PURPOSE: This study was conducted to identify the structures that can mimic aneurysm on CT angiography with using the 3-D volume rendering technique and a 16-row detector CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study examined 206 patients who underwent CT angiography with a 16-row detector CT from May 2003 to July 2004. For the CT angiography, the contrast media was injected at a rate of 4 cc per second. The scanning was then done when 5 seconds delay time had elapsed after the CT number of the common carotid artery had reached 150. The baseline images were obtained by reconstructing the row data with a kernel value of H31f, a slice thickness of 1 mm and an increment of 0.5 mm. Finally, the 3-D images were constructed by using a volume rendering technique. The structures that were confused with aneurysm on CT angiography were further evaluated by MPR or MIP to ascertain whether they were aneurysms. For comparison, digital subtraction angiography was done in 86 patients and surgery was done in 5 patients. RESULTS: On CT angiography, 51 patients did not show any abnormalities, and 80 patients showed definitive aneurysms, as was ascertained by their sizes, shapes and locations, or by the aneurysm clips only. The remaining 75 patients showed 90 aneurysm mimicking structures that were 35 infundibular dilatations or preaneurysmal blebs, 24 focal dilatations of the branches of the deep middle cerebral veins, 6 focal dilatations of the sphenoparietal sinuses adjacent to the middle cerebral artery, 18 focal dilatations of the inferior sagittal sinuses adjacent to the pericallosal artery and 7 low density calcifications of the vessel walls that were adjacent to the aneurysm-prevalent arteries. CONCLUSION: CT angiography based on volume rendering technique was able to identify the structures that were confused with aneurysm. Accordingly, careful observation is required for interpreting the reconstructing 3-D images since a wide variety of structures can be confused with aneurysm on CT angiography.
Aneurysm* ; Angiography* ; Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Arteries ; Blister ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Cerebral Veins ; Contrast Media ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Middle Cerebral Artery

VACTERL association is a disease with multiple congenital anomalies of the vertebrae, anus, cardia, tracheoesophageal(TE) fistula, renal and limb. This disease is derived from VATER anomaly, accompanied by cardiac and limb anomalies. We experienced a case of a 1-day-old boy with anal atresia, who represented multiple anomalies during hospital course. The multiple anomalies were hemivertebra, anal atresia, complex heart disease(coarctation of aorta, secundum aterial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus), horseshoe kidney, tracheal stenosis, tracheal bronchus and left upper lung agenesis. Because both trachea and esophagus arise from fetal foregut, tracheal or pulmonary anomalies may be developed in VACTERL association instead of TE fistula. VACTERL association with tracheal anomalies, such as tracheal stenosis and tracheal bronchus or pulmonary agenesis, have been reported in foreign scientific society reports. But a case of VACTERL association with both tracheal bronchus and pulmonary agenesis has not reported yet. So we report this case with a brief review of related literature and suggest the consideration of possibility of tracheal or pulmonary anomaly in VACTERL association without TE fistula.
Anal Canal ; Anus, Imperforate ; Aorta ; Bronchi* ; Cardia ; Esophagus ; Extremities ; Fistula ; Heart ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lung ; Male ; Societies, Scientific ; Spine ; Trachea ; Tracheal Stenosis* ; Tracheoesophageal Fistula*

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) undergoing endoscopic electrosurgery (EE) are at a risk of electromagnetic interference (EMI). We aimed to analyze the effects of EE in CIED patients. METHODS: Patients with CIED who underwent EE procedures such as snare polypectomy, endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) were retrospectively analyzed. Postprocedural symptoms as well as demographic and outpatient follow-up data were reviewed through medical records. Electrical data, including preprocedural and postprocedural arrhythmia records, were reviewed through pacemaker interrogation, 24-hour Holter monitoring, or electrocardiogram. RESULTS: Fifty-nine procedures in 49 patients were analyzed. Fifty procedures were performed in 43 patients with a pacemaker, and nine were performed in six patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. There were one gastric and 44 colon snare polypectomies, five gastric and one colon ESDs, and eight ERCPs with EST. Fifty-five cases of electrical follow-up were noted, with two postprocedural changes not caused by EE. Thirty-one pacemaker interrogations had procedure recordings, with two cases of asymptomatic tachycardia. All patients were asymptomatic with no adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reports no adverse events from EE in patients with CIED, suggesting that this procedure is safe. However, because of the possibility of EMI, recommendations on EE should be followed.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Colon ; Defibrillators, Implantable ; Electrocardiography ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Electrosurgery* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnets ; Medical Records ; Outpatients ; Retrospective Studies ; SNARE Proteins ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic ; Tachycardia

