Background: Cutaneous metastasis (CM) is the spread of cancer cells from a primary site to the skin and is rarely the first sign of silent cancer. We investigated the clinicopathological characteristics of CM from internal malignancies in Korean patients treated at our institution over 20 years. Methods: The clinicopathological findings of 112 patients (62 females, 50 males) with CM diagnosed at Yeungnam University Hospital between 2000 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Mean patient age was 58.6 years (range, 26 to 87 years), and the most common primary cancer site was breast (74.2%) in women and lung (36.0%) in men. Ninety-six patients (85.7%) presented with CM after primary tumor diagnosis. CM from the lung or biliary tract usually occurred within 2 years of primary tumor diagnosis, whereas metastases from the breast and kidney occurred several years later. The chest, abdomen, and scalp were common sites of CM. Breast cancer usually metastasized to chest skin, while gastrointestinal tract cancers commonly metastasized to the abdomen. The scalp was a common location for CM from various tumors. The most common dermatologic presentations were nodules and masses. Immunohistochemical studies helped identify underlying malignancies when primary tumors were unknown. Conclusions The relative frequency of CM parallels the overall incidence of primary malignant tumors, and CMs usually occur at anatomic sites close to the primary tumor. CM can be diagnosed based on clinical, radiological, and histological features; however, immunohistochemical study is required in some cases.

Background: Cutaneous metastasis (CM) is the spread of cancer cells from a primary site to the skin and is rarely the first sign of silent cancer. We investigated the clinicopathological characteristics of CM from internal malignancies in Korean patients treated at our institution over 20 years. Methods: The clinicopathological findings of 112 patients (62 females, 50 males) with CM diagnosed at Yeungnam University Hospital between 2000 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Mean patient age was 58.6 years (range, 26 to 87 years), and the most common primary cancer site was breast (74.2%) in women and lung (36.0%) in men. Ninety-six patients (85.7%) presented with CM after primary tumor diagnosis. CM from the lung or biliary tract usually occurred within 2 years of primary tumor diagnosis, whereas metastases from the breast and kidney occurred several years later. The chest, abdomen, and scalp were common sites of CM. Breast cancer usually metastasized to chest skin, while gastrointestinal tract cancers commonly metastasized to the abdomen. The scalp was a common location for CM from various tumors. The most common dermatologic presentations were nodules and masses. Immunohistochemical studies helped identify underlying malignancies when primary tumors were unknown. Conclusions The relative frequency of CM parallels the overall incidence of primary malignant tumors, and CMs usually occur at anatomic sites close to the primary tumor. CM can be diagnosed based on clinical, radiological, and histological features; however, immunohistochemical study is required in some cases.

BACKGROUND: Since tumor necrosis factor was discovered in 1975, TNF has been well known about its cytotoxic effect on tumor cells in vivo and in vitro. According to the recent improvement of molecular biological techinques, it is possible that exogenous TNF gene is transferred to tumor cells and is expressed in theirs. By virtue of TNF gene transfer, we have expected that TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would kill tumor cells in vivo without systemic side effect. The expected mechanisms in which antitumor effects of TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells are working would be as followings. In the first mechanism, TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would kill tumor cells around (like homicide). In the second mechanism, TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would kill themselves (like suicide). In the third mechanism, TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would recruit immune effector cells and kill tumor cells indirectly. In the last mechanism, TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would augment cytokine such as interferon-γ to kill tumor cells. Among these four mechanisms of antitumor effect, only the second mechanism has not been established yet. Therefore, to elucidate the second mechanism, We performed this study. METHOD: We transferred TNF-α gene to NCI-H2058, a human mesothelioma cell line and WEHI164, a murine fibrosarcoma cell line by using retroviral vector(pLT12SNTNF). And, We determined by using MTT assay whether TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cell lines would kill themselves like suicide or not. Then, if TNF-gene-transferred tumor cell lines would not suicide themselves, 1 would know more about the TNF sensitivity of TNF-gene-transferred tumor cell lines to exogenous TNF also by MTT assay. RESULT: NCI-H2058 and WEHI164 which were sensitive to TNF, became far less sensitive to endogenous and exogenous TNF after being transferred TNF-α gene to. CONCLUSION: TNF-gene-transfer to NCI-H2058 and WEHI164 gaffe them resistance to TNF.
Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor* ; Fibrosarcoma ; Humans ; Mesothelioma ; Necrosis* ; Retroviridae* ; Suicide ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Virtues ; Zidovudine

