PURPOSE: To evaluate MRI findings of Guillain-Barre syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In six patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome diagnosed by clinical, cerebrospinal fluid and electrophysiologic findings, a retrospective review of MR findings was conducted. Follow-up MRI scans were carried out in two patients showing minimal clinical improvement. RESULTS: Marked or moderate enhancement of thickened nerve roots was seen in all cases on gadopentetate dimeglumine enhanced axial T1-weighted images. Two patterns were seen ; one was even enhancement of both anterior and posterior nerve roots (n=1) and the other was enhancement of anterior nerve roots only (n=5). Enhancement and thickness of nerve roots was seen to have slightly decreased on MRI follow-up at 32 and 50 days ; clinical and electrophysiologic examination showed minimal improvement. CONCLUSION: Although MRI findings of nerve root enhancement are nonspecific and can be seen in neoplastic and other inflammatory diseases, the enhancement of thickened anterior nerve roots within thecal sac suggests Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Retrospective Studies

No abstract available.
Dislocations* ; Knee*

No abstract available.
Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Ulcer*

PURPOSE: To evaluate a scoring system based on ultrasonographic findings as a means of distinguishing between benign and malignant solid breast masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Histopathologically confirmed benign (n=102) and malignant (n=73) breast masses which ultrasonographic findings of histopathologic masses were reviewed for shape, border, internal echo, boundary echo, posterior echo, lateral echo, and ratio of transverse to anteroposterior diameter. There were statistically significant (p < 0.001 ; chi-square test) differences in each feature for benign and malignant lesions. The findings suggesting benignancy, equivocality, and malignancy of the masses were scored as 0, 1, and 2 respectively. The scores for all features were summed for each lesion. An ROC curve was obtained. RESULTS: When the score was 6, five benign and seven malignant cases were found. Scores of 0 and 1 indicated benign masses and a score above 11, malignancy. The turning point was a score of 6, so a score above 7 suggests malignancy. CONCLUSION: A ultrasonographic scoring system can be used to characterise breast masses. A score of a mass above 7 suggests probable malignancy and a score below 5 suggests benignancy.
Breast* ; ROC Curve ; Ultrasonography*

In 1938, Jarcho and Levin initially described shortening of the trunk, prominent occiput, broad forehead, multiple vertebral defects and ribs anomaly, short neck, increased anteroposterior chest diameter, lordosis, kyphoscoliosis. After that, Jarcho-Levin syndrome is an eponym that has been used to describe a variety of clinical phenotypes. We examined a girl who was suspected as suffering from Jarcho-Levin syndrome because she had shortening of the trunk, multiple vertebral defects and ribs anomaly, short neck, increased anteroposterior chest diameter, lordosis, kyphoscoliosis. We report a case of Jarcho-Levin syndrome with intrathoracic kidney, and review related literature.
Animals ; Eponyms ; Female ; Forehead ; Humans ; Kidney* ; Lordosis ; Neck ; Phenotype ; Ribs ; Thorax

OBJECTIVE: Amniocentesis is the most commonly used invasive method for prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders. We performed this study to analyze the indications, distributions of maternal age and cytogenetic results of midtrimester amniocentesis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 785 cases of midtrimester prenatal genetic amniocentesis which were performed in the cytogenetics laboratory using in situ coverslip culture at Dong-A University Hospital from January 1995 to March 2003. RESULTS: Amniocentesis was practiced mostly from 15 weeks to 20 weeks of gestational ages. Requested indications of amniocentesis were abnormal maternal serum screening (421, 53.7%), advanced maternal age (233, 29.7%) and abnormal ultrasonographic finding (61, 7.8%) in the order of decrease. The overall incidence of chromosome abnormalities was 5.1% (40 cases), and it contains 27 cases (3.4%) of numerical abnormalities and 13 cases (1.7%) of structural abnormalities. Among autosomal abnormalities Down syndrome was most common (13 cases) and followed by Edward syndrome (2 cases). Of the sex chromosomal abnormalities, three cases of Turner syndrome and three cases of Kleinefelter syndrome were found. Chromosomal abnormalities were most frequently noted in the maternal age of 30 to 34 years old (14 cases, 35.0%), 25 to 29 years old (12 cases, 30.0%), followed by 35 to 39 years old (7 cases, 17.5%). The frequency of pseudomosaicism were 5 cases (0.6%). CONCLUSION: Maternal serum screening, advanced maternal age and antenatal ultrasonographic finding must be important screening methods for amniocentesis which is considered to the most effective diagnostic procecdure for prenatal cytogenetic studies. I conclude that the karyotyping analysis of midtrimester amniocentesis is efficacious method for detection of chromosomal aberration and genetic counselling for parents.
Adult ; Amniocentesis* ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetic Analysis* ; Cytogenetics* ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Incidence ; Karyotyping ; Mass Screening ; Maternal Age ; Parents ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second* ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Turner Syndrome

