Differentiation between benign and malignant hepatic lesions was attempted according to the shape of the lesion, internal architecture and characteristics of signal intensity on MR images. MR images. We retrospectively analyzed 20 cases of hemangiomas, 12 cases of hepatomas and 5 cases of cysts which were diagnosed by clinical, radiological and surgical methods (33 patients). On T1-weighted, proton weighted, and T2-weighted images, most hemangiomas (70%) and cysts (100%) had smooth margin and were round or oval in shape, while hepatocellular carcinomas had irregular (67%) or lobulated (33%) borders. Ninety percent of hemangiomas and 100% of cysts had homogeneous signal intensity, but 67% of hepatocellular carcinomas were inhomogeneous. Signal intensities of hepatocellular carcinomas were more variable. However, hemangionmas were isointense or hyperintense on proton weighted images, and markedly hyperintense on T2-weighted images . In conclusion, inhomogenous, irregular border, and variable signal intensity lesions had high likelihood of malignancy, while homogenous and markedly hyperintense lesions were more likely benign.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Diagnosis* ; Hemangioma ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Protons ; Retrospective Studies

Differentiation between benign and malignant hepatic lesions was attempted according to the shape of the lesion, internal architecture and characteristics of signal intensity on MR images. MR images. We retrospectively analyzed 20 cases of hemangiomas, 12 cases of hepatomas and 5 cases of cysts which were diagnosed by clinical, radiological and surgical methods (33 patients). On T1-weighted, proton weighted, and T2-weighted images, most hemangiomas (70%) and cysts (100%) had smooth margin and were round or oval in shape, while hepatocellular carcinomas had irregular (67%) or lobulated (33%) borders. Ninety percent of hemangiomas and 100% of cysts had homogeneous signal intensity, but 67% of hepatocellular carcinomas were inhomogeneous. Signal intensities of hepatocellular carcinomas were more variable. However, hemangionmas were isointense or hyperintense on proton weighted images, and markedly hyperintense on T2-weighted images . In conclusion, inhomogenous, irregular border, and variable signal intensity lesions had high likelihood of malignancy, while homogenous and markedly hyperintense lesions were more likely benign.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Diagnosis* ; Hemangioma ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Protons ; Retrospective Studies

The authors devdeloped a computer program for automatic coding of ACR (American College of Radiology) code. The automatic coding of the ACR code is essential for computerization of the data in the department of radiology. This program was written in FoxBASE language and has been used for automatic coding of diagnosis in the Deparment of Radiology, Wallace Memorial Baptist Hospital since May 1992. The ACR dictionary files consisted of 11 files, one for the organ code and the others for the pathology code. The organ code was obtained by typing organ name or code number itself among the upper and lower level codes of the selected one that were simultaneously displayed on the screen. According to the first number of the selected organ code. the corresponding pathology code file was chosen augomatically. By the similar fashion of organ code selection, the proper pathologic dode was obtained. An example of obtained ACR code is "131.3661". This procedure was reproducible regardless of the number of fields of data. Bacause this program was written in "User's Defined Function" from, decoding of the stored ACR code was achieved by this same program and incoporation of this program into another data processing program was possible. This program had merits of simple operation, accurate and detail coding, and easy adjustment for another program. Therefore, this program can be used for automation of routine work in the department of radiology.
Automation ; Clinical Coding* ; Diagnosis ; Methods* ; Pathology ; Protestantism

Many people desire body contouring. Liposuction is a powerful tool for plastic surgeons in body contouring and widely used in many countries. The ideal liposuction technique allows greater volumes to be aspirated while minimizing blood loss, operative time, and complication. The mechanism of liposuction involves mechanical suctioning, followed by destruction of fat tissue by cannula movement. In PAL, a cannula powered by compressed nitrogen gas or an electric power source reciprocates between 2000 and 4000 cpm with a 2-3mm amplitude. We have treated 12 patients by PAL during 2001 January-September with excellent results. PAL made surgeons less fatique and discomfort, and resulted in shorter operation times, and decreased seroma formation and less scars at the incision site. PAL is also effective in fibrous fat aspiration in case of gynecomastia, superficial suction, large volume removal, and secondary liposuction. Conclusively the technique is safe, fast and capable of producing results comparable to those achieved with traditional or ultrasonic-assisted lipoplasty.
Catheters ; Cicatrix ; Electric Power Supplies ; Gynecomastia ; Humans ; Lipectomy ; Male ; Nitrogen ; Operative Time ; Seroma ; Suction

This study was performed to evaluate the difference of the bone-to-implant contact according to the surface roughness of the implants. Two beagles were used in the experiment. Extraction of the all premolars was performed in the mandible. In 3 months of healing, screw-shaped pure titanium machined surface implants (Implantium(R), Dentium Co. Korea), implants blasted with 45micrometer TiO2 particles, (Implantium(R), Dentium Co. Korea) and implants blasted with 100micrometer TiO2 particles, (Implantium(R), Dentium Co. Korea) in diameter 3.4mm and length 6mm were installed in the edentulous mandible. Each dog was sacrificed at 4, 12 weeks after placement and then nondecalcified specimens were prepared for histologic analysis. The results of this study were as follows. 1. At 4, 12 weeks after the surgery, bone-to-implant contact in the surface blasted with TiO2 particles was higher than that in the pure titanium machined surface respectively. 2. Osseointegration in the surface blasted with 45micrometer TiO2 particles was more increased than that in the surface blasted with 100micrometer TiO2 particles. 3. Bone-to-implant contact was increased with time independent of surface roughness. 4. Bone formation was in the outfolded area more than inside the threads independent of surface roughness. From the above results, we were able to find the most bone-to-implant contact in 45micrometer TiO2 blasted implant.
Animals ; Bicuspid ; Dogs ; Mandible ; Osseointegration ; Osteogenesis ; Titanium

