59 children seen from Jan. 1990 to Jun. 1994 with epilepsy were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the tendency of recurrence and the risk factors after the antiepileptic drug discontinuation. The population consisted of 59 children who were seizure free for more than 2 years and followed up for more than 1 year after the discontinuation via department of pediatrics, Yonsei University, Wonju College of Medicine. We analyzed risk factors of recurrence(age of seizure onset, seizure frequency before treatment, interval from seizure onset to start of treatment, duration from neurologic disorders, and EEG done just before discontinuation) between non-recurrent group(43 patients) and recurrent group(16 patients). The results were as follows: 1) In 59 patients with epilepsy, 16(27.1%) patients showed recurrence after the discontinuation and 14(87.5%) patients of those were developed during taperring and within less than 1 year. The probability of recurrent seizure by Kaplan-Meier curve at 12 and 24 months after discontinuation are 23.7% and 33.6% respectively. 2) There were significant differences on seizure frequency before treatement, duration from start of treatment to control (9.5months vs 31.1months), and associated neurologic disorders(11.6% vs. 56.2%) between non-recurrent and recurrent group. 3) There were no significant differences on age at seizure onset(70.6 months vs. 58.5months), interval from seizure onset to start of treatment(9.5months vs. 6.6months), length of seizure free(49.7months vs 39.3months), abnormal EEG finding done just before withdrawal(23.2% vs. 25.0% ) between non-recurrent and recurrent group.
Child ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy* ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Nervous System Diseases ; Pediatrics ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors* ; Seizures

An 8 year-old boy was presented with typical symptoms of neuromyelitis optica. Hematologic data revealed leucocytosis and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR). CSF analysis showed elevated protein and lymphocyte dominant leucocytosis. Treatment with high dose steroid was administered. He recovered fully within a few weeks after the onset or paraparesis. Neuromyelitis optica is a clinical syndrome. Pathophysiologically, it is a autoimmune process involving the optic nerve and the spinal cord. It is characterized by rapid progressive paraparesis and bilateral visual disturbance. There are no definitive laboratory clues for diagnosis. Treatments including the use of steroid, ACTH, antiviral agent and immunosuppresant, all result in variable effect. Prognosis is very variable ranging from full recovery to death. The most common cause of death is respiratory failure with the cord lesions. Neuromyelitis optica is very rare in Korea. We report the case with review of the literature.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Blood Sedimentation ; Cause of Death ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Neuromyelitis Optica ; Optic Nerve ; Paraparesis ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Spinal Cord

BACKGROUND: Recently, the amiodarone has emerged as a promising antiarrhythmic agent and its efficacy and safety has been widely accepted with many literatures. But there was no general agreement regarding the dosage and indication of intravenous (IV) amiodarone in acute myocardial infarction with life-threatening refractory ventricular tachyarrhythmias. METHOD: From October 1995 through October 1997, we recruited retrospectively 9 patients of acute myocardial infarction who had received IV amiodarone for life-threatening refractory ventricular tachyarrhythmias and analyzed the initial response, adverse effect, and loading dose. RESULTS: 1) Acute efficacy:Eight of 9 patients promptly restored normal sinus rhythm immediately after intravenous amiodarone administration. 2) In-Hospital Mortality:One patients died due to ventricular tachyarrhythmias refractory to aggressive management and 5 in 8 patients who had responded promptly with IV amiodarone discharged alive and other 3 patients died due to cardiogenic shock with normal sinus rhythm. 3) Immediate adverse effects:Five patients experienced immediate adverse effects after IV amiodarone; 3 patients of hypotension, 1 patient of first degree AV block, and the other of Morbitz type 2 AV block. 4) Long term follow-up:Among 5 patients discharged alive, one died as unexpected consequence. Other 4 patients have been still alive without maintenance medication. CONCLUSION: The IV amiodarone for suppression of life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with acute myocardial infarction seemed to be an effective second-line therapeutic drug and have acceptable adverse effects. In the future, the large scale study regarding the dosage and indication might be warrented.
Amiodarone* ; Atrioventricular Block ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Retrospective Studies ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Tachycardia*

Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus is extremely rare, with less than 200 cases reported in the literature. However, primary malignant melanoma is an aggressive tumor. We report a case of primary esophageal malignant melanoma that presented with a large polypoid mass in the lower esophagus, and subsequently showed multiple metastatic nodules in the subcutaneous layer, skin and retroperitoneum. Primary malignant melanoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of a polypoid esophageal mass, especially in cases where metastases to unexpected areas occur or in cases of unexpected metastatic patterns.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Esophagus* ; Melanoma* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Skin

We describe a 48-year-old man with family history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affected by chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (CEP) with severe peripheral eosinophilia. CEP might develop as a complication of longstanding active RA. The patient with 5 months history of seropositive RA and chronic respiratory symptoms, alveolar and blood eosinophilia, peripheral pulmonary infiltrates and pleural effusion on chest imaging. The lung may be involved as an extraarticular manifestation of RA. However, CEP is not recognized as a typical lung manifestation of RA, and the two diseases rarely coexist. The effusion was an eosinophil predominant exudates and was characterized by low pH, and glucose level and high lactic dehydrogenase. The patient responded rapidly to combination of steroids and disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.
Antirheumatic Agents ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Exudates and Transudates ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Oxidoreductases ; Pleural Effusion* ; Pulmonary Eosinophilia* ; Steroids ; Thorax

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics and ultrasonographic findings of band-like interposing fat as well as to identify additional approaches for its diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 26 confirmed cases of band-like interposing fat from June 2008 to June 2010. A retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and ultrasonographic findings in these cases. Five radiologists analyzed the ultrasonographic findings, which correlated with the mammographic and MRI findings when available, according to Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System classification. RESULTS: None of the 26 patients had any symptoms. In 92.3% of the patients, the lesion was located in the upper outer quadrant of the breast. The mean distance of the lesion from the nipple was 2.4 +/- 0.7 cm (1.1-4.5). The mean depth of the lesion from the skin was 1.3 +/- 0.3 cm (0.8-2.1). The mean maximal length of the lesion was 0.8 +/- 0.4 cm (0.3-1.8). The following were the most frequent ultrasonographic findings of lesions: irregular shape, not parallel orientation, indistinct margins, abrupt interface, hypoechogenicity, no posterior feature, no calcification, and presence of vascularity. The most frequent BI-RADS category was 4a. There were no suspicious findings on the mammography or MRI. CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographic findings may lead to misclassification of band-like interposing fat as a malignancy. A better understanding of the clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics of band-like interposing fat would facilitate its differentiation from a true mass.
Adipose Tissue/*ultrasonography ; Adult ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Breast Diseases/pathology/*ultrasonography ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Humans ; Mammary Arteries/*ultrasonography ; Middle Aged ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography, Mammary/*methods ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: We wanted to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of screening mammography and ultrasonography for breast examinations and we assessed the clinical usefulness of breast ultrasound for cancer screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of all the women who visited the health promotion center of seven medical institutions from Mar 2004 to Feb 2005, we compared the sensitivity and specificity between a single use of mammography and mammography with ultrasonography for the patients who underwent both mammography and ultrasonography. Here, the reference criteria were the follow-up and the histopathology, which were performed after one year. RESULTS: A total of 1123 patients underwent both mammography and ultrasonography and they could be followed up for a year. For the 1123 patients who underwent both mammography and ultrasonography, the sensitivity and specificity of a single use of mammography were 14.3% and 86.9%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of mammography with ultrasonography were 85.7% and 85.9%, respectively. These results showed that the sensitivity was significantly increased when mammography was combined with ultrasonography (< 0.05). CONCLUSION: The sensitivity was improved for the cases that underwent both mammography and ultrasonography.
Breast ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Mammography ; Mass Screening ; Sensitivity and Specificity*