• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.60-71
• /
• 2000

Backgrounds : Cathepsin D, an aspartic lysosomal proteinase, is believed to be involved in local invasion and metastasis of tumor cells by its proteolytic activity and has been described to be associated with tumor progression and prognosis in some human malignancies including breast cancer. But, its prognostic value for human lung cancer remains to be determined. The purpose of this study is to determine clinicopathological and prognostic significance of cathepsin D expression in non-small cell lung cancer. Method : Using a polyclonal antibody, immunohistochemical analysis of cathepsin D was performed on paraffin embedded sections of tumors obtained surgically from 54 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (37 squamous cell carcinoma, 14 adenocarcinoma, 2 large cell carcinoma, and 1 undifferentiated carcinoma). Results : Eighteen patients (33.3%) showed positive immunoreactivities of cathepsin D in tumor cells. No significant correlation of cathepsin D expression in tumor cells was found in p-stage (surgical-pathologic stage), tumor size, tumor factor, nodal involvement, and differentiation. Of 54 patients, 29 (53.7%) patients showed moderate to massive cathepsin D-positive stromal cells within the tumor tissues, while the rest (46.3%) showed few cathepsin D-positive stromal cells within the tumor tissues. Cathepsin D expression in stromal cells was significantly associated with p-stage in non-small cell lung canær (p=0.031). No significant correlation of the degree of cathepsin D-positive stromal cells was found in tumor size, T -factor, nodal involvement, differentiation Cathepsin D expression status in tumor cells and stromal cells was not significantly associated with prognosis expressed by survival rate. The results of multivariate analyses of variables possibly associated with prognosis showed that nodal involvement was the only independent prognostic factor in all patients. Conclusion : Cathepsin D expression in stromal cells was significantly associated with p-stage in non-small cell lung cancer. However, it was not related to other clinicopathologic features and prognosis, and Cathepsin D expression in tumor was not related to p-stage and prognosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.53 no.6
• /
• pp.644-649
• /
• 2002

Background : Pulmonary hamartomas are the most common form of benign tumors, occurring in approximately 0.2% of routine autopsies. However, only a few reports on the clinical characteristics of pulmonary hamartoma in Korea have been published. Materials and Methods : The charts, X-rays and pathological specimens of 29 pulmonary hamartoma patients who were diagnosed by a pathological examination from 1990 to 1999 at the Catholic Medical Center were retrospectively reviewed. Results : The peak incidence of the tumor occurred in the sixth decade of life (37.5%). Seventeen patients (58.6%) were asymptomatic and 12 patients (41.4%) had symptoms. Chest discomfort was the most common symptom (31.0%). A total of 25 tumors (86.2%) were parenchymal, and 4 (13.8%) were endobronchial. Twenty cases were in the right lung and 9 cases were in the left lung (approximately 1:2.2). The RLL was the most commonly involved lobe (31.0%). Calcification was noted in 5 cases(19.2%) on a plain X-ray and in 5 cases (29.4%) on chest CT. Accompanied neoplasms were observed in 2 cases. Twenty-four hamartomas (82.8%) were diagnosed by a surgical resection and 4 cases(13.8%) were diagnosed by a fine needle aspiration biopsy. Twenty-six hamartomas (89.7%) were managed by a surgical resection. The follow up ranged from 4 to 55 months (mean, 19.6 months) and no recurrent pulmonary hamartomas were noted. Conclusion : Pulmonary hamartoma is more common in females and more commonly in the right lung. Calcification was noted only in 19.2% on a plain chest X-ray and 29.4% on a chest CT. No recurrent hamartomas had developed during the follow up period.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.474-485
• /
• 2000