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the main physiological stimulus for human skin pigmentation. Recently, nitric oxide (NO) have been involved in mediation of skin pigmentation induced by UVB. Rutin, a flavonoid of vegetables and fruits, has antiviral and antioxidant properties. Therefore, we investigated the effect of rutin on UVB-induced melano-genesis and NO production in HM3KO cells. In this study, we demonstrated that UVB-irradiation stimulated melanin content and tyrosinase activity in HM3KO cells. Rutin suppressed UVB-stimulated total melanin content and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, we showed that UVB-irradiation stimulated NO production in HM3KO cells. Rutin also suppressed UVB-induced NO production and repaired reduction of cell proliferation by UVB. UVB stimulation of melanogenesis was mimicked by exogenous NO donor (sodium nitroprusside, SNP), and rutin effectively suppressed it. Therefore, we concluded that rutin suppressed UVB-stimulated melanogenesis and that it is involved in melanogenesis regulation partially through the suppression of UVB-induced NO production.
Cell Proliferation ; Fruit ; Humans* ; Melanins ; Melanoma* ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Negotiating ; Nitric Oxide* ; Nitroprusside ; Rutin* ; Skin Pigmentation ; Tissue Donors ; Vegetables

OBJECTIVE: Restenosis after successful PTCA remains the main limitation of this technique. Restenosis is a response to injury of the vessel wall, platelet aggregation, thrombus formation, liberation of growth factors, cellular hyperplasia involving predominantly smooth muscle proliferation and migration, and intercellular matrix formation. The identification of risk factors for restenosis could help to prevent and reduce the impact of this phenomenon. We undertook this study to evaluate retrospectively the association between risk factors and restenosis after PTCA METHODS: We studied 123 patients and 174 lesions that underwent successful PTCA and the follow-up period (from PTCA to follow-up angiography) was 8.2+/-5.8 months in all patients. They were divided into two groups according to the restenosis. Clinical feature, lesional feature, PTCA procedural feature, and other risk factors were compared. Restenosis was defined as the cutoff point of >50% in diameter stenosis at angiographic follow-up. RESULTS: 1) Restenosis was found in 68 lesions after successful PTCA(39.1%). 2) Clinical features of restenosis group are similar to no restenosis group 3) Thrombus (p=0.002), total occlusion(p=0.001), severity of stenosis in the initial lesion(p=0.013) and residual stenosis(p=0.001) were found to be independently associated with restenosis, whereas other lesional characteristics were not. 4) Balloon inflation duration(p=0.017) and dissection(p=0.002) were found to be independently associated with restenosis, whereas other procedural characteristics were not. CONCLUSION: Thrombus, total occlusion, dissection, severity of stenosis in the initial lesion, balloon inflation time, residual stenosis were found to be associated with restenosis after PTCA in our study.
Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Inflation, Economic ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Muscle, Smooth ; Platelet Aggregation ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples of 32 brain tumors(8 meningiomas, 10 astrocytomas(low grade 5, anaplastic 5), 8 glioblastoma multiforme, 6 oligodendrogliomas(low grade 2, anaplastic 3) were investigated by immunocytochemistry with monoclonal antibodies against p53 protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA). Expression of p53 protein was detected in 1 of 5 cases(20%) of low grade astrocytomas, 2 of 5 cases(40%) of anaplastic astrocytoma, 4 of 8 cases(50%) of glioblastoma multiforme and 4 of 4 cases(100%) of malignant oligodendroglioma. All low grade oligodendrogliomas, meningiomas fail to express p53. Expression of PCNA was detected in 3 of 8 cases of meningioma with very low labeling index(0-0.3), 2 of 5 cases of low grade astrocytoma with low labeling index(0-11.3), 3 of 5 cases of anaplastic astrocytoma with middle labeling index(0-28.2), 6 of 8 cases of glioblastoma multiforme and 4 of 4 cases of malignant oligodendroglioma with high labelling index(0-92.3, 7.6-48.1). Expression of PCNA was not detected in low grade oligodendrogliomas. Tumor group with high expression of p53 protein showed increment of PCNA expression. A strong positive correlation between tumor grade and extent of p53 protein and PCNA expression was found(p<0.002) .
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Astrocytoma ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Glioblastoma ; Immunochemistry ; Immunohistochemistry ; Meningioma ; Oligodendroglioma ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen*

