With conventional radiological approaches, diagnosis of perinephric abscess is difficult in many occasions. CTand ultrasound enable accurate detection of lesions and precise determination of their extent. We review our casesand discuss the usefulness of these new modalities for the diagnosis and follow up of the lesions.
Abscess ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Contrast Media* ; Glass* ; Syringes*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of Transcatheter Arterial Embolization(TAE) according to anglographic findings in hepatocellular carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed 50 cases who received TAE for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. We analyzed the anglographic findings which were correlated with the effect of TAE. The common anglographic findings of the hepatocellular carcinoma were tumor staining, neovascularity and enlargement of feeding artery. These anglographic findings were classified into grade 0, +1, +2. Effect of TAE were classified into five patterns;good response, partial response, minimal response, no response and more aggravation. RESULT:In grading of tumor staining, among 50 cases, the grade 0, +1, +2 were seen in 1 case(2%), 14 cases(28%), 35 cases(70%) each. In grading of enlargement of feeding artery, the grade 0, +1, +2 were seen in 7 cases(14%), 19 cases(38%), 24 cases(48%) each. In grading of neovascularity, the grade 0, +1, +2 were seen in 6 cases(12%), 15 cases(30%), 29 cases(58%) each. This study showed that the higher grade of anglographic finding, the better effect of TAE. A statistically significant differance was found (p<0.005). But the TAE was not effective in some cases (the maximum diameter of mass is over 10cm, portal vein thrombosis or ateriovenous shunt) in spite of high grade. CONCLUSION: We believe that these angiogr. aphic findings (tumor staining, enlargement of feeding artery, neovascularity) are one of important indices for anticipating the effect of TAE in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.
Arteries ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Venous Thrombosis

Opacification of the gallbladder after parenteral administration of contrast material usually indicates diminished renal function but can occur with normal renal function. The authors recently experienced 13 cases of such vicarious excretion of contrast media. Among 13 patients. 9 patients had renal disease unilateral ureteral stone(n=3), staghorn calculi(n=2), acute renal failure from sepsis(n=1), renal contusion(n=2) and unilateral renal artery involvement by dissecting aortic aneurysm(n=1). Of these 9 patients, 3 patients showed abnormal serum creatinine levels at the time of presentation or shortly thereafter. In 6 patients, injection of a large amount of contrast media was possibly the additional cause of vicarius excretion. There was no detectable cause in the remaining 4 patients. Heterotopic excretion of contrast media is clearly a complex phenomenon, the reason for which it is difficult to establish with certainty in each individual case. Anyhow, vicarius excretion of contrast media occurs more frequently than previously thought, and it can occur not only with abnormal renal function but with normal function also.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Contrast Media ; Creatinine ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Renal Artery ; Ureter

No abstract available.
Arteries*

PURPOSE: Bronchial artery embolization has been effective in the treatment of massive hemoptysis. The purpose of this study was to report the effectiveness of bronchial artery embolization in patients with chronic recurrent hemoptysis intractable to medical treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 25 patients who were admitted for treatment of chronic recurrent hemoptysis with bronchial artery embolization. Chronic recurrent hemoptysis was defined as condition intractable to medical treatment persistently and occuring over two times per two months. The target vessels for embolization were selected in consideration of the results of aortography as well as the finding of chest radiography and bronchoscopy. After selective arteriography for embolization by using 5-French Simmons catheter, embolic agents(mainly polyvinyl alcohol(PVA) and additionally gelfoam and coils) were released through the catheter. The results of the embolization were assessed with the review of medical records. RESULT: The causes of the hemoptysis were pulmonary tuberculosis(n=12,48%), bronchiectasis(n=6,24%), aspergilloma(n=3,12%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(n=2,8%), chronic bronchitis(n=I,4%) and lung abscess(n=1,4%). Selective embolization was carried out in 49 sites(42 in bronchial artery and 7 in nonbronchial systemic collaterals). Early success rate within 2 months was 96%. After long-term follow up study (6-30 months, average 15 months), complete remission was 72%, partial remission 12% and recurrence 12% respectively. During and after embolization, major complications such as spinal cord injury or bronchial wall necrosis was not found. Minor complications were chest pain, shoulder pain and chilling sense, which were relieved spontaneously within a few days. CONCLUSION: High success rate and relatively low recurrence with no significant complication were achieved with bronchial artery embolization in the patients complaining of chronic recurrent hemoptysis.
Angiography ; Aortography ; Bronchial Arteries* ; Bronchoscopy ; Catheters ; Chest Pain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Hemoptysis* ; Humans ; Lung ; Medical Records ; Necrosis ; Polyvinyls ; Radiography ; Recurrence ; Shoulder Pain ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Thorax

