PURPOSE: A retrospective analysis for patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma who were treated with radiation was performed to assess the results of treatment and patterns of failure, and to identify the factors that might influence survival. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From March 1985 through June 1993, 53 patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma were treated with either radiation therapy alone or combination of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Kyungpook National University Hospital. Patients' ages ranged from 31 to 73 years with a median age of 54 years. There were 47 men and 6 women. Forty-two patients (79.2%) had squamous cell carcinoma, 10 patients (18.9%) had undifferentiated carcinoma and 1 patient (1.9%) had adenoid cystic carcinoma. There were 2 patients with stage I 12 patients with stage II, 12 patients with stage III and 27 patients with stage IV. According to the TNM classification, patients were distributed as follows: T1 7, T2 2, T3 10, T4 7, TX 1, and N0 17, N1 13, N2 21, N3 2. The primary tumor sites were tonsillar region in 36 patients (67.9%) base of the tongue in 12 patients (22.6%), and soft palate in 5 patients (9.4%). Twenty-five patients were treated with radiation therapy alone and twenty-eight patients were treated with one to three courses of chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy. Chemotherapeutic regimens used were either CF (cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil) or CVB (cisplatin, vincristine and bleomycin), Radiation therapy was delivered 180-200 cGy daily,five times a week using 6 MV X-ray with or without 8-10 MeV electron beams. A tumor dose ranged from 4500 cGy to 7740 cGy with a median dose of 7100 cGy. The follow-up time ranged from 4months to 99 months with a median of 21 months. RESULTS: Thrity-seven patients (69.8%) achieved a CR (complete response) and PR (partial response) in 16 patients (30.2%) after radiation therapy. The overall survival rates were 47% at 2 years and 42% at 3 years, respectively. The median survival time was 23 months. Overall stage (p=0.02) and response to radiation therapy (p=0.004) were significant prognostic factors for overall survival. The 2-year disease-free survival rate was 45.5%. T-stage (p=0.03), N-stage (p=0.04) and overall stage (p=0.04) were significant prognostic factors for disease-free survival. Age, sex, histology, primary site of the tumor, radiation dose, combination of chemotherapy were not significantly associated with disease-free survival. Among evaluable 32 patients with CR to radiation therapy, 12 patients were considered to have failed. Among these, 8 patientsfailed locoregionally and 4 patients failed distantly. CONCLUSION: T-stage, N-stage and overall stage were significant prognostic factors for disease-free survival in the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer. Since locoregional failure was the predominant pattern of relapse, potential methods to improve locoregional control with radiation therapy should be attempted. More controlled clinical trials should be completed before acceptance of chemotherapy as a part of treatment of oropharyngeal carcinoma.
Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Classification ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Male ; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms ; Oropharynx* ; Palate, Soft ; Radiation Oncology ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Tongue ; Vincristine

