PURPOSE: We analyzed the oncological outcome and prognostic factor of the chondrosarcoma arising from benign bone tumor due to malignant transformation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 1986 to April 2009, 18 cases were considered eligible. We analyzed retrospectively the patient's characteristics and prognostic factors that affect to the local recurrence and distant metastasis. RESULTS: As classified by primary benign bone tumor, 4 cases were solitary osteochondroma, 11 cases were multiple osteochondromatosis and 3 cases were multiple enchondromatosis. The mean follow-up period was 85 months. The 5-year disease free survival rate of 18 patients was 85.9%. Their overall MSTS score was 25.2 (84%). There were local recurrence in 3 cases and no distant metastasis. We found that tumor location and surgical margin affected to the prognosis significantly. CONCLUSION: In secondary chondrosarcoma patients, the prognosis was good relatively and tumor location and surgical margin are important prognosis factor.
Chondrosarcoma ; Disease-Free Survival ; Enchondromatosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteochondroma ; Osteochondromatosis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: We analyzed the oncologic outcome of the malignant transformed benign giant cell tumor of bone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2000 and February 2012, 5 cases were referred with suspicious malignant transformation of benign giant cell tumor. No patients underwent radiation therapy. RESULTS: After referral, all patients received the wide excision of the tumor and its' pathologic diagnosis were osteosarcoma. As classified by the location of tumor lesion, 3 cases were located in the distal femur, 1 case was in the distal radius and 1 case was in the proximal femur. The average latent period between diagnosis of benign giant cell tumor and diagnosis of secondary malignant giant cell tumor was 49.2 months. (range, 24-126 months) The mean follow-up period was 21.6 months. There were subsequent local recurrence in 2 cases and 3 patients developed distant metastasis. All patients with lung metastasis were dead. CONCLUSION: Malignant transformation of benign giant cell tumor of bone can be occurred within 5 years. Therefore, when benign giant cell tumor suspicious malignant transformation, it is necessary to do more aggressive treatment.
Femur ; Follow-Up Studies ; Giant Cell Tumor of Bone ; Giant Cell Tumors ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Osteosarcoma ; Radius ; Recurrence ; Referral and Consultation

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in behavioral characteristics and parental stress between allergic and nonallergic elementary school children. METHODS: Ninety-one elementary school children who had allergic disease were enrolled (asthma, n=27; allergic rhinitis, n=35; combined, n=29). Also one hundred six nonallergic elementary school children were enrolled for the control group. The Korean Child Behavior Check List (K-CBCL) and Korean Parenting Stress Index-Short Form (K-PSI-SF) were completed by their mothers. RESULTS: According to the analysis of K-CBCL, the score for Internalizing, anxious/depressed and somatic complaints were significantly higher in the combined group than in the control group. The score for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-affective problems in the combined group and DSM-somatic problems were significantly higher in the asthma group than in the control group. According to the analysis of K-PSI-SF, the score for parental distress was significantly higher in the allergic rhinitis group than in the control group. The scores for behavioral problems and parental stress were significantly correlated to allergic disease groups. CONCLUSION: Behavioral problems and parental stress were significantly associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis. The results of this study suggest the importance of psychosocial support for mothers and children with allergic diseases.
Asthma* ; Child Behavior ; Child* ; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ; Humans ; Mothers ; Parenting ; Parents* ; Problem Behavior ; Rhinitis, Allergic*

