BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia is the most common form of hair loss in people with a genetic predisposition. It is characterized by the miniaturization of terminal hair follicles and the formation of vellus-like follicles. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, clinical manifestation, genetic and endocrine factor, and associated diseases of Korean patients with androgenetic alopecia. METHODS: We studied 789 Korean men and women with androgenetic alopecia. A detailed history was taken and their hormonal values were measured. A pelvic ultrasound scan was performed to check for abnormalities the ovaries and uterus of 56 women with androgenetic alopecia. RESULTS: The number of men was 1.9 times more (520) than that of women (269). Most of them were in their twenties (male 223; 42.8%, female 85; 31.5%). In the 520 male patients, Norwood class IIIv was dominant (161 patients; 30.9%). In the 269 female patients, Ludwig class I was superior (218 patients; 81%). 395 (75.9%) of male patients and 198 (73.6%) of female patients had a family history of androgenetic alopecia. The most common associated disorder was seborrheic dermatitis (male 407; 78.2%, female 155; 57.6%). And others included atopic dermatitis, hypertension, thyroid disease, etc. Serum testosterone levels were increased in 92 (17.6%) of the male patients and in 36 (13.3%) of the female patients. Abnormal pelvic ultrasound findings were observed in 10 (18%) of 56 female patients, and the conditions were ovarian cysts (8.9%), Uterine myoma (5.4%), uterine mass (2%), endometrial mass (2%). CONCLUSION: Androgenetic alopecia is a disease that has genetic and familial tendency and is associated with the androgen level. The number of androgenetic alopecia patients was increasing and type IIIv was most common in the male patients. The pelvic ultrasound showed an increased rate of abnormal findings in the female patients with androgenetic alopecia, but ultrasound is not an appropriate routine test to evaluate.
Alopecia ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Miniaturization ; Myoma ; Ovarian Cysts ; Ovary ; Prevalence ; Testosterone ; Thyroid Diseases ; Uterus

Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) via topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is potentially useful for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma. However, as a photosensitizer used in PDT, methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) can replace ALA, because MAL has more advantages than ALA. We treated two patients with basal cell carcinoma using MAL-PDT. Topical MAL-PDT may be a safe and effective treatment modality for basal cell carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Humans ; Photochemotherapy ; Triazenes

PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the efficiency of routine performance of a batch of tests in the clinical staging work-up of cervical carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records were reviewed for 1,393 consecutive cervical carcinoma patients who underwent pretreatment staging work-up in Seoul National University Hospital from January 1988 to December 1997. The impression stage -which is designated ten tatively by the findings of pelvic examination and biopsy-, the results of staging work-up, and the finally allotted FIGO clinical stage were reviewed. The annual trend of stage distribution and the positive yields of tests were evaluated. RESULTS: Annual trend shows that Ia is increasing. The positive yield of chest x-ray was 0.22% (3/1, 379; Ib: 1, IIa: 1, IIb: 1), intravenous pyelography (IVP) 2.50% (31/1, 242; Ib: 2, IIa: 4, IIb: 17, IIIb: 8), cystoscopy 0.55% (6/1, 093; IIb: 4, IIIb: 2), and proctosigmoidoscopy 0.086% (1/1, 157; Ib: 1). After completing the staging work-up, 29 patients (2.08%) were upstaged. The routine performance of IVP in impression stage Ia and cystoscopy in impression stage IIa or less was considered inefficient. The routine performance of proctosigmoidoscopy was considered inefficient because of its very low yield. CONCLUSION: The selective performance of tests according to the impression stage during staging work-up is recommended to minimize the unnecessary treatment delay, cost, and patients' discomfort.
Cystoscopy ; Gynecological Examination ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Seoul ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Thorax ; Urography ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Milia en plaque is designated as an atypical subtype of milia which is characterized by a group of milia on an erythematous base. It usually arises spontaneously in predisposed persons without any apparent causative factor and commonly occurs on the periauricular area. Histopathologic finding is consistent with milia and treatment is not established. We report a case of milia en plaque produced by physical stress in the right arm.
Arm ; Humans

Hodgkin's disease (HD) is a lymphoproliferative disorder that presents as a clinically asymptomatic mass or painless lymph node swelling. Cutaneous HD is a very rare manifestation in patients with HD. A 66-year-old man complained of a maculopapular rash waxing and waning for one year. A painful mass had developed on his left axilla 7 weeks prior to presenting. The biopsy specimens of both skin and lymph node revealed Hodgkin's lymphoma with atypical lymphoid cells and Reed-Sternberg cells. We report a case of cutaneous involvement of HD, which had been presented as a maculopapular rash for one year.
Aged ; Axilla ; Biopsy ; Exanthema ; Hodgkin Disease ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; Reed-Sternberg Cells ; Skin

