BACKGROUND: Cancer registries are fundamental for cancer control and multicenter collaborative research. However, there have been discrepancies among pathologists in classifying cancer and assigning the codes according to the International Classification of Disease Oncology 3 (ICD-O3). To improve the quality of cancer registries as well as to prevent the conflict with medical insurance compensation, a guideline for the coding of cancer is mandatory. METHODS AND RESULTS: Funded by the Management Center for Health Promotion, 40 members of the Gastrointestinal Pathology Study Group and the Cancer Registration Committee of the Korean Society of Pathologists participated in the 1st workshop for gastrointestinal tumor registration. The subjects of gastric epithelial tumor, intramucosal carcinoma of the colon, carcinoid tumor, gastrointestinal stromal tumor and appendiceal mucinous tumor were discussed to create a guideline. A survey to obtain consensus for the guideline proposed by the workshop was carried out by the members of the Korean Society of Pathologists and 240 members completed the questionnaire. CONCLUSION: Although there are some issues to be discussed further, such as coding of high grade dysplasia/adenoma and intramucosal carcinoma of stomach and colon, the members agreed upon most parts of the proposed guideline. Therefore, we suggest using the ICD-O3 coding guideline for gastrointestinal tumor.
Adenoma

The anatomical structure of vermiform appendix was studied for 124 Korean adult cadavers and the articles were reviewed with special reference to its position and length. The results are as follows ; 1. On the frequency of positional types based on Wakeley (1933), postileal type was recorded most frequently (37.7%) and retrocecal type was found in 19.7% of cases, showing the difference from other ethnic groups whose most frequent position was retrocecal or pelvic type. 2. In the direction of appendix in relation to the clock, the direction between 1 and 3 o'clock was most frequently found. 3. Appendix of fixed form was found in 22.1% of cases, that of free form 77.9%. In free form, postileal type was found most frequently, but retrocecal type was met most frequently in fixed form. 4. The length of appendix was 5.95±1.64 cm (male ; 6.14±1.67 cm ; female 5.59±1.51 cm). Neither significant difference between sex nor positional type was noted. 5. Positions of appendix are seemed to be set up during fetal stage. The Ethnic variation in the positions of appendix is thought to be determined by inherited physical anthropological factor, not by postnatal one.
Adult* ; Appendix* ; Cadaver ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Humans

Met protein is a transmembrane 190 kD heterodimer with tyrosine kinase activity, encoded by c-Met oncogene. It serves as a high affinity receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/scatter factor (SF), a cytokine which stimulates cell proliferation, motility, and invasion. In this study, we immunohistochemically evaluated the expression of Met/hepatocyte growth factor receptor in colorectal cancers. Met protein was expressed in 31 of 72 patients (43.1%). The staining pattern was cytoplasmic in nature, present throughout the tumor, and showed variable intensity from case to case. The relationship between the expression rate and intensity, and age and sex of patients, tumor size (p=0.645), tumor site (p=0.902) and tumor differentiation (p=0.844) was not statistically significant. The expression rate and intensity were significantly correlated with lymphovascular invasion (p=0.001), lymph node metastasis (p=0.010), depth of invasion (0.019), and stage (p=0.023). Cytoplasmic accumulation of Met protein was not associated with enhanced PCNA index of tumor cells (p=0.052). These results suggest that Met protein may play an important role in the invasion and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells.
Cell Proliferation ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Cytoplasm ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oncogenes ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases

No abstract available.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Magnetics ; Magnets

