Inflammatory pseudotumor of a lymph node is a rare cause of benign inguinal lymphadenopathy, and this mimics the malignant causes of inguinal lymphadenopathy. The imaging features of inflammatory pseudotumor affecting the inguinal lymph nodes have not previously been described. We report here on a case in which the lesion was depicted on the contrast-enhanced CT scan as a well-defined mass with strong enhancement. Inflammatory pseudotumor of a lymph node may be included as one of the rare causes of inguinal lymphadenopathy.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell* ; Groin ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Barbiturates* ; Brain* ; Membranes*

PURPOSE: Totally extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair has gained in popularity in the past two decades. Despite the advantages TEP hernia repair, the approach is hindered by the relatively long learning curve of the surgery. We tried to estimate the necessary number of repetitions of TEP hernia repair in the learning curve using logarithmic and exponential function models. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent TEP hernia repair by a single surgeon consecutively at a single center. We calculated how many operations were needed to achieve a reduction in the expected operating time to mean operating time using logarithmic and exponential function models. RESULTS: In the 91 patients, the logarithmic function model predicted that 37 cases were needed to overcome the learning curve for TEP hernia repair while the exponential model predicted that 39 cases were needed. CONCLUSION: According to this study, at least 37 to 39 cases are needed in the overcome learning curve of TEP hernia repair. Further studies are needed to optimize surgical education and maximize quality.
Education ; Herniorrhaphy* ; Humans ; Learning Curve* ; Learning* ; Likelihood Functions ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Although local resection like endoscopic mucosal resection for early gastric cancer is accepted as a treatment option, one of the most important drawbacks of such an approach is the inability to predictlymph node metastasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum soluble receptor alpha for interleukin-2 (IL-2Ralpha) level as a predictor of lymph node metastasis in the patients with early gastric cancer. METHODS: Assessment of pre-operative serum IL-2Ralpha levels was performed on 86 patients with early gastric cancer treated by gastrectomies combined with D2 lymph node resections and 20 healthy controls at Samsung Medical Center. Data on patient age and gender, tumor size, depth of invasion, histologic differentiation, and endoscopic findings were reviewed post-operatively. The submucosal lesions were divided into three layers (sm1, sm2, and sm3) in accordance with the depth of invasion. RESULTS: Lymph node metastasis was observed in 16 patients (18.6%). Statistically, the serum IL-2Ralpha level was an important predictive factor of lymph node metastasis in undifferentiated gastric cancer, and the cut-off point for the predictive value of serum IL-2Ralpha level was 200 U/mL. CONCLUSION: The serum IL-2Ralpha level might be a good predictor of lymph node metastasis in undifferentiated early gastric cancer.
Biomarkers ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Stomach Neoplasms

PURPOSE: Acute lower respiratory tract infections (LRI) are important causes of pediatric morbidity and mortality. Recently among the common pathogens causing acute LRI in children respiratory viruses are apparently increasing rather than bacteria and mycoplasma in Korea. This study was aimed to define the distribution of age, seasonal variation and clinical manifestation of respiratory virus in children. METHODS: All 328 children in Seoul, who had hospitalized at the Pediatric ward of Hanyang University (138 children), Hallym University (61 children) and Sungkunkwan University (129 children) for the treatment of respiratory diseases were studied from March, 1997 to February, 1998. In nasopharyngeal aspirates obtained from these patients viral agents were detected by virus isolation and/or antigen detection by indirect immunofluorescent staining. But the subjects who was not found respiratory virus were excluded, although respiratory symptoms were present. RESULTS: 1) One or more agents were identified in 328 subjects. 2) The pathogens identified were Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV : 44.7%), influenza A virus (25.6 %), parainfluenza virus (14.6%), influenza B virus (14.3%), adenovirus (4.3%) and two or more viruses (3%). 3) Infections with RSV, parainfluenza virus and influenza A and B virus occured in epidemics, while adenovirus was isolated sporadically throughout the study period. 4) Clinical patterns of viral LRI were pneumonia (39%), bronchiolitis (34%), croup (18%), acute pharyngitis (7%) and asthma (2%). CONCLUSIONS: RSV was the most important in viral respiratory tract infection in children. Clinical manifestation and epidemic characterics were variable according to the agent. Accordingly, we should acknowledge the importance of respiratory virus to cause the repiratory tract diseases in children.
Adenoviridae ; Asthma ; Bacteria ; Bronchiolitis ; Child ; Croup ; Epidemiology* ; Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; Influenza B virus ; Influenza, Human ; Korea ; Mortality ; Mycoplasma ; Paramyxoviridae Infections ; Pharyngitis ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Respiratory System* ; Respiratory Tract Infections* ; Seasons ; Seoul*

Small cell carcinomas most often arise in the lung, and metastatic involvement of the stomach is uncommonly reported. Primary small cell carcinomas of the stomach have similar biological features to those of pulmonary small cell carcinomas, an aggressive behavior, with a very poor prognosis. Herein, two cases of primary gastric small cell carcinoma, diagnosed after gastrectomy from their clinicopathological features, are reported. A 78-year-old female and a 68-year-old male with dyspepsia and weight loss, respectively, were admitted to our hospital. Their upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and abdomen-pelvis CT were checked. A preoperative histological examination of the endoscopic biopsy specimens revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas. A radical subtotal gastrectomy was performed for both patients. The histological finding and immunohistochemical staining of the resected stomach indicated small cell carcinomas. After the operations, the patients were discharged without any postoperative complications. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, with cisplatin and etoposide, was performed for the latter patient. The patients have been followed up for 10 and 8 months, respectively, without recurrence or metastasis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Carcinoma, Small Cell* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cisplatin ; Dyspepsia ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Etoposide ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lung ; Male ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Postoperative Complications ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Stomach* ; Weight Loss

BACKGROUND: Combined spinal-epidural anesthesia has been used to reduce the side effect of spinal or epidural anesthesia. The epinephrine test dose to prevent intravascular injection of local anesthetics after subarachnoid block has not been clearly understood. The purpose of present study is to see the efficacy of simulated intravenous test dose during subarachnoid block. METHODS: 20 ASA physical status 1 and 2 patients underwent subarachnoid block with tetracaine 10 mg in hyperbaric solution at the L3-4 interspace and were divided into two groups, Group 1 (n=10) and Group 2 (n=10). 3 ml of Normal saline was injected intravenously to group 1, while 1:200,000 epinephrine 3 ml (15 microgram) was injected intravenously to group 2 at regression of sensory block to T8-10. 1:200,000 epinephrine 3 ml (15 microgram) was given to each volunteer (Group 3, n=10). Heart rate (HR) was measured at 15 seconds intervals for 3 minutes and systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured at 1 minute intervals for 5 minutes. RESULTS: SBP increased significantly in group 2 and group 3 at 1 minute after epinephrine test dose injection. Maximal HR changes was 39.7 3.7 beat per minute in group 2 and 25.8 5.2 beat per minute in group 3. There was 100% incidence of detection of intravascular injection of 15 microgram epinephrine in both group when HR increase > or = 20 beats per minute is regarded as positive response. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the epinephrine test dose is useful method to detect intravascular injection of local anesthetics either in the combined spinal-epidural anesthesia or epidural anesthesia. The heart rate response after injection of epinephrine was greater than the blood pressure response.
Adult* ; Anesthesia* ; Anesthesia, Epidural ; Anesthetics, Local ; Blood Pressure ; Epinephrine* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Incidence ; Tetracaine ; Volunteers

A dissecting aneurysm of the vertebral artery may be treated conservatively, surgically, or using an endovascular approach. Proximal clipping, wrapping or trapping are surgical treatment methods, and endovascular treatment with coils and balloons is performed where a dissecting aneurysm is located near the midline or the appropriate surgical manipulation is difficult. As the contralateral vertebral artery of this patient was hypoplastic, the stent-assisted coil embolization technique was employed to preserve the ipsilateral vertebral artery. We describe a clinical case of dissecting aneurysm of the vertebral artery occurring in a patient in whom a hypoplastic contralateral vertebral artery was successfully treated.
Aneurysm, Dissecting* ; Embolization, Therapeutic* ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Stents* ; Vertebral Artery*

PURPOSE: The high mortality and morbidity rates associated with traumatic rupture of the small bowel have been attributed to the clinical difficulty of establishing an early diagnosis. CT scan is the most widely used tool for the diagnosis of blunt abdominal trauma, but its accuracy in diagnosing small bowel perforation is still controversial. This study was conducted to determine the overall and time-dependent diagnostic value of abdominal CT and the clinical findings of small bowel perforation. METHODS: The clinical data and CT images of 21 patients with small bowel perforation after blunt trauma were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the early and late elapsed time groups based on the elapsed time of 8 hours from the initial trauma to the time of evaluation. RESULTS: Any changes of the vital signs, including hypotension, tachycardia or fever, were observed in only half of the patients. Signs of peritonitis were evident in 7/11 of the early lapse group and in 10/10 of the late lapse group. The most common CT finding of small bowel perforation was free peritoneal air (17 of 21 patients), followed by segmental bowel wall thickening (15/21), high density ascites (14/21), an intermesentric fluid collection (13/21) and mesentic fat obliteration (11/21). Extraluminal air and segmental bowel wall thickening were detected more frequently in the late lapse group (P=0.03 and 0.01, respectively). In the one patient, bowel perforation was not evident at the initial evaluation according to the clinical findings and CT, but the follow-up CT exam showed specific findings for bowel perforation. CONCLUSION: CT scanning is a sensitive and effective modality for the evaluation of small bowel perforation, but this is less sensitive during the earlier post traumatic period. Therefore, careful clinical and radiological follow up is necessary for suspected cases, and even when an initial evaluation shows negative findings for bowel injury.
Ascites ; Early Diagnosis ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Peritonitis ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Tachycardia ; Vital Signs

PURPOSE: Along with the development of minimally invasive surgery, laparoscopic surgery has recently been adopted worldwide. In cases of laparoscopic appendectomy, single port appendectomy is increasingly being adopted due to its cosmetic advantages and reduced pain. This study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors associated with post-operative complications in single port appendectomy. METHODS: Forty-nine consecutive patients who underwent transumbilical single port appendectomy (TUSPLA) were enrolled in this study. We reviewed the initial WBC count, hsCRP, position of the appendix, and intra operative findings and then analyzed the data by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Complications were observed in five of the 49 patients (10.2%). Specifically, wound complications were observed in three patients (6.1%), and periappendiceal fluid collection occurred in two patients (4.1%). Univariate analysis revealed a retrocecal type appendix (p=0.046) and overweight (BMI> or =23, p=0.034) as risk factors significantly correlated with the occurrence of complications. Conversely, retrocecal type appendix (p=0.121) and overweight (BMI> or =23, p=0.329) were not significantly correlated with complications upon multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: For patients with a high risk of postoperative complications, including those with retrocecal appendix undergoing TUSPLA and obese patients, sufficient informed consent is necessary, and intensive monitoring for the incidence of complications must be considered postoperatively. However, further studies enrolling larger groups of patients should be conducted to confirm these findings.
Appendectomy ; Appendix ; Cosmetics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Informed Consent ; Laparoscopy ; Overweight ; Postoperative Complications ; Risk Factors