• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.377-383
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• 1995

Purpose : To obtain the optimal treatement method in patients with endometrial carcinoma(clinical stage FIGO I, II) by comparative analysis between preoperative radiotherapy (pre-op RT) and postoperative radiotherapy (post-op RT). Material and Methods : A retrospective review of 62 endometrial carcinoma patients referred to the Yonsei Cancer Center for radiotherapy between 1985 and 1991 was undertaken. Of 62 patients, 19 patients(Stagel : 12 patients. Stagell;7 patients) received pre-op RT before TAH(Total Abdominal Hysterectomy) and BSO (Bilateral Salphingoophorectomy) (Group 1) and 43 patients(Stage 1;32 patients, Stage 2; 11 patients) received post-op RT after TAH and BSO (Group 2). Pre-op irradiation was given 4-6 weeks prior to surgery and post-op RT administered on 4-5 weeks following surgery. All patients except 1 patient(Group 2: ICR alone) received external irradiation. Seventy percent(13/19) of pre-op RT group and 54 percent(23/42) of post-op RT group received external pelvic irradiation and intracavitary radiation therapy(ICR). External radiation dose was 39.6-55 Gy(median 45 Gy) in 5-6. 5weeks through opposed AP/PA fields or 4-field box technique treating daily, five days per week, 180 cGy per fraction. ICR doses were prescribed to point A(20-39.6 Gy, median 39 Gy) in Group 1 and 0.5cm depth from vaginal surface (18-30 Gy,median 21 Gy) in Group 2. Results : The overall 5 year survival rate was $95{\%}$. No survival difference between pre-op and post-op RT group.($89.3{\%}$ vs $97.7{\%}$, p>0.1) There was no survival difference by stage, grade and histology between two groups. The survival rate was not affected by presence of residual tumor of surgical specimen after pre-op RT in Group 1 (p>0.1), but affected by presence of lymph node metastasis in post-op RT group(P<0.5). The complication rate of pre-op RT group was higher than post-op RT. ($16{\%}$ vs $5{\%}$) Conclusion : Post-op radiotherapy offers the advantages of accurate surgical-pathological staging and low complication rate.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 1987

Radiobiological and clinical evidences indicate that hyperthermia combined with ionizing radiation produces a significant improvement in therapeutic effect of cancer. In general, malignant cells are more sensitive to heat than normal cells in the heat range of $41\~45^{\circ}C$. We report the experiences obtained from 42 patients with advanced malignant neoplasms managed with 2,450MHz microwave-induced local hyperthermia and ionizing radiation at the Department of Radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College. A clinical analysis of 42 thermoirradiated patients showed result of 11(26\%),\;15(36\%),\;11(26\%)\;and\;5(12\%)$ patients with complete response (CR), partial response (PR), minor response (MR) and no response (NR), respectively. Histologically there were $17(40.2\%)$ squamous cell carcinomas, $12(28.6\%)$ adenocarcinomas and $6(14.3\%)$ miscellaneous cancers. Eleven patients with CR consisted of five squamous cell carcinomas, five adenocarcinomas, and one chloroma. Among 15 patients with PR were five squamous cell carcinomas, five adenocarcinomas, three unknown primary tumors, and one poorly differentiated, and miscellaneous tumor each.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.167-171
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was done to determine the usefulness of serum pepsinogen (PG) levels as a screening method for gastric cancer, and to assess the relationships between serum PG and clinicopathologic factors of gastric adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods: Serum PG concentrations were measured in 94 subjects who were classified into (a) a control group (50 subjects) without abnormal endoscopic finding on a health checkup, or (b) a gastric cancer group (44 subjects) who had surgery at Daegu Catholic University Hospital between Nov. 2008 and May 2009. Receiver operator characteristic curves were utilized to select the most suitable test. Using different cutoff points, sensitivity and specificity were calculated. We compared preoperative serum PG levels with several clinicopathologic findings for patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. Results: The Serum PG I：II ratio was the most useful as a screening test. The sensitivity and specificity of PG screening for gastric cancer were, respectively, 81.8% and 82%. The cut off point correlated with the type of intestinal cancer (Lauren classification; P=0.003), tumor stage (P=0.001), and gastric adenocarcinoma with peritumoral chronic atrophic gastritis (P=0.036). Conclusion: Serum PG levels were found to be a potentially useful screening test and to correlate with clinicopathologic factors in gastric cancer patients. But, in order to use serum PG found in a health checkup for gastric cancer as a clinical application a large scale study is recommended.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2007

