Intractable pain was controlled in 5 cases using dorsal root entry zone lesions. All patients had failed to conservative therapy. Dorsal root entry zone lesions were made to include the involved dermatomes added one half of the dermatomes above and below the painful areas. Four patient noticed good pain relief with follow up period ranging from 6 to 24 months. Patient whose lesions were performed using a CO2 laser mas suffered no complicated deficit. Dorsal root entry zone lesions appeared to be a satisfactory treatment for intractable pain in patients, who have failed to respond to more conservative mode of therapy.
Evoked Potentials ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lasers, Gas ; Pain, Intractable* ; Spinal Nerve Roots*

PURPOSE: To investigate short term clinical outcomes of the open surgical repair for triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) foveal detachment. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 8 patients (5 men, 3 women) who had been treated with open surgical repair of the TFCC type 1B injury, from 2005 to 2013 and who were followed up for more than one year after surgery. Mean age at time of surgery was 34 years. The right side was involved in 3 patients, and the left in 5. The clinical results of surgery were assessed with modified Mayo wrist score (MMWS), disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score and pain-visual analogue scale (VAS). Physical examination was performed to evaluate the prescence of distal radioulnar instability, preoperatively and at the latest follow-up. RESULTS: The mean follow up period were 36.5 months (range, 12-64 months). The mean MMWS improved from 52.5 (range, 25-85) preoperatively to 82.5 (range, 75-100) postoperatively (p=0.02). The mean DASH score improved from 39.6 (range, 65-13.5) preoperatively to 13.4 (range, 2.5-33.3) postoperatively (p=0.012). The preoperative mean pain-VAS was 4.6 (range, 6-3); these value was reduced to mean 2 (range, 0-3) at the latest follow-up (p=0.016). There were no patients remaining instability after the surgery, although four patients showed distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) instability before surgery. CONCLUSION: The surgical outcomes of open repair for TFCC foveal detachment (type 1B) was contentable. Also, in cases of type 1B injury associated with DRUJ instability were managed sucessfully without additional procedure.
Arm ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Joints ; Male ; Physical Examination ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder ; Triangular Fibrocartilage* ; Wrist

Traumatic aortic transection after blunt chest injury is highly lethal and has high operative mortality. Recently, the diagnostic and therapeutic method of this injury is advanced, especially in spinal cord protection during aortic cross-clamping. We have experienced two cases of traumatic aortic transection with left hemothorax after blunt chest injury, which was diagnosed in operative field. The transected aorta was primarily repaired with clamp and sew method and postoperative paraplegia had not occured. The patients were dischraged without any significant complications. We report these cases with a review of literature.
Aorta ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Mortality ; Paraplegia ; Spinal Cord ; Thoracic Injuries

BACKGROUND: Nuss et al introduced a less invasive method for inserting a stainless steel bar through the small incision on the lateral chest wall into the pectus excavatum. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of the Nuss operation on lung mechanics, CT-Index and hemodynamics. METHODS: Twenty patients (age 4 to 17 years) with severe pectus excavatum underwent the Nuss operation. CT-Index (the internal transverse distance of the thorax/the vertebral-sternal distance at greatest depression) was evaluated before operation. Lung mechanics (dynamic compliance [Cdyn], static compliance [Cstat] and airway resistance [Raw]), hemodynamic changes (heart rate [HR], systolic blood pressure [SBP], and diastolic blood pressure [DBP]), and gas exchange (arterial oxygen tension [PaO2], arterial carbon dioxide tension [PaCO2], pulse oximeter saturation [SPO2] and end-tidal carbon dioxide tension[PETCO2]) were measured before and after the operation. RESULTS: Cdyn and Cstat decreased significantly (P < 0.05), but Raw did not change. PaCO2 and PETCO2 decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and SBP and DBP increased significantly (P < 0.05) postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that decreased compliance after the Nuss operation may result from reduced thoracic elastance, not to a change of lung parenchyma.
Airway Resistance ; Blood Pressure ; Carbon Dioxide ; Compliance ; Funnel Chest* ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Lung* ; Mechanics* ; Oxygen ; Stainless Steel ; Thoracic Wall

BACKGROUND: Immunologic marker studies and cytogenetic studies as well as morphological studies are frequently performed for the differential diagnosis of acute leukemia. We investigated the relationship of between immunophenotyping and cytogenetic abnormalities in acute myelogenous leukemias (AMLs). METHODS: Total 153 cases of AMLs were included. Morphological, cytochemical, immunophenotypic, and cytogenetic studies were performed. We classified the AML cases according to immunophenotyping and investigated the association between cytogenetic results and immunophenotype. And we compared differences between the AML group with lymphoid markers and that without them. RESULTS: In 153 cases of AMLs, lymphoid markers (CD2, CD5, CD7, CD19, CD10) were coexpressed in 59 cases (38.6%). Cytogenetic abnormalities were in 106 cases (69.3%). No significant difference in cytogenetic abnormalities was observed between the group with lymphoid markers and without them (76.3% vs. 64.9%, P>0.05). t(8;21)(q22;22) was significantly more frequent in CD19+AMLs (78.3% vs. 7.7%, P<0.0001), compared to CD19-AMLs. In CD2+AMLs, t(15;17)(q24;q21) was significantly more frequent than in CD2-AMLs (81.8% vs. 8.5%, P<0.0001). CD7+AML cases showed fewer cytogenetic abnormalities than AML with other lymphoid markers and various chromosomal abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: In AML, cytogenetic abnormalities were different in relation to aberrant lymphoid markers. CD19 vs. t(8;21) and CD2 vs. t(15;17) were closely associated with each other. It is thought that CD7+AML cases are heterogeneous group. We need the study for response to therapy and prognosis in AMLs with lymphoid markers so that the data of this study can be helpful for the diagnosis and treatment.
Biomarkers ; Chromosome Aberrations* ; Cytogenetics* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* ; Prognosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has a promising effect on nonresectable cholangiocarcinoma (CC) but its long term data is not yet available. This study examined the long term outcome and factors associated with increased survival after performing PDT for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS: A list of 393 patients with a diagnosis of hilar CC was retrieved from the database of Soonchunhyang University Hospital (Seoul, Korea) and these patients were seen from January 1, 2001, to April 1, 2010. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 74 patients who underwent PDT in addition to biliary stenting with/without chemoradiation. RESULTS: The median overall survival from the date of diagnosis to death or to the last follow-up was 11.7 months (range: 2.2~78.4). After performing PDT, a complete remission was observed in 1.3% (1/74) of the patients who had a superficial depth of tumor without lymph node involvement. On multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model, increasing the time to treatment after the diagnosis was a statistically significant predictor of shorter survival after PDT [Odds ratio: 3.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.90~4.71, p=0.034]. CONCLUSIONS: Although PDT does not prevent progression of CC, it appears to control the cholestasis. The early treatment of PDT after the diagnosis showed a survival benefit for patients with advanced hilar CC.
Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholestasis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Photochemotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Time-to-Treatment ; Triazenes

