OBJECTIVE: The clinical value of preoperative serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen(SCC) in relation to clinical stage, tumor volume, disease extent and prognosis has already reported in many papers. The aim of this study is to analyse the relationship between preoperative SCC level and pelvic lymph node metastasis. Matrials and METHODS: From March 1995 to December 1998, 157 patients who examined pretreatment SCC levels before undergoing radical hysterectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix were included. The effect of pelvic lymph node status on the SCC level was examined by comparing 125 cases with cancer limited uterus or upper vagina and 32 cases with cancer confined to the uterus (including upper vagina) and pelvic lymph node using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: 90% of patients without pelvic lymph node metastasis showed SCC levels of 2.9ng/ml or below. 60.7% of patients with serum SCC level more than 2.9ng/ml exhibited pelvic lymph node metastasis. The marker values exceeding 2.9ng/ml increased risk of nodal metastasis 5 times compared with serum level 2.9ng/ml or below. Multivariate analysis confirmed that the pelvic lymph node metastasis had a large impact on the marker level than did tumor size or depth of stromal infilteration. CONCLUSION: SCC levels greater than 2.9ng/ml can be considered a high risk zone for nodal metastasis
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prognosis ; Tumor Burden ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* ; Uterus ; Vagina

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of tumor suppressor genes, p53 and Rb gene, as well as apoptosis in the carcinogenesis of ovarian epithelial tumors. And the value of these factors as prognostic markers to tell the transformation of borderline tumors to overt carcinomas is also studied. METHOD: Thirty cases of ovarian epithelial benign and borderline tumors and invasive carcinoma were used and the expression of the p53 protein and Rb gene protein were evaluated by immunohistochemical method. The apoptosis was evaluated by TUNNEL method. RESULTS: Positive rate of p53 expression in benign, borderline and invasive tumors were 0, 28, and 94 %, respectively. And also, p53 was highly expressed in chemoresistant cases (2/3), in residual tumor (4/5) and in recurred cancer (2/2). Rb protein was partly lost in the borderline tumors, but the rate of Rb protein loss in both borderline tumors and invasive carcinomas were similar. Apoptosis were more active in overt carcinomas than in borderline and benign tumors. In borderline tumors, p53 protein was expressed as 28.6% positivity, and apoptosis was expressed as 28.6% negativity, which showed indirectly that there was apoptosis induction effect of p53. In ten cases of invasive carcinomas showing highly expressed p53, apoptosis revealed all positive reaction except 2 cases, and Rb protein revealed variously. This result supported the apoptosis imduction effect of p53, but it was difficult to find the association of expression degree between the two tumor supressor genes CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the values of p53 is a discriminating factor of malignancy from benign and the expression of p53 is related with clinical aggressivity such as recurrence and residual cancers. Apoptosis are more active in overt carcinoma than in benign & borderline tumor, and in borderline tumor the expression of p53 is related to apoptosis induction which results to carcinomatous change.
Apoptosis* ; Carcinogenesis ; Genes, Retinoblastoma* ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Recurrence ; Retinoblastoma Protein

PURPOSE: The diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome on CT is difficult if CT do not demonstrate obstruction of the IVC or hepatic vein and other parameter is needed for the correct diagnosis. The purpose of our study was to determine the usefulness of measuring the diameter of azygos-hemiazygos vein on CT to differentiate Budd-Chiari syndrome from advanced liver cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients who were proven as Budd-Chiari syndrome on vena cavography were studied for analysis. All patients showed evidence of liver cirrhosis on CT. As a control group fifteen cases of advanced liver cirrhosis who underwent endoscopic sclerotheraphy due to esophageal variceal bleeding were also included for comparison. The largest short axis diameter of azygos-hemiazygos vein was measured in all patients at the level of diaphragm on axial CT and the results were compared in both groups. RESULTS: In patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome the largest short axial diameter of azygos-hemiazygos vein ranged from 0.5cm to 2.5cm(mean ;1.5cm). Only one patient who showed hepatic venous obstruction demonstrated a diameter of less than 1 cm(0. Scm). In contrast, the diameter in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis without obstruction of IVC or hepatic vein was less than 1 cm with a range from 0.2cm to 1 cm(mean ;0.6cm). CONCLUSION: The short axis diameter of azygos-hemiazygos vein was an indicator of IVC obstruction (Budd-Chiari syndrome).
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Budd-Chiari Syndrome* ; Diagnosis* ; Diaphragm ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Veins*

