No abstract available.
Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Polycythemia Vera* ; Polycythemia*

Background: Bone subtraction computed tomography angiography (BSCTA) is a useful alternative technique for improving visualization of vessels surrounded by skull bone.However, no studies have compared computed tomography angiography (CTA) and BSCTA for improving the visibility of canine cerebral blood vessels. Objectives: To evaluate the potential benefit of BSCTA for better delineation of brain arteries of the circle of Willis (CoW) in dogs by comparing BSCTA with non-subtraction computed tomography angiography (NSCTA). Methods: Brain CTA was performed for nine healthy beagle dogs using a bolus tracking method with saline flushing. A total dose of 600 mgI/kg of contrast agent with an iodine content of 370 mgI/mL was injected at a rate of 4 ml/s. Bone removal was achieved automatically by subtracting non-enhanced computed tomography (CT) data from contrast CT data. Five main intracranial arteries of the CoW were analyzed and graded on a scale of five for qualitative evaluation. Results: Scores of basilar artery, middle cerebral artery, and rostral cerebral artery in the BSCTA group were significantly higher than those in the NSCTA group (p = 0.001, p = 0.020, and p < 0.0001, respectively). Scores of rostral cerebellar artery (RcA) and caudal cerebral artery (CCA) did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, scores of RcA and CCA in the BSCTA group were higher than those in the NSCTA group. Conclusions BSCTA improved visualization of intracranial arteries of the CoW with close contact to bone. Thus, it should be recommended as a routine scan method in dogs suspected of having brain vessel disease.

A 38-year-old man who was diagnosed with malignant paraganglioma underwent computed tomography (CT) and I-131 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) san. CT showed extensive lymph node enlargement in right iliac area and retroperitoneum with severe hydronephrosis and mass on posterior bladder wall. However, I-131 MIBG scan didn't showed abnormal uptake. He also underwent F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emisson tomography/CT for localizing accurate tumor site. F-18 FDG PET/CT showed multiple metastases of left supraclavicular, hilar, mediastinal para-aortic, inguinal, right iliac lymph nodes, lung, vertebrae, and pelvis. There are a few reports showing that the F-18 FDG PET/CT is helpful for staging and localizing tumor site of patients who are diagnosed with negative on the MIBG scans. Thus, we report a case with paraganglioma which showed negative I-131 MIBG scan, but revealed multiple intense hypermetabolic foci in F-18 FDG PET/CT.
3-Iodobenzylguanidine* ; Adult ; Electrons ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraganglioma* ; Pelvis ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography ; Spine ; Urinary Bladder

BACKGROUND: In Korea, cases with hepatitis A have been reported to Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the sentinel surveillance system. However, it was difficult to study the exact nation-wide incidence of hepatitis A infection. We studied the incidence of clinically apparent hepatitis A infection and the seroprevalence of anti-HAV IgG among auxiliary police officers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed clinically apparent and hospitalized hepatitis A patients from 2002 to 2006 in National Police Hospital via medical records. We also measured anti-HAV IgG antibody from 507 auxiliary police officers. RESULTS: The estimated annual incidence of clinically apparent hepatitis A infection among auxiliary police officers was 10.6-14.8 cases per 100,000 population from 2002 to 2006. The overall anti-HAV IgG seropositive rate among auxiliary police officers was 0.6% (3/507). CONCLUSION: Among auxiliary police officers, the estimated annual incidence of clinically apparent hepatitis A infection was above 10 cases per 100,000 population and the positive rate of anti-HAV IgG was very low. The results were comparable to those in the low endemicity countries. The routine HAV vaccination among auxiliary police officers might be suggested.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Hepatitis A Antibodies ; Hepatitis A virus* ; Hepatitis A* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Incidence* ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Police* ; Sentinel Surveillance ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Vaccination

BACKGROUND: In Korea, cases with hepatitis A have been reported to Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the sentinel surveillance system. However, it was difficult to study the exact nation-wide incidence of hepatitis A infection. We studied the incidence of clinically apparent hepatitis A infection and the seroprevalence of anti-HAV IgG among auxiliary police officers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed clinically apparent and hospitalized hepatitis A patients from 2002 to 2006 in National Police Hospital via medical records. We also measured anti-HAV IgG antibody from 507 auxiliary police officers. RESULTS: The estimated annual incidence of clinically apparent hepatitis A infection among auxiliary police officers was 10.6-14.8 cases per 100,000 population from 2002 to 2006. The overall anti-HAV IgG seropositive rate among auxiliary police officers was 0.6% (3/507). CONCLUSION: Among auxiliary police officers, the estimated annual incidence of clinically apparent hepatitis A infection was above 10 cases per 100,000 population and the positive rate of anti-HAV IgG was very low. The results were comparable to those in the low endemicity countries. The routine HAV vaccination among auxiliary police officers might be suggested.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Hepatitis A Antibodies ; Hepatitis A virus* ; Hepatitis A* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Incidence* ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Police* ; Sentinel Surveillance ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Vaccination