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics and chronological changes of gastric cancer in Korea, the Information Committee of the Korean Gastric Cancer Association performed nationwide survey for 2004. Materials and Methods: The data on patients who underwent gastric cancer surgery in 2004 were collected from 57 institutes and compared with those of 1995 and 1999 which were reported in 2002. Fourteen factors (sex, age, tumor location and size, gross type, approach to operation, radicality, operative method, reconstruction method, WHO and Lauren classification, UICC stage, and numbers of positive and retrieved lymph nodes) were analyzed. According to the annual number of gastric cancer operations, 57 institutes were divided into 4 groups (group 1, <100; 100 ${\leq}$ group 2 < 200 operations; 200 ${\leq}$ group 3 < 500 operations; group 4, ${\geq}500$). Results: Data on 11,293 patients were collected. The sex ratio (M : F) was 2.05 : 1 (7,586/3,705). The mean age was 58.0 years old. The age of highest incidence in both male and female has increased recently. The proportion of early gastric cancer has increased from 28.6% in 1995 and 32.8% in 1999 to 47.4% in 2004. The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes was 34.0 (32.8, 34.0, 36.1, and 32.9 for group 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively). Conclusion: Early gastric cancer has increased in 2004 compared to 1995 and 1999. Gastric cancer surgery seems to be performed with acceptable quality in view of number of retrieved lymph nodes. These data presented in nationwide survey could be used as a fundamental resource for gastric cancer in Korea.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.305-313
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• 1997

Purpose : This is a retrospective study to evaluate the results of radiation therapy and prognostic factors influencing the results in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Materials and Methods: From October 1989 to May 1996. 56 Patients were treated for nasopharyngeal carcinoma at Department of Radiation On-cology. According to stage, patients were distributed as follows : stage I (2), II (13). II (11), IV (30). Twenty-eight patients were treated with radiation therapy only, 7 patients were treated with neoadiuvant chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy. Twenty-one Patients were treated with radiation therapy and weekly CDDP. After external beam radiotherapy of 60Gy, 46Patients received boost dose with intracavitary radiation and 9 Patients with 3D conformal therapy. One patient received boost dose with 2 dimensional Photon beam therapy. The tumor dose ranged from 69.4Gy to 86.2Gy with median dose of 74.4Gy. The follow-up Period ranged from 5 months to 92 months with a median of 34 months. Results : Forty-seven patients achieved complete response and 8 Patients showed partial response. One Patient showed minimal response. Patterns of failure were as follows : locoregional recurrence (8) and distant metastasis (18). Among these patients, 2 patients failed locoregionally and distantly. The sites of distant metastasis were bone (8), lung (8) and liver (4). Five years survival rate was $67.2\%$ and 5 years disease-free survival rate was $53.6\%$. KPS (P=0.005) and response ol radiation therapy (P=0.0001) were significant prognostic factors for overall survival. KPS (P= 0.02) and response of radiation therapy (P=0.005) were significant Prognostic factors for disease-free survival. Conclusion : This retrospective study showed that distant metastasis was the Predominant pattern of relapse in nasopharyngeal cancer Neoadiuvant chemotherapy or weekly CDOP did not influence the distant metastasis-free survival. For advanced T stage, 3D conformal therapy Provided an improved dose coverage compared to ICR But further follow-up was needed in Patients with 3D conformal therapy to assess the efficacy of this therapy. Development of techniques of radiation therapy to improve locoregional control and of more effective systemic chemotherapy regimen are needed.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.191-199
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• 1996