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of drinking patterns and the prevalence of hazardous drinking and alcohol use disorder with the assessment of alcohol policy needs in community population of urban city in Korea. METHODS: Data was collected from 1,000 residents in a single urban city in Korea, from June 1 to July 31, 2011 by a questionnaire. As research tools, socio-demographic characteristics composed of variables based on study purpose, alcohol problems and alcohol use disorder state scales composed with Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test(AUDIT) and Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener(CAGE), and the assessment of alcohol policy needs in community population questions were used. RESULTS: The lifetime experience of alcohol drinking was 97.4%. For the frequency of drinking, 21.9% of population responded 2 to 4 times per weekly. 24.4% of male had one time or more high risk drinking, defined as having four or more drinks in a sitting, per week. 51.6% experienced the first time drinking of alcohol in adolescence. The lifetime prevalence of hazardous drinking and alcohol use disorder were 14.9% and 3.3%, respectively using AUDIT. Alcohol use disorder were 9.6% with the CAGE scale. Problem drinking were 8.4% in this study. They requested the program such as prevention education(57.2%), construction of liaison system to treatment facilities( 50.1%), alcohol counseling and intervention(41.7%), and rehabilitation program(39.8%). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that alcohol problem and alcohol use disorder were much prevalent, and these problem started in the earlier age. It is necessary to develop an effective alcohol prevention program or policy with considering the needs in community population.
Adolescent ; Alcohol Drinking ; Counseling ; Drinking ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Weights and Measures

High tibial osteotomy is a useful procedure in the treatment of early stage osteoarthritis of the knee which is confined to the medial compartment. But long term follow-up study of high tibial osteotomy has not been provided yet and its prerequisite for a successful result still remains unrevealed. Since the osteoarthritis can progress after the osteotomy, it may result in the loss of correction and recurrence of pain and require conversion to total knee replacement arthroplasty. We studied clinically and radiologically the long term result of high tibial osteotomy in 11 patients(16 knees) who had been treated at the Department of Orthopaedic surgery of Seoul Paik Hospital during the period from January, 1978 to May, 1989, and follow-up for longer than 4 years. Preoperative mean varus angle was 6.4 degrees and immediate postoperative mean valgus angle was 8.6 degrees and final mean valgus angle was 4.7 degrees. The average loss of correction angle was 3.9 degrees. At 2-year follow-up, the results of 16 knees were as follows; excellent in six knees, good in seven knees. The final results at average 7.2-year follow-up were excellent in four knees, good in six knees and one knee was converted to total knee replacement arthroplasty. The results showed deterioration of clinical results and loss of correction with time after osteotomy. However, in more than half of the cases the results were good or excellent at the final follow-up, We, therefore, conclude that high tibial osteotomy is still a useful procedure in osteoarthritis of the knee if performed with a precise surgical technique and an adequate overcorrection more than 10 degrees.
Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Follow-Up Studies ; Knee ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteotomy ; Recurrence ; Seoul

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the tumor response and patient survival rate following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (r-HCC) after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with r-HCC underwent one or more cycles of TACE after LDLT (mean, 2.5 cycles). After a mixture of iodized oil and anti-cancer drugs was injected via the arteries feeding the tumors, these vessels were embolized with a gelatin sponge. Tumor response was determined by follow-up CT imaging on all patients four weeks after each TACE procedure. Patient survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. RESULTS: After TACE, targeted tumor reduced in size by 25% or more in 19 of the 28 study patients (67.9%). However, intrahepatic recurrence or extrahepatic metastasis occurred in 21 of the 28 patients (75.0%) during the 3-month follow-up period and in 26 of the 28 patients (92.9%) during the 6-month period following TACE. Extrahepatic metastasis was noted in 18 of the 28 patients (64.3%). The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates following TACE were 47.9, 6.0 and 0%, respectively, with a mean survival of nine months in all patients. There were no significant complications related to TACE. CONCLUSION: TACE produces an effective tumor response for targeted r-HCC after LDLT. However, the survival rate of patients with r-HCC after LDLT is poor due to extrahepatic metastasis and intrahepatic recurrence.
Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/blood supply/mortality/*therapy ; *Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Cisplatin/administration & dosage ; Contrast Media/administration & dosage ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Iodized Oil/administration & dosage ; Liver Neoplasms/blood supply/mortality/*therapy ; Liver Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/mortality/*therapy ; Survival Rate

Failure of normal embryogenesis may result in various anomalies of the inferior vena cava that can bereli-ably detected by computed tomography. Agenesis of the intrahepatic segment of the inferior vena cava withazygos continuation is a rare anomaly due to a complex developmental process of the inferior vena cava. Theauthors report a case in which this anomaly was diagnosed on computed tomography and confirmed by inferi-or venacavography.
Azygos Vein ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Vena Cava, Inferior*

