PURPOSE: To report the clinical data and visual outcomes after treatment of patients with dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and orbital images of 40 patients (65 eyes) with DON and analyzed the visual outcomes after treatment with intravenous steroids pulse therapy, radiotherapy and orbital decompression. RESULTS: The study included 21 men and 19 women, with 10 (25%) being diabetic patients. Visual field test results revealed defects in 88.7% of DON eyes; afferent pupillary defects in 63.2%; reduced color vision in 78.5%; and abnormal visual evoked potentials in 84%. Orbital imaging showed moderate to severe apical crowding in 95% of the orbits and intracranial fat prolapse in 24.2%. Median best corrected visual acuity improved from 0.4 to 1.0 after one year of treatment (p < 0.001). We noted more improvement in vision with the use of decompressive surgery than with non-surgical methods (p < 0.05). Recurrences occurred in 7 patients who had not received orbital radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Visual field defects and apical crowding seen on orbital imaging were the most sensitive indicators for the detection of DON. Treatment with intravenous steroids pulse therapy, radiotherapy and orbital decompression effectively improved visual outcomes in cases of DON.
Adult ; Aged ; Combined Modality Therapy ; *Decompression, Surgical ; Diabetes Complications ; Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Female ; *Graves Ophthalmopathy/pathology/surgery/therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulse Therapy, Drug ; Pupil Disorders ; *Radiotherapy ; Recovery of Function ; Recurrence/prevention & control ; Retrospective Studies ; Steroids/*administration & dosage ; Visual Acuity ; Visual Fields ; Young Adult

The patient was a 52-year-old female with swelling in both lower legs and peripheral blood eosinophilia. Biopsy specimen revealed the heavy infiltration of eosinophils with sparse small lymphocytes showing mild atypia. The diagnosis was Kimura disease. The symptoms including eosinophilia were relieved by steroid treatment. At 17 months from initial biopsy, the patient developed swelling of the buttock. At 25 months, fever and dyspnea with multiple lung nodules developed. Wedge resection revealed multiple aggregates of CD3(+), CD56(+), Epstein-Barr virus(+) large atypical lymphocytes with necrosis. The patient was finally diagnosed with extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma (NKTL). Epstein-Barr virus in situ hybridization retrospectively performed on the previous biopsies demonstrated Epstein-Barr virus infection in small CD3(+) lymphocytes. The patient expired after 26 months despite chemotherapy. Blood eosinophilia correlated well with disease activity during the clinical course. This case shows not only unusual histologic features, which hampered the correct diagnosis, but also a unique clinical manifestation of NKTL.
Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia ; Biopsy ; Buttocks ; Dyspnea ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Female ; Fever ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Leg ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma ; Middle Aged ; Morphinans ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Necrosis ; Retrospective Studies

The patient was a 52-year-old female with swelling in both lower legs and peripheral blood eosinophilia. Biopsy specimen revealed the heavy infiltration of eosinophils with sparse small lymphocytes showing mild atypia. The diagnosis was Kimura disease. The symptoms including eosinophilia were relieved by steroid treatment. At 17 months from initial biopsy, the patient developed swelling of the buttock. At 25 months, fever and dyspnea with multiple lung nodules developed. Wedge resection revealed multiple aggregates of CD3(+), CD56(+), Epstein-Barr virus(+) large atypical lymphocytes with necrosis. The patient was finally diagnosed with extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma (NKTL). Epstein-Barr virus in situ hybridization retrospectively performed on the previous biopsies demonstrated Epstein-Barr virus infection in small CD3(+) lymphocytes. The patient expired after 26 months despite chemotherapy. Blood eosinophilia correlated well with disease activity during the clinical course. This case shows not only unusual histologic features, which hampered the correct diagnosis, but also a unique clinical manifestation of NKTL.
Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia ; Biopsy ; Buttocks ; Dyspnea ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Female ; Fever ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Leg ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Lymphoma ; Middle Aged ; Morphinans ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Necrosis ; Retrospective Studies

Angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth and metastasis, however, the prognostic value of neovascularization is undetermined. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic significance of microvessel density (MVD) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in breast carcinomas. An immunohistochemical stains for CD 31 (DAKO) to estimate MVD and VEGF (Santa Cruz) were done on 40 cases of invasive breast carcinoma. MVD was calculated as an average count of vessels per 200 power field in the most vascularized areas. VEGF expression was interpreted according to staining intensity and number of positive cells. Mean MVD was 35, and MVD was not correlated with lymph node metastasis or histologic grade, but high MVD (mean MVD>35) showed an increasing tendency in cases with larger size, negative ER/PR, and positive cathepsin D. All of the cases showed VEGF expression, but VEGF expression was not correlated with tumor size, histologic grade, lymph node metastasis, ER/PR status, and cathepsin D expression. These results suggest that MVD and VEGF expressions are not reliable prognostic factors.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Cathepsin D ; Coloring Agents ; Lymph Nodes ; Microvessels* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

