The laparoscopic cholecystectomy, performed for the first time in France in 1987, has been accepted as in many countries the method of choice when performing a cholecystectomy. The trend toward minimally invasive surgery has prompted general surgeons to try it instead of open cholecystectomy. We performed 1000 laparoscopic cholecystectomies at the Department of General Surgery of Eulji Medical College Hospital from January 1992 to April 1997. The outcome data have been analyzed retrospectively. Moreover, we have compared the case histories of 13 patients who received cholecystostomy with those of 43 patient who did not. We also present preliminary results for an interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy which was a preceded by percutaneous cholecystostomy. The results are as follows: 1) The mean age was 54.3 years ranging from 17 to 86; there were 402 males and 598 females. 2) Of the 1000 patients, 123 patients (12.3%) had a history of abdominal surgery. 3) More than half of the patients(560 patients, 56.0%) underwent operations within 6 months of the onset of symptoms. 4) A preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholecystoscopy was performed on 220 patients (22.0%), and of these, 93 patients received endoscopic sphincterotomies because of bile duct stones. 5) The majority of patients(744 patients, 74.4%) had laparoscopic cholecystectomies which lasted 40 minutes or less. 6) More than half (54%) of the removed gallbladders showed grade II inflammation. 7) Drains were used in 142 patients (14.2%). 8) Postoperative complications were encountered in 48 patients (4.8%). 9) Postoperative oral intake was resumed within 24 hours in most patients. 10) Most patients(854 patients, 85.4%) were discharged within 3 days of the operation. 11) The pathologic diagnosis was chronic nonspecific inflammation in most cases (823 cases, 82.3%). 12) The most common microorganism in the bile was E. coli. 13) Patients who received a cholecystostomy had many benefits: a shorter operation time, a low rate of open cholecystectomy, early oral intake. 14) For the 1160 patients who underwent a cholecystectomy during the same period, the rate of open cholecystectomy was 13.8%.
Bile ; Bile Ducts ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* ; Cholecystostomy* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; France ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive

PURPOSE: The rate of malignancy in the follicular neoplasm (FN) or Hürthle cell neoplasm (HCN) of the thyroid gland is estimated as approximately 20~30%. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and frozen section examination are restricted in differentiating between benign and malignant. The aims of this study are to compare the differences of clinicopathologic features and to determine the risk factors for malignancy in patients with FN or HCN. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted of patients with FN or HCN who were diagnosed by FNAB, and underwent surgery at our institution between Jan. 2005 to Jun. 2010. We analyzed the risk factors for malignancy and the differences of clinicopathologic features in patients with FN or HCN. RESULTS: A total of 290 patients were enrolledin this study; 160 (55.2%) patients underwent thyroidectomy, 97 (60.6%) patients had FN, and 63 (39.4%) had HCN. Forty one (25.6%) patients were diagnosed as malignancy of these, 22 (22.7%) patients were FN and 19 (30.2%) were HCN (P=0.29). Two (2.1%) patients with FN and 10 (15.9%) with HCN (P=0.002) comcomitant papillary thyroid carcinoma were indentified by FNAB. Classification of nodules according to ultrasonographic findings in both neoplasms (P<0.05) and galectin-3 in FN (P<0.05) were predictive factors for malignancy. In addition, galectin-3 was a predictive factor for malignancy in indeterminate nodules on ultrasonography (USG) (P=0.028). CONCLUSION: Classification of nodules according to ultrasonographic findings and galectin-3 expression is helpful in predicting carcinoma of patients with FN or HCN.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Classification ; Frozen Sections ; Galectin 3 ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Thyroidectomy ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Genes, ras* ; Humans*

