From August 1991 to July 1992, 262 patients of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were treated with transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT). Among those, 64 patients were followed up more than I year and 26 patients were followed up more than 4 years without other treatment. The patient`s age ranged from 49 to 80 years with a mean of 64.3 years. Prostate volume determined by transrectal ultrasonography ranged from 27.0cm3 to 73.6cm3, the mean 40.8cm3. After I year, maximum flow rate increased from 8.1+/-2.3ml/sec to 11.5+/-3.6ml/sec, Madsen symptom score decreased from 12.6 +/-3.8 to 6.6+/-4.7, and residual urine volume decreased from 75.6+/-33.5ml to 43.4+/-35.3ml. Complete response of maximum flow rate and Madsen symptom score observed in 17.2% in each group, partial response in 50.0% and 40.6%, and non-response in 32.8% and 42.2%. Improvement of subjective symptoms were evaluated by patients themselves and divided into 3 groups: ""satisfactory"" was 28.1%, ""acceptable"" 34.4%, and ""not effective"" 37.5%. Complications were i case of erectile dysfunction and 4 cases of dry ejaculation. Among the 64 patients who were followed up more than 1 year, 26 patients (40.6%) were remained without other treatment, 20 (31.3%) patients were medicated additionally, 11 (17.2%) patients required TUR-P during the follow-up period due to persistent symptoms, and 7 (10.9%) patients were performed re-TUMT. In conclusion, TUMT could be useful, safe and inexpensive treatment for BPH when it is applied selectively and should be advanced in mechanism to be more effective in treatment of BPH.
Ejaculation ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate* ; Ultrasonography

Hypermobility of the bladder neck in response to increased intraabdominal pressure is the anatomical cause of female stress urinary incontinence ( SUI) and the degree of bladder neck movement has been used to classify SUI patients and to guide management decisions. We performed transvaginal ultrasonography in 14 SUI patients and 20 normal female as control to assess its role on the demonstration of the anatomical features associated with SUI. We adopted three anatomical factors in the sagittal plane which affect the bladder neck mobility , vertical (JY) and horizontal(JX) distance difference between pubic symphysis and bladder neck, and rotation angle difference(JZ) composed of by pubic symphysis and bladder neck during rest and stress states. There were significant differences in Y and Z between the two groups. Three months after corrective surgery for SUI these two factors showed significant improvement in all patients. It could be concluded that transvaginal ultrasonography is a safe and reliable method to diagnosis and evaluate the postoperative outcome for SUI.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Neck ; Pubic Symphysis ; Ultrasonography* ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Incontinence*

The pelvic abscess communicating with the appendix is relatively rare, however, it could be diagnosed preoperatively by various diagnostic modalities such as ultrasonography, computed tomography or laparoscopy. We experienced a case of pelvic abscess presented as a pelvic mass invading vesical wall, and report this unusual presentation with a brief review of literature.
Abscess* ; Appendicitis* ; Appendix ; Laparoscopy ; Ultrasonography

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. PURPOSE: The objective of the study is to evaluate the relationship between the detection rate of lumbar disc herniation and socioeconomic status. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Income is one important determinant of public health. Yet, there are no reports about the relationship between socioeconomic status and the detective rate of disc herniation. METHODS: In this study, 443 cases were checked for lumbar computed tomography for lumbar disc herniation, and they reviewed questionnaires about their socioeconomic status, the presence of back pain or radiating pain and the presence of a medical certificate (to check the medical or surgical treatment for the pain) during the Korean conscription. RESULTS: Without the consideration for the presence of a medical certificate, there was no difference in spinal physical grade according to socioeconomic status (p=0.290). But, with the consideration of the presence of a medical certificate, the significant statistical differences were observed according to socioeconomic status in 249 cases in the presence of a medical certificate (p=0.028). There was a lower detection rate in low economic status individuals than those in the high economic class. The common reason for not submitting a medical certificate is that it is neither necessary for the people of lower socioeconomic status nor is it financially affordable. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of lumbar disc herniation is not different according to socioeconomic status, but the detective rate was affected by socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic status is an important factor for detecting lumbar disc herniation.
Back Pain ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Prevalence ; Public Health ; Retrospective Studies ; Social Class ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lymphocytic gastritis is characterised by the accumulation of small lymphocytes in the surface and foveolar epithelium. It is a common finding in a subtype of gastritis characterized by the presence of nodules and erosions in the body, relative to which the antrum was spared-'varioliform gastritis'. Lymphocytic gastritis usually follows a chronic course and presents severe clinical symptoms including hypoproteinemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and clinical manifestations of lymphocytic gastritis in patients who showed endoscopic apprearance of enlarged folds, erosions, and aphthoid nodules in the body. Materials and METHODS: The clinical and histological findings of varioliform gastritis with presence of nodules and erosions in the body were analyzed. The ratio of 25 lymphocytes/100 epithelial cell was used as the criteria for the diagnosis of lymphocytic gastritis in the study. RESULTS: Twenty nine cases were classified as varioliform gastritis (there were 20 men/9 women and average age was 48.9 years). Among the 29 varioliform gastritis, 9 corresponded to lymphocytic gastritis. H. pylori infection rate was 44% (4/9) in lymphocytic gastritis and 65% in non lymphocytic gastritis. There was no difference in H. pylori infection rate between the lymphocytic gastritis and non lymphocytic gastritis. Clinical laboratory findings of lymphocytic gastritis were normal. The patients with lymphocytic gastritis had absence of mild degree of symptoms. Among 4 patients with follow-up endoscopy, erosions in body were completely disappreared in 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphocytic gastritis occurred in about 30% of patients with varioliform gastritis. Most patients with lymphocytic gastritis had no symptoms or only mild symptoms and had no significant abnormality in clinical or laboratory finding.
Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastritis* ; Humans ; Hypoproteinemia ; Incidence* ; Lymphocytes

Patients who have undergone peritoneal dialysis can frequently experience abdominal wall complications, such as hernia due to increased intraabdominal pressure and peritoneal leakage. However, no case of incarcerated abdominal wall hernia through catheter insertion site of CAPD has yet been reported Recently the authors experienced a case of intestinal obstruction due to an incarcerated hernia at the catheter insertion site of CAPD. We report this case and present a literature review.
Abdominal Wall ; Catheters* ; Hernia* ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction* ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory*

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare chronic cutaneous disease with distinctive clinical characteristics. A painful nodule or pustule breaks down to form a progressively enlarging ulcer. The diagnosis is confirmed by exclusion of other diseases that may cause cutaneous ulcers. Associated conditions are common. The most common associated conditions are inflammatory bowel diseases, arthritis, hematologic disorders. Pyoderma gangrenosum develops in approximately 3~5% of patients with ulcerative colitis and 1% of patients with Crohn's disease. Until now, only one case of pyoderma gangrenosum associated with Crohn's disease has been reported in Korea. Recently, we experienced a case of pyoderma gangrenosum developed in a patient with Crohn's disease.
Arthritis ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; Crohn Disease* ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Korea ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum* ; Pyoderma* ; Ulcer

An epigastric hernia is a protrusion of the extra-peritoneal fat to the linea alba, between the xiphoid process and the umbilicus. About 3~5% of people develop epigastric hernias. The authors have experienced a case of a 79 year-old woman who had an asymptomatic epigastric hernia, where an abdomen CT is helpful in its diagnosis. The size of the defect was large, and a hernia sac existed. The case of an epigastric hernia, which was treated by a primary repair, is reported, with a brief review of the literature.
Abdomen ; Aged ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hernia* ; Humans ; Umbilicus

Pseudo-obstruction is a clinical syndrome caused by ineffective intestinal propulsion and characterized by symptoms and signs of intestinal obstruction in the absence of an occluding lesion of the intestinal lumen. A 65-year-old male who complained of abdominal pain and obspitation. (not constipation?) was admitted. Simple abdominal radiographs revealed marked colonic dilatation without mechanical obstruction suggesting pseudo-obstruction. Clinical response with conservative care failed to improve the patient. 2.0 mg of neostigmine which was recently reported to be an effective way to decompress the colon in patients with acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, was administered. Immediate clinical response was achieved without complication.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Colon ; Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Male ; Neostigmine*

Pseudo-obstruction is a clinical syndrome caused by ineffective intestinal propulsion and characterized by symptoms and signs of intestinal obstruction in the absence of an occluding lesion of the intestinal lumen. A 65-year-old male who complained of abdominal pain and obspitation. (not constipation?) was admitted. Simple abdominal radiographs revealed marked colonic dilatation without mechanical obstruction suggesting pseudo-obstruction. Clinical response with conservative care failed to improve the patient. 2.0 mg of neostigmine which was recently reported to be an effective way to decompress the colon in patients with acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, was administered. Immediate clinical response was achieved without complication.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Colon ; Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Male ; Neostigmine*