PURPOSE: To Analyze the Clinical Results of the Total Knee Arthroplasty without Patellar Resurfacing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and eight Total Knee Arthroplasties (Nexgen(R), Zimmer, USA) without resurfacing of the patella, were performed between February 1995 and September 1999, and 89 cases followed up for more than 36 months were analyzed in this study. The follow up period ranged from 36 to 70 months (average 52 months). The diagnosis was degenerative joint disease in 83 cases (93%), rheumatoid arthritis in 5 cases (6%) and avascular necrosis of medial femoral condyle in 1 case (1%). The clinical results were evaluated according to Knee Society Clinical Rating System. RESULTS: The mean preoperative knee score was 34 points (range 5-63 points) according to the Knee Society Clinical Rating System, and the mean preoperative functional score was 38 points (range, 10-61 points). The mean postoperative knee score was 91 points (range 65-98 points) and the mean postoperative functional score 89 points (range, 63-100 points). The current study shows that patellar complications associated with unresurfacing did not occur, with the exception of 2 cases of persistent peripatellar pain, which resolved by a postoperative 6 months with conservative treatment. The patellofemoral joint space was also well preserved even at the 3 and 5 year follow-ups. CONCLUSION: Complications of total knee arthroplasty, such as patellar dislocation or subluxation, rupture of the patellar tendon, and fracture of the patella, can be avoided by not resurfacing the patella. On the basis of our results, there is little evidence to support routine patellar resurfacing in total knee arthroplasty.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Arthroplasty* ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Joint Diseases ; Knee* ; Necrosis ; Patella ; Patellar Dislocation ; Patellar Ligament ; Patellofemoral Joint ; Rupture

PURPOSE: The first web space of the foot has a similar thickness and skin texture of the pulp of the fingers. Moreover, it has a reliable blood vessel and sensory nerve. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of the first web space free flap to reconstruct the pulp of fingers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Authors have performed 23 cases of first web space free flap to reconstruct the pulp defect of the fingers between June 2004 and May 2009. The age of the patients ranged from 20 years old to 55 years old. The size of the flap ranged from 1x1.5 cm to 8.5x2.5 cm. The mean flap area was 5.4 cm2. In 4 cases, we elevated the flap including lateral aspect of the big toe and medial aspect of the second toe. And then we made an artificial syndactyly to reconstruct the pulps on two fingers at the same time. In all cases, we performed 1 digital artery and 1 dorsal vein anastomosis. Every donor site that had a small defect healed spontaneously without any additional operations to cover it. RESULTS: Of this type of surgery 21 flaps (91.3%) survived, 2 flaps (8.7%) failed. There was no severe complication in the donor sites. There was no walking disturbance due to the skin defect of the donor site. The static 2 point discrimination in 11 cases that we could check ranged from 3 mm to 15 mm. CONCLUSION: The authors believe that the first web space free flap of the foot is a good option for the reconstruction of the pulp of the fingers and it has a minimal donor site morbidity.
Arteries ; Blood Vessels ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Fingers ; Foot ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Skin ; Syndactyly ; Tissue Donors ; Toes ; Veins ; Walking

