PURPOSE: We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy and clinical usefulness of fluoroscopy-guided bone biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 31 patients with various skeletal lesions underwent fluoroscopy-guided bone biopsies. The targets were long bones in 16 cases, pelvic bones in 7 cases, spines in 6 cases, and ribs in the rest 2 cases. RESULTS: The overall accuracy was 71%(22/31). The accuracy was 100% in case of primary sarcoma and multiple myeloma. But it was low in malignant lymphoma(1/4), malignant fibrous histiocytoma(0/1), and nonossifying fibroma(0/1). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous fluoroscopy-guided bone biopsy is a simple, safe, not-expensive, and rather accurate diagnostic procedure in evaluation of bone tumors. In addition to that, it is useful in the managment planning and fllow-up of the patients.
Biopsy* ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; Pelvic Bones ; Ribs ; Sarcoma ; Spine

No abstract available.
Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart Failure* ; Humans ; Thyroid Function Tests* ; Thyroid Gland*

The authors experienced 52 patients with myasthenia gravis who were diagnosed at the Department of Neurology, Yeungnam University Hospital from August 1985 to January 1996. The following results were obtained through diagnostic evaluation and treatment. 1. The ratio of male to female was 1:1.7 and the most prevalent age group was second decade. 2. The most common initial presentation symptom was ocular(71.2%) and the peak incidence group was stage I (69.3%) according to the modified Osserman's classification. 3. In 16 patients(30.8%), it took more than a year to diagnose due to symptoms which were relapsed and remitting. 4. Of 52 patients, 2 cases were associated with thyroid disease(3.8%) and 2 with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus(3.8%). 5. All of those who received anticholinesterase and corticosteroid therapy were improved with the exception of 5 cases which were improved after thymectomy and/or plasmapheresis.
Classification ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Myasthenia Gravis* ; Neurology ; Plasmapheresis ; Thymectomy ; Thyroid Gland

PURPOSE: To determine the degree of control-grade of exotropia and related clinical factors in patients diagnosed with intermittent exotropia. METHODS: One hundred seventy-six patients with a diagnosis of intermittent exotropia were evaluated for control of their deviation. The relationship to age at onset and diagnosis, time interval between the onset and diagnosis, refractive error, visual acuity, near stereopsis, angle of deviation, type of exotropia, accompanied hypertropia, oblique overaction and AV pattern were investigated. RESULTS: Mean control grade is 2.76+/-1.56 point and 114 (65%) were within range of grades from excellent to fair. Poor control of exotropia was significantly correlated with poor near stereopsis (p=0.000), long time interval (p=0.033), binocular amblyopia (p=0.000), large angle of exodeviation (p=0.028), convergence insufficiency type (p=0.017), accompanied hypertropia (p=0.008), AV pattern (p=0.003), and oblique overaction (p=0.000). Among these factors, the influences of stereopsis, hypertropia, oblique overaction, convergence insufficiency type were statistically significant when multiple linear regression analysis was performed (p=0.000, 0.026, 0.044, 0.011 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The factors of near stereopsis, accompanied hypertropia, oblique overaction and convergence insufficiency type correlated significantly with control of exotropia which may interfere with fusion and contribute to the prognosis of intermittent exotropia.
Amblyopia ; Depth Perception ; Diagnosis ; Exotropia* ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Ocular Motility Disorders ; Prognosis ; Refractive Errors ; Strabismus ; Telescopes ; Visual Acuity

Surgical resection of esophageal cance has played a prominent role in both cure and palliation. The radiologic evaluation of postesophagectomy patients is directed at the detection of normal and pathological appearances after surgical resection. Since early detection of recurrent tumor is important in the management of patients who have undergone esophagectomy, we undertook a retrospective study to evaluate the findings of recurrence on CT in postesophagectomy patients. Between January 1988 and July 1991, 26 patients who had undergone transthoracic esophagectomy with esophagogastrostomy for epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus with following reoccurance were examined by chest CT. The group included 25 male and one female patients were aged 45-71 years(mean, 53). All patients had studies done immediate post operative 7-10 days. The CT were performed with a CT 9800 scanner (GE Medical System, Milwaukee) after administration of oral contrast media and intravenous injection of contrast media. The findings seen on CT were cnfirmed by biopsy in five cases and by clinical, radiological follow-up manifestation in 21 cases. The abnormalities that were demonstrated on follow-up CT were adenopathy-mediastinal node(ten cases) or abdominal node(five cases), local recurrence-previous tumor site (five case), anastomotic siteI(two cases) or thoracases), peicardial effusion(two cases). Our results indicate that serial chest CT play an important role in the evaluation of the patients after transthoracic esophagectomy with esophagogastrotomy.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Contrast Media ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Esophagectomy* ; Esophagus ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is an incurable disease with high mortality. Although most studies recommend anticoagulation treatment for IPAH, the benefits are uncertain, particularly in Korea, where it has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate survival outcomes of Korean patients with IPAH treated with warfarin. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed previously with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) at the Asan Medical Center in Korea, between January 1994 and February 2013. We excluded patients with associated PAH, patients who did not undergo right heart catheterization (RHC), and patients with a positive vasoreactivity test. Patients in the study cohort were classified into a "warfarin group" and a "non-warfarin group," according to the treatment they received during the first year after diagnosis. RESULTS: We identified 31 patients with IPAH and a negative vasoreactivity test on RHC. Median patient age was 36.0 years, and 23 patients (74.2%) were female. The median time from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 19.0 months, and the most common presenting symptom was dyspnea. Survival rates of the patients at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years were 90.2%, 79.5%, 62.7%, and 34.8%, respectively. The mean survival period was 12.0 years in the warfarin group and 6.1 years in the non-warfarin group. Warfarin treatment had significant survival benefits in patients with IPAH (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Warfarin treatment substantially improved survival outcomes in Korean cases of IPAH.
Adult ; Anticoagulants/*therapeutic use ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension/diagnosis/*drug therapy/ethnology/mortality ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Protective Factors ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Warfarin/*therapeutic use

