Epithelioid sarcoma is malignant tumor described by Enzinger, that is likely to be confused with a varety of benign and malignant conditions, especially a granulomatous process, a synovial sarcoma Or an ulerating squamous cell carcinoma. The tumor occurs chiefly in young adult and most commonly affects the soft tissue of the hand, the forearm and the pretibial region. The tumor is characteristically a slowly growing lesion but frequent recurrence is common and metastasis were most frequent in the lung. In this paper, we reported one case which is believed to be epithelioid sarcoma in the forearm.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Forearm ; Hand ; Humans ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Sarcoma ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; Young Adult

Authors experienced a rare adenocarcinoma arising in presacral sacrococcygeal teratoma in a adult and herein reported. The patient was a 52 year old female admitted because of lower abdominal pain for 5 to 6 months. Past and familial history were unremarkable. On rectal examination a mass was palpated 3 cm above the anal verge. The large bowel was displaced by an extrinsic mass but there was no evidence of intrinsic tumor lesion on barium enema, CT was done and showed a large presacral tumor attached to the sacrum. Clinical impression was sacrococcygeal teratoma. Resected tumor mass was a relatively well circumscribed cystic mass, measuring 11 x 11 cm and the cystic content was previously evacuated. Inner surface showed ragged appearance, and focal nodular solid area was noted. On microscopic examination, the tumor revealed the derivatives of three germ layers and main components were tissues of respiratory tract. Sections from the solid area showed a well differentiated adenocarcinoma and with stromal, capsular and perineural invasion. Borderline malignant epithelial lesions are also noted suggesting the pathogenesis and progression of this tumor. There was no recurrence for one year after surgery in the follow up.
Adult ; Male ; Female ; Humans ; Adenocarcinoma

Esophageal granular cell tumor of is rare neoplesin, and 3 cases were reported in Korea so far. We report a case of esophageal granular cell tumor in a 28 year old man. The patient was a 28 year old man who visited this hospital because of upper abdominal pain, acid belching and weight loss. A small nodule, 5 mm in diameter, was found in mid esophagus on esophagoscopy. This nodule was proved to be a granular cell tumor.
Male ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Purified major allergens of house dust mite are essential for evaluation of the allergic mechanism in molecular basis and development of new modalities of immunemodulation. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to purif group 1 and group 2 allergens from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp). In addition, cDNAs corresponding to Der pI and II in Korean Dp were isolated and recombinant Der p1 and Der pII were synthesized. MATERIALS AND and METHOD: Der pI allergen was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, anion -exchange column chromatography, and gel filtrat,ion chromatography. Der pII allergen was purified by anion exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography, and a preparative isoelectric focusing method. RESULTS: Eight hundred ug of Der pI and 50 ug of Der pII were obtained from 100 g of culture medium and 1 g of mite bodies, respectively. The purities of these allergens were confirmed by SDS PAGE and the strong reactivity to the patient sera was identified. In order to produce a recombinant allergens, poly(A) RNA from house dust mites were isolated and used for cDNA synthesis by RT PCR. The cDNA was inserted into prokaryotic expression vector and the vectors were transformed into E. coli. A little amount of recombinant Der pI protein was produced due to the low solubility, and 1.2 mg of recombinant Der pII was produced from 1 L of E. coli culture medium. The antigenicity of Der pI was relatively weak, however, Der pII showed a strong antigenicity. Amino acid sequence of the amplified cDNA deduced from DNA sequences of Der pII showed 6 different variants. The variation of amino acid sequences suggests the possibility of high incidence of mutation of Der pII protein. CONCLUSION: A simplified method for the purification of Der pI and Der pII was developed. Recombinant allergens will be useful for the diagnosis and treatment of allergy with lower costs.
Allergens* ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Ammonium Sulfate ; Base Sequence ; Chromatography ; Chromatography, Gel ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus* ; Diagnosis ; DNA, Complementary ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Incidence ; Isoelectric Focusing ; Mites ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pyroglyphidae* ; RNA, Messenger ; Solubility

