'Marjolin' ulcer' is used to describe the malignant transformation of a chronic ulcer which has developed in a burn scar. Clinically, although the lesions is slowly progressive, it comes to be more aggressive when the scar barrier is disrupted. We reviewed 24 cases in patients who complained of chronic burn wounds suspected to be Marjolin's ulcer. The mean latent period for developing pathologic lesions was 31 years. Histologically, chronic ulcer and pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia were 21% respectively, while malignancy including squamous cell carcinoma and leiomyosarcoma was 56%. The mean elapsed time to diagnose squamous cell carcinogma was 33.2 years. In pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia which is considered as a transitional state to malignant tumor, wide excision and reconstruction with free muscle flap was a better procedure than skin graft for the prevention of recurrence and malignant transformation. As well, the same modality of treatment was also applied in malignant tumors.
Burns* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cicatrix ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Transplants ; Ulcer ; Wounds and Injuries*

This study includes 40 patients of post-traumatic facial bone deformities to whom underwent realignment of zygomatic bone. In 13 cases, we modified the approach technique using limited exposure such as subciliary, intraoral and preauricular incisions instead of conventional wide exposure. Preoperative evaluation of deformity was done by using x-rays, photographs and detail communication with the patients. Through this limited exposure, osteotomy and repositioning of the zygoma were accomplished. There were no postoperative differences between wide and limited exposure, but limited exposure was more advantageous in terms of reduced operative time, transfusion, hospitalization and scaring. This approach was an effective method for the relatively simple tetrapod type-malunited fracture of zygoma without comminution.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Facial Bones ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Operative Time ; Osteotomy ; Zygoma*

NMP is a kind of protein relating to the internal structural framework of the nucleus, which is related to gene expression and regulation such as DNA replication and processing of RNA, and is made in tumor cell more than in normal cell. The object of this study is to evaluate the utility of NMP22 in urine as the possible marker of monitoring the transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Two groups attended the trial of NMP22; 1) 25 healthy volunteers 2) 25 patients with the transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. The result is that the values of the mean NMP22 of the healthy volunteers and the patients with the transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were 4.04+/-1.83 U/ml and 186.9+/-405.9 U/ml, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.028). The value of urinary mean NMP22 according to the tumor grade and the tumor stage didn`t show the significant difference statistically (grade I: 41.3+/-51.9 U/ml, grade II: 167.6+/-369.3 U/ml, grade HI: 362.7+/-605.5 U/ml, superficial TCC: 204.2+/-453.0 U/ml, invasive TCC:132.0+/-217.1 U/ml). In detecting the transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, the sensitivity of urine cytology was 68% and the sensitivity of combining urinary NMP22 and urine cytology was 88%, when the value of the urinary NMP22 over 7.70 U/ml was considered as the positive. Urinary NMP22 is expected to increase the diagnosis and the detection of recurrence of the transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder if it is used together with the urine cytology as the urinary tumor marker of the transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell* ; Diagnosis ; DNA Replication ; Gene Expression ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Nuclear Matrix* ; Recurrence ; RNA ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder*

Leiomyosarcoma is a malignant tumor showing smooth muscle differentiation, and it accounts for 2% to 8% of soft tissue sarcoma. Clinically, substantial mortality and morbidity are related to the propensity for distant metastasis and local recurrence, respectively. Microscopic findings characteristically reveal intersecting bundles of spindle-shaped cells having fibrillar cytoplasm and blunt-ended nuclei. Immunohistochemistry for intermediate filaments is helpful in establishing a definitive diagnosis. We experienced a case of large protruding leiomyosarcoma that developed on an old burn scar of the medial calf of a 45-year-old man. On preoperative evaluation, we recommended amputation due to a distant metastasis to the lung(stage IV). As the patient refused amputation of his lower leg, the tumor was radically excised and immediate reconstruction was done using free latissimus dorsi muscle flap and skin graft. Four months after excision despite adjuvant chemotherapy, amputation was performed due to local recurrence.
Amputation ; Burns ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cicatrix ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intermediate Filaments ; Leg ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma ; Skin ; Superficial Back Muscles ; Transplants ; Ulcer*

In the past 5 years, the authors have performed microsurgical reconstruction of the lower leg in 37 patients. Among them, modified microsurgical salvage procedures were performed in 11(29.7) cases with vascular compromise, suggested by the preoperative angiogram of the affected lower leg demonstrating no visible, or only one visible major arter. Modified salvage procedures included free flap operations using distally-based arterial inflow(n=2), temporary diversion of the single main artery with secondary vein grafting(n=2), Jungcross-leg fashioned free flaps(n=4), and end-to-side anastomosis of the main artery((n=1). In absence of arterial flow after lower leg trauma, as interpositional vein graft(n=2) was performed to restore blood flow. No vascular problems occurred after the free flap transfer. However, 9 patients experienced different degrees of limping gait, ranging from as mild(n=2), moderate(n=6) to severe(n=1) at the mean follow-up period of 18 months. In reconstruction of a vascular compromised lower leg, modified salvage procedures should be reviewed and selected after exploration of all vessels, both proximal and distal to the zone of the injury. When evaluating what method is the most appropriate, socioeconomic efficiency and patients' individual requirments should be considered.
Arteries ; Follow-Up Studies ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Gait ; Humans ; Leg* ; Veins

