Tumoral calcinosis of the hand is very rare and usually occurs in the region of large joints. When viewed as an infection, it poses a diagnostic problem. In addition, it is too small to be detected by X-ray, especially at the early stage. These three cases occurred in the hand, and were confirmed by pathology. All cases involved young active women who complained of mild to moderate constant pain.Masses were excised thoroughly and all patients have been followed for more than a year postoperatively without recurrence.
Calcinosis* ; Female ; Hand* ; Humans ; Joints ; Pathology ; Recurrence

An in other medical fields in Korea, the terminology in pathology has to go through a long adaptation period since the liberation from Japan in 1945. The Korean Society of Pathologists (KSP) has been the driving force in establishing and adopting new pathology terms in Korean. This effort started from the time when the KSP launched the Korean Journal of Pathology in 1965, and was activated by the momentum of publishing its pathology textbook for the medical students first in Korea in 1990. The KSP organized the Terminology Standardization Committee in close collaboration with the Termonology Standardization Committee of the Korean Medical Association (KMA). The product of joint works was the third edition of Korean Medical Termonology Dictionary published by the KMA in 1992. Since then, the Termonology Standardization Committee of the KSP has continued to improve many inappropriate terms into more easily understandable ones based on the guideline. The guideline of the KSP is basically same to that proposed and adopted by the KMA. Pathology terms are expected to improve further to be standardized as the Pathology Textbook Committee of the KSP is in process of publishing the 5th edition. In the future, the KSP should be ready to establish and standardize the medical terminology in the pathology field since so many new vocabularies are coming into use in this rapidly changing medical environment.
Cooperative Behavior ; Humans ; Japan ; Joints ; Korea ; Pathology* ; Students, Medical ; Vocabulary

Cysts of the meniscus are rare lesion of the knee. They may present as a local tumor or mimic signs of an internal derangement of the knee. So it is difficult to diagnose and apt to overlook in physical examination. Also they almost always have combined pathology of the involved meniscus, such as, meniscal tear or discoid meniscus. The pathologic basis of the meniscal cyst is controversial, but rece 2. Most of the patients had tear of the involved meniscus, but the patients with discoid meniscus did not have gross tears or previous trauma history. nt works suggest the etiology is infiltration of joint fluid through micro and macro tears in the meniscus. In the past, complete excision of the meniscus as well as cyst was thought to be the treatment of choice to prevent recurrences. But nowadays, the trend is changed as preserving the involved meniscus, when no tear of the meniscus is found to prevent enevitable degenerative changes after total meniscectomy. We experienced 6 cases of meniscal cyst during recent 2 years and obtained following results. 1. Precise joint line evaluation is much more important in the diagnosis of the meniscal cyst before making special study. 2. Most of the patients had tears of the involved meniscus, but the patients with discoid meniscus did not have gross tears or previous trauma history. 3. When the cyst is located anteriorly in the joint line, it is prominent in flexed position of the knee; and when located posteriorly, prominent in extended position of the knee. 4. Excision of the cyst and reattachment of the meniscus were thought to be good method when the cyst was located in the parameinscal area without gross tear of the involved meniscus.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Methods ; Pathology ; Physical Examination ; Recurrence ; Tears

BACKGROUND: Immobile vocal fold or folds result from neuromuscular pathology and/or mechanical fixation of cricoarytenoid joint. Electrophysiological investigation is indispensible in the diagnosis and treatment of laryngeal mobility disorders. However, laryngeal electrodiagnosis has been rarely performed clinically, not to mention nerve conduction study (NCS). It is well understood that needle EMG and NCS are complementary, and they should be performed together for reliable evaluation of neuromuscular system. OBJECTIVES: The author intended to present the methods and clinical application of laryngeal electrodiagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Laryngeal electrodiagnosis including needle EMG and NCS was performed in the patient with bilaterally immobile vocal folds. CONCLUSION: Electrodiagnosis is inevitable in the diagnosis and treatment of larygeal mobility disorders;the differentiation of neurogenic lesion from mechanical fixation, the diagnosis of the site of nerve lesion, and the estimation of the degrees of injuries. Furthermore by performing NCS, we can have the objective prognosticator, and therefore can take the best timing and choice of surgical intervention in the management of laryngeal mobility disorders.
Diagnosis ; Electrodiagnosis* ; Humans ; Joints ; Needles ; Neural Conduction ; Pathology ; Vocal Cords*

