MR imaging was performed in 40 patients of aortic disease from March 1988 to February 1990. Transverse, coronal and oblique sagital views were obtained with ECG gating and even echo technique using 0.5 T and 2.0 T MR systems. In 12 patients of aortic aneurysm, the location, the size and the extent of aneurysm could be assessed in all cases. In the cases of six abdominal aortic aneurysm, the relation of aneurysm to renal arteries was evaluated. In 18 cases of aortic dissection, the extent of involvement as well as associated abnormalities was well evaluated in all cases. In the 8 cases of congenital aortic anomalies, the vascular anatomy was well demonstrated. However, the abnormalities of major branches could not be assessed with MR imaging especially in 2 cases of Takayasu's arteritis. With our experiences, MR imaging is regarded as a primary diagnostic modality for aortic disease and expected to be developed as the alternative measure to the angiography in the future.
Aneurysm ; Angiography ; Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal ; Aortic Diseases* ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Renal Artery ; Takayasu Arteritis

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignant skin tumors and develops characteristically on sun-exposed areas, such as the head and neck. Ultraviolet light exposure is an important etiologic factor in BCCs, and BCCs arising from non-sun- exposed areas are, therefore, very rare. In particular, the axilla, nipple, the genital and perianal areas are not likely to be exposed to ultraviolet light; thus, if BCC develops in these areas, other predisposing factors should be considered. Herein, we report a case of BCC arising on the pubic area in a 70-year-old man. We also performed a survey of the literature and discussed the 19 cases of BCC from non-sun-exposed areas reported to date in Korea.
Aged ; Axilla ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Head ; Humans ; Korea ; Neck ; Nipples ; Skin ; Ultraviolet Rays

PURPOSE: Peritoneal recurrence has been reported to be the most common form of recurrence of gastric cancer. Peritoneal recurrence can generally be suggested by several types of image studies and also if there is evidence of ascites or Bloomer's rectal shelf. It can be confirmed by explorative laparotomy, but diagnostic laparoscopy is a good alternative method and laparoscopic surgery has also been widely used. We reviewed and analyzed the ability of diagnostic laparoscopy to detect peritoneal recurrence or carcinomatosis, and especially for gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review the 45 gastric cancer patients who were operated via diagnostic laparoscopy between 2004. 2. and 2009. 3. We analyzed the perioperative clinical characteristics and the accuracy of the diagnostic methods. RESULTS: The study groups included 14 patients who had confirmed gastric cancer, but they suspected to have carcinomatosis, and 31 patients who had previously underwent gastric resection, but they suspected to have recurrence. The mean operation time was 44.1+/-6.9 minutes and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 2.7+/-.8 days. There was one case of operation-related complication and no postoperative mortality occurred. The sensitivities for detecting peritoneal recurrence or carcinomatosis were 92.1% for diagnostic laparoscopy, 29.7% for detecting ascites and rectal shelf on the physical examination, 86.5% for abdominal computed tomography, 69.2% for PET CT and 18.8% for CEA. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic laparoscopy does not require a long operation time or a long hospital stay, and it showed a low complication rate in our study. It has high sensitivity for detecting peritoneal recurrence of gastric cancer. It can be an alternative diagnostic confirmative method and it is useful for deciding on further treatment.
Ascites ; Carcinoma ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Length of Stay ; Physical Examination ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms

Malignant skin tumors, including squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma, have occurred in tattoos. Seven documented cases of basal cell carcinoma associated with tattoos have also been reported in the medical literature. We encountered a patient with basal cell carcinoma in a tattooed eyebrow. We report on this case as the eighth reported case of a patient with basal cell carcinoma arising in a tattooed area.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Eyebrows ; Humans ; Melanoma ; Skin

BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma in Korea is the most common skin cancer and its incidence is increasing at a steady rate. It is not unusual for dermatologists to experience the recurrence of tumor after surgery but there is no data on recurrent basal cell carcinoma in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective survey was to determine the clinical and histopathological characteristics of recurrent basal cell carcinoma after surgical excision in Korean patients. METHODS: We analyzed clinical findings and histopathologic subtypes of 21 cases of recurrent basal cell carcinoma after surgical excision among 480 cases diagnosed between January of 1980 and December of 2006 at the Department of Dermatology, Chonbuk National University Hospital. RESULTS: Overall recurrence rate was 4.38%. The average interval between the surgical excision of the primary tumor and recurrence was 40.8 months. The mean age of the patients was 65.1 years old and the ratio of men to women was 1 : 2. The most frequent location of the tumor recurrence was the nose and the mean size was 1.2 cm. There were no immunocompromised patients with underlying disorders, but two patients had taken corticosteroid for an extended period of time. The most common histological subtype of the primary and the recurrent basal cell carcinoma was nodular type. Six cases of primary basal cell carcinomas of nodular type transformed to aggressive subtype when they recurred. Perineural involvement of the primary basal cell carcinoma was found in 5 cases. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the clinicopathological features of recurrent basal cell carcinoma in the Korean population and we hope this data would be of help to dermatologists when treating Korean patients with basal cell carcinoma.
Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Dermatology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Nose ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Neoplasms

Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis is isolated cutaneous cryptococcosis without evidence of systemic involvement. It usually presents as a solitary nodule in an exposed area, such as head and neck or extremities, and the occurrence of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis in the covered area has been rarely reported in the literature. A healthy 81-year-old immunocompetent woman presented with a solitary reddish scaly plaque on her abdomen without clinical evidence of systemic cryptococcal infection. Histopathologic examination showed numerous encapsulated spores, and the organism was identified as Cryptococcus neoformans in a series of fungal studies. We diagnosed this case as a primary cutaneous cryptococcosis by the findings mentioned above. The patient was successfully treated with surgical excision and oral fluconazole without any side effects.
Abdomen* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cryptococcosis* ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Extremities ; Female ; Fluconazole ; Head ; Humans ; Neck ; Spores

