The objective of this study was to report on a new surgical technique, hybrid laparoscopic myomectomy that integrates the advantages of transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery and those of isobaric laparoscopy, and the initial experience with 14 cases. All of the procedures were performed by a single surgeon who has over 18 years of experience in laparoscopic surgery and 4 years of experience in laparoendoscopic single-site surgery. All cases of hybrid laparoscopic myomectomy were completed safely and effectively without conversion to conventional laparoscopic procedure. The median operative time was 75 minutes (range, 30 to 100 minutes). No postoperative complication was observed. The findings show that hybrid laparoscopic myomectomy is a safe and feasible surgical technique, and therefore can be a feasible, minimally invasive alternative to either abdominal or laparoendoscopic single-site surgery myomectomy.
Laparoscopy ; Leiomyoma ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications

OBJECTIVE: To preliminarily evaluate technical feasibility of a dual-echo ultrashort echo time (UTE) subtraction MR imaging by using concurrent dephasing and excitation (CODE) sequence for visualization of iron-oxide enhancement in focal inflammatory pulmonary lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A UTE pulmonary MR imaging before and after the injection of clinically usable superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles, ferumoxytol, was conducted using CODE sequence with dual echo times of 0.14 ms for the first echo and 4.15 ms for the second echo on 3T scanner in two rabbits concurrently having granulomatous lung disease and lung cancer in separate lobes. A mean ratio of standardized signal intensity (SI) was calculated for comparison of granulomatous lesion and cancer at first echo, second echo, and subtracted images. Lesions were pathologically evaluated with Prussian blue and immunohistochemistry staining. RESULTS: Post-contrast subtracted CODE images visualized exclusive enhancement of iron oxide in granulomatous disease, but not in the cancer (mean ratio of SI, 2.15 ± 0.68 for granulomatous lesion versus 1.00 ± 0.07 for cancer; p value = 0.002). Prussian blue and corresponding anti-rabbit macrophage IgG-staining suggested an intracellular uptake of iron-oxide nanoparticles in macrophages of granulomatous lesions. CONCLUSION: Dual-echo UTE subtraction MR imaging using CODE sequence depicts an exclusive positive enhancement of iron-oxide nanoparticle in rabbits in focal granulomatous inflammatory lesions.
Ferrosoferric Oxide ; Granuloma ; Immunohistochemistry ; Iron ; Lung Diseases ; Lung Neoplasms ; Macrophages ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nanoparticles ; Rabbits

Fetal adenocarcinoma is a rare adenocarcinoma subtype of pulmonary blastoma. A 48-year-old male patient is being referred to our hospital due to progressive dyspnea. A chest X-ray showed a lung mass of unknown origin that was obstructing the right main bronchus. After relieving the airway obstruction with stent insertion via bronchoscopy, a diagnosis of fetal adenocarcinoma is being confirmed through thoracoscopic biopsy. Due to the locally advanced state of the lung cancer, it seemed to be inoperable, and concurrent chemo-radiation therapy was being administered with docetaxel. The stent was removed after improvements in the airway obstruction followed by a lung mass shrinkage. Comparing to other contexts which describe fetal adenocarcinoma as lower grade malignancy with low-associated mortality, herein, we describe a case of locally-advanced fetal adenocarcinoma (T4N3M0). This is the first documented case being treated with concurrent chemoradiation therapy. The followed-up image studies represent a partial response and the patient is currently under further observations.
Adenocarcinoma ; Airway Obstruction ; Biopsy ; Bronchi ; Bronchoscopy ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Pulmonary Blastoma ; Stents ; Taxoids ; Thorax

In November 2021, 14 international travel-related severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.1.529 (omicron) variant of concern (VOC) patients were detected in South Korea. Epidemiologic investigation revealed community transmission of the omicron VOC. A total of 80 SARS-CoV-2 omicron VOC-positive patients were identified until December 10, 2021 and 66 of them reported no relation to the international travel.There may be more transmissions with this VOC in Korea than reported.