PURPOSE:Craniopharyngioma is one of the most important intracranial tumors in pediatric age which causes multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies. We have studied clinical characteristics in patients with craniopharyngioma, focusing on changes of endocrine function, change of growth pattern, and change of body mass index before and after surgery. In addition, we wanted to know the effect of growth hormone therapy on growth velocity and body mass index, and to identify contributing factors for spontaneous growth in spite of growth hormone deficiency. METHODS:A total number of 17 patients who were diagnosed as having craniopharyngioma at the Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center during the period of January, 1991 to December, 1997 were included in this study. Retrospectively, we reviwed medical records as to their endocrine function tests and auxoloogical data before, after surgery. RESULTS: 1)The number of patients of male and female were 9 and 8 respectively. Mean age was 7.3+/-4.3 years. 2)Preoperatively, 3 patients were thyroid hormone deficient, 3 patients were corticosteroid deficient, and 3 patients suffered from diabetes inspidus. 3)Postoperatively, GH and TSH deficiency were found in 100%, ACTH in 88.2%, ADH in 82.3%, and LH/FSH in 60%, 53% respectively. 4) Mean growth velocity in 14 GH deficient patients without growth hormone treatment for 2 years were 3.5+/-2.4cm/year during the 1st year and 3.1+/-1.7cm/year during the 2nd year. Although height standard deviation score(Ht. SDS) was decreasing trend as -0.24+/-2.19 at diagnosis, -0.94+/-1.73 at 1 year later, and -0.76+/-1.76 at 2 years later, it was not statistically significant. To our suprise, 4 out of 14 patients achieved greater growth velocity than nomal in spite of growth hormone deficiency during the 1st year after operation. 5) Although the mean body mass index of 14 GH deficient patients without GH treatment was increasing trend as 17.9+/-3.5 at diagnosis, 19.0+/-4.5 at 1 year later, and 19.9+/-4.8 at 2 year later, it was not statistically significant. 6) The mean Ht. SDS increased significantly in 7 patients treated with growth hormone(P<0.05) for 2 years, but change of body mass index was not significant. 7) Comparision of postoperative serum prolactin levels and changes of body mass index between spontaneous growth and stunted growth group did not reveal significant difference. CONCLUSION: Since most patients with craniopharyngioma become multiple pituitary hormone deficient after operation, it is important to predict and detect pituitary dysfunction to manage it effectively. Although patients with postoperative GH deficiency responded well to GH treatment, further study is needed to clarify what are the main contributing or prognostic factors for spontaneous growth without growth hormone treatment.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Body Mass Index ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Craniopharyngioma* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Obesity ; Pediatrics ; Prolactin ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland

PURPOSE:Although Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common cause of goiter in children and adolescents, it is not clear what proportion of patients become hypothyroid and which tests are the best predictors of this state. To determine whether these kinds of variations occur in the course of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and whether the size of the thyroid gland or immunologic markers correlate with the course or outcome of Hashimoto's thyroiditis are main objects of our study. METHODS:A total number of 48 patients who were diagnosed as having Hashimoto's thyroiditis at the Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center during the period of January, 1992 to December, 1997 were included in this study. Retrospectively, we reviewed medical records as to their clinical and labaratory data. RESULTS:Thyroid function status at initial diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis were euthyroidism(33.3%), compensatory hypothyroidism(33.3%), overt hypothyroidism (27.1%), hyperthyroidism(8.3%) in order. Positivity of antithyroglobulin antibodies and antimicrosomal antibodies were 77.1% and 66.7% respectively. In 33 patients, 12(36.4 %) were on remission status after 3 years from initial diagnosis. Antithyroglobulin antibody titer was significantly decreased after 2-year follow up in remission group. Initial antithyroglobulin antibody titer and thyroid function status were not related to remission status after 3-year from diagnosis. CONCLUSION: About 36% of patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis can be in remission after 3-year from diagnosis. Decrease of antithyroglobulin antibody titer is related to remission status. Further study is necessary to know what can be the predicting factors for early remission, for example, initial thyroid function status, initial antithyroid antibody titier, circulating immune complex, age, sex and size of thyroid.
Adolescent ; Antibodies ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Biomarkers ; Child ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Goiter ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Medical Records ; Pediatrics ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis*

Purpose : As the recombinant human growth hormone has been widely available, a lots of parents having short statured children are interested in promoting growth of them whatever the etiologies of short stature they have. However, the growth hormone therapy for growth-promoting effect is only justified in well-established indications such as growth hormone deficiency, fumer syndrome, and chronic renal insufficiency. This study was undertaken to classify the children with chief complaint of short stature by its cause and giving the basic epidemiologic data for it so that the size of population in which growth hormone is indicated can be estimated. Methods : According to Ranke's etiologic classification, we categorized the 579 children who visited our pediatric endocrinology clinic with chief complaint of short stature during the period of March 1994 to August 1996. In this prospective study, history regarding growth was taken, physical examination and laboratory tests including bone age, thyroid function, blood chemistry were carried out. The auxological data were analyzed. Additional chromosomal study or growth hormone provocative tests were performed when needed. Results : Out of 579 patients, 360(62.2%) were classified as normal and 127(21.9%) were classified as normal variants which consist of familial [74(12.8%)], constitutional [48(8.5%)], and mixed familial & constitutional short stature[5(0.9%)]. Pathologic short stature was found in only 80(13.8%). Those are growth hormone deficiency(28), Tumer syndrome(16), intrauterine growth retardation(14) in order. Other etiologies list varieties of dysmorphism, skeletal dysplasia, chromosomal disorders. Conclusions : This results suggest the vast majority of children with chief complaint of short stature are normal or normal variants. Only 7.8% of children who visited our clinic were indicated for growth hormone therapy.
Chemistry ; Child* ; Chromosome Disorders ; Classification* ; Endocrinology ; Growth Hormone ; Human Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Parents ; Physical Examination ; Prospective Studies ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Thyroid Gland

After reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament, increased idameter of femoral or tibia1 bone tunnel has been obsened on plain radiogram. The etiology of radiographic tunnel enlargement is not well understood and the significance of this tunnel enlargement is unknown. This retrospective study reviewed tibial tunnel diameter in 34 cases of anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions. And we evaluated the correlation between the tibial tunnel enlargement and the position of screw fixation, instability, choice of graft, and clinical results at 1 year postoperatively. AII operation was per formed using a single incision technique. After 3 or 4 months and one year after operation, the diameter of tibial tunnel was measured with digital caliper on the plain radiogram. Tibial tunnel sclerotic margins were measured in the level Of medial tibial plateau on the lateral view of knee. Average tunnel enlargement of 3 allografts was 1.62mm and that of 15 autografts was 2.03mm. No significant difference was seen in KT-10000 arthrometer measurements between enlarged group (amount of enlage-ent >+1 S.D) and not-enlarged group (less than +1 S.D). No coelation was present between the increased tunnel diameter and Lysholm score. Cases with 10mm or more vertical distance between the most proximal point of tihial interference screw and the level of m4eial tibial plateau had average 1.15mm tibial tunnel enlargement and cases with less than 10mm vertical distance ha & I average 2.52mm tibial tunne] enlargement;the difference was not significant (P>0.05). The tibial tunnel enlargement was not correlated with position of screw, clinical results, stability of knee. The tibial tunnel enlargement was not caused hy only mechanical factor such as motion of intra-tunnel portion of graft-tendon.
Allografts ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Autografts ; Knee ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplants

The original technique for endoscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction has several potential complications because of constraints imposed by working through the tibial tunnel: improper femoral tunnel placement, violation of the femoral tunnel posterior wall, femoral interferenc screw divergence, graft laceration during screw insertion, and distal tibial bone block prr>trusion. We performed 25 endoscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions with bone-tendon-bone graft using a mo3ified technique that minimizes each of these problems, through the use of a anteromedial portal more centrally and distally placed than the original that portal. Postoperative radiographic review showed femoral screw divergence in 20% of cases (2 in the anteroposterior plane, 2 in the lateral plane and 1 in both planes), but the average angles (AP: 0.52+- 1.85, Lateral: 1.48+-3.30) were insignificant. There was no graft damage during screw insertion or grafttunnel mismatch. We concluded that this modified technique allows simplified, reproducible tunnel and interference screw placement.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction* ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Knee ; Lacerations ; Transplants

To evaluate the intra-articular pathology of popliteal cysts of knee, we performed arthroscopy on patients with popliteal cysts between February 1992 and February 1995. Thirty-one patients (32 cases) have been treated by excision of cyst after arthroscopy. Mean duration of follow-up was 15 months (13-19 months). Location of cysts was in the right knee in 17 cases, in the left knee in 13 cases, and bilateral in one case. Pain or swelling was present in 12 (38%), giving-way was reported by 4 cases. Three cases revealed quadryceps atrophy. The McMurray test was postive in 6 cases. After arthroscopy, the cysts were excised. Ninteen cases (59%) had associated intra-articular lesions: seven medial meniscal tears, two lateral meniscal tears, seven had chondral damages, one had medial plica syndrome, and one had rheumatoid arthritis, Communication between the cyst and the knee was present in 7 cases (22%), all of whom were over 40 years of age. Thirteen cases was younger than 30 years of age, and 11 cases of these cases had no intra-articular pathology. Two other cases had lateral meniscal tears and medial plica syndrome, respectively. We recommend arthroscopy in middle and older aged patients with popliteal cysts for evaluating and treating intra-articular lesions.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Arthroscopy* ; Atrophy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee* ; Pathology ; Popliteal Cyst*

Divergent placement of the femoral interference screw has been described as a major pitfall in single incision endoscopic reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. This study reviews the radiographic results in 30 consecutive endoscopic single-incision ACL reconstructions using interference screw fixation to find a method to reduce the divergent femoral screw fixation. We measured the angles which were determined by a line through axis of femoral bone block and axis of interference screw in anteroposterior and lateral view of knee(APD/LD),through axis of femoral tunnel and axis of tibial tunnel in the full extension-anteroposterior view(AFT),through the longitudinal axis of distal femoral shaft and axis of femoral tunnel in the anteroposterior and lateral view(APFT/LFT). Average LD(4.96+/-62degrees) was significantly larger than average APD(1.303+/-13degrees) (P=0.008). Significant correlation was present between APD and APFT(g=-0.3882, P=0.034), between LD and LFT(gamma=0.6933, P=0.000) and other variables had no significant correlation. The femoral divergence in the anteroposterior plane occurred in the case with small angle between longitudinal axis of femoral shaft and that of femoral tunnel, and vice versa in lateral plane. During drilling of femoral tunnel, more than 90 flexion causes LFT to increase and the risk of femoral divergence increases. Therefore, in the anteroposterior plane, angle between femoral tunnel and longitudinal axis of femoral shaft shoud be made as large as possible and flexion of knee should not be more than 90 during drilling of femoral tunnel.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction* ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Knee ; Patellar Ligament*

PURPOSE: This study was performed to compare the radiographic results of femoral tunnels made through the tibial tunnel and through the anteromedial portal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 1996 to September 1997, fifty-five reconstructions of anterior cruciate ligament were performed. Group I (femoral tunnel through tibial tunnel) was composed of 30 cases and group II (femoral tunnel through anteromedial portal) was consisted 25 cases. On postoperative anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of knees, five angles were measured : APD/LD (angle between longitudinal axis of femoral bone block of patella tendon bone graft and that of interference screw in anteroposterior view/ lateral view), AFT (the angle between longitudinal axis of femoral tunnel and that of tibial tunnel in anteroposterior view), APFT/LFT (the angle between longitudinal axis of femoral tunnel and that of femoral shaft in anteroposterior view/ lateral view) and the graft tunnel mismatch was evaluated. RESULTS: Average APD was 1.30+/-3.13 degree in group I and 0.52+/-1.85 degree in group II (P>0.05), average LD was 4.97+/-7.62 degree and 1.48+/-3.30 degree (P<0,05), average AFT was 12.40+/-7.29 degree and 19.48+/-8.49 degree (P<0.05), average APFT was 15.33+/-6.95 degree and 14.32+/-7.33 degree (P>0.05), and average LFT was 36.57+/-5.20 degree and 39.64+/-6.48 degree (P>0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that making a femoral tunnel through the anteromedial portal decreased the divergence between the femoral interference screw and femoral bone block of patella tendon-bone autograft.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction* ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Autografts* ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Knee ; Patella ; Patellar Ligament ; Transplants

The tracheostomy is increasingly being performed. In most cases, the tracheostomy sites are left to heal by secondary intention, so it leaves a depressed and wide scar that is cosmetically disfigured. Another problem os that the scar is also attached directly to the trachea itself and will move vertically with the trachea during the act of swallowing. Even though the tracheostomy scar is cosmetically acceptable, the mobility and retraction of the scar is a continual nuisance to the patient. We performed a retrospective study on 9 patients who had undergone revision of the depressed thracheostomy scar by the Renner Method from June, 1997 to February, 1999. The method includes transverse fusiform incision of the original scar and excision of the depressed portion of the scar to the level of the trachea itself. To prevent attachment of the skin and trachea, a bilateral subcutaneous flap and muscle flap were simply advanced to the midline and overlapped. Then the rest of scar that was not depressed was deepithelized and flipped to augment the soft tissue volume in the central depressed area. Satisfactory results were achieved in all patients without hematoma, infection, hypertrophic scar, and keloid formation. We believe this simple Renner method is one of the best ways of performing posttracheostomy scar revision.
Cicatrix* ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; Deglutition ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Intention ; Keloid ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Trachea ; Tracheostomy

The types of the synovial plicae were classified according to the classification of Kim and Choe(1997). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic ability of MRI for synovial plicae. We retrospectively reviewed the MR findings of the knee in 95 cases of 91 patients. In all 95 cases, findings of arthroscopy and MR images were available. MRI was performed with a 1.5 Tesla Magnetom(Siemens) using a round surface coil. Pulse sequence were Tl weighted image(TR 650ms /TE 20ms) and T2 weighted image(TR 2000ms/TE 70ms). MR images could not show the infrapatella plicae and lateral plicae clearly, but some suprapatellar plicae were shown in T2 weighted MR images (37.5% of hole type, 80% of complete type, 26% of medial type). In 20(22%) of the 90 cases with medial patella plicae proved by arthroscopy, a low intensity band was shown above the medial condyle of the femur on T2 weighted MR images. These 20 cases included 3 of fenestra type, 9 of wide shelf type and 8 of medial shelf type. The low intensity band seen on T2-weighted MR images and its anatomical relation to the medial femoral condyle are helpful in diagnosing the presence of medial shelf type and wide shelf type of medial plicae.
Arthroscopy* ; Classification ; Femur ; Humans ; Knee* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Patella ; Retrospective Studies