BACKGROUND: Few studies have reported the results of arthroscopic coracoplasty concomitantly conducted with subscapularis tear. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine and compare the outcomes of arthroscopic subscapularis repair after arthroscopic coracoplasty using either the subacromial approach or rotator interval approach. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 51 patients who underwent coracoplasty with subscapularis repair. The patients were grouped according to whether the subacromial approach group (24 patients) or rotator interval approach group (27 patients) was used during coracoplasty. Preoperative and postoperative visual analogue scale scores, American shoulder and elbow surgeons scores, Korean shoulder scores, and range of motion (ROM) were assessed. Assessment of repaired rotator cuff tendon integrity was performed at 1 year after surgery using either magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasonography. RESULTS: At final follow-up, overall functional scores and ROM improved significantly in both groups when compared with preoperative values (p>0.05). The re-tear rates were not significantly different between groups; however, the rotator interval approach group showed a significant increase in ROM compared with that in the subacromial approach group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic coracoplasty conducted concomitantly with subscapularis repair can provide a satisfactory outcome. There were no significant differences between the two approach groups regarding final functional scores and re-tear rates. However, the rotator interval approach group showed a greater increase in ROM at final follow-up, especially in external rotation.
Arthroscopy ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Surgeons ; Tears* ; Tendons ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Retrospective study was performed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of shock wave lithotripsy(SWL) for treatment of urinary calculi in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 24 SWL treatments using Dornier MPL 9000X lithotriptor were performed in 15 children between 8 months and 15 years old from January, 1991 to August, 1997. Patient`s characteristics, stone location, success rate and complications were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The location of stones were kidney in 6 cases and ureter in 13 cases: upper ureter in 6 and lower ureter in 7. The SWL treatments were successful in all case. All cases except three had their stones removed by SWL in one session. Of the 19 cases, 9 cases required ketamine anesthesia and 10 cases were done under intravenous injection of analgesics. Minor complications, such as flank pain, gross hematuria and steinstrasse, were noted but resolved with conservative management. CONCLUSIONS: We think that SWL is a useful and safe method for the first line therapy of pediatric urolithiasis.
Adolescent ; Analgesics ; Anesthesia ; Child* ; Flank Pain ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Ketamine ; Kidney ; Lithotripsy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock* ; Ureter ; Urinary Calculi ; Urolithiasis

Immune checkpoint blockade targeting PD-1 and PD-L1 has resulted in unprecedented clinical benefit for cancer patients. Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy has become the standard treatment for diverse cancer types as monotherapy or in combination with other anti-cancer therapies, and its indications are expanding. However, many patients do not benefit from anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy due to primary and/or acquired resistance, which is a major obstacle to broadening the clinical applicability of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. In addition, hyperprogressive disease, an acceleration of tumor growth following anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, has been proposed as a new response pattern associated with deleterious prognosis. Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy can also cause a unique pattern of adverse events termed immune-related adverse events, sometimes leading to treatment discontinuation and fatal outcomes. Investigations have been carried out to predict and monitor treatment outcomes using peripheral blood as an alternative to tissue biopsy. This review summarizes recent studies utilizing peripheral blood immune cells to predict various outcomes in cancer patients treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy.
Acceleration ; Antigens, CD274 ; Biomarkers ; Biopsy ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Fatal Outcome ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor

Immune checkpoint blockade targeting PD-1 and PD-L1 has resulted in unprecedented clinical benefit for cancer patients. Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy has become the standard treatment for diverse cancer types as monotherapy or in combination with other anti-cancer therapies, and its indications are expanding. However, many patients do not benefit from anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy due to primary and/or acquired resistance, which is a major obstacle to broadening the clinical applicability of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. In addition, hyperprogressive disease, an acceleration of tumor growth following anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, has been proposed as a new response pattern associated with deleterious prognosis. Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy can also cause a unique pattern of adverse events termed immune-related adverse events, sometimes leading to treatment discontinuation and fatal outcomes. Investigations have been carried out to predict and monitor treatment outcomes using peripheral blood as an alternative to tissue biopsy. This review summarizes recent studies utilizing peripheral blood immune cells to predict various outcomes in cancer patients treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy.

