The columnar cell variant of papillary carcinoma is a rare tumor of the thyroid, associated with aggressive behavior, early metastasis, and a rapidly fatal course. We present the fine needle aspiration cytologic(FNAC) findings of columnar cell variant of papillary carcinoma with cytohistologic correlation. In the smears, the tumor fragments showed mainly papillary pattern and a few scattered individual cells were present around the papillary fragments. The tumor cells were columnar or cuboidal and exhibited pseudostratification of the nuclei. The nuclei were oval to elongated with finely stippled chromatin and inconspicous nucleoli. Neither nuclear grooves nor intracytoplasmic inclusion was found. The FNAC diagnosis was consistent with papillary carcinoma. Total thyroidectomy was done and the histologic finding of the mass showed a predominantly papillary and focal solid proliferation of columar cells with marked nuclear pseudostratification. The unique histopathologic features and highly aggressive nature of columnar cell variant of papillary carcinoma require that this variant should be differeniated from common papillary carcinoma of the thyroid.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Child* ; Chromatin ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroidectomy ; Urinalysis* ; Urinary Tract*

No abstract available.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome* ; Plasmapheresis*

BACKGROUND: Carinoma arising from the choledochal cyst is rare but well known complication, the mechanism of which is, however, still unclear. This study is intended to analogize the mechanism of carcinogenesis in choledocahl cyst from the changes in the cyst epithelium according to the age groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 19 cases of choledochal cysts and was performed by comparing 6 cases of group I patients(age less than 20) to 13 cases of group II patients(age 20 or more).The records of both group patients were reviewed for demographic and clinical features. Histopathologic findings and immunoreactivities for p53 were comparatively analyzed. RESULTS: In group I, epithelial changes of chronic inflammation, regeneration atypia, hyperplasia, intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia were found in 6, 4, 5, 1 and 3 cases, respectively. In group II, there were 12 chronic inflamation, 5 regeneration atypia, 7 hyperplasia, 1 intestinal metaplasia, and 11 dysplasia including 4 high grade and 7 low grade dysplasia. There were also 3 carcinomas arising from the cyst in group II. p53 immunoreactivities were only found in those with dysplasia and carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal metaplasia presents in only 2 cases. On the other hand, dysplasia is one of the predominant findings in the epithelium of the cysts. These findings suggest carcinogenesis in choledochal cyst presumably follow de novo pathway(repeated injury/regeneration - dysplasia - carcinoma) rather than metaplasia - dysplasia - carcinoma sequence.
Carcinogenesis ; Choledochal Cyst* ; Epithelium ; Hand ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Inflammation ; Metaplasia ; Regeneration ; Retrospective Studies

