The use of intravacular catheterization for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes increased the incidence of iatrogenic foreign bodies, which might cause many complications such as cardiac arrythmias, perforation of cardiac chamber or blood vessels, sepsis and thromboembolism. The authors experienced 5 cases of successful retrieval of intravascular iatrogenic foreign bodies: three cases of subclavian catheter wire and two cases of subclavian catheter. Subclavian catheter was introduced into right subclavian venous route for hyperalimentation or central venous pressure monitoring. The foreign bodies were located in superior vena cava and inferior vena in four cases and in left main pulmonary artery in the other case. We have successufully removed the foreign bodies by interventional procedures. The loop-snare technique is a safe and effective method for retrieval of iatrogenic foreign bodies in great vessels.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Blood Vessels ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Central Venous Pressure ; Foreign Bodies* ; Incidence ; Methods ; Pulmonary Artery ; Sepsis ; Thromboembolism ; Vena Cava, Superior

No abstract available.
Endoderm* ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor*

Pseudo-Bartter syndrome is a rare medical disease of the kidney characterized by normal blood pressure, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis, hyperreninemia and hyperaldosteronism with drug history of diuretics. We report US, CT and MRI findings of a patient with clinically proved pseudo-Bartter syndrome. The patient was a 37-year-old woman with a history of long term ingestion of the diuretics(furosemide) for 20 years. Renal US revealed hyperechoic renal medulla at both kidneys. The resistive index(RI), calculated from the duplex doppler waveform is 0.61. Unenhanced CT revealed faint high attenuation along the medulla. Tl-weighted MRI revealed indistinct corticomedullary differentiation.
Adult ; Alkalosis ; Blood Pressure ; Diuretics ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Kidney ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Chest CT is the most useful modality in the diagnosis of primary lung cancer, particularly in patients with recurrent pneumonia which are resistant to antibiotic therapy and in high risk age groups for cancer, The purpose of this examination is to assess the usefulness of CT in pneumonia types of lung cancer. The authors retrospectively analyzed 15 histologically proven cases of pneumonic type lung cancer, which had no evidence of primary lung mass, mediastinal lymphadenopathy or other metastatic lesion on piain chest radiography. On CT scan, a primary lung mass was identified in 13 patients(87%, bronchial obstruction was identified in 12 patients(80%), and metastatic foci was found in the bone(one patient), liver(one patient), and spleen(one patients). In Conclusion, CT scan is a useful method to detect the mediastinal lymphadenopathy or pulmonary mass and also should be the initial radiolographic procedure for diagnosis of lung cancer in patients with recurrent pneumonia on simple chest radiography.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Methods ; Pneumonia* ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Hand*

No abstract available.
Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin*

PURPOSE: The number of resected lymph nodes can influence the current N staging. This study examined the significance of the metastatic lymph node ratio on the survival of patients with pT2 gastric cancer. METHODS: The records of 176 patients who had undergone curative gastrectomy and diagnosed with pT2 gastric cancer by pathology, between February 1990 and October 2002 were retrospectively reviewed. Those patients with other organ metastases or those who had undergone a dissection of less than 15 lymph nodes were excluded. The clinicopathologic prognostic variables were evaluated using the SPSS statistical program. RESULTS: There were 115 men and 61 women with a mean age of 59 years. The median survival period was 93 months (2~184 months). Metastatic lymph nodes were found in 100 cases (56.8%), a mean of 34.6 lymph nodes were dissected, a mean of 3.2 lymph nodes metastasized, and a mean metastatic lymph node ratio of 0.09 was found. According to the UICC TNM classification, the number of stage IB (N0) cases was 76 (43.2%), stage II (N1) was 74 (42.0%), stage IIIA (N2) was 18 (10.2%), and stage IV (N3) was 8 (4.5%). The overall 5-year survival rate was 75.2%. According to the UICC TNM classification, the 5-year survival rate was stage IB, II, IIIA, and IV was 88.6%, 74.3%, 39.5%, and 33.3%, respectively. The metastatic lymph node ratio (nR) was divided into 4 categories; nR0 (76) = 0, 0 Classification ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate*

No abstract available.
Uterus*

PURPOSE: This study was made to evaluate the clinical characteristics and the treatment of the gangrene of the male genitalia manifested with progressive life threatening disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 1992 and December 1998, medical records for patients with Fournier's gangrene were reviewed with respect to age at presentation, associated disease, and clinical course and the treatment. RESULTS: The age of patients ranged from 29 to 92 years. The prodromal sign noted were usually low abdominal and inguinal pain. There were no differences in the causative pathogens compared to those of previous reports. The common underlying diseases were diabetes and chronic liver disease. Hypoalbuminemia and leukocytosis were found in all. Early radical debridement and aggressive antibiotics therapy were performed in all cases. Reconstructive surgery of defected skin was performed 7 to 45 days(mean 33.6) after debridement and period of hospital stay ranged from 14 to 123 days(mean 35.8). The motality rate was 13.3%. CONCLUSIONS: It is thought that the motality rate of Fournier`s gangrene is reduced by early aggresseve debridement of the wound and empirical triple antibiotic therapy, and the comprehension of clinical course is important as well.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Comprehension ; Debridement ; Fournier Gangrene ; Gangrene* ; Genitalia, Male ; Humans ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Length of Stay ; Leukocytosis ; Liver Diseases ; Male ; Medical Records ; Prodromal Symptoms ; Skin ; Wounds and Injuries

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder characterized by obstructive apneas, hypopneas, and respiratory effort related arousals during sleep. Treatment of OSA is important because untreated patients have potential adverse clinical outcomes, such as excessive daytime sleepiness, metabolic dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. Therefore, OSA should be considered as a chronic disease that requires long-term and multidisciplinary care. Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy is the mainstay of treatment for OSA in adults. Alternative therapies include oral appliance, behavioral modification, and upper airway surgery. The treatment of OSA in adults is reviewed here with focus on PAP therapy.
Adult* ; Apnea ; Arousal ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Chronic Disease ; Complementary Therapies ; Humans ; Mortality ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive*