Two cases of epidermal nevi treated with systemic etretinate are presented. Case 1, a 21-year-old female, had been suffered from brownish verrucous papules and plaques on the left inguinal area, thigh, lower leg and dorsum of the foot since her first month of life; and case 2, a 4-year-old boy, had been suffered from brownish verrucous papular plaques on the left chest, axilla and back since birth. In both cases, there was no family history of similar disease. On histopathological examination, case 1 showed the findings of epidermolytic. hyperkeratosis but case 2 did not, with the exception of clumping of keratohyaline granules. In the treatment with systemic etretinate, we observed marked clinical improvement in case 1, but not in case 2. Any particular side effects of etretinate were not observed during treatment. We consider that etretinate therapy is useful in treating epidermal nevus with epidermolytic hyperkeratosis histopathologically.
Acitretin* ; Axilla ; Child, Preschool ; Etretinate* ; Female ; Foot ; Humans ; Hyperkeratosis, Epidermolytic ; Leg ; Male ; Nevus* ; Parturition ; Thigh ; Thorax ; Young Adult

A 73-year-old female patient, who had been treated with antituberculous drugs for 4 months, was referred to our department because of generalized macules and papules present for 15 days. Clinical examination revealed polygonal, flat papules of erythematous to violaceous hue on the entire skin. Histopathologic findings were similar to those of lichen planus. In a provocation test with ethambutol, the skin lesions were aggravated and the new lesions developed. We considered this case to be a lichenoid drug eruption due to ethambutol. The skin lesions gradually cleared after ethambutol was eliminated from the patient's tuberculosis therapy.
Aged ; Drug Eruptions* ; Ethambutol* ; Female ; Humans ; Lichen Planus ; Skin ; Tuberculosis

No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Contact*

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the changing pattern of liver abscess treatment, we did a retrospective analysis of 80 patients with liver abscess, treated surgically and medically at the Department of Surgery and Internal Medicine, Wonkwang University Hospital from January 1985 to December, 1995. RESULTS: Among 80cases of liver abscess, 59 cases(76%) were pyogenic abscess and 21 cases(24%) were amebic abscess. The liver abscess was more commonly located in the right lobe. In the 59cases of pyogenic liver abscess, etiologic factors were biliary stones with cholangitis(19 cases), cholecystitis(6 cases), hepatobiliary cancer(4 cases), diabetes mellitus(3 cases). All 21 cases of amebic abscess were treated with percutaneous catheter drainage and metronidazole administration; 20 cases were treated successfully and 1 case died of sepsis. Among the 59 cases of pyogenic liver abscess, 38 cases were treated with percutaneous catheter drainage; 30 cases were successful, but 8 cases were not. Operations were performed in 21 cases because of underlying intraabdominal conditions requiring surgical correction( 19cases) and panperitonitis due to rupture of liver abscess(2cases). CONCLUSION: In the treatment of amebic abscss, percutaneous catheter drainage and metanidazole adminstration should be considered first. Percutaneous catheter drainage and antibiotic treatment tend to increase more than surgical treatment in the pyogenic liver abscess therapy. The liver abscess is no more surgical indication, unless it is associated with underlying intraabdominal conditions requiring surgical correction and panperitonitis due to rupture of liver abscess.
Abscess ; Amebiasis ; Catheters ; Drainage ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Liver Abscess* ; Liver Abscess, Amebic ; Liver Abscess, Pyogenic ; Liver* ; Metronidazole ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Sepsis

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis results from bone loss due to menopause [estrogen(E) deficiency] and aging. Initial skeletal effect of menopause is accelerated bone resorption with an increase in seurm calcium(Ca) and compensatory but inadequate bone formation. Secretion of parathyroid hormone(PTH) is suppressed at this time. Postmenopausal osteoporosis results in fractures predominantly of trabecular bone, i.e., vertebra. With aging, secondary hyperparathyroidism by low serum Ca and vitamin D deficiency superim poses. Senile osteoporosis produces hip fractures, area of cortical bone. The aim of this study was to- examine the association of vitamin D[25(OH)D] and intact(i) PTH with bone mineral density(BMD) after controlling for suggested confounding factors, and the possibility of low serum vitamin D and high serum iPTH concentration could impact bone loss in Korean postmenopausal women. METHODS: Data from 188 postmenopausal Korean women aged 42 to 69 were analyzed through BMD, serum 25(OH)D, iPTH, Ca, phosphorus(P), alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and clinical characteristics. Factors affecting BMD was determined by Pearson correlation and the relationship between lumbar and femoral neck BMD and vitamin D[25(OH)D] and iPTH was assessed by multiple regression analysis after adjus- ting for suggested confounding factors. RESULTS: Lumbar and femoral neck BMD, serum Ca, P were decresaed and serum iPTH was increased with aging. In Pearson`s correlation, significant contributing factors to lumbar BMD was age, height, weight, menarche, year since menopause(YSM) and ALP. And significant contributing factors to femoral neck BMD was age, height, weight, menarche, YSM and iPTH. No relationship could be demonstrated between serum vitamin D[25(OH)D] and lumbar and femoral neck BMD. How ever, after controlling for potential confounding factors, a correlation was found between vitamin D[25(OH)D] and both of lumbar (p=0.013) and femoral neck BMD(p=0.077). iPTH was inversely related to femoral neck BMD(p=0.004) only in multiple linear regression. CONCLUSION: Serum vitamin D[25(OH)D] was influencing both of vertebral and femoral neck BMD, which suggests a significant role of vitamin D deficiency in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteo- porosis. In age related remodeling and loss of bone, increased serum iPTH might have additive role in cortical bone of femur. These findings suggest that vitamin D is very important for optimal bone health and a deleterious effect of increased iPTH on cortical bone loss. Adequate calcium and vitamin D status have to be maintained to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal Korean women.
Aging ; Bone Density* ; Bone Resorption ; Calcium ; Female ; Femur ; Femur Neck ; Hip Fractures ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary ; Linear Models ; Menarche ; Menopause ; Osteogenesis ; Osteoporosis ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; Parathyroid Hormone* ; Spine ; Tolnaftate ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

