PURPOSE: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common causes of abdominal emergency. Children, under age of 5 years, are unable to give an accurate history, but other nonspecific abdominal pain is more common at this age. Because diagnosis is often delayed and progression of appendicitis is faster, incidence and perforation rate is higher than those of adults. Abdominal US and CT are helpful in diagnosis of acute appendicitis. METHODS: Between July, 1997 and April, 2004, 39 patients below 5-year-old were participated, but 2 (Negative) patients were excluded. This study was done retrospectively based on medical charts. For statistical analysis, Chi-squre test was used. RESULTS: All patients undergone emergency operations, in which male to female ratio was 1.79: 1, with its mean age of 4.05. 19 patients (49%) were perforated and fever developed more frequently in perforating group, but leukocytosis was not significant. Delayed preoperative duration was associated with perforation rate significantly. All complications were occurred in perforating group. CONCLUSION: To decrease perforation rate and complications, early diagnosis and management are necessary to avoid delaying preoperative time.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Appendicitis* ; Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukocytosis ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Studies on herpes zoster have been extensively reported in Korea. However, few reports have dealt with herpes zoster in children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiological features and clinical characteristics of herpes zoster in children and adolescents. METHODS: During a 10-year period (2005~2014), 95 herpes zoster patients, aged 18 years and younger, were evaluated in regard to the annual, monthly, and seasonal incidences; the age distribution; and the gender ratio. The children and adolescents with herpes zoster were further assessed on the accompanying symptoms, dermatomal distribution, associated diseases, treatments, and complications. RESULTS: Among all the patients with herpes zoster, 2.41% were children and adolescents. The highest incidence was in summer (35.8%). The age group of 10 to 14 years had the highest incidence (40.0%). The male to female ratio was 1.4:1. The common accompanying symptoms were pain (77.9%) and pruritus (22.1%). The most common dermatomal distribution was the thoracic dermatome (50.5%), followed by the cervical (21.1%), the trigeminal (16.8%), the lumbar (7.4%) and the sacral (4.2%) dermatomes. Associated diseases including atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, and epilepsy were observed in 23.2%. There was no case with immunosuppression. The most common complication was secondary bacterial infection (5.2%), followed by herpes zoster ophthalmicus or herpes zoster generalisatus (4.2%), Ramsay Hunt syndrome (2.1%), meningitis and recurrent herpes zoster (1.1%). No patient developed postherpetic neuralgia. CONCLUSION: Herpes zoster is rare and relatively mild in healthy immunocompetent children and adolescents. Pruritus was observed in some pediatric patients, but there was no occurrence of postherpetic neuralgia.
Adolescent* ; Age Distribution ; Asthma ; Bacterial Infections ; Child* ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Epilepsy ; Female ; Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus ; Herpes Zoster Oticus ; Herpes Zoster* ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Meningitis ; Neuralgia, Postherpetic ; Pruritus ; Retrospective Studies* ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Seasons ; Sinusitis

Mandible fractures have recently been managed by rigid internal fixation with miniplate and screws more often than by traditional interosseous wiring methods. The purpose of this paper was to compare traditional interosseous wiring with miniplate fixation in open reduction of mandible fracture, especKweonially in operative results and costs. From June of 1989 to June of 1998, there were 142 patients, admitted to the department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chun-Cheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University. Of those, 101 patients were managed by open reduction, and among them, 83 patients were treated with miniplate fixation, but 18 patients had recently been treated with interosseous wiring methods. No significant difference was noted between the two groups in terms of complications, but the overall cost of miniplate and screws was higher than interosseous wiring, while the mean operative time was longer in the group treated with miniplate fiation. The authors recommend interosseous wiring technique for patients with mandible fractures requiring open reduction and fixation, except for absolute indications of rigid internal fixation.
Gangwon-do ; Heart ; Humans ; Mandible* ; Operative Time ; Plastics