PURPOSE: This study is to compare the rate and pattern of anastomotic leakage (AL) for rectal cancer after laparoscopic vs. conventional open surgery at high and low rectal anastomosis and to evaluate whether the number of linear staples used for distal rectal resection is related to AL in laparoscopic group. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-seven patients who underwent a curative resection for rectal cancer between March 2002 and February 2006 were studied retrospectively (107 laparoscopic, 90 open). The proportions of patients with anastomosis above vs. below 5 cm from AV were not different between the laparoscopic and the open groups; (above/below: 54/53 and 41/49, respectively, P=0.57). The protective stoma rate, the overall rate of AL, the rate of AL according to the height of the anastomosis, and the number of distal linear staples were evaluated for both groups. RESULTS: Clinical AL occurred in 11 of 107 patients (10.3%) for the laparoscopic group and in 5 of 90 patients (5.6%) for the open group. The rates of AL in patients without protective stoma were not significantly different for high rectal anastomosis (6.0% for laparoscopic vs. 2.6% for open, P= 0.63) and for low rectal anastomosis (25.8% for laparoscopic vs. 12.1% for open, P=0.21). The risk of AL was 4.9 times higher when 3 linear staples were used than when 2 linear staples were used in the laparoscopic group. CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistical difference in AL between the laparoscopic group and the open group. The rate of AL could be reduced by using fewer linear staples for distal rectal resection in the laparoscopic group.
Anastomotic Leak* ; Humans ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Retrospective Studies*

Substernal extension of a goiter into the thoracic inlet endows a generally benign neck mass with morbid potential. The reported incidence varies between 1% and 15% of all thyroidectomies performed. Whether all patients with a substernal goiter should undergo an operation or whether the operation should be performed selectively remains controversial. From May 1989 to March 1996, 10 patients underwent thyroidectomies for substernal goiters, and those cases of resected substernal goiters have been reviewed to access the symptoms and signs that brought patients to surgery: the size and the position of goiter, the preoperative work-up, the risk associated with the operation, and the histopathologic state of the goiter. There were 3 male and 7 female patients, and their ages ranged from 40 to 68 years. The chief complaints were cervical mass (4), dyspnea (2), facial edema (1) and chest pain (1). No symtomatic cases (2) were also found. The average mass size was 8.4 cm (5-14 cm) and the average weight was 109 gm (41-350 gm). Although chest film was the most used, computed tomography was by far the most useful study. Thyroid scans often failed to show the substernal goiter. Fine-needle aspiration was not helpful because of inaccessibility. In the majority of the patients (7 cases), the substernal goiters were removed by a cervical incision. Three cases of goiters located deep to the carina level required a combined cervical and sternotomy approach or thoracotomy. In the cervical incision group, the complications were transient hypocalcemia (1) and unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (1). In the combined cervical and sternotomy approach or thoracotomy, unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (1) and bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (1) and mediastinitis (1) were the complications. An occult papillary carcinoma, which was not identified preoperatively, was found in one case. Removal was almost always accomplished via cervical incision and with low morbidity and no deaths. Also, the substernal goiters revealed unusual symptoms and signs, such as dyspnea, facial edema and chest pain, compared to usual thyoid goiters and were relatively bigger in size. In conclusion, most substernal goiter above the carinal level could be removed by cervical incision with a low rate of complication. The threat of compression, the substantial chance of malignancy, and the safety of resection mean that the presence of a substernal goiter is an indication for surgery.
Bays ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Chest Pain ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Female ; Goiter ; Goiter, Substernal* ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Incidence ; Male ; Mediastinitis ; Neck ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries ; Sternotomy ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroidectomy

Verrucous carcinoma is a form of low grade squamous cell carcinoma that is characterized grossly by its exophytic and wart-like appearance. We experienced a case of verrucous carcinoma in a 63-year-old female patient who presented with pyelonephritis caused by staghorn calculi. Abdominal CT scan showed a renal pelvic mass and nephrectomy was done. Histologic examination showed extensive keratinizing squamous metaplasia of pelvic urothelium with an area of verrucous acanthosis. To our knowledge, this is the second case of verrucous carcinoma of renal pelvis that has been reported in literature. We describe a case and review the literature concerning verrucous carcinoma.
Calculi ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Carcinoma, Verrucous* ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Pelvis* ; Metaplasia ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy ; Pyelonephritis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Urothelium

