Gastritis is a common but a serious disease with a potential risk of developing carcinoma. Helicobacter pylori infection is reported as the most common cause of gastritis, but other genetic and genomic factors exist, especially single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Association studies between SNPs and gastritis disease are important, but results on epistatic interactions from multiple SNPs are rarely found in previous genome-wide association (GWA) studies. In this study, we performed computational GWA case-control studies for gastritis in Korea Associated Resource (KARE) data. By transforming the resulting SNP epistasis network into a gene-gene epistasis network, we also identified potential gene-gene interaction factors that affect the susceptibility to gastritis.
Case-Control Studies ; Cohort Studies* ; Gastritis* ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Helicobacter pylori ; Korea ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to identify the CT findings that help detect pleural dissemination from lung cancer and to evaluate the usefulness of selected diagnostic criteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After a computerized database search of 606 patients who had undergone thoracotomy for primary lung cancer, 23 patients were identified as h aving surgically documented pleural dissemination. From the same database, 50 patients without pleural dissemination during thoracotomy were randomly selected as controls. Preoperative CT scans and medical records were rev i ewed retrospectively, and findings were compared between the two groups. RESULT: One or more of three types of pleural thickening (plaque-like, nodular, and fissural) were identified on CT as the most discriminating finding (sensitivity, 74 % ; specificity, 60 %; p = 0.007). The following findings were also significantly discriminating (p<0.05): contiguity of primary tumor with the pleural surface as seen on CT; adenocarcinoma in cell type; and a peripheral tumor defined as one in which bronchoscopy revealed no endobronchial lesion. The use of combinations of these findings in addition to pleural thickening rendered diagnostic criteria more specific at the cost of the sensitivity. CONCLUSION: During preoperative CT evaluation of lung cancer, the recognition of subtle pleural thickening helps detect pleural dissemination. The likelihood that subtle pleural thickening represents pleural dissemination is increased when a primary tumor is contiguous with the pleural surface, is an adenocarcinoma, or is peripherally located.
Adenocarcinoma ; Bronchoscopy ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thoracotomy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: Recently, a number of patients needed total thyroidectomy and high dose radioiodine therapy (HD-RAI) get increased more. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether pathological staging (PS) and serum thyroglobulin (sTG) level could replace the diagnostic I-123 scan for the determination of therapeutic dose of HD-RAI in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. Materials and METHODS: Fifty eight patients (M:F=13;45, age 44.5+/-11.5 yrs) who underwent total thyroidectomy and central or regional lymph node dissection due to differentiated thyroid cancer were enrolled. Diagnostic scan of I-123 and sTG assay were also performed on off state of thyroid hormone. The therapeutic doses of I-131 (TD) were determined by the extent of uptakes on diagnostic I-123 scan as a gold standard. PS was graded by the criteria recommended in 6th edition of AJCC cancer staging manual except consideration of age. For comparison of the determination of therapeutic doses, PS and sTG were compared with the results of I-123 scan. RESULTS: All patients were underwent HD-RAI. Among them, five patients (8.6%) were treated with 100 mCi of I-131, fourty three (74.1%) with 150 mCi, six (10.3%) with 180 mCi, three (5.2%) with 200 mCi, and one (1.7%) with 250 mCi, respectively. On the assessment of PS, average TDs were 154+/-25 mCi in stage I (n=9), 175+/-50 mCi in stage II (n=4), 149+/-21 mCi in stage III (n=38), and 161+/-20 mCi in stage IV (n=7). The statistical significance was not shown between PS and TD (p=0.169). Among fifty two patients who had available sTG, 25 patients (48.1%) having below 2 ng/mL of sTG were treated with 149+/-26 mCi of I-131, 9 patients (17.3%) having 2< or =sTG <5 ng/mL with 156+/-17 mCi, 5 patients (9.6%) having 5< or =sTG<10 ng/mL with 156+/-13 mCi, 7 patients (13.5%) having 10< or =sTG<50 ng/mL with 147+/-24 mCi, and 6 patients (11.5%) having above 50 ng/mL with 175+/-42 mCi. The statistical significance between sTG level and TD (p=0.252) was not shown. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, PS and sTG could not replace the determination of TD using I-123 scan for first HD-RAI in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.
Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Neoplasm Staging ; Sorbitol ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroidectomy ; Tyramine ; Whole Body Imaging

A 39-year-old female patient who had undergone a total thyroidectomy for a papillary thyroid carcinoma underwent a whole body scan with I-131. The I-131 scan was performed 72 hours after administering 185 MBq (5 mCi) of an I-131 solution. The anterior image of the head, neck, and upper chest showed multiple areas of increased uptake in the mediastinal area considering of functional metastasis. However, radioactivity was not evident in the image taken after removing her clothes and muffler. The image obtained after placing the muffler on the pallet showed that the radioactivity was still present. It is well known that artifacts on an I-131 scan can be produced by styling hair sputum, drooling during sleep, chewing gum, and paper or a cloth handkerchief that is contaminated with the radioactive iodine from either perspiration or saliva. This activity might be mistaken for a functional metastasis. Therefore, it is essential that an image be obtained after removing the patient's clothes. In this study, artifacts due to a contaminated muffler on the I-131 scan were found. These mimicked a functional metastasis of the mediastinal area in a patient with a papillary thyroid carcinoma.
Adult ; Artifacts ; Chewing Gum ; Female ; Hair ; Head ; Humans ; Iodine ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Radioactivity ; Saliva ; Sialorrhea ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy ; Whole Body Imaging

A 68-year-old man with small cell carcinoma of the lung and adenocarcinoma of the prostate underwent Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy for the evaluation of skeletal metastases. Bilateral symmetrical photon defects in both parietal bones of the skull were observed. The radiographs of the skull demonstrates biparietal thinning in the same area of the abnormality identified on bone scintigraphy. Although these findings in cancer patients can be mistaken for skeletal metastases, the symmetry and location of the photon defects are generally indicative of biparietal thinning.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Humans ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Parietal Bone ; Prostate ; Radionuclide Imaging* ; Skull ; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

A 59-year-old man with thymic carcinoma underwent Tc-99m MIBI myocardial SPECT, and Tc-99m MIBI uptake in the mass was unexpectedly found in a planar image. SPECT images of the thorax showed an increased uptake area with central photon deficiency (a ring-like appearance), which reflected central tumor irreversible ischemia or progressing necrosis with peripheral viable tumor tissue.
Humans ; Ischemia ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Thorax ; Thymoma* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

A 20-year-old man underwent a Tc-99m HMPAO labeled leukocyte scan for the evaluation of an infection at the stump of an AK amputation, which was conducted due to an open communicated fracture of the left lower leg. Blood-flow and blood-pool images demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm with a focus of intense activity medial to the stump, and centered within a large photopenic defect by surrounding hematoma. Delayed image obtained at 3 hours post-injection showed persistent intense and slight increased activity. Contrast angiography confirmed the presence of a pseudoaneurysm arising from a branch of the left superficial femoral artery.
Amputation Stumps* ; Amputation* ; Aneurysm, False* ; Angiography ; Femoral Artery ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Leg ; Leukocytes* ; Radionuclide Angiography ; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime* ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the normal values of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) in normal children to aged volunteers using Tc-99m HMPAO. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty four right-handed normal volunteers (20 males, 14 females, mean age 40.3+/-24.9 years, range 4 to 82 years) were underwent rest/acetazolamide (ACZ) brain SPECT using Tc-99m HMPAO and the sequential injection and subtraction method. rCBF was estimated on the basis of a semiquantitative approach by means of right/left ratio, region/cerebellum and region to whole brain ratios in frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, basal ganglia, thalami, and cerebellum. CVR was measured by means of % perfusion increase calculated as % mean count change compared to rest rCBF in each regions. RESULTS: Mean values of right to left ratios range from 1.004 to 1.018. rCBF was highest in cerebellum and lowest in basal ganglia and thalami. Frontal and temporal rCBF decreased while occipital and thalamic rCBF increased according to age. No sexual difference of rCBF was noted. Mean CVR was 29.9+/-12.9%. Mean CVR significantly increased to late teens, and declined thereafter. After 6th decade, CVR in both frontal lobes, left parietal lobe and right basal ganglia decreased significantly with advancing age. There was no sexual difference of CVR. CONCLUSION:: Quantitative assessment of CVR was possible by ACZ Tc-99m HMPAO brain SPECT. It revealed that rCBF and CVR changed according to age in normal Korean volunteers. There was no sexual difference.
Acetazolamide ; Adolescent ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain* ; Cerebellum ; Child ; Female ; Frontal Lobe ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Occipital Lobe ; Parietal Lobe ; Perfusion ; Rabeprazole ; Reference Values ; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon* ; Volunteers

Kasabach-Merritt syndrome (KMS) consists of thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and localized consumption coagulopathy that develops within vascular hemangioma. This syndrome may also be associated with occult hemangiomas located at various sites. Tc-99m RBC scintigraphy and SPECT have proven to be reliable for confirming or excluding hemangioma. Total body blood pool imaging study during the scintigraphy also provides a means of screening for occult lesions. The authors report the case of a 29-year-old man who presented with a giant hepatic hemangioma complicated by KMS, and underwent Tc-99m RBC scintigraphy and SPECT including a total body blood pool imaging study.
Adult ; Anemia, Hemolytic ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome ; Mass Screening ; Thrombocytopenia ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

BACKGROUND: 67Ga scintigraphy has been used for years in sarcoidosis for diagnosis and to determine the extent of the disease. The present report is a study of various findings of 67Ga scintigraphy in patients with sarcoidosis. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2007, 16 patients (male:female, 6:10; age, 35.9+/-15.3 years) with histologically proven sarcoidosis underwent clinical evaluation and 67Ga scintigraphy. According to the site of involvement, they were divided into subtypes and analyzed. RESULTS: Sixteen patients with sarcoidosis had involvement of various organs, including lymph nodes (13/16, 81.3%), lung (3/16, 18.8%), muscle (1/16, 6.3%), subcutaneous tissue (1/16, 6.3%), glands (1/16, 6.3%), and bone (1/16, 6.3%). Sites of involved lymph nodes were thorax (12/13, 92.3%), supraclavicular area (5/13, 38.5%), inguinal area (2/13, 15.4%), abdomen (2/13, 15.4%), and pelvis (1/13, 7.7%). CONCLUSION: Because sarcoidosis frequently involves multiple organs, 67Ga scintigraphy is a useful method in for evaluating the whole body. Nuclear medicine physicians should be familiar with the various findings of gallium uptake in sarcoidosis.
Abdomen ; Gallium ; Gallium Radioisotopes ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Muscles ; Nuclear Medicine ; Pelvis ; Sarcoidosis ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Thorax