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the long-term skeletal responses to hormone replacement therapy(HRT) with or without active vitamin D(VD) by using short-term changes of bone markers in postmenopausal women (PMW). METHODS: Biochemical markers of bone formation(osteocalcin,OC) and (&) resorption(deoxypyridinoline, Dpd ) at 3 months & lumbar bone mineral density(BMD) at 1 year were measured in 64 natural PMW taking HRT(n=41) & HRT with calcitriol 0.25 microgram/day(n=23). The correlation of percent changes of bone markers after 3 months of Tx with those in lumbar BMD after 1 year was evaluated. RESULTS: 1. serum-OC & urine-Dpd showed decrease of 20.9% & 30.1% at 3months respectively & BMD increase of 3.8% after 1 year of Tx. 2. Among 58 PMW with decreased u-Dpd change, 49 (84.5%) revealed increase in BMD, while 40 (81.6%) among 49 PMW with decreased serum-OC change showed increased BMD. 3. Bone gainers showed significant decrease in changes of serum-OC(18.1% vs 9.2% p<0.05) & urine-Dpd(32.6% vs 20.4%, p<0.05) compared with those of bone losers. 4. No correlations of change of serum-OC (r=-0.174 p>0.05) & urine-Dpd (r=-0.091 p>0.05) at 3month with BMD changes at 1year were seen in total PMW, but urine-Dpd changes in HRT without active VD group revealed significantly inverse correlation(r=-0.376 p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Short-term changes of bone markers did not precisely predict the long-term changes of BMD in total PMW except urine- Dpd in HRT without active VD.
Biomarkers ; Bone Density* ; Calcitriol ; Estrogen Replacement Therapy* ; Female ; Humans ; Osteocalcin ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

Induction of general anesthesia with tracheal intubation is routine proeedure but causes varying degrees of sympathetic stimulation such as increases in blood pressure and heart rate. Many approaches have been tried to attenuate these hemodynamic responses To evaluate the effects of clonidine, a-2 adrenergic receptor agonist, on the hemodynamic changes induced by intubation, we administered clonidine(5 ug/kg, P.O.) 90 minutes before induction of anesthesia. We measured systolic pressure, diastolic pressure and heart rate before premedication, before induction, after intubation and 5, 10 minutes after intubation and compared with control group. The results were as follows: 1) After intubation systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased significantly in both group(P<0.05) but the increasing rate was significantly less than in clonidine group. (P<0.05) 2) After intubation the increaae in heart rate in clonidine group was significantly less than in control group (p<0.05). 3) The trend of increase in heart rate in clonidine group was more stabilized than control group. 4) Systolic blood pressure and heart rate in clonidine group were significantly decreased in preinduction period after premedication.
Adrenergic Agonists ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Blood Pressure ; Clonidine* ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics ; Intubation* ; Premedication

A patient with corneoscleral dermoid was suspected of having allergic contact dermatitis and conjuntivitisdue to Pontocaine. She was tested with standard European patch test including other suspected medicaments used in the preparation of eye drops. The patient showed + + positive patch test reaction to pontocaine, caine mixture and benzocaine under 2 day and 4 day patch test reading. The importance of routine patch test in ophthalmic patients whenever contact conjuntivitis is suspected is stressed.
Benzocaine ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Dermoid Cyst ; Humans ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Patch Tests ; Tetracaine*

PURPOSE: Despite the increasing use of breast-conserving therapy, modified radical mastectomy retains an important primary treatment of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival of patients with isolated locoregional recurrence (LR) and the prognostic factors for LR after mastectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 76 patients who were treated for LR after mastectomy at our hospital between 1987 and 2002. These patients had only isolated LR. The following parameters were analyzed: primary tumor size, primary nodal status, stage, estrogen receptor status, treatment modalities for LR, disease free interval from primary operation and re-recurrence interval. RESULTS: The median time to develop LR was 18.4 months and the median follow-up period from LR was 19.3 months (range 1.3~113 months). The 2-year overall survival rate from LR showed 46% and 5-year overall survival rate was 15%. Out of 76 patients, 47 patients (61.8%) developed re-recurrence and the median duration to re-recurrence was 9.6 months. The pattern of re-recurrence showed 45 patients with systemic recurrence and 2 patients with LR. The initial node status (P=0.041), the estrogen receptor status (P=0.009) and re-recurrence interval from LR (P=0.017) were statistically significant factors for survival. The primary tumor size, the stage, the disease free interval, and the treatment modalities for LR were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The re-recurrence rate after isolated LR in patients with breast cancer showed 61.8% and these patients almost always had systemic recurrence. This study could not show the difference of survival according to the treatment modality for LR but the systemic treatment should be considered for the patients with unfavorable prognostic factors.
Breast Neoplasms ; Estrogens ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mastectomy ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

To evaluate the effect of shortening the latent period for distraction osteogenesis, the authors experimented with distraction osteogenesis for a 24-hour latent period in the mandibles of rabbits. This study was carried out on 32 New Zealand white rabbits, each weighting 2000 to 2500 gm. Twenty animals were used for the control group and 12 for the experimental group. A unilateral external fixation device was applied to the left mandible. The mandibles were lengthened at 1 mm per 24 hours for 10 days. Five rabbits from the control group and three from the experimental group by random selection were sacrificed on the first day, and at the second, fourth and eighth week of the consolidation period. After lengthening bone densities at the site of the left mandibular bony lengthening were measured by quantitative computer tomography (QCT) and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). As a result, the DXA value showed no difference compared to the control group after two week's consolidation. The trabeculae were thicker and had begun to be surrounded by lamellar bone both in the control and experimental groups histologically. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that the osteogenetic effect in the experimental group was nearly the same as in the control group. If stable fixation and minimal periosteal dissection were performed during the procedure, the latent period would not be an important factor in distraction osteogenesis of membranous bone.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Animals ; Bone Density ; External Fixators ; Mandible* ; Osteogenesis* ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Rabbits*