A 45-year-old female noticed a pruritic erythematous firm pea sized nodule on the left earlobe about 18 years prior to uisiting our clinic. The lesion has increased in size gradually and involved the whole earlobe. On March 1988, the earlobe became enlarged with extreme pruritus, and showed a tendency of easy bleeding by scratch. The skin lesions consisted of multiple pea to bean sized, shiny dusky red colored, moderate firm nodules or tumors with edema on the left. ear helix, antehelix, external auditoy meatus, and retroauricular fold. The histopathologic studies revealed vascular proliferation, presence of histiocyt.oid endothelial cells, and prominent inflammatory infiltration including large numtaer of eosinophils with fibrosis in the dermis. Hematological studies revealed eosinophilia(9%). Excision of several nodules and intralesional injection of trinmcinolon acetonide did not show complete favorable effect and treatment with carbon dioxide laser was attempted. With the patient under local anesthesia with 2% lidocaine, the lesion were treated with three t,o four passes at 25,100 second intervals with ieradiance 5W(cm. The pro- cedure was repeated until no abnormal findings could be seen in the treatment zone. Treatment with carbon dioxide Iaser on the patient obtained a satisfactory result.
Anesthesia, Local ; Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia* ; Bezafibrate ; Carbon Dioxide* ; Carbon* ; Dermis ; Ear ; Edema ; Endothelial Cells ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Lasers, Gas* ; Lidocaine ; Middle Aged ; Peas ; Pruritus ; Skin

We report a case of sebaceous carcinoma arising from nevus sebaceus of Jadassohn ocurring in a 68-year-old male, who showed a pedunculated cauliflower like tumor mass on verrucoid linear plaque in the fronto-parietal scalp. Histopathologic findings revealed mult,iple irregular tumor lobules composed mainly of foamy cytoplasmic atypical cells suggesting undifferrntiated sebaceous cells. Good result was obtained with wide local excision and primary closure without recurrence for 9 months after surgiral excision.
Aged ; Brassica ; Cytoplasm ; Humans ; Male ; Nevus* ; Nevus, Sebaceous of Jadassohn* ; Recurrence ; Scalp

PURPOSE: A restorative proctocolectomy has been accepted as the operation of choice for ulcerative colitis and familial adenomatous polyposis. The purpose of this study was to assess the postoperative complications and functional outcomes following a total proctocolectomy with a J ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. METHODS: The medical records of 12 patients who had undergone a total proctocolectomy, with a J ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, between January 1997 and June 2002, were retrospectively reviewed according to sex, age, underlying disease and postoperative complications. We evaluated the functional outcomes using medical record reviews and patients and telephone interviews. RESULTS: Total proctocolectomy, with a J ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, were done for ulcerative colitis (n=2) and familial adenomatous polyposis (n=10). A diverting ileostomy was performed in 8 patients. Postoperative complications occurred in 7 patients (58%), intestinal obstructions in 4 and complications related with anastomosis in 3, i.e. J ileal pouch leakage (n=2) and ileal pouch-vaginal fistula (n=1). Re-operations, due to postoperative complications, were performed in 4 patients, i.e. small bowel segmental resection (n=1), adhesiolysis (n=1), diverting ileostomy (n=1) and ileal pouch resection & reconstruction (n=1). The daily median defecation frequencies were 7.7 (range 4~20) a month after the operation, 5.4 (3~12) at 2~3 months, 4.5 (3~7) at 6 months and 4.1 (3~5) at 12 months, following the operation. Two patients had gas incontinence, 1 had fluid incontinence, 4 had night soiling and 3 needed pads, but these incontinences, the need for anti-diarrhea medication and the use of pads, all improved within 6 months of the operation. Fluid incontinence and the use of pads improved within 3 months of the operation, gas incontinence and night soiling improved within 6 months of the operation. The mean length of follow-up was 30.6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The postoperative complication rate was 58%. Thirty-three percent of patients had fecal incontinence, but all these improved within 6 months. The long- term functional outcomes, after a total proctocolectomy with J ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, were satisfactory, and the postoperative complications acceptable. The postoperative complication rates were no different between the protective diverting ileostomy and non-ileostomy .
Adenomatous Polyposis Coli ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Defecation ; Fecal Incontinence ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ileostomy ; Interviews as Topic ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Medical Records ; Postoperative Complications ; Proctocolectomy, Restorative ; Retrospective Studies ; Soil