Background : Current studies on multimodal strategy for N2 non-small cell lung cancer are being high interest, have drawn much attention. N2 lung cancer, however, is composed of is divided into several sub groups with that have different prognoses. The prognostic factors still remain controversial. Methods : Between January 1990 and June 1999, 180 patients with N2 lung cancer who underwent surgical resection were investigated, excluding 10 of these for surgical mortality. All patients underwent mediastinal lymph node dissection. 20 clinicopathologic factors were investigated by univariable and multivariable analyses to identify significant prognostic factors among resected N2 disease. Results : The overall 5-year survival rate was 20.6%. Multivariable analyses among overall patients revealed 3 significant prognostic factors : Age, Histologic type, Vascular invasion. Based on the result, 49 patients with both age more than 60 and pathologic Non-squamous cell showed a 5-year survival of 5.0%, whereas 37 patients with neither of the factors showed a 5-year survival of 56.6%(p<0.001). And 12 patients with both vascular invasion and pathologic Non-squamous cell showed a 5-year survival of 11.9%, whereas 67 patients with neither of the factors showed a 5-year survival of 33.6%(p=0.01). Conclusion : The prognosis of surgically resected N2 disease varies according to the 3 significant prognosis factors. Tumor size may be an additional influencing factor in the prognosis of N2 disease.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.53 no.3
• /
• pp.309-318
• /
• 2002

Background : Usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) is a fatal progressive fibrotic disorder of the lung with unknown etiology and characterized by a poor response to conventional immunosuppressive therapy. The histologic hallmark of UIP is parchy distribution of subpleural fibrosis and fibroblastic foci(FBF) with interposed normal appearing lung. Because FBF is a collection of actively proliferating myofibroblasts, it can be a marker of activity and prognosis of UIP. However, there were contradictory reports about the correlation between the degree of FBF and survival. Therefore we performed this study to investigate the value of FBF as prognostic marker of UIP. Methods : This was a retrospective study on the 46 patients(M:F=33:13, mean age:$59{\pm}12$ years) with UIP diagnosed by the surgical lung biopsy at the Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea between 1990 and 2000 and had follow-up of more than a year. All the biopsy specimens were reevaluated and diagnosed as UIP according to the ATS/ERS classification. Semiquantitative grading of FBF(absent, 0; mild 1; moderate 2; marked 3) by the experienced pathologists who did not know the clinical findings were compared to the clinical data and the follow up course. Results : Thirteen patients(28.2%) died of UIP progression during the study period. The median survival time of all the subjects was 26 months after the biopsy. At the univariate analysis, FVC, $D_Lco$, smoking history and the grade of FBF were significantly related to the survial. The survival was longer in subjects with lesser degrees of FBF, higher DLco, higher FVC and history of smoking. However the multivariate analysis with Cox regression test showed the extent of FBF was the only independent prognostic marker of UIP. Conclusion : These data suggested that the extent of FBF on the surgical lung biopsy can be used as a prognostic marker of UIP.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.401-408
• /
• 1997

Background : Pulmonary sequestration is a rare congenital malformation, which is manifested by formation of nonfunctioning lung tissue lacking normal communication with the tracheobronchial tree. The preoperative diagnostic rate has been relatively low, and without consideration of pulmonary sequestration, unexpected bleeding from aberrant vessels may be a serious problem during the operation. The purpose of our study is to describe the clinical features of pulmonary sequestration based on a review of 15 cases treated by operation. Method : Fifteen patients with pulmonary sequestration who had undergone surgical treatment from 1991 through May 1996 at Yongdong Severance Hospital and Severance Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Results : The mean age of the patients was 22.5 years (range 5~57), and male to female ratio was 9 : 6. Clinical presentations varied from recurrent respiratory infections such as fever, cough, and sputum or chest pain to no symptom. The chest simple X-rays showed multicystic shadow(10/15) and solid mass-like shadow(5/15). The chest CT scans, done in twelve cases, showed multicystic lesion with or without lung infiltration(8/12), solid mass-like lesion(4/12), The chest MRIs, done in three cases, revealed the aberrant arteries originating from descending aorta(2/3). Aortograms, done in four cases, showed the aberrant arteries originating from descending thoracic aorta(2/4), abdominal aorta(I/4), and intercostal artery(1/4). and the venous returns were via the pulmonary veins. Pulmonary sequestration was considered preoperatively in six patients of fifteen. Other preliminary diagnosis were lung tumor(3/15), lung abscess(21/15), bronchiectasis(2/15), and mediastinal tumor(2/15). In the operative findings, twelve cases were of intralobar type and three cases of extralobar type. The left lower lobe was most often affected(9/15) and one extralobar sequestration was in the pericardium. The aberrant arteries originated from descending thoracic aorta(6/15), abdominal aorta(1/15), internal thoracic arteries (2/15), intercostal artery(1/15), pericardiophrenic artery(1/15), but in four cases, the origins could not be defined. There was no mortality or complication postoperatively. Conclusion : In our study, preoperative diagnostic rate was relatively low, and clinical features were similar to previous reports. Preoperative vigorous diagnostic approach including aortography is strongly advocated not only for its diagnostic value, but also for accurate localization of the aberrant vessels, which is major concern to surgical procedure.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.42 no.5
• /
• pp.731-736
• /
• 1995

