Purpose: After the initiation of national health insurance coverage in 2019, the number of metabolic bariatric surgeries (MBSs) in Korea has been increasing. Despite evidence regarding its efficacy, many candidates are hesitant regarding surgery for the treatment of severe obesity. This study interviewed patients who received MBS to further understand potential barriers and increase the accessibility of MBS. Materials and Methods: Eight interviewees who received MBS after 2019 participated. The interviews began in mid-July 2022 over approximately a month. Each one-on-one interview lasted a few hours and was done in person. The interviews were transcribed, and the results were analyzed based on grounded theory. Results: This study focused on the quality of life before and after MBS. On a scale of 1 to 10, all patients had a high degree of satisfaction in quality of life after surgery (average score: 8.9, sleeve gastrectomy: 8.8, and bypass surgery: 9). Scores did not differ depending on procedure type, but factors that caused satisfaction and dissatisfaction were distributed differently between the 2 procedures. Conclusion Quality of life is significantly improved for patients undergoing MBS despite discomfort after surgery. Further promotion of the understanding of obesity as a chronic progressive disease is needed for both surgical candidates and the public to increase acceptance of MBS.

Forehead flaps are widely used to reconstruct nasal defects. The authors report a case wherein a folded forehead flap was used to reconstruct a large nasal defect after wide excision of squamous cell carcinoma. A 65-year-old man was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma by a punch biopsy conducted at the dermatology department, and the mass was located in the left nasal vestibule. A forehead flap was planned to cover the full-thickness defect that occurred after wide excision. A flap with an extended transverse skin paddle was designed; thereafter, the distant part of the flap was folded up to the nasal lining inside the nose. The interpolation flap was properly maintained for 3 weeks, and flap division was performed. The reconstructed nose exhibited symmetry during a 5-month observation period. A folded forehead flap is a surgical option when considerable nasal restoration, including soft tissue and the internal lining, is necessary.

Intraosseous hemangioma is a rare, benign vascular tumor of endothelial origin. It accounts for fewer than 1% of all hemangiomas, and very rarely occurs in the face. Intraosseous hemangioma usually presents as an asymptomatic lesion, but symptoms can occur due to the mass effect. The authors describe a case of intraosseous hemangioma of the zygoma with a review of the relevant literature. A 44-year-old man presented with a chief complaint of painless swelling on the left zygomatic region that had been slowly growing for the past year. On physical examination, a hard, non-movable mass in a deep layer was palpated. On computed tomography performed to evaluate its layers and extent, trabeculation was found inside the mass, but the lack of destruction of the surrounding bone suggested that the mass was benign. Complete surgical excision was performed under local anesthesia. After complete excision of the mass, slight erosions remained on the cortical bone of the zygoma, but because it was small enough not to cause a facial deformity such as depression or asymmetry, no additional reconstructive procedure was performed. There were no symptoms or recurrence during a 8-month follow-up period.

Primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder is a rare disease characterized by a single mass on the face or upper part of the trunk. It usually presents an asymptomatic and favorable progression, and its histopathologic findings include small and medium-sized lymphoid cells. The authors report a case of primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder on the forehead. A 51-year-old man presented with a protruding mass on his forehead that the patient had noted 1 month previously. Surgical excision and a permanent biopsy were performed under local anesthesia. Based on the biopsy results, the mass was diagnosed as a primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. There was no evidence of recurrence at a 15-month follow-up visit.

Primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder is a rare disease characterized by a single mass on the face or upper part of the trunk. It usually presents an asymptomatic and favorable progression, and its histopathologic findings include small and medium-sized lymphoid cells. The authors report a case of primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder on the forehead. A 51-year-old man presented with a protruding mass on his forehead that the patient had noted 1 month previously. Surgical excision and a permanent biopsy were performed under local anesthesia. Based on the biopsy results, the mass was diagnosed as a primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. There was no evidence of recurrence at a 15-month follow-up visit.

Intraosseous hemangioma is a rare, benign vascular tumor of endothelial origin. It accounts for fewer than 1% of all hemangiomas, and very rarely occurs in the face. Intraosseous hemangioma usually presents as an asymptomatic lesion, but symptoms can occur due to the mass effect. The authors describe a case of intraosseous hemangioma of the zygoma with a review of the relevant literature. A 44-year-old man presented with a chief complaint of painless swelling on the left zygomatic region that had been slowly growing for the past year. On physical examination, a hard, non-movable mass in a deep layer was palpated. On computed tomography performed to evaluate its layers and extent, trabeculation was found inside the mass, but the lack of destruction of the surrounding bone suggested that the mass was benign. Complete surgical excision was performed under local anesthesia. After complete excision of the mass, slight erosions remained on the cortical bone of the zygoma, but because it was small enough not to cause a facial deformity such as depression or asymmetry, no additional reconstructive procedure was performed. There were no symptoms or recurrence during a 8-month follow-up period.

