BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer is the most common tumor with a endocrine gland origin, and it has a gradually increasing incidence rate. An operative procedure is useful to obtain good results for this disease. Howevers, the selection of operation method remains controversial. Thus, we reviewed the variable prognostic factors which influence thyroid cancer recurrence in order to determine the treatment methods which reduce the recurrence rate. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 383 thyroid cancer patients who had received operations from January 1988 to December 1993. The review looked at age, sex, operation methods, lymph-node metastasis, histologic types, mass size and capsular invasions, and the correlations between these factors and recurrence were analyzed by using Chi-square and SAS trend tests. Complications which developed after various operation methods were also reviewed. RESULTS: Thyroid cancer recurred in 33 (8.6%) patients. Age, sex, lymph-node metastasis, histologic types and capsular invasions did not influence the cancer recurrence rate significantly. However, mass size and operation method were potential factors for recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: If thyroid cancer is diagnosed, a total thyroidectomy with lymph-node dissection is the best method for reducing the cancer recurrence rate. By careful management, complications can be prevented after a total thyroidectomy.
Endocrine Glands ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: One of problems for the management of horizontal semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (HSC-BPPV) is the difficulty of determining the affected ear using Ewald's second law. The purpose of this study is to develop the new "Bow and Lean Test (BLT)" to determine easily the affected ear of HSC-BPPV and evaluate its efficiency. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We compared the efficiency between the classical method and BLT in 26 patients with HSC-BPPV. The classical method is based on Ewald??s second law comparing the intensity of nystagmus or symptoms in head roll test. BLT is based on the direction of both "bowing nystagmus" and "leaning nystagmus" at head's bowing and leaning state on sitting position. The affected ear is the same direction of bowing nystagmus in canalolithiasis and the same direction of leaning nystagmus in cupulolithiasis. RESULTS: In 26 patents (15 canalolithiasis, 11 cupulolithiasis), 3 (11.5%) patients did not show a prominent affected ear in the classical method, and 7 (26.9%) patients showed the different affected ear between two methods. All 10 patients were successfully treated with just one trial of barbecue rotation based on the affected ear in BLT. Three patients did not show any bowing or leaning nystagmus. The side with canal paresis in all 4 patients, who showed significant canal paresis in bithermal caloric tests, was equal to the affected ear based on BLT. CONCLUSION: "Bow and Lean Test" (also called "Choung's test") is a new method which can easily determine the affected ear of HC-BPPV.
Caloric Tests ; Ear ; Head ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Paresis ; Semicircular Canals ; Vertigo*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: One of problems for the management of horizontal semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (HSC-BPPV) is the difficulty of determining the affected ear using Ewald's second law. The purpose of this study is to develop the new "Bow and Lean Test (BLT)" to determine easily the affected ear of HSC-BPPV and evaluate its efficiency. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We compared the efficiency between the classical method and BLT in 26 patients with HSC-BPPV. The classical method is based on Ewald??s second law comparing the intensity of nystagmus or symptoms in head roll test. BLT is based on the direction of both "bowing nystagmus" and "leaning nystagmus" at head's bowing and leaning state on sitting position. The affected ear is the same direction of bowing nystagmus in canalolithiasis and the same direction of leaning nystagmus in cupulolithiasis. RESULTS: In 26 patents (15 canalolithiasis, 11 cupulolithiasis), 3 (11.5%) patients did not show a prominent affected ear in the classical method, and 7 (26.9%) patients showed the different affected ear between two methods. All 10 patients were successfully treated with just one trial of barbecue rotation based on the affected ear in BLT. Three patients did not show any bowing or leaning nystagmus. The side with canal paresis in all 4 patients, who showed significant canal paresis in bithermal caloric tests, was equal to the affected ear based on BLT. CONCLUSION: "Bow and Lean Test" (also called "Choung's test") is a new method which can easily determine the affected ear of HC-BPPV.
Caloric Tests ; Ear ; Head ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Paresis ; Semicircular Canals ; Vertigo*