We report a case of pulmonary fungal ball of Pseudallescheria boydii (Scedosporium apiospermum, the anamorph) and the result of LSU rDNA D2 region sequencing of the clinical isolate. An immunocompetent 58-year-old female suffered 2-year history of hemoptysis. Her symptom persisted despite the administration of oral itraconazole, even though the clinical, radiological, and histological findings suggested Aspergilloma. In the fungal culture, the typical morphology of S. apiospermum was observed. Even though the sequencing using LSU rDNA D2 region identified the organism as Pseudallescheria ellipsoidea, one of the P. boydii complex, the further investigation of ours suggested that the species in P. boydii complex could not be differentiated from each other by the sequencing of LSU rDNA D2 region.
DNA, Ribosomal ; Female ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Itraconazole ; Middle Aged ; Pseudallescheria ; Scedosporium

BACKGROUND: Thymic carcinoma is a very rare disease and treatment modality is not standardized. So, we report our experience of management of thymic carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between 1984 and 1998, eight patients with thymic carcinoma were treated at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical center. RESULT: The median age was 46 years with a range of 23 to 67 years. Chief complaint was a anterior chest pain. Histologic subtypes included two lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma, two squamous cell carcinoma, one basaloid carcinoma, and three mixed type. Clinical staging was classified to stage I in 2, stage II in 4, stage III in 1, and stage IVA in 1 according to the modified Masaoka staging system. Four patients underwent complete resection and three patients were found to have incomplete resection by histologic evaluation. One patient underwent only biopsy due to pericardial dissemination and invasion of adjacent organ. All patients had adjuvant chemotherapy, radiation therapy was administered to five patients for positive resection margin and above stage III. The median follow up period was 55.3+/-64.6 months, three patiants died and four patients are alive without recurrence. One patient in recurrence had two times re-operations and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. He is still alive. CONCLUSION: We concluded that completely surgical resection and adequate adjuvant chemoradiotherapy after early diagnosis are useful to management of thymic carcinoma.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Chest Pain ; Early Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Rare Diseases ; Recurrence ; Thymoma* ; Thymus Gland ; Thymus Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Mitral valve repair has been suggested to provide better postoperative outcome than valve replacement for mitral regurgita tion. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From Janu ary 1996 to May 2000, 87 patients had mitral valve repair(59 patients) or replac ement(28 patients) for mitral regurgitation. RESULT: The two groups were si milar in age, sex, and functional class. The cause of mitral regurgitation in th e repair group was degenerative in 45 patients, rheumatic in 12 patients, endoca rditis in 1, and ischemic in 1, and in the replacement group was degenerative in 12 patients, rheumatic in 11 patients, endocarditis in 4 and traumatic in 1 pat ient. A Carpentier ring was used in 51 patients and the most common size was 30 mm. The aortic cross-clamp time was 88.3+/-24.7 minutes in the repair group and 7 0.3+/-23.8 minutes in the replacement group(p<0.05), and total pump time was 13 9.6+/-30.5 minutes and 110.4+/-34.3 minutes(p<0.05) respectively. There was no hos pital death in both groups. Four-year actuarial survival was 97.9% for the repai r group and 100% for the replacement group(p = not significant). Postoperative c ardiothoracic ratio and ejection fraction decreased, and postoperative functiona l class improved in both groups(p = not significant). CONCLUSION: Mitral valve repai r for patients with mitral regurgitation can be performed with the satisfactory results as valve replacement.
Endocarditis ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy is characterized by 1) early contractures of the elbows, Achilles tendons, and postcervical muscles, 2) slowly progressive muscle wasting and weakness with a humeroperoneal distribution in the early stages, and 3) cardiomyopathy with conduction defects and risk of sudden death. The inheritance is usually X-linked recessive but can be autosomal dominant and recessive. We report a case of 28-year old woman who presented with dizziness, palpitation, and progressive muscular weakness. Her ECG revealed high degree AV block and muscle biopsy demonstrated diffuse degenerative change consistent with Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy. She was diagnosed as autosomal dominant Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy by characteristic clinical features, and findings of ECG, nerve conduction test, electromyography and muscle biopsy findings. A VVI-type permanent pacemaker was implanted.
Achilles Tendon ; Adult ; Atrioventricular Block* ; Biopsy ; Cardiomyopathies ; Contracture ; Death, Sudden ; Dizziness ; Elbow ; Electrocardiography ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Muscle Weakness ; Muscles ; Muscular Dystrophy, Emery-Dreifuss* ; Neural Conduction ; Wills