PURPOSE: Surgery is the treatment of choice for resectabel non-small cell lung cancer. For patients who are medically unable to tolerate a surgical resection or who refuse surgery, radiation therapy is an acceptable alternative. A retrospective analysis of patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer treated with curative radiation therapy was performed to determine the results of curative radiation therapy and paterns of failure, and to identify factors that may influence survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1986 through 1993, 39 patients with T2N0M0 non-small cell lung cancer were treated with curative radiation therapy at department of radiation oncology, Kyungpook national university hospital All patients were not candidates for surgical resection because of either patient refusal (16 patients), poor pulmonary function (12 patients), old age (7 patients), poor performance (2 patients) or coexisting medical disease (2 patients). Median age of patients was 67 years. Histologic cell type was squamous cell carcinoma in 1. All patients were treated with megavoltage irradiation and radiation dose raged from 5000cGy to 6150 cGy with a median dose of 600cGy. The median follow-up was 17 months with a range of 4 to 82 months. Survival was measured from the date therapy initiated. RESULTS: The overall survival rate for entire patients was 40.6% at 2 years and 27.7% at 3years, with a median survival time of 21 months he disease-free survival at 2 and 3 years was 51.7% and 25.8%, respectively. Of evaluable 20 Patients with complete response, 15 Patients were considered to have failed. Of these, 13 patients showed local failure and 2 patients failed distantly. Response to treatment (p=0.0001), tumor size (p=0.0019) and age p=0.0247) were favorably associated with overall survival. Only age was predictive for disease-free survival (p=0.0452). CONCLUSION: Radiation therapy is an effective treatment for small (less than 3 cm) tumors, and should be offered as an alternative to surgery in elderly or infirm patients. Since local failure is the prominent patterns of relapse, potential methods to improve local control with radiation therapy are discussed.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Disease-Free Survival ; Disulfiram ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Radiation Oncology ; Rage ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Pemetrexed, a multi-targeted antifolate has been used as a second line treatment against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We aimed to clarify the efficacy and survival according to line of treatment, histologic type, and expression of thymidylate synthase (TS). METHODS: Ninety-eight patients were treated with pemetrexed as a second line treatment (n=43) or as an additional course of treatment (n=55). TS expression was studied with immunohistochemistry and graded as 0 to 3 based on the extent of expression. RESULTS: The response rate (RR) in 98 subjects was 10.2% and the disease control rate (DCR=PR+SD) was 30.6%. RR and DCR were 12.7% and 32.7% in non-squamous cell carcinoma (NSQC) compared to 7.0% and 27.9% in squamous cell carcinoma (SQC) (p>.05). No significant differences in RR and DCR were observed between a second line group (4.7%, 20.9%) and a further line group (14.5%, 38.2%). A similar trend was observed in the 88 response evaluable subjects. TS was expressed in 28.6% (grade 1), 24.5% (grade 2) and 7.1% (grade 3), respectively, and it was not expressed in 39.8% of subjects. TS expression rate was significantly higher in the SQC (72.1%) compared to NSQC (50.9%, p=0.033). However, the efficacy of pemetrexed was not significantly different by the extent of TS expression. CONCLUSION: Pemetrexed showed efficacy, not only in a second-line setting, but also in further lines of treatment for NSCLC. The efficacy of pemetrexed tended to be higher in patients with NSQC compared to SQC. TS expression rate was significantly higher in SQC compared to NSQC.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Glutamates ; Guanine ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Thymidylate Synthase ; Pemetrexed

Anthracyclines have been widely used in cancer therapy because of their efficacy in the treatment of various solid tumors and hem -atologic malignancy. Cumulative dose-related cardiotoxicity was a well-known toxicity of anthracyclines. Particularly, at total doses of more than 550 mg/m2, therapy with anthracyclines could produce irreversible cardiac injury. Anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity was usually manifested by congestive heart failure or arrhythmia. In co- ntrast, acute myocardial infarction is a rare event of anthracycline-induced heart diseases. A 31-year-old man with non-Hodgkin lymphoma(NHL) and single cardiac risk factor, including smoking, was presented with chest pain after receiving 2nd CEOP-BLAM chemo-therapy. An electrocardiogram revealed ST segment elevation in inferior leads consistent with acute myocardial infarction. An echocardiogram revealed an ejection fraction of 60% and severe hypokinesia in inferior and anteroseptal wall. Three days later, coronary angiography revealed 50% of luminal stenosis of right coronary artery(RCA) and near total occlusion with large thrombi in m-RCA. After balloon angioplasty and stent insertion, the patient was transferred to coronary care unit and continuous intravenous heparin infusion was started. On the 10th days, the patient was discharged in good condition. Six months later, follow-up coronary angiography showed no significant lesion in right coronary artery. In a young man with NHL, we report an acute myocardial infarction after 2nd course of CEOP-BLAM chemotherapy with a review of relevant literatures.
Adult ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Anthracyclines ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Care Units ; Coronary Vessels ; Doxorubicin* ; Drug Therapy* ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Heparin ; Humans ; Hypokinesia ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin* ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Phenobarbital ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stents