The author reviewed 294 cases of surgically treated cerebral aneurysms during the period from January, 1987 to December, 1992. The results were as follow: The sex ratio between male and female was 1:1.53 and the mean age was 51.3 years. 2) At admission, 220 patients were in relatively good neurologic condition and functional recovery was obtained in 229 patients(78%). 3) The most common site was anterior communicating artery and the number of posterior circulation aneurysms was 12(4%). 4) The incidence of multiple aneurysms was 4% and clinical vasospasm was observed in 19% of the patients. 5) Operative mortality was 8.8% and the prognostic factors were related with age, sex, history of hypertension, amount of SAH, size and site of aneurysm, preoperative neurologic state, clinical vasospasm, and timing of operation.
Aneurysm ; Arteries ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Male ; Mortality ; Sex Ratio

A series of 44 patients with cerebral arteriovenous malformations(AVM's) treated by various modalities from January, 1987, to March, 1994, at Chung-Ang University Hospital were reviewed with emphasis on the outcome. Of these patients, 8 received conservative treatment, 16 only surgery, 4 combined embolization and surgery, and 16 embolization alone. The follow-up period ranged from 7 months to 54 months with a mean of 20.6 months. The efficacy of the combined treatment was evaluated by the complications and the clinical outcome. When compared with surgery alone, preoperative embolization facilitated surgery by reducing intraoperative bleeding and shortening the time of surgery. Clinical outcome was better after preoperative embolization, with no occurrence of major complications and mortality. Five AVM's were totally occluded by embolization alone, but of the 5 cases, 1 case was readmitted due to bleeding 2 years after the embolization. It is concluded that combined treatment with preoperative embolization and surgery was helpful in the management of large, high grade AVM's by reducing the complications associated with their surgical removal.
Arteriovenous Malformations ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Mortality

Left-sided portal hypertension and consequent gastric varices can occur in patients with isolated splenic vein thrombosis. It is a rare but clinically significant and curable cause of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Our patient, a 20-year-old woman, with left flank pain was diagnosed with having idiopathic splenic vein thrombosis with resultant splenic infarction. Thorough workups for the possible etiologies of splenic vein thrombosis were all negative. After six months of anticoagulation, follow-up computed tomography revealed formation of gastric varices; one month following the discovery, she developed gastrointestinal bleeding. Splenectomy was performed, resulting in the resolution of gastric varices.
Esophageal and Gastric Varices* ; Female ; Flank Pain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; Splenectomy ; Splenic Infarction* ; Splenic Vein* ; Thrombosis* ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This comparative study analyzed the relationship between the preoperative diagnostic tumor size and the postoperative pathologic tumor size for breast cancer patients and benign breast tumor patients. METHODS: We analyzed the clinicopathological information of 191 breast cancer patients and 187 benign breast tumor patients by conducting a retrospective chart review. The preoperative diagnostic tumor sizes were measured using physical examination, mammography and sonography in the benign breast tumor patients and they were additionally measured by computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the breast cancer patients. Body mass index (BMI) was defined as the ratio of the body weight in kilograms to the square of height in meters. RESULTS: The tumor sizes measured by mammography (r=0.66) and physical examination (r=0.87) were highly correlated to the pathologic tumor size in the breast cancer patients and benign the breast tumor patients, respectively. Physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging had a tendency to overestimate the tumor size and sonography underestimated the pathologic tumor size in the breast cancer patients. The correlation coefficient for the physical examination was increased when the patient age was less than 50 years and the BMI was less than 25. Multiple regression analysis revealed that assessing the tumor size according to physical examination, mammography and sonography were effective for determining estimation of pathologic tumor size in the benign breast tumor patients, but assessing the tumor size by physical examination and sonography was not effective for determining the tumor size in breast cancer patients. CONCLUSION: Mammography and physical examination can be useful to estimate the pathologic tumor size in breast cancer patients and benign breast tumor patients, respectively. Physical examination can be useful to estimate the size when a breast tumor is palpable, the age of a patient is less than 50, and the BMI is less than 25.
Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mammography ; Physical Examination ; Retrospective Studies ; Tumor Burden