Maligant melanomas of the oral or nasal cavity, and the vulvovaginal area are relatively common among the melanomas of non-ocular mucosa. But, primary malignant melanoma arising in the mucosa of the palatine tonsil is rare. We present a case of primary malignant melanoma arising in the mucosa of the palatine tonsil. A 36-year-old male was admitted for evaluation of a recurrent sore throat. Tonsillectomy was performed on the basis of clinical suspicion of chronic tonsillitis. Grossly, the left tonsil was focally dark. Microscopically, the tonsillar mucosa was diffusely infiltrated with tumor cells. Tumor cells revealed numerous melanin pigments. Intraepithelial nests of tumor cells were noted, but pagetoid spread of tumor cells was not found. Tumor cells were positive for S-100 protein and HMB45 stain. There was no evidence of melanoma in the skin or eye.
Male ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Epidurally administered clonidine represents an approach to control the pain after cesarean section that produces analgesia by an alpha 2-adrenergic mechanism and may provide postoperative analgesia without nausea, pruritus, and respiratory depression associated with systemic or intraspinal opioid administration. This study was undertaken to evaluate the analgesic effect according to the dose of appropriate bolus and the combination of epidural morphine and clonidine after cesarean section. METHOD: Forty five women, ASA physical status 1 or 2, scheduled for elective cesarean section were randomly assigned to receive epidural administration for postoperative pain control. Group A (n=15) received 1 mg morphine and 75 g clonidine bolus followed by 4 mg morphine and 150 g clonidine. Group B received 2 mg morphine and 75 g clonidine bolus followed by 4 mg morphine and 300 g clonidine. Group C received 3 mg morphine and 75 g clonidine bolus followed by 4 mg morphine and 450 g clonidine. Each combination of drug was injected at Bromage scale 1 after surgery. RESULTS: All groups showed relatively stable hemodynamic status. Analgesic effect was significantly better in Group B and C than Group A (p<0.05). Sedative effect was not a problem in all groups. The incidence of side effects in Group C was more than Group B, which than Group A, but almost cases did not require treatment. CONCLUSION: 2 mg morphine and 75 g clonidine bolus followed by 4 mg morphine and 300 g clonidine with excellent analgesic effect and less side effects is considered as adequate dose in postoperative pain control after cesarean section with epidural anesthesia.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia, Epidural* ; Cesarean Section* ; Clonidine* ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Incidence ; Morphine* ; Nausea ; Pain, Postoperative ; Pregnancy ; Pruritus ; Respiratory Insufficiency

The purpose of this study was to investigate the positional changes of the mandibular condyles after orthognathic surgery in patients with severe skeletal Class III malocclusion. This study was based on 21 patients who had received bilateral sagittal split osteotomy for mandibular setback. Among them 14 were fixated non-rigidly (W group), and 7 were fixated rigidly (R group). After submental vertex view analysis each subject was given the T.M.J. Tomogram in both centric occlusion and centric relation immediate before, 4~6 weeks after and more than 6 months after surgery. The anteroposterior and vertical changes between each time interval were measured and analyzed statistically. Fallowing results were obtained. 1. There was no significant difference between right and left condyles in their anteroposterior and vertical changes of the condylar position. 2. In anteroposterior changes of condylar positon of the wire fixation group, the condyles were moved anteriorly 4-6 weeks after surgery, and then the pattern of reestablishment to their preoperative position was observed more than 6 months after surgery. In the rigid fixation group, there was no significant difference in any observation periods of centric occlusion and centric relation. 3. In vertical changes of condylar position of the wire fixation group, the condyles were moved inferiorly 4-6 weeks after surgery, and then the pattern of reestablishment to their preoperative position was observed more than 6 months after surgery. In the rigid fixation group, the condyles were moved inferiorly 4-6 weeks after surgery, and then the pattern of reestablishment to their preoperative position was observed more than 6 months after surgery in centric occlusion only.
Centric Relation ; Humans ; Malocclusion* ; Mandibular Condyle ; Orthognathic Surgery* ; Osteotomy ; Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus

A fifty-five year old male was admitted because of fever and chill for one month. He complained of upper abdominal pain, malaise, anorexia and weight loss. So diagnostic procedures were performed: stool exam., bload chemistry testing, ultrasonography, radionuclide scintigraphy. ERCP, abdominal CT, and sonoguided liver aspiration, which revealed intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma associated with clonorchiasis.
Abdominal Pain ; Anorexia ; Chemistry ; Cholangiocarcinoma* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Clonorchiasis* ; Fever ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography ; Weight Loss ; Cholangiocarcinoma