Background: Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for localized, operable non-small cell carcinoma of the lung. Curative radiotherapy, however, is considered an alternative to surgery in patients with poor performance state, poor cardiopulmonary function, or who refuse surgery. However, the difference in prognosis after surgery and radiotherapy is not well established in the patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer. Method: To evaluate the difference in progonsis between surgery and radiotherapy in stage I non-small cell lung cancer, a retrospective study was done with 15 patients treated with curative radiotherapy and 24 patients treated with curative surgery. Results: The overall response rate was 80%, with 33% complete response, after radiotherapy. The median survival time of the patients with radiotherapy was 14.9 months, with 2-year and 5-year survival rates of 22% and 0%, respectively. The median survival time of the patients with surgery was 37.7months, with 2-year and 5-year survival rates of 65% and 41%, respectively. Conclusion: These results suggest that surgery is better than the radiotherpy in view of survival rate and it is necessary to recommend, more strongly, curative surgery to patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer if the patients are able to receive operation. To compare, more accurately, the difference in prognosis by the modality of therapy, large multicenter study is needed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.629-638
• /
• 1997

Background : Surgical intervention is known as the principle management for hemoptysis of significant amount. But surgical procedure is applicable to only small number of patients because of increased mortality in emergency surgery and various functional and structural problems after lung resection. Bronchial artery embolization(BAE) has been used as an alternative interventional technique for immediate control of patients with increased risk for surgery due to recurrent or massive hemoptysis. BAE also has limitations such as recurrent bleeding after procedure and its role for the application to small amount of hemoptysis is still not established. Method : To evaluate immediate and long term effectiveness of BAE, we analysed 65 patients with hemoptysis according to therapeutic modalities they received ; BAE versus conservative management. Results : The success rate for immediate control of hemoptysis was significantly higher in BAE group with 43 cases(100%) among 43 cases compared with 17 cases(77%) among 22 cases in conservative group (p < 0.001). The disease control duration was $19.5{\pm}8.06$ months in BAE group and $18.8{\pm}6.06$ months in conservative group(p > 0.05). The therapeutic response in BAE group was 82%(36/43 cases) and 95%(21/22 cases) in conservative group (p > 0.05). According to the amount of hemoptysis, the therapeutic response were seen in 91%(29/32 cases) in less than 100ml and 85%(28/33 cases) in 100~400ml (p > 0.05). According to the manifestation of hemoptysis, the therapeutic response in groups of recurrent and nonrecurent were 87%(20/23 cases) and 88%(37/42 cases)(p > 0.05). Conclusion : The difference of therapeutic response between BAE and conservative group in patients with small amounts of hemoptysis was not found except for immediate control of hemoptysis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.29-39
• /
• 2004

