BACKGROUND: Becker's mealanosis is not an uncommon entity, and many cases are probably not reported because the diagnosis is usually made clinically and the condition is benign with cosmetic significance only. the etiology remains obscure. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to establish the clinicopathologic characteristics of Becker's melanosis in Korean. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with Becker's melanosis were retrospectively studied. RESULTS: The clinical and histopathologic findings observed in our cases were similar to previous reports except for the following. Nine patients(25%) had abnormal findings in their hair follicles : dilatation of the infundibular portion filled with abnormal keratin, Pityrosporum orbiculare and bacteria(19.4%); formation of intrafollicular cyst(5.6%). Three patients(8.3%) had granulomatous infiltration. Twenty-two patients(61.1%) had increased smooth muscle bundles. CONCLUSION: The findings associated with dermal hair follicles may be related to the pathogenesis of Becker's melanosis.
Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Malassezia ; Melanosis* ; Muscle, Smooth ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.

Percutaneous cannulatien has become an accepted technique for monitoring central venous pressure and pulmonary wedge pressure via a Swan Gans catheter. The technique is not without hazard. Complications include thrombophlebitis, infection and hydrothorax. These are case reports demonstrating the complications of hydrothorax and broken catehters from central venous catheterization.
Catheterization, Central Venous* ; Catheters* ; Central Venous Catheters* ; Central Venous Pressure ; Hydrothorax* ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure ; Thrombophlebitis

Many patients whose chief complaint is headache caused by accident such as traffic accident, falling, or assaults visit to emergency center. Majority of these patients has mild or moderate symptoms, and there is no need to treat surgically. However, the fact that head injury can cause SIADH(syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone) is likely to be overseen. Acute hyponatremia might have been associated with death or permanent brain damage. Hyponatremia is best handled by early recognition and correction of a downward trend in the serum sodium. Unfortunately, this is often difficult in the head-injured patient, where hyponatremia may occur fairly rapidly and is confused by symptoms of head injury. when moderate to severe hyponatremia occurs, it is important to determine its etiology and expeditiously initiate corrective action. There has not been any reported case of the occurrence of symptomatic SIADH after mild head injury in Korea yet. The authors report the experience of three cases of symptomatic SIADH after mild head injury with review of the literatures.
Accidents, Traffic ; Brain ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Emergencies ; Head* ; Headache ; Humans ; Hyponatremia* ; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome ; Korea ; Sodium

This is a ease report of intraluminal partial obatructian of an endotracheal tube after cuff ballooing, a complication of a malfunctioned endotracheal tube, This 18 year old female patient with herniated intervertebral disc of L4-5 was anesthetized for archotomy and removal of disc. Aneethesia was maintained with N2O-O2-halothanepancuronium after endotracheal intubation with a Murphy tube. (Porges-Latex-tube No. 7), manufactured in France. A few minutes later, airway obstruction signs such as sudden hypertension, tachycardia, resistance of the researvoir bag in inspiration, and delayed filling time of the reservoir bag in expiration appeared. We suspected kinking of the tube, tubal obstruction from secretions, bronchospasm etc, but we could not find the exact cause of airway obstruction in spite of detailed checking. After recovery of the patient from anesthesia we checked the extubated tube. There was intraluminal partial obstruction of the endotracheal tube according to increase of intracuff volume and pressure because of the thin walled, flexible tube and diffusion of N2O into the cuff. After extubation the patient returned to normal. We surmmerized this case and also reviewed with the literature.
Airway Obstruction ; Anesthesia ; Bronchial Spasm ; Diffusion ; Fallopian Tube Diseases ; Female ; France ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intervertebral Disc ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Tachycardia

Eccrine angiomatous hamartoma, eccrine-pilar angiomatous hamartoma and sudoriparous angioma represent the same disease entity, a hamartoma showing hyperplasia of the eccrine sweat apparatus and of vascular elements in the same lesion histologically. We present a case of eccrine angiomatous hamartoma on the medial side of the right thigh in a 3-year-old male patient and review 16 cases reported in Korea.
Child, Preschool ; Hamartoma* ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Korea ; Male ; Sweat ; Thigh

