Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection that involves the paranasal sinus and orbits and usually presents as acute invasive fungal sinusitis. It progresses rapidly, is often fatal, and occurs most commonly in patients with uncontrolled diabetes. If the condition is not treated, the fungal infection may disseminate into the brain and cause death within a week. We encountered two cases of rhinocerebral mucormycosis confirmed with histophathological examination. The cases were treated successfully with surgical debridement, a systematic application of amphotericin B, and irrigation and soakage with amphotericin B.
Amphotericin B ; Brain ; Debridement ; Humans ; Mucormycosis* ; Orbit ; Sinusitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Esophageal foreign bodies are very common problems in the field of pediatric otolaryngology department. Of all, coins are the most common esophageal foreign bodies encoutnered. Management of the child with an esophageal coin is as follows: rigid esophagoscopic removal under general anesthesia, flexible endoscopic removal, Foley's catheter technique with or without fluoroscopy control, and advancement using bougination. This study is to evaluate the safety and efficiency of the procedure of removing coins from the esophagus in children using Foley's catheter without fluoroscopic control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects consisted of 101 children with coin lodgement in the first esophageal constrictor area who had been managed with Foley's catheter extraction method from April 1993 through February 1999 at Masan samsung hospital, Masan, Korea. A retrospective review of charts and radiological findings was performed. RESULTS: Of the 101 children who underwent Foley's catheter extraction method, 93 cases (92.1%) were successful without serious complications; but three attempts were unsuccessful and were subsequently removed by rigid esophagoscopy under general anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: Foley's catheter extraction method may be used for removal of esophageal coins in selected cases, even without fluoroscopic control. The technique is effective, safe and avoids the risk of general anesthesia or radiation exposure.
Anesthesia, General ; Catheters* ; Child ; Esophagoscopy ; Esophagus ; Fluoroscopy ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Korea ; Numismatics ; Otolaryngology ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Tuberculous otitis media is not commonly found nowadays, and therefore, the index of suspicion is often low. However, once contracted, it can cause significant morbidities, such as profound hearing loss, labyrinthitis, facial nerve palsy and so on, if early diagnosis and treatment are not performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the chronic otitis media patients who visited Masan Samsung Hospital from Jan. 1993 to Jan. 1996, 37 cases of pathologically proven tuberculous otitis media were retrospectively reviewed. And temporal bone computerized tomography (TBCT) of 14 cases of tuberculous otitis media were compared to those of chronic suppurative otitis media and choronic otitis media with cholesteatoma. RESULTS: 1) Classic clinical findings of the disease such as multiple perforation, painless otorrhea, young age are not consistent with the clinical findings reviewed here. 2) Unexpectedly severe hearing loss, facial paralysis, eroded malleus handle, polypoid granulation or necrotic debris in middle ear cavity were significant clinical features. 3) In TBCT findings, soft tissue density in the entire middle ear cavity, soft tissue density extension to superior external auditory canal, poor sclerotic change of mastoid air cell were more common than other types of chronic otitis media. 4) Most of cases were confirmed by operative specimen pathologically. 5) Delayed healing of postoperative wound and formation of granulation tissue suggested tuberculous otitis media. 6) Antituberculous chemotherapy provided effective means of treatment. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis by pathologic examination of biopsied tissue obtained at OPD was mandatory to avoid complication and postoperative morbidity. Postoperative specimen obtained from middle ear surgery must be confirmed pathologically.
Cholesteatoma ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Drug Therapy ; Ear Canal ; Ear, Inner ; Ear, Middle ; Early Diagnosis ; Facial Nerve ; Facial Paralysis ; Granulation Tissue ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Labyrinthitis ; Malleus ; Mastoid ; Otitis Media* ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; Otitis* ; Paralysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Temporal Bone ; Wounds and Injuries

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG), which are volume-based PET parameters, using 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) in patients with surgically resectable lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 149 patients with lung adenocarcinoma who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT before surgical resection. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), MTV, and TLG of the primary tumor with threshold value of SUVmax 30, 40, and 50% were calculated, respectively. To compare the predictive performance of volume-based PET parameters, recurrence-free survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The study included 70 males and 79 females with an average age of 65.8 years. The median follow-up time was 45.4 months. Recurrence was observed in 53 patients (35.6%). The mean ± SD SUVmax, MTV30%, and TLG(30%) of the entire cohort were 4.79 ± 2.94, 19.45 ± 24.85, and 56.43 ± 101.88, respectively. The cut-off values of MTV30% and TLG(30%) for recurrence were 11.07 ad 30.56, respectively. The 1-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate was 96.5% in low-MTV30% patients compared with 86.2% in high-MTV30% patients (p = 0.018) and 96.0% in low-TLG(30%) patients compared with 88.5% in high-TLG(30%) patients (p < 0.001). On univariate and multivariate analysis, TLG(30%) (HR, 2.828, p < 0.001; HR, 2.738, p < 0.001, respectively) was an independent prognostic factor for predicting recurrence-free survival (RFS). CONCLUSION TLG(30%) value was observed to be a significant prognostic factor for RFS in patients with lung adenocarcinoma treated by surgical resection.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG), which are volume-based PET parameters, using 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) in patients with surgically resectable lung adenocarcinoma.METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 149 patients with lung adenocarcinoma who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT before surgical resection. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), MTV, and TLG of the primary tumor with threshold value of SUVmax 30, 40, and 50% were calculated, respectively. To compare the predictive performance of volume-based PET parameters, recurrence-free survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method.RESULTS: The study included 70 males and 79 females with an average age of 65.8 years. The median follow-up time was 45.4 months. Recurrence was observed in 53 patients (35.6%). The mean ± SD SUVmax, MTV30%, and TLG(30%) of the entire cohort were 4.79 ± 2.94, 19.45 ± 24.85, and 56.43 ± 101.88, respectively. The cut-off values of MTV30% and TLG(30%) for recurrence were 11.07 ad 30.56, respectively. The 1-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate was 96.5% in low-MTV30% patients compared with 86.2% in high-MTV30% patients (p = 0.018) and 96.0% in low-TLG(30%) patients compared with 88.5% in high-TLG(30%) patients (p < 0.001). On univariate and multivariate analysis, TLG(30%) (HR, 2.828, p < 0.001; HR, 2.738, p < 0.001, respectively) was an independent prognostic factor for predicting recurrence-free survival (RFS).CONCLUSION: TLG(30%) value was observed to be a significant prognostic factor for RFS in patients with lung adenocarcinoma treated by surgical resection.
Adenocarcinoma ; Cohort Studies ; Electrons ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glycolysis ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Methods ; Multivariate Analysis ; Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Tumor Burden

BACKGROUND: Induction of coagulation necrosis by using thermal energy sources such as radio-frequency (RF), microwaves and lasers has recently been as a new, minimally invasive technique for percutaneous tumor ablation. RF ablation is considerd effective and safe for the local control of small HCCs. The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and complications according to the diameter and location of the HCC. METHODS: Between May 1999 and December 2000, one hundred fifty patients underwent RF thermal ablation in Dong-A university hospital. Among them, forty nine patients were enrolled in this study who have no history of prior other treatment including hepatic resection, TAE, PEI, and chemotherapy, also who have follow-up CT performed at least six months after ablation. The patients devided into two groups, who have small HCC (3 cm in diameter), the mean follow-up duration was 10.8 months and local recurrence rate was 51.0%+/-12.4. In small HCC group ( Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Liver ; Microwaves ; Necrosis ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumothorax ; Recurrence ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

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Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) form a group of uncommon neoplasms originated from the pleuripotential mesenchymal cell. There is no final conclusion about accurate diagnosis and prognostic factors of GIST. Clinical presentation is not specific and intraperitoneal bleeding is a very rare complication. We report a case of a malignant GIST complicated by intraperitoneal hemorrhage, which was diagnosed by abdominal CT and EUS before operation. A subtotal gastrectomy was perfomed without complication. The patient is still alive without recurrence.
Diagnosis ; Gastrectomy ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors* ; Hemoperitoneum* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Rupture* ; Stomach* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) form a group of uncommon neoplasms originated from the pleuripotential mesenchymal cell. There is no final conclusion about accurate diagnosis and prognostic factors of GIST. Clinical presentation is not specific and intraperitoneal bleeding is a very rare complication. We report a case of a malignant GIST complicated by intraperitoneal hemorrhage, which was diagnosed by abdominal CT and EUS before operation. A subtotal gastrectomy was perfomed without complication. The patient is still alive without recurrence.
Diagnosis ; Gastrectomy ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors* ; Hemoperitoneum* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Rupture* ; Stomach* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

C57BL/6N is the most widely used inbred mouse strain applied in a wide variety of research areas including cancer, cardiovascular biology, developmental biology, diabetes and obesity, genetics, immunology, neurobiology, and sensorineural research. To compare the fertilization rates of C57BL/6NKorl mice with two commercial C57BL/6N stocks, differences in reproductive organ structures, sperm and egg numbers, fertilization rates, and embryo development rates among C57BL/6NKorl (Korea FDA source), C57BL/6NA (USA source), and C57BL/6NB (Japan source) mice were determined. Among the stocks, no significant differences were detected in organ weight and histological structure of male and female reproductive organs, although body weight was higher in C57BL/6NKorl mice than that in the other groups. The concentration and morphology of sperm and eggs in C57BL/6NKorl mice were similar to those of C57BL/6NA and C57BL/6NB mice. Furthermore, the three stocks had similar in vitro fertilization and embryo development rates, although these rates tended to be higher in C57BL/6NB mice. Pup body weight was higher in C57BL/6NKorl and C57BL/6NB mice than that in C57BL/6NA mice. The results of the present study suggest that C57BL/6NKorl, C57BL/6NA, and C57BL/6NB mice obtained from three different sources have similar fertilization and embryo development rates, although there were slight differences in the magnitude of their responses rates.
Allergy and Immunology ; Animals ; Biology ; Body Weight ; Developmental Biology ; Eggs ; Embryonic Development ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Fertilization* ; Genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mice* ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Neurobiology ; Obesity ; Organ Size ; Ovum ; Pregnancy ; Spermatozoa