PURPOSE: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), a recently introduced endoscopic technique, makes it possible to perform an en-bloc resection of a lesion regardless of its size. The aim of this study was to report early experiences with colorectal ESD performed in our hospital. METHODS: Between October 2006 and December 2008, we performed an ESD for 260 consecutive cases of colorectal neoplasia in 255 patients. We evaluated the clinical outcomes, except for two failure cases of bowel perforation. RESULTS: The mean resected tumor size was 24.2+/-9.8 (5-60) mm. Our overall endoscopic en-bloc resection rate was 93.0% (240/258). and the pathologically margin free rate was 91.5% (236/258). Perforation occurred in 7.7% (20/260) of the cases. In 17 patients, perforation was managed by endoscopic clipping without salvage surgery; the other three patients underwent a laparoscopic operation. Pathological examination showed an adenocarcinoma in 35.4% of the cases (92/260). We recommended additional radical surgery in 13 cases (submucosal invasion less than 1 mm with unfavorable pathology: 1 case; unknown depth of submucosal invasion: 1 case; submucosal invasion > or =1 mm: 9 cases; invasion to proper muscle: 2 cases). We were able to check the recurrence rate through colonoscopy for 125 patients. During the mean follow-up period of 8.0+/-4.3 (3-21) mo, there were no recurrences. CONCLUSION: ESD was technically difficult, had a substantial risk of perforation, and needed a long procedure time. However, ESD enabled en-bloc resection of large colorectal tumors. As experience with the technique increases, ESD might gradually replace piecemeal endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and radical colon resection in the treatment of colorectal tumors.
Adenocarcinoma ; Colon ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Colonoscopy has emerged as the dominant colorectal cancer screening strategy, yet the data on the results of performing screening colonoscopy in asymptomatic average risk Koreans is limited. The aim of this study is to determine the results of screening colonoscopy at a community-based single center in Korea. METHODS: A total of 13,743 individuals (5,935 males and 7,808 females, age: 50.6+/-11.8 years) who underwent screening colonoscopy at a community based hospital from April 2006 to March 2008 were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 13,743 subjects, neoplasia, advanced neoplasia and early colon cancer were detected in 3,270 subjects (23.8%), 315 subjects (2.3%) and 60 subjects (0.5%), respectively. The prevalence of neoplasia and advanced neoplasia increased with age (p<0.001), and this was higher among males as compared to that of females (p<0.001). Of the 3,666 subjects with neoplasia, 1,440 subjects (38.3%) had multiple neoplasia. Old age and male gender were associated with multiple neoplasia. CONCLUSIONS: The overall prevalence of colorectal neoplasia in asymptomatic average-risk Koreans at a community based hospital is comparable with that in a health care setting or university hospitals. Old age and male gender are associated with a higher risk of colorectal neoplasia and having multiple neoplasia.
Colonic Neoplasms ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND: Few studies have reported the results of arthroscopic coracoplasty concomitantly conducted with subscapularis tear. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine and compare the outcomes of arthroscopic subscapularis repair after arthroscopic coracoplasty using either the subacromial approach or rotator interval approach. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 51 patients who underwent coracoplasty with subscapularis repair. The patients were grouped according to whether the subacromial approach group (24 patients) or rotator interval approach group (27 patients) was used during coracoplasty. Preoperative and postoperative visual analogue scale scores, American shoulder and elbow surgeons scores, Korean shoulder scores, and range of motion (ROM) were assessed. Assessment of repaired rotator cuff tendon integrity was performed at 1 year after surgery using either magnetic resonance imaging or ultrasonography. RESULTS: At final follow-up, overall functional scores and ROM improved significantly in both groups when compared with preoperative values (p>0.05). The re-tear rates were not significantly different between groups; however, the rotator interval approach group showed a significant increase in ROM compared with that in the subacromial approach group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic coracoplasty conducted concomitantly with subscapularis repair can provide a satisfactory outcome. There were no significant differences between the two approach groups regarding final functional scores and re-tear rates. However, the rotator interval approach group showed a greater increase in ROM at final follow-up, especially in external rotation.
Arthroscopy ; Elbow ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Retrospective Studies ; Rotator Cuff ; Shoulder ; Surgeons ; Tears ; Tendons ; Ultrasonography