PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and safety of ultrasound guided automated gun biopsy with fine needle aspiration biopsy of focal liver lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed 32 automated gun(19.5G Autovac Biopsy Needle) biopsies and 27 fine needle aspiration(22G Westcott Style Biopsy Needle) biopsies in 48 patients with malignant focal liver lesion under the guidance of ultrasound. We compared the "positive for malignancy rate" and "pathologic diagnosis rate" of both methods with final diagnosis, and the rate of complications. RESULTS: The "positive for maiignancy rate" of automated gun biopsy and needle aspiration are 84.4%(27/32) and 66.7%(18/27) respectively(p=0.11). The "pathologic diagnosis rate" are 84.4%(27/32) and 55.6%(15/27) with significant statistical difference(p<0.05). And there is no difference of the rates of significant complications. CONCLUSION: When compared with the fine needle aspiration biopsy, ultrasound-guided automated gun biopsy is safe and more effective method for malignant focal liver lesion.
Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver* ; Needles ; Ultrasonography*

No abstract available.
Aneurysm*

Masson's hemangioma is a rare benign vascualr condition with a papillary intravascular endothelial proliferation which may appear either as aprimary form or as a secondary form in a pre-existing vascular process.CT and angiographic features of 2 cases with Masson's hemangioma were presented. Both of them were locatedextra-axially in the posterior fossa. CT findings were not specific in both cases: One showed homogeneously enhancing mass, simulating meningioma. And the other demonstrated a multiolocular rim enhancing mass. However, the angiographic features were rather characteristic; Both cases showed persistent vascular poolings of contrast mediawhich were supplied form the meningeal vessels. Angiographic differential diagnosis of similar lesions in theposterior fossa is discussed.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Hemangioma ; Meningioma

57 cases of portal vein thrombosis detected by ultrasonography were analized. The results were as follows: 1.Most common cause was hepatocellular carcinoma, showing 49 out of 57 cases(86%). 2. Sonographic findings revealedechogenic thrombus in the dilated portal vein. Echogenecity of thrombus was similar to the surrounding liverparenchyma, Thrombus was mainly located in the intrahepatic branch and main portal vein. 3. The location ofthrombus in hepatocellular carcinoma was related to the location of tumor, and frequently extended to the mainportal vein(68.9%). Incidence of thrombosis in hepatocellular carcinoma revealed 49 out of 157 cases, butprospective study showed 42 out of 84 cases(50%). Thrombosis was more common in large sized ill-defined diffuseinfiltrative hepatocellular carcinoma. 4. CT(only 15 cases analyzed) findings revealed low density in the portalvein in all the cases and periportal enhancement in 10 cases on post-enhanced scan. 5. Collateral circulationswere largely detected at the porta hepatis and gallblader fossa. The detection rate was lower on theultrasonography than on the CT or angiography.
Angiography ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Incidence ; Portal Vein ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography ; Venous Thrombosis

To differentiate amebic and pyogenic liver abscesses, sonography(US) and CT findings of 21 amebic and 22 pyogenic liver abscesses were reviewed retrospectively. US was performed in all cases and CT in 15 cases of each group. Eleven cases of amebic abscesses had well defined margin which was observed in 10 cases of pyogenic abscessed. Amebic abscesses showed hyperechoic wall in 7 cases and calcification in 4 cases. Ten cases of pyogenic abscesses had mearby intrahepatic duct dilatation which was observed in 2 cases of amebic abscesses. Pneumobilia was seen in 6 cases of pyogenic abscesses. US findings of clear margin and hyperechoic wall, and CT findings of intrahepatic duct dilatation, pneumobilia, and calcification were helpful in differentation of amebic pyogenic liver abscesses.
Abscess ; Amebiasis ; Dilatation ; Liver Abscess, Pyogenic* ; Retrospective Studies

Hemangiopericytoma of the kidney is extremely rare, which is very much resembled a renal cell carcinoma. It tends to grow slowly but occasionally had demonstrated rapid infiltration and distant metastasis. The incidence and degree of its malignancy appears to be low. Herein we report a case of hemangiopericytoma which was developed from left kidney in 42 old man and treated with radical nephrectomy.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Hemangiopericytoma* ; Incidence ; Kidney ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nephrectomy

Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) with 2.0 Tesla superconductive magnet developed by Korea Advanced Institute ofScience was performed in 25 patients with various abdominal diseases and compared with x-ray CT. MRI was obtainedwith spin echo technique using a variety of pulse sequence and various slice orientation including axial, sgittaland coronal section in order to evaluate the diagnostic value, limitation and to determine the optimal pulsesequency in various abdominal diseases. MRI demonstrated the capability of detecting the lesions shown on CT inall cases and also detected one case of diffuse hepatocellular carcinoma which was not seen on CT. MRI showedcapability of differentiation of various liver mass including hepatocellular carcinoma, hemangnioma and simplecyst. MRI showed better anatomical resolution of tumor in retroperitoneum and pelvis, however CT delineatedalimentary tract disease better than MRI did.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pelvis

