The purpose of this study is to compensate for susceptibility and a ferromagnetic body artifact using CFA and TGV on MR Imaging. A total of 30 patients (15 men and 15 women, mean age: 45 years) were performed on head and neck diseases. MR Unit used a 1.5T superconducting magnet (GE medical system, High Density). This study have investigated by changing with CFA and TGV (70, 90, 110, 130, 150) searching for compensation values about susceptibility and a ferromagnetic body artifact in 60 kg standards of body weight (p<0.05). As a quality results, Image qualities were obtained at different score from CFA and TGV (70, 90, 110, 130, 150=3.23+/-0.35, 4.31+/-0.02 4.23+/-0.21, 5.12+/-0.25, 7.13+/-0.72, 8.31+/-0.01, 5.21+/-0.15, 6.14+/-0.08, 5.23+/-0.72, 5.91+/-0.06, p<0.05). Absolute CNRs (TG, CNRpre, CNRpost) were acquired with (70:-1.44+/-0.11, -2.7+/-0.04, 90:-2.18+/-0.42, -4.41+/-0.43, 110:-2.89+/-0.43, -5.23+/-0.02, 130:-2.34+/-0.05, -5.26+/-0.01, 150: -2.09+/-0.08, -3.87+/-0.12, p<0.05). In conclusions, this study could be compensated for metal and flow artifacts surrounding the tissues having artifact by changing CFA and TGV.
Artifacts ; Body Weight ; Compensation and Redress ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Magnets ; Male ; Neck

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recent data about trans-radial approach showed its usefulness in achieving the high procedural success rate and low local complications even though the size of the radial artery is small compared to that of the femoral artery. Therefore, we want to evaluate the size of the radial artery and the feasibility of the trans-radial coronary angiography as a routine technique. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Trans-radial coronary angiography (TRCA) was successful in 619 cases. The size of the radial artery was measured using 2D-ultrasonography. TRCA was tried with 4 Fr catheters. We divided the cases into two groups; early phase, 106 cases and late phase, 513 cases and compared the procedure time, catheter number used, and complications between 2 groups. RESULTS: The size of the radial artery was 2.7+/-0.4 mm in diameter and this of the men was larger than that of women (p 0.05). TRCA was performed successfully in 513 cases among 521 cases of late phase (98.5%) and crossover to femoral artery occurred in 8 cases (1.5%). The fluoroscopic time and total procedure time of the late phase (6.5+/-4.0 min, 22.9+/-11.3 min) were significantly lower than those of early phase (11.5+/-6.3 min, 31.2+/-13.7 min) (p<0.01). The average number of catheters used for coronary angiography was 1.8+/-1.0. There were 6 cases (1%) of radial artery occlusion and 1 case (0.2%) of radial artery perforation without hand ischemia. CONCLUSION: Based on the adequate size of the radial artery, high success rate and low complications, TRCA might be a safe and become a routine diagnostic technique.
Catheters ; Coronary Angiography* ; Female ; Femoral Artery ; Gangwon-do* ; Hand ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Male ; Radial Artery

The number of patients and long-term survival rates of chronic renal failure have been increasing since the development of renal replacement therapy. Therefore, continuous follow-up observation on an outpatient basis, vascular access for dialysis and the determination of when to start dialysis have clinical significance associated with the prognosis of these patients. Presently, there is little clinical data about chronic renal failure patients such as, clinical features at initial dialysis, the presence or absence of neph-rologist follow-up, and the types and timing of vas-cular access. The goal of this study therefore was to investigate the clinical features at initial dialysis, presence or absence of follow-up, types and timing of vascular access in 80 patients retrospectively. The results are as below ; 1) The mean age of the patients was 47.8+/-14.0 years, and there were 47 male and 33 female patients. 2) Seventeen patients(21.3%) had DM as an underlying disease and 63 patients(78.79%) were non-diabetic patients. 3) At the initial dialysis, the diabetic patients had an average BUN of 79.2 +/- 29.6mg/dl, average Cr of 7.82.0mg/dl and an average Ccr of 10.0+/-7.0ml/min. The non-diabetic patients had the following averages ' BUN 118.7 +/- 37.9mg/dl, Cr 15.36.3mg/dl and Ccr 5.5 +/- 4.3ml/min. 4) The initial meeting with a nephrologist prior to dialysis occured as follows : in the diabetic group, 13 patients(76.596) met their nephrologist 12 months before, 3 patients(17.6%) 1 month before, one patient(5.9N) met the specialist one to 3 months before and no one had meeting 4 to 12 month before their dialysis. In the non-diabetic group, 36 patients(63.296) initially visited a nephrologist 12 months before, 16 patients (28.1M) one month before, 3 patients(5.3%) one to 3 months before and 2 patients(3.5%) had a meeting 4 to 12 months before the first dialysis. 5) The timing of native arteriovenous fistula for- mation was as follows; In the diabetic group, 10 patients(66.7%) had an A-V fistula constructed imme- diately upon admission, 2 patients(13.3%) had one constructed one to 3 months before, 2 patients(13.396) had one made 4 to 12 months before, one patient (6.7%) had a fistula created one week to one month before, and no one had a fistula formed 12 months before their initial dialysis. In the non-diabetic group, 36 patients(69.2%) had an A-V fistula constructed on admission ll patients(21.2%), one week to one month before 2 patients(3.8%), one to 3 rnonths before 2 patients(3.8%), 4 to 12 months before - one patient(1.9%) had the fistula created 12 months before initial dialysis. From these results, we learned that the time interval between either the patient's first meeting with his/her nephrologist or initial referral for renal replacement and vascular access preparation for hemodialysis was much longer than what is currently known. In conclusion, prompt referral to a nephro-logist early in the course of the disease and proper education of the patient by the nephrologist can lead to timely initiation of dialysis at a lower serum creatinine and higher Ccr levels which will reduce mortality, morbidity, and hospital care cost.
Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Creatinine ; Dialysis ; Education ; Female ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Mortality ; Outpatients ; Prognosis ; Referral and Consultation ; Renal Dialysis* ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Specialization ; Survival Rate

The Hyalinizing trabecular adenoma of the thyroid is a uncommon benign neoplasm which is characterized by trabecular growth pattern with hyaline stroma of the basal membrane type. It is often misdiagnosed as papillary carcinoma due to its peculiar cytologic and histologic features such as, nuclear grooving and papillary structures, or as medullary carcinoma due to the hyalinized stroma resembling amyloid. Special stains and immunohistochemical studies are required to make a definite diagnosis. A 34-year old woman was admitted suffering from a left neck mass. Computed tomography showed a 2 cm-sized mass in the left thyroid. Fine needle aspiration cytology suggested papillary carcinoma. Intraoperative frozen section suggested medullary carcinoma, and H&E staining suggested medullary carcinoma. However according to immunohistochemistry which revealed calcitonin negative, the tumor was reviewed and finally diagnosed as hyaline trabecular adenoma. The hyalinizing trabecular adenoma, although uncommon, is certainly worth consideration in order to avoid being misinterpreted as carcinoma on the basis of individual cytologic and histologic features.
Adenoma* ; Amyloid ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Calcitonin ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Coloring Agents ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Frozen Sections ; Humans ; Hyalin* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Membranes ; Neck ; Thyroid Gland*

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The blood supply to the medulla oblongata is distinct from that of other areas of the brainstem, and thus the mechanism underlying medullary infarctions may be distinct. However, few studies have investigated this. METHODS: Of 3833 stroke patients who were on the stroke registry between February 1999 and April 2008, those with medullary infarctions demonstrated on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging were enrolled. We analyzed the topography, the involved arterial territories, and the etiologic mechanisms of the lesions. RESULTS: In total, 142 patients were enrolled in the study. Bilateral medullary infarctions were rare (2.2%). Lesions involving the anteromedial or lateral territories were common in the upper medulla oblongata, whereas lateral territorial involvements were common in the middle and lower regions of the medulla oblongata. Significant stenosis (>50%) or occlusion of the vertebral artery was common (52.2%). Among stroke subtypes, large-artery atherosclerosis was most common (34.5%), while lacunae and cardioembolism were rare (3.5% and 4.2%, respectively). Vertebral artery dissection was frequent. The stroke mechanisms differed with the involved vascular territories. Large-artery atherosclerosis produced lesions in the lateral, anteromedial, and posterior territories. None of the cardioembolisms or other etiologies involved anteromedial or anterolateral territories, but all involved the lateral and/or posterior territories. Lacunar infarction was found only in the anteromedial and anterolateral territories. CONCLUSIONS: The topography and mechanisms of infarctions involving the medulla oblongata are different with the involved arterial territories. These findings may be associated with the distinct pattern of arterial supply to the medulla oblongata.
Atherosclerosis ; Brain Stem ; Cerebral Infarction ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medulla Oblongata ; Stroke ; Stroke, Lacunar ; Vertebral Artery ; Vertebral Artery Dissection