In this retrospective study, 49 patients who were treated by surgical resection of colorectal cancer, confuted to proper muscle and confirmed histologically from 1979 to 1996 were included. To examine the significance of growth pattern in terms of polypoid growth(PG)(n=26; m,sm 5, pm 21) and non-polypoid growth(NPG)(n=23; m,sm 3, pm 20), we analyzed several clinocopathologic variables by x2 test and unpaired t-test, 5-year survival rate by Kaplan-Meier method and Log-Rank statistics according to growth type comparatively: 1) In the PG tumor, muscle elevation(P<0.0117) and association with adenoma(P<0.0001) were more frequent than in the NPG. 2) The NPG type showed smaller size(P<0.0172) and higher rate of lymph node metastasis(P=0.025) and higher tendency of lymphatic invasion(P=0.07) and poor differentiation(P=0.0693) and deeper invasion(P=0.0972) and worse 5-year survival(P=0.0607). 3) Otherwise there was no difference in inflammation, fibrosis, and angioinvasion. 4) The mean thickness of Outer Longitudinal Muscle(OLM) was thicker in rectum than colon(rectum 1.62 mm, colon 0.74 mm, p<0.0059) and pm cancer was more in rectum than in colon(rectum 10.3%, colon 4.0% , p=0.0057). In the view of results, NPG in early colorectal cancer may suggest the possibility of de novo cancer. NPG type was smaller in the size but more aggressive in lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion, invasion depth, tumor differentiation, 5-year survival rate. So it needs more thorough follow up. The higher incidence of pm cancer in rectum than in colon, is probably due to thicker OLM of rectum than that of colon.
Colon ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Rectum ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether there was any correlation between sonographic parameters and perinatal course of fetal ovarian cysts. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of cases from July, 1994 through February, 2003. The pre- and postnatal data of 10 fetuses who prenatally diagnosed to have an ovarian cyst, delivered and followed up in our obstetric center were analyzed. Maternal age, gestational age of diagnosis, ovarian cyst location, size, combined anomaly, mode of delivery, changes of ultrasonographic parameters, management of ovarian cysts and pathologic findings were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 10 fetal ovarian cysts were all purely cystic, with well defined margins. Three of 10 cases (30%) showed antenatal sonographic patterns of complicated cysts (2 septa, 1 intraluminal echo) which spontaneously resolved during serial sonographic monitoring. In 2 cases the sonographic findings became complicated postnatally and were operated on revealing dermoid cyst with torsion. Five uncomplicated cysts of 10 cases were spontaneously resolved during perinatal follow-up. In eight cases of ovarian cysts larger than 4 cm, there was only one case which required postnatal surgery. CONCLUSION: There was no single ultrasonographic parameter (internal echoes, septum, character, size) to predict perinatal course of ovarian cysts including spontaneous resolution, torsion and need of operation.
Dermoid Cyst ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fetus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Age ; Maternal Age ; Ovarian Cysts* ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Brush cytology is one of useful methods for establishing a diagnosis of lung cancer. There are two methods of retrieving the specimen of brush cytology. One is to withdraw the brush through the working channel of the bronchoscope (withdrawn brush) and the other is to withdraw the brush and bronchoscope as a unit, with brush remaining protruded through the distal tip of the bronchoscope (nonwithdrawn brush). We tried to compare two methods in the cellularity of the specimen and the diagnosis of lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients with suspected lung cancer were studied prospectively. The sequence of sampling (withdrawn or nonwithdrawn brush) was assigned randomly. The specimens were interpreted by two cytopathologists about cellularity (1-4) and presence of recognizable malignant cells. RESULTS: Cellularity was significantly greater for nonwithdrawn brush (p<0.05). There was no significant difference of diagnostic rate between both methods in the diagnosis of lung cancer. CONCLUSION: Withdrawing the brush through the bronchoscope decreases the cellularity, but it does not affect the diagnostic rate for lung cancer.
Bronchoscopes ; Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of hormone replacement therapy on endometrial thickness in postmenopausal women and to assess the difference in endometrial thickness by the type of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Endometrial thickness was measured in 258 postmenopausal women before and/or during 12 months of HRT. The subjects were grouped into the sequential therapy group (Group 1, 72 women) and continuous combined therapy group (Group 2, 186 women). Group 1 received 0.625 mg of conjugate equine estrogen (CEE) daily with cyclic addition of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA, 10 mg/day for 12 days per month). Group 2 received 0.625 mg of CEE with daily addition of MPA (2.5 mg/day). RESULTS: The sequential group showed no significant change in endometrial thickness during HRT compared to that before HRT. However, a significant increase in endometrial thickness was found in the continuous combined group at 12 months of treatment. Before HRT, the endometrial thickness in the continuous combined group was thinner than that of the sequential group. During 12 months of treatment, there was no difference in endometrial thickness between the types of HRT. And the proportion of patients with endometrial thickness of 8mm or greater at 12 months of treatment did not differ significantly from that before treatment in both groups. CONCLUSION: Sequential HRT did not influence the endometrial thickness during treatment. However, continuous combined HRT increased the endometrial thickness during 12 months of treatment compared to that before treatment. The different endometrial responses to each HRT regimen may be due to the difference in endometrial thickness before treatment in each group.
Estrogens ; Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy* ; Humans ; Medroxyprogesterone Acetate