Anal disorders are common and more than one half of the population will experience one at some time during their lives. Anal erosion and fissures can cause discomfort, severe pain, bleeding and inflammation. In the acute phase of anal erosion, with bowel habit management and topical emollient, lesions can be improved. Chamomile and Myrrh are known for centuries to have several effects and have anti-inflammatory, sedative, antibacterial and antifugal properities. Here, We report a case of anal erosion treated with Chamomile and Myrrh extracts (Ad-Muc(R)). Our case indicates that Chamomile and Myrrh extracts might play a role in the management of anal erosion and fissure.
Chamomile* ; Fissure in Ano ; Hemorrhage ; Inflammation

OBJECTIVES: To clarify the clinicopathologic features of borderline malignancy of the ovary and analyze the treatment and survival characteristics through the study of our cases. Study METHODS: 102 patients with borderline tumors of the ovary, aged from 14 to 79 years, treated between 1982 and 1999 at Seoul National University Hospital, were analyzed retrospectively for clinicopathologic features. Most informations about stage, treatment modality and prognosis were obtained by hospital record or contacting patient with telephone. RESULTS: There were 77 patients (75.5%) with stage Ia, 5 stage Ib, 11 stage Ic, 4 with stage II and 5 with stage III by the classification of FIGO. 72 patients (70.6%) were mucinous type and 28 (27.5%) were serous type, 1 endometrioid type, 1 mixed. Total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral adnexectomy, and omentectomy were performed in 43 (42.2%) patients and fertility saving surgery in 43 patients(cystectomy in 11 patients, USO in 32 patients). Twenty two patients (21.6%) were treated with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. The median duration of follow up was 54.0 months (1-204 months) and 6 patients developed recurrence after several years from the primary operation. The ten-year eumulative survival rate was 92.2% and the only independent prognostic factors evaluated by Cox analysis in regards to corrected survival were the FIGO stage (p=0.0197). There was no difference in the ten-year survival rate between surgery types - conservative surgery versus full surgical staging. And there was no difference in the 10-year survival rate between treatment groups - surgery only versus surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: FIGO stage is the only independent prognostic factor in the borderline ovarian tumors. There was no difference in the 10-year survival rate of barderline ovarian tumors between surgery alone versus surgery followed by adjuvant chemothearpy. The slow clinical course, low recurrence rate and good prognosis in our patients explained again the reason for therapeutic approach relying on surgery alone.
Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Classification ; Female ; Fertility ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Mucins ; Ovary* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Survival Rate ; Telephone

A faun tail is abnormal lumbar hypertrichosis that is characterized by a wide, often triangular or lozenge-shaped patch of coarse hair, and this hair is usually several inches long. Faun tail is a rare entity. A 36-year-old male presented with a triangular shaped hair tuft with terminal hair on the lumbosacral area, and he'd had this unusual hair since birth. There were no neurologic signs or abnormality on his spine X-ray. The MRI scan showed disc degeneration and loss of lodordosis. We report here on a rare case of faun tail, which was a form of localized hypertrichosis on the lumbosacral area, and this was successfully treated with intense pulsed (IPL) light.
Adult ; Hair ; Humans ; Hypertrichosis ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Light ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Parturition ; Spine

A faun tail is abnormal lumbar hypertrichosis that is characterized by a wide, often triangular or lozenge-shaped patch of coarse hair, and this hair is usually several inches long. Faun tail is a rare entity. A 36-year-old male presented with a triangular shaped hair tuft with terminal hair on the lumbosacral area, and he'd had this unusual hair since birth. There were no neurologic signs or abnormality on his spine X-ray. The MRI scan showed disc degeneration and loss of lodordosis. We report here on a rare case of faun tail, which was a form of localized hypertrichosis on the lumbosacral area, and this was successfully treated with intense pulsed (IPL) light.
Adult ; Hair ; Humans ; Hypertrichosis ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Light ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Parturition ; Spine

Actinic cheilitis is a pathologic condition affecting mainly the lower lip caused by long term exposure of the lips to UV radiation in sunlight. Analogous to actinic keratosis of the skin, actinic cheilitis is considered as a precancerous lesion and may develop into squamous cell carcinoma. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment modality involving the use of a photosensitizing agent, oxygen, and light of a specific wavelength to produce controlled cell death. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) using the new highly selective photosensitizer methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) (Metvix(R), Galderma, U.K.) is a promising new treatment modality for premalignant and malignant skin lesions. We report a case of actinic cheilitis treated with PDT using MAL, with satisfactory outcome in both clinical and pathological aspects.
Actins ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Death ; Cheilitis ; Keratosis, Actinic ; Light ; Lip ; Oxygen ; Photochemotherapy ; Skin ; Sunlight ; Triazenes