Gingival fibroblasts(GF) and periodontal ligament fibroblasts(PDLF) are the major cellular components of periodontal soft connective tissues, but the precise molecular biological differences between these cells are not yet known. In the present study, we investigated the expression of S100A4, S100A2 calcium-binding protein and osteoblast-specific factor 2(OSF-2, Periostin) mRNA in GF and PDLF in vitro through the process of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Northern blot analysis in each. Human GF and PDLF were isolated from the gingival connective tissue and the middle third of freshly extracted healthy third molars. They were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium(DMEM) containing 10% fetal bovine serum and cells in the third passage were used in the experiments. After extracting total RNA from cultured cells, RT-PCR and Northern analysis were performed using S100A4-, S100A2- and Periostin-specific oligonucleotide primers and subcloned cDNA probes in each. In RT-PCR and Northern analysis, the expression of S100A4 and Periostin mRNA in GF was slightly detectable. Interestingly, the expression of S100A4 and Periostin mRNA in PDLF was much higher than that in GF. On the other hand, S100A2 mRNA was highly expressed in both GF and PDLF. Since there was a marked difference of S100A4 and Periostin expression between GF and PDLF in vitro, these data suggest that S100A4 and Periostin could be used as a useful marker for distinguishing cultured gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells.
Blotting, Northern ; Carrier Proteins* ; Cells, Cultured ; Connective Tissue ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Complementary ; Eagles ; Fibroblasts* ; Hand ; Humans* ; Molar, Third ; Periodontal Ligament* ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger*

To the best of our knowledge, isolated bilateral oculomotor nuclear palsy has not yet been reported in the literature, while bilateral oculomotor nuclear palsy with more widespread rostral brainstem infarction has often been reported. We present a patient having top of the basilar syndrome with midbrain infarction selectively involving the bilateral oculomotor nucleus. A 61-year-old woman with two episodes of vertebrobasilar infarction presented with sudden onset of bilateral ptosis. Examination revealed pronounced bilateral ptosis. In the primary position, fixation of either eye produced an approximately 50 prism diopter exotropia. Adduction of the right eye was restricted to the midline. There was moderately decreased adduction of the left eye, severe limitation of depression, and moderately decreased elevation of both eyes. Abduction of both eyes was normal. The pupils were equal, round, and reactive to light. Bilateral ptosis is suggestive of oculomotor nuclear palsy. On the basis of clinical findings alone, we could not establish whether the precise location of the lesion was all the subdivisions of the oculomotor nucleus except the Edinger-Westphal nucleus or the central caudal nucleus and bilateral fascicles. However, because axial MRI showed a small midbrain infarct in the oculomotor nucleus region, we concluded that she had an isolated, pupil-sparing, bilateral oculomotor nuclear palsy caused by midbrain infarct.
Cerebral Infarction/*complications/diagnosis ; Female ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; *Mesencephalon ; Middle Aged ; Ophthalmoplegia/diagnosis/*etiology/physiopathology

Pigmented squamous cell carcinoma is a very rare malignant, pigmented, epidermal tumor. The rarity of pigmented squamous cell carcinomas may reflect in part their misdiagnosis as other pigmented neoplasms, particularly malignant melanoma. To our knowledge, only five cases have been reported in literature. We recently experienced a case of pigmented squamous cell carcinoma arising from pigmented actinic keratosis in a 77 years old female. Physical examination showed a 0.8 0.6 cm, smooth, dark brown pigmented patch with irregular but sharply defined borders located on the upper left chest. The biopsy specimen showed histologic findings of pigmented actinic keratosis with abundant melanin pigments, which became pigmented squamous cell carcinoma. Most of pigments in the squamous cell carcinoma were contained within the melanocytes along with the neoplastic squamous cells.
Actins* ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Humans ; Keratosis, Actinic* ; Melanins ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Physical Examination ; Skin ; Thorax

The clinical and pathological features of warty dyskeratoma are presented. Warty dyskeratoma is a rarely encountered, solitary, benign cutaneous tumor occurring most often on the head and neck and to our knowledge, no cases associated with cutaneous horn have been published in western literature. We experienced a case of warty dyskeratoma with a cutaneous horn occurring in a 70-year-old male, who had a 1.3 cm-sized and slowly growing nodule on his neck. A brief review of the literature, was made especially in relation to the pathological findings and histogenesis of warty dyskeratoma.
Aged ; Animals ; Head ; Horns* ; Humans ; Male ; Neck