PURPOSE: To present the surgical procedure of arthroscopic decompression and shaving of popliteal cyst using posteromedial portal. OPERATIVE TECHNIQUE: After diagnostic knee arthroscopic examination, if there is associated intra-articular pathology with popliteal cyst, appropriate arthroscopic procedure has to be performed to adress the associated intra-articular pathology. It is the most important procedure to find the opening of connection between joint cavity and popliteal cyst at posteromedial compartment using anterolateral or posteromedial In some cases the capsular fold overlie the opening of connection, so thorough diagnostic examnation is mandatory. When the opening of connection is visualized, it is enlarged about 8 mm by the arthroscopic decompressive procedure of popliteal cyst using arthroscopic shaver which is approached via the posteromedial portal. After then arthroscope is positioned at posteromedial portal and advanced into popliteal cyst via enlarged opening to visualize the inside of popliteal cyst. While visualizing the inside of popliteal cyst, a 18 gauge spinal needle is introduced by outside-in technique from medial side of the skin overlying popliteal cyst. And then we make trans-cystic portal at the site of spinal needle by incising the skin with # 11 blade and arthroscopic shaver is introduced within popliteal cyst via trans-cystic portal, and arthroscopic cystectomy is performed to shave the inner wall of popliteal cyst with arthroscopic shaver. DISCUSSION: The arthroscopic procedure for popliteal cyst is an alternative of traditional surgical removal of popliteal cyst and it is expected to diagnose and to manage associated intra-articular pathology and to perform arthroscopic decompression and cystectomy effectively using posteromedial portal.
Arthroscopes ; Cystectomy ; Decompression* ; Joints ; Knee ; Needles ; Pathology ; Popliteal Cyst* ; Skin

Elbow ultrasonography is a feasible and useful diagnostic method for the evaluation of tendons, muscles, ligaments, nerves and joints in traumatic or articular disorders as well as for the diagnosis of rare tumorous diseases. This pictorial essay discusses the basic techniques of elbow ultrasonography, sonographic anatomy and various types of elbow pathology with associated sonographic features.
Diagnosis* ; Elbow Joint* ; Elbow* ; Joints ; Ligaments ; Muscles ; Pathology ; Tendons ; Ultrasonography

Polyfibromatosis syndrome is a rare disease entity that is characterized by various clinical features such as palmar, plantar, and penile fibromatoses, keloid formations of the skin, and erosive arthropathy. Its precise pathophysiology or etiology remains unclear. In addition to distinctive diverse skin manifestations, patients with polyfibromatosis have been previously reported to show erosive arthropathy with significant limitation of movement at affected joints. However, the presence of erosive polyarthropathy in polyfibromatosis has not emphasized in previous cases. Here, we report a case of polyfibromatosis syndrome combined with painless massive structural destruction of hand and foot joints, and review the characteristics of erosive arthropathy in previous cases.
Adult ; Arthrography ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fibroma/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Foot Joints/pathology/radiography ; Hand Joints/pathology/*radiography ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Metacarpophalangeal Joint/pathology/radiography ; Osteolysis/*diagnosis/etiology

Arthritis, Gouty ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Foot Joints ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Hand Joints ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography

Ultrasonography (US) is a cost effective diagnostic imaging tool suitable for routine clinical use. High frequency US is a well-established method for both the diagnosis and monitoring of inflammatory arthritis, capable of detecting a wide range of joint pathologies, including effusion, synovitis, and extra-articular abnormalities. However, to ensure an accurate diagnosis, it is also important to consider periarticular disorders that could clinically mimic joint pathology. Such a diagnosis requires special attention to be paid to the periarticular structures, include the tendon, ligament, muscle, and bursa. Due to the close proximity of these structures to potentially affected joints, periarticular inflammation is often clinically misdiagnosed as articular in origin. In these cases, the processes driving pathology are the result of localized inflammation that is secondary to inflammatory arthritis, such as excessive friction or direct trauma. Therefore, when using US to diagnose inflammatory arthritis, it is important to understand the causative pathology of the periarticular disorders, as well as their clinical presentation.
Arthritis ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Friction ; Inflammation ; Joints ; Ligaments ; Pathology ; Synovitis ; Tendons ; Ultrasonography

ARheumatoid arthritis is a systemic, inflammatory, autoimmune disorder of unknown origins. Enhanced understanding of molecular pathogenesis has enabled the development of new biologic treatment that focuses on selective parts of immune system. Combined genetic and environmental factors in association with the risk of rheumatoid arthritis have received increased attention. Research undertaken on the longitudinal disease process and molecular pathology of joint inflammation has contributed to the development of new therapeutic strategies that promote early use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) with tight disease control and measurable treatment outcome. Such approach can be beneficial for control of inflammatory activity and joint destruction. We need to find out how to tailor the best individualized treatment in accordance with different cases.
Antirheumatic Agents ; Arthritis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Immune System ; Inflammation ; Joints ; Pathology, Molecular ; Treatment Outcome