Osteogenic sarcoma is a malignant primary tumor of bone composed of a malignant connective tissue stroma with evidence of malignant osteoid, bone and/or cartilage formation. A 23 year old man was admitted to dental department of Yeungnam University hospital with chief complaint of swelling and pain on alveolar ridge of lower right molar region. It was certain of osteogenic sarcoma through clinical and radiographic features and biopsy. Surgical resection of the lesion was performed by partial mandibulectomy and resin plate insertion. By follow up check of the patient, we made good result of functional reconstruction without any sign of recurrence of the lesion.
Alveolar Process ; Biopsy ; Cartilage ; Connective Tissue ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mandible* ; Molar ; Osteosarcoma* ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: Careful manipulation of hair grafts is essential for a good yield of transplanted hair. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate some of the factors responsible for poor graft yield, such as dehydration of the graft and the temperature and duration of preservation. METHODS: First, for the dehydration study, isolated single hair follicles were left on dry gauze for 0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 minutes at room temperature. Secondly, to evaluate the effect of preservation temperature and time on the hair graft, follicles were preserved in saline for 5 minutes as a control, then for 6, 24, and 48 hours both at room temperature and at 4℃, respectively. Viability of preserved follicles was judged based on organ culture. RESULTS: Elongation of hair folliciles was seen in 96%, 94%, 94%, 83%, and 68% for 0-, 5-, 10-, 20-, and 30-minute air-exposed groups, respectively. Survival was seen in 95%, 92%, 40% and 34% at room temperature and 96%, 94%, 76% and 50% at 4℃ for follicles preserved in saline for 5 min (control), then for 6, 24, and 48 hours, respectively. CONCLUSION: We suggest that, alone with careful manipulation of hair units, high survival can be achieved with the avoidance of graft dehydration and preservation of the grafts at low temperatures if the operation time extends for more than 6 hours.
Dehydration* ; Hair Follicle ; Hair* ; Organ Culture Techniques ; Transplants*

BACKGROUND: Systemic corticosteroid is one of the most common drugs used in dermatology departments. However, physicians are well aware that there are quite a number of side effects from systemic corticosteroid. One of them, avascular necrosis of femoral head, has been frequently documented in association with systemic corticosteroid. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of hip x-rays to ascertain the presence of avascular necrosis of the femoral head in patients who have used or are using systemic corticosteroid for a long period of time. METHODS: A total of 151 patients who were using systemic corticosteroid and who underwent hip x-ray at our university hospital from December 2004 to July 2007 were enrolled in this study. We reviewed the patients' charts to determine the existence of abnormal results on hip and chest x-rays and also other side effects of corticosteroid, and we wanted to calculate the dosage of corticosteroid that had been used by these patients. RESULTS: Out of the 151 patients who underwent hip x-ray, 5 patients had avascular necrosis of the femoral head, but only 3 patients' cases (2%) were involved with corticosteroid. Three patients showed old tuberculosis findings when they underwent chest x-ray. Among the other side effects of corticosteroid, weight gain side effect was the most common and 14 patients experienced this. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that those patients who use systemic corticosteroids for a long period of time for the treatment of chronic dermatologic disease are advised to undergo regular hip x-rays to screen for avascular necrosis of the femoral head.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Dermatology ; Head ; Hip ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis ; Weight Gain

BACKGROUND: Recently, the trend pursuing slimness is significantly increasing in adolescents. Because of distorted body image, excessive body weight control can cause problems of health. The goal of this study is to investigate the factors of distorted body image and its problems. METHODS: The survey was performed in a high school of Jindo island on May, 2000. All of 258 students in 1st and 2nd grade participated in this study by questionnaires. Thirteen truthless questionnaires were excluded in this study. Therefore 245 student were selected. RESULTS: Only 20% of 245 repliers were satisfied with their body figure. In male, 24.1% wanted weight loss, and 39.8% wanted weight gain. In female, 73% wanted weight loss. In a populations(BMI<20), 70 males wanted weight loss, whereas 35(52.2%) among 67 females want weight loss. According to these result, female stuedents wanted strongly weight loss than male. The factors which most influenced body figure were sports star in males(36.1%), and movie stars in female.(43.8%) A group of 58.4% of repliers has experienced body weight control. A group of 37% in male and 39.6% in female suffered from side effects. 77% of total hoped to be educated about adequate body weight control method. CONCLUSION: Almost of adolescents dissatisfied with their body figure, Many adolescent who is not obese attempt weight loss, and are sufferd from side effects. Therefore, it is required for effective education about body weight control and social attitude permitting adequate body image.
Adolescent ; Body Image* ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Education ; Female ; Hope ; Humans ; Male ; Sports ; Weight Gain ; Weight Loss ; Surveys and Questionnaires