Objective: To identify the prevalence and characteristics of neuropathic pain (NP) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to investigate associations between NP and demographic or disease-related variables. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients with SCI whose pain was classified according to the International Spinal Cord Injury Pain classifications at a single hospital. Multiple statistical analyses were employed. Patients aged <19 years, and patients with other neurological disorders and congenital conditions were excluded. Results: Of 366 patients, 253 patients (69.1%) with SCI had NP. Patients who were married or had traumatic injury or depressive mood had a higher prevalence rate. When other variables were controlled, marital status and depressive mood were found to be predictors of NP. There was no association between the prevalence of NP and other demographic or clinical variables. The mean Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) of NP was 4.52, and patients mainly described pain as tingling, squeezing, and painful cold. Females and those with below-level NP reported more intense pain. An NRS cut-off value of 4.5 was determined as the most appropriate value to discriminate between patients taking pain medication and those who did not. Conclusion In total, 69.1% of patients with SCI complained of NP, indicating that NP was a major complication. Treatment planning for patients with SCI and NP should consider that marital status, mood, sex, and pain subtype may affect NP, which should be actively managed in patients with an NRS ≥4.5.

Purpose: Thermal ablation is a novel treatment alternative for benign thyroid nodules, and one of the most promising thermal ablation techniques is radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Considering the increasing use of thyroid RFA, some scientific societies have proposed clinical practice guidelines. We systemically reviewed and compared these guidelines for thyroid RFA to identify a standard treatment strategy that represents the positions of most societies. Methods: We searched the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for studies with human participants that were published in English between January 1, 2000 and August 2, 2019. Studies containing clinical practice guidelines for the RFA of benign thyroid nodules were included. We extracted data regarding indications, pre- and post-procedural evaluations, treatment techniques, and the need to obtain informed consent. Results: Of the 83 studies found, four studies were included, and one study was added after searching the bibliographies of those articles. The five included studies were guidelines developed by the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology, a group of experts from Italian scientific societies, the Italian Working Group on Minimally Invasive Treatments of the Thyroid, the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, and a group of four professional Austrian thyroid associations. Indications, pre- and post-procedural evaluations, and techniques were similar across studies; however, differences in each of these categories were found. Conclusion While the reviewed guidelines are similar with regard to major categories, international guidelines for the RFA of benign thyroid nodules should be established in the future.

Background: This study aimed to determine whether a shorter high-dose rifampicin regimen is non-inferior to the standard 6-month tuberculosis regimen. Methods: This multicenter, randomized, open-label, non-inferiority trial enrolled participants with respiratory specimen positivity by Xpert MTB/RIF assay or Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture without rifampicin-resistance. Participants were randomized at 1:1 to the investigational or control group. The investigational group received high-dose rifampicin (30 mg/kg/day), isoniazid, and pyrazinamide until culture conversion, followed by high-dose rifampicin and isoniazid for 12 weeks. The control group received the standard 6-month regimen. The primary outcome was the rate of unfavorable outcomes at 18 months post-randomization. The non-inferiority margin was set at <6% difference in unfavorable outcomes rates. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04485156) Results: Between 4 November 2020 and 3 January 2022, 76 participants were enrolled. Of these, 58 were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis. Unfavorable outcomes occurred in 10 (31.3%) of 32 in the control group and 10 (38.5%) of 26 in the investigational group. The difference was 7.2% (95% confidence interval, ∞ to 31.9%), failing to prove non-inferiority. Serious adverse events and grade 3 or higher adverse events did not differ between the groups. Conclusion The shorter high-dose rifampicin regimen failed to demonstrate non-inferiority but had an acceptable safety profile.

Background: This study aimed to determine whether a shorter high-dose rifampicin regimen is non-inferior to the standard 6-month tuberculosis regimen. Methods: This multicenter, randomized, open-label, non-inferiority trial enrolled participants with respiratory specimen positivity by Xpert MTB/RIF assay or Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture without rifampicin-resistance. Participants were randomized at 1:1 to the investigational or control group. The investigational group received high-dose rifampicin (30 mg/kg/day), isoniazid, and pyrazinamide until culture conversion, followed by high-dose rifampicin and isoniazid for 12 weeks. The control group received the standard 6-month regimen. The primary outcome was the rate of unfavorable outcomes at 18 months post-randomization. The non-inferiority margin was set at <6% difference in unfavorable outcomes rates. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04485156) Results: Between 4 November 2020 and 3 January 2022, 76 participants were enrolled. Of these, 58 were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis. Unfavorable outcomes occurred in 10 (31.3%) of 32 in the control group and 10 (38.5%) of 26 in the investigational group. The difference was 7.2% (95% confidence interval, ∞ to 31.9%), failing to prove non-inferiority. Serious adverse events and grade 3 or higher adverse events did not differ between the groups. Conclusion The shorter high-dose rifampicin regimen failed to demonstrate non-inferiority but had an acceptable safety profile.