PURPOSE: To report the clinical findings and the treatments of patients with dacryocystocele, presenting as an uncommon mass in the medial canthal area of adults. CASE SUMMARY: Five patients, diagnosed with dacryocystocele, complained of epiphora and mucopurulent discharge and were found to have a medial canthal mass. Four of these patients presented with symptoms of acute dacryocystitis. One patient underwent repeated endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (endonasal DCR) with silicone implantation, but the epiphora returned a few months after the treatment. The patient then received external dacryocystorhinostomy (external DCR) with silicone implantation. Two patients experienced recurrence after the first endonasal DCR and, therefore, received repeat endonasal DCR with silicone implantation via a maximum excision of the enlarged lacrimal sac. One patient underwent external DCR with silicone implantation due to acute inflammation with chronic dacryocystitis, and one attempted conservative treatment after refusing any surgical procedure but suffered a relapse. In the surgical cases, no patients experienced recurrence after the final procedure, and they all had a favorable course during the 6 to 14 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Dacryocystocele in adults always requires a surgical procedure. Additional maximum excision of the lateral wall of an enlarged lacrimal sac could be performed to reduce the possibility of recurrence.
Adult ; Dacryocystitis ; Dacryocystorhinostomy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Recurrence ; Silicones

BACKGROUND: Dexmedetomidine is a useful sedative agent for spinal anesthesia. However, it has been reported that dexmedetomidine decreases heart rate in a dose-dependent manner. In the current study, we compared the administration of a bolus dose of midazolam and bolus loading of dexmedetomidine over 10 min with the goal of identifying an additional method of sedation. METHODS: Ninety patients classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I–II who were undergoing spinal anesthesia were divided into two groups. In the midazolam and dexmedetomidine combined group (group MD), 10 min after bolus loading of 0.05 mg/kg midazolam, 0.5 µg/kg/h dexmedetomidine was continuously infused. In the dexmedetomidine group (group D), 1 µg/kg dexmedetomidine was infused over 10 min, and then 0.5 µg/kg/h dexmedetomidine was continuously infused. RESULTS: At 10 min, the sedation depth of the two groups was almost equal. In both groups, the bispectral index was within the optimal score range of 55–80 and the Ramsay Sedation Scale score was within the optimal range of 3–5. Satisfaction with sedation for both patient and surgeon did not differ between the two groups. At 10 min, heart rate was significantly lower (P < 0.010) in group D and mean blood pressure was significantly lower (P < 0.010) in group MD. The prevalence of bradycardia, hypotension, and hypoxia did not differ statistically between the two groups (P = 0.714, P = 0.089, P = 0.495, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Midazolam bolus and dexmedetomidine continuous infusion (the regimen of group MD) may be an additional sedation method for patients who have severe bradycardia.
Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Anoxia ; Blood Pressure ; Bradycardia ; Dexmedetomidine* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Methods ; Midazolam* ; Prevalence

A 62-year-old woman with two vessel coronary artery disease was scheduled for an off-pump coronary artery bypass graft. Under general anesthesia, a 7.5 Fr pulmonary artery (PA) catheter (AH-05050-H, Arrow, USA) was inserted via an 8.5 Fr introducer in the right internal jugular vein. After several attempts, it was successfully guided into the PA, and the systolic/diastolic/mean pressure was 28/10/16 mmHg at 45 cm insertion. Since the catheter migrated into an overwedged position during the operation, the catheter was withdrawn several centimeter. After a while, a sudden change of PA pressure waveform to plateau was noticed, and then PA pressure fell into 0/0/0 mmHg. The PA catheter tip was seen protruding through the normal-appearing anterior wall of the right ventricle. The catheter was withdrawn to a right atrial position, and the perforation was closed. The operation was finished uneventfully and the patient remained stable for the next 14 days and was discharged home. In this case, withdrawal of the PA catheter probably placed its tip in the origin of the PA, from which it then slipped into and perforated the right ventricle. After withdrawal of a PA catheter to avoid an overwedged position, the balloon of the catheter should be re-advanced into a proper position or be withdrawn to a right atrial position.
Anesthesia, General ; Catheters* ; Coronary Artery Bypass, Off-Pump ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Transplants

Purpura fulminans(PF) is a devastating disorder characterized by rapidly progressing hemorrhagic necrosis of the skin, circulatory collapse, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Histopathologically skin lesions show thrombi within the dermal vessels, a sparse perivascular mononuclear infiltrate, and epidermal necrosis. PF can be classified into three distinct categories: acute infectious PF (sepsis associated PF), hemostasis induced PF, and idiopathic PF. We describe a case of acute infectious PF occurring in 65-year old female with pneumococcal sepsis.
Aged ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Female ; Hemostasis ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Purpura Fulminans* ; Purpura* ; Sepsis ; Shock ; Skin

No abstract available.
Anesthesia, General* ; Shoulder* ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular*

We experienced a patient who developed a cerebral air embolism after subclavian venous catheter removal. The patient underwent gastric antrectomy under impression of gastric cancer. After surgery, right subclavian venous catheter was removed while the patient was kept in supine position for 15 minutes. When he changed to sitting position, he became agitated and O2 saturation was dropped to 72%. Im-mediately 100% O2 was administered via air mask. Computed tomography of brain showed multiple focal air densities in the cerebral vessels. Three days after the event, he slowly regained consciousness with persistent left hemipareis. After rehabilitation, he was able to walk with quadcane and gained functional improvement.
Brain ; Catheters* ; Consciousness ; Dihydroergotamine ; Embolism, Air* ; Embolism, Paradoxical ; Humans ; Masks ; Rehabilitation ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Supine Position