Purpose : To evaluate 5-year survival rate, patterns of failure and complications of cervical cancer treatment, fifty nine patients treated by curative radiotherapy for the uterine cervical cancer were analyzed retrospectively. Materials and Methods : From March 1986 to May 1990, fifty nine patients with histologically proven uterine cervical cancer were analyzed. According to FIGO stage, there were 2 patients ($3.4\%$) in stage Ib, 2 patients ($3.4\%$) in stage IIa, 31 patients ($52.5\%$) in stage IIb, 15 patients ($25.4\%$) in stage IIIb, 9 patients ($15.3\%$) in stage IV. External RT was per formed by 6 MVLINAC with daily 1.8 Gy, 5 times per week and followed by ICR. A point dose of ICR was calculated to 30-43.66 Gy (median: 34.6 Gy). These techniques delivered total A Point dose of 80.4 to 109.8 Gy (median: 85 Gy). Patients had been followed up from 2 to 110 months (median: 61 months) Results : The overall 5-year survival rate & disease free survival rate were $55.9\%$ and $55.0\%$ respectively. According to FIGO stage, the 5-year survival rate for less than IIa, IIb, IIIb, IV were $75.0\%$, $74.8\%$, $26.7\%$, $33.3\%$, respectively. In univariate analysis, the 5-year survival rate for stage IIb and below versus stage IIIa and above revealed $74.8\%$, $29.2\%$ respectively (P<0.005). According to the hemoglobin level during RT, the 5-rear survival rate of was $73.3\%$ for patients with Hg 10 gm/dL or higher, in contrast to $0\%$ for those with lower than 10 gm/dL (p<0.005). In 18 patients with nonbulky tumor (<5cm), the 5-year survival rates were $71.8\%$. The 5-rear survival rates for 18 patients with 5 cm or greater in tumor diameter were $22.2\%$ (p<0.005). The 5-year survival rate for Patient age of above 50 years and below were $65.3\%$ $34.2\%$ respectively (p<0.05). ECOG performance status. pathologic finding, total dose, total treatment time were not statistically significant factors. The significant prognostic factors affecting overall 5-year survival rate by multivariate analysis showed the hemoglobin level during RT (P=0.0001), tumor size (p=0.0390), FIGO stage (p=0.0468). Total recurrence rate was $23.7\%$ local failure $15.2\%$ (9/59), distant metastasis $6.8\%$ (4/59), local and distant metastasis $1.7\%$ (1/59). According to the RTOG/EORTC Soma Scales, the late complication rate was $23.8\%$ (14/59) The late complication rate of colorectum and genitourinary tract were $15.3\%$ (9/59), $8.5\%$ (5/59), respectively: 10 patients ($17.0\%$) were grade 2, 3 Patients ($5.1\%$) were grade 3 and one patient ($1.7\%$) was grade 4. The late complications were radiation proctitis, rectal bleeding, radiation colitis, diarrhea and radiation cystitis in decreasing order. Conclusion : For improvement of therapeutic results, prospective randomized trials are recomended to discover new prognostic factors and more aggressive radiation therapeutic methods are needed for poor prognostic patients. The adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation-sensitizing agents must be considered to inhibit regional and distant metastasis.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.63-70
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• 2011

Purpose: To evaluate the extent of pain response and objective response to palliative radiotherapy (RT) for bone metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma according to RT dose. Materials and Methods: From January 2007 to June 2010, palliative RT was conducted for 103 patients (223 sites) with bone metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma. Treatment sites were divided into the high RT dose and low RT dose groups by biologically effective dose (BED) of 39 $Gy_{10}$. Pain responses were evaluated using the numeric rating scale. Pain scores before and after RT were compared and categorized into 'Decreased', 'No change' and 'Increased'. Radiological objective responses were categorized into complete response, partial response, stable disease and progression using modified RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors) criteria; the factors predicting patients' survival were analyzed. Results: The median follow-up period was 6 months (range, 0 to 46 months), and the radiologic responses existed in 67 RT sites (66.3%) and 44 sites (89.8%) in the high and low RT dose group, respectively. A dose-response relationship was found in relation to RT dose (p=0.02). Pain responses were 75% and 65% in the high and low RT dose groups, respectively. However, no statistical difference in pain response was found between the two groups (p=0.24). There were no differences in the toxicity profiles between the high and low RT dose groups. Median survival from the time of bone metastases diagnosis was 11 months (range, 0 to 46 months). The Child-Pugh classification at the time of palliative RT was the only significant predictive factor for patient survival after RT. Median survival time was 14 months under Child-Pugh A and 2 months under Child-Pugh B and C. Conclusion: The rate of radiologic objective response was higher in the high RT dose group. Palliative AT with a high dose would provide an improvement in patient quality of life through enhanced tumor response, especially in patients with proper liver function.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2000