PURPOSE: There diagnostic modalities have been commonly used to detect prostate cancer to date: digital rectal examination (DRE), serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) and transrectal ultrasonography(TRUS). We evaluated the diagnostic values of these three modalities in the early detection of prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed 215 patients with low urinary tract symptoms who had pathologic diagnosis for prostatic cancer was possible by biopsy or transurethral resection. Transectal ultrasonography guided sextant biopsies were performed if the PSA level was greater than 4.0 ng/ml or DRE was suspicious, even if TRUS revealed no ateas suspicious for cancer. TURP were performed without TRUS or biopsies if the PSA level was lesser than 4.0 ng/ml and DRE was negative. RESULTS: Of the 215 patients, 36 (16.7%) revealed prostate cancer. Positive predictive value, sensitivity and specificity was 37.0%. 83.3%. 71.5% for DRE, 30.0%, 91.7%, 58.3% for PSA and 27.6% 58.3%. 43.3% for TRUS respectively. Positive findings on serum PSA or DRE or both tests detected significantly more tumors(97.2%, 35of 36 cancers) than only PSA (91.7%, 33 for 36 cancers), DRE (83.3%, 30 of 36 cancers) and TRUS (60.0%, 21 of 35 cancers) alone. CONCLUSIONS: These result shows that DRE is more valuable and cost effective method for detection of prostate cancer than serum PSA and the use of DRE in conjunction with serum PSA enhances prostate cancer detection.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Digital Rectal Examination* ; Humans ; Prostate* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; Ultrasonography* ; Urinary Tract

PURPOSE: Differentiated thyroid cancer is known to be one of cancers which have a favorable prognosis and long-term survival resulting from slow growth of tumor and late distant metastasis. Patients are nearly cured of thyroid cancer after first operation. But, some of those have high risk factors of recurrence. Practically it has been reported that 20% of those have recurrence of cancer and 50~60% of patients died of recurrence. We analyzed factors involving to recurrence after initial treatment, frequency and site of recurrence, disease-free interval, and results of treatment. Based on this information, we investigated therapeutics to decrease the rate of recurrence and prognostic factors to expect death. METHODS: 1803 patients were primarily operated for thyroid cancer in Kyungpook National University Hospital between 1985 and 2003. Among the cases, we reviewed the clinical records of 124 patients (6.9%) who had recurrent thyroid cancer. We analyzed the difference in frequency of recurrence on the basis of sex, age, histologic types, risk groups, and lymph node metastases when they had a first operation. The correlation between these factors and mortality rate was analyzed statistically by using Chi-square test and Fisher's exact probability test. RESULTS: Post-operative recurrence of thyroid cancer was highly observed in over 40 years old at first operation (8.4% vs. 4.9%), men (17.1% vs. 3.9%). Similarly, in the case of medullary or poorly-differentiated thyroid cancers, the groups of patients with high-risk (12.3% vs. 3.9%) or with lymph node metastases (13.5% vs. 3.7%) have high frequency of recurrence. Among the 124 patients, 53.3% cases have regional recurrence sites and 20.1% have local, 17.7% distant metastases, and 1.6% combined locoregional. The number of patients who died of recurrent cancer was 32 of 124 cases. Major cause of the death was distant metastases. In the case of 104 patients who had recurrent differentiated thyroid cancer, significant prognostic indicators of low survival rates are age greater than 45 years, neck dissection at second operation and distant metastases. CONCLUSION: In order to decrease the rate of local and regional recurrence in thyroid cancer, we conclude that complete resections of thyroid tissue and cervical lymph nodes have to be operated specially in the group with high-risk. Although adjacent organs are infiltrated, active treatment should be carried out. The treatment of most medullary or poorly-differentiated thyroid cancers which result in the death of distant metastases still remains to be studied.
Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Mortality ; Neck Dissection ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis* ; Recurrence ; Risk Factors* ; Survival Rate ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

A lymphangioma is comparatively rare in the elimentary tract, and is a benign tumor of the lymphatic system. A duodenal lymphangioma is especially rare, and has an obscure etiology. Clinically, and in the laboratory the are non-specific, and are incidentally found by endoscopy, and their treatment is total excision. Recently, the authors experienced a 45 year-old woman, who had a duodenal lymphangioma, but with no symptom. An endoscopic examination revealed a single, about 2 cm, polypoid lesion below the ampulla. The lesion was successfully excised after a duodenotomy.
Duodenum ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphangioma* ; Lymphatic System ; Middle Aged