Recently, accumulation of knowledge on cerebrovascular microanatomy and its hemodynamics and advances in interventional equipments, especially microcatheters, could make superselective embolization as well as for an adjunctive preoperative procedures The authors performed superselective angiography and embolization with Tracker microcatheter in 25 procedures out of 15 patients with brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Complete embolization was done in 7 prtients (46.7%), nearly complete embolization in 6 patients(40.4%), and partial embolization in 2 patients (13.3%). The overall curative success rate of embolization was 86.7%. Five patients showed no complication at all. Mild complications, however, were observed in 7 patients (46.8%). Severe complications such as AVM or Tracker rupture were observed in 3 patients (20%). In conclusion, superselective embolization is and effective method for the treatment of brain AVMs, and multiple session embolizations could reduce the complication rate and increase the success rate.
Angiography ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Brain* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Methods ; Preoperative Care ; Rupture

No abstract available.
Arthrogryposis*

Collagen is the major component of scar tissue. Considerable progress of fibroblast growth kinetics and of collagen synthesis has been achieved in the past decade. We have been interested in fibroblasts activities as they are expressed by cells cultured in collagen substrate. This study is to examine the effects of collagen substrate and peptide growth factors In culture medium on DNA and protein synthesis of human dermal fibroblasts. Collagen, interleukin-1(IL-1) and transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-beta) were added to fibroblast culture media according to the designed experiment model and DNA and protein synthesis were measured by [3H]-thymidine, [3H]-leucine, and [3H]-proline incorporation method. The morphological features of fibroblasts were observed by light microscope. The results were as follows ; 1) There were significant decreases of DNA and protein synthesis of cultured fibroblasts in the presence of collagen substrate compared with those in Control groups(p<0.01). 2) DNA and protein synthesis were decreased as dose dependant manner of collagen density in culture media. 3) Morphological features of fibroblasts became less stellate and flat, more spindle-like in the presence of collagen. 4) In responsiveness to IL-1, collagen non-treated groups responded to IL-1 but collagen treated groups were unresponsive to IL-1 (P<0.05). 5) Cells In collagen non-treated groups responded to TGF-beta as dose-related manner(P<0.01). Collagen treated groups desponded to TGF-beta but did not show TGF-beta dose-dependant relationship. In Conclusion, collagen substrate in the culture medium could lower the DNA and protein synthesis of fibroblasts. Cells in collagen substrate were unresponsive or less responsive to peptide growth factors than those in non-collagen substrate.
Cicatrix ; Collagen* ; Culture Media ; DNA* ; Fibroblasts* ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Interleukin-1 ; Kinetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

This retrospective clinical study consists of 27 patients with lacrimal canalicular injury caused by various accidents and which were reconstructed with various materials in the department of plastic surgery at Catholic University Medical College from December 1987 to July 1996. These 27 patients were followed up at least 6 months after the canalicular reconstruction and their medical records were reviewed and analysed retrospectively in order to obtain the clinical pattern and understand the therapeutic results. The statistical items were the age and sex distribution, the causes of injury, the prevalent site of injury, the reconstruction materials, the duration of intubation and the results of treatment. The following results are obtained: 1. Males were more dominant than females by 4.4 : 1. 2. The patient age was from 6 to 73 years old and the prevalent age groups were the third and fourth decades(55.5%). 3. The most common cause of canalicular injury was the violence(29.6%) and was followed by traffic accident. 4. The left canaliculi, especially inferior canaliculi, was the prevalent injury site. 5. Regardless of the materials(P.V.C. tube, nylon and silicone tube) used in canalicular reconstruction, the longer duration of intubation was obtained the better result of treatment. 6. So the silicone tube with stainless steel(C-line canaliculus intubation set) was relatively inert and less complicating, it could be maintained more longer and had better results than other materials such as P.V.C. tube and nylon.
Accidents, Traffic ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Intubation ; Male ; Medical Records ; Nylons ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Distribution ; Silicones ; Surgery, Plastic