PURPOSE: To estimate the viral suppressive effect of entecavir monotherapy in Korean children and adolescents with lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B (CHB). METHODS: One milligram of entecavir was administered once daily to 6 patients (4 boys; mean age, 17.5 years; range, 15.10~24.6 years) with lamivudine-resistant CHB for a mean duration of therapy of 13.4 months (range, 1~21.1 months). The therapeutic results were compared with 11 patients who received adefovir (0.3 mg/kg/day [maximal dose 10 mg]) for at least 12 months (mean, 33.4 months; range, 12.4~58.3 months). The serum HBV DNA level and serologic markers were measured every 2 months. RESULTS: The interval to a HBV DNA titer decrement (>1 log(10)) was 1.2+/-0.2 and 4.4+/-5.2 months (p=0.185) for the entecavir and adefovir groups, respectively. The interval to a HBV DNA titer decrement (>2 log(10)) was 2.4+/-2.3 and 9.2+/-7.3 months (p=0.025), for the entecavir and adefovir groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: The therapeutic efficacy of entecavir was favorable in children and adolescents, especially in shortening the interval to a >2 log(10) decrement in the HBV DNA titer. Long-term follow up is needed to determine the therapeutic efficacy of entecavir for lamivudine-resistant CHB in children and adolescents.
Adenine ; Adolescent ; Child ; DNA ; Follow-Up Studies ; Guanine ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; Organophosphonates

Many surgical procedures have been introduced for treatment of axillary osmidrosis, but some complications, such as symptom recurrence, hematoma, seroma, delayed wound healing, skin flap necrosis and scarring, are not solved yet. Recently introduced liposuction method has several advantages over previous surgical methods, such as increased skin flap vascularity, minimal scarring and bleeding, etc, but the sympton recurrence rate has been reported 10-30%. Liposuction method could remove apocrine glands in subcutaneous tissue effectively, but the glands firmly seated in subdermis remain as the cause of sympton recurrence. For this reason, we employed combination treatment of liposuction and endoscopic subdermal shaving method. From March 1997 to February 2001, a total 71 patients (24 men and 47 women) had been treated with this procedure for bilateral axillary osmidrosis. In our procedure, apocrine glands in subcutaneous tissue were removed by liposuction method and the glands in subdermis were removed by using 4.5 mm incisor blade of endoscopic shaver. Follow-up evaluation period was from 3months to 24 months, and the results were satisfactory. No one suffered from sympton recurrence. Postoperative scar was negligible (below 0.5 cm) and other complications were minimal.
Apocrine Glands ; Cicatrix ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incisor ; Lipectomy* ; Male ; Necrosis ; Recurrence ; Seroma ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Wound Healing

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to establish the characteristics of children with hepatitis B e antigens (HBeAg) positive chronic hepatitis B who were cleared of hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAg) as a result of lamivudine treatment. METHODS: Seventy-six children with chronic hepatitis B who were seropositive for HBeAg were treated with lamivudine for at least 6 months. HBeAg seroconversion occurred during treatment in 49 of these children, who were then followed up to assess their clearance of serum HBsAg. Various clinical variables were compared between those patients who were cleared of HBsAg and those who were not, including age, pretreatment serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, treatment duration, the time elapsed between initiation of treatment and ALT normalization, HBV DNA negativization, HBeAg seroconversion, and HBsAg clearance. RESULTS: HBsAg disappeared in 13 of the 49 (26.5%) patients who experienced lamivudine-induced HBeAg seroconversion; HBsAg did not reappear during follow-up period (1-86 months). The time that elapsed between initiation of lamivudine treatment and total HBsAg clearance was 25.9+/-27.1 months (mean+/-SD; range: 5-104 months). The age at which treatment was initiated was the only factor associated with HBsAg clearance. Children who were cleared of HBsAg were significantly younger than those who were not (5.1+/-4.3 years vs. 7.9+/-4.9 years, respectively; P=0.006). All 13 of these patients eventually produced antibodies to HBsAg. CONCLUSIONS: Younger children (age <7 years old) have a higher chance of HBsAg clearance than older children after the treatment of HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B with lamivudine.
Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/*blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens/blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/*drug therapy ; Humans ; Lamivudine/*therapeutic use ; Male ; Retrospective Studies