Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) occurs in all age groups, and the application of treatment may vary according to age. The study was designed to identify the characteristics of CRC by age. Methods: A total of 4,326 patients undergoing primary resection for CRC from September 2006 to July 2019 were reviewed. Patient and tumor characteristics, operative and postoperative data, and oncologic outcome were compared Results: Patients aged 60 to 69 years comprised the largest age group (29.7%), followed by those aged 50 to 59 and 70 to 79 (24.5% and 23.9%, respectively). Rectal cancer was common in all age groups, but right-sided colon cancer tended to be more frequent in older patients. In very elderly patients, there were significant numbers of emergency surgeries, and the frequencies of open surgery and permanent stoma were greater. In contrast, total abdominal colectomy or total proctocolectomy was performed frequently in patients in their teens and twenties. The elderly patients showed more advanced tumor stages and postoperative ileus. The incidence of adjuvant treatment was low in elderly patients, who also had shorter follow-up periods. Overall survival was reduced in older patients with stages 0 to 3 CRC (P<0.001), but disease-free survival did not differ by age (P=0.391). Conclusion CRC screening at an earlier age than is currently undertaken may be necessary in Korea. In addition, improved surgical and oncological outcomes can be achieved through active treatment of the growing number of elderly CRC patients.

BACKGROUND: The dipstick methodology is the most fundamental urinalysis but interfered by many factors. We evaluated the effect of semen contamination on the urine dipsticks. METHODS: Thirty-two specimens for semen analysis were enrolled. After semen was directly applied on urine dipsticks, residual samples were diluted in pooled normal urine. Urine dipsticks were performed at each dilution titer. Seminal plasma separated by centrifugation of semen were also tested in the same manner. RESULTS: All semen showed positive results for blood, protein and leukocytes. The intensities of reaction for blood and leukocytes were correlated with sperm concentration. The negative conversion of blood and protein occurred at 1:100, and that of leukocytes occurred at 1:50. Seminal plasma showed nearly the same findings. CONCLUSIONS: Semen contamination of urine may cause false positive reaction especially for blood and protein on the urine dipsticks. It should therefore be considered when assessing unexplained, transient hematuria or proteinuria.
Centrifugation ; False Positive Reactions ; Hematuria ; Leukocytes ; Proteinuria ; Semen Analysis ; Semen* ; Spermatozoa ; Urinalysis

The most common type of food-related foreign body in esophagus is impacted meat bolus and sudden esophageal obstruction after eating poorly chewed meat has been called the "steakhouse syndrome". It is frequently caused by underlying esophageal stenosis including abnormal ring, the sequalae of reflux esophagitis, malignancy and rarely esophageal motility disorders. A 55-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital complaining swallowing difficulty after ingestion of a lump of chicken 3 days ago. Impacted meat bolus was found at distal esophagus on emergency endoscopy. However, there was no definite anatomical stenotic lesion after removal of meat with the polypectomy snare. Esophageal manometry showed segmental, high amplitude of esophageal pressure at lower esophagus with normal peristalsis and occasional triple peaked waves. The manometry finding was consistent with nutcracker esophagus. We report a case of steakhouse syndrome associated by nutcracker esophagus without abnormality on endoscopy and esophagography.
Chickens ; Deglutition ; Eating ; Emergencies ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Motility Disorders* ; Esophageal Stenosis ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; Esophagus ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Male ; Manometry ; Meat ; Middle Aged ; Peristalsis ; SNARE Proteins

PURPOSE: To characterize the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of myelofibrosis and compare them with bone marrow biopsy findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed sagittal T1-and T2 weighted and short tau inversion recovery (STIR) images of the thoracolumbar spine of six patients (five males and one female, mean age 46) with biopsy-proven myelofibrosis. Marrow signal intensity of the thoracolumbar spine was classified with respect to those of muscle and fat, based on the consensus of two radiologists after visual inspection. These MR features were compared with the degree of fibrosis and marrow cellularity, as determined by bone marrow biopsy. RESULTS: In all patients, marrow signal intensity of the thoracolumbar spine was reduced onT1 and T2 weighted images (invariably low on T1 weighted images, low (2/6) to intermediate (4/6) on T2 weighted images). On STIR images, marrow signal intensity was variable (high (3/6) or low (3/6)), and this correlated with degree of fibrosis, not with marrow cellularity. The signal intensity of marrow with mild to moderate fibrosis was high on STIR images, while that of marrow with marked fibrosis was low. CONCLUSION: MR imaging features of myelofibrosis were characterized as low on T1 weighted images and low to intermediate on T2 weighted images. In addition, the signal intensity of STIR imaging correlated with degree of fibrosis.
Biopsy* ; Bone Marrow* ; Consensus ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Primary Myelofibrosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine

PURPOSE: To characterize the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of myelofibrosis and compare them with bone marrow biopsy findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed sagittal T1-and T2 weighted and short tau inversion recovery (STIR) images of the thoracolumbar spine of six patients (five males and one female, mean age 46) with biopsy-proven myelofibrosis. Marrow signal intensity of the thoracolumbar spine was classified with respect to those of muscle and fat, based on the consensus of two radiologists after visual inspection. These MR features were compared with the degree of fibrosis and marrow cellularity, as determined by bone marrow biopsy. RESULTS: In all patients, marrow signal intensity of the thoracolumbar spine was reduced onT1 and T2 weighted images (invariably low on T1 weighted images, low (2/6) to intermediate (4/6) on T2 weighted images). On STIR images, marrow signal intensity was variable (high (3/6) or low (3/6)), and this correlated with degree of fibrosis, not with marrow cellularity. The signal intensity of marrow with mild to moderate fibrosis was high on STIR images, while that of marrow with marked fibrosis was low. CONCLUSION: MR imaging features of myelofibrosis were characterized as low on T1 weighted images and low to intermediate on T2 weighted images. In addition, the signal intensity of STIR imaging correlated with degree of fibrosis.
Biopsy* ; Bone Marrow* ; Consensus ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Primary Myelofibrosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine

PURPOSE: To assess the patterns of myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS) and aplastic anemia(AA) on MRI of the spinal bone marrow and to find the differential points between the two groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients with MDS(n=7) and AA(n=7) were studied using magnetic resonance imaging. Sagittal images from the lower thoracic and lumbar vertebral marrow were evaluated on Tl-weighted and STIR images. Five distinct patterns of signal intensity of the Tl-weighted and STIR images were classified. T1 and T2 relaxation times and T1 marrow/fat signal intensity ratio were measured and analyzed (t-test). The cellularity of bone marrow was evaluated on histologic slides. RESULTS: MDS showed homogeneously low signal intensity on T1WI and high signal intensity on STIR image, indicating hypercellular marrow, whereas AA showed relative high signal intensity on T1WI and low signal intensity on STIR image, representing fatty marrow. T1 and T2 relaxation time(T1 for MDS=750.26msec +/- 177.50, T1 for AA= 413.21 msec +/- 167.39 (p<0.000), T2 for MDS=91.86 msec +/- 14.16, T2 for AA=81.44msec +/- 15.31 (p< 0.001) and T1 marrow/fat signal intensity ratio(0.22 +/- 0.048 in MDS, 0.30 +/- 0.083 in AA(p<0.000)) revealed statistically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Although the marrow aspiration and needle biopsy are mandatory in hematologic disease for diagnosis, there are limited in assessing the change of total marrow mass. Therefore MRI of bone marrow might be useful in distinguishing MDS from AA because of its ability of representation of total marrow mass.
Anemia, Aplastic* ; Biopsy, Needle ; Bone Marrow ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Hematologic Diseases ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes* ; Relaxation

PURPOSE: To assess the patterns of myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS) and aplastic anemia(AA) on MRI of the spinal bone marrow and to find the differential points between the two groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients with MDS(n=7) and AA(n=7) were studied using magnetic resonance imaging. Sagittal images from the lower thoracic and lumbar vertebral marrow were evaluated on Tl-weighted and STIR images. Five distinct patterns of signal intensity of the Tl-weighted and STIR images were classified. T1 and T2 relaxation times and T1 marrow/fat signal intensity ratio were measured and analyzed (t-test). The cellularity of bone marrow was evaluated on histologic slides. RESULTS: MDS showed homogeneously low signal intensity on T1WI and high signal intensity on STIR image, indicating hypercellular marrow, whereas AA showed relative high signal intensity on T1WI and low signal intensity on STIR image, representing fatty marrow. T1 and T2 relaxation time(T1 for MDS=750.26msec +/- 177.50, T1 for AA= 413.21 msec +/- 167.39 (p<0.000), T2 for MDS=91.86 msec +/- 14.16, T2 for AA=81.44msec +/- 15.31 (p< 0.001) and T1 marrow/fat signal intensity ratio(0.22 +/- 0.048 in MDS, 0.30 +/- 0.083 in AA(p<0.000)) revealed statistically significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Although the marrow aspiration and needle biopsy are mandatory in hematologic disease for diagnosis, there are limited in assessing the change of total marrow mass. Therefore MRI of bone marrow might be useful in distinguishing MDS from AA because of its ability of representation of total marrow mass.
Anemia, Aplastic* ; Biopsy, Needle ; Bone Marrow ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Hematologic Diseases ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes* ; Relaxation

