• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.18-22
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• 2009

Oxaliplatin is a tolerable and effective drug of choice in the treatment of advanced or metastatic gastric cancer. However, it has many dose-limiting neurotoxicities. This study was performed to assess the incidence and types of oxaliplatin-related neurotoxicities. Sixty-four patients receiving oxaliplatin-involved regimen as salvage therapy on metastatic gastric cancer or as the first-line therapy on advanced gastric cancer were evaluated during the period between September 1, 2006 and February 29, 2008. The patients were treated with oxaliplatin 100 $mg/m^2$ and leucovorin 100 $mg/m^2$ simultaneously as 2-hour-lasting infusion on Day-1 followed by 5-FU 1200 $mg/m^2$ as a 22-hour-lasting continuous infusion both on Day-1 and Day-2 by every other week. We developed questionnaires to evaluate patient-recognized neurotoxic symptoms rather than the observer-described events. Surveys were completed at bedside or via telephone interview. Acute and chronic neurotoxicities were graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC, version 3) as well as the Oxaliplatin-specific Neurotoxicity Scale. The Grade-3 neuropathy was reported in 19% of the patients (n=12) and grade-1/2 neuropathy occurred in 70% (n=45). The most common symptom was cold-related dysesthesia (83%) regarded as nociperception by the patients. Some patients (19%) experienced functional impairment affecting activities of daily living such as writing, buttoning, and walking. Even though 74% of the patients (42/57) were prescribed with gabapentin to reduce these peripheral symptoms, it did not appear to derive any benefit from this medication. It is suggested that notify the patients about their oxaliplatin-associated, debilitating symptoms, and educate them any self-care strategy at the initiating phase of the chemotherapy. Moreover, it needs to design the intervention studies regarding the prevention and management of the peripheral neuropathy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 1992

Between August 1988 and December 1991, 24 patients with intracranial tumors were treated with stereotactic radiosurgery(RS) using a 10 MV linear accelerator at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine. There were 5 meningiomas, 3 craniopharyngiomas, 9 glial tumors, 2 solitary metastases, 2 acoustic neurinomas, 2 pineal tumors, and 1 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Ten patients were treated as primary treatment after diagnosis with stereotactic biopsy or neuroimaging study. Nine patients underwent RS for post-op. residual tumors and three patients as a salvage treatment for recurrence after external irradiation. Two patients received RS as a boost followed by fractionated conventional radiotherapy. Among sixteen patients who were followed more than 6 months with neuroimage, seven patients (2 meningiomas, 4 benign glial tumors, one non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) showed complete response on neuroimage after RS and nine patients showed decreased tumor size. There was no acute treatment related side reaction. Late complications include three patients with symptomatic peritumoral brain edema and one craniopharyngioma with optic chiasmal injury. Through this early experience, we conclude that stereotactically directed single high doses of irradiation to the small intracranial tumors is effective for tumor control. However, in order to define the role of radiosurgery in the management of intracraniai tumors, we should get the long-term results available to demonstrate the benefits versus potential complications of this therapeutic modality.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2003

Purpose: This study was designed to provide the data base for the diagnosis and treatment of the foot tumor by investigation of the clinical and pathological characteristics and distribution of the foot tumor. Materials and Methods: 142 foot tumors of 141 patients were studied. All patients were diagnosed with surgical biopsy. We investigated clinical and pathological characteristics and epidemiologic distribution of the foot tumor by reviewing the medical records and imaging materials. The location of the tumors were classified with zone of Kirby et al. Results: 75 patients were female and 66 were male. The average age of the patients was 33.2 years old. Benign soft tissue tumors were the most as 68 cases, and followed by 57 benign bone tumors, 12 malignant soft tissue tumors and 5 malignant bone tumors. Ganglia were the most in benign soft tissue tumors as 36 cases, subungual exostoses in benign bone tumors as 18, squamous cell carcinomas in malignant soft tissue tumors as 7, and metastatic lung cancers in malignant bone tumors as 2. The rate of pain complaints was the highest in malignant bone tumors, the duration of symptom was longest in benign soft tissue tumors, and the size of the tumor was the biggest in malignant bone tumors. Neurological symptoms were found in only 3 benign soft tissue tumors. For the zonal distribution, zone 5 was the most in 59 cases and zone 4 was the least as 10. The most numbers of the benign bone tumors located in zone 5, of benign soft tissue tumors in zone 1, of malignant bone tumors in zone 1 and 2, and of malignant soft tissue tumors in zone 5. The methods of surgical treatment included intralesional or marginal resection, curettage with or without bone graft, toe amputation, below knee amputation and limb salvage. Conclusion: The tumors of the foot were rare and various, and mostly benign (88%), but we can do proper treatment of those tumors without excluding malignant tumors by considering the age of patients, pain, duration of symptom, size of the tumors, and zonal distribution.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2004

Purpose: The current study was performed to analyze the oncological and functional results, and the patient, the limb and the prosthesis survival of osteosarcoma around the knee in children according to the treatment options. Materials and Methods: From 1982 to 2002, 63 patients with osteosarcoma around the knee underwent surgical treatments before 16 years of age. Surgical treatment options were amputation, endoprosthetic replacement, and implantation of low heat-treated autogenous bone graft after wide resection of tumor. The mean age of patients was 11.5 years (4.4~16), and the mean follow-up period was 6.1 years (2.1~16.8). All patients had neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy. All endoprosthses were extendible types. Anatomical locations of osteosarcoma were distal femur in 40 patients, and proximal tibia in 23 patients. As regard to Enneking stage, 4 patients had stage $II_A$, 50 patients had stage $II_B$, and 9 patients had stage III tumors. Results: The 5 year survival rate of stage $II_B$ patients was 72.7% in amputation, 83.7% in endoprosthesis, and 100% in low heat-treated autogenous bone graft. The 5 year survival rate of salvaged limb was 84.4% in endoprosthesis, and 80% in low heat-treated autogenous bone graft. The survival rate of prosthesis was 92.7% at 5 years, 67.4% at 10 years in endoprosthesis, and 75% at 5 years in low heat-treated autogenous bone graft. Mean functional outcome scores were 8.7 points in amputation, 20.6 points in endoprosthesis, and 16 points in low heat-treated autogenous bone graft. Distant metastasis occurred 15.8% in amputation, 27% in endoprosthesis and local recurrence occurred 8.1% in endoprosthesis, 14.3% in low heat-treated autogenous bone graft. Major complications happened 26.3% in amputation, 35.1% in endoprosthesis, and 28.6% in low heat-treated autogenous bone graft. Conclusion: Limb salvage procedure had functionally better results than amputation in children with osteosarcoma around the knee. Reconstruction with endoprosthesis after resection of tumor had good results in children as adults. In certain circumstances as too small bone for endoprosthesis or minimal bony destruction or too skeletally immature patient, low heat-treated autogenous bone graft may be a good treatment option. Low heat-treated autogenous bone graft may be considered as not only a substitute for endoprosthesis but also a temporary method before endoprosthesis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.7 s.276
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• pp.480-484
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• 2007

Background: Major vascular injuries can jeopardize a patient's life or imperil limb survival. We performed this study to establish an optimal management plan for vascular injuries. Material and Method: We retrospectively reviewed 26 cases of vascular injury that were treated at Pusan National University Hospital from May, 1999 to September, 2004. The age and sex distribution, the locations and causes of vascular injury, the diagnostic tools, the degree of injuries, clinical manifestations, the treatment modality and complications were reviewed. Result: The mean age was 39.5 years (range: $12{\sim}86$) and the male to female ratio was 22 : 4. The injuries were in 6 descending thoracic aortas, 4 femoral arteries, 4 popliteal veins and so on. The causes of injury were iatrogenic in 8 cases, traffic accident in 7, stab injury in 6 and industrial accident in 5. The most commonly used diagnostic tools were CT and angiography. The degrees of arterial injury were pseudoaneurysm in 10 cases, partial severance in 5, complete severance in 3 and thrombosis in 3. The degrees of venous injury were partial severance in 6 cases, complete severance in 2 and arteriovenous fistula in 2. The clinical manifestations were absence of pulse in 8 cases, coldness in 7, chest pain in 6, swelling in 5, bleeding in 5 and so on. The most frequently used type of revascularization was graft interposition in 11 cases. Two arteriovenous fistulae were repaired by endovascular procedure. There was one case of mortality due to multi-organ failure after hemorrhagic shock, There were three major amputations, and two of them were due to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Conclusion: A system for the early diagnosis and treatment is essential for improving limb salvage and patient mortality. As a consequence of the widespread application of endovascular procedures, the incidence of iatrogenic injuries has recently increased. Educating physicians is important for the prevention of iatrogenic injury. Easy communication and cooperation for earlier involvement of a vascular surgeon is also an important factor.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2002

