OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the clinical and angiographic outcomes of treatment with stent-assisted coil embolization using the Solitaire AB stents for wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: From October 2010 to December 2011, 22 patients with aneurysms were treated with the Solitaire AB stent. One patient with a dissecting aneurysm was excluded, thus 21 patients with 21 wide-necked saccular aneurysms were included in this study. The technical success rate, procedure-related complications, initial and follow-up angiographic results, and clinical outcomes were retrospectively collected. RESULTS: The locations of aneurysms were as follows: paraclinoid in 14, distal internal carotid artery in 4, and vertebral artery in 3 patients. All aneurysms were unruptured and less than 10 mm-sized. The mean dome-to-neck ratio of the aneurysms was 1.00 (range: 0.45-1.81). The mean follow-up duration was 12.1 (7-15) months after the initial procedure. The technical success rate was 21 (95.5%) of 22 patients with aneurysms. Fortunately, there were no procedure-related complications. Follow-up angiography showed that the rate of complete occlusion was 57.1%, neck remnants 38.1%, and incomplete occlusion 4.8%. CONCLUSION: We suggest that using Solitaire AB stent is technically feasible and safe in the stent-assisted coil embolization for wide-necked saccular intracranial aneurysms. To evaluate the long-term effects of this stent, further follow-up angiography is needed.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; Angiography ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Neck ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Vertebral Artery

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the clinical and angiographic outcomes of treatment with stent-assisted coil embolization using the Solitaire AB stents for wide-necked intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: From October 2010 to December 2011, 22 patients with aneurysms were treated with the Solitaire AB stent. One patient with a dissecting aneurysm was excluded, thus 21 patients with 21 wide-necked saccular aneurysms were included in this study. The technical success rate, procedure-related complications, initial and follow-up angiographic results, and clinical outcomes were retrospectively collected. RESULTS: The locations of aneurysms were as follows: paraclinoid in 14, distal internal carotid artery in 4, and vertebral artery in 3 patients. All aneurysms were unruptured and less than 10 mm-sized. The mean dome-to-neck ratio of the aneurysms was 1.00 (range: 0.45-1.81). The mean follow-up duration was 12.1 (7-15) months after the initial procedure. The technical success rate was 21 (95.5%) of 22 patients with aneurysms. Fortunately, there were no procedure-related complications. Follow-up angiography showed that the rate of complete occlusion was 57.1%, neck remnants 38.1%, and incomplete occlusion 4.8%. CONCLUSION: We suggest that using Solitaire AB stent is technically feasible and safe in the stent-assisted coil embolization for wide-necked saccular intracranial aneurysms. To evaluate the long-term effects of this stent, further follow-up angiography is needed.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; Angiography ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Neck ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Vertebral Artery

A 40-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of bitemporal hemianopsia at 23 weeks of gestation. A brain magnetic resonance imaging showed a pituitary tumor having suprasellar extension. At 30 weeks of gestation, she complained of rapidly deteriorating vision and bitemporal hemianopsia in both eyes and the ensuing radiological examination revealed increased tumor size, displaced tumor location and compressed optic chiasm. The cesarean section was performed at 31 weeks and 3 days of gestation and simultaneous surgical removal of pituitary tumor was carried out due to the risk of irreversible blindness. Anesthetic management for combined cesarean section and brain surgery can be more complex and challenging for anesthesiologists, and the aim was to achieve both the control of intracranial pressure and fetal well being at the same time. In this case, maternal outcome was somewhat improved after the procedure, and neonatal complications were not detected.
Adult ; Blindness ; Brain ; Cesarean Section ; Eye ; Female ; Hemianopsia ; Humans ; Intracranial Pressure ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Optic Chiasm ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; Pregnancy ; Vision, Ocular

No abstract available.
Bone Marrow* ; Fibrosis* ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha* ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive* ; Mesylates* ; Imatinib Mesylate