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of preoperative MRI in the patient with recurrent anorectal fistula. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients with recurrent anorectal fistula underwent non-contrast MRI. In eight patients, T1-, T2- and proton-weighted images were taken in the axial, coronal and sagittal planes, and T1- andT2-weighted images taken in the axial and coronal planes were obtained from the other six. RESULTS: Fourteen cases of anorectal fistula and eight cases in which there was a combined abscess were detected. Preoperative MRI clearly showed the exact anatomical relationship with the anal sphincter, levator ani and surrounding soft tissue. In two cases in which there was fibrous scarring of the fistula tract, low signal intensities were seen on all MRI sequences. Preoperative information in the group in which only axial and coronal T1- and T2-weighted images were obtained was sufficient. CONCLUSION: Preoperative MRI in patients with recurrent anorectal fistula or suspected multiple fistulous tracts provide objective information concerning the anatomical location and extension of a fistula and combined abscess and could thus reduce the reoperation rate. An understanding of pathologic state through MRI signal intensity can help decide the most appropriate course of treatment.
Abscess ; Anal Canal ; Cicatrix ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Reoperation

Heterotopic pregnancy, simultaneous intrauterine and extrauterine pregnancy, is an extremely rare case. The incidence of heterotopic pregnancy was about 1 to 30,000 pregnancy, but it has been increased. Ectopic pregnancy is associated with significant mortality if not promptly diagnosed. Careful pelvic examination combined serial beta-hCG determinations and transvaginal sonography to evaluation the adnexal region are necessary prerequisites for early diagnosis. We report a case of discovery of heterotopic pregnancy after elective abortion with brief review of literature.
Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Gynecological Examination ; Incidence ; Mortality ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnancy, Heterotopic*

Enterobacter cloacae, a gram negative bacillus is an increasingly frequent cause of nosocomial pediatric infection. It can cause infection of postsurgical wounds, meningitis, and infection of the gastrointestinal, urinary, and respiratory tracts. Newborn infants often are colonized by Enterobacter species in the gastrointestina tract or respiratory tract soon after birth, and a acquisition of hospital strains in immunocompromised newborn infants is common. Neonatal pneumonia has been associated with many infectious agents. Pneumatocele, a cyst-like lesion that develops within the lung parenchyma, is an unusual complication of pneumonia in the neonate, especially in the preterm neonate. Pneumatocele has been reported to occur with Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. We describe 2 cases of premature neonates with pneumonia and subsequent pneumatocele formation caused by Enterobacter cloacae.
Bacillus ; Colon ; Enterobacter cloacae* ; Enterobacter* ; Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Lung ; Meningitis ; Parturition ; Pneumonia ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Respiratory System ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Wounds and Injuries

Purpose: Radiation-induced lymphopenia is associated with worse outcomes in solid tumors. We assessed the impact of interleukin-7 (IL-7), a key cytokine in lymphocyte homeostasis, on radiation-induced lymphopenia. Materials and Methods: A post-hoc analysis was performed in a prospective cohort of 98 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who were treated with radiotherapy in 2016-2018. Blood IL-7 levels were assayed before and at the end of radiotherapy. Acute severe lymphopenia (ASL) was defined as a total lymphocyte count of < 200/μL during radiotherapy. Cox and logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of survival and ASL development, respectively. Results: Patients with ASL (n=41) had significantly poorer overall survival than those without (12.0 months vs. 25.3 months, p=0.001). Patients with lymphocyte recovery showed significantly longer overall survival than those without (21.8 months vs. 10.3 months, p=0.042). ASL was an independent predictor of poor survival (hazard ratio, 2.07; p=0.015). Patients with ASL had significantly lower pre-radiotherapy IL-7 levels (2.07 pg/mL vs. 3.01 pg/mL, p=0.010). A high pre-radiotherapy IL-7 level was an independent predictor of a reduced risk of ASL development (hazard ratio, 0.40; p=0.004). IL-7 levels reflected a feedback response to ASL, with a higher ΔIL-7 in patients with ASL and a lower ΔIL-7 in those without ASL (0.48 pg/mL vs. –0.66 pg/mL, p < 0.001). Post-radiotherapy IL-7 levels were significantly positively correlated with the total lymphocyte counts at 2 months. Conclusion IL-7 is associated with the development of and recovery from ASL, which may impact survival. To overcome radiation-induced lymphopenia, a novel strategy using IL-7 may be considered.