PURPOSE: To evaluate the surgical result and complications of scleral fixation of foldable intraocular lenses. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 17 patients who had undergone scleral fixation of acrylic three-piece foldable intraocular lens. RESULTS: Uncorrected visual acuity were improved in all eyes with time. Postoperative best corrected visual acuity were better than preoperative best corrected visual acuity in 14 eyes from 1.18+/-0.84 to 0.26 +/-0.25 in logMAR visual acuity. Estimated refractive error were 0.01+/-0.34 diopter in spherical equivalent preoperatively and .0.59+/-1.00 diopter postoperatively (p=0.02, paired t-test). The corneal astigmatic changes (dK) of mild against-the-rule astigmatism decreased as time passed. There was no intraoperative bleeding. There were postoperative complications such as increased intraocular pressure in 2 eyes, corneal epithelial defect in 1 eye. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of scleral fixation, by using acrylic foldable intraocular lens through small incision, we were able to reduce corneal astigmatism and complications due to large incision and therefore, improve visual acuity instantly.
Astigmatism ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Lenses, Intraocular* ; Medical Records ; Postoperative Complications ; Refractive Errors ; Visual Acuity

BACKGROUND: Gastric cardia cancers are relatively rare neoplasms althougth it is reported that their relative incidence among gastric cancers is increasing. At the time of diagnosis, gastric cardia cancers in many cases are already in a more advanced stage in terms of depth of invasion or metastasis to lymph nodes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the proximal resection margin on the survival rates for cardia cancer patients who underwent a total gastrectomy without a thoracotomy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 87 patients who had undergone operations for gastric cardia cancers at Eulji College Hospital during the 8 years from Jan. 1988 to Dec. 1995. RESULTS: The most prevalent age group was in the 6th decade (34.5%) and the male-to-female ratio was 2.2:1.0. The TNM classification showed stage I (13.8%), II (10.3%), III (54%) and IV (21.8%). The overall 5-year survival rate was 35.6%, and the survival rates according to the stage were 83.3% in stage I, 87.5% in stage II, 27.1% in stage III, and 0% in stage IV. The 5-year survival rates according to the length of the proximal resection margin (PRM) for all patients were as follows: 22.0% for PRM< or =2 cm (N=34) and 44.0% for PRM>2 cm (N=52) 44.0% (p=0.0783). The 5-year survival rates according to the length of the PRM for stage III cancers were as follows: 19.7% for PRM< or =2 cm (N=18) and 31.7% for PRM>2 cm (N=28)(p=0.4090). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the length of the proximal resection margin is not significant as a prognostic factor. We believe a total gastrectomy without a thoracotomy is a reasonable and safe alternative to a thoracotomy approach to the dissection of the mediastinal lymph node in cases of gastric cardia cancer.
Cardia* ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Gastrectomy* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate ; Thoracotomy

PURPOSE: There is no definitive operative indications for treatment of Gallbladder (GB) polypoid lesions. The objective of this study was to determine the indications for surgical treatment of polypoid lesions of the gallbladder. METHODS: Surgically resected polypoid lesions of the gallbladders of 111 patients who were treated at the Department of Surgery, EulJi Medical College, from Jan. 1991 to Jun. 2000 were evaluated based on patient age & sex, histologic result, and size & shape of the polyp. RESULTS: Out of the 111 cases, benign polyps were found in 88 cases (79%) and malignant polyps in 23 cases (21%). In sessile polyps, the average diameter of the benign polyps was 8.1+/-9 mm, and that of the malignant polyps was 16.6+/-9 mm, while in pedunculated polyps, the average diameter of the benign polyps was 9.5+/-8 mm, and that of the malignant polyps was 27.0+/-22 mm. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, surgical treatment is recommended if a sessile polyp is more than 5 mm and a pedunculated polyp is more then 10 mm because, in these cases, the chance of malignancy cannot be excluded. Also, if there are any symptoms related with the GB, regardless of how large it is and whether GB stone exists or not, surgical treatment is desirable.
Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Polyps