We herein report three cases of pararneatal urethral cyst, which developed on the male urethral meatus. These cysts occurred since birth or childhood, and did not interfere with urinary of sexual function. Histologically, these cysts were lined by pseudostratified columnar epithelium with variable thickness. No recurrence was evident after simple excision.
Epithelium ; Humans ; Male ; Parturition ; Recurrence

Heterotopic salivary gland tissue (HSGT) consists of salivary tissue in places where it does not normally exist. Usually, HSGT presents as a draining sinus or nodule of the neck. The pathogenesis of HSGT of the neck remains uncertain. But HSGT in the neck is most widely thought to arise from defective closures and ectodermal hetroplasia of the precervical sinus of His. HSGT in the neck is rare and only a few cases have been reported in Korea. We recently experienced a case of HSGT in the neck presenting as a fistula of the anterior lower neck. We thought this as a 2nd brachial cleft anomaly; however, biopsy revealed HSGT. HSGT in the neck should be considered as one of the causes of a neck mass or fistula in children. Herein, we report this case of HSGT with a literature review.

Operating-room airway fires are serious and potentially fatal complications. To prevent airway fire in CO2 laser surgery of the larynx, many techniques and devices have been developed. Using laser safe tube is one of the common methods of preventing airway fire, but it is very expansive and hard to treat. In this study, we used a fire-resistant tape to protect the endotracheal tube and had very successful results in experiments with CO2 laser. In this article, we introduce the technique of using a fire-resistant tape to protect endotracheal tube.

IgG4-related sclerosing disease was first discovered when researching autoimmune pancreatitis. It is an autoimmune disease that causes fibrosis on the pancreas, bile duct, gall bladder, salivary glands, and lungs. It is rarely reported in the nasal cavity. The diagnosis of IgG4-related sclerosing disease is based on biopsy findings demonstrating the characteristic histopathologic findings and immunohistochemical staining. IgG4-related sclerosing disease shows good response to high-dose steroid therapy. However, some patients do not respond to this treatment. Azathioprine or rituximab can be helpful in such case. We report our experience with IgG4-related sclerosing disease treated with azathioprine for 2 years, along with a related literature review.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Azathioprine ; Bile Ducts ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins* ; Lung ; Nasal Cavity* ; Pancreas ; Pancreatitis ; Plasma Cells ; Rituximab ; Salivary Glands ; Urinary Bladder

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) most commonly affects the pleura and these tumors have been recently reported to be found in unusual locations. We describe here a solitary fibrous tumor of the urinary bladder that was removed from a 79-year-old man having a history of gross hematuria and dysuria. Transabdominal ultrasonography showed a huge soft tissue mass in the urinary bladder. The cut surface of the tumor showed a grayish-white, hemorrhagic and gelatinous appearance. Necrosis was not found. Microscopically, the tumor showed a proliferation of spindle or ovoid cells that were intervened by a collagenous stroma. A variety of growth patterns was identified but the so-called patternless pattern was the predominant one. The spindle cells had almost no mitotic figures, and there was very little or no nuclear atypia. Immunohistochemical stains showed a strong reactivity for CD34 and a focal reactivity for bcl-2. The ultrastructure of the tumor cells showed mesenchymal-myofibroblastic traits.
Aged ; Collagen ; Coloring Agents ; Dysuria ; Gelatin ; Hematuria ; Humans ; Necrosis ; Pleura ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors* ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder*

A twenty six months-old boy developed hemophagocytic syndrome during the course of Kawasaki disease. Despite the appropriate treatment modalities for Kawasaki disease, he developed thrombocytopenia, hepatomegaly, high-grade fever, hypertriglyceridemia, peripheral gangrene, and evidence of hemophagocytosis in bone marrow biopsy. Although the course was stormy, he responded well to a combination therapy of corticosteroid and etoposide.
Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Etoposide ; Fever ; Gangrene* ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic* ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Thrombocytopenia

Background: Isotretinoin is a gold standard treatment for moderate to severe acne vulgaris but is associated with cheilitis. Though moisturizing agents or petrolatum have been suggested, uncomfortable isotretinoin-induced cheilitis can disrupt treatment of acne patients. Topical tacrolimus has been used in atopic dermatitis with good safety and efficacy; however, there is no study of application of topical tacrolimus in cheilitis induced by isotretinoin. Objective: In this study, we aimed to describe the efficacy of topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment on cheilitis associated with isotretinoin therapy using isotretinoin cheilitis grading scale (ICGS), investigator global assessment (IGA), and patient global assessment (PGA). We also observed the side effects of topical tacrolimus ointment. Methods: Fifty acne vulgaris patients with isotretinoin-induced cheilitis were randomly allocated to either topical tacrolimus or petrolatum treatment using permuted-block randomization. Patients were followed-up at 4 and 8 weeks, at which cheilitis lesions were photographed and evaluated with ICGS, IGA, and PGA. Results: Compared to petrolatum group, tacrolimus group had greater responses to treatment as measured by mean values of ICGS, IGA, PGA at follow-up visits. Also, the ICGS decrease was larger in the tacrolimus group compared with the petrolatum group even according to isotretinoin dose. Conclusion Topical tacrolimus ointment had superior efficacy in treating cheilitis induced by isotretinoin compared to petrolatum. Erythema, fissures, scales, and commissures all showed better response to tacrolimus ointment. Topical tacrolimus ointment can be administered as an effective strategy in treatment of cheilitis as a complication of isotretinoin therapy and can improve compliance of acne patients.