Anthracyclines have been widely used in cancer therapy because of their efficacy in the treatment of various solid tumors and hem -atologic malignancy. Cumulative dose-related cardiotoxicity was a well-known toxicity of anthracyclines. Particularly, at total doses of more than 550 mg/m2, therapy with anthracyclines could produce irreversible cardiac injury. Anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity was usually manifested by congestive heart failure or arrhythmia. In co- ntrast, acute myocardial infarction is a rare event of anthracycline-induced heart diseases. A 31-year-old man with non-Hodgkin lymphoma(NHL) and single cardiac risk factor, including smoking, was presented with chest pain after receiving 2nd CEOP-BLAM chemo-therapy. An electrocardiogram revealed ST segment elevation in inferior leads consistent with acute myocardial infarction. An echocardiogram revealed an ejection fraction of 60% and severe hypokinesia in inferior and anteroseptal wall. Three days later, coronary angiography revealed 50% of luminal stenosis of right coronary artery(RCA) and near total occlusion with large thrombi in m-RCA. After balloon angioplasty and stent insertion, the patient was transferred to coronary care unit and continuous intravenous heparin infusion was started. On the 10th days, the patient was discharged in good condition. Six months later, follow-up coronary angiography showed no significant lesion in right coronary artery. In a young man with NHL, we report an acute myocardial infarction after 2nd course of CEOP-BLAM chemotherapy with a review of relevant literatures.
Adult ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Anthracyclines ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Chest Pain ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Care Units ; Coronary Vessels ; Doxorubicin* ; Drug Therapy* ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Heparin ; Humans ; Hypokinesia ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin* ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Phenobarbital ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stents

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of MR imaging in the staging of brain abscesses and to determine the correlations between pathologic and MR findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental brain abscesses were induced by direct inoculation of 1ml suspension of l06/ml Streptococcus pneumoniae into the brain parenchyma of ten New Zealand white rabbits. The evolution of abscess formation was divided into four stages, based on pathological criteria: early cerebritis (days 1 to 5), late cerebritis (days 6 to 10), early capsular (days 11 to 15), and late capsular (day 16 and later). The brain abscess of each animal was examined by MR imaging and light microscopy at 3, 8, 13, and 28 days; T1-weighted, T2-weighted and Gd-enhanced images were obtained. The MR images and pathologic findings of 13 pathologically confirmed clinical cases were compared to MR images of the experimental model. RESULTS: In the experimental model, signal intensity of the abscess content was at all stages hypointense on T1-weighted and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. In all ten cases, Gd-enhanced images showed an ill-defined contrast-enhanced lesion at the early cerebritis stage, and in four of seven cases, irregular ring enhancement at the late cerebritis stage. Pathologic specimens at this latter stage revealed prominent vascular proliferation and infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells. Signal intensity of the abscess wall during the capsular stage showed isointense relative brain parenchyma on T1-weighted images and this was hypointense on T2-weighted images. Gd-enhanced images demonstrated smooth ring enhancement of the abscess wall. At the early capsular stage, pathologic specimens revealed a discrete necrotic center surrounded by infiltration of reticulin and some collagen; at the late capsular stage, these specimens showed marked infiltration of collagen. In clinical cases, the signal intensity of abscess content was at all stages hypointenseon T1-weighted and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. Gd-enhanced images demonstrated ill-defined subtle contrast enhancement at the early cerebritis stage and irregular ring enhancement at the late cerebritis stage. In all cases, signal intensity of the abscess wall during the capsular stage was hypointense on T2-weighted images; at this stage, the abscess wall was showed a pattern of smooth ring enhancement. In clinical cases, hypointensity of the abscess wall, as seen on T2-weighted images, and the enhancement pattern of this wall were identical to these findings in the experimental model. CONCLUSION: In an experimental model, correlation between sequential MR findings can be used to predict the stage of a brain abscess; in clinical cases essential indicators are hypointensity and enhancement pattern of the abscess wall, as seen on T2-weighted images. In cases of brain abscess, MRI is a useful diagnostic modality, and in such cases, also helps determine the most suitable treatment.
Abscess ; Animals ; Brain Abscess* ; Brain* ; Collagen ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Microscopy ; Models, Theoretical* ; Rabbits ; Reticulin ; Streptococcus pneumoniae

Paclitaxel has been widely used for treating many solid tumors. Although colonic toxicity is an unusual complication of paclitaxel-based chemotherapy, the reported toxicities include pseudomembranous colitis, neutropenic enterocolitis and on rare occasions ischemic colitis. Genexol-PM(R), which is a recently developed cremophor-free, polymeric micelle-formulated paclitaxel, has shown a more potent antitumor effect because it can increase the usual dose of paclitaxel due to that Genexol-PM(R) does not include the toxic cremophor compound. We report here on a case of a 57-year-old man with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and who developed ischemic colitis after chemotherapy with Genexol-PM(R) and cisplatin. He complained of hematochezia with abdominal pain on the left lower quadrant. Colonoscopy revealed diffuse mucosal hemorrhage and edema from the sigmoid colon to the splenic flexure. After bowel rest, he recovered from his symptoms and the follow-up colonoscopic findings showed that the mucosa was healing. Since then, he was treated with pemetrexed monotherapy instead of a paclitaxel compound and platinum.
Abdominal Pain ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Cisplatin ; Colitis, Ischemic ; Colon ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colon, Transverse ; Colonoscopy ; Edema ; Enterocolitis, Neutropenic ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Glutamates ; Guanine ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Paclitaxel ; Platinum ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Polymers ; Pemetrexed

