PURPOSE: To evaluate the CT findings of focal organizing pneumonia and to correlate them with pathologic findings to help differentiating from lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated radiologic and pathologic findings of five patients with solitary pulmonary nodule which were confirmed as focal organizing pneumonia pathologically. RESULTS: On CT scan, focal organizing pneumonia had irregular margin contacting the pleura in all five cases. The shape of the nodules were spherical to wedge or elliptical and the size from 3.5cm to 5.5cm (average 4.2cm) in largest diameter. On postcontrast CT scan, all nodules showed enhancement and four cases showed central low density components. Two nodules contained air within the nodule. In four cases, pleural changes such as effusion and/or focal thickening were noted. No lymphadenopathy was found in all cases. Pathologically, the enhancing portion on CT showed findings of organizing pneumonia such as granulation tissue with fibroblast proliferation in alveolar space and interstitial thickening. The central low density areas on CT were due to ischemic necrosis, abscess and exudate, transudate and infiltration of foamy histiocyte. CONCLUSION: The possibility of focal organizing pneumonia should be considered when peripherally located solitary pulmonary nodule had enhancing component with no combined lymphadenopathy on CT scan.
Abscess ; Exudates and Transudates ; Fibroblasts ; Granulation Tissue ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Necrosis ; Pleura ; Pneumonia* ; Solitary Pulmonary Nodule ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: Many studies have reported hypocalcemia during peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collection. On the other hand, changes in other electrolyte levels such as potassium have received little attention. To see if it is necessary to monitor other electrolytes, we determined sodium, potassium, chloride, total CO(2), and ionized calcium before and after the PBSC harvest. The changes in hemoglobin and platelets were also investigated. METHODS: A total of 111 PBSC harvest procedures for thirty-six patients or donors were included in this study. The samples were collected within 2 hours around PBSC harvest. Patients who received blood transfusions or in whom electrolytes were administered immediately before or during the procedure were excluded from the evaluation. RESULTS: In the autologous PBSC harvest using CS3000, all five electrolytes showed significant changes. Ionized calcium significantly dropped by about 7.2+/-13.1% at the end of apheresis. Potassium significantly decreased to 12.3+/-10.2% during PBSC harvest. Hemoglobin and platelets significantly decreased except the autologous PBSC harvest using CS3000 and Cobe, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our data reveal a strong association between anticoagulant-induced hypocalcemia and concomitant hypokalemia during the PBSC harvest. We suggest that the potassium level should be carefully monitored, especially for patients with relatively low preharvest potassium levels.
Blood Component Removal ; Blood Platelets ; Blood Transfusion ; Calcium ; Electrolytes* ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypocalcemia ; Hypokalemia ; Potassium ; Sodium ; Stem Cells* ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: In the preoperative autologous blood deposit, total hemoglobin mass in one unit of autologous blood is various among the donors and the extents of hemoglobin increase following autologous transfusion may vary with the donor. Therefore, the authors intended to establish the standard of collection volume in preoperative autologous blood deposit, in order to warrant the safety of donor and gain the efficient increase of hemoglobin. METHODS: We performed a study of the following on 236 autologous donors (116 adult males and 120 adult females): collection of fixed blood volume (320 or 400 mL), collection of fixed hemoglobin mass (40, 45, 50, and 55 g) for one unit of blood, collection of blood volume to increase as much hemoglobin as 1 g/dL following autologous transfusion. RESULTS: The most safe and efficient collection method for preoperative autologous blood deposit is the collection of 400 mL of blood or collecting blood up to 55g of hemoglobin mass for male, and up to 45g of hemoglobin mass for female in one unit. CONCLUSION: These results are considered better methods for preoperative autologous blood deposit than routine collection of 320 mL of blood volume, irrespective of gender.
Adult ; Blood Volume ; Female ; Hemoglobin A ; Humans ; Male ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: Despite the increasing demand for transfusions, the availability of blood is hampered by low birth rate and stringent donor qualifications. Therefore, it is important to appropriately utilize blood products and take measures to minimize their wastage. We established an electronic review system for assessing transfusion practice and evaluated the appropriateness of blood transfusion. METHODS: Utilization of red blood cells (RBC), platelet concentrates (PC), single donor platelets (SDP), fresh-frozen plasma (FFP), and cryoprecipitates issued to 3 major blood using departments (Internal Medicine Divisions of Gastroenterology and Hematology/Medical Oncology, General Surgery) at the Seoul National University Hospital was reviewed over a one-month period. A new program was developed to review laboratory test results and blood product information. Criteria for appropriate transfusion were based on the guidelines proposed in 2009 by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korean Society of Blood Transfusion. A comparative audit was also conducted according to the guidelines proposed in 2002. RESULTS: There were 3,705 units of blood components issued to 325 patients during 1,542 transfusion episodes. The number of inappropriately transfused units were 402 (10.9%) at 144 (9.3%) episodes. The rates of inappropriate transfusion episodes (as per the 2002 guidelines) per blood components were as follows: RBC, 0.4%; PC, 11.7% (8.3%); SDP, 5.7% (2.4%); FFP, 20.2% (2.4%); and cryoprecipitates, 22.1%. CONCLUSION: Based on the 2009 guidelines, there was a notable inappropriate use of blood transfusions. Education programs promoting evidence-based guidelines and the use of this new program will help clinicians make better decisions in transfusion practice and lower inappropriate transfusion rates.
Birth Rate ; Blood Component Transfusion ; Blood Platelets ; Blood Transfusion ; Decision Support Systems, Clinical ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Erythrocytes ; Gastroenterology ; Humans ; Medical Audit ; Plasma ; Tissue Donors