PURPOSE: To determine the findings of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of acute and chronic benign compression fracture, metastatic compression fracture, and spondylitis, and to differentiate between them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-nine cases with vertebral compression fractures (17 metastatic, 16 acute osteo-porotic, 11 old osteoporotic, 5 acute traumatic) and seven with spondylitis (4 tuberculous, 3 pyogenic) underwent MR imaging. All cases were classified as belonging to one of four groups: A: acute osteoporotic and traumatic, B: metastatic, C: old osteoporotic, or D: spondylitic. For MR imaging, a 1.5-T scanner (Magnetom Vision, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) was used, and the diffusion-weighted imaging sequence was based on reversed fast imaging with steady-state precession (PSIF) and a relatively low b value of about 150 sec/mm 2. Signal intensity characteristics were evaluated in terms of the contrast ratio (CR) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of bone marrow. RESULTS: Diffusion-weighted MR imaging showed that signal intensity in group A was hypointense to adjacent normal vertebral bodies, but in group B, hyperintensity was noted. In group C, signal intensity was variable, while in group D, hyperintensity was again noted. Diffusion-weighted imaging revealed that in group A, bone marrow CR had a negative value, while in groups B and D, this value was positive (p < .01). The SNR of group D was lower than that of group B, but the difference was not statistically significant (p > .01). CONCLUSION: Diffusion-weighted MR imaging revealed that the signal intensity of metastatic compression fracture and spondylitis was hyperintense to adjacent normal vertebral bodies, that of acute benign compression fracture was hypointense, and that of chronic benign compression fracture was variable. This modality is therefore useful for differentiating between metastatic compression fracture, spondylitis and acute benign compression fracture.
Bone Marrow* ; Fractures, Compression* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio ; Spine* ; Spondylitis*

At OPD follow-up in December 1998, chest x-ray of a 42-year-old female showed a solit ary pulmonary nodule at a superior basal segment in the right lower lobe. After percut aneous transthoracic needle aspiration failure, wedge resection of the superior basal segment of lower lobe in right lung was performed for diagnosis and therapy. Three years ago, she had received surgery to remove a mass in the left buttock. The mass was pathologically diagnosed as malignant fibrous histiocytoma. She subsequently received 4500 rad radiotherapy for 35 days. Pathology confirmed metastatic malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the lung.
Adult ; Buttocks ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung* ; Needles ; Pathology ; Radiotherapy ; Thorax

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of risperidone in the treatment of Korean schizophrenic patients. METHOD: This multicenter open label study included 116 schizophrenic patients drawn from 19 university hospitals. After a wash-out period of 1 week, the patients were treated with risperidone for 56 weeks and evaluated at 8 points:at baseline, and the 8th, 16th, 24th, 32nd, 40th, 48th, 56th weeks of treatment. The dose was started at 2mg of risperidone on day 1, and increased to 4mg on day 2, and 6mg on day 3,7 and adjusted to a maximum of 16mg/day according to the individual's clinical response. The psychiatric and neurological status of the patients was assessed by PANSS, CGI, and ESRS scales. RESULTS: Eighty-seven(75%) of 116 patients completed the 56-week trial of risperidone. Clinical improvement(as defined by a 20% of reduction in total PANSS score at end point) was shown by 92.0% of the patients. The mean dose of risperidone was 5.0mg/day in the 56 week follow-up. PANSS total scores showed significant improvements between consecutive two points at baseline, 8th, 16th, 24th, 32nd, and 48th week of treatment. CGI scores showed significant reductions between consecutive two points at baseline, 8th, 16th, 24th, and 48th week of treatment. Three PANSS factors(positive, negative, general) showed a significant improvement from the 8th week of treatment, and, after then, remained improved in the rest of the study period. ESRS showed no significant change during the 56 week trial. Laboratory parameters showed no significant changes during the course of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This multicenter long-term open study suggests that risperidone is a antipsychotic drug with long term efficacy and safety in the treatment of schizophrenic patients.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Risperidone* ; Schizophrenia* ; Weights and Measures

A 51-year-old male with chronic renal failure had marked swelling and tenderness of the right arm. Venography revealed central vein occlusion involving stenosis of right proximal subclavian vein, right internal jugular vein, and left distal innominate vein, and obstruction of right brachiocephalic vein. Multiple obstruction of these veins was thought to have resulted from repeated subclavian catheterization. Right subclavian-superior vena cava was bypassed with 10 mm Gore-tex vascular graft and then left subclavian vein with 8 mm Gore-tex vascular graft was bypassed to the 10 mm Gore-tex vascular graft. The results were excellent.
Arm ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Brachiocephalic Veins ; Catheterization* ; Catheters* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phlebography ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Renal Dialysis* ; Subclavian Vein ; Transplants ; Veins*

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is emerging as a viable alternative to thoracotomy when surgical treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax is required. 20 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax underwent bullectomy between July 1995 and May 1996. The patients were divided into two groups : Control group ; the patients who received with mid-axillary approach (n=10), Experimental group ; the patients who received with VATS (n=10). The results were as follows ; 1. The total sex distribution was male predominance (male:female=17:3). Mean age of control group was 29.6+/-9.8 years and experimental group was 27.2+/-11.9 years. 2. The mean period of postoperative chest tube indwelling duration and hospital stay were 3.3+/-0.8 days and 7.9+/-1.2 days in control group and 2.1+/-0.9 days and 5.2+/-3.1 days in experimental group (p=0.005 and p=0.02). 3. The mean time of operation, vital signs and arterial blood gas analysis did not showed any statistical differences between the groups. 4. Percent recovery of tidal volume and forced vital capacity were significantly improved in experimental group comparing with control group (p<0.05). 5. The patients undergoing VATS experienced significantly less postoperative pain and limitation of motion. In conclusion, VATS is safe and offers the potential benefits of shorter postoperative hospital stays and less pain with cosmetic benefits.
Blood Gas Analysis ; Chest Tubes ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Pain, Postoperative ; Pneumothorax* ; Sex Distribution ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted* ; Thoracoscopy ; Thoracotomy ; Tidal Volume ; Vital Capacity ; Vital Signs

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of risperidone in the treatment of Korean schizophrenic patients. METHOD: This multicenter open study included 377 schizophrenic patients drawn from 39 university hospitals. After a wash-out period of 1 week, the schizophrenic patients were treated with risperidone for 8 weeks and evaluated at 5 points: at baseline, and 1,2,4 and 8 weeks of treatment. The dose was increased from 2mg/day(1mg twice daily) to 6mg/day(3mg twice daily) during the first week and adjusted to a maximum of 16mg/day over the next 7 weeks according to the patient's clinical response. Medication to control extrapyramidal symptoms was permitted. The psychiatric and neurological status of the patients was assessed by PANSS, CGI, and ESRS scales. RESULTS: 343(91%) of 377 patients completed the 8-week trial period. Clinical improvement, as defined by a 20% or more reduction in total PANSS score at end point, was shown by 81.3% of patients. The predictors of response to risperidone were associated older age, shorter duration of illness, fewer previous hospitalization. Risperidone had rapid onset of action: a significant decrease of the total PANSS and three PANSS factor(positive, negative, general), and CGI was already noticed at the end of first week. For the ESRS, parkinsonism rating scores were significantly increased until week 4 comparing with baseline. Dystonia rating scores were significantly increased until week 1, and dyskinesia rating scores were not significantly changed during the study. Laboratory parameters including vital sign, EKG, hematological, and biochemical values showed no significant changes during the trial. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that risperidone is generally safe and effective against both the positive and negative symptoms in our group of patients.
Dyskinesias ; Dystonia ; Electrocardiography ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; Risperidone* ; Schizophrenia* ; Vital Signs ; Weights and Measures