PURPOSE: To evaluate the possibility that laparoscopic procedure could perform surgeries keeping the principle of oncologic surgery. METHODS: From July 1993 to June 1996, thrity patients undergone laparoscopic assisted colon and rectal resections (LR) for malignant disease at Yeungman university hospital. Margins of resection and lymph nodes (LNs) recovered were compared with those of thirty stage matched open resection cases (OR, n=30) retrospectively. There was no operative mortality in both group. Operative techniques used in LR vs OR were colectomy, 5:6; anterior resection, 6:5; low anterior resection, 11:12 and abdominoperineal resection, 8:7. Parameters were analgesic use, duration of postoperative ileus, operative time, hospital stay, margins of rescetion, lymph node yield (LNs), and recurrence. RESULTS: Patients who underwent LR had less pain, a shorter period of postoperative ileus and hospital stay than patients who underwent OR. But, the length of operative time was greater for patients undergoing LR. Mean lymph node yield in the laparoscopic group was 16 compared with 18.1 in the open group (P=0.560). Average margins of resection in LR vs OR were 13.9 cm vs 14.1 cm proximally (P=0.823), 3.6 cm vs 5.2 cm distally (P=0.498). In no case did the margins contain tumor. There was no statistical significance in dissected LNs and the length of both resection margins in both groups. Recurrence was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, there is no evidence that laparoscopic technique is inadequate in following the cancer surgery principle.
Colectomy ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Ileus ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Nodes ; Mortality ; Operative Time ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Pitted keratolysis is a superficial bacterial infection which usually affects the pressure bearing areas of the feet. Some bacterial organisms were identified as etiologic agents, including Corynebacterium species, Micrococcus species and Dermatophilus congolensis. However, in Korea, studies to prove the causative organisms have not been performed. OBJECTIVE: We performed this study to identify causative organisms of pitted keratolysis in Korea. METHOD: Twelve normal healthy men and 27 pitted keratolysis patients were enrolled. We cultured the scraped specimens of the stratum corneum and identified the cultured organisms. We compared the cultured organisms of pitted keratolysis group with those of control group. We also compared the distribution of cultured organisms in pitted keratolysis with and without tinea pedis. RESULT: Micrococcus species and Corynebacterium species were identified in pitted keratolysis group much more frequently than in normal control group. In most cases of pitted keratolysis combined with tinea pedis, the identified organisms were Micrococcus species. CONCLUSION: Micrococcus species and Corynebacterium species are thought to be the major causative organisms of pitted keratolysis in Korea. Micrococcus species might play a certain antagonistic role, especially in patients of pitted keratolysis with tinea pedis.
Bacterial Infections ; Corynebacterium ; Foot ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Micrococcus ; Tinea Pedis

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a systemic noncaseating granulomatous disorder of unknown origin, which can involve any organs including the skin. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics of sarcoidosis in patients in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. METHODS: A total of 62 patients with sarcoidosis, where sarcoidosis was confirmed by histopathologic examinations at seven university hospitals in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do from 2000 to 2006, were enrolled in this study. The clinical characteristics were analyzed by a thorough review of medical records, histopathologic and radiologic examinations. RESULTS: Man to woman ratio was 1 : 1.48 and 42% of the patients were in their fifth decade. The most frequent chief complaints were cutaneous symptoms (37%), followed by respiratory symptoms (31%). The most frequently involved organs were intrathoracic organs (84%), followed by the skin (37%), peripheral lymph nodes (13%), bones (11%), spleen (8%) and eyes (5%). The most common cutaneous lesion was subcutaneous nodule (74%), followed by papule (13%). Extremities (65%) were the most frequent sites of cutaneous lesions. Systemic organ involvements were observed in 70% of patients with cutaneous sarcoidosis. Among them, the most frequently involved organs were intrathoracic organs (81%), followed by bones (25%), eyes (19%), and peripheral lymph nodes (19%). CONCLUSION: The results were generally similar with the previous domestic reports. Compared with the foreign reports, cutaneous involvement was more frequent and ophthalmic involvement was less frequent. Subcutaneous nodule was the most frequent cutaneous lesion which seems to be a unique feature of this study.
Extremities ; Female ; Gyeonggi-do ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Medical Records ; Sarcoidosis* ; Seoul ; Skin ; Spleen