Aspergillosis refers to an infection with any species from the genus Aspergillus. Pleural aspergillosis is an uncommon disease with less than 30 cases having been reported in the literature since 1958. The etiologic factors for this aspergillosis are preexisting pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchopleural fistula, pleural drainage, and a lung resection. Surgical removal of the aspergillus-infected pleura is the main treatment for managing this disease. We have experienced two cases of pleural aspergillosis as a complication of a preexisting chronic empyema. The chest radiographs showed a pyopneumothorax with cavitation and the chest computed tomographic scans revealed a loculated pyopneumothorax with cavity formation suggesting a bronchopleural fistula. A grossly purulent fluid was extracted by thoracentesis, and Aspergillus fumigatus was grown from a fungus culture of the fluid. A decortication, wedge resection with a pleurectomy and a pleuropneumonectomy were performed. The postoperative course was satisfactory and the patients have been in good condition up to now. Pleural aspergillosis is a very rare and potentially life-threatening disease. However, good result without significant complication were obtained by treatment with systemic antifungal agents and surgical removal.
Antifungal Agents ; Aspergillosis* ; Aspergillus ; Aspergillus fumigatus ; Drainage ; Empyema ; Fistula ; Fungi ; Humans ; Lung ; Pleura ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis plays a critical role in human tumor growth and metastasis. Microvessel count, as a measure of tumor angiogenesis, has been significantly correlated with invasive and metastatic patterns in breast, prostate and cutaneous carcinomas. Materials and METHODS: Fifty patients with curatively resected non-small cell lung cancer were evaluated. Tumor tissues embedded in paraffin block were stained by anti CD 31 (PECAM, platelet endothelial cellular adhesion molecule) using immunohistochemical method to assess microvessel count. Microvessels were counted in the most active areas of neovascularization(microscopy, 200×). RESULTS: 1) Mean microvessel count was 47.1 ± 17.7(per 200×field) in total 50 cases. 2) Mean microvessel count of adenocarcinoma (54.4±19.9) was significantly higher than that of squamous cancer(43.9±16.2)(p<0.05), but there were no relationship between microvessel count and TNM stages. 3) Median survival time, 2-year and 5-year survival rates of the low microvascular group(microvessel count<45, 22cases) were 61 months, 80% and 40%, respectively, and those of the high microvascular group(microvessel count ≥ 45, 28 cases) were 46 months, 75% and 12%, respectively. As results, prognosis of low microvascular group is statistically significantly superior to that of the high microvascular group(p=0.0162, Kaplan-Meier, log-rank). CONCLUSION: Angiogenesis assessed by microvessel count can be used as one of the significant prognostic factors in non-small cell lung cancer.
Adenocarcinoma ; Blood Platelets ; Breast ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Humans ; Microvessels ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin ; Prognosis ; Prostate ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is an essential component of tumor growth and metastasis, and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the most important angiogenic factors. Several solid tumors produce substantial amounts of VEGF, which stimulates proliferation and the migration of ednothelial cells, therby inducing neovasculization by a paracrine mechanism. To evaluate the prognostic roles of angiogenesis and VEGF expression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, the relationship between VEGF expression in tumor tissues, the clinicopathologic features and the overall survival rate were analysed. METHODS: Sixty-nine resected primary non-small cell lung cancer specimens were evaluated. The pareffinembedded tumor tissues were stained by anti-VEGF polyclonal antibodies using an immunohistochemical method to assess VEGF expression. RESULTS: In Forty-one patients (59%), the VEGF antigen was expressed weakly in their tumor tissue, whereas in twenty-eight patients (41%) the VEGF antigen was expressed strongly. The median survival time of the weak VEGF expression group was 24 months, and that of the strong VEGF expression group was 19 months. The three year-survival rates were 35%, 33%, respectively. The survival difference between both groups was not statistically significnat. CONCLUSION: Although results were not statistically significant, the strong expression group tended to poorer prognosis than weak expression group.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Antibodies ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

Tuberculosis is a common chronic infectious disease, although the spleen is an uncommon organ to harbor tubercle bacilli. Immunocompromised subjects are primarily prone to miliary tuberculosis and in them the spleen is invaded by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Spleen tuberculosis is manifested commonly as a miliary form. The basic pathology is granulomatous inflammation. The CT finding of splenic tuberculosis are multiple, well-defined, roung or ovoid, low-density masses. Lymphadenopathy in the abdomen and mediastinum and pleural effusion can be found. We report two cases with tuberculosis of the spleen proved by computed tomography and histologic identification. One paitient did not improve following antituberculous medication, so splenectomy was performed. The other patient has been treated with antituberculous medication.
Abdomen ; Communicable Diseases ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mediastinum ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Pathology ; Pleural Effusion ; Spleen* ; Splenectomy ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Miliary ; Tuberculosis, Splenic

No abstract available.
Cytogenetics* ; Gestational Age*

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic disorder of unknown cause that is characterized pathologically by noncaseating granulomas. Diagnosis is based on the exclusion of other infectious, interstitial, and neoplastic diseases and on the typical pathology. Although the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes are almost involved, endobronchial nodular lesions of sarcoidosis with lung involvements are rare. We report a case of sarcoidosis with lung involvements and endobronchial nodules as confirmed by bronchial biopsy.
Biopsy ; Bronchi ; Granuloma ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Sarcoidosis ; Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary

BACKGROUND: Irinotecan (topoisomerase I inhibitor) is effective as a monotherapy against small-cell lung cancer(SCLC). Cisplatin is also an important drug against SCLC. A phase II study of irinotecan combined with cisplatin was carried out to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of this combined regimen as a first line treatment in patients with extensive SCLC. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with previously untreated extensive SCLC were enrolled in this study. Irinotecan 60mg/m(2) was administered intravenously on days 1, 8 and 15, and in combination with cisplatin 60mg/m(2) on day 1 and every 28 days thereafter. Four cycles of chemotherapy were given to the patients. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 77% with a complete response (CR) rate of 8%. The median survival time, 1- and 2-year survival rate were 14.8 months, 60.9% and 27.6%, respectively. The median progression free survival time, 6-and 12-month progression free survival rate were 8.4 months, 75% and 18.8%, respectively. The WHO grade 3 or more toxicity encountered were leukopenia (23%), diarrhea (26%). Two patients changed their chemotherapeutic regimen and one patient died from severe diarrhea. CONCLUSION: The combination of irinotecan and cisplatin is effective as a first line therapy in extensive SCLC is effective , but has severe or fatal diarrhea as toxicity.
Cisplatin* ; Diarrhea ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Survival Rate

A 50-yr-old man presented with intermittent hemoptysis and was diagnosed small cell lung cancer. 18F-FDG PET/CT for staging demonstrated extensive hypermetabolic lesions throughout the skeleton and liver. Interestingly, skeletal muscles of limbs, mediastinum, bowel, and especially brain showed very low FDG uptake. Because of some characteristics in common with super scan on skeletal scintigraphy, this case could be considered as 'metabolic super scan'.
Carcinoma, Small Cell/complications/radionuclide imaging ; Fluorine Radioisotopes/diagnostic use ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18/*diagnostic use ; Hemoptysis/complications/radionuclide imaging ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis/secondary ; Lung Neoplasms/complications/radionuclide imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radiopharmaceuticals/*diagnostic use

BACKGROUND: Now, breast reconstruction is being performed in many cases after mastectomy by using tissue expander or TRAM flap. But conventional mastectomy leaves a long linear scar tissue which is also seen on the breast skin after breast reconstruction. Skin spring mastectomy with immediate reconstruction leaves a minimal scar tissue, even though, with circumareolar incision, it makes no visible scar tissue. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is 1) to identify the clinical indications for Skin-spring mastectomy (SSM) with immediate reconstruction, 2) to evaluate the clinical results and 3) to encourage the application of this method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During recent 20 months, breast cancer surgery were 467 cases, mastectomy were 368 (78.8%, 368/467), mastectomy with breast reconstruction were 30 case (8.2%, 30/368), Among 30 reconstruction cases, Skin-spring mastectomy (SSM) with circumareolar incision and immediate reconstruction were performed in 9 patient. Our patient selection criteria was as follows; 1) patient's desire of reconstruction on cosmetic aspect 2) clinically early breast cancer 3) moderate breast size 4) central locating tumor 5) no Skin involvement. RESULTS: 1) we performed 9 cases of Skin-spring mastectomy (SSM) with circumareolar incision and immediate reconstruction. 2) Three patient who complainted palpable mass were diagnosed by FNA for breast cancer and the other 6 patient were proved by ductal biopsy in 4 cases whose complaint was bloody nipple discharge, a H-wire biopsy in whose mammography revealed multiple microcalcifications and a punch biopsy in whose nipple was eczematous. All cases were suspected for early breast cancer preoperatively. 3) Four cases were stage 0, 3 cases were stage I lesions and 2 cases were stage III in postoperative pathologic staging. 4) All the patients were satisfied with their cosmetic results. CONCLUSIONS: Skin-spring mastectomy (SSM) with immediate reconstruction is new method for breast cancer operation with modified skin incision and shows good aesthetic results. we propose more frequent application of this method for indicated patient, but we need futher follow-up of local recurrence rate and detection rate in these patients.
Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cicatrix ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; Mammography ; Mastectomy* ; Nipples ; Patient Selection ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Tissue Expansion Devices

Acute suppurative thyroiditis is a rare disease because the thyroid gland is remarkably resistant to infection. We present a 2-year-old girl with refractory acute suppurative thyroiditis due to a pyriform sinus fistula (PSF). She complained of fever and painful anterior neck swelling. Her condition did not completely improved by multiple parenteral antibiotics along with incision and drainage. Barium esophagogram to detect PSF demonstrated no specific finding. Computed tomography scan showed air bubble superior to the left thyroid gland which indicated a possible fistula connected to the pyriform sinus. An intraoperative laryngoscopy revealed a 2-mm-sized fistula opening. The fistula was successfully treated by chemocauterization with trichloroacetic acid.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Barium ; Cautery ; Child, Preschool ; Drainage ; Female ; Fever ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Laryngoscopy ; Neck ; Pyriform Sinus* ; Rare Diseases ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroiditis ; Thyroiditis, Suppurative* ; Trichloroacetic Acid