Background : The diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to mediastinal tumors and cysts have changed over the past three decades. This report summarizes our forty-two years of experience with these tumors. Methods : This study retrospectively reviewed 479 patients with primary mediastinal tumors and cysts that were diagnosed and managed over the past 17-year period (1985~2002) and compared them to the report of the previous 25-year result (1960~1985) in Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital in Seoul, Korea. Results : During the 17 years, there were 479 cases of pathologically proven mediastinal tumors and cysts. Thymoma (38.2%) was the most common mediastinal tumor and has increased noticeably during recent years. The gender ratio showed a male predominance (1.3:1) and the age distributions were even over all the age groups. The most common sites of the tumor and the proportion(28.6%) of malignant tumors were the same as that previously reported. A diagnosis of a tumor in asymptomatic patients was possible in 174 cases (36.3%), which was higher that reported previously. The diagnostic yield of a fine needle aspiration biopsy was 68.6% in the total tumors and 80.9% in the malignant tumors. A surgical resection was the most frequently chosen treatment modality and was performed in 405 cases (84.6%). The complete resection rate was 91.1%, which is higher than the previous result of 78.8%. Conclusion : These results showed that the prevalence of mediastinal tumors and cysts, particularly thymoma, increased. A fine needle aspiration biopsy was a valuable preoperative differential diagnostic method for malignant tumors. The surgical and complete resection rate increased remarkably possibly due to the better applicable chest CT scans, the more frequent health check-up provided by the regular health promotion program for all people as a health insurance policy, and the improved diagnostic techniques in the pathologic, radiological, and clinical fields.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.346-352
• /
• 1998

Rheumatic valvulitis produces at least three distinct pathologic changes, the degree varying widely among the patients: fusion of the valve leaflets at the commissures; fusion and shortening of chordae tendinae: and fibrosis of the leaflets with subsequent stiffening, contraction and calcification. The most extensive changes usually are seen in patients with recurrent attacks of rheumatic fever. We studied on outcome of the surgical treatments of rheumatic valvular diseases that have been experienced for 12 years since 1982 at Pusan National University Hospital. The diagnoses were made by rheumatic fever history, echocardiographic findings, gross operative findings and microscopic findings. Total 502 patients were performed surgery for valvular heart diseases and 440 patients of rheumatic origin have bene analysed. There were more female than male patients as 1.3:1, and the mean age was 37.8 years old. 96.3% of them affected to the mitral valve, 19.8% to aortic valve, 16.3% affected to the tricuspid valve. Most of them underwent valve replacement, and valve repair was done in 3.9% of patients. There were 36 hospital deaths(8.2%) mainly from low cardiac output syndrome, and 15 late deaths equally due to embolism and hemorrhage. Follow up was 90.1% completed(2890 patient- year). Linealized rates of late complication events are follows : thromboembolism 1.3% per patient year; anticoagulant related hemorrhage 0.8% per patient year. Overall actuarial survival including hospital mortality was 92.7＋/-2.9% in 1 year, 88.0＋/-4.5% in 5 year, 82.3＋/-7.7% in 10 year. We conclude that the rheumatic disease is still the most frequent and the most important cause of heart valve disease. So more intensive study is needed in spite of the abrupt decreasing rate of rheumatic fever in U.S.A. and other industrial country.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.281-286
• /
• 1999

Background: The purpose of this study is to analyze the types of complications, the incidences of complications, and preoperative and postoperative risk factors affecting the incidence of the complication. Material and Method: Between August 1990 and August 1997 in Asan Medical Center, 42 patients(24 men and 18 women) underwent surgical resection for pulmonary aspergilloma. The mean age was 46.6${\pm}$11.5 years(range 29 to 69 years). Hemoptysis(90%) was the most common presentation. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the most common predisposing cause(81%). The associated diseases were bronchiectasis(n=11), active puolmonary tuberculosis(n=9), diabetes mellitus(n=8), lung carcinoid(n=1), and acute myeloblastic leukemia(n=1). Lobectomy was done in 32 cases(76%), segmentectomy or wedge resection in 4, pneumonectomy in 2, and lobectomy combined with segmentectomy in 4. Result: Operative mortality was 2%. The most common postoperative complication was persistent air leakage(n=6). The variables such as age, sex, pulmonary function test, amount and duration of hemoptysis, associated diseases(diabetes mellitus, active pulmonary tuberculosis), mode of preoperative management(steroid, antifungal agent, bronchial arterial embolization), and modes of operative procedures were statistically insignificant. The radiologic extent of infiltration to normal lung parenchyme was statistically significant(p=0.04). Conclusion: We conclude that the extent of the infiltration to normal lung parenchyme in preoperative radiologic studies should be carefully evaluated to reduce the postoperative complications in surgery for pulmonary aspergilloma.