Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has been studied in the field of gynecologic malignancy to determine whether it can be used as a tumor marker for early detection of recurrence or evaluation of therapeutic results. From January 1985 through December 1989, a total of 239 cervical cancer patients were entered for an analysis of plasma CEA level in the group with cervical cancer compared to the control group consisting of 65 normal healthy women and 18 women with benign gynecologic disease. Plasma CEA levels appear to be directly related with the tumor extension and as stages advance, the incidence of patients with abnormal plasma CEA levels is increased. Also, there seems to be a little higher incidence of abnormal CEA levels in patients with adenocarcinomas or adenosquamous carcinoma but not statistically significant because of small number of patients. When the patients developed recurrence, plasma CEA levels are markedly elevated in the majority, particularly in patients with hepatic metastases. In conclusion, serial plasma CEA checks could be used to detect recurrence during follow-up after treatment of cervical cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Genital Diseases, Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Plasma* ; Recurrence ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

PURPOSE: Numerous methods have been utilized to repair nasal septal perforation with varying degrees of success; however, no consensus has been reached on nasoseptal perforation repair. Here, the authors describe a surgical method based on human dermal allograft (Surederm(TM), Hans Biomed Corp. Korea) for the repair of nasal septal perforations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven patients with a nasal septal perforation were included in this study. The causes of these septal perforations included previous nasal surgery, trauma, foreign body (button battery), and idiopathy. There were several sites of perforation: 9 in the central area, 1 in the posterior-central area, and 1 in the anterior area. An interpositional graft incorporating Surederm(TM) was positioned between bilateral mucoperichondrial flaps using an intranasal approach. A silastic sheet was then left in the nasal septum bilaterally until complete healing had occurred through new nasal mucosa, which took a mean duration of 6 weeks. RESULTS: Outcomes in ten of the eleven patients were successful, with complete septal perforation closure. The remaining perforation, which was caused by a button battery, closed incompletely; however, its initial size of 2cm was reduced to 5mm. CONCLUSION: The described technique has a high success rate and can be performed under local anesthesia without external scarring. In the absence of donor site morbidity, this technique can also be utilized to repair posterior or multiple septal perforations without difficulty.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Dermis/*transplantation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Septum/pathology/*surgery ; Nose Diseases/*surgery ; Skin Transplantation/methods ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Treatment Outcome

Vertebral hemangiomas are rarely symptomatic and have been treated by surgical managements in patients with symptoms. A case of symptomatic vertebral hemangioma which was treated by radiotherapy successfully is presented.
Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Radiotherapy*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Various materials have been used for ossicular reconstruction, but there have been no reports for titanium prosthesis in South Korea. The purpose of this study was to assess the hearing results of Kurz titanium prosthesis in chronic ear diseases. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective review was made of 62 cases who underwent ossicular reconstruction using either titanium (TTP(R)-VARIO System) or plastipore (Polycel(R)) prosthesis from January 2003 to July 2005. Postoperative hearing results were analyzed taking in several prognostic factors such as the condition of middle ear mucosa and ossicle, or surgical method. RESULTS: A postoperative air-bone gap of E20 dB was obtained in 75.6% of the titanium and 56% of plastipore ossiculoplasty. The Postoperative ABG (air bone gap) show better results in healthy middle ear mucosa and in those cases which contain stapes superstructure. CONCLUSION: Titanium have a good biocompatibility and low extrusion rates with excellent hearing results. Besides, good visualization and accurate placement were easy to achieve.
Ear Diseases ; Ear, Middle ; Hearing ; Korea ; Mucous Membrane ; Ossicular Replacement ; Prostheses and Implants* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stapes ; Titanium*

Congenital middle ear cholesteatoma is a keratinizing squamous epithelial cyst that classically presents as a white "pearl" in either the anterosuperior or posterosuperior quadrants behind an intact tympanic membrane. The presenting features of congenital cholesteatoma depend upon the initial site of the disease. The most common presentation of this disease is a conductive hearing loss or a facial palsy of gradual onset. Other presentations include incapacitating vertigo with nystagmus, a feeling of fullness in the ear, frequent otalgia, an abnormal eardrum noted at physical examination for an unrelated condition and meningitis. Recently, we experienced a case of congenital cholesteatoma that was presented as a post-auricular fistula. In considering the management of such a fistula, it would be important to recognize the possibility that the disease may present in this way.
Cholesteatoma* ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; Ear ; Earache ; Facial Paralysis ; Fistula* ; Hearing Loss, Conductive ; Meningitis ; Physical Examination ; Tympanic Membrane ; Vertigo