Renovascular hypertension is the most common cause of curable hypertension. The exact prevalence of renovascular hypertension is not known, and the diagnosis is probably missed in many patients. It is important to recognize this condition in clinical practice, first, because it is a correctable form of secondary hypertension, and second, it is a reversible cause of renal failure in some patients. The Basic lesion of renovascular hypertension is stenosis of the renal artery caused usually by either one of the two most common etiologies, atherosclerosis or fibromuscular dysplasia. Other known causes of renovascular hypertension include aneurysm, embolism, arterio venous fistula, neurofibromatosis, tumor, hematoma, foreign body induced compression, and trauma. Its treatment can be divided into surgical intervention, percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty, and medical therapy. Recently, selective embolization has been introduced as a useful alter native therapeutic modality in the management of arterio venous fistula and aneurysm. We report a case of delayed renovascular hyper-tension in stab injury induced renal artery-IVC fistula and its renal artery aneurysm in a 20 year-old man. Embolization of the renal arterio venous fistula was achieved by inserting a detachable balloon, and embolization of the renal aneurysm and lumbar artery pseudoaneurysm was performed using micro-eo-ils. Arteriogram immediately after embolization con- firmed complete occlusion of the ancurysm and closure of the arterio venous fistula. After the procedure, improvement of blood pressure was noted in the patient who is currently being followed-up on an out-patient basis.
Aneurysm* ; Aneurysm, False ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Pressure ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Embolism ; Fibromuscular Dysplasia ; Fistula* ; Foreign Bodies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; Neurofibromatoses ; Outpatients ; Prevalence ; Renal Artery* ; Renal Insufficiency ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: A paradoxical embolism through the patent foramen ovale has been suggested as a possible cause of ischemic cerebrovascular disease in young patients without other cardiovascular risk factors, however, the transesophageal contrast echocardiographic examination is proved to be sensitive and accurate to detect the patent foramen ovale in vivo by demonstration a right-to-left shunting of microbubbles at the interatrial septum. METHODS: Transesophageal contrast echocardiographic examinations were performed in 16 young patients(32+/-6 years, 19~39) with ischemic cerebrovascular diseases without other cardiovascular risk factors. Contrast agents were injected twice in each patients, one with Valsalva maneuver and the other with coughing and the presence of the patent foramen ovale was confirmed by demonstrating echogenic contrast crossing the interatrial septum. RESULTS: The patent foramen ovale was demonstrated in five of sixteen patients(31.2%) during transesophageal contrast echocardiographic examination. Although the prevalence of the patent foramen ovale in normal population has not been examined in this study, the prevalence in patient group appears to be significantly higher than that of normal population. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, a paradoxical embolism through the patent foramen oval appears to be one of the causative factors and a transesophageal contrast echocardiography is recommended especially in young ischemic cerebrovascular disease patients who have normal transesophageal echocardiographic findings and no known risk factors.
Contrast Media ; Cough ; Echocardiography* ; Embolism, Paradoxical ; Foramen Ovale, Patent* ; Humans ; Microbubbles ; Prevalence* ; Risk Factors ; Valsalva Maneuver