Liddle's syndrome is a rare inherited disease with characteristic clinical manifestations of hypertension and hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis. Markedly suppressed serum aldosterone and renin levels are important laboratory findings to differentiate this disorder from primary hyperaldosteronism. When Liddle et al. reported the disorder in 1963, they proposed aggressive Na+ absorption and increased excretion of K+ as the pathogenesis of the syndrome. Since then, specific mutation in the epithelial Na+ channel located in the collecting duct of the kidney has been elucidated as a disease mechanism. Liddle's syndrome is inherited by an autosomal dominant trait and generally the onset of the syndrome is before the age of 20 with increased risk of premature death due to stroke or heart failure. Recently, however, a few cases of late onset and genetically proven nonfamilial cases with de novo mutation of beta or gamma Na+ channel have been reported. We report a case of seventy-one year old woman who had hypertension with hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis and was diagnosed as Liddle's syndrome. Further evaluation revealed low serum renin and aldosterone levels. Primary aldosteronism, Cushing's syndrome, glucocorticoid remediable aldosteronism and deficiency of 11beta-OHase and 17alpha-OHase were ruled out based on her laboratory data and history. Her hypertension and hypokalemia responded to amiloride treatment but not to spironolactone.
Absorption ; Aldosterone ; Alkalosis ; Amiloride ; Cushing Syndrome ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Hypertension ; Hypokalemia ; Kidney ; Mortality, Premature ; Renin ; Spironolactone ; Stroke

The role of positron emission tomography (PET) with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18 FDG) in the diagnosis of hepatocellulcar carcinoma (HCC) has been limited because of a variable FDG uptake in HCC. However, the usefulness of PET/CT for detecting extrahepatic metastasis and monitoring of the treatment response in HCC has been reported. A 55-year-old man with a hepatitis B surface antigen-positive, was admitted to our hospital due to dyspnea, general weakness and body weight loss for one month. Chest X-ray showed multiple reticulo-nodular densities on both lower lung fields, which implies metastatic lesions. F-18 FDG PET/CT revealed consecutively intense hypermetabolic mass in right hepatic lobe, inferior vena cava and right atrium. We report a case of HCC with IVC and right atrium invasion identified by F-18 FDG PET/CT.
Body Weight ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Dyspnea ; Heart Atria ; Hepatitis B ; Humans ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Thorax ; Vena Cava, Inferior

Medullary thyroid carcinoma accounts for 3% of all thyroid gland malignancies. It commonly metastasizes to liver, lung, and bone. It rarely metastasizes to skin, and only a few such cases have been documented. Cutaneous metastasis suggests a poor prognosis, with a mean survival of 7.5-19 months. The most effective treatment for skin metastasis is complete surgical removal of all local and regional lesions. The response to systemic chemotherapy is typically poor. We report a case of medullary thyroid carcinoma with cutaneous metastases, which responded to chemotherapy.
Liver ; Lung ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Skin ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Neoplasms

F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (F-18 FDG PET/CT) plays an important role in diagnosis of malignant tumors and adds to conventional imaging in the staging of pertoneal carcinomatosis. However, false positive cases resulting from benign disease such as tuberculosis may occur. We report two cases of peritoneal tuberculosis on F-18 FDG PET/CT which showed multiple hypermetabolic foci in the mesentery and peritoneum with increased serum cancer antigen 125 (CA 125). Subsequent F-18 FDG PET/CT showed a disappearance of pathologic uptake following treatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs.
Carcinoma ; Mesentery ; Peritoneum ; Peritonitis, Tuberculous ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tuberculosis

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis, such as intestinal tuberculosis, has become more common with the increase in human immunodeficiency virus infection. However, the diagnosis and treatment of intestinal tuberculosis are often delayed because the symptoms are nonspecific and diverse. We experienced a case of AIDS with intestinal tuberculosis that manifested as a duodenal fistula. The presence of AIDS should be suspected in patients who have extrapulmonary tuberculosis with atypical presentations.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Fistula ; HIV ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula ; Tuberculosis