Sclerosing hemangiomas are rare benign neoplasms in pulmonary parenchyme, We analyzed CT findings of two cases of sclerosing hemangiomas of the lung in two adult females. Chest radiograph showed well-circumscuribed, round soft tissue mass with calcification in right lower lobe of one patient and without calcification and moderate or marked contrast enhancement was clearly demonstrated with CT scan. CT findings of contratst enhancement and contour of calcification allow differentiation of sclerosing hemangioma from other venign neoplasms or postinflammotory pseudotusrs of the lung.
Adult ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans ; Lung ; Pulmonary Sclerosing Hemangioma* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The size of spinal canal is valuable ot detect the body encroachment of spinal canal and expansion due totumors by computed tomography. This study was desinged for taking accurate measurement of the normal thoracicspinal canal in korean adults. The anteroposterior diameter, interpediculate distance and cross-sectional area ofthoracic spinal canal were measured in 80 normal adults. The results were as follows. 1. In A-P diameter, middleparts of the canal were smaller values than those of upper and lower parts from T1 to T6, and upper parts of thecanal were larger than those of middle and lower parts from T7 to T10. 2. In interpediculate distance, middleparts of the canal revealed larger value than those of upper parts. 3. All measurements of male were larger thanthose of female at all levels of the spinal canals and 65 measurement(93%) were statistically significant.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Spinal Canal

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the image quality, contrast characteristics, and possible clinical utility of Medium Tau Invesion Recovery(MTIR) sequence with white matter suppression in patients with brain cortical lesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two normal volunteers and twenty-one patients with cortical lesion were scanned with MTIR as well as other MR imaging sequences. Gray-white matter contrast was evaluated objectively using region-of-interest calculations, including percent contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR). MTIR sequence was visually compared with other sequences in 21 patients with cortical lesion including conspicuity and detection rate. RESULTS: MTIR sequence had the highest percent contrast and CNR between the gray matter and white matter. In twenty-one cases of cortical lesion including cortical dysplasia, MTIR sequence improved delineation and conspicuity of lesion, but MTIR sequence could not detect new lesions. CONCLUSION: MTIR sequence demonstrated a superior percent contrast and CNR to other MR pulse sequences. The MTIR sequence well delineated the cortical lesions, particularly in including cortical dysplasia. It may be used as an adjunctive imaging sequence in case of poor gray and white matter differentiation with conventional T1-weighted sequences.
Brain* ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Malformations of Cortical Development

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term effectivensess of intracavitary urokinase with percutaneous catheter drainage in Ioculated thoracic empyemas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 15 patients were identified as second stage of Ioculated thoracic empyema by estimating nature of pleural fluid, chest PA, lateral decubitus view and CT scan. Under the guidance of fluoroscopy or ultrasound, catheter was inserted percutaneously. Instillation of urokinase was started when amount of drained fluid became less than 30ml per day with 100,000U of urokinase mixed with 100ml of normal saline. Trial of urokinase was repeated until complete drainage of empyema was demonstrated on plain chest film obtained after 48 hours. RESULTS: Successful complete drainage was achieved in 14 of 15 patients. In long-term study, complete resorption was demonstrated in 11 of 12 patients. Average dosage of used urokinase was 330,000U and mean duration of catherter insertion was 35 days. CONCLUSION: lntracavitary urokinase with percutaneous catheter drainage is a safe and effective method to facilitate drainage of Ioculated empyema and to prevent recurrence.
Catheters ; Drainage ; Empyema ; Empyema, Pleural* ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term effectivensess of intracavitary urokinase with percutaneous catheter drainage in Ioculated thoracic empyemas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 15 patients were identified as second stage of Ioculated thoracic empyema by estimating nature of pleural fluid, chest PA, lateral decubitus view and CT scan. Under the guidance of fluoroscopy or ultrasound, catheter was inserted percutaneously. Instillation of urokinase was started when amount of drained fluid became less than 30ml per day with 100,000U of urokinase mixed with 100ml of normal saline. Trial of urokinase was repeated until complete drainage of empyema was demonstrated on plain chest film obtained after 48 hours. RESULTS: Successful complete drainage was achieved in 14 of 15 patients. In long-term study, complete resorption was demonstrated in 11 of 12 patients. Average dosage of used urokinase was 330,000U and mean duration of catherter insertion was 35 days. CONCLUSION: lntracavitary urokinase with percutaneous catheter drainage is a safe and effective method to facilitate drainage of Ioculated empyema and to prevent recurrence.
Catheters ; Drainage ; Empyema ; Empyema, Pleural* ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*