Purpose : This study evaluated the treatment outcomes, patterns of failure, and treatment related complications of primary lymphoma patients who received definitive radiation therapy. Materials and Methods : A retrospective analysis was undertaken for 31 patients with primary orbital lymphoma at the Asan Medical Center between February 1991 and April 2001. There were 18 males and 13 females with ages ranging from 3 to 73 years (median, 44 years). The involved sites were 9 conjunctivae, 12 eyelids and 10 other orbits. The histological types were 28 MALT lymphomas (low-grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue type), 1 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 1 anaplastic large cell lymphoma and 1 lymphoblastic lymphoma. The Ann Arbor stages were all IE $(100\%)$. Ann Arbor stage III or IV patients were excluded from this study, Bilateral orbital involvement occurred in 6 cases. Radiation therapy was given with one anterior port of high energy electrons $(6\~16\;MeV)$ for the lesions located at the anterior structures like the conjunctivae or eyelids. Lesions with a posterior extension or other orbital lesions were treated with 4 or 6 MeV photons with appropriately arranged portals. In particular, lens blocks composed of lead alloy were used in conjunctival or eyelid lesions. Twelve patients received chemotherapy. The median follow-up period was 53 months. Results : The 5-year overall, cause-specific, and disease-free survival was $91\%,\;96\%,\;and\;80\%$, respectively. The complete response rate 6 months after radiation therapy was $100\%$. Local recurrences were observed in 2 patients at 16 and 18 months after completion of radiation treatment. They were salvaged with additional radiation therapy. Two patients developed distant metastases. A MALT lymphoma patient with a lung relapse was successfully salvaged with radiotherapy, but the other lymphoblastic lymphoma patient with bone marrow relapse expired. There were no severe complications but 5 patients developed radiation-induced cataracts and 2 patients developed dry eye. Conclusion : Most primary orbital lymphomas consisted of MALT lymphomas. Radiation therapy was a successful treatment modality for orbital lymphoma without any severe complications. In cases of local relapses, radiation therapy is also a very successful salvage treatment modality.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.787-792
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• 2004

Even though there well developments in various treatment techniques for acute limb ischemia, this disease is both life threatening and limb threatening. We investigated early and mid-term results of operation for acute limb ischemia with symptoms, the combined diseases, location of occlusion, complication in our patients. Material and Method: A retrospective review was conducted in 54 patients (43 men, 11 women, mean age 67.2 years) presenting with acute limb ischemia due to arterial thrombosis or embolism between Jan. 1996 and Dec. 2003, initially underwent thromboembolectomy. Result: In 33 patients (61.1%) the timeinterval from the onset of symptom to admission was within 24 hours. Causes of acute limb ischemia were embolic occlusion (27.8%), native arterial thrombosis (66.7%), and bypass graft thrombosis (5.6%). The distribution of arterial occlusion location was at 8 aortoiliac (14.8%) and 43 distal to femoral (79.6%) and brachial (5.6%). Clinical categories were grade I in 64.8%, IIa in 24.1%, IIb in 7.4%, and III in 3.7%, All the patients were received embolectomy. Underlying diseases were heart disease (72.2%), hypertension (33.3%), cerebrovascular accident (16.7%) and diabetes (18.5%). History of smoking was noted in 96,3% of the cases. Mortality rate was 5.6％ and overall amputation rate was 9.3% (5/54). The 1-year limb salvage rate was 93.62%. Postoperative complications were 1 wound infection, 1 G1 bleeding, 3 acute renal failure, and 1 compartment syndromes. The functional outcomes of the salvaged limb according to the recommended scale for gauging changes in clinical status, revised version in 1997 were +3 in 68.5%, +2 in 9.3%, +1 in 7.4%, -1 in 5.6%, -2 in 3.7%, and -3 in 5.6%. Conclusion: This study revealed 5.6% mortality and the amputation rate was 9.3%. We have retrospectively shown good results from early diagnosis & early operation. To improve outcome, early diagnosis and understand the underlying diseases, prompt treatment and operation would be appreciated.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.46-52
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• 2009