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The development of saturation diving has enabled men to work underseas at great depths and for long periods of time. However, the utilization of HeO2 gas mixture has been a aubject of much study. This paper present a discussion effect of the helium gas on speech by usling gas machine which have been developed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty male volunteers without voice problems produced /a/ vowel sound before and after helium gas inhalation. The results were analyzed by using an aerophone, an acoustic analyzer, videostroboscopy, and a nasometer. RESULTS: The first formant, the second formant and the bandwidths of the second formant were significantly increased after helium gas inhalation. A meaningful change was noted in asalance. CONCLUSION: The helium gas has an effect on the resonant structure of oral and nasal cavity due to its physical characteristics.
Acoustics ; Diving ; Helium* ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Male ; Nasal Cavity ; Voice ; Volunteers

Duodenal ulcers and acute pancreatitis are two of the most commonly encountered gastrointestinal diseases among the general population. However, duodenal ulcer-induced pancreatitis is very rarely reported worldwide. This report elaborates on a distinct medical treatment that contributes to partial or complete treatment of acute pancreatitis induced by a duodenal ulcer scar.
Cicatrix ; Duodenal Ulcer* ; Duodenum ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Pancreatitis* ; Stents ; Ulcer

OBJECTIVES: Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is a noncontact form of electrocautery that utilizes ionized argon as the electrical current. A rigid bronchoscopic use of APC for the management of central airway obstruction could be safe and rapidly effective. This study evaluated the usefulness of rigid bronchoscopy with APC for the management of central airway obstructions due to benign or malignant tumors. METHODS: Twenty patients with obstructing central airway tumors were retrospectively reviewed from February 2008 to February 2013 at Chonnam National University Hospital. All patients received rigid bronchoscopic tumor removal under general anesthesia. APC was applied before and after tumor removal. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 59 years (interquartile range [IQR], 51 to 67 years) and 70% were female. The causes of airway obstruction included malignancy (n=8) and benign tumor (n=12). Airway tumors comprised intraluminal lesions (n=11, 55%) and mixed intraluminal/extraluminal lesions (n=9, 45%). The median tumor size was 15 mm (IQR, 10 to 18 mm). The median degree of airway obstruction was significantly reduced after intervention (90% [IQR, 88% to 96%] vs. 10% [IQR, 0% to 20%], P<0.001). The median American Thoracic Society dyspnea grade (3 [IQR, 1 to 4] vs. 1 [IQR, 0 to 1], P<0.001) and forced expiratory volume in one second (1.03 L [IQR, 0.52 to 1.36 L] vs. 1.98 L [IQR, 1.57 to 2.64 L], P=0.004) were significantly improved after intervention. There were no procedure-related acute complications and deaths. CONCLUSION: Rigid bronchoscopy with APC is an effective and safe procedure to alleviate central airway obstruction caused by tumors.
Airway Obstruction ; Anesthesia, General ; Argon Plasma Coagulation* ; Argon* ; Bronchoscopy ; Dyspnea ; Electrocoagulation ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence and the types of sinus abnormalities in a non-ENT population and draw any clinical correlation between the two phenomena. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively evaluated a total 120 patients who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for suspected intracranial diseases from March to July 1997, in another department at Kang-buk Samsung Hospital. Patients who had been treated for nasal or sinus diseases and who had previous history of nasal or sinus operations were excluded. The sinus abnormalities found on MRI were classified into 6 types as follows; normal, mucosal thickening less than 3 mm and more than 3 mm, fluid collection, polyp or cyst, and others. RESULTS: Among 96 patients studied, 42 (43.7%) patients showed abnormality in one or more sinus group; 12 (20.7%) of the 58 asymptomatic patients and 30 (78.9%) of the 38 symptomatic patients. Sinus abnormalities were most commonly observed in the maxillary sinus. Most common abnormality was the mucosal thickening less than 3 mm. CONCLUSION: Incidental sinus abnormalities detected in a non-ENT population were relatively common. However, pathologic condition which demanded treatment among these abnormalities were rare. Therefore, it would be important to be careful not to overestimate these signs, and one should evaluate their clinical correlations through complete physical examinations before applying any treatment for these lesions.
Brain* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Maxillary Sinus ; Physical Examination ; Polyps ; Prevalence* ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUND: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is important for the confirmatory diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the yield of repeated PCR testing in patients with confirmed pulmonary TB. METHODS: The medical records of 130 patients, who had more than two consecutive PCR tests and a M. tuberculosis-positive sputum culture from August, 2006 to December, 2007, were retrospectively reviewed for the purposes of this study. A positive TB-PCR test was defined as at least one positive test result. RESULTS: The cumulative positive PCR test rate was 80% (104/130), with gradually increasing rates of positive findings upon the first, second and third TB-PCR tests with 52.3%, 68.5% and 75.4%, respectively. However, further testing did not increase the positive rate further. CONCLUSION: Repeated PCR testing at least three times for M. tuberculosis is helpful for diagnosis of pulmonary TB.
Humans ; Medical Records ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary