Carotidcavernous fistula(CCF) is a syndrome in which arteriovenous sinus shunts exist between the carotid artery and the cavernous sinus. These shunts have very wide spectrums in pathogenesis, angiografic findings, hemodynamics and teatment. Spontaneous dural CCF is dural vascular malformations that usually runs a benign course with variable clinical findings. We experienced two case of bilateral spontaneous CCF presenting as painful ophthalmoplegia. In the first case, a 53-years old hypertensive, diabetic woman had previous history of unilateral painful ophthalmoplegia eight months before admission and as partially recovered. On examination, she had slowly progressive bilateral chemosis, exophthalmos, and sixth nerve palsy. MRI showed abnormal vessels in the cavernous sinus from prominent superior ophthalmic vein. Angiographic findings showed fistulas of both external carotid and left internal carotid arteries draining into the cavernous sinus. We had multiple trials of transarterial and transvenous embolization with gelfom material or platinum coils with partial improvement of chemosis and exophthalmos. In the second case, a 45-years old woman noted slowly progressive headache, ptosis, dilatation of pupil in the left side, and diplopia suggesting paralysis of the left inferior rectus muscle. MRI showed signal voids in the cavernous sinus. Angiographic findings showed fistulars of the right and left internal carotid arteries draining into the cavernous sinus. CCF should be consider as a underlying cause in patient presenting as painful ophthalmoplegia. We report two cases of bilateral spontaneous CCF presenting as painful ophthalmoplegia.
Abducens Nerve Diseases ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cavernous Sinus ; Dilatation ; Diplopia ; Exophthalmos ; Female ; Fistula ; Headache ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Ophthalmoplegia* ; Paralysis ; Platinum ; Pupil ; Vascular Malformations ; Veins

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the post-stroke rehabilitation status according to stroke severity using the database of the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. METHODS: The data of patients admitted to the neurology departments of 12 hospitals within 7 days of onset of ischemic stroke were collected. A total of 2,895 patients hospitalized between November 2010 and December 2011 were included. The patients were classified into three groups according to their initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores (mild, ≤5; moderate, >5 and ≤13; and severe, >13). Length of hospital stay (LoS) with rehabilitation, NIHSS score after acute care, and scores on modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were examined at 1 year post-stroke according to stroke severity and ongoing rehabilitation. RESULTS: The total LoS for ongoing rehabilitation significantly increased with stroke severity (mild, 91.66±149.70; moderate, 197.26±241.93; severe, 263.50±275.75 days; p < 0.01). However, the proportion of LoS with ongoing rehabilitation to the total LoS tended to decline with increasing stroke severity (mild, 77.93±29.50, p < 0.01; moderate, 71.83±32.13; severe, 62.29±37.19). The home discharge rate of the group that underwent continuous inpatient rehabilitation was significantly higher in patients with moderate and severe stroke, respectively (14.2% vs. 0.0%, p < 0.001; 7.4% vs. 0.0%, p=0.032). CONCLUSION: This study showed that intermittent rehabilitation was often provided after acute care, whereas ongoing rehabilitation positively affected rate of home discharge in patients with moderate and severe stroke in Korea. These results represent evidence for improving the healthcare system to promote adequate rehabilitation in the future.
Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; National Institutes of Health (U.S.) ; Neurology ; Patient Acuity ; Rehabilitation* ; Stroke*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate medical comorbidities and needs for medical and rehabilitation services of adults with cerebral palsy (CP) in Korea. METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional study. One hundred fifty-four adults with CP were enrolled in the study between February 2014 and December 2014. Information was obtained from participants regarding functional status, demographic and socioeconomic data, medical problems, and requirements for and utilization of medical and rehabilitation services. RESULTS: The participants included 93 males and 61 females with a mean age of 40.18±9.15 years. The medical check-up rate of adults with CP was lower than that of healthy adults and the total population with disabilities (53.2% vs. 58.6% vs. 70.4%). A quarter of the subjects failed to visit the hospital during the past year, and the main reason was the financial burden. Due to a cost burden and lack of knowledge, more than one-third of the subjects had unmet needs for rehabilitation services; the majority reported needs for rehabilitation services, such as physical therapy for pain management. CONCLUSION: The medical check-up rate was lower in the adults with CP, even though their medical comorbidities were not less than those of healthy people. Several non-medical reasons hindered them from receiving proper medical and rehabilitation services. Such barriers should be managed effectively.
Adult* ; Cerebral Palsy* ; Comorbidity ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Pain Management ; Prospective Studies ; Rehabilitation*

Ovarian leiomyoma is a rare type of tumor that only takes about 1% of benign ovarian tumor. It mostly does not induce any symptoms and is often found by chance during a surgical operation in abdominal cavity. It is microscopically observed that smooth muscle cells with an identical shape and a small nucleus grow in a bundle or in a storiform configuration, and they need to be distinguished from other tumors of the smooth-muscle origin that can occur in ovary such as fibroma/thecoma and extragastrointestinal stromal tumor. Using immunohistochemistry staining on desmin, smooth muscle actin (SMA), alpha-inhibin, c-kit, etc can help with distinguishing these tumors. Recently, the authors experienced in this hospital a primary ovarian leiomyoma of a 43-year-old female patient and hereby report the case with a review of literatures.
Abdominal Cavity ; Actins ; Adult ; Desmin ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leiomyoma* ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Ovary

PURPOSE: The object of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of induction chemotherapy followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy in locoregional esophageal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between December 1992 and December 1999, 43 patients with locoregional esophageal cancer were enrolled in this phase II trial. Patients were treated with 2-cycles of induction chemotherapy followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy. F-P chemotherapy consists of 1,000 mg/m2/Day of 5-FU as continuous infusion on day 1~5 and 80 mg/m2 of cisplatin as an intravenous bolus on day 1 and was repeated every 3~4 weeks. All patients received 60 Gy of external beam radiation concomitantly with F-P chemotherapy; intraluminal brachytherapy was added in 12 patients. A total of 4 cycles of chemotherapy were delivered. No further treatment was planned in patients who achieved complete remission after completion of the treatment. RESULTS: Among the 43 patients entered, 35 patients completed the protocol. Of the 35 evaluable patients, 12 patients (34%) achieved complete response and 13 patients (37%) achieved partial response. In 26 of 33 patients, dysphagia was improved. At a median follow-up of 22 months, the 2-year and 5-year survival rates were 39% and 19%, respectively. The median survival duration of the complete responder group was 69 months (4~100 months) and the 2-year survival rate of the complete responder group was 82%. Toxicities were tolerable, comprised of mucositis and cytopenia. CONCLUSION: Induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locoregional esophageal cancer is well tolerated and effective.
Brachytherapy ; Chemoradiotherapy* ; Cisplatin ; Deglutition Disorders ; Drug Therapy ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Fluorouracil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy* ; Mucositis ; Survival Rate