Endovascular stenting is accepted as an effective treatment for patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). We herein present a case of successful endovascular treatment. A 46-year-old woman, who was followed up for 10 years after a diagnosis of BCS, showed progression progressive of liver cirrhosis and deterioration deteriorated of liver function. Three main hepatic veins were thrombosed with complete occlusion of the suprahepatic of the inferior vena cava (IVC); thus, hepatic venous blood flow was draining into the inferior right hepatic veins through the intrahepatic collaterals and passed passing through the subcutaneous venous collaterals. She underwent endovascular stenting of the IVC for palliation. A septoplasty needle was passed through the occluded IVC through into the internal jugular vein access and then to access the femoral vein using a snare wire. Severe elastic recoiling was observed after balloon dilatation; thus, a 28x80 mm stenting was done inserted across the occlusion, and repeat double ballooning was performed. The final venogram shows showed restored IVC inflow. The patient began to lose body weight 1 day after stenting, and edema disappeared within 1 week. She is was doing well at the 6 month follow-up visit with nearly normal liver function and marked resolution of cutaneous venous engorgement. In conclusion, endovascular stenting appeared to be an effective treatment to alleviate portal pressure and to prevent BCS-associated complications; thus, endovascular stenting should be considered before marked hepatic vein stenosis or complete occlusion occurs in patients with BCS.
Body Weight ; Budd-Chiari Syndrome* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Edema ; Female ; Femoral Vein ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatic Veins ; Humans ; Hyperemia ; Jugular Veins ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Portal Pressure ; SNARE Proteins ; Stents* ; Vena Cava, Inferior*

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the causes of arterial bleeding after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and to evaluate the efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two sessions of conventional arteriography were performed in 32 of the 195 patients who underwent LDLT during the past 2 years. This was done in search of bleeding foci of arterial origin. TAE was performed with microcoils or gelatin sponge particles. The causes of arterial bleeding, the technical and clinical success rates of TAE and the complications were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Forty-two bleeding foci of arterial origin were identified on 30 sessions of arteriography in 21 patients. The most common cause of bleeding was percutaneous procedures in 40% of the patients (17 of the 42 bleeding foci) followed by surgical procedures in 36% (15/42). The overall technical and clinical success rates of TAE were 21 (70%) and 20 (67%) of the 30 sessions, respectively. The overall technical success rate of TAE for the treatment of bleeding from the hepatic resection margin, hepatic artery anastomotic site and hepaticojejunostomy was only 18% (2/11), whereas for the treatment of bleeding in the other locations the technical and clinical success rates of TAE were 100% and 95%, respectively. No procedure-related major complications occurred. CONCLUSION: In the case of arterial bleeding after LDLT, percutaneous procedure-related hemorrhages were as common as surgery-related hemorrhages. There were technical difficulties in using TAE for the treatment of hepatic arterial bleeding. However, in the other locations, TAE seems to be safe and effective for the control of arterial bleeding in LDLT recipients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Embolization, Therapeutic/instrumentation/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Liver/radiography ; Liver Diseases/etiology/*therapy ; Liver Transplantation/*adverse effects ; *Living Donors ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Hemorrhage/etiology/*therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: To overcome the limitations of expandable metallic stent placement by using balloon dilation combined with chemotherapy or radiation therapy in the treatment of malignant esophageal strictures involving the esophagogastric junction (EGJ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation was performed in 14 patients with strictures due to squamous cell carcinoma (n=5) or adenocarcinoma (n=9). After balloon dilation all patients underwent chemotherapy or radiation therapy. RESULTS: There were no technical failures or major complications. After dilation, dysphagia improved in 13 (92%) of 14 patients, and the long-term success rate was 50%. Six of the seven patients in whom the condition recurred underwent further balloon dilation (n=4) or placement of an expandable metallic stent (n=2). Ten of the 13 who were followed up died after diffuse metastasis. Prior to their eventual death (mean survial, 20 weeks), the dysphagia experienced by seven (70%) of these ten improved, and thus they required no further treatment. CONCLUSION: Balloon dilation combined with chemotherapy or radiation therapy seems to be a safe and effective secondary therapy for patients with dysphagia due to malignant stiricture involving the EGJ.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Deglutition Disorders ; Drug Therapy* ; Esophagogastric Junction* ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Palliative Care* ; Radiotherapy* ; Stents