No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

The transforaminal epidural injection (TFEI) has been preferred in many cases because it can deliver the injected dose of medication closer to the nerve root and better facilitate ventral epidural flow compared to other methods. However, in patients with deformities not demonstrated on fluoroscopic imaging, the needle may enter unwanted locations. We treated two cases of intradiscal injection of contrast dye, during the TFEI, in patients with lumbar disc herniation.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Discitis ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural ; Needles

Desmoid tumor is histologically benign, but this tumor is clinically considered to be malignant. Surgical resection is one of the most effective therapeutic options for patients with this tumor and resection is the best choice for cases of recurrence. We experienced two cases of recurrence of thoracic desmoid tumor, and the patients were repeatedly treated by surgical resection. The patients were discharged without any complications, and careful follow up has been performed periodically. Therefore, we report on these cases of recurrent desmoid tumor along with a review of the related literature.
Fibromatosis, Aggressive ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Thoracic Neoplasms

To determine whether the tumor cell contamination of peripheral blood stem cells influences clinical impacts on high-dose chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer, we analyzed carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) mRNA in the apheresis products by nested RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction). A total of 38 metastatic breast cancer patients and ten normal healthy subjects as a negative control were included. Twenty out of 38 (51.3%) apheresis products from patients with metastatic breast cancer were positive for CEA mRNA. CEA mRNA was noted in 54.8% (17/31) of patients mobilized with chemotherapy plus G-CSF and 42.8% (3/7) of patients with G-CSF alone. There was no significant difference in age, estrogen receptor, menopausal status, mobilization method, disease free interval, or number of metastasis sites (1 vs >/=2) between positive and negative groups. The presence of CEA mRNA in apheresis products did not influence the time to progression and overall survival in both groups. However, both the univariate and the multivariate analysis disclosed that the number of metastasis was associated with survival significantly. We suggest that the tumor cell contamination does not predict poor treatment outcome in patients with metastatic breast cancer.
Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents, Combined/administration & dosage ; Breast Neoplasms/*drug therapy/mortality/*secondary ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen/genetics ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cyclophosphamide/administration & dosage ; Disease-Free Survival ; Doxorubicin/administration & dosage ; Epirubicin/administration & dosage ; Female ; Fluorouracil/administration & dosage ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/*adverse effects ; Human ; Middle Age ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Circulating Cells ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger/analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

PURPOSE: The diagnostic relevancies and characteristics and of clinical methods in the diagnosis of internal derangement (ID) were tested by comparing the results of them with those of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: 75 patients (150 temporomandibular joints; TMJs), who were suspected to have ID by clinical diagnoses, were included. Clinical diagnoses including mouth opening pathway and TMJ sound were conducted and MRI takings were done. Accuracies, sensitivities, specificities, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values of clinical diagnosis, mouth opening pathway, and TMJ sound were calculated by comparing with diagnoses with MRIs. RESULTS: Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of clinical diagnosis were 59.3%, 83%, 49%, 81%, and 51%. They were 59%, 82%, 25%, 73%, and 35% for mouth opening pathways. Although deviation was somewhat accurate for representing disc displacement with reduction (ADDWR), other discrepancies on opening pathways were not clinically relevant. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of clicking sounds were 85%, 49%, 78%, 85%, and 37%. TMJs with crepitus were only three. But all TMJs with crepitus were diagnosed to have disc displacement without reduction (ADDWOR). CONCLUSION: When compared with diagnoses with MRIs, clinical diagnoses for ID were not so accurate. But they were suitable for screening tests for ID. Opening pathways and TMJ sounds were not so relevant in the diagnoses of IDs and so it was concluded that considerations for other factors must be included in the diagnoses of IDs.
Diagnosis* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Mass Screening ; Mouth ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders* ; Temporomandibular Joint*