PURPOSE: In general, sinusitis in children is diagnosed by clinical symptom and paranasal sinus x-ray. Sinus plain x-rays in children is simple, inexpensive, and speedy. However, it requires proper interpretative techniques, because different development of each sinus, soft tissues overlying sinuses and bony structure require precise diagnosis. This study was conducted to compare plain x-rays with OMU CT scans. METHODS: From September 1996 through August 1997, thirty nine patients who were diagnosed as sinusitis based on clinical symptoms and plain x-rays at the pediatric department of Seoul Adventist Hospital were studied. Water's view, Caldwell's view and lateral view were taken for the plain x-rays with concurrent OMU CT scans prior to treatments. RESULTS: Ten cases (25.6%) out of 39 patients showed posterior nasal drip and fourteen cases (35.9%) showed nasal obstruction. Twelve cases (30.8%) were related to allergic diseases and seven cases (58.3%) among these 12 cases were bronchial asthma. Sensitivity of plain x-ray were 88.5+/-12.9% for maxillary sinuses, and 59.9+/-13.65% for ethmoidal sinuses. CONCLUSION: When maxillary sinusitis is suspected, plain X-ray for maxillary sinuses is enough to diagnose sinusitis, but for ethmoidal sinuses it may be underestimated or overestimated in comparison with OMU CT scan. Ethmoidal sinusitis requires careful diagnosis and follow-up because it plays important roll for chronic sinusitis due to its structure. Therefore, we recommends OMU CT scan to diagnose paranasal sinusitis of children with plain X-ray.
Asthma ; Child* ; Diagnosis ; Ethmoid Sinusitis ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Maxillary Sinusitis ; Nasal Obstruction ; Seoul ; Sinusitis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

PURPOSE: Growth patterns of colorectal carcinomas can be divided into polypoid growth (PG) and nonpolypoid growth (NPG). This study was intended to find characteristic clinicopathologic features and the expression status of p53, p21, and p16 with relation to growth patterns in colorectal carcinomas. METHODS: Sixty-one surgically resected colorectal carcinomas including 43 PG and 18 NPG carcinomas were reviewed in this study. Immunohistochemical stains for p53, p21, and p16 were done, and the results were analyzed with respect to growth patterns, and other prognosic parameters. RESULTS: PG carcinomas were significantly correlated with adenoma (p=0.0001), and with favorable histology group (p=0.04). On the contrary, NPG carcinomas were significantly correlated with unfavorable histology group (p=0.04). In NPG carcinomas, the frequency of positive expression of p53 was higher and the expression of p16 was lower than that of PG carcinomas. But there was no statistical significance (p=0.150, 0.210 respectively). The expression of p21 has no difference between NPG and PG carcinomas (p=0.953). CONCLUSIONS: As a result, it can be thought that the tendency of higher expression of p53 and lower expression of p16 in NPG carcinomas than in PG carcinomas may suggest more aggressive biologic behavior of NPG carcinomas.
Adenoma ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Coloring Agents ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor*

Small cell carcinoma of the gallbladder is a rare neoplasm with a high malignant potential, representing about 4% of all carcinomas in this organ. It predominantly develops in older women with cholelithiasis and deaths usually occur within a few months after the diagnosis. We report a case with a small cell carcinoma of the gallbladder with literature review. A case of 74-year-old woman with fever and abdominal pain for days was temporarily diagnosed as empyema of the gallbladder and received emergency cholecystostomy. 15 days later, she underwent cholecystectomy. Pathological examination of the gallbladder revealed small cell carcinoma. Of the immunohistochemical stains for neuroendocrine and other tumor markers, this tumor was positive for cytokeratin, NSE, lysozyme, gastrin,p53 and p16 and negative for CEA, chromogranin, synaptophysin, somatostatin, serotonin and ACTH. The small cell was partially originated from the common premobial cell with bidirectional differentiation. She died of cancer cachexia 2 months after initial operation.
Abdominal Pain ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Aged ; Cachexia ; Carcinoma, Small Cell* ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystostomy ; Cholelithiasis ; Coloring Agents ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Empyema ; Female ; Fever ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Keratins ; Muramidase ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Serotonin ; Somatostatin ; Synaptophysin ; Biomarkers, Tumor