PURPOSE: The treatment of choice for well-differentiated thyroid cancer is surgical excision. However, the operation method is still controversial. Also, the operation method has been changing gradually. Thus, we reviewed the records of patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer who had received operations in our hospital to assess the trend in surgical procedure, and to determine the proper procedure, method, considering both recurrence and complications. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the cases of 452 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer who had received operations from January 1989 to December 1998. We divided the 10 years into two periods; period I was from 1989 to 1993 (254 patients) and period II was from 1994 to 1998 (198 patients). We analyzed recurrences and complications according to the operation method, including neck lymph-node dissection. The incidences and locations of lymph- node metastasis were taken into account, too. The statistical analysis was done by using the Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: In period I, 147 patients (58%) received a total thyroidectomy, and in period II, all patients received total thyroidectomy. In period I, 24 patients (9.4%) had a recurrence, and in period II, 13 patients (6.6%) had a recurrence. In period I, 55 patients (21.7%) had postoperative hypoparathyr oidism, and in period II, 38 patients (19.2%) had postoperative hypoparathyroidism. In period I, 15 patients (5.9%) had postoperative hoarseness, and in period II, 7 patients (3.5%) had postoperative hoarseness. Two hundred eighty-one patients (62.2%) had lymph-node metastasis, and the anterior neck region was the most common site of metastasis (60.2%). CONCLUSION: In the operation method for differentiated thyroid cancer, the trend is toward a total thyroidectomy away from a lobectomy. Also, a skillful and experienced surgeon can reduce the incidence of postoperative complications. Thus the best operation method for differentiated thyroid cancer is a total thyroidectomy, including a preventive anterior-neck lymph-node dissection, which is done by a skillful and experienced surgeon.
Hoarseness ; Humans ; Hypoparathyroidism ; Incidence ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroidectomy

No abstract available.
Obstetrics*

It is essential to estimate the liver size in the diagnosis of liver disease. Many approaches have beenattempted in the evaluation of liver size such as measurement of length, area and volume. Among these, area andvolume measurements are accurate but complicated. So various linear measurements including Pfahler's method havebeen commonly used. But to our knowledge, there was no report about linear diameter of liver in Korean adualts. Asingeneral, larger patients are likely to have larger liver than smaller ones, it seems to be more ideal toevaluate the liver size using relative ratio rather than absolute linear diameters. The main objectives of ourinvestigation were to determine the various diameters of normal and enlarged liver and the criteria ofhepatomegaly in Korean adults using absolute and relative ments. Our cases consisted of 95 clinically normalsubjects and 51 patients suffering from liver disease and diagnosed to have hepatomegaly on abdominal palpationand simple abdomen in the Dept. of Radiology, St, Mary Hospital during the period of 6 months since Jan. 1981. Wemeasured the liver size using 3 linear diameters. And as the reference measurement, the distance from the rightmargin of the liver to the left margin of spleen was also measured. We called this “abdominal transversediameter”(ATD). The results were as follows; 1. The diameters of liver were 13.4±1.6cm, 18.4±2.4cm, 19.2±2.6cmin normal group and 18.8±3.1cm, 23.5±3.0cm, 24.2±3.2cm in hepatomegaly group using midline verticaldiameter(MIVD), maximum vertical diameter (MAVD) and diagonal diameter(DD), respectively. The difference betweentwo groups were statistically very significant in every method(p<0.01). 2. The 99% tolerance limits of liverdiameters were 13.0-13.8cm, 17.8-19.0cm, 18.5-19.9cm in normal and DD, respectively. The midpoints between theupper limit of normal group and the lower limit spectively. These points are warranted to suggest criterias ofhepatomegaly. 3. There were statistical significant difference in the ratio of each diameter to ATD between normaland hepatomegaly group (p<0.01). We called this“hepato-abdominal ratio”. The “hepato-abdominal in hepatomegalygroup using MIVD, MAVD and DD, respectively. 4. The 99% tolerance limits of “hepato-abdominal ratio” were0.43-0.45, 0.59-0.63, 0.62-0.64 in normal group and 0.60-0.62, 0.75-0.77, 0.77-0.79 in hepatomegaly group usingMAVD, MAVD and DD, respectively. The midpoints between the upper limit of normal group and the lower limit ofhepatomegaly group were 0.52, 0.69, 0.70 using MIVD, MAVD and DD, respectively. These points are alsowarranted tosuggest criterias of hepatomegaly.
Abdomen ; Adult ; Diagnosis ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; Liver ; Methods ; Spleen