OBJECTIVE: The clinical value of preoperative serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen(SCC) in relation to clinical stage, tumor volume, disease extent and prognosis has already reported in many papers. The aim of this study is to analyse the relationship between preoperative SCC level and pelvic lymph node metastasis. Matrials and METHODS: From March 1995 to December 1998, 157 patients who examined pretreatment SCC levels before undergoing radical hysterectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix were included. The effect of pelvic lymph node status on the SCC level was examined by comparing 125 cases with cancer limited uterus or upper vagina and 32 cases with cancer confined to the uterus (including upper vagina) and pelvic lymph node using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: 90% of patients without pelvic lymph node metastasis showed SCC levels of 2.9ng/ml or below. 60.7% of patients with serum SCC level more than 2.9ng/ml exhibited pelvic lymph node metastasis. The marker values exceeding 2.9ng/ml increased risk of nodal metastasis 5 times compared with serum level 2.9ng/ml or below. Multivariate analysis confirmed that the pelvic lymph node metastasis had a large impact on the marker level than did tumor size or depth of stromal infilteration. CONCLUSION: SCC levels greater than 2.9ng/ml can be considered a high risk zone for nodal metastasis
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prognosis ; Tumor Burden ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* ; Uterus ; Vagina

The transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been used for the assessment of right and left ventricular function, valvular structure and function, regional wall motion abnormalities and localization of intravascular catheters, cannular and prosthesis. We inserted the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) under the guidance of intraoperative TEE because of the difficulty of placing PAC with the pressure tracing method in two patients. The PAC was inserted from right atrium to right ventricle with the basal four chamber view and advanced to pulmonary artery through pulmonary valve with the longitudinal view of TEE. We observed typical pulmonary arterial wave form to confirm the correct position. We suggest that the TEE can be used for successful placement of a PAC to facilitate manipulation of the catheter as an alternative method in the patients whose PAC can not be positioned with the pressure tracing method.
Catheters* ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal* ; Heart Atria ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Prostheses and Implants ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Pulmonary Valve ; Ventricular Function, Left

We experienced an autopsy case of esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula and other multiple congenital anomalies in a 4 days old male infant. Esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula was type C by Gross Classification. Combined anomalies were malrotation of left kidney, one left accessory renal artery form right renal artery and one left accessory renal vein from right renal vein, duodenal atresia and annular pancreas. Until now, the esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula and other multiple congenital anomalies (7 congenital anomalies) are not reported in the korean literature, except our case. Our autopsy case, it suggests that esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula has often close relation-ship with other multiple congenital anomalies.
Infant ; Male ; Female ; Humans

No abstract available.
Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome*

Renal cell carcinoma, intimately associated with a sarcomatous component, is a rare malignant renal tumor. There is disagreement whether these represent true sarcomas or are sarcomatoid metaplasia. Therefore, this sarcomatous component is at times still a troublesome problem for pathologists. In March, 1986, we experienced a case of renal cell carcinoma associated with rhabdomyosarcomatous component in 47 year-old woman who had a rapidly enlarged, palpable abdominal mass. Grossly, a spherical renal cell carcinoma, 17x14x10 cm, in upper and middle portions of the right kidney showed extension through the renal capsule into the perirenal fat. Area of myxoid change was evident in the reanl cell carcinoma, with extensive hemorrhagic necrosis. Microscopically, in the myxoid area, there was malignant spindle cell proliferation in which many rhabdomyoblasts showing distinct cross striation could be demonstrated. This rhabdomyosarcomatous component intermixed with renal cell carcinoma of clear cell type could be also identified in the focal area.
Female ; Humans

PURPOSE: To assess the combined effectiveness of angioinfarction and immunotherapy for improving survival in patients with stage IV renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS:During the past 3 years, 13 patients of stage IV renal cell carcinoma were treated with angioinfarction and immunotherapy. Angioinfarction was performed on these 13 patients using absolute ethanol and occlusive baloon catheter. After angioinfarction, Interferon alpha was used for immunotherapy. For our analysis, 12 control patients of stage IV renal cell carcinoma without treatment were included in the study. Survival has been calculated according to the Kaplan and Meier method. RESULTS: The 1 year survival rate and median survival time in patients treated with angioinfarction and immunotherapy, were 46% and 13 months and in patients without treatment, 16% and 4 months, respectively. CONCLUSION:The combined treatment of angioinfarction and immunotherapy is of considerable value for improving survival in patients with stage IV renal cell carcinoma
Carcinoma, Renal Cell* ; Catheters ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Immunotherapy* ; Interferon-alpha ; Survival Rate