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

PURPOSE: Transthoracic fine needle aspiration biopsy is a widely practiced technique in the investigation of the lung and mediastinal masses because of its safety, reliability and accuracy. We report the diagnostic accuracy of the transthoracic fine needle aspiration biopsy and the frequency of its complications which required treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 1000 transthoracic needle aspiration biopsies whcih were performed in 986 patients with 993 chest lesions. Aspiration biopsies were obtained with Westcott needles (20G or 22G) under the fluoroscopic guidance. Final diagnosis was made with operation, bronchoscopy, sputum study, biopsy of other sites and the clinical course of the patient. We analyzed diagnostic yields of aspiration biopsy and the frequency of the complication requiring treatment. RESULTS: The sensitivity was 87.6% in benign diseases and 95.8% in malignant diseases. Pneumothorax was the most frequent complication, which required pig-tail catheter insertion in 36 cases or thoracostomy in six cases. In 36 cases, minimal hemoptysis developed which did not require treatments. CONCLUSION: We obtained relatively high sensitivities of malignant and benign lesions using transthoracic fine needle aspiration biopsy and the frequency of the complications requiring treatment was very low. Transthoracic fine needle aspiration biopsy is a valuable diagnostic method in the thoracic lesions.
Biopsy* ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Biopsy, Needle ; Bronchoscopy ; Catheters ; Diagnosis ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lung ; Needles ; Pneumothorax ; Sputum ; Thoracostomy ; Thorax

Although various procedures for reconstructing the lower eyelid have been reported, their basic principle is always to build a new eyelid that is composed of three elements: an outer cutaneous layer, an inner mucosal layer, and a semirigid supporting tissue between the two layers. Mustarde cheek rotation flap over a chondromucosal graft has been used often to reconstruct the full thickness defect of the lower eyelid. However, Mustarde cheek flap leaves a large unacceptable scar on the face. Therefore we have repaired three cases of lower eyelid defect after resection of the basal cell carcinoma using monopedicled or bipedicled upper eyelid musculocutaneous flap over a septal chondromucosal composite graft. In addition, in case of wide defect including overall tarsal plate, the authors increased indication of mucochondral composite graft by halving method of mucochondral composite tissue. As a result, we made a minimal donor site scar and get the effect of upper blepharoplasty as well by using upper eyelid musculocutaneous flap. Based on follow-ups of 10 to 19 months, the functional and aesthetic results were found to be good in all cases. This procedure may be applicable for total or subtotal reconstruction of the lower eyelid.
Blepharoplasty ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Cheek ; Cicatrix ; Eyelids* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mustard Plant ; Myocutaneous Flap* ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants*

Sciatic nerve injury after stretching exercise is uncommon. We report a case of an 18-year-old female trained dancer who developed sciatic neuropathy primarily involving the tibial division after routine stretching exercise. The patient presented with dysesthesia and weakness of the right foot during dorsiflexion and plantarflexion. The mechanism of sciatic nerve injury could be thought as hyperstretching alone, not caused by both hyperstretching and compression. Electrodiagnostic tests and magnetic resonance imaging revealed evidence of the right sciatic neuropathy from the gluteal fold to the distal tibial area, and partial tear of the left hamstring origin and fluid collection between the left hamstring and ischium without left sciatic nerve injury. Recovery of motor weakness was obtained by continuous rehabilitation therapy and some evidence of axonal regeneration was obtained by follow-up electrodiagnostic testing performed at 3, 5, and 12 months after injury.
Adolescent ; Axons ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Humans ; Ischium ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscle Stretching Exercises ; Paresthesia ; Regeneration ; Rehabilitation ; Sciatic Nerve* ; Sciatic Neuropathy

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