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of diffusion weighted MR imaging(DWI) in the differential diagnosis of brain tumors. Materials and methods: DWI and conventional MR images of nineteen patients with brain tumors(10 metastatic tumors, 4 high grade gliomas, 4 low grade astrocytomas, one oligodendroglioma)were obtained on 1.5T unit. DWI was obtained using single shot spin echo planar imaging with b-value near 1000. We analyzed the signal intensities of lesions including solid portion, necrotic or cystic portion and peritumoral edema of brain tumors (classified five grades comparison with the signal intensities of brain parenchyma and CSF)and calculate the SIR(signal intensity ratio)of lesions to the contralateral normal brain parenchyma. We analyzed statistically the signal intensities and SIR of tumors using independence T test. Results: In solid portions of tumors, all the metastatic tumors and high grade gliomas showed high signal intensities, but low grade astrocytomas and oligodendroglioma showed iso or slight high signal intensities to the normal brain parenchyma. The SIR of solid portion has positive correlation with malignant pot ential(metastatic tumors 1.52, high grade gliomas 1.38, low grade astrocytomas 1.16, oligodendroglioma 1.31)(p < 0.05). In peritumoral edema where seen in 14 tumors, seven of 10 metastatic tumors and two of 4 high grade gliomas showed iso signal intensities, whereas edemas in other 5 brain tumors showed hyperintense to the normal brain parenchyma. The SIRs of peritumoral edemas in metastatic tumors (1.14) was lower than high grade gliomas(1.31),but statistically insignificant. The SIR of cystic or necrotic portion of brain tumors was 0.63. In non enhancing solid portions, three of six cases showed hyperintense to the adjacent peritumoral edema. Conclusion: On DWI, the signal intensities of solid portion has positive correlation with malignant potential, and perilesional edema of brain tumors appear various signal intensities owing to "T2 shine through effect" and the extensiveness of vasogenic edema. Another merit using DWI on the evaluation of brain tumors is to improved better delineation of tumor margins from the adjacent edemas, especially at the non enhancing solid portion of the tumors.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.285-291
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• 1991

One hundred and twenty six patients with early uterine cervical cancer who had been treated at Departmen of Radiation Oncology of Korea University Hospital from Jan.1981 to Dec.1988 were analysed retrospectively by the treatment result and pattern of of failures. All patients had stage Ia to IIa disease and were grouped whether they had combination of operation and postop irradiation or radiation therapy alone. 1) Sixty six patients belonged to the combination treatment group and 60 patients to the radiation alone group. 2) Combination group consisted of $18.1\%$(12/66) stage Ia, $71.2\%$(47/66) stage Ib and $10.6\%$ (7/66) stage IIa patients. There were no stage Ia, 18.8$\%$(l1/60) stage Ib and 81.6$\%$(49/60) stage IIa patients for RT alone gronp. 3) There were total 23$\%$(29/126) treatment failures,13 patients in combination group and 16 patients in RT alone group. In 66 patients of combination group, they were found to have 5 locoregional failures, 7 distant failures and 1 at both sites. In 60 patients of RT alone group, 9 locoreginal failure and 7 distant failures occured. Eighty six percent (25/29) of total failures appeared within 18 month after completion of treatment. About 60$\%$ of the patients with regional recurrences which were located at pelvic side wall or pelvic lymph nodes paesented their recurrent disease after 1 year of completion of treatment, whereas same percent of distant failures appeared within 6 month. 5) In RT alone group, the first sites of distant failure were mostly para-aortic lymph node and/or left supraclavicular lymph node (71.4$\%$,5/7). In combination group, various sites such as inguinal lymph node, mediastinal lymph node, liver, lung and bone appeared first or at the same time with para-aortic and supraclavicular lymph node metastasis. 6) Logistic regression analysis was done for multivariate analysis of the factors contributing to locoregional and distant failures. In combination group, adequacy of the resection margin and the presence of positive pelvic node were found to be the most significant factors (p=0.0423 & 0.0060 respectively). In RT alone group, less than complete regression of the tumor at the end of treatment was the only significant contributing factor for the treatment failures (p=0.0013) with good liklihood ratio.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.11
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• pp.1107-1111
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• 2003

Purpose : Neuroblastoma is a malignant neoplasm which arises from primitive sympathetic neuroblasts, and occasionally can matured from a malignant neuroblastoma into a benign ganglioneuroma. It has the highest rate of spontaneous regression of any pediatric tumor. We performed a retrospective study of pathologic features after combination therapy in advanced neuroblastoma. Prognostic effects of the individual morphologic feature and prognostic groupings according to modified Shimada classification systems were analyzed. Methods : The treatment results for six patients with neuroblastoma seen at Keimyung University from Jan. 1991 to June 2000 were analyzed. Patients were treated with a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, and classified by two major prognostic criteria based on morphological features of neuroblastoma, such as modified Shimada classification and histologic grading. Results : Three cases were classified to a good histologic group; among them, two cases survived, but one case was lost in follow-up. There were three cases classified in a poor histologic group. All of these patients expired due to sepsis and hemorrhagic pancreatitis. Conclusion : Prognostic classification due to pathologic findings had significant value in evaluating the survival rate of neuroblastoma patients.