No abstract available.
Curriculum* ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medical Technicians* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis*

Fat containing masses, except mediastinal lipomatosis, of the thorax are uncommon. In spite of uncommonoccurences, as CT can detect not only the fat content but also the presence and character of the non-fattycomponent of the mass, accurate preoperative diagnosis can usually be made in most cases of fat containingmediastinal masses. Authors report 6 cases of fat containing mediastinal masses, that were diagnosedpreoperatively by CT scan, comprising 2 cases of limpoma(combined with plexiform neurofibroma in a case), 1liposarcoma, 1 thymolipoma, and 2 cases of omental hernia through Morgagni foramen.
Diagnosis ; Hernia ; Lipomatosis ; Neurofibroma, Plexiform ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: To determine the accuracy of automated computer aided volumetry for simulated small pulmonary nodules at computed tomography using various types of phantoms MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three sets of synthetic nodules (small, calcified and those adjacent to vessels) were studied. The volume of the nodules in each set was already known, and using multi-slice CT, volumetric data for each nodule was acquired from the three-dimensional reconstructed image. The volume was calculated by applying three different threshold values using Rapidia(R) software (3D-Med, Seoul, Korea). RESULTS: Relative errors in the measured volume of synthetic pulmonary nodules were 17.3, 2.9, and 11.5% at -200, -400, and -600 HU, respectively, and there was good correlation between true volume and measured volume at -400 HU (r=0.96, p<0.001). For calcified nodules, relative errors in measured volume were 10.9, 5.3, and 16.5% at -200, -400, and -600 HU, respectively, and there was good correlation between true volume and measured volume at -400 HU (r=1.03, p<0.001). In cases involving synthetic nodules adjacent to vessels, relative errors were 4.6, 16.3, and 31.2 % at -200, -400, and -600 HU, respectively. There was good correlation between true volume and measured volume at -200 HU (r=1.1, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Using computer-aided volumetry, the measured volumes of synthetic nodules correlated closely with their true volume. Measured volumes were the same at each threshold level, regardless of window setting.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Seoul

Neurofibromas are common benign tumors and can originate from any nerve tissue in the body. A solitary neurofibroma in breast parenchyma has rarely been reported, however. We report a neurofibroma originating from breast parenchyma in a 61-year old woman. On mammography, the mass appeared as a well marginated and circumscribed mass, suggesting a benign tumor, and after excisional biopsy, was pathologically proven to be a neurofibroma.
Biopsy ; Breast* ; Female ; Humans ; Mammography ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Tissue ; Neurofibroma*

PURPOSE: Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a rare, life threatening infection of kidney and the pennephric space, characterized by the production of gas within the renal parenchyma. The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical and radiologic characteristics of emphysematous pyelonephritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 7 cases of the emphysematous pyelonephritis. Six patients had plain abdominal radiographs, ultrasonograms and abdominal CT scans. Only one patient had plain radiograph and ultrasonogram. In 5 operated cases, CT findings were compared with surgical records. RESULTS: Plain radiographs showed characteristic diffuse mottling of gas in renal fossa. On sonogram, intrarenal gas was identified as echogenic loci with dirty shadows. CT scan showed inflammatory mass with gas and fluid levels in adjacent to the kidney. CT findings corresponded relatively wall with the surgical findings in regard to disease extent. CONCLUSION: lntrarenal gas in appropriate clinical setting is highly specific for emphysematous pyelonephritis. CT is the most sensitive method for demonstrating the disease extent as well as specific diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Kidney ; Pyelonephritis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a rare, life threatening infection of kidney and the pennephric space, characterized by the production of gas within the renal parenchyma. The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical and radiologic characteristics of emphysematous pyelonephritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 7 cases of the emphysematous pyelonephritis. Six patients had plain abdominal radiographs, ultrasonograms and abdominal CT scans. Only one patient had plain radiograph and ultrasonogram. In 5 operated cases, CT findings were compared with surgical records. RESULTS: Plain radiographs showed characteristic diffuse mottling of gas in renal fossa. On sonogram, intrarenal gas was identified as echogenic loci with dirty shadows. CT scan showed inflammatory mass with gas and fluid levels in adjacent to the kidney. CT findings corresponded relatively wall with the surgical findings in regard to disease extent. CONCLUSION: lntrarenal gas in appropriate clinical setting is highly specific for emphysematous pyelonephritis. CT is the most sensitive method for demonstrating the disease extent as well as specific diagnosis.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Kidney ; Pyelonephritis* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

Emphysematous cholecystitis is an uncommon condition which may mimic acute cholecystitis. But it differs from acute cholecystitis in its relatively greater frequency in men and diabetics and has graver prognosis. The condition is diagnosed by demonstration of air in lumen,wall of gallbladder and/or pericholecystic space using a variety of radiographic techniques: simple abdominal radiography, ultrasonography and CT scanning. One illustrative case is presented herein and the pertinent literature is reviewed.
Cholecystitis, Acute ; Emphysematous Cholecystitis* ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Male ; Prognosis ; Radiography, Abdominal ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: Telomeres are specialized structures containing unique (TTAGGGG) repeats at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes that are thought to be important in the protection and replication of chro mosomes. Lagging strand DNA synthesis at the end of linear chromosomes cannot be complieted (referred to as the end-replication problem), and this results in the progressive shortening of telomeric repeats with each cell division. This shortening of telomeres has been proposed as the mitotic clock, and when telomeres are sufficiently short, may contribute to replicative cellular senescence in cells. The enzyme telomerase permits the de novo synthesis of telomeric DNA into chromosomal ends. Apoptosis is physiologic cell death and prevent cancerous transformation of cell. METHODS: We measured the telome rase activity with the use of a PCR-based telomerase assay and apoptosis, in 10 superficial gastritis and 13 gastric cancer patients. RESULTS: Telomerase activity was present in 70% of the gastric cancer patient and in 92.7% of the superficial gastritis patients (P=0.171). Apoptosis was present in 0% of the gastric cancer patients, and in 80% of the superficial gastritis patients (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Telomerase activity was detected in and cancer and inflammatory tissue. Although there is progressive cellular division due to telomerase activity, cancerous transformations are prevented by apoptosis.
Apoptosis* ; Cell Aging ; Cell Death ; Cell Division ; DNA ; Gastritis* ; Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Telomerase* ; Telomere

PURPOSE: To describe the radiological differences between tuberculous(TBB) and non-tuberculous bronchiectasis(NTBB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chest radiographs(n=62), bronchograms(n=18), and CT scans(n=52) of 37 patients with TBB and 25 patients with NTBB were reviewed retrospectively. Diagnostic basis for TBB were positive sputum AFB with or without history of anti-tuberculous chemotherapy(n=35), and radiological findings of pulmonary tuberculosis (n=2). Four of NTBB had a history of severe respiratory tract infection in childhood. RESULTS: Air-fluid levels on chest radiographs were seen in 2% of TBB, and 20% of NTBB. On bronchograms, all patients with TBB had combined focal bronchostenosis, whereas patients with NTBB had tubular(50%), cystic(17%), or mixed(33%) pattern of dilatation without stenosis. On CT scans, focal emphysema was seen in 86% of the patients with TBB, and 38% of the patients with NTBB. Peribronchiolar infiltration were seen in 78% and 44% of patients with TBB and NTBB, retrospectively. CONCLUSION: Basic radiological difference between TBB and NTBB was that the former had coexistent sten.
Bronchiectasis* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary