PURPOSE: To correlate histologic subtypes with MR signal intensity in meniagioma and to find etiologic factors responsible for the signal characteristics of T2WI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We. reviewed MRIs and histopathologic studies in 35 cases of meningioma. MR signal intenisty was measured with respect to cerebral cortex(gray matter) as hypointense, isointense, or hyperintense. Pathologically, meningioma was classified into subtypes, acording to the new WHO classification of brain tumors. The degree of cellularity, collagen, and vascularity was graded from 1 to 3, and presence or absence of psammoma bodies, microcysts, micronecrosis and microhemorrhage was obeserved. Multiple linear regression analysis was done to find relationship between the pathologic findings and MR signal intensity of T2WI. RESULTS: Even in the same subtype, cellularity, collagen and vascularty of the tumor were different. T1WI was not useful in discriminating pathologic subtype because most tumors were isointense or hypointense to the cortex regardless of histologic type. Most tumors showed various signal intensity on T2WI, but T2WI were not useful, either. Exceptionally, all five cases of microcystic meningiomas were hyperintense on T2W1. In analysing the relationship between MR signal intensity and pathologic factor, increased collagen content produced decreased signal intensity(P<0.01) and the existence of microcyst resulted in high signal intensity(P<0.01). Cellularity, vascularity, microcalcification, micronecrosis and microhemorrhage had no relationship with signal intensity on T2WI. CONCLUSION: Except for the five microcystic meningiomas with hyperintenty on T2WI there was no relationship between MR signal intensity and subtype of meningiomas. Pathologic factors influencing T2 signal intensity were microcyst and collagen. Even in the same subtypes of meningiomas, the T2 signal intensity was different. This may be due to different ratio of microcyst and collagen.
Brain Neoplasms ; Classification ; Collagen ; Linear Models ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Meningioma*

Humans ; Mandible ; Mandibular Condyle ; Mouth ; Prognosis ; Temporomandibular Joint

Unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery is an uncommon anomaly, which presents as an isolated lesion or in combination with other congenital heart disease such as TOF or PD^. We encountered three cases of isolated unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery;one was left pulmonary artery agenesis with right sided aortic arch and the others were right pulmonary artery agenesis with left sided aortic arch. Plain chest radiograph showed considerable loss of unilateal lung volume and lack of ipsilateral hilar shadow. Pulmonary angiogram which was done in two cases, revealed proximal interruption of a pulmonary artery. Chest CT was done in only one case, on which right pulmonary artery was absent and was replaced by adipose tissue. CT with its clean demonstration pulmonary artery without any evidence of aquired obstruction of a pulmonary artery by pulmonary embolism or tumor invasion, maybe a valuable method for evaluaton of the unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery.
Adipose Tissue ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Lung ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Dilatation* ; Esophageal Perforation*

Female ; Fractures, Bone ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Orthopedics ; Retrospective Studies ; Zygomatic Fractures

Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation ; Humans ; Malocclusion ; Mandible ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There has been a need for functional status measurement tool with better validity than the existing tools such as New York Heart Association Functional Class. Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) is a representative example of a tool that was developed to enhance the validity of measurement by asking the patients about the ability to perform specific activities and scoring the response. Because such a tool must be culture-sensitive, it is desirable to use 'Koreanized' version of the tool. No Koreanized version of the functional status measurement tool has been developed yet. The objective of this study is to develop a Korean version of DASI. MATERIALS AND METHOD: In the developmental phase, a pilot questionnaire asking the ability to perform specific activity was made with reference to existing tools, such as Specific Activity Scale and DASI. Substitution, correction and addition of items were done through the pilot study. Ninety-nine patients was asked to fill developmental version of questionnaire, then underwent treadmill exercise test. Weight for each items were assigned to optimize the correlation between the calculated index (KASI) and total treadmill exercise time. Criteria for categorical functional classification were determined to maximize the agreement between KASI-estimated functional class (KASIFC) and functional class estimated by exercise time. In the validation phase, final version of questionnaire was tested in independent group of 159 patients. The questionnaire was self-administered. Canadian Cardiovascular Society Functional Class (CCSFC) was estimated by the physician who is in charge of treadmill exercise test. RESULTS: In the validation phase, Spearman correlation coefficient between KASI and treadmill exercise time was 0.62(p=.0001) and between CCSFC and exercise time -0.48(p=.0001). KASIFC agreed with functional class estimated by exercise time in 77% of cases, disagreed by 1 class in 20% and by 2 classes in 1%. KASIFC agreed with functional class estimated by exercise time in 77% of cases, disagreed by 1 class in 20% and by 2 classes in 1%. These two methods did not differ significantly in categorical classification. CONCLUSION: KASI is more accurate or at least as accurate as the existing tool in estimation of functional status. The characteristics such as self-administration, availability of outcome as a continuous variable are expected to make it a convenient, efficacious and useful tool in various clinical researches.
Classification ; Exercise Test ; Heart ; Humans ; Pilot Projects ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There has been a need for functional status measurement tool with better validity than the existing tools such as New York Heart Association Functional Class. Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) is a representative example of a tool that was developed to enhance the validity of measurement by asking the patients about the ability to perform specific activities and scoring the response. Because such a tool must be culture-sensitive, it is desirable to use 'Koreanized' version of the tool. No Koreanized version of the functional status measurement tool has been developed yet. The objective of this study is to develop a Korean version of DASI. MATERIALS AND METHOD: In the developmental phase, a pilot questionnaire asking the ability to perform specific activity was made with reference to existing tools, such as Specific Activity Scale and DASI. Substitution, correction and addition of items were done through the pilot study. Ninety-nine patients was asked to fill developmental version of questionnaire, then underwent treadmill exercise test. Weight for each items were assigned to optimize the correlation between the calculated index (KASI) and total treadmill exercise time. Criteria for categorical functional classification were determined to maximize the agreement between KASI-estimated functional class (KASIFC) and functional class estimated by exercise time. In the validation phase, final version of questionnaire was tested in independent group of 159 patients. The questionnaire was self-administered. Canadian Cardiovascular Society Functional Class (CCSFC) was estimated by the physician who is in charge of treadmill exercise test. RESULTS: In the validation phase, Spearman correlation coefficient between KASI and treadmill exercise time was 0.62(p=.0001) and between CCSFC and exercise time -0.48(p=.0001). KASIFC agreed with functional class estimated by exercise time in 77% of cases, disagreed by 1 class in 20% and by 2 classes in 1%. KASIFC agreed with functional class estimated by exercise time in 77% of cases, disagreed by 1 class in 20% and by 2 classes in 1%. These two methods did not differ significantly in categorical classification. CONCLUSION: KASI is more accurate or at least as accurate as the existing tool in estimation of functional status. The characteristics such as self-administration, availability of outcome as a continuous variable are expected to make it a convenient, efficacious and useful tool in various clinical researches.
Classification ; Exercise Test ; Heart ; Humans ; Pilot Projects ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans(DFSP) is an uncommon soft-tissue neoplasm that usually presents as a painless, often long-standing mass arising in the dermis of skin. It has a frequent tendency to recur after standard surgical excision. Clinically, the initial appearance of the tumor is similar to that of benign tumor such as keloid and dermatofibroma. Therefore making an accurate clinical diagnosis and ensuring adequate surgical excision of this uncommon skin tumor are important. The authors experienced 5 patients of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans during the recent 2 years, 3 male and 2 female patients. The age of the patients ranged from 21 to 43. Lesions were various in size and shape, and location varies: lower abdomen, right suprabrow region, right anterior superior iliec spine region, right clavicular region, and upper back. Wide excision of tumor with frozen section biopsy or Mohs' microscopic surgery was performed and reconstruction of surgical defect was made according to the size, shape and location. As reconstructive methods, the authors used median forehead flap, split thickness skin graft, or direct closure. The patients were followed up after operation from 4 to 14 months and all remained free of disease. The authors present the experience of 5 cases of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans occurred in various sites during the short period of time . They obtained satisfactory results with appropriate diagnosis and treatment, which emphasize the importance of accurate diagnosis in early stage. They also present an operative plan of this locally aggressive and highly recurrent tumor.
Abdomen ; Biopsy ; Dermatofibrosarcoma* ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Forehead ; Frozen Sections ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous ; Humans ; Keloid ; Male ; Skin ; Spine ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To evaluate the radiologic findings of acute intramural hematoma of the aorta, and the clinical follow up thereof. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 34 cases confirmed clinically and radiologically as aortic dissection, an analysis was carried out based on 15 cases in which intramural hematoma without false lumen was demonstrated, on initial CT, 12 cases of in which follow up CT was used and five cases involving an aortogram. Elements such as the shape of the thickened aortic wall, ulcer-like intimal defects, and intimal calcification were examined. Changes in these elements were also examined on follow up CT. RESULTS: DeBackey types I and III accounted for one and 14 cases. respectively. Initial precontrast CT demonstrated continuous, crescentic high attenuation areas along the wall of the descending aorta. In postcontrast scans, the crescentic areas were of relatively lower-attenuation and appeared along the aorta wall. Displaced intimal calcifications were seen in nine of fifteen patients. There was no intimal flap on all five aortogram, while aortic wall thickening and atherosclerotic change were demonstrated in four cases and in one case, case, respectively. Focal ulcers were seen in three cases. Ulcer-like intimal defects were demonstrated in a total of eleven cases (eight on CT, two on aortogram, and one on both). In ten of the twelve cases seen on follow up CT, the thickness of the intramural hematoma was seen to be reduced. Among the 15 cases, the operation was performed in two cases, and the remaining 13 received conservative treatment. In ten cases observed for more than twelve months, a recurrence of symptoms did not occur. CONCLUSION: Eccentric aortic wall thickening in patients who complain of acute chest pain is the result of acute aortic dissection with intramural hematoma, or a penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer of the aorta.The latter may be differentiated from the former by the presence of on ulcer-like intimal defect. When both diseases are limited to the descending aorta, conservative treatment may be effective, unless patients experience persistent or recurrent chest pain, or unless intramural hematoma progresses further.
Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Chest Pain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Ulcer