PURPOSE: Pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis is routinely recommended for Western cancer patients undergoing major surgery for prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, it is uncertainwhetherroutine administration of pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis is necessary in all Asian surgical cancer patients. This prospective study was conducted to examine the incidence of and risk factors for postoperative VTE in Korean colorectal cancer (CRC) patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study comprised two cohorts, and none of patients received perioperative pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis. In cohort A (n=400), patients were routinely screened for VTE using lower-extremity Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) on postoperative days 5-14. In cohort B (n=148), routine DUS was not performed, and imaging was only performed when there were symptoms or signs that were suspicious for VTE. The primary endpoint was the VTE incidence at 4 weeks postoperatively in cohort A. RESULTS: The postoperative incidence of VTE was 3.0% (n=12) in cohort A. Among the 12 patients, eight had distal calf vein thromboses and one had symptomatic thrombosis. Age ≥ 70 years (odds ratio [OR], 5.61), ≥ 2 comorbidities (OR, 13.42), and white blood cell counts of > 10,000/μL (OR, 17.43) were independent risk factors for postoperative VTE (p < 0.05). In cohort B, there was one case of VTE (0.7%). CONCLUSION: The postoperative incidence of VTE, which included asymptomatic cases, was 3.0% in Korean CRC patients who did not receive pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis. Perioperative pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis should be administered to Asian CRC patients on a risk-stratified basis.
Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cohort Studies ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Colorectal Surgery ; Comorbidity ; Humans ; Incidence* ; Leukocyte Count ; Prospective Studies* ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography, Doppler ; Veins ; Venous Thromboembolism*

BACKGROUND: An association between silica exposure and autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis has been made. CASE PRESENTATION: A 56-year-old male presented with silicosis and had an occupational history of precious metal processing for 30 years and a 30 pack-year smoking history. The patient was diagnosed with pneumoconiosis and received compensation. No other complications were reported for pneumoconiosis. The patient suddenly presented with a non-specific headache for several days and microscopic hematuria was identified upon examination in the outpatient clinic. Following several weeks, the patient presented with aggravated dyspnea and hemoptysis, and his Modification of Diet in Renal Disease estimated glomerular filtration rate indicated acute kidney injury. Diagnostic analysis revealed perinuclear ANCA-associated microscopic polyangiitis (p-ANCA-associated MPA). CONCLUSION: Exposure to silica dust was likely one of the cause of p-ANCA-associated MPA. Possible pathogenic mechanisms of autoimmune diseases in silicotics and emphasis of the necessity for early diagnosis are discussed.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Compensation and Redress ; Cytoplasm* ; Diagnosis* ; Diet ; Dust ; Dyspnea ; Early Diagnosis ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Headache ; Hematuria ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Male ; Microscopic Polyangiitis* ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Pneumoconiosis ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; Silicon Dioxide ; Silicosis ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vasculitis

Infectious keratitis is the most common serious ocular infection, and may be caused by various bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. The authors performed prospectively an epidemiological study to identify risk factors and causative organisms, and to evaluate clinical manifestations, methods and results of treatment in infectious keratitis under the identical protocol from April 1995 to September 1997. Logistic regression analysis [univariate analysis and multivariate analysis] was used to evaluate possible risk factors. Six hundred sixty cases of infectious keratitis reported from 19 hospitals were studied. Two hundred eighty-three organisms[247 bacteria, 32 fungi, 4 acanthamoeba] were detected in 626 eyes with infectious keratitis excluding 34 pherpetic keratitis. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa, coagulase negative staphylococcus, Staphylococcus aureus and Serratia marcescens were the major orgnisms in bacterial keratitis. Aspergillus, Fusarium and Candida were the major isolates in fungal keratitis. Contact lens wear was a risk factor for bacterial keratitis. Female, age[less than 40 years] and occupation[student, house-wife, office worker, servise] were associated with bacterial keratitis. Risk factors in herpetic keratitis were age[between 40 and 59 years] and ocular adnexal diseases. Male was associated factor with herpetic keratitis.
Adnexal Diseases ; Aspergillus ; Bacteria ; Candida ; Coagulase ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology* ; Eye Infections ; Female ; Fungi ; Fusarium ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Keratitis, Herpetic ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Parasites ; Prospective Studies ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Risk Factors ; Serratia marcescens ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus

To identify risk factors and causative organisms, and to evaluate clinical manifestations, methods and results of treatment in infectious keratitis, an epidemiological study was performed prospectively under the identical protocol from April 1995 to March 2000.Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate possible risk factors. The 1474 cases of infectious keratitis reported from 22 hospitals were studied. Five hundred forty-four organisms(442 bacteria, 82 fungi, 20 A c a n t h a m o e b a)were detected in 1320 eyes with infectious keratitis excluding 154 herpetic keratitis. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common organism in bacterial keratitis, and Fusariumspp. was the major isolate in fungal keratitis. Contact lens wear and occupation(industry, forester, miner, fisherman)were the risk factors for bacterial keratitis. Risk factors in fungal keratitis were fifth decade of age, farmer, and systemic diseases(diabetes mellitus etc.). Risk factors in herpetic keratitis were male and occupation(office worker, service, student, housewife). Risk factors in Acanthamoeba keratitis was contact lens wear.
Acanthamoeba Keratitis ; Bacteria ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiology* ; Fungi ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Keratitis, Herpetic ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Risk Factors