No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Neurofibromatoses*

Endoscopic variceal ligation(EVL) is an accepted alternatives to endoscopic injection sclero- therapy(EIS) in many patients with bleeding esophageal varices. Esophageal hematoma is rare and an unusual complication after EVL or EIS. We present a patient with liver cirrhosis who developed an obstructive esophageal hematoma after EVL.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Ligation* ; Liver Cirrhosis

Self-regression of Kaposi's sarcoma is rare with the exception of the iatrogenic immunosuppressive type. No cases of classic type Kaposi's sarcoma showing spontaneous regression have been reported in the Korean dermatologic literature. We report a case of classic type of Kaposi's sarcoma in a 69-year-old man which followed a clinical course of spontaneous regression. He presented with multiple asymptomatic beefy red papules and nodules scattered on both cheeks and upper extremities during a state of increase in the number of skin lesions at the initial visit. He had no history of immunosuppressive treatment and the laboratory findings were unremarkable. An anti-HIV antibody test was negative. A histopathologic examination revealed typical findings of Kaposi's sarcoma and positive staining with CD31 and D2-40. HHV-8 DNA was detected in a biopsy specimen. Without any specific treatment, the skin lesions healed without leaving any complications after 15 months, and did not show any evidence of recurrence during the ensuing 5 years.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Cheek ; DNA ; Herpesvirus 8, Human ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma, Kaposi ; Skin ; Upper Extremity

No abstract available.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of cold knife conization in the diagnosis and treatment of cervical neoplasia. METHODS: Sixty patients were divided into diagnostic and therapeutic conization group and then indication of conization, PAP smear, colposcopy directed biopsy, cone margin and residual lesion of each group were compared respectively. RESULTS: If the difference of PAP and colposcopy directed biopsy was 2 grades or more, upper limit of the lesion was invisible, squamocolumnar junction was not seen, PAP V or invasive cancer was suspected, diagnostic conization was performed in 22 patients. Six cases of follow-up group had cone margin (-) and no recurrence. Sixteen cases of immediate TAH (total abdominal hysterectomy) group had 2 cases of cone margin (+) with residual disease. There were 4 cases of cone margin (-) with residual lesion. If the difference of PAP and colposcopy directed biopsy was 1 grade or less, upper limit of the lesion was visible, squamocolumnar junction was seen and invasive cancer was ruled out, therapeutic conization was performed in 38 cases. All of therapeutic conization group had cone margin (-). Thirty two cases were follow up group and six cases were immediate TAH group. Three of follow up group had recurrences and delayed TAH was performed. There was no residual lesion in the specimen of immediate TAH group. CONCLUSION: The precise dignosis and treatment of cervical neoplasia was capable with cold knife conization. The more aggressive lesion or the more cases of cone margin (+) was diagnosed, the more residual lesion was found. Thorough follow up should be done after treatment of cervical neoplasia because of the possibility of residual disease even after documentation of cone margin (-).
Biopsy ; Colposcopy ; Conization* ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence

Although arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the uterus is a very rare cause of menometrorrhagia or postmenopausal vaginal bleeding, it is notable to think in the assessment of a woman with abnormal uterine bleeding because correct diagnosis can yield proper therapy to be designed and avoid hysterectomy in women who want to continue their reproductive capacity. AVM may be congenital or acquired. In times past, the diagnosis is usually made after hysterectomy, but currently it may be made before treatment by ultrasound, pelvic angiography, or magnetic resonance imaging. We have experienced one case of AVM of uterus, which is diagnosed after hysterectomy.
Angiography ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Uterus*