BACKGROUND: Radioiodine treatment is effective for the removal of remnant thyroid tissues after thyroidectomy in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. To induce the elevation of serum TSH level which facilitates the uptake of radioiodine into remnants, a 4 to 6 week interval between thyroidectomy and radioiodine administration has been established. During the period of preparation, most patients have experienced overt symptoms of hypothyroidism which have led to the development of alternative strategies. Some reports have suggested that the interval could be reduced to about 3 weeks with less symptoms. We reevaluated the adequate time needed for the elevation of serum TSH level above 30microU/mL after thyroidectomy. METHODS: Forty five patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma were investigated. Serum TSH and free T4 levels were measured one or more times within 3 weeks after operation(total 97 blood samples). Eighty nine blood samples were obtained within 15 days. RESULTS: In 41 patients (91.1%) serum TSH levels increased to 30 microU/mL until 15 days after operation. Until postoperative 21 days, serum TSH levels in all the other patients reached 30microU/mL. In linear equation, the daily increment of serum TSH levels was 2.62microU/mL for the first 8 days after operation and 5.34micorU/mL for the next 7 days. The half-life of serum free T4 levels showed marked individual variations. CONCLUSION: Measurement of serum TSH level at about 15 days after total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma may be useful in determining the time of radioiodine administration.
Half-Life ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyrotropin

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Adenoma detection rate (ADR) is widely used as an index of colonoscopy quality management. Although advanced adenomas can be found less frequently than non-advanced adenomas, advanced adenomas have a higher clinical significance during screening for colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between advanced and non-advanced ADR among colonoscopists. METHODS: This study is an observational study of a cohort of patients undergoing screening colonoscopy between 2009 and 2010. We collected the data on patients' characteristics and colonoscopic findings. The detection rates of adenoma and advanced adenoma were calculated. Logistic regression was used to determine the effects of variables on advanced adenoma detection, and spearman's rank-order correlation was used to evaluate the relationship between advanced ADR and ADR. RESULTS: A total of 561 patients underwent screening colonoscopy by 18 experienced colonoscopists. Most colonoscopists had adequate (>20%) ADRs. Logistic regression showed that increased patient age (OR 1.07 per 1 year increase, 95% CI 1.009-1.133, p=0.023) and male gender (OR 1.860, 95% CI 0.764-4.529, p=0.171) were associated with advanced ADR. When colonoscopists were divided into two groups on the basis of advanced ADR of 5%, ADR was also significantly higher in the group having higher level of advanced ADR. However, there was no correlation between advanced ADR and ADR among colonoscopists as an individual. CONCLUSIONS: Colonoscopists' advanced ADRs were independent of their ADRs, indicating that advanced ADR could be quite low even among colonoscopists with acceptable ADRs. Thus, there seems to be a limitation in using ADR as an adequate index of colonoscopy quality management.
Adenoma/*diagnosis ; Adult ; Aged ; Cohort Studies ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Odds Ratio

Severe hypoglycemia induces neuroglycopenic symptoms, including mental alteration, as glucose is the exclusive fuel for the central nervous system. However, some reports have shown that non-glucose fuels, like lactates and ketones, could be utilized by the brain during severe hypoglycemia. Herein, a case of extreme hypoglycemia in a 44-year old woman, subsequently diagnosed as congestive heart failure accompanied by ischemic hepatitis and lactic acidosis, is presented. In two episodes of extreme hypoglycemia, she was fully alert without obvious neurological deficits. In this unusual case, an increased supply of lactate might have maintained the cerebral function and prevented cerebral injury during the hypoglycemia that was induced as a result of starvation and hepatic and cardiac dysfunctions
Acidosis, Lactic* ; Adult ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Female ; Glucose ; Heart Failure ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia* ; Ketones ; Lactates ; Lactic Acid ; Masks* ; Starvation