A nineteen year-old boy with progressive enlargement of the joints and distal extremities, clubbing, coarse facial features and hyperhidrosis was investigated. In physical examination, thickening of the scalp with furrowing (cutis verticis gyrata) and greasy thickening of skin (pachyderma) was prominent. His endocrine profile was normal. Radiological studies demonstrated bilateral symmetrical periosteal new bone formation with acroosteolysis and incidental microadenoma of pituitay gland. After extensive investigation to exclude systemic and endocrine causes, the patient was diagnosed as pachydermoperiostosis (PDP). PDP is a rare syndrome manifested clinically by finger clubbing, extremity enlargement, hypertrophic skin changes, and periosteal bone formation. The pathogenesis of the disorder has not been clarified though few endocrine abnormalities were seen. To aware of these clinical phenotype would help to differentiate PDP from acromegaly.
Acro-Osteolysis ; Acromegaly ; Extremities ; Fingers ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; Joints ; Male* ; Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic* ; Osteogenesis ; Phenotype ; Physical Examination ; Scalp ; Skin ; Young Adult*

No abstract available.
Hand* ; Osteomyelitis*

PURPOSE: Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common endocrine malignancy. Despite the recent advances in diagnosis, controversy still remains concerning the surgical management. In order to select the appropriate surgical treatment, the outcome of different types of surgical procedures were reviewed. METHODS: 435 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma who underwent surgery from January 1988 to December 1999 were retrospectively reviewed. The 12 years were divided into two periods; period 1 was from 1988 to 1993 (234 patients) and period 2 was from 1994 to 1999 (201 patients). The recurrence and complication rates according to the operation method, including a neck lymph node dissection, were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-six (10.7%) and 13 patients (6.5%) had a recurrence in period 1 and 2, respectively. Eighty-one (34.6%) and 51 patients (25.4%) had a postoperative complication including hypoparathyroidism and hoarseness in period 1 and 2, respectively. 271 patients (62.3%) had a lymph node metastasis, and the anterior neck was the most common site of metastasis (60.2%). CONCLUSION: A total thyroidectomy with a routine central node dissection reduces both the incidence and number of postoperative complications.
Diagnosis ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Hypoparathyroidism ; Incidence ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy

BACKGROUND: The effects of various concentration (20, 50, 100 micrometer) of meperidine were studied in isolated guinea pig and rat ventricular papillary muscles. METHODS: Isometric force of guinea pig ventricular papillary muscle was examined in normal and 26 mM K+ Tyrode's solution. Experiments using rat and guinea pig papillary muscle under normal and low Na+ (40 mM), respectively, were performed to evaluate the effect on Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Normal and slow action potentials (APs) were evaluated by using conventional microelectrode technique. Rapid cooling contractures were performed. RESULTS: Meperidine caused dose-dependent depression of peak force from rested-state (RS) to 3 Hz stimulation rates in guinea pig papillary muscles. Conduction block was frequently noted at high stimulation rates (2 and 3 Hz) at 150 micrometer meperidine. ~40% depression of peak force was shown at RS contraction under low Na+ Tyrode's solution, although contractile depression was not shown at RS and low stimulation rates in rat papillary muscles. 100 micrometer naloxone did not reverse the contractile depression caused by 100 micrometer meperidine. Either depression of dV/dt-max from 0.1 to 3 Hz stimulation rates or rate-dependent depression among 1, 2 and 3 Hz could be observed at 150 micrometer meperidine. In 26 mM K+ Tyrode's solution, 50 and 100 micrometer meperidine caused dose-dependent depression of early and late force development. In slow APs, changes of dV/dt-max were not shown at 100 micrometer meperidine. ~40% depression of contracture induced by rapid cooling following 2 Hz stimulation rates was shown at 100 micrometer meperidine. CONCLUSION: The direct myocardial depressant effect of meperidine seems likely to be caused by local anesthetic properties of meperidine, not by the opioid action. Inhibition of SR Ca2+ release, and decreased intracellular Ca2+ secondary to Na+ channel blocking action of meperidine may at least in part be related to direct myocardial depression.
Action Potentials ; Anesthetics* ; Animals ; Contracture ; Depression* ; Guinea Pigs ; Meperidine* ; Microelectrodes ; Myocardium* ; Naloxone ; Papillary Muscles ; Rats ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum

STUDY DESIGN: Consecutive, prospective, radiographic review of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the change of Cobb angle according to position in AIS. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Cobb angle on standing radiographs was corrected spontaneously while the patients were in the supine position. However, there are few reports on Cobb angle in standing versus supine position in AIS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We checked AP plain radiographs of 101 AIS patients, 18 male and 83 female, in standing and supine position. Sixty-three cases were under Risser stage V and 38 were Risser stage V. In standing plain radiograph, 27 cases were in Cobb angle 10-19 degrees, 35 in 20-29 degrees, 15 in 30-39 degrees, and 24 over 40 degrees. According to curve pattern, 31 curves were classified as King type I, 32 as type II, 8 as type III, 11 as type IV, 17 as type V, 1 thoracolumbar curve and 1 lumbar curve. Cobb angle reduction was measured on AP radiographs from each group, according to sex, maturation, Cobb angle and curve pattern. RESULTS: Average reduction of Cobb angle was 8.2 degrees(range, 1-21 degrees ), 6.4 degrees for male and 8.6 degrees for female (p=0.19). The reduction value according to maturation was 8.3 degrees for the growing group and 8.0 degrees for the grown group (p=0.73). The average reduction value in Cobb angle 10-19 degrees was 5.4 degrees(40.3%), 20-29 degrees was 7.1 degrees(30.9%), 30-39 degrees was 8.6 degrees(25.7%) and over 40 degrees was 12.8 degrees (23.6%) (p=0.001). The reduction rate decreased in proportion to Cobb angle measured in standing position. The reduction value was 8.2 degrees in King type I curves, 8.6 degrees in type II, 9.1 degrees in type III, 9.1 degrees in type IV and 6.2 degrees in type V (p=0.238). CONCLUSION: An average 8 degrees Cobb angle reduction in supine position, compared with standing position, can influence treatment strategy in AIS patients, because a Cobb angle change more than 5-6 degrees is a threshold value to decide curve worsening. Thus, serial Cobb angle measurement should be performed in standing position.
Adolescent* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Scoliosis* ; Supine Position

STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-eight patients with thoracolumbar spinal tuberculosis were evaluated according to the surgical treatment method, either a one or two stage anterior debridement, with anterior or posterior instrumentation, respectively. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of the one stage anterior debridement, with anterior instrumentation, to the two stage anterior debridement, with posterior instrumentation MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients, with tuberculous spine, were divided into two groups depending on the surgical method. One group consisted of 21 patients treated with anterior debridement combined with anterior instrumentation, and the other group consisted of 17 patients treated by a two stage operation of anterior debridement combined with posterior instrumentation. The clinical outcomes were evaluated from the hematological laboratory findings, bone union in radiographs, change of kyphotic angle, duration of hospital stay and the medical cost during hospitalization. RESULTS: There were no recurrences of infection in either group and bone union was obtained within 6 months of the operation for all cases in both groups. The preoperative, postoperative and final follow-up kyphotic angle in the two groups were 18/20, 7/9 and 10/11 degrees, respectively. There was no significant difference in the decrease of the kyphotic angle between the two groups (p>0.05). However, group I was superior to group II in relation to the duration of hospital stay and the medical cost. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the one stage operation was the better of the operative methods for the treatment of active tuberculous spondylitis in a thoracolumbar spine.
Debridement* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Recurrence ; Spine ; Spondylitis* ; Tuberculosis, Spinal

"To evaluate whether different qualifications of a cytologic diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) predict a greater or lesser likelihood of tissue diagnosis of uterine cervix, we compared different cytologic qualifications of ASCUS with the tissue diagnosis. One hundred twenty-two con- secutive Papanicolaou smears showing ASCUS in women who had undergone cervical biopsy within nearest 30 days were collected. The 122 smears were qualified as ""favor reactive (25%), favor low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) (24%), favor squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) (16%), favor high grade squa- mous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) (16%), and not otherwise specified (19%). Squamous intraepithelial or invasive lesion was pathologically confirmed by cervical biopsy in 13% of the favor reactive, 27% in favor LSIL, 70% in ""favor SIL, 75% in favor HSIL, and 35% in not otherwise specified smears. There were significant associations between the favor reactive smear and the benign biopsy finding and between the favor SIL smear and the biopsy showing a squamous intraepithelial or more severe lesion. Nevertheless, rnost of favor LSIL smears exhibit reactive process in tissue biopsy. Conclusively, qualified ASCUS stratifies women into different risk groups for SIL. The cytopathologist should make the cytologic diagnosis of ASCUS, favor LSIL circumspectly."
Biopsy ; Cervix Uteri ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Papanicolaou Test ; Venous Thrombosis*