Spinal epidural abscess is an uncommon, but a significant disease due to its high morbidity and mortality rate if not diagnosed in time. Although early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention is needed for better prognosis of this disease, the diagnosis of spinal epidural abscess is often elusive despite modern medical advances, and depends on a high index of suspicion. we report a case of lumbar spinal epidural abscess of unknown origin complicated by cauda equina syndrome.
Cauda Equina* ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Epidural Abscess* ; Mortality ; Polyradiculopathy* ; Prognosis

The diagnosis of soft tissue osteochondroma should be considered when a well-defined osseous mass is located in the soft tissues. The differential diagnosis includes myositis ossificans, tumoral calcinosis, synovial chondromatosis, and soft tissue osteosarcoma, true osteochondroma which arises from bone. One case of soft tissue osteochondroma in the knee, a lesion of uncertain pathogenesis is reported.
Calcinosis ; Chondromatosis, Synovial ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Knee ; Myositis Ossificans ; Osteochondroma* ; Osteosarcoma

Follicular lymphoma (FL) with hyaline-vascular Castleman disease (FL-HVCD)-like features is a rare morphologic variant, with fewer than 20 cases in the literature. Herein, we report a case of FL-HVCD in a 37-year-old female who presented with isolated neck lymph node enlargement. The excised lymph node showed features reminiscent of HVCD, including regressed germinal centers (GCs) surrounded by onion skin-like mantle zones, lollipop lesions composed of hyalinized blood vessels penetrating into regressed GCs, and hyalinized interfollicular stroma. In addition, focal areas of abnormally conglomerated GCs composed of homogeneous, small centrocytes with strong BCL2, CD10, and BCL6 expression were observed, indicating partial involvement of the FL. Several other lymphoid follicles showed features of in situ follicular neoplasia. Based on the observations, a diagnosis of FL-HVCD was made. Although FLHVCD is very rare, the possibility of this variant should be considered in cases resembling CD. Identification of abnormal, neoplastic follicles and ancillary immunostaining are helpful for proper diagnosis.

Congenital fibrosarcoma of neonate is a very rare malignant tumor prone to behave aggressively with a tendency to local recurrence without metastasis. It is characteristically composed of collagenous fibroblasts and herringbone pattern in histology. We experienced a case of congenital fibrosarcoma on the left thigh and report this case with some review in literature with 1½ year follow up.
Collagen ; Fibroblasts ; Fibrosarcoma ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Thigh

One hundred patients with hyperventilation syndrome presenting to emergency department(ED) were studied. Those were diagnosed on clinical basis by emergency medical physician. The male to female ratio was 15 : 85. In monthly distribution, the numbers of patients were increased during the two months, June and July. The 41% of patients visited the emergency center from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.. The most common predisposing factors were the domestic problems, especially those between husband and wife(37%). Presenting complaints were dyspnea(34), paresthesia(30), muscle spasm(24), dizziness(6) and palpitation(6 patients). The initial examination of the patients in the ED were as follows, systolic blood pressure(134+/-7.15mmHg), heart rate(87.67+/-14.34/minute), respiratory rate(22.21+/-3.34/minute) and body temperature(36.61+/-0.31 degrees C, n=98). Arterial blood gas analysis showed alkalemia(pH 7.51+/-0.09) and hypocapnia(PCO2 26.67+/-8.30mmHg). After emergency cares, including carbone dioxide re-breathing and antianxietics, most of the symptoms were disappeared. The mean duration of stay in ED was 3.27+/-0.23 hours. The most important considerations in diagnosis of hyperventilation syndrome was the patients's history and the effective management was carbon dioxide rebreathing for a few minutes and antianxietics.
Blood Gas Analysis ; Carbon ; Carbon Dioxide ; Causality ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Hyperventilation* ; Male ; Spouses

Endovascular treatment of isolated bilateral common iliac artery aneurysm (CIAA) requires salvage of at least one internal iliac artery to prevent complications such as ischemic buttock claudication. We treated a case of bilateral CIAAs using an internal iliac branched stent graft. We report a case of a 58-year-old man who presented with bilateral CIAAs. The left internal iliac artery was occluded with coil embolization. The right internal iliac artery was saved by using a branched stent graft. The aneurysms were excluded with conventional endovascular aneurysm repair. Completion angiography showed technical success. Follow up computed tomography angiogram at three months showed complete exclusion of bilateral CIAAs, no endoleaks, and patent right internal iliac artery. There was no pelvic ischemic complication. We treated successfully a case of isolated bilateral CIAAs using an iliac branched stent graft.
Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis* ; Buttocks ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Endoleak ; Endovascular Procedures ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Iliac Artery* ; Middle Aged