Background: Vascular injuries to the extremities are potentially devastating and they can lead to limb loss and mortality if they are not appropriately managed. The vascular trauma caused by traffic and industrial accidents has recently increased according to the developing industry and transport system in Korea. Early recognition and treatment of these injuries are mandatory to achieve satisfactory outcomes. Material and Method: We retrospective reviewed 43 patients with vascular injuries that were due to blunt and penetrating trauma and they underwent emergency operations from January of 1998 to December of 2006. Result: There were 38 men and 5 women patients with a mean age of $42.0{\pm}16.8$ years (range: 17~77). The cause of vascular injuries were 28 traffic accidents (65%), 6 industrial accidents (14%), 6 glass injuries (14%) and 3 knife injuries (7%). The average time from admission to the operating room was $319.0{\pm}482.2$ minutes (range: 27~2,400 minutes). The average time from admission to discharge was $53.1{\pm}56.0$ days (range: 2~265 days). The anatomic injuries included the femoral artery in 16 cases (37%), the popliteal artery in 8 cases (19%), the brachial artery in 8 cases (19%), and the subclavian and axillary arteries in 7 cases (16%). The associated injuries were 23 bone fractures (53%), 18 muscle injuries (42%) 5 nerve injuries (12%) and 11 vein injuries (26%). The operation methods were 20 end to end anastomoses (46%), 16 interposition grafts (36%), 2 repairs with using patches (5%) and 5 others (12%). The number of amputations and cases of mortality were 3 cases (7%) and 4 cases (9%), respectively. Conclusion: Minimizing ischemia is an important factor for maximizing salvage of extremities. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can reduce the amputation and mortality rates.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2003

Purpose :To analyze the survival period, prognostic factors and complications of patients having undergone high-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy (HDR-ILB) as a salvage radiation therapy, while having a catheter, for percutaneous transhepatic billary drainage (PTBD), inserted due to biliary obstruction caused by a secondary malignant biliary tumor Methods and Materials : A retrospective study was performed on 24 patients having undergone HDR-ILB, with PTBD catheter Insertion, be)ween December 1992 and August 2001. Their median age was 58.5, ranging from 35 to 82 years. The primary cancer site were the stomach, gallbladder, liver, pancreas and the colon, with 12, 6, 3, 2 and 1 cases, respectively. Eighteen patients were treated with external beam radiation therapy and HDR-lLB, while slx were treated with HDR-lLB only. The 4otal external beam, and brachytherapy radiations dose were 30$\~$61.2 and 9$\~$30 Gy, with median doses of 50 and 15 Gy, respectively. Results : Of the 24 patients analyzed, 22 died during the follow-up period, with a median survival of 7.3 months. The 6 and 12 months survival rates were 54.2 (13 patients) and 20.8$\%$ (5 patients), respectively. The median survivals for stomach and gailbladder cancers were 7.8 and 10.2 months, respectively, According to the unlvariate analysis, a significant factor affecting survival of over one year was the total radiation dose (over 50 Gy) (o=0.0200), with all )he patients surviving more than one year had been Irradiated with more than 50 Gy. The acute side effects during the radiation therapy were managed with conservative treatment. During the follow-up period, 5 patients showed symptoms of cholangltis due to the radiation therapy Conclusion :An extension to the survival of those patients treated with HDR-ILB is suggested compared to the median historical survival of 4hose patients treated with external biliary drainage. A boost radiation dose could be effectively given, by performing HDR-lLB, which is a prognostic factor In addition, the acute complications of radiation therapy were effectively controlled by conservative management, and It could be regarded as a safe treatment.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.153-162
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• 2009

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term results after breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy in early breast cancer in terms of failure, survival, and cosmesis. Materials and Methods: One hundred fifty-four patients with stage I and II breast cancer were treated with conservative surgery plus radiotherapy between January 1992 and December 2002 at the Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center. According to TNM stage, 93 patients were stage I, 50 were IIa, and 11 were IIb. The affected breasts were irradiated with 6 MV photons to 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions over 5.5 weeks with a boost irradiation dose of 10~16 Gy to the excision site. Chemotherapy was administered in 75 patients and hormonal therapy in 92 patients with tamoxifen. Follow-up periods were 13~179 months, with a median of 92.5 months. Results: The 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were 97.3% and 94.5%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year disease-free survival (5YDFS and 10YDFS, respectively) rates were 92.5% and 88.9%, respectively; the ultimate 5YDFS and 10YDFS rates after salvage treatment were 93.9% and 90.2%, respectively. Based on multivariate analysis, only the interval between surgery and radiation therapy ($\leq$6 weeks vs. >6 weeks, p=0.017) was a statistically significant prognostic factor for DFS. The major type of treatment failure was distant failure (78.5%) and the most common distant metastatic site was the lungs. The cosmetic results were good-to-excellent in 96 patients (80.7%). Conclusion: Conservative surgery and radiation for early stage invasive breast cancer yielded excellent survival and cosmetic results. Radiation therapy should be started as soon as possible after breast-conserving surgery in patients with early breast cancer, ideally within 6 weeks.