Prospective study of gallbladder wall thickness by utrasonography was performed in 38 patients of acute viral hepatitis and 50 normal subjects as a control group from June 1983 to April 1984. The results were as follows; 1.In normal population, the range of gallbladder wall thickness is from 1mm to 3mm with peak incidence in 2mm(66%,33 case). Mean thickness of gallbladder wall is about 1.9±0.6mm. 2. In acute viral hepatitis, the range of gallbladder wall thickness is from 2mm to 8mm with peak incidence in 3mm(34%, 13 case), second peak in 4mm (29%,11 case). Mean thickness of gallbladder wall is about 3.6±1.6mm, which is thicker than normal with statistical signifiance. (p<0.005) 3, In acute viral hepatitis , the mean thickness of glabladder wall is about 4.4±1.8mm in the group of SGOT/ SGPT level above 400 IU, and 2.8±0.8mm in the group of SGOT/SGPT level below 400 IU. This difference is significant statistically. (p<0.05).
Alanine Transaminase ; Gallbladder ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUND: ABO genotyping is being used increasingly when the results of serologic typing are unclear or there is some suspicion of rare ABO subtypes. Conventional molecular diagnostic methods such as PCR- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), allele-specific PCR, PCR-single stranded conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and sequence-based typing have been used in this field. Recently, a pyrosequencing technique was introduced into clinical laboratories. This study evaluated the possibility of applying pyrosequencing to ABO genotyping. METHODS: A total of 36 samples, which had previously been analyzed by PCR-RFLP and serological method in the Blood Genetics Clinic of Seoul National University Hospital between August 2001 and September 2004 and shown to have the A/A, A/B, A/O, B/B, B/O, O/O, cis-AB/O, cis-AB/A, or cis-AB/B genotypes, were analyzed by pyrosequencing analysis. Briefly, two PCR reactions were carried out separately for one region including nucleotide 261, and for another region including nucleotides 796 and 803. Pyrosequencing was then performed, and the pyrograms were interpreted using an automated interpretation program from the manufacturer and by researchers independently to determine the nucleotides 261, 796 and 803 for ABO genotyping. RESULTS: The ABO genotypes from pyrosequencing and the interpretation of the pyrograms according to the researcher on 36 samples were in complete concordance with the results obtained by PCR-RFLP. The ABO genotypes from the automated interpretation program showed an error in one out of total 108 SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) analyses (eRROR RATE=0.9%) OF 36 SAMPLES. CONCLUSION: ABO genotyping for A, B, O, cis-AB alleles by pyrosequencing of nucleotides 261, 796 and 803 was relatively simple and accurate and could be an another field we can use in clinical laboratories.
Alleles ; Genetics ; Genotype ; Nucleotides ; Pathology, Molecular ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Seoul

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Melanoma antigen gene (MAGE)-A which have more than 12 subtypes is a gene family for tumor specific shared antigens, recognized by the cytotoxic T cell. Since these genes are expressed only in tumor cells and silent in normal adult tissues except in the male germ line, they may be used as diagnostic markers in detecting malignancy. During the carcinogenesis of gastrointestinal tract, the hyperplastic epithelium-adenoma-adenocarcinoma sequence is largely accepted and the molecular studies on each step have been issued. However, in the aspect of carcinogenesis in the gastrointestinal tract, MAGE genes have not studied yet. To explore the functional role and clinical significance of MAGE-A genes in the carcinogenesis of the colon, mRNA expression of MAGE-A1 to -A6 in the mucosal tissues obtained from the colonoscopy was investigated and the relationship between their expressions and clinicopathologic parameters was analysed. METHODS: We investigated the expression of MAGE 1~6 in 65 endoscopically biopsied samples of neoplastic and nonneoplastic tissues from the colon, using a MAGE common primer by the reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: Of the 31 colorectal adenocarcinoma specimens examined, MAGE genes were expressed in 11 cases (36%). In contrast, no expression of these genes was observed in any of the 12 samples of tubular adenoma and 12 of non-specific colitis and 5 cases of normal colonic tissues. There was no significant correlation between the expression of the MAGE genes and clinicopathologic factors, such as gender, disease stage, lymph node metastasis and perineural and vascular invasion in colonic carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: It is postulated that the expression of MAGE genes could reflect the late event of oncogenesis of the colon because no MAGE expression was noticed in chronic inflamamtion and adenomas which might have the important role in the process of malignant transformation.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma ; Adult ; Carcinogenesis* ; Colitis ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colonoscopy ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Genes, vif ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Melanoma ; Mucous Membrane ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Sequence Analysis, DNA