The location of the sigmoid colon varies within the abdominal cavity, but its mesocolon is fixed to the left side. Right side fixation of the sigmoid colon is a very rare congenital positional anomaly. In addition, it has been reported that hepatocolic fistula is also a very rare disease that may present lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Here, the authors describe a case of a 71-year-old man who underwent surgery for hepato-sigmoidocolic fistula complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma and the right side fixation of the sigmoid colon.
Abdominal Cavity ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Fistula ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mesocolon ; Rare Diseases

Trichophyton(T.) rubrum is an anthropophilic dermatophyte that is found all over the world. It has become one of the most important causative agents in tinea pedis and onychomycosis. But tinea capitis caused by T. rubrum is rare. Tinea capitis is uncommon in an adult. We report a case of tinea capitis caused by T. rubrum in an 81-year-old woman. She presented with localized asymptomatic well-demarcated thick scaly erythematous patches on the fronto-vertex scalp for 6 months. She was diagnosed as seborrheic dermatitis in local clinic and was treated with topical steroid. However, the lesion was not improved and spreading. Culture from scalp lesion of patient was grown on Sabouraud's dextrose agar and showed typical whitish cottony colonies of T. rubrum. She was treated with 200 mg of oral itraconazole daily for 8 weeks. The skin lesions improved 8 weeks after treatment, and recurrence has not been observed.
Adult ; Agar ; Aged, 80 and over* ; Arthrodermataceae ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Onychomycosis ; Recurrence ; Scalp ; Skin ; Tinea Capitis* ; Tinea Pedis ; Tinea* ; Trichophyton*

In 1912, Crouzon reported one of craniofacial dysostosis, which was inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and characterized by craniosynostosis, midface hypoplasia, and exorbitism. In 1950, the first midface advancement was performed by means of a total facial osteotomy by Sir Harold Gillies. In 1967, Tessier accomplished complete craniofacial dysjunction by performing Le Fort III-Tessier I osteotomy on the basis of Le Fort III fracture and laid the foundation for modern craniofacial surgery. Variable combinations of the surgeries and osteotomies are performed considering functional disabilities as well as patient's age, general condition, and aesthetic problems. The nineteen-year-old female patient complained of frog-like face and showed severe exorbitism and midface hypoplasia, while the occlusion, being relatively normal. We applied modified Le Fort III osteotomy and fronto- orbital advancement. Over the follow-up period of six months, her previous normal occlusion was preserved and the exorbitism and midface deformity largely improved aesthetically.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Craniofacial Dysostosis* ; Craniosynostoses ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Orbit ; Osteotomy*

PURPOSE: To study the development of inferior shoulder subluxation after surgery for proximal humerus fractures. To analyze the mechanism development of such subluxation and the association between different types of proximal humerus fractures, quality of reduction achieved the method of operation performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 45 proximal humerus fractures that were treated by surgery between March 1997 and July 2002 was done. All patients had a minimum of 12 months of postoperative follow up. Preoperative radiographs were classified by the Neer's classification. Different operative treatment methods, post reduction alignment and the degree of postoperative subluxation if present, were analysed. In order to evaluate effect of loss of negative intraarticular pressure, we compared this series with 15 cases of recurrent shoulder dislocation treated by open Bankart operation. RESULTS: 13 patients out of 45 (29%) developed immediate postoperative inferior shoulder subluxation. 3-part fractures of the proximal humerus showed a higher incidence of the same than the 2-part types. The better reduced fractures had lesser rates of subluxation. Open reduction (39%, 11 patients) results in an increased incidence of inferior subluxation than closed methods of reduction (13%, 2 patients). CONCLUSION: Inferior subluxation of the humeral head after surgery for the proximal humerus fracture can occur and persist till postoperative period of 2 months. Deltoid muscle tone affected by shortening of humeral neck plays an important role. Early active exercise for restoration deltoid tone may be effective in prevention of inferior subluxation.
Classification ; Deltoid Muscle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Humans ; Humeral Head ; Humerus* ; Incidence ; Neck ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Dislocation