We report a case of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala(E,) jeanselmei in a 66-year-old female, who showed a mild tender, 4.5x3.5cm sized, erythematous cystic mass with satellite lesions on the left forearm for 4 months. Histopathologically, suppurative granulomatous inflammation, brownish conidia in a chain and hyphae were observed. Fungal culture grew out the typical black-gray velvety colonies of E. jeanselmei after 2 weeks. The isolate grow well at 25 C, but very poorly at 37 C. No growth could be observed at 40 C. Sporulation adequate for evaluation was present on the malt extract agar. We confirmed E. jeanselmei by colony and microscopic morphology, temperature tolerance and sugar assimilation tests. The patient had been treated with itraconazole for 6 momths. Complete remission was observed.
Agar ; Aged ; Exophiala* ; Female ; Forearm ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Inflammation ; Itraconazole ; Phaeohyphomycosis* ; Spores, Fungal

BACKGROUND: Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a common genital tract infection in reproductive women. This study aimed to determine the frequency of Neisseria gonorrheae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Mycoplasma hominis in Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and to further sub-analyze the clinical characteristics in patients diagnosed with Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome (FHCS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty-six patients diagnosed clinically as PID were recruited from April, 2007 to February, 2011. Retrospective chart review was performed for investigating the characteristics of the clinical manifestation, laboratory findings, and image findings. And then all subjects were classified into two groups, the PID-only group and the FHCS group, depending on whether or not computed tomography showed increased perihepatic enhancement. Samples obtained in endocervical swabs were tested using Roche COBAS Amplicor Polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) for N. gonorrheae, C. trachomatis, U. urealyticum, and M. hominis. RESULTS: The 66 PID patients ranged in age from 19 to 49 years. Thirty nine patients were diagnosed as having an inflammation localized only in the lower abdomen (PID only), and 27 patients were diagnosed as FHCS. According to results of PCR, U. urealyticum was found most commonly in both the PID-only group and the FHCS group (66.7% and 59.3%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Organisms other than C. trachomatis and N. gonorrheae, particularly U. urealyticum, may be detected more frequently in PID patients in Korea. In addition, identification of M. hominis may be of importance in female health problems such as FHCS.
Abdomen ; Chlamydia Infections ; Chlamydia trachomatis ; Female ; Gonorrhea ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Mycoplasma hominis ; Neisseria ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Peritonitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reproductive Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Ureaplasma urealyticum

Objective: To assess the two-year treatment outcomes of chemoembolization with drug-eluting embolics (DEE) for nodular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods: This study was a prospective, multicenter, registry-based, single-arm trial conducted at five university hospitals in Korea. Patients were recruited between May 2011 and April 2013, with a target population of 200. A DC Bead loaded with doxorubicin was used as the DEE agent. Patients were followed up for two years. Per-patient and perlesion tumor response analysis, per-patient overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) analysis, and per-lesion tumor control analysis were performed. Results: The final study population included 152 patients, with 207 target lesions for the per-lesion analysis. At one-month, six-month, one-year, and two-year per-patient assessments, complete response (CR) rates were 40.1%, 43.0%, 33.3%, and 19.6%, respectively. The objective response (OR) rates were 91.4%, 55.4%, 35.1%, and 19.6%, respectively. The cumulative two-year OS rate was 79.7%. The cumulative two-year PFS rate was 22.4% and the median survival was 9.3 months. In multivariable analysis, the Child-Pugh score (p = 0.019) was an independent predictor of OS, and tumor multiplicity (p < 0.001), tumor size (p = 0.020), and Child-Pugh score (p = 0.006) were independent predictors of PFS. In per-lesion analysis, one-month, six-month, one-year and two-year CR rates were 57.5%, 58.5%, 45.2%, and 33.3%, respectively, and the OR rates were 84.1%, 65.2%, 46.6%, and 33.3%, respectively. The cumulative two-year per-lesion tumor control rate was 36.2%, and the median time was 14.1 months. The Child-Pugh score (p < 0.001) was the only independent predictor of tumor control. Serious adverse events were reported in 11 patients (7.2%). Conclusion DEE chemoembolization for nodular HCCs in the Korean population showed acceptable survival, tumor response, and safety profiles after a two-year follow-up. Good liver function (Child-Pugh score A5) was a key predictor of per-patient OS, PFS, and per-lesion tumor control.