Objective: To identify the association between morphological and functional characteristics of the bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and bicuspid aortopathy and to identify the determinants of aortic dilatation using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiac computed tomography (CCT). Materials and Methods: This study included 312 subjects (mean [SD] age, 52.7 [14.3] years; 227 males [72.8%]) who underwent TTE and CCT. The BAVs were classified by anterior-posterior (BAV-AP) or right-left (BAV-RL) orientation of the cusps and divided according to the presence (raphe+) or absence of a raphe (raphe-) based on the CCT and intraoperative findings. The dimensions of the sinus of Valsalva and the proximal ascending aorta were measured by CCT. We assessed the determinants of aortic root and proximal ascending aortic dilatation (size index > 2.1 cm/m2) by Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: Of the 312 patients, BAV-AP was present in 188 patients (60.3%), and 185 patients (59.3%) were raphe+. Moderateto-severe aortic stenosis (AS) was the most common hemodynamic abnormality (54.8%). The most common type of aortopathy was the combined dilated root and mid-ascending aortic phenotype (62.5%). On multivariable analysis, age and AS severity were significantly associated with aortic root dilatation (p < 0.05), and age, sex, and AS severity were significantly associated with ascending aortic dilatation (p < 0.05). However, the orientation of the cusps, presence of a raphe, and severity of aortic regurgitation were not associated with aortic root and ascending aortic dilatation. Conclusion BAV morphological characteristics were not determinants of aortic dilatation. Age, sex, and AS severity were predictors of bicuspid aortopathy. Therefore, age, sex, and AS severity, rather than valve morphology, need to be considered when planning treatment for BAV patients.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil nuclei in rodents may mature by ring formation. These cells are called ring neutrophils or doughnut cells. In man, small numbers of these mysterious cells may occur in myeloproliferative disease or in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). However, the incidence of ring neutrophils in the general population is unknown and their significance in disease states therefore remains obscure. METHODS: We have evaluated peripheral blood and bone marrow smears of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), MDS, megaloblastic anemia, and these findings were compared with those of healthy controls. Only granulocytes with an unequivocal nuclear hole, not caused by superposition of nuclear lobes, were counted. To be counted, the hole should contain material with the same texture as the cytoplasm. Cells with hyposegmented nuclei were counted as well. Only distinct spectacle-like or peanut-shaped nuclei as well as the occasional single rounded nuclei were taken into account. RESULTS: 1) The number of patients enrolled was 58 (32 males and 26 females). The age ranged from 16 to 77 (mean 46) years. Twenty-eight cases of CML, 23 of MDS, 7 of megaloblastic anemia and 20 of healthy controls were included in this study. 2) In peripheral blood smears, the occurrence and numbers of ring neutrophils and hyposegmented cells were not significantly different between underlying diseases (P>0.05). In CML, as opposed to the control group, significantly more patients showed hyposegmented cells (P<0.05). 3) In bone marrow smears, the occurrence and number of ring neutrophils and hyposegmented cells were higher than in peripheral blood smear with no differences between underlying diseases (P>0.05). As compared with control group, there were no differences in the occurrence and numbers of ring neutrophils and hyposegmented cells (P>0.05). 4) Nuclear ring formation appeared to be significantly related to granulocytic hyposegmentation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ring neutrophils and hyposegmented cells can be nonspecifically found in patients with various hematologic diseases and healthy controls. To optimize the definite clinical significance of these cells, further studies will be needed.
Anemia, Megaloblastic ; Bone Marrow ; Cytoplasm ; Granulocytes ; Hematologic Diseases* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Male ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Neutrophils* ; Rodentia

Background: Isotretinoin is a gold standard treatment for moderate to severe acne vulgaris but is associated with cheilitis. Though moisturizing agents or petrolatum have been suggested, uncomfortable isotretinoin-induced cheilitis can disrupt treatment of acne patients. Topical tacrolimus has been used in atopic dermatitis with good safety and efficacy; however, there is no study of application of topical tacrolimus in cheilitis induced by isotretinoin. Objective: In this study, we aimed to describe the efficacy of topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment on cheilitis associated with isotretinoin therapy using isotretinoin cheilitis grading scale (ICGS), investigator global assessment (IGA), and patient global assessment (PGA). We also observed the side effects of topical tacrolimus ointment. Methods: Fifty acne vulgaris patients with isotretinoin-induced cheilitis were randomly allocated to either topical tacrolimus or petrolatum treatment using permuted-block randomization. Patients were followed-up at 4 and 8 weeks, at which cheilitis lesions were photographed and evaluated with ICGS, IGA, and PGA. Results: Compared to petrolatum group, tacrolimus group had greater responses to treatment as measured by mean values of ICGS, IGA, PGA at follow-up visits. Also, the ICGS decrease was larger in the tacrolimus group compared with the petrolatum group even according to isotretinoin dose. Conclusion Topical tacrolimus ointment had superior efficacy in treating cheilitis induced by isotretinoin compared to petrolatum. Erythema, fissures, scales, and commissures all showed better response to tacrolimus ointment. Topical tacrolimus ointment can be administered as an effective strategy in treatment of cheilitis as a complication of isotretinoin therapy and can improve compliance of acne patients.