PURPOSE: It is known that lactoferrin serves as a source of iron for H. pylori in gastric mucosa. This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between lactoferrin and H. pylori infection coexistent with iron-deficiency anemia by determining the lactoferrin levels in gastric biopsy specimens, and by locating the major sites of lactoferrin expression, according to the presence or absence of iron-deficiency anemia. METHODS: Fifty-five adolescents that underwent gastroduodenoscopy were divided into three groups: NL (n=19) for normal controls, HP (n=15) for patients with H. pylori, and IDA (n=21) for patients with H. pylori gastritis and coexisting iron-deficiency anemia. Histopathologic features were graded from null to marked on the basis of the Updated Sydney System. The gastric mucosal levels of lactoferrin were measured by immunoassay. Immunohistochemical technique was used to allow identification of the location and quantification of the lactoferrin expression. RESULTS: Lactoferrin levels in the antrum increased significantly, in proportion to, H. pylori density, polymorphonuclear cell infiltration, and chronic inflammation in the histologic specimens. Patients in the HP and IDA groups showed significantly increased mucosal levels of lactoferrin compared with that observed in the normal group (p=0.0001). The lactoferrin level in IDA group tended to be higher than that in the HP group (p=0.2614). The major sites of lactoferrin expression by immunohistochemistry were in glands and neutrophils within epithelium. Lactoferrin was stained weakly in NL, and strongly in HP and IDA. CONCLUSION: The lactoferrin sequestration in the gastric mucosa of IDA was remarkable, and this finding seems to give a clue that leads to the clarification of the mechanism by which H. pylori infection contributes to iron-deficiency anemia.
Adolescent ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency* ; Biopsy ; Epithelium ; Gastric Mucosa* ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inflammation ; Iron* ; Lactoferrin* ; Neutrophils

BACKGROUND: Solid tumors require neovasculization for growth and metastasis. Recently, several angiogenic factors have been identified. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is thought to be one such angiogenic factor and is also thought to be a selective mitogen for endothelial cells. In this study, we examined the expression of VEGF and its relationship with microvessel density, and we also determined its prognostic significance in gastric cancer patients. METHODS: One hundred one specimens resected from patients with gastric carcinomas were investigated by staining with a polyclonal antibody against VEGF. Correlations between the expression of VEGF, the microvessel density, various clinicopathologic factors, and the patient's survival were studied. RESULTS: The normal gastric mucosa was not immunoreactive with an anti-VEGF antibody. VEGF was mainly localized to the cytoplasm or the membrane of the carcinoma cell. Of the 101 tumors, strong VEGF expression was detected in 48 (47.5%) tumors. VEGF expression was correlated with depth of tumor invasion, lymph-node metastasis, and stage. Microvessel density, determined by immunohistochemical staining for CD31, was significantly higher in VEGF-strong tumors than in VEGF-weak tumors. Also, patients with VEGF-strong tumors had a significantly poorer prognosis than those with VEGF-weak tumors. However, multivariate analysis indicated that the expression of VEGF was not an independent prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The fact that VEGF expression in gastric carcinomas was more prevalent in more advanced tumors means that VEGF may contribute to the progression of the tumor. Further study is needed to evaluate the significance of VEGF as a prognostic factor.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents ; Cytoplasm ; Endothelial Cells ; Gastric Mucosa ; Humans ; Membranes ; Microvessels ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis* ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

OBJECTIVE: To assess head posture using cervical spine X-rays to find out whether forward head posture is related to myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) in neck and shoulder. METHODS: Eighty-eight participants who were diagnosed with MPS in neck and shoulder were evaluated in this study. Four parameters (distance among head, cervical spines, and shoulder, and cervical angle) were measured from lateral view of cervical spine X-ray. The location and number of trigger points in the neck and shoulder and symptom duration were evaluated for each patient. RESULTS: Both horizontal distances between C1 vertebral body and C7 spinous process and between the earhole and C7 vertebral body were negatively correlated with cervical angle reflecting cervical lordosis (p<0.05). Younger patients had significantly (p<0.05) less cervical angle with more forward head posture. There was no relationship between MPS (presence, location, and number of trigger points) and radiologic assessments (distance parameters and the cervical angle). CONCLUSION: Forward head posture and reduced cervical lordosis were seen more in younger patients with spontaneous neck pain. However, these abnormalities did not correlate with the location or the number of MPS. Further studies are needed to delineate the mechanism of neck pain in patients with forward head posture.
Animals ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Female ; Head* ; Humans ; Lordosis ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes* ; Neck ; Neck Pain ; Posture* ; Shoulder ; Spine ; Trigger Points

Wernicke encephalopathy is usually accompanied with peripheral neuropathy, known as dry beriberi. In contrast, wet beriberi presenting as cardiovascular symptoms rarely occurs. The acute type of wet beriberi can be fatal, if untreated quickly. It is reported that the cerebellar vermis has a role of the coordination and control of cardiovascular and autonomic reflex activities. We report a 58-year-old man showing acute wet beriberi in Wernicke encephalopathy with cerebellar vermis lesion.
Beriberi* ; Cerebellar Vermis ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Reflex ; Wernicke Encephalopathy*