Glucocorticoid-remediable aldosteronism (GRA) is an autosomal-dominant inheritable form of hyperaldosteronism with early onset hypertension. GRA is caused by unequal crossing-over of the steroid 11beta-hydroxylase (CYP11B1) and aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) genes. As a result of chimeric gene duplication, aldosterone is ectopically synthesized in the adrenal zona fasciculata under the control of adrenocorticotropin. Here, we describe three cases of GRA in a Korean family. The proband-a 21-yr-old female-was incidentally found to have high blood pressure (170/108 mmHg). Her 46-yr-old father had been treated twice for cerebral hemorrhage at the ages of 29 and 39 yr. Her 15-yr-old brother had a 2-yr history of hypertension; however, he was never treated. Their laboratory test results showed normokalemia, hyporeninemia, hyperaldosteronism, and a high plasma aldosterone concentration-to-plasma renin activity ratio. Normal saline loading failed to suppress aldosterone secretion. However, dexamethasone administration effectively suppressed their plasma aldosterone concentrations. Following genetic analyses with PCR and direct sequencing to document the chimeric gene and crossover site, respectively, we identified CYP11B1/CYP11B2 and determined the breakpoint of unequal crossover to be located between intron 2 of CYP11B1 and exon 3 of CYP11B2.
Adolescent ; Aldosterone/blood ; Aldosterone Synthase/*genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/*genetics ; Dexamethasone/therapeutic use ; Family ; Female ; Glucocorticoids/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism/diagnosis/drug therapy/*genetics ; Hypertension/etiology ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renin/blood/metabolism ; Republic of Korea ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase/*genetics ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Achilles tendon thickness (ATT) has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). The aim of this study is to establish the correlation among ATT, obesity and established cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, smoking, and dyslipidemia. METHODS: In total, 19 patients (male 31.5%, mean age 60.0+/-12.5) with dyslipidemia and 96 control (male 64.6%, mean age 62.3+/-8.5) were enrolled. ATT was measured by ultrasonography. Anterioposterior diameter which represents the ATT was measured bilaterally, 4 cm above the insertion of Achilles tendon to the tuber calcite. Dyslipidemia was defined as elevated total cholesterol, triglyceride, or LDL cholesterol, or low levels of HDL cholesterol. RESULTS: There was no significant differences including ATT between the two groups (for ATT, dyslipidemia group, 0.44+/-0.04 vs control, 0.45+/-0.02 cm, p=0.783). There was no significant correlation between ATT and other cardiovascular risk factors except weight (r=0.34, p=0.007) and body mass index (r=0.63, p<0.001). Dyslipidemia was not significantly correlated with ATT (r=0.02, p=0.783). Use of statin was not significantly correlated with ATT (r=0.04, p=0.605). CONCLUSION: ATT was not significantly increased in patients with dyslipidemia. Lipid accumulation of Achilles tendon was not found in patients with dyslipidemia in this study.
Achilles Tendon* ; Atherosclerosis ; Body Mass Index ; Calcium Carbonate ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dyslipidemias ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II ; Hypertension ; Obesity ; Peripheral Arterial Disease ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Ultrasonography

Mesenteric vein thrombosis is a rare disease that can be fatal, as it can cause ischemia or infarction of bowels. The mortality rate is 13~50%. The predisposing factors of mesenteric vein thrombosis are numerous, and one of them is diverticulitis. Diverticulitis is a rare disease and mesenteric vein thrombosis caused by diverticulitis has not been reported in Korea. We report a patient with superior mesenteric vein thrombosis associated with diverticulitis of ascending colon, and it was diagnosed by computed tomography and barium enema. After antibiotic therapy, the thrombosis was resolved and the patient was completely recovered.
Barium ; Causality ; Colon, Ascending ; Diverticulitis* ; Enema ; Humans ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Korea ; Mesenteric Veins* ; Mortality ; Rare Diseases ; Thrombosis*

Pulmonary mucormycosis is an opportunistic infection in patients with severe underlying illness such as immunocompromised diseases or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. While patients with leukemia and lymphoma usually resent with diffuse parenchymal disease, diabetic patients usually have a localized endobronchial disease involving central airways. We report upon a case of pulmonary mucormycosis in diabetes mellitus patient presenting as an endobronchial mass, which was cured with antifungal therapy, rigid bronchoscopic mass removal and right pneumonectomy.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Leukemia ; Lymphoma ; Mucormycosis* ; Opportunistic Infections ; Pneumonectomy

Neuroendocrine carcinomas from an unknown primary site are uncommon. The authors report on a case of neuroendocrine carcinoma in a perigastric lymph node (LN) with no primary site. A 52-year-old male patient with early gastric adenocarcinoma underwent treatment by endoscopic submucosal dissection, and, six months later, findings on a computed tomographic scan of the abdomen revealed a LN enlargement measuring 2.0 cm in the perigastric region. The patient underwent subtotal gastrectomy and regional LN dissection under a suggestive preoperative diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma with LN metastasis. However, microscopically, no residual tumor was found in the stomach, and the perigastric LN showed poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (PDNEC). After an extensive workup, no primary site was identified. The patient also received four cycles of etoposide and cisplatin. Despite its extremely rare incidence, this case suggests that PDNEC of an unknown primary site is limited to a single site, and that resection should be considered in combination with chemotherapy.
Abdomen ; Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Cisplatin ; Etoposide ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Neoplasms, Unknown Primary ; Stomach