The immature teratoma is extremely rare tumor consisting of mature tissues and immature embryonal tissues. The immature teratoma in children occurs more frequently at the sacrococcygeal bone, testis and ovary. Only 9.5 percent of immature teratomas occur in retroperitoneum. Often the presenting manifestation is asymptomatic with increasing abdominal distention or mass discovered during physical examination. We report a case of congenital retroperitoneal immature teratoma in 3-week-old boy who was treated by surgical excision.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Ovary ; Physical Examination ; Teratoma* ; Testis

Operating-room airway fires are serious and potentially fatal complications. To prevent airway fire in CO2 laser surgery of the larynx, many techniques and devices have been developed. Using laser safe tube is one of the common methods of preventing airway fire, but it is very expansive and hard to treat. In this study, we used a fire-resistant tape to protect the endotracheal tube and had very successful results in experiments with CO2 laser. In this article, we introduce the technique of using a fire-resistant tape to protect endotracheal tube.

We present a case of recurrent left atrial myxoma which occurred 7 years and 10 months after initial operation despite resection of originaltumor and adjacent atrial septum. This is the first case report of recurrence in Korea. Among the possible causes of recurrence, regrowth from pretumorous focus seems to be the most suggesting one in this case. Histopathologic findings of recurrent myxoma showed increased cellularity with active proliferation and nuclear hyperchromasia. These findings, together with the rapidity of regrowth, suggest that recurrent myxoma may have 'wilder' behavior. Prolonged postoperative observation is important, even if ample resection was done at the initial operation including atrial septum.
Atrial Septum ; Korea ; Myxoma* ; Recurrence*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are a few reports about the function of submandibular gland obstructed by stone. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the histopathologic change of submandibular gland for sialolithiasis and its correlation to histopathologic grades and clinical findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospectively, we reviewed the clinical history of 23 patients who underwent submandibular gland excision for sialolithiasis. Histopathologic grades of submandibular gland were estabilished by the degrees of inflammation, atrophy, and fibrosis. We evaluated the relation between histopathologic grades and clinical findings including age, sex, duration of symptoms, number of infectious episodes, time between the last infectious episode and surgery, use of antibiotics. RESULTS: Normal to mild histopathologic grades showed 22% (5/23), the moderate grade showed 35% (8/23), the severe grade showed 43% (10/23). There is no significant relationship between histopathologic grades and clinical findings. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that, if possible, the conservative therapy should be preferred rather than performing the excision of submandibular gland for sialolithiasis.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Atrophy ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Retrospective Studies ; Salivary Gland Calculi* ; Submandibular Gland

We experienced 3 cases of Candida esophagitis in infancy which were diagnosed by esophageal endoscopy. First case, 10 month-old boy with combined immune deficiency had suffered from oral thrush and poor feeding for more than 4 months. Esophageal endoscopy revealed multiple whitish creamy patches on the friable erythematous and necrotic mucosa of the esophagus. He was firstly treated with amphotericin-B but in vain. Then he was treated with fluconazole (5 mg/kg/day) and in a few days oral thrush nearly disappeared and endoscopy after 2 weeks revealed complete healing of the esophagitis. Second case, 6 month-old boy with some cellular immue defect also suffered from oral thrush, poor feeding and intermittent fever. He was treated with fluconazole and oral thrush was imporved. He was discharged without follow up endoscopy. Third case, 4 month-old girl with liver cirrhosis due to infantile cholestasis had Candida sepsis. Esophagitis was found incidentally during the endoscopic examination of esophageal varix. First 2 cases showed multiple small filling defects and decreased motility on esophagography. Candida antigen was not detected in the sera of all 3 cases of candidiasis. We conclude that Candidia esophagitis should be suspected when an infant has been suffering from long-term treatmet-resistant oral thrush and poor feeding and that esophageal endoscopy can be easily performed in infants also and useful in diagnosing esophagitis and assessing the outcome of treatment.
Candida* ; Candidiasis ; Candidiasis, Oral ; Cholestasis ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Esophagitis* ; Esophagus ; Female ; Fever ; Fluconazole ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Sepsis

A small number of patients have been described in whom normal male development of the external genitalia has occurred but whom the Mullerian ducts persist. The retention of Mullerian structures can be ascribed to the failure of the Sertoli cells to synthesize Mullerian duct inhibitory factor or to a defect in the response of the duct to that factor. We experienced a case of persistent Mullerian duct syndrome. which is phenotypically normal male with bilateral undescended testes, bilateral fallopian tubes and a uterus. Herein we report a case with brief review of the literatures.
Cryptorchidism ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Male ; Mullerian Ducts ; Sertoli Cells ; Uterus

A small number of patients have been described in whom normal male development of the external genitalia has occurred but whom the Mullerian ducts persist. The retention of Mullerian structures can be ascribed to the failure of the Sertoli cells to synthesize Mullerian duct inhibitory factor or to a defect in the response of the duct to that factor. We experienced a case of persistent Mullerian duct syndrome. which is phenotypically normal male with bilateral undescended testes, bilateral fallopian tubes and a uterus. Herein we report a case with brief review of the literatures.
Cryptorchidism ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Male ; Mullerian Ducts ; Sertoli Cells ; Uterus

No abstract available.
Hypoglycemia ; Paresis*

Objective: Discriminating between pulmonary embolism (PE) and pneumonia in the emergency department (ED) is one of the fastidious tasks. Elderly patients are at more risk of PE and pneumonia than younger patients. This study aimed to determine whether the ratio of D-dimer to C-reactive protein (CRP) could be used as an adjunctive method to differentiate between PE and pneumonia in elderly patients. Methods: Medical records of patients visiting the ED diagnosed with PE and pneumonia were examined. Cutoff values of D-dimer (μg/mL) and the ratio of D-dimer to CRP ([μg/mL]/[mg/dL]) of subjects with PE or pneumonia were analyzed. Results: There were a total of 60 patients with PE and 152 patients with pneumonia. In addition, 15 patients had both PE and pneumonia. The cutoff value of D-dimer to differentiate between PE and pneumonia was 4.26 μg/mL (4,260 ng/mL) (area under curve [AUC], 0.861; sensitivity, 80.0%; specificity, 80.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.805-0.917). The cutoff value of the ratio of D-dimer to CRP to differentiate between PE and pneumonia was 1.24 ([μg/mL]/[mg/dL]) (AUC, 0.919; sensitivity, 84.4%; specificity, 84.2%; 95% CI, 0.878-0.960). Conclusion The ratio of D-dimer to CRP can be used as an adjunctive method to determine whether a computed tomography pulmonary angiography or a ventilation-perfusion scan can be performed to differentiate between PE and pneumonia in elderly patients.

Acute mesenteric ischemia can result from emboli, arterial and venous thrombi or vasoconstriction secondary to low-flow states. Isolated spontaneous dissection of the superior mesenteric artery is a rare cause of acute mesenteric ischemia. The mortality rates of acute mesenteric ischemia averages 71% with a range of 59-93%. Diagnosis before the occurrence of intestinal infarction is the most important factor in improving survival rate for patients with acute mesenteric ischemia. A 68-year-old female presented with postprandial epigastric pain, and a dissection of the superior mesenteric artery and a gallbladder polyp were shown in abdominal computed tomographic scan. After the percutaneous metalic stent placement and laparoscopic cholecystectomy, her symptoms improved. We report a case of spontaneous dissection of main trunk of the superior mesenteric artery which was successfully treated by percutaneous stent placement with a review of literature.
Acute Disease ; Aged ; Aneurysm, Dissecting/complications/*therapy ; *Angioplasty, Balloon ; Female ; Humans ; Ischemia/etiology ; *Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion/etiology ; *Stents