No abstract available.
Thyroid Gland*

No abstract available.
Adenoma/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Brunner Glands/pathology ; Duodenal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Anastomoses between a coronary artery and bronchial or mediastinal arteries have been described since the 19th century. Although coronary-to-bronchial artery communication has been well described, it remains an unusual finding. We report one adult case of abnormally enlarged two coronary-to-bronchial artery communications in a severe cystic bronchiectasis patient. In this case, the bronchial arteries were also supplied from the multiple systemic arteries (the internal mammary, subclavian, inferior phrenic and intercostal arteries) because of severe cystic bronchiectasis. We treated the patient by embolization of the bronchial artery with the abnormal anastomoses and then by surgical resection of the cystic bronchiectatic lung lesion. To date, the patient remains free of symptoms.
Adult ; Arteries* ; Bronchial Arteries ; Bronchiectasis* ; Coronary Vessels ; Humans ; Lung

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder in which multiple hamartomatous polyps are present in the gastrointestinal tract in association with distinctive mucocutaneous pigmentation. A single hamartomatous polyp arising in a patient without pigmentation or familial history of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is termed a solitary Peutz-Jeghers polyp; such a case is rare and would result in a case report being presented even in other countries. We experienced two cases of a solitary Peutz-Jeghers polyp that developed in the rectum, and report the cases with a review of the literature.
Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome ; Pigmentation ; Polyps ; Rectum

A mucinous carcinoma of the breast is an uncommon carcinoma containing mucin that is associated with a mucocele-like tumor or other malignant tumors. We report the MR imagingfindings of two cases, a mucinous carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), associated with mucocele-like tumor. The mucinous carcinoma showed a gradually enhancing kinetic pattern on the dynamic MR and high signal intensity on the T2-weighted images. The MR findings were indistinguishable from a common benign mass of the breast.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous* ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal* ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Mucins*

A mucinous carcinoma of the breast is an uncommon carcinoma containing mucin that is associated with a mucocele-like tumor or other malignant tumors. We report the MR imagingfindings of two cases, a mucinous carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), associated with mucocele-like tumor. The mucinous carcinoma showed a gradually enhancing kinetic pattern on the dynamic MR and high signal intensity on the T2-weighted images. The MR findings were indistinguishable from a common benign mass of the breast.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous* ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal* ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Mucins*

A low iodine diet (LID) for 1~2 weeks is recommended for patients who undergoing radioiodine remnant ablation. However, the LID educations for patients are different among centers because there is no concrete recommendation for protocol of LID. In this investigation, we compared two representative types of LID protocols performed in several centers in Korea using urine iodine to creatinine ratio (urine I/Cr). METHODS: From 2006, April to June, patients referred to our center for radioiodine remnant ablation of thyroid cancer from several local hospitals which had different LID protocols were included. We divided into two groups, stringent LID for 1week and less stringent LID for 2 weeks, then measured their urine I/Cr ratio with spot urine when patients were admitted to the hospital. RESULTS: Total 27 patients were included in this investigation (M:F=1:26; 13 in one-week stringent LID; 14 in two-week less stringent LID). Average of urine I/Cr ratio was 127.87+/-78.52 microgram/g in stringent LID for 1 week, and 289.75+/-188.24 microgram/g in less stringent LID for 2 weeks. It was significantly lower in stringent LID for 1 week group (p=0.008). The number of patients whose urine I/Cr ratios were below 100 microgram/g was 6 of 13 in stringent LID for 1 week group, and 3 of 14 in less stringent LID for 2 weeks group. CONCLUSION: Stringent LID for 1 week resulted in better urinary I/Cr ratio in our investigation compared with the other protocol. However it still resulted in plenty of inadequate range of I/Cr ratio, so more stringent protocol such as stringent LID for 2 weeks is expected more desirable.
Creatinine ; Diet* ; Humans ; Iodine* ; Korea ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Posterior hypopharyngeal wall cancer is rarely encountered. There are diverse surgical approa-ches for this lesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have reviewed our 5-year experience with 12 patients treated for squamous carcinoma of the posterior hypopharyngeal wall. Surgery was the definitive therapy for the primary tumor in all patients. All but one were previously untreated. Seven patients had limited resections that preserved the larynx, involving suprahyoid pharyngotomy (1 patient), transoral and suprahyoid pharyngotomy (1 patient), lateral pharyngotomy (1 patient), suprahyoid and lateral pharyngotomy (2 patients), mandibular swing and lateral pharyngotomy (2 patients). The second group consisted of 5 patients with more extensive tumors who required a laryngectomy and complex reconstruction. All in this group required flap reconstruction. RESULTS: Eight were NED, one was lost postoperatively and three patients developed local recurrence. CONCLUSION: Our experience highlights the variety of treatment approaches available in patients with pharyngeal carcinoma confined to the posterior wall.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Humans ; Laryngectomy ; Larynx ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: Hyperdynamic circulation due to reduced peripheral vascular resistance and increased cardiac output, and the development of portal hypertension are the hemodynamic changes observed in patients with liver cirrhosis. Such hemodynamic abnormalities appear in patients with late stage liver cirrhosis. Therefore, hemodynamic indices, which represent hyperdynamic circulation and portal hypertension, are significant for the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to determine the hemodynamic indices associated with the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS: A total of 103 patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis between December 1999 and June 2003, with a mean follow-up period of 73 weeks, ranging from 7 to 168 weeks, were recruited. Using Child-Pugh classification, the mean arterial pressure, heart rate and hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) were measured. The indices of Doppler ultrasonography, including the portal and splenic venous flows, and the resistance of the hepatic, splenic, and renal arteries were also measured using the arterial pulsatility index (PI). The prognostic values of these indices were determined by their comparison with the patient survivals. RESULTS: Significant hemodynamic indices for a bad prognosis were high HVPG (> or=15 mmHg) and renal arterial PI (> or=1.14) (p< 0.05). A Child-Pugh score > or=10 was important for a poor prognosis (p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Severe portal hypertension (HVPG> or=15 mmHg) and high renal arterial resistance (PI> or=1.14) were valuable hemodynamic indices for the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis. Therefore, it was concluded that the measurement of these hemodynamic indices, in addition to the Child-Pugh classification, is helpful in the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis.
Female ; *Hemodynamic Processes ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Liver Cirrhosis/*mortality/*physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND: Obstructive airway disease patients with increased variability of airflow and incompletely reversible airflow obstruction are often categorized as having asthma–chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome (ACOS). ACOS is heterogeneous with two sub-phenotypes: asthma-ACOS and COPD-ACOS. The objective of this study was to determine the difference in risk of exacerbation between the two sub-phenotypes of ACOS. METHODS: A total of 223 patients exhibiting incompletely reversible airflow obstruction with increased variability (spirometrically defined ACOS) were enrolled. These patients were divided into asthma-ACOS and COPD-ACOS according to their physician's diagnosis and smoking history of 10 pack-years. Within-group comparisons were made for asthma-ACOS versus COPD-ACOS and light smokers versus heavy smokers. RESULTS: Compared to patients with COPD-ACOS, patients with asthma-ACOS experienced exacerbation more often despite their younger age, history of light smoking, and better lung function. While the light-smoking group showed better lung function, they made unscheduled outpatient clinic visits more frequently. On multivariate analysis, asthma-ACOS and poor inhaler compliance were significantly associated with more than two unscheduled clinic visits during the previous year. CONCLUSION: Spirometrically defined ACOS includes heterogeneous subgroups with different clinical features. Phenotyping of ACOS by physician's diagnosis could be significant in predicting future risk of exacerbation.
Ambulatory Care ; Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Asthma* ; Compliance ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Obstructive* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers ; Phenotype ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Smoke ; Smoking