This paper describes the basic date measurements for total body irradiation with 6 Mv photon beam including compensators designs. The technique uses bilateral opposing field with tissue compensators for the head, neck, lungs, and legs from the hip to toes. In vivo dosimetry was carried out for determining absorbed dose at various regions in 7 patients using diode detectors (MULTIDOSE, Model 9310, MULTIDATA Co., USA). As a results, the dose uniformity of+/-3.5%(generally, within+/-10%) can be achieved with our total body irradiation technique.
Head ; Hip ; Humans ; Leg ; Lung ; Neck ; Toes ; Whole-Body Irradiation*

Between July 1987 and December 1992, we treated 22 patients with chromic myelogenous leukemia; 14 in the chronic phase and 8 with more advanced disease. All were received with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from HLA-identical sibling donors after a total body irradiation (TBI) cyclophosphamide conditioning regimen. Patients were non-randomly assigned to either 1200 cGy/6fractions/3days (6 patients) or 1320 cGy/8 fractions/4days (16 patients) by dose of TBI. Of the 22 patients, 8 were prepared with cyclophosphamide alone, 14 were conditioned with additional adriamycin or daunorubicin. To prevent graft versus host disease, cyclosporine was given either alone or in conjunction with methotrexate. The actuarial survival and leukemic-free survival at four years were 58.5% and 41.2%, respectively, and the relapse rate was 36% among 22 patients. There was a statistically significant difference in survival between the patients in chronic phase and more advanced phase (76% vs 33%, p=0.05). The relapse rate of patients receiving splenectomy was higher than that of patients receiving splenic irradiation (50% vs 0%, p=0.04). We conclude that the probability of cure is highest if transplantation is performed while the patient remains in the chronic phase.
Bone Marrow Transplantation* ; Bone Marrow* ; Cyclophosphamide ; Cyclosporine ; Daunorubicin ; Doxorubicin ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* ; Leukemia, Myeloid ; Methotrexate ; Recurrence ; Siblings ; Splenectomy ; Tissue Donors ; Whole-Body Irradiation*

Spinal cord compression, an oncologic emergency, is a rare complication of hematologic malignancy. Our experience was obtained with a series 32 patients following retrospective analysis for assessing the role of radiation therapy and identifying the prognostic factors affecting on treatment outcome. Diagnosis was usually made by means of radiologic study such as myelography or computerized tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neurologic examination. Five cases were diagnosed by subjective symptom only with high index of suspicion. In 31 cases, the treatment consisted in radiation therapy alone and the remained one patient had laminectomy before radiation therapy because of diagnostic doubts. Total treatment doses ranged from 800 cGy to 4000 cGy with median of 2999 cGy. Initially large fraction size more than 250 cGy were used in 13 patients with rapidly progressed neurologic deficit. The clinical parameters considered in evaluating the response to treatment were backache, motor-sensory performance and sphincter function. Half on all patients showed good response. Partial response and no response were noted in 37.5% and 12.5%, respectively. Our results showed higher response rate than those of other solid tumor series. The degree of neurologic deficit an that time of diagnosis was the most important predictor of treatment outcome. The elapsed time from development of symptoms to start of treatment was significantly affected on the outcome. But histology of primary tumor, total dose and use of initial large fraction size were not significantly affect on the outcome. These results confirmed the value of early diagnosis and treatment especially in radiosensitive hematologic malignancy.
Back Pain ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Emergencies ; Hematologic Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myelography ; Neurologic Examination ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Compression* ; Spinal Cord* ; Treatment Outcome