Purpose: Since 1995, the Korean Gastric Cancer Association (KGCA) has been periodically conducting nationwide surveys on patients with surgically treated gastric cancer. This study details the results of the survey conducted in 2023. Materials and Methods: The survey was conducted from March to December 2024 using a standardized case report form. Data were collected on 86 items, including patient demographics, tumor characteristics, surgical procedures, and surgical outcomes. The results of the 2023 survey were compared with those of previous surveys. Results: Data from 12,751 cases were collected from 66 institutions. The mean patient age was 64.6 years, and the proportion of patients aged ≥71 years increased from 9.1% in 1995 to 31.7% in 2023. The proportion of upper-third tumors slightly decreased to 16.8% compared to 20.9% in 2019. Early gastric cancer accounted for 63.1% of cases in 2023.Regarding operative procedures, a totally laparoscopic approach was most frequently applied (63.2%) in 2023, while robotic gastrectomy steadily increased to 9.5% from 2.1% in 2014.The most common anastomotic method was the Billroth II procedure (48.8%) after distal gastrectomy and double-tract reconstruction (51.9%) after proximal gastrectomy in 2023.However, the proportion of esophago-gastrostomy with anti-reflux procedures increased to 30.9%. The rates of post-operative mortality and overall complications were 1.0% and 15.3%, respectively. Conclusions The results of the 2023 nationwide survey demonstrate the current status of gastric cancer treatment in Korea. This information will provide a basis for future gastric cancer research.

Purpose: Since 1995, the Korean Gastric Cancer Association (KGCA) has been periodically conducting nationwide surveys on patients with surgically treated gastric cancer. This study details the results of the survey conducted in 2023. Materials and Methods: The survey was conducted from March to December 2024 using a standardized case report form. Data were collected on 86 items, including patient demographics, tumor characteristics, surgical procedures, and surgical outcomes. The results of the 2023 survey were compared with those of previous surveys. Results: Data from 12,751 cases were collected from 66 institutions. The mean patient age was 64.6 years, and the proportion of patients aged ≥71 years increased from 9.1% in 1995 to 31.7% in 2023. The proportion of upper-third tumors slightly decreased to 16.8% compared to 20.9% in 2019. Early gastric cancer accounted for 63.1% of cases in 2023.Regarding operative procedures, a totally laparoscopic approach was most frequently applied (63.2%) in 2023, while robotic gastrectomy steadily increased to 9.5% from 2.1% in 2014.The most common anastomotic method was the Billroth II procedure (48.8%) after distal gastrectomy and double-tract reconstruction (51.9%) after proximal gastrectomy in 2023.However, the proportion of esophago-gastrostomy with anti-reflux procedures increased to 30.9%. The rates of post-operative mortality and overall complications were 1.0% and 15.3%, respectively. Conclusions The results of the 2023 nationwide survey demonstrate the current status of gastric cancer treatment in Korea. This information will provide a basis for future gastric cancer research.

Purpose: Since 1995, the Korean Gastric Cancer Association (KGCA) has been periodically conducting nationwide surveys on patients with surgically treated gastric cancer. This study details the results of the survey conducted in 2023. Materials and Methods: The survey was conducted from March to December 2024 using a standardized case report form. Data were collected on 86 items, including patient demographics, tumor characteristics, surgical procedures, and surgical outcomes. The results of the 2023 survey were compared with those of previous surveys. Results: Data from 12,751 cases were collected from 66 institutions. The mean patient age was 64.6 years, and the proportion of patients aged ≥71 years increased from 9.1% in 1995 to 31.7% in 2023. The proportion of upper-third tumors slightly decreased to 16.8% compared to 20.9% in 2019. Early gastric cancer accounted for 63.1% of cases in 2023.Regarding operative procedures, a totally laparoscopic approach was most frequently applied (63.2%) in 2023, while robotic gastrectomy steadily increased to 9.5% from 2.1% in 2014.The most common anastomotic method was the Billroth II procedure (48.8%) after distal gastrectomy and double-tract reconstruction (51.9%) after proximal gastrectomy in 2023.However, the proportion of esophago-gastrostomy with anti-reflux procedures increased to 30.9%. The rates of post-operative mortality and overall complications were 1.0% and 15.3%, respectively. Conclusions The results of the 2023 nationwide survey demonstrate the current status of gastric cancer treatment in Korea. This information will provide a basis for future gastric cancer research.

