OBJECTIVE: To know the clinical and histopathologic profiles of ovarian tumors. METHODS: 822 women undergone operations for their ovarian tumors were enrolled in this study from July of 1996 to June of 2004 at Inha University Hospital in S. Korea. Incidence, age, laterality and size were analyzed according to their histopathologic results. RESULTS: Among 822 women, there were 2.1% of non-neoplastic ovarian cysts, 81.0% of benign tumors, 4.4% of borderline tumors, and 12.5% of malignant tumors. Among benign tumors, 48.2 were cystic teratomas, 22.5% were mucinous, and 19.4% were serous tumors. Among borderline tumors, 52.8% were mucinous and 42.2% were serous. Among malignant tumors, 25.2% were serous and metastatic, respectively, and 18.4% were mucinous. The average and median age of non-neoplastic cysts were 39.1 +/- 12.7, 41 years old, those of benign tumors were 38.2 +/- 18.4, those of borderline tumors were 33.4 +/- 16.7, 28, and those of malignant tumors were 47.8 +/- 15.4, 49. The bilaterality of benign tumors was 10.7%, that of borderline were 16.7%, and that of malignant were 24.2%. The average and median diameter of non-neoplastic cysts were 3.2 +/- 1.4 cm, 3 cm, those of benign tumors were 8.1 +/- 4.3 cm, 7 cm, those of borderline tumors were 13.5 +/- 7.8 cm, 12 cm, and those of malignant tumors were 10.2 +/- 6.1 cm, 9.3 cm. CONCLUSION: We analyzed clinical and histopathologic data of 822 ovarian tumors.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mucins ; Ovarian Cysts ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Teratoma

To determine the distinction of primary ovarian carcinoma from metastatic ovariancarcinoma, the author studied total 40 cases of malignant tumors(13 primary ovarian carcinomas:7 serous, 4 mucinous, and 2 endometrioid, 7 metastatic ovarian adenocarcinomas,10 gastric adenocarcinomas and 10 colonic adenocarcinomas) using primary antibody to CEA,CK7, CK20 and CK18. The results were summerised as follows: The expression of CK7was demonstrated in all(7) serous and 3 out of 4 mucinous adenocarcinoma, and 1 out of10 each gastric and colonic adenocarcinoma. The CK20 positivity was seen in 4 out of 10cases of colonic adenocarcinoma and 3 out of 7 cases of metastatic adenocarcinoma. Allprimary ovarian carcinoma and gastric adenocarcinoma were negative for CK20 except forfocal positivity in only 1 ovarian mucinous adenocarcinoma. All types of serous andendometrioid adenocarcinoma were negative for CEA. But, the vast majority of mucinousadenocarcinoma, metastatic adenocarcinoma, gastric and colonic adenocarcinoma were positivefor CEA. The CK18 may not be helpful to differentiate the primay or metastatic carcinomabecause all cases examined were positive for CK18 except for 1 ovarian mucinous carcinoma.Immunostainning for CK7 may be helpful on differential diagnosis of primary andmetastatic ovarian carcinoma, especially mucinous adenocarcinoma and metastatic gastric andcolonic adenocarcinoma. The CK20 may be a useful marker for differential diagosis inprimary and metastatic ovarian carcinomas. The CEA may be of value on differential diagnosisof mucinous and nonmucinous(serous and endomerioid) ovarian carcinomas, and metastaticcolonic adenocarcinoma and endometrioid carcinoma.In conclusion, immunohistochemical study for CEA, CK7, and CK20 may be helpful indifferential diagnosis between primary and metastatic ovarian carcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Colon ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential* ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mucins ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Ovary

Primary ovarian transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is extremely rare tumor and recently it has been recognized as one of histologic subtype of ovarian epithelial carcinoma. We experienced three cases at Inha University Hospital and report our experiences with a brief review of literature.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell*

Patient education is important for successful management of atopic dermatitis; however, due to limited time and resources, patient education remains insufficient. This study aimed to investigate the current state of education provided by Korean dermatologists, pediatric allergists, and allergists to patients with atopic dermatitis. A questionnaire survey consisting of items regarding educational programs for patients with atopic dermatitis was conducted via e-mail. In total, 153 participants responded to the questionnaires, and 26.8% indicated that they have had separate educational programs. The workforce involved in the educational program included nurses, residents or fellows, dieticians, pharmacists, and clinical psychologists. Most education protocols addressed the characteristics and natural course of atopic dermatitis and environmental management. Overall, 96.7% of the participants replied that an additional charge is needed for education; moreover, additional assistance from an academic society or association, in the form of medical staff, organized data, and advertisement, is required to develop and provide a well-structured educational program. A standardized education protocol will effectively provide appropriate education for patients with atopic dermatitis. Arrangement of education fees, covered by the National Health Insurance Service, will lead to the establishment of a structured educational program and participation of an additional medical workforce.
Dermatitis, Atopic ; Education ; Electronic Mail ; Fees and Charges ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Staff ; National Health Programs ; Nutritionists ; Patient Education as Topic ; Pharmacists ; Psychology

Background: Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic pruritic skin disorder with a large number of hyperkeratotic nodules. The precise mechanisms of its pathogenesis remain unknown. PN has been linked to atopic dermatitis (AD), but its association remains unclear. Objective: We aimed to investigate the clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical characteristics of patients with PN and PN underlying AD (PN-AD). Methods: Eight patients were recruited for PN, PN-AD, and eight normal subjects, respectively. Skin tissues were obtained from patients and healthy subjects for histological and immunohistochemical analyses. Results: Histological examination showed increased epidermal thickness and dermal inflammatory cell counts in the PN-AD and PN groups compared to normal subjects. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the expression of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, IL-18, IL-31, IL-33, interferon (IFN)-γ, stromal-derived factor (SDF) 1-α and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) was increased in the tissues of PN-AD and PN groups, in which the staining intensities of IL-4, IL-13, SDF1-α and TSLP in the PN-AD group were higher than those in the PN group, but the differences were not statistically significant. Conversely, the staining intensities of IL-18, IL-33 and IFN-γ were significantly higher in the PN group than those in the PN-AD group. Conclusion The pathogenesis of PN may differ from that of PN-AD, in which IL-18, IL-33 and IFN-γ may be associated, implying that epidermal injury is the initial cause of IL-18 and IL-33 induction, which then increases IFN-γ, resulting in the inflammatory process of PN.