one. The most caudad nerve-roots spared were the second sacral roots in one and the third sacral roots in 3 cases. Functions of voiding and defecation including neurological symptoms of lower extremities, other complications of surgical treatment, and local recurrence or distant metastasis of tumor were evaluated. Result: There was no motor deficit in all cases, but radiating pain was developed in one and wound infection in one. Bladder function was preserved in 2 cases, intermittent incontinence in one, and doing intermittent catheterization in one. Bowel function was preserved in one and 2 cases were suffered from constipation. At the last follow-up, disease-free was in one, local recurrence in one, and local recurrence with distant metastasis in one. Conclusion: The result of surgical resection for sacral chordoma is satisfactory showing average 8 years survival. Early detection and aggressive surgical treatment is the best to prolong survival and to minimize functional deficit with preservation of upper sacral nerves.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.134-141
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• 1999

Objects : Cancer patients receiving radiotherapy have many psychological problems. Those problems depend on clinical factors of cancer and the characteristics of patients. This study was designed to estimate the morbidity of psychiatric disorder and to investigate the relationship between psychiatric disorders and clinical variables. Methods : The subjects were 47 patients who had been treated by radiotherapy. Psychiatric disorder was diagnosed according to DSM-IV. The authors assessed the relation between psychiatric disorder and demographic features, clinical features of cancer such as site, duration, frequency of recurrence of cancer, and patients' awareness of disease and expectation of outcome of radiotherapy. Results : 21 patients(44.7%) had a psychiatric disorder. The most common psychiatric disorder were adjustment disorder(66.7%), and the next major depressive disorder(23.8%). There was a significant positive relationship between psychiatric disorder and recurrence of cancer, patients' expectation of poor outcome after radiotherapy. Psychiatric morbidity was significantly low in those who had no evidence of recurrence and who considered radiation treatment as curative. However, site and duration of cancer, patients' awareness about serious illness were not related with psychiatric disorder. Conclusion : Psychiatric disorders are common among cancer patients on radiotherapy. Further clinical attention and effective treatment of psychiatric complication in cancer patients are needed not only for reducing symptoms but for better adjustment.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.115-120
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• 2005

Background and Objectives: Minor salivary gland tumors vary in their primary sites, histopathology and biological behavior. Therefore, various factors are considered in selecting the treatment modality and predicting the prognosis. We performed this study for the purpose of getting further understanding and more supporting ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of minor salivary gland tumor. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of the patients with 52 cases of minor salivary gland tumor who were treated at the Hanyang University Hospital from 1996 to 2003 was performed. We analyzed demography, symptoms, histopathology, treatment and outcomes by the review of medical records. Results: Among 52 cases of minor salivary gland tumor, 46% were classified as benign and 54% were classified as malignant tumors. The most common benign tumor was pleomorphic adenoma. Adenoid cystic carcinoma(15/28) was the most common in malignant tumors. Eight patients were males and sixteen patients were females in benign tumors and 10 patients were males and 18 patients were females in malignant tumors. The most common site of benign tumor was the palate(17/22), whereas malignant tumors were most common in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus(9/28). Asymptomatic mass was the most common symptom. According to the criteria given by the AJCC on staging, stage III and IV(21/28) were more common than stage I and 11(7/28). All benign tumors were treated with simple excision and had no recurrence. In malignant tumors, 25 patients underwent radical excisional operation and 13 patients of them had postoperative radiation therapy. Three of them were treated with additional chemotherapy. In whom treated with radical operation, 9 patients had recurrence. Three were recurred at the primary site with neck node metastasis, 3 were recurred at the primary site with lung metastasis, 1 was recurred at the primary site with neck node and lung metastasis, 1 was recurred only at neck node. Conclusion: In minor salivary gland tumor, malignant was more common than benign. Malignant tumor originated from minor salivary gland were more frequently diagnosed at advanced stage with high recurrence rate and distant metastasis. Early detection of the disease is needed to improve the prognosis of the patients with malignant tumors of the minor salivary glands.