MR finding of melanoma shows peculiar signal intensity based on paramagnetic effect of melanin or intratumoral hemorrhage, which displays decreased T1 and T2 relaxation times in many cases. Authors report MR findings in two cases of intracranial metastatic melanoma, which is pathologically confirmed by operation.
Hemorrhage ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Melanins ; Melanoma* ; Relaxation

No abstract available.
Amylases* ; Child* ; Encephalitis, Arbovirus* ; Humans

Purpose: To measure the absorbed doses of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), which is recently being more frequently used, and to compare them with those of panoramic radiography. Materials and Methods: To measure the absorbed doses of CBCT (PSR-9000N(TM), Asahi Roentgen Ind. Co., Japan), we placed TLD chips on the skin regions above the parotid and thyroid glands, and on the dorsum of tongue in a dental head phantom. We used two image acquisition modes of the Dental and Panoramic modes of CBCT, which differed in the field of view. Also, panoramic radiographs (Auto IIIN, Asahi Roentgen Ind. Co., Japan) were taken to compare with the absorbed doses of CBCT. Result: In the Dental mode of CBCT, the absorbed doses of the parotid gland, dorsum of tongue, and thyroid gland were 3.53, 3.13, and 0.36 mGy, respectively. In the Panoramic mode of CBCT, they were 9.57, 9.15, and 0.85 mGy, respectively. The panoramic mode showed higher absorbed doses than those of the Dental mode. In the panoramic radiography, the absorbed doses of the parotid gland, dorsum of tongue, and thyroid gland were 1.21, 1.19, and 0.16 mGy, respectively. And they were about 1/3 of the Dental mode and 1/9 of the Panoramic mode of CBCT. Conclusion: Absorbed doses of CBCT are higher than those of panoramic radiography, and dependent upon the field of view.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography* ; Head ; Parotid Gland ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiography, Panoramic ; Skin ; Thyroid Gland ; Tongue

Purpose: To measure the absorbed doses of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), which is recently being more frequently used, and to compare them with those of panoramic radiography. Materials and Methods: To measure the absorbed doses of CBCT (PSR-9000N(TM), Asahi Roentgen Ind. Co., Japan), we placed TLD chips on the skin regions above the parotid and thyroid glands, and on the dorsum of tongue in a dental head phantom. We used two image acquisition modes of the Dental and Panoramic modes of CBCT, which differed in the field of view. Also, panoramic radiographs (Auto IIIN, Asahi Roentgen Ind. Co., Japan) were taken to compare with the absorbed doses of CBCT. Result: In the Dental mode of CBCT, the absorbed doses of the parotid gland, dorsum of tongue, and thyroid gland were 3.53, 3.13, and 0.36 mGy, respectively. In the Panoramic mode of CBCT, they were 9.57, 9.15, and 0.85 mGy, respectively. The panoramic mode showed higher absorbed doses than those of the Dental mode. In the panoramic radiography, the absorbed doses of the parotid gland, dorsum of tongue, and thyroid gland were 1.21, 1.19, and 0.16 mGy, respectively. And they were about 1/3 of the Dental mode and 1/9 of the Panoramic mode of CBCT. Conclusion: Absorbed doses of CBCT are higher than those of panoramic radiography, and dependent upon the field of view.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography* ; Head ; Parotid Gland ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiography, Panoramic ; Skin ; Thyroid Gland ; Tongue

A choledochal cyst is a relatively common lesion of the biliary tract in pediatric patients and usually presents abdominal pain, jaundice, and abdominal mass. Its etiology is unknown, but the theory of pancreatobiliary reflux through anomalous pancreatobiliary duct union is widely accepted. A mucinous cystadenoma of the pancreas is very rare in children. To our knowledge, there is no literature reporting a case of a choledochal cyst with a mucinous cystadenoma of the pancreas. We report a case of a choledochal cyst combined with a mucinous cystadenoma of borderline malignancy at the head of the pancreas in a 5-year-old girl and review the literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Biliary Tract ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Choledochal Cyst* ; Cystadenocarcinoma ; Cystadenoma, Mucinous* ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Jaundice ; Mucins* ; Pancreas*

BACKGROUND: The etiology of choledochal cysts is unknown, but the theory of pancreatobiliary reflux through an anomalous pancreatobiliary ductal union (APBDU) is widely accepted. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between choledochal cysts and APBDUs in children. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 33 pediatric patients with choledochal cyst who had undergone excision of the whole extrahepatic bile duct along with hepaticoenterostomy at the Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, from 1993 to 1998. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 51 months, and the ratio of males to females was 1:2.3. Anatomical types were Ia (n=17, 52%), Ic (n=11, 33%), III (n=1, 3%), and IVa (n=4, 12%) in the Todani classification of biliary cysts. We performed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, or intraoperative cholangiopancreatography in all cases. An APBDU was identified in 24 patients (73%): right angle union (n=11, 33%), acute angle union (n=11, 33%), or a complex union (n=2, 6%) in the Todani classification of APBDUs. Type Ia cystic lesions correlated with right angle unions whereas Type Ic cylindrical lesions correlated with acute angle unions. The mean age of patients with a Type Ic, acute angle union was older than that of patients with a Type Ia, right angle union. In Type Ic, the amylase levels in serum and bile were elevated, but in Type Ia, they were not. CONCLUSIONS: APBDUs correlated highly with the shape of the extrahepatic dilatation, the age at onset, and the reflux of pancreatic juice. We think the excision of the entire extrahepatic duct along with a hepaticoenterostomy and appropriate evaluation of the APBDU are essential for the treatment of choledochal cysts in children.
Amylases ; Bile ; Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic ; Child* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Choledochal Cyst* ; Classification ; Dilatation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pancreatic Juice ; Retrospective Studies