To evaluate a new reliable sclerosant of the gallbladder, we attempted gallbladder ablation with 10% phenol, and the results compared with those from using 95% ethanol which had been used previousy as gallbladder sclerosing agent in laboratory animals in other reports. After laparotomy, ligation of the cystic dusts with silk and cannulation of gallbladder with 18 gauge angiocatheter were done. Then, transcatheter administration of two different scleroing agents was performed in 8 rabbits respectively and normal saline in four rabbits as a control. Additionally, preliminary washing with each agent were implemented to prevent the dilutional effect of residual bile and bleeding. All animals survived without complication. Eight animals were used for each agent, four each being sacrified two weeks and six weeks after adminstration of sclerosing agents respectively. In our results, 10% phenol was more effective than 95% ethanol in denuding the gallbladder epithelium and promoting fibrosis of gallbladder wall, And it was relatively safe in regard to the dilutional effect of residual fluid and bleeding during procedure. Toxic effects on the liver evaluated by examination of histologic specimen were non-specific except for edematous swelling on some cases, which had also been observed on others including control group. 10% phenol can be considered to be a promosing sclerosant for gallbladder ablation, but further study of its toxicity is needed before its application on human gallbladder.
Animals ; Animals, Laboratory ; Bile ; Catheterization ; Dust ; Epithelium ; Ethanol ; Fibrosis ; Gallbladder* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Ligation ; Liver ; Phenol* ; Rabbits* ; Sclerosing Solutions ; Sclerosis* ; Silk

Endoscopic intraluminal implantation of a self expandable stent has been increasing in patients with recurrent urethral strictures because of its simple and relative safe technique. There has been a few reports concerning luminal obstruction after implantation of Wallstent. We have experienced 4 cases of urethral obstruction after variable period of Wallstent implantation in the treatment of traumatic urethral stricture. Herein the methods for treatment of urethral obstruction are discussed. The patients were managed with two different types of treatment. The first one was transurethral resection of granulation tissue inside Wallstent. The other is reinsertion of Wallstent inside the first one after transluminal resection of granulation tissue in patients with urethral obstruction occurring within 5 months after Wallstent implantation. Retrograde urethrography and urethroscopy after 3 months have demonstrated patency of urethra and epithelial covering of the implant. Our experience shows that in all 4 patients with traumatic urethral stricture have developed variable degrees of urethral obstruction after a variable period of wallstent implantation. Therefore, we consider that our method is one of the alternatives to treat urethral obstruction after wallstent implantation in patients with traumatic urethral stricture.
Granulation Tissue ; Humans ; Phenobarbital ; Stents ; Urethra ; Urethral Obstruction* ; Urethral Stricture*

The purpose of this study is to report our 5-year experience with fluoroscopic removal of blunt esophageal foreign body or impacted food in 15 consecutive patients who were referred by endoscopists because they couldn's remove it endoscopically. The foreign body or impacted food was a pieced of meat, a bean, a badug stone or a beef bone. Thirteen patients had underlying disease(11 of corrosive stricture, 2 of postoperative stricture) but 2 patients did not. We removed the object using one of the following 4 techniques: Basket extraction technique, Foley catheter technique, single balloon technique (dilatation of stenosis for passing the food into the stomach and for the treatment of the stricture as well), double balloon technique(removal of the foreign body by trapping it with two valvuloplasty balloons). Removal was successful in all patients. Esophageal perforation occurred in one patient using the single balloon technique, who treated nonoperatively by means of fasting, antibiotics and parenteral alimentation. No procedure related death occurred in these series. In conclusion, fluoroscopic removal of blunt esophageal foreign bodies of impacted food with various techniques is promising alternative to esophagoscopic removal.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Esophageal Perforation ; Fasting ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Meat ; Red Meat ; Stomach

Balloon dacryocystoplasty has been reported to be a safe, easy and effective nonoperative treatment for nasolacrimal stenosis. The results were not encouraging, however, because of its high failure and recurrence rates. To evaluate the feasibility of using modified Gianturco expandable metallic stents for maintenance of the dilated nasolacrimal system(NLS), 20 stents of 3 mm in diameter and 10mm long were placed in 20 nasolacrimal ducts of 10 dogs for 1 month to 10 months. It was more difficult to introduce the stents into the proximal portion(A) of the NLS than into the distal portion(B) due to the narrow and bony canal of the A portion. Twenty stents showed no migration in follow-up studies of up to 10 months. One complete occlusion occurred in a stent placed in A portion. Autopsy studies showed stents were covered with epithelium within 2 months after placement. Our experience suggest that the placement of Gianturco self-expandable stents may be a useful method of dilating and maintaining the luminal diameter of the NLS, although care must be taken to select the proper stent size.
Animals ; Autopsy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dogs* ; Epithelium ; Follow-Up Studies ; Methods ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Phenobarbital ; Recurrence ; Stents*

Enteroenteric anastomotic strictures of UGI tract are common and require treatment if significant obstruction occurs. We performed fluoroscopic guided balloon dilatation in 6 patients who had symptomatic stricture of gastrojejunostomy. The stricture was successfully resolved in 4 patients with benign stricture. But 2 patients with malignant stricture had recurrence of obstructive symptom 2 weeks later, and they required a stent. Asymptomatic balloon rupture was seen in one patient, but other procedural complications did not occur. We found that fluoroscopic guided balloon dilatation is an effective and safe method in the treatment of anastomotic stricture of gastrojejunostomy. We also found transient effect in malignant gastrojejunal anastomotic strictures, which required an interventional procedure, such as placement of a stent.
Constriction, Pathologic* ; Dilatation* ; Gastric Bypass* ; Humans ; Methods ; Recurrence ; Rupture ; Stents