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ultrasonomammographic findings of breast fibroadenoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS:We evaluated the ultrasonographic findings of histopathologically proved 135 fibroadenomas in 103 patients from January 1986 to September 1990, retrospectively. The ultrasonographic examinations were performed with a hand held linear array 5MHz transducer(Acuson 128(USA). Aloka 650, 280(Japan)). A sonopad was also used during the examinations. RESULTS: The common ultrasonographic findings of fibroadenomas usually showed smooth contour in 120 lesions(88.9% ), oval or round shape in 114 lesions(84.4%), uniform homogeneous echogenecity in 106 lesions(78.5% ), intermediate hypoechoic internal echo pattern in 105 lesions(77.8%), thin boundary echo in 117 lesions(86.7%), lateral shadowings in 97 lesions(72%), and posterior acoustic enhancement in 56 lesions(41%). The longitudinal/transverse ratio of fibroadenoma was revealed between 0.2 and 1.14 (mean 0.58) and usually under 1.0 (68.9%). CONCLUSION: Finally, most of fibroadenomas are easily diagnosed by ultrasonography but if differential diagnosis from malignant breast mass is difficult due to atypical appearance, other combined modalities such as filmmammography, fine needle aspiration biopsy and MRI are necessary.
Acoustics ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Breast* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fibroadenoma* ; Hand ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Shadowing (Histology) ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: To evaluate the characteristic CT findings of neuroblastoma, we studied neurobalstomas. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We analysed CT findings of available 25 cases among pathologically proved 51 neurobalstomas from Jan. 1983 to Sept. 1990. RESULTS: The most frequent site of origin is adrenl gland (40%) and the second is retroperitoneum (32%) and the third ismediastinum (16%). Characteristic CT findings are as follows:Calcifications within the tumor is detected in 86% of abdominal neuroblastomas and 50% of mediastinal origin. Hemorrhagic and necrotic changes within the tumor is noted at 86% in the tumor of abdominal origin and 25% in mediastinal neuroblastomas. Contrast enhanced study showed frequently septated enhanced appearance with/without solid contrast enhancement. Encasements of major great vessels such as aorta and IVC with/without displacement by metastatic lymphnodes or tumor are frequently seen in 90% of abdominal neuroblastomas. Multiple lymphadenopathy are detected in 95% of abdominal neurobalstomas and 25% of mediastinal neuroblastomas. The most common organ of contiguous direct invasion is kidney in 6 cases and the next one is liver but intraspinal canal invasion is also noted in 2 cases. CONCLUSION: We concluded that diagnosis of neuroblastoma would be easily obtained in masses of pediatric group from recognition of above characteristic findings.
Aorta ; Diagnosis ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Neuroblastoma*

A 26-year-old Korean man had an erythematous scaly plaque on his right thigh for fifteen years. He was diagnosed with chronic eczema and treated with topical steroid, but no clinical improvement was obtained for 15 years. Laboratory studies including complete blood cell count, urinalysis, liver and renal function test, and peripheral blood smear were normal. A biopsy specimen showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, and mononuclear cellular infiltration in the epidermis. These cells had a perinuclear halo and showed a Pautrier's microabscess like configuration. In the dermis, there was a band like infiltration of inflammatory cells. Infiltrates of the epidermis were negative for leukocyte common antigen(CD45) and positive for Pan T cell(CD45RO). He was treated with topical PUVA twice a week for twelve weeks. Clinical and pathological improvements were obtained. We propose PUVA may be a useful therapeutic modality to treat Woringer Kolopp disease.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Blood Cell Count ; Dermis ; Eczema ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Liver ; Pagetoid Reticulosis* ; Thigh ; Urinalysis

We report the clinical evolution of two male patients with generalized granulama annulare(GGA) who were controlled with hydroxychloroquine. In the first case, a 3-year-old boy was treated with systemic steroid, and in the second case, a 68-year-old man was treated with prednisolone, niacin, and retinoic acid. But, remission and recurrence of the skin lesions were repeated. A good clinieal response was achieved in both cases after administration of hydroxychloroquine without side effects or any signs of recurrence. Hydroxychloroquine may be helpful to treat the GGA that have side effects to the systemic corticosteroid or resistence to other therapeutic modalities.
Aged ; Child, Preschool ; Granuloma Annulare* ; Granuloma* ; Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine* ; Male ; Niacin ; Prednisolone ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Tretinoin