There have been a few reports of occupational asthma caused by Tetranychus urticae in fruit farmers or greenhouse workers. We report a case of bronchial asthma induced by Tetranychus urticae from a pear orchard in Cheonan city. An 18-year-old female student living around a pear orchard suffered from intermittent cough, rhinorrhea, and dyspnea for the 3 years. Her PC20 -methacholine was 0.15mg/ml, and skin prick test done with 55 inhalant allergens showed negative responses except Tetranychus urticae extract which was prepared with highly parasitized pear leaves. Bronchial provocation test with Tetranychus urticae extract showed a dual asthmatic response. These findings indicate that Tetranychus urticae, which include parasites in fruit trees, herba,ceous plants, and greenhouse cultures, can cause IgE-mediated bronchoconstriction in Korea.
Adolescent ; Allergens ; Asthma* ; Asthma, Occupational ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Bronchoconstriction ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Fruit ; Humans ; Korea ; Parasites ; Pyrus* ; Skin ; Trees

We report a case of rhabdomyolysis in a 29-year-old man, presenting pain on neck and shoulder and dark urine, which developed after taking Bear's gall and swimming. Laboratory studies revealed serum creatinine 0.9 mg/dL, creatinine kinase 83,045 IU/L, serum myoglobin 794.6 ng/mL, urine myoglobin 220.2 ng/mL. Tc-99m MDP whole bone scan showed diffuse increased uptake confined to the soft tissue of upper chest. The condition resolved spontaneously when consumption of the product ceased, he was recovered with normal creatine kinase. Generally, the Bear's gall is termed gall bladder of bear dried under the air-flow, which has been applied as versatile treatment in oriental medcine. Rhabdomyolysis is a well known complication of HMG-CoA inhibitor therapy, the Bear's gall has not yet been reported as a cause of rhabdomyolysis. We postulate that the Bear's gall may result in muscle injury.
Adult ; Creatine Kinase ; Creatinine ; Humans ; Myoglobin ; Neck ; Phosphotransferases ; Rhabdomyolysis* ; Shoulder ; Swimming ; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate ; Thorax ; Urinary Bladder

BACKGROUND: An initiating time of renal replacement therapy (RRT) for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has great influence on prognosis of the patients, however, there are currently no accurate guidelines for initiation of renal replacement therapy. Traditionally, nephrologists usually initiate RRT on the basis of observation of uremic symptoms and changes of laboratory parameters, such as serum creatinine concentration and/or glomerular filtration rate (GFR). DOQI guidelines suggest weekly Kt/Vurea < 2.0 or nPNA < 0.8 g/kg/day for an objective index of the initiation of dialysis. Then, we designed to formulate KP index {(weekly Kt/Vurea + 2.5 X nPNA) X 1/2} using two indices above as a clinically useful objective index to determine the initiation of RRT for patients with ESRD. METHODS: Patients with ESRD having the weekly Kt/Vurea index below 3.0 were selected from 186 patients who came to renal unit of Soonchunhyang Bucheon hospital. The patients having the weekly Kt/Vurea index between 1.0 and 2.0 were classified into two groups, KP index > 2.0 and KP index < 2.0. The groups were compared and analyzed via renal function, biochemical index and the number of patients starting a first RRT. Further, the correlations between KP index and other indices were analyzed over all patients. Then, the numbers per group of patients starting RRT were compared after all patients were divided into two groups, one of which is between 1.5 and 2.0 and the other is between 2.0 and 2.5 by weekly Kt/Vurea index and KP index. RESULTS: The group of KP index < 2.0 indicated significantly lower indices in weekly Kt/Vurea, nPNA (B2) and % LBM (%) than those of the group of KP index > 2.0, while no significant differences between the groups were in serum albumin concentration, serum creatinine concentration, FFEFBM and RRF. And the frequency of patients starting RRT was significantly higher in the group of KP index < 2.0 rather than the group of KP index > 2.0 in statistics. There was a significant correlation between KP index and other indices in all patients. In comparing and analyzing the number of patients starting RRT, weekly Kt/Vurea index did not demonstrate significant differences between two groups of 1.5 < weekly Kt/Vurea < 2.0 and 2.0 < weekly Kt/Vurea < 2.5, but the frequency of patients in the group of 1.5 < KP index < 2.0 was significantly higher than that in the group of 2.0 < KP index < 2.5. CONCLUSION: It is considered that KP index is an index clinically useful for ESRD patients to determine an appropriate timing for the initiation of RRT, and that the timing should be fixed with regard for other various indices and clinical features for advisable prognosis of the patients. In addition, accurate guideline to determine such an appropriate time needs to be suggested by further new studies.
Creatinine ; Dialysis* ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Prognosis ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Serum Albumin

PURPOSE: To evaluate position of the mandibular condyle within articular fossa in an asymptomatic population radiographically by a cone beam computed tomography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cone beam computed tomography of 60 temporomandibular joints was performed on 15 males and 15 females with no history of any temporomandibular disorders, or any other orthodontic or prosthodontic treatments. Position of mandibular condyle within articular fossa at centric occlusion was evaluated. A statistical evaluation was done using a SPSS. RESULTS: In the sagittal views, mandibular condyle within articular fossa was posteriorly located at medial and central sections. In the coronal views, mandibular condyle within articular fossa was laterally located at central section. Mandibular condyles in the right and left sides were showed asymmetric positional relationship at medial,central, and lateral sections. CONCLUSION: Mandibular condyle within articular fossa in an asymptomatic population was observed nonconcentric position in the sagittal and coronal views.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandibular Condyle* ; Prosthodontics ; Temporomandibular Joint ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders