No abstract available.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the size of normal pons and cerebellum in vivo and the change in size according to age, and to compare those with measurement of the diseased pons and cerebellum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 121 normal adults(M:F=54:67), 5 patients with OPCD and 19 patients with WallerJan degeneration were studied. The normal group was divided into 5 subgroups according to the age (ranged from 20 to 72 years). 1.5T GE Signa MR unit was used. On axial plane, the AP(A) and transverse(B) diameters of the pons, the size of the middle cerebellar peduncle(C), and transverse diameter of the posterior fossa(D) and the cerebellum(E) were measured. On midsagittal plane, the longitudinal(F) and AP(G) diameters of the basis pontis were measured. The ratios of E/D and F/G were calculated. The student t test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: C, E and F/G were 15.5mm+/-1.3, 99.8mm+/-4.3 and 1.63+/-.10, respectively. F/G, H/I, and H/J were larger in male(p<.01). All data of the pons showed no statistically significant differences among age groups. E of the seventh decades was shorter than that of the third decades(p<.05). C(12.7 mm+/-1.4) in OPCD and F/G(1. 81+/-.10) in Wallerian degeneration(p<.01) showed the most significant differences when they were compared to the normal. CONCLUSION: Although the cerebellum decreased in size with age, the pons maintained its size up to eighth' decades. The measurement of middle cerebellar peduncle on axial plane (C) and the ratio of basis pontis on midsagittal plane (F/G) were important in the evaluation of OPCD and WallerJan degeneration, respectively.
Cerebellum* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Pons*

No abstract available.
Colon* ; Polyps*

Twenty cases of polypoid lesions of the gallbladder were reviewed. Seven were benign lesions. Among them, there were 4 (20%) adenomas and 3 (15%) adenomatous hyperplasias. All of the benign lesions were less than 1 cm in diameter. Thirteen cases involved a carcinoma of the gallbladder, of which 92% were more than 1 cm in diameter, 76.9% were over 60 years of age, and 38.5% were associated with gallstones. The accuracy of the preoperative ultrasonographic diagnosis of the polypoid lesions of the gallbladder was 80%. The spread and the size of the tumor showed a close correlation. Therefore, the size of the tumor is a vital indicator for the treatment of polypoid lesions of the gallbladder; lesions between 0.6~1 cm in diameter should be followed up by ultrasonography. An operation may be considered if stones are present. Lesions bigger than 1 cm should be resected since malignancy can not be excluded.
Adenoma ; Diagnosis ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; Gallbladder* ; Gallstones ; Hyperplasia ; Polyps ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of tamoxifen on endometrial thickness in postmenopausal women taking adjuvant tamoxifen therapy for breast cancer after chemotherapy. METHODS: Fifty-eight tamoxifen-treated postmenopausal breast cancer patients underwent periodically transvaginal ultrasonography twice a year for 2 years and then once a year. We analyzed the correlation between the sonographic endometrial thickness and the duration of tamoxifen therapy. RESULTS: The mean endometrial thickness of breast cancer patients before tamoxifen therapy was 4.68 mm. But the mean endometrial thickness increased to 5.03 mm at 6 months, 5.21 mm at 12 months, after which it slightly declined to 5.13 mm at 18 months. And then it increased to 5.15 mm at 24 months, and 5.24 mm at 36 months. There was a significant increase in endometrial thickness after tamoxifen therapy compared with before tamoxifen therapy (p<0.05). Overall, proliferative endometrium was the most common histopathologic finding (5/14) in tamoxifen-treated postmenopausal women who had endometrial thickness >or=5 mm. No cases of endometrial cancer were detected. CONCLUSION: Significant increase in endometrial thickness with the duration of tamoxifen therapy in postmenopausal tamoxifen-treated patients may be associated with a high risk of endometrial pathologies in these patients.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Drug Therapy ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Endometrium ; Female ; Humans ; Pathology ; Tamoxifen ; Ultrasonography

Heterotopic mesenteric ossification is a very uncommon disorder that is characterized by new bone formation in the mesentery, which does not normally undergo ossification. A 52-year-old female experienced a small bowel obstruction 12 days after a segmental resection of the small bowel following a trauma. A laparotomy was performed 16 days after the initial operation, and a 2 cm hard mass was detected in the small bowel mesentery, with severe fibrous adhesions around the mass, involving the jejunum, which required resection. Postoperatively, the patient developed an intraabdominal abscess, followed by intestinal fistulation. The patient gradually recovered by conservative management, and left hospital 70 days after the first operation. Microscopic examination of the mass showed well oriented trabeculae of the osseous tissue, osteoid formation, with fine calcification and osteoblastic activity, but there was no formation of mature lamellar bone or clear evidence of the "zone phenomenon" that is classically described in heterotopic ossification. These findings appeared consistent with an early stage of heterotopic ossification. The etiology and pathogenesis are unknown; the heterotopic mesenteric ossification was thought to be associated with the trauma (intraabdominal surgery). The previous literature on heterotopic mesenteric ossification is reviewed, and a new case reported.
Abscess ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Jejunum ; Laparotomy ; Mesentery ; Middle Aged ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis

Heterotopic mesenteric ossification is a very uncommon disorder that is characterized by new bone formation in the mesentery, which does not normally undergo ossification. A 52-year-old female experienced a small bowel obstruction 12 days after a segmental resection of the small bowel following a trauma. A laparotomy was performed 16 days after the initial operation, and a 2 cm hard mass was detected in the small bowel mesentery, with severe fibrous adhesions around the mass, involving the jejunum, which required resection. Postoperatively, the patient developed an intraabdominal abscess, followed by intestinal fistulation. The patient gradually recovered by conservative management, and left hospital 70 days after the first operation. Microscopic examination of the mass showed well oriented trabeculae of the osseous tissue, osteoid formation, with fine calcification and osteoblastic activity, but there was no formation of mature lamellar bone or clear evidence of the "zone phenomenon" that is classically described in heterotopic ossification. These findings appeared consistent with an early stage of heterotopic ossification. The etiology and pathogenesis are unknown; the heterotopic mesenteric ossification was thought to be associated with the trauma (intraabdominal surgery). The previous literature on heterotopic mesenteric ossification is reviewed, and a new case reported.
Abscess ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Jejunum ; Laparotomy ; Mesentery ; Middle Aged ; Ossification, Heterotopic ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis

Confirmation of patency of the portal vein by either ultrasound or angiography is important for evaluating patients considered for living-related liver transplant(LRLT) and liver resection(LR). Portal vein thrombosis(PVT) in LRLT necessitates planning for a technically difficult operation because consideration must be given to obtaining an alternative for splanchnic inflow. When performing LR for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), portal vein tumor thrombus was usually thought of as a poor prognositic factor for tumor recurrence. Recently, we experienced two cases of pseudo-obstruction of the portal vein, one in LRLT and the other in LR. In the case of LRLT, a 16-month-old female patient was diagnosed as congenital biliary atresia. PVT had been preoperatively suggested, but the vein was actually open. The patient was successfully transplanted using the left lateral segment of the donor with ordinary portal vein anastomosis and the postoperative course was uneventful except for mild acute rejection episodes. In the case of LR, a 60-year-old male patient presented with incidental symptoms. Preoperative ultrasonography, computed tomography, and angiography showed a 9x8cm-sized mass in the right lobe of the liver with obstruction of the right portal vein, which suggested tumor thrombus. However, the operation disclosed the patency of the portal vein and a right lobectomy was subsequently done. Because of the scanty blood flow of the portal vein due to arterio-portal shunt, PVT was preoperatively suggested. Our experience indicates that more sophisticated image studies are needed for evaluating portal vein patency in the patient who needs hepatic transplant as well as liver resection, and that the surgeon should not hesitate to procede to operative procedures even though conventional studies suggest PVT.
Angiography ; Biliary Atresia ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver Transplantation* ; Liver* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein* ; Recurrence ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Thrombosis ; Tissue Donors ; Ultrasonography ; Veins

Adequate postoperative pain control is in highlight because it has been known that uncontrolled pain has adverse effects on postoperative cardiopulmonary, immunologic functions and in turn, possibly prolongs patient's recovery. One hundred and two patients who underwent spine surgery including laminectomy, fusion and fixation were given 10mg of morphine into operative field (exposed epidural area) just prior to wound closure for relief of postoperative pain. These patients were compaired with 51 patients who did not received epidural morphine. The median of the numerical rating scale of epidural morphine spray group (Group A) at 4, 12, 24 hours after operation revealed 2, 3, 5 respectively and no epidural morhine group (Grade B) revealed 4, 5 and 5. In conclusion, postoperative pain relief of group A is superior to that of group B.
Humans ; Laminectomy ; Morphine* ; Pain, Postoperative ; Spine* ; Wounds and Injuries

Asymmetric crying face is caused by unilateral weakness of the depressor muscles of lower lip, which is most obvious during crying and is associated with other congenital anomalies, especially congenital heart disease. We experienced a case of asymmetric crying face after cesarean delivery in mother with hyperthyroidism and present it with a brief review of literature.
Crying* ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Hyperthyroidism* ; Lip ; Mothers* ; Muscles