Purpose: The use of gallium-68 prostate-specific membrane antigen-11 positron emission tomography/computed tomography (Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET/CT) is becoming increasingly common among men with prostate cancer (PCa). However, it remains uncertain which patients will derive the most benefit, and there is a scarcity of real-world data regarding its impact on altering treatment plans. This study investigated which patients would most benefit from Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET/CT, focusing on detection rates and changes in treatment strategies, drawing from a single-center experience. Materials and Methods: In total, 230 men with PCa who underwent Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET/CT between November 2021 and August 2022 were included in this retrospective study. The patients were classified into 5 groups based on their disease status: group 1, further work-up for high-risk localized PCa; group 2, de novo metastatic PCa; group 3, biochemical recurrence after definitive treatment; group 4, castration-resistant PCa; group 5, others. The positivity rate, positive lesions, predictive value of lymph node metastases, comparison with conventional images, and treatment changes after Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET/CT were analyzed in each group. Results: Of the 230 patients, 40 (17.4%), 20 (8.7%), 77 (33.5%), 76 (33.0%), and 17 (7.4%) were classified into groups 1–5, respectively. Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET/CT showed lesions in 74.8% of patients, and the optimal cutoff value for PSA was 1.99 ng/mL. Lesions not observed on conventional imaging were found in 62 patients (33.2%). In 38 patients (13.5%), treatment was changed due to Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET/CT. Conclusions These real-world data suggest that Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET/CT may be clinically useful for various disease conditions, as substantial stage migration and subsequent treatment changes occur in men with PCa. However, the prognostic impact of this modality remains unclear; thus, a well-designed prospective study is needed to address this issue.

PURPOSE: In this study, we investigated the stroke mechanism and the factors associated with ischemic stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) who were on optimal oral anticoagulation with warfarin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter case-control study. The cases were consecutive patients with NVAF who developed cerebral infarction or transient ischemic attack (TIA) while on warfarin therapy with an international normalized ratio (INR) > or =2 between January 2007 and December 2011. The controls were patients with NVAF without ischemic stroke who were on warfarin therapy for more than 1 year with a mean INR > or =2 during the same time period. We also determined etiologic mechanisms of stroke in cases. RESULTS: Among 3569 consecutive patients with cerebral infarction or TIA who had NVAF, 55 (1.5%) patients had INR > or =2 at admission. The most common stroke mechanism was cardioembolism (76.0%). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that smoking and history of previous ischemic stroke were independently associated with cases. High CHADS2 score (> or =3) or CHA2DS2-VASc score (> or =5), in particular, with previous ischemic stroke along with > or =1 point of other components of CHADS2 score or > or =3 points of other components of CHA2DS2-VASc score was a significant predictor for development of ischemic stroke. CONCLUSION: NVAF patients with high CHADS2/CHA2DS2-VASc scores and a previous ischemic stroke or smoking history are at high risk of stroke despite optimal warfarin treatment. Some other measures to reduce the risk of stroke would be necessary in those specific groups of patients.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anticoagulants/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Atrial Fibrillation/*complications ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Case-Control Studies ; Cerebral Infarction/complications ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Stroke/etiology/*prevention & control ; Warfarin/adverse effects/*therapeutic use

PURPOSE: In this study, we investigated the stroke mechanism and the factors associated with ischemic stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) who were on optimal oral anticoagulation with warfarin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter case-control study. The cases were consecutive patients with NVAF who developed cerebral infarction or transient ischemic attack (TIA) while on warfarin therapy with an international normalized ratio (INR) > or =2 between January 2007 and December 2011. The controls were patients with NVAF without ischemic stroke who were on warfarin therapy for more than 1 year with a mean INR > or =2 during the same time period. We also determined etiologic mechanisms of stroke in cases. RESULTS: Among 3569 consecutive patients with cerebral infarction or TIA who had NVAF, 55 (1.5%) patients had INR > or =2 at admission. The most common stroke mechanism was cardioembolism (76.0%). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that smoking and history of previous ischemic stroke were independently associated with cases. High CHADS2 score (> or =3) or CHA2DS2-VASc score (> or =5), in particular, with previous ischemic stroke along with > or =1 point of other components of CHADS2 score or > or =3 points of other components of CHA2DS2-VASc score was a significant predictor for development of ischemic stroke. CONCLUSION: NVAF patients with high CHADS2/CHA2DS2-VASc scores and a previous ischemic stroke or smoking history are at high risk of stroke despite optimal warfarin treatment. Some other measures to reduce the risk of stroke would be necessary in those specific groups of patients.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anticoagulants/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Atrial Fibrillation/*complications ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Case-Control Studies ; Cerebral Infarction/complications ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Stroke/etiology/*prevention & control ; Warfarin/adverse effects/*therapeutic use