Nocardiosis is a rare but potentially life-threatening infectious disease caused by several species of the genus Nocardia (N.), which are aerobic, filamentous, gram-positive bacilli. A definitive diagnosis depends on the isolation and identification of Nocardia species. But identification from clinical specimens may involve performing invasive techniques on the patient and lengthy process (take up to 1 or 3 weeks) owing to slow growth, and require a professional microbiologist. Currently the genus Nocardia is best identified using 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Recently matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has launched a new era in the routine microbiology laboratory. This method has proved its efficacy for the identification and diagnosis of microorganism. MALDI-TOF MS has potential for use as a rapid (within 1 hour) and dependable method for the identification of Nocardia species with reproducibility and cost effectiveness. We report a 76-year-old woman who suffered from ulcer with papules on her right wrist and forearm. A biopsy of the skin showed granulomatous inflammation with central suppuration. A bacterial isolate from the skin was identified to be N. brasiliensis on comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of nocardiosis in Korea caused by N. brasiliensis identified on MALDI-TOF MS.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Communicable Diseases ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Diagnosis* ; Female ; Forearm ; Genes, rRNA ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Mass Spectrometry* ; Methods ; Nocardia ; Nocardia Infections* ; Sequence Analysis ; Skin ; Suppuration ; Ulcer ; Wrist

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of PAP smear as a screening tool for cervical cancer by evaluating the result of a review of 34,970 cases of PAP smear at Pohang St. Mary's Hospital. METHODS: From January, 1992 to December, 2001 cytologic examination of 34,970 women were analysed and the results were reviewed. RESULTS: 1. The average of annual screening rate was 14.8%. 2. Abnormal cytology rate was 2.02% including 1.02% of ASCUS, 0.99% of class III, 0.20% of class IV and 0.30% of class V. 3. 8.28% of the women screened were aged less than 30 years, 31.8% <40 years, 33.2% <50 years, 17.5% <60 years, 7.3% <70 years and 1.9% >or=70 years respectively. 4. Of the 188 patients who had a cytologic diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), 127 (68%) were followed up, 99 (78%) were normal and 28 (22%) had squamous intraepithelial lesion. 5. The prevalence rate of cervical neoplasia confirmed by histopathology for the past 10 years was 1.53%. Of those the rate of invasive cervical cancer was 0.65%. 6. The false negative rate was 17.3% and false positive rate was 4.5%. 7. The sensitivity and specificity and positive predictive value of PAP smear were 82.7%, 95.5% and 90.2%. CONCLUSION: For PAP smear to be early detecting tool for cervical cancer, continuous effort is required to raise annual screening rate, to lower the false negative rate, and to raise the sensitivity of PAP smear.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: There are various histological prognostic parameters of cutaneous malignant melanoma, including tumor thickness and ulceration. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) are among these parameters and can be further classified into three categories: 'absent', 'non-brisk' and 'brisk'. Brisk TIL usually indicates better clinical prognosis. Microscopic satellite (Ms) is defined as a nest of tumor cells that is greater than 0.05 mm in diameter and definitely separated from the main tumor. Even though the incidence of Ms varies according to Breslow thickness, the presence of Ms generally indicates poor prognosis. OBJECTIVE: Clinical significance of both TIL and Ms has been extensively studied in western populations but much less so in Asian countries, including Korea, where acral melanoma is the most common subtype. METHODS: We reviewed 90 patients with acral melanoma diagnosed at Kyungpook National University Hospital in Korea. Tissue specimens were examined using hematoxylin-eosin and HMB45 immunohistochemical staining. They were also evaluated by the presence and categorization of TIL (absent, non-brisk and brisk) and the presence of Ms. We further evaluated their impact on survival events (recurrence, distant metastasis and death). RESULTS: The number of survival events by TIL type was 22 in the absent category (22/64, 34.4%), 3 in the non-brisk category (3/25, 12.0%) and 0 in the brisk category. For Ms, survival events were present in 7 patients in Ms-present group (7/11, 63.6%) and 21 patients in Ms-absent group (21/79, 26.6%). CONCLUSION: We suggest the possibility of TIL and Ms as prognostic indicators for acral melanoma in Korean population.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating ; Melanoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Ulcer