We experienced a case of a tracheoesophageal cyst in the posterior mediastinum of a three-year-old girl, who complained of cough and fever. We confirmed this case by computerized tomography and pathologic examination after surgical resection. A brief review of the literature is presented.
Case Report ; Child, Preschool ; Cysts/*pathology/radiography/surgery ; Esophageal Cyst/*pathology/radiography/surgery ; Female ; Human ; Mediastinal Diseases/*pathology/radiography ; Trachea/*pathology/radiography/surgery

We experienced a case of a tracheoesophageal cyst in the posterior mediastinum of a three-year-old girl, who complained of cough and fever. We confirmed this case by computerized tomography and pathologic examination after surgical resection. A brief review of the literature is presented.
Case Report ; Child, Preschool ; Cysts/*pathology/radiography/surgery ; Esophageal Cyst/*pathology/radiography/surgery ; Female ; Human ; Mediastinal Diseases/*pathology/radiography ; Trachea/*pathology/radiography/surgery

Patients with hemifacial spasm were treated with a radiofrequency stimulating assisted percutaneous radiofrequency facial nerve coagulation around the stylomastoid foramen. The initial series of 18 cases of facial spasm are described. The series included 10 men and 8 women, aged from 19 to 75 years. All patients had classical type intractable persistent hemifacial spasm. Although severe facial weakness was made after the procedure to control the heperactive dysfunction of facial nerve in all patient immediately after making lesion, all of them recovered within 6 months follow-up. The longest follow up has been 26 months and only one patient had repeated procedure who experienced recurrence of hemifacial spasm 6 months after initial procedure. The procedure is simple, easy to perform and has no definite complication except transient facial palsy.
Facial Nerve ; Facial Paralysis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemifacial Spasm* ; Humans ; Male ; Recurrence ; Spasm

Two cases with intraventricular arachnoid cysts are reported and a brief review of the relevant literature is presented. Arachnoid cysts are benign developmental cysts that occur in the cerebrospinal axis in relation to the arachnoid membrane. They are usually extracerbral or extraventricular. Intraventricular arachnoid cysts are rare: except the two cases reported here, only five cases have been described. The following characteristics were noted in these patients: all were young; headache was the initial symptom; the cyst was in the body of a lateral ventricle.
Arachnoid Cysts ; Arachnoid* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Headache ; Humans ; Lateral Ventricles ; Membranes

14 supratentorial and 6 infratentorial arachnoid cysts, diagnosed and treated at Kangnam St Mary's Hospital from 1983 to 1988, are reported. The most common presenting symptoms in children were craniomegaly, delayed development, increased ICP and neurological focal signs. Neuroradiological examination included plain skull X-ray, brain CT and metrizamide CT or isotope study. Therapeutic criteria according to the clinical and radiological findings were reviewed. The results were as follows; 1) The patient below age of 2 yrs who's brain had a potent ability of growth should be operated in any cases for reducing mass effect. 2) In sylvian lesion, Type II and III according to the classification of Galassi were well treated with C-P snunt. 3) In infratentorial lesion, all patients had hydrocephalus and the patient who had communicated with subarachnoid space in metrizamide CT were well treated with V-P shunt and who not communicated with subarachnoid space was well treated with Y-shunt. 4) We had good results by fenestration above the age of 3 yrs and by C-P shunt under the age of 2 yrs in supratentorial lesion.
Arachnoid Cysts* ; Brain ; Child* ; Classification ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Metrizamide ; Skull ; Subarachnoid Space

BACKGROUND: Ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease are the main causes of death and platelets are responsible for the formation of arterial thrombi. Platelet membrane glycoproteins (GP) associated with coagulation pathway are GPIb/V/IX, GPIa/IIa, and GPIIb/IIIa. We evaluated genotype and allele frequencies of seven platelet glycoprotein genes associated with arterial thrombosis. METHODS: Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood of 300 unrelated Korean and single nucleotide polymorphism of platelet glycoproteins was analyzed. PCR with sequence specific primers was used to investigate GPIa C807T and GPIbalpha VNTR polymorphism. PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) was used to investigate GPIa G1648A and C2531T, GPIbalpha C524T and T-5C, and GPIIIa T1565C polymorphism. RESULTS: The allele frequencies of GPIa C807T were 807C 0.733, 807T 0.267; GPIa 1648G 0.975, 1648A 0.025; GPIa C2531T, 2531C 1.000, 2531T 0.000; GPIbalpha C524T, 524C 0.927, 524T 0.073; GPIbalpha VNTR, A 0.017, B 0.015, C 0.558, D 0.410; GPIbalpha T-5C, -5T 0.726, -5C 0.274; GPIIIa T1565C, 1565T 0.995, 1565C 0.005. CONCLUSION: The genotype and allele frequencies of GPIa G1648A, GPIbalpha C524T, and GPIIIa T1565C were similar to established data. GPIa 807T and -5T allele of Kozak polymorphism showed low frequency compared with other ethnic group. Allele frequencies of GPIbalpha VNTR A and B alleles were very alike (0.017 vs 0.015). In this study, we firstly evaluated the genotype and allele frequencies of GPIa C2531T and GPIbalpha VNTR, T-5C polymorphisms in Korean population. This study will serve as a basic data for the study of platelet glycoproteins associated with arterial thrombosis in Korean.
Alleles* ; Blood Platelets* ; Cause of Death ; DNA ; Ethnic Groups ; Gene Frequency* ; Genotype* ; Glycoproteins* ; Humans ; Integrin alpha2 ; Integrin beta3 ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Thrombosis*