Objective: We evaluated the role of subgaleal closed suction drains in postoperative epidural hematoma (EDH) and wound complications following pterional craniotomy for cerebral aneurysm. Methods: We reviewed 5,280 pterional craniotomies performed on 5,139 patients between January 2006 and December 2020. A drain was placed subgalealy and tip of drain was positioned between the bone flap and the deep temporalis. 1,637 cases (31%) had a subgaleal suction drain. We analyzed demographic and clinical variables related to EDH requiring evacuation and wound complications in patients with and without drains. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the associated risk factors. Results: Fourteen cases (0.27%) of EDH requiring evacuation and 30 cases (0.57%) of wound complications were identified. Univariate analysis found that drain insertion, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and operation time were associated with EDH, while drain insertion, SAH, male gender, older age, and longer operation time were associated with wound complications. Multivariate analysis found no significant association between drain use and EDH (OR=1.62, p=0.402) or wound complications (OR=1.45, p=0.342). Conclusions Routine use of subgaleal closed suction drains may not be necessary after pterional craniotomy, as drain insertion was not associated with a reduced risk of EDH requiring evacuation or wound complications.

Purpose: Gastric cancer is one of the most common cancers in Korea, and the proportion of upper-third gastric cancers has been steadily increasing over the last two decades. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of tumor location on gastric cancer prognosis. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 2,466 patients who underwent gastrectomy for pathologically proven gastric cancer between January 2011 and December 2016.The patients were divided into an upper-third group (U group; n=419, 17.0%) and a middle- and lower-third group (ML group; n=2,047, 83.0%). Clinicopathological characteristics, overall survival (OS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) after surgery were compared. Results: The U group had more advanced disease than the ML group and a higher incidence of N3b disease for T3 (12.0% vs. 4.9%, p=0.023) and T4 tumors (33.3% vs. 17.5%, p=0.001).The 5-year RFS rate for stage III disease was marginally lower in the U group than that in the ML group (47.1% vs. 56.7%, p=0.082). The upper third location was an independent prognostic factor for both OS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.350; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.065–1.711) and RFS (HR, 1.430; 95% CI, 1.080–1.823). Conclusions Upper-third gastric cancer shows extensive node metastasis compared to those located more distally in ≥T3 tumors. The upper third location is an independent prognostic factor for both OS and RFS and may have an adverse impact on RFS, particularly in patients with stage III gastric cancer.

Purpose: Studies on intestinal Behçet’s disease (BD) complicated by myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are rare, and no established therapeutic guidelines exist. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical presentation and outcomes of patients with intestinal BD complicated by MDS (intestinal BD–MDS) and suggest a treatment strategy. Materials and Methods: Data from patients with intestinal BD–MDS from four referral centers in Korea who were diagnosed between December 2000 and December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical features and prognosis of intestinal BD–MDS compared with age-, sex-matched intestinal BD without MDS were investigated. Results: Thirty-five patients with intestinal BD–MDS were included, and 24 (70.6%) had trisomy 8. Among the 35 patients, 23 (65.7%) were female, and the median age at diagnosis for intestinal BD was 46.0 years (range, 37.0–56.0 years). Medical treatments only benefited eight of the 32 patients, and half of the patients underwent surgery due to complications. Compared to 70 matched patients with intestinal BD alone, patients with intestinal BD–MDS underwent surgery more frequently (51.4% vs. 24.3%; p=0.010), showed a poorer response to medical and/or surgical treatment (75.0% vs. 11.4%; p<0.001), and had a higher mortality (28.6% vs. 0%; p<0.001). Seven out of 35 patients with intestinal BD–MDS underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and four out of the seven patients had a poor response to medical treatment prior to HSCT, resulting in complete remission of both diseases. Conclusion Patients with intestinal BD–MDS frequently have refractory diseases with high mortalities. HSCT can be an effective treatment modality for medically refractory patients with intestinal BD–MDS.

Background/Aims: The Genoss DES™ is a novel, biodegradable, polymer-coated, sirolimus-eluting stent with a cobalt- chromium stent platform and thin strut. Although the safety and effectiveness of this stent have been previously investigated, real-world clinical outcomes data are lacking. Therefore, the aim of this prospective, multicenter trial was to evaluate the clinical safety and effectiveness of the Genoss DES™ in all-comer patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods: The Genoss DES registry is a prospective, single-arm, observational trial for evaluation of clinical outcomes after Genoss DES™ implantation in all-comer patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention from 17 sites in South Korea. The primary endpoint was a device-oriented composite outcome of cardiac death, target vessel-related myocardial infarction (MI), and clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 12 months. Results: A total of 1,999 patients (66.4 ± 11.1 years of age; 72.8% male) were analyzed. At baseline, 62.8% and 36.7% of patients had hypertension and diabetes, respectively. The implanted stent number, diameter, and length per patient were 1.5 ± 0.8, 3.1 ± 0.5 mm, and 37.0 ± 25.0 mm, respectively. The primary endpoint occurred in 1.8% patients, with a cardiac death rate of 1.1%, target vessel-related MI rate of 0.2%, and clinically driven TLR rate of 0.8%. Conclusions In this real-world registry, the Genoss DES™ demonstrated excellent safety and effectiveness at 12 months among all-comer patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. These findings suggest that the Genoss DES™ may be a viable treatment option for patients with coronary artery disease.