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that younger patients with lung cancer have characteristic features that differ from those in older patients. The prognosis for young patients with this disease is controversial. This study aimed to determine the clinicopathological characteristics, the survival rate, and the risk factors associated with the overall survival rate in younger patients with lung cancer. METHODS: The records of 120 young(age≤40) patients with histologically confirmed lug cancer in the Korea Cancer Center Hospital(KCCH) between Jan. 1992 to 1998, 120 older(age>40) patients were randomly selected as the controls. RESULTS: More female patients(45.0% vs. 20.0%, p<0.001) and more adenocarcinoma cases(64.2% vs. 38.3%, p<0.001) were found in the younger group, when compared to the older patients. In NSCLC, advanced disease(stage III B and IV) was more common in the younger patients(90.2%) than in the older patients(62.7%) (p<0.001). The Median survival was 8.6 months in the younger patients and 12.2 months in the older(p=0.003). In a multivariate analysis, only the advanced-stage was an independent negative prognostic factor. CONCLUSION: Lung cancer in the younger age group presents with a more advanced stage resulting in a poor survival rate, which suggests that lung cancer in this population is more aggressive than in older patients.
Adenocarcinoma ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate

A 3-year-old girl with a primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) and a 6-year-old girl with acute lymphoid leukemia were referred to us because of problems with their implantable central venous ports (Port-A-Cath(R)). On physical examination, the ports were upside-down, so a needle could notbe inserted through the membrane of the port. Right lateral side view of the chest radiogram confirmed port inversion in both cases. At operation, the ports were inverted and the transfixing sutures were totally absorbed. The ports were rotated 180 degrees and anchoring sutures placed.
Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Membranes ; Needles ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive ; Physical Examination ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Sutures ; Thorax

A 3-year-old girl with a primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) and a 6-year-old girl with acute lymphoid leukemia were referred to us because of problems with their implantable central venous ports (Port-A-Cath(R)). On physical examination, the ports were upside-down, so a needle could notbe inserted through the membrane of the port. Right lateral side view of the chest radiogram confirmed port inversion in both cases. At operation, the ports were inverted and the transfixing sutures were totally absorbed. The ports were rotated 180 degrees and anchoring sutures placed.
Child* ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Membranes ; Needles ; Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive ; Physical Examination ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Sutures ; Thorax

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine medical students' perceptions of team-based learning (TBL) according to their individual characteristics: gender, team efficacy, interpersonal understanding, proactivity in problem solving, and academic ability. METHODS: Thirty-eight second-year medical students who took an integrated cardiology course participated in this study; 28 were male and 10 were female. A questionnaire on individual characteristics and a questionnaire on the perception of TBL were administered, and the scores of individual characteristics were grouped into three: high, middle, and low. The data were analyzed by t-test, analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The TBL efficacy perception scale consisted of 3 factors: team skill, learning ability, and team learning. The group of male students and the group of students with high academic ability recognized the effect of TBL on improvements in learning ability more than females and those with low academic ability. The group of students with high team efficacy reported that TBL was effective with regard to team skill improvement. The group of students with high scores on interpersonal understanding and high proactive problem solving tended to perceive the TBL's effect on team skill improvement. Team efficacy and proactivity in problem solving had a positive effect on the perception of TBL. CONCLUSION: Medical students' perceptions of the effectiveness of TBL differ according to individual characteristics. The results of this study suggest that these individual characteristics should be considered in planning of team learning, such as TBL, to have a positive impact and stronger effects.
Cardiology ; Female ; Humans ; Learning ; Male ; Problem Solving ; Schools, Medical ; Students, Medical ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Paraffinoma induces many unexpected complications such as tissue necrosis, granuloma formation, hypersensitivity, embolism and even carcinoma. The treatment modality is known to be primary repair, flap surgery, skin graft, radiotherapy and high frequency current treatment after the excision of the lesion. Although these methods can remove the paraffinoma and resurface penile shaft, various complications such as skin tension after surgery, hypertrophic scars, difficulty of erection, and deficiency of bulkiness are frequently occurred. Groin flap is the proper method for the patients who want simultaneously soft tissue reconstruction and augmentation of penis. A 32 year-old male patient who visited our clinic had firm mass, abscess, skin necrosis, and dyspareunia after the injection of paraffin into penis 3 months ago. Reconstruction was executed using right side of the groin flap after the radical resection of the whole tissues ruined by infections and infiltration of paraffin. The penile bulkiness, erectile function and duration of erection was all satisfactory. The follow-up period was 7 months after the surgery and no specific complication was developed. Groin flap is the satisfactory method to enhance penile bulkiness as well as resurface the lesion.
Abscess ; Adult ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Dermatologic Surgical Procedures ; Dyspareunia ; Embolism ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granuloma ; Groin* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Male ; Necrosis ; Paraffin ; Penis ; Radiotherapy ; Skin ; Transplants