Objective: To assess the two-year treatment outcomes of chemoembolization with drug-eluting embolics (DEE) for nodular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods: This study was a prospective, multicenter, registry-based, single-arm trial conducted at five university hospitals in Korea. Patients were recruited between May 2011 and April 2013, with a target population of 200. A DC Bead loaded with doxorubicin was used as the DEE agent. Patients were followed up for two years. Per-patient and perlesion tumor response analysis, per-patient overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) analysis, and per-lesion tumor control analysis were performed. Results: The final study population included 152 patients, with 207 target lesions for the per-lesion analysis. At one-month, six-month, one-year, and two-year per-patient assessments, complete response (CR) rates were 40.1%, 43.0%, 33.3%, and 19.6%, respectively. The objective response (OR) rates were 91.4%, 55.4%, 35.1%, and 19.6%, respectively. The cumulative two-year OS rate was 79.7%. The cumulative two-year PFS rate was 22.4% and the median survival was 9.3 months. In multivariable analysis, the Child-Pugh score (p = 0.019) was an independent predictor of OS, and tumor multiplicity (p < 0.001), tumor size (p = 0.020), and Child-Pugh score (p = 0.006) were independent predictors of PFS. In per-lesion analysis, one-month, six-month, one-year and two-year CR rates were 57.5%, 58.5%, 45.2%, and 33.3%, respectively, and the OR rates were 84.1%, 65.2%, 46.6%, and 33.3%, respectively. The cumulative two-year per-lesion tumor control rate was 36.2%, and the median time was 14.1 months. The Child-Pugh score (p < 0.001) was the only independent predictor of tumor control. Serious adverse events were reported in 11 patients (7.2%). Conclusion DEE chemoembolization for nodular HCCs in the Korean population showed acceptable survival, tumor response, and safety profiles after a two-year follow-up. Good liver function (Child-Pugh score A5) was a key predictor of per-patient OS, PFS, and per-lesion tumor control.

Protothecosis is an unusual cutaneous soft tissue infection caused by the Prototheca, which is a genus of the unicelluar, achloric algae. We report a case of cutaneous protothecosis in a 66-year-old female, who showed erythematous, purulent patches and plaques with ulcerations on the right forearm for 2 months. Biopsy specimen revealed the characteristic thick-walled morulalike sporangia in the dermis. Prototheca wickerhamii was isolated in the culture and the biochemical study. Electron microscopic examination showed the thick-walled spores containing dark dense bodies and amyloplasts. After two months of oral itraconazole 200mg/day, skin lesions were improved.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Dermis ; Female ; Forearm ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Plastids ; Prototheca ; Skin ; Soft Tissue Infections ; Sporangia ; Spores ; Ulcer

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome(HES) is a multisystem disease characterized by unexplained prolonged eosinophilia and evidence of specific organ damage, including skin. Cutaneous involvement occurs in more than 50 percent of patients but cutaneous nodule as the only manifestation of HES is rare. We report a case of hypereosinophilic syndrome in a 39-year-old male, who showed a solitary tender coin-sized erythematous nodule on his right lower abdomen for 2.5 months without evidence of systemic involvement.
Abdomen ; Adult ; Eosinophilia ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome* ; Male ; Skin

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Dyslipidemia and obesity are risk factors for the development of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) that affect the clinical outcomes in patients. METHODS: We analyzed 2,751 consecutive AMI patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (mean age, 63.7 +/- 12.1 years). The patients were divided into four groups based on serum triglyceride levels and central obesity [Group Ia: triglycerides < 200 mg/dL and (-) central obesity; Group Ib: triglyceride < 200 mg/dL and (+) central obesity; Group IIa: triglyceride > or = 200 mg/dL and (-) central obesity; Group IIb: triglyceride > or = 200 mg/dL and (+) central obesity]. In-hospital outcome was defined as in-hospital mortality and complications. One-year clinical outcome was compared and defined as the composite of 1-year major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including death, recurrent MI, and target vessel revascularization. RESULTS: Total MACE developed in 502 patients (18.2%), while 303 patients (11.0%) died prior to the 1-year follow-up visit. In-hospital complications and in-hospital mortality were not different among the four groups. One-year clinical outcomes based on triglyceride levels (Group I vs. Group II) were not different. In addition, there were no differences in clinical outcomes in patients with a triglyceride level < 200 mg/dL, regardless of central obesity. One-year MACE rates were not significantly different among the four groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in the 1-year MACE rate based on the triglyceride level and presence of central obesity in patients with AMI who underwent PCI.
Dyslipidemias ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal* ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides*