The 12th rib syndrome is a disease that causes pain between the upper abdomen and the lower chest. It is assumed that the impinging on the nerves between the ribs causes pain in the lower chest, upper abdomen, and flank. A 74-year-old female patient visited a pain clinic complaining of pain in her back, and left chest wall at a 7 on the 0-10 Numeric Rating scale (NRS). She had a lateral fixation at T12-L2, 6 years earlier. After the operation, she had multiple osteoporotic compression fractures. When the spine was bent, the patient complained about a sharp pain in the left mid-axillary line and radiating pain toward the abdomen. On physical examination, the 10th rib was not felt, and an image of the rib-cage confirmed that the left 10th rib was severed. When applying pressure from the legs to the 9th rib of the patient, pain was reproduced. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with 9th rib syndrome, and ultrasound-guided 9th and 10th intercostal nerve blocks were performed around the tips of the severed 10th rib. In addition, local anesthetics with triamcinolone were administered into the muscles beneath the 9th rib at the point of the greatest tenderness. The patient's pain was reduced to NRS 2 point. In this case, it is suspected that the patient had a partial resection of the left 10th rib in the past, and subsequent compression fractures at T8 and T9 led to the deformation of the rib cage, causing the tip of the remaining 10th rib to impinge on the 9th intercostal nerves, causing pain.
Abdomen ; Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Anesthetics, Local ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Intercostal Nerves ; Leg ; Muscles ; Neuralgia ; Pain Clinics ; Physical Examination ; Ribs* ; Spine ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax ; Triamcinolone

Gastric dilatation is a rare life-threatening condition and consists of massive distention of the stomach by gas and fluid. Its etiology is unclear but predisposing factors include recent surgery, diabetic gastroparesis, fundoplication and gastric outlet obstruction. As the distended stomach grows larger, it hangs down across the duodenum, producing a mechanical gastric outlet obstruction, venous obstruction of the mucosa, ischemic necrosis and perforation. The distended stomach pushes the diaphragm upward, causing collapse of the left lung, rotation of the heart, and obstruction of the inferior vena cava. Hypochloremia, hypokalemia, and alkalosis may result from fluid and electrolyte losses and may precipitate cardiac arrhythmias. If acute gastric dilatation is not treated promptly, cardiovascular and pulmonary compromise may compound an increasing intravascular volume deficit leading to hypotension, which may be a cause of death.
Alkalosis ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Causality ; Cause of Death ; Diaphragm ; Duodenum ; Fundoplication ; Gastric Dilatation* ; Gastric Outlet Obstruction ; Gastroparesis ; Heart ; Hypokalemia ; Hypotension ; Lung ; Mucous Membrane ; Necrosis ; Stomach ; Vena Cava, Inferior

Gastric dilatation is a rare life-threatening condition and consists of massive distention of the stomach by gas and fluid. Its etiology is unclear but predisposing factors include recent surgery, diabetic gastroparesis, fundoplication and gastric outlet obstruction. As the distended stomach grows larger, it hangs down across the duodenum, producing a mechanical gastric outlet obstruction, venous obstruction of the mucosa, ischemic necrosis and perforation. The distended stomach pushes the diaphragm upward, causing collapse of the left lung, rotation of the heart, and obstruction of the inferior vena cava. Hypochloremia, hypokalemia, and alkalosis may result from fluid and electrolyte losses and may precipitate cardiac arrhythmias. If acute gastric dilatation is not treated promptly, cardiovascular and pulmonary compromise may compound an increasing intravascular volume deficit leading to hypotension, which may be a cause of death.
Alkalosis ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Causality ; Cause of Death ; Diaphragm ; Duodenum ; Fundoplication ; Gastric Dilatation* ; Gastric Outlet Obstruction ; Gastroparesis ; Heart ; Hypokalemia ; Hypotension ; Lung ; Mucous Membrane ; Necrosis ; Stomach ; Vena Cava, Inferior

PURPOSE: Early gastric cancer (EGC) is defined as gastric cancer confined to the mucosa or submucosa, regardless of lymph node (LN) metastasis. The prognosis of EGC is more favorable than that of advanced gastric cancer. Due to the variety of prognosis of EGC, in relation to LN metastasis, this study was undertaken to determine the impact of LN metastasis on the survival of patients with EGC, and to aid in planning therapeutic approaches for such patients. METHODS: A retrospective study of 517 patients with EGC, who had undergoing a gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy, between 1990 and 1999 was performed. Stages were classified using the UICC TNM classification (1997). RESULTS: LN metastasis was observed in 67 cases (13.0%). 6.7% (17/288) of the EGC within the mucosa, and 19.0% (50/281) within the submucosa, had LN metastasis. The overall Five-year survival rates (5YSR) of 517 EGC patients was 95.5%, and for the EGC patients in N0, N1, N2 and N3 groups were 98.3, 82.2, 27.8 and 0%, respectively (P<0.001). The 5YSRs for patients with mucosal and submucosal cancers were 98.9 and 92.4%, respectively (P= 0.023), and was poorer in those EGC patients with tumor sizes above 5 cm than in those below 5 cm (5YSR 96.3 and 86.7%, respectively. P=0.020). However, the survival rates for EGC patients did not differ significantly based on the gross and histological types. The 5YSR for EGC patients with stage IA, IB, II and IV were 98.3, 82.1, 40.0 and 33.3%, respectively (P<0.001). LN metastasis and depth of invasion were found to be significant risk factor from the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, the significant prognostic factors of EGC were LN metastasis and depth of invasion. Although the prognosis of EGC is favorable, it depends upon the prognostic factors.
Classification ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes* ; Mucous Membrane ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prognosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: The cortical bone thickness on the anterior region is important for achieving implant stability. The purpose of this study was to examine the thickness of the cortical and cancellous bones on the anterior region of the maxilla and mandible. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five cadaver heads were used (16 male and 9 female; mean death age, 56.7 years). After the long axis of alveolar process was set up, it was measured in 5 levels starting from 2 mm below the cementoenamel junction (L1) at intervals of 3 mm. All data was analysed statistically by one-way ANOVA at the .05 significance level. RESULTS: The cortical bone thickness according to measurement levels in both the labial and lingual sides increased from L1 to L5, and the lingual side below L3 was significantly thicker than the labial side on the maxilla and mandible. In particular, the labial cortical bone thickness in the maxilla was the thinnest compared to the other regions. The cancellous bone thickness according to measurement levels increased from L1 to L5 on the maxilla, and on the mandible it was the thinnest at the middle level of the root. CONCLUSION: For implant placement on the anterior region, a careful evaluation and full knowledge on the thickness of the cortical and cancellous bone are necessary, therefore, these results may provide an anatomic guideline to clinicians.
Alveolar Process ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Cadaver ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Tooth Cervix

PURPOSE: In spite of curative surgery and early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy, the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer involving the serosal surface is poor. The aim of this study was to analyze p53 protein overexpression in these patients and to clarify the usefulness of p53 mutation as a prognostic indicator. METHODS: p53 protein overexpression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 123 gastric cancer specimens. The correlation between p53 protein overexpression and clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis of the patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Overexpression of p53 protein was identified in 67 (54.5%) tumors and was more frequent in differentiated tumors than in undifferentiated tumors (67.4% vs. 46.8%; P=0.026). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of p53 protein overexpression according to age, sex, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, pathologic stage, and Lauren classification. There was no statistically significant difference in 5-year survival rate according to the p53 protein overexpression (P=0.565). CONCLUSION: Overexpression of p53 protein could not predict the effectiveness of early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Therefore, it could not be used as a prognostic indicator in patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy and early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy.
Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

PURPOSE: To evaluate the side effects, pattern of failure, and survival rate according to the sequence of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy, patients with stages II and lll rectal cancer who had undergone curative resection were randomized to early radiotherapy group (arm I) or 'late radiotherapy group (arm II)', then we intend to determine the most effective sequence of the radiotherapy and chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1996 to March 1999, 3 13 patients with curatively resected stages II and III rectal cancer have been randomized to early' or late radiation therapy group and recei ved combined chemotherapy (5-FU 375 mg/m/day, leucovorin 20 mg/m, IV bolus daily D1-5, 8 cycles) and radiation therapy (whole pelvis with 45 Gy/25 fractions/5 weeks). Arm I received radiation therapy from day 1 with first cycle of chemotherapy and arm II received radiation therapy from day 57 with third cycle of chemotherapy after completion of first two cycles. Preliminary analysis was performed with 228 patients registered up to Jun 1998. Two out of the 228 patients were excluded because of double primary cancer. Median follow-up period was 23 months. RESULTS: Local recurrence occurred in 11 patients (9.7%) for arm I and 9 patients (8%) for arm II. There was no significant difference between both groups (p=0.64). However, distant metastasis was found in 22 patients (19.5%) for arm I and 35 patients (31.0%) for arm II and which showed statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.046). And neither 3-year disease-free survival (70.2% vs 59.2%, p=0.2) nor overall survival (89.4% vs 88.0%, p=0.47) showed significant differences. The incidence of leukopenia during radiation therapy and chemotherapy was 78.3% and 79.9% respectively but leukopenia more than RTOG grade 3 was only 2.1% and 6.0% respectively. The incidence of diarrhea more than 10 times per day was significantly higher in the patients for arm I than for arm II (71.2% vs 4 1.6%, p=0.02) but this complication was controlled with supportive cares. CONCLUSION: Regardless of the sequence of postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy a fter curative resection for rectal cancer, local recurrence rate was low with combined chemoradiotherapy. But distant metastasis rate was lower in early radiation therapy group than in late radiation therapy group and the reason is unclear. Most patients completed these treatments without severe complication, so these were thought to be safe treatments but the treatment compliance should be improved.
Arm ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant* ; Compliance ; Diarrhea ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leucovorin ; Leukopenia ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pelvis ; Prospective Studies* ; Radiotherapy* ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Rectal Neoplasms* ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate

Although discal cysts are a rare cause of low back pain and radiculopathy. Currently, surgical excision is usually the first-line treatment for discal cysts. However, alternative treatment methods have been suggested, as in some cases symptoms have improved with interventional therapies. A 27-year-old man presented with an acute onset of severe pain, and was found to have a discal cyst after an open discectomy. The patient underwent cyst aspiration and steroid injection through the facet joint under C-arm guidance. After the procedure, the patient's pain improved to NRS 0-1. On outpatient physical examination 1 week, and 1 and 3 months later, no abnormal neurological symptoms were present, and pain did not persist; thus, follow-up observation was terminated. When a discal cyst is diagnosed, it is more appropriate to consider interventional management instead of surgery as a first-line treatment, while planning for surgical resection if the symptoms do not improve or accompanying neurologic deficits progress.
Adult ; Diskectomy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Low Back Pain ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Outpatients ; Physical Examination ; Radiculopathy ; Zygapophyseal Joint

BACKGROUND: As the number of elder patients grows, spinal anesthesia for such patients are increasing significantly. Any effort is needed to use the least anesthetic drug for maintaining the anesthesia while avoiding hazards of cardio-pulmonary complications. METHODS: American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification I and II, Forty five elderly patients (> or = 60 years) who received transurethral resection of the prostate or transurethral resection of the bladder tumor were allocated randomly into three treatment groups. The DMT 0.5 group was designed as with dexmedetomidine 0.5 microg/kg while the DMT 1.0 group has a 1 microg/kg intravenous injection over 10 min before anesthetic induction. The Control group was designed to get a normal saline. Each group was compared regarding the maximum sensory block level, extension of anesthesia, degree of motor block, level of sedation, VAS score and complications. RESULTS: There were no significant differences among the 3 treatment groups regarding the maximum level of sensory block and motor block. However, the duration of sensory block was significantly longer in DMT 1.0 group than in the control group (P = 0.045). Both DMT 1.0 group (median = 3, range = 2-6) and DMT 0.5 group (median = 3, range = 1-6) showed a mean value of 3-4 Ramsay sedation score, which resulted in more excessive sedation and significantly greater incidence of bradycardia compared to the control group. No complications such as hypotension, nausea, tremor, and hypoxia were found during this investigation. CONCLUSIONS: In elder patients, the DMT 1.0 group is effective in duration of sensory block and is superior in the aspect of prolonged duration of sensory block compared to the DMT 0.5 group.
Aged* ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Anoxia ; Appointments and Schedules* ; Bradycardia ; Classification ; Dexmedetomidine* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Incidence ; Injections, Intravenous ; Nausea ; Prostate ; Tremor ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

A 56-year-old man presented with right coronary arterial spasm accompanied by ST segment elevation in the inferior leads. A reperfusion arrhythmia, accelerated idioventricular rhythm (AIVR), developed 1 hour after a nitroglycerin infusion. The AIVR was sustained for 5 days without hemodynamic instability, and resolved spontaneously during hemodynamic monitoring in the coronary intensive care unit.
Accelerated Idioventricular Rhythm ; Angina Pectoris ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; Nitroglycerin ; Reperfusion ; Spasm