The dendriform pulmonary ossification (DPO) is a rare condition of unknown origin in which branching mature bony spicules, usually containing marrow, are found within the alveolar septa. DPO manifests slow progression over many years or may remain unchanged; spontaneous regression has not been recorded. Most patients have no symptoms directly attributed to the ossification, although they may have symptoms due to the underlying fibrotic process. We experienced a case of DPO in 38 year-old-man who presented with cough and sputum for a month. The chest X-ray showed marked coarsened interstitial lung markings in both lungs, especially in the lower lobes. Open lung biopsy was done. Grossly, there were significant dendriform osseous structures. Histologically, branching arrays of mature bone were found in the interstitium and occasionally in alveolar spaces. Some bony trabeculae contained fatty or cellular marrow. The alveolar septa showed fibrous thickening with chronic inflammation. The transition between fibrosis and bone tissue was observed. Our case suggests that dendriform pulmonary ossification may be a rare special manifestation of chronic fibrosing interstitial inflammation of the lung. Osseous structures seem to derive from metaplastic bone formation in the vicinity of undergoing fibrous process.
Biopsy ; Bone and Bones ; Bone Marrow ; Cough ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Osteogenesis ; Sputum ; Thorax

No abstract available.
Clone Cells* ; Cloning, Organism* ; Thymidine*

Myofibrosarcoma of the breast is a rare malignant mesenchymal tumor that has been reported in only four well documented cases so far. We report a case of myofibrosarcoma of the breast in an 88-year-old man who complained of a palpable mass for 1 year. Microscopically, the tumor consisted mainly of spindled cells, arranged in irregular fascicles and embedded in broad bands of dense hyalinized collagen. It showed ill-defined border infiltrating the adjacent adipose tissue, moderate cellular pleomorphism, and high mitotic rate (8~9/10 HPF). Immunohistochemical study confirmed myofibroblastic differentiation of the tumor cells with diffuse strong reaction for vimentin, smooth muscle actin, and fibronectin.
Actins ; Adipose Tissue ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breast* ; Collagen ; Fibronectins ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myofibroblasts ; Vimentin

Interventional procedures around the cervical spine have been classically performed under the guidance of fluoroscopy with radiation hazards to patients and doctors. Even though under fluoroscopic guidance, vascular and nerve structures cannot be shown and there are actual risks for the patient. Nowadays, we can use high resolution image ultrasound around cervical spine procedures. Real time imaging is possible. Cervical root block, medial branch block and many other interventions can be performed under ultrasound guidance. In out-patient clinics, ultrasound is very helpful in management of cervical problems in differentiating the origin of pain and treatment for the pain. Ultrasound is radiation free, easy to use and the imaging can be performed continuously while the injectant is visualized in real-time, increasing the precision of injection. Importantly, ultrasound enables visualization of major nerves and vessels and thus leads to improved safety of cervical interventions by decreasing the incidence of injury or injection into nearby vasculature. We therefore performed a review to investigate the feasibility of performing cervical interventions under real-time ultrasound guidance.
Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Outpatients ; Spine* ; Ultrasonography

The management of subtrochanteric fracture of the femur is one of the most difficult problems. Subtrochanteric area is predominantly composed of cortical bone and highly concentrating portion of stress. So, there is high incidence of Complication after treatment of subtrochanteric fractures. The results were as follows :l. Of 56 cases, 45 occurred in male, 11 in female. 2. The fractures occured mainly between 20 to 40 years of age(55.4%) and mean age was 41.4 years. 3. The most common cause of fracture was traffic accident.(67.9%) 4. According to the Seinsheimer classification, 16 cases were type IIb(most common), 13 type IIIa and 9 type IIIb. 5. 49 cases with treated wutg open reduction and internal fixation and 7 cases conservatively. 6. The average weight bearing time was 14.0 weeks; 13 weeks in operatively treated group and 18.3 week in conservative group. 7. Radiological union was obtained in average 25.1 weeks ; shortest group was type IIc(16 weeks) and longest group was type IV(30 weeks). 8. Complication were as follows; 8 cases of delayed union, 3 nonunion, 4 metallic failures, 7 varus deformities and 1 nail migration. 9. In the cases treated by Judet plate or compression hip screw, there was no complications and relatively short duration of bony union than other implants. So, they are one of the good implant for the treatment of subtrochanteric fracture of the femur.
Classification ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Femur ; Hip ; Hip Fractures ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Weight-Bearing