BACKGROUND: Benign pathologic findings are shown in 800% of thyroid nodules by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or needle biopsy. About half of these benign nodules are follicular lesions which are presented only as thyroid follicles or thyroid cell clumps. Differential diagnosis of follicular adenoma, follicular carcinoma and adenomatous goiter is impossible by FNAC or needle biopsy. Thyroxine suppression therapy has been performed traditionally in order to discriminate malignant nodules, but few studies are available which confirmed the efficacy of thyroxine suppression therapy in thyroid nodules of those the initial pathologic findings were follicular lesions. So we tried to evaluate the efficacy of thyroxine suppression therapy in benign thyroid nodules and also the incidence of thyroid cancer of the thyroid nosules which were not decreased on thyroxine suppression therapy after surgical resection. METHODS: Total 1027 patients with thyroid nodules were evaluated by FNAC or needle biopsy at Soonchunhyang university hospital from 1990 to 1996. Among 1027 patients, 507 patients showed follicular lesions in FNAC or needle biopsy and they received thyroxine suppression therapy. Thyroid nodule volume was measured before and after thyroxine suppression therapy using ultrasonography. We studied 184 patients who were followed up for more than 1 year. Serial changes of thyroid function tests, thyroid nodule volume, serum thyroglubulin (Tg) level before and after therapy were analyzed. RESULTS: l. In 80 (43.5%) of the 184 patients, nodule volumes decreased more than 50 percent after thyroxine suppression therapy. 2. There was no significant difference in serum T3, T4, TSH levels before and after thyroxine suppression therapy between group I (nodule volume decreased less than 50%) and group II (nodule volume decreased more than 50%). 3. In group II patients, thyroid nodule volumes were decreased continuously at 12 month, 18 month and 30 month after thyroxine suppression (p<0.05). 4. There was no significant difference between the group I and group II in the frequency of multiple thyroid nodules on ultrasonography. 5. Among 37 patients who underwent thyroidectomy, 19 cases (51.4%) were revealed as malignant thyroid nodules (papillary cancer 4 cases, follicular cancer 15 cases). Eighteen cases (48.6%) were revealed as benign thyroid nodules (follicular adenoma 10 cases, adenomatous goiter 8 cases). 6. There was no significant difference in the frequency of multiple nodules on ultrasonography between benign and malignant nodules. CONCLUSION: Our data suggested thyroxine suppression therapy was effective in discriminating malignant thyroid nodules from benign nodules, especially in selecting follicular carcinoma from follicular lesion by FNAC or biopsy.
Adenoma ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Biopsy, Needle ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Goiter ; Humans ; Incidence ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thyroid Nodule* ; Thyroidectomy ; Thyroxine* ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* ; Scabies*

BACKGROUND: For atopic dermatitis (AD), the causal relationship between food and exacerbation is relatively weak in adults compared to children. However, many adult patients report food-related aggravation of AD, and some may have histamine intolerance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of ingested histamine and investigate the effect of a histamine-free diet in adult patients with AD. METHODS: Adult patients with AD and healthy controls were enrolled. Patients were prohibited from eating foods with high amounts of histamine for 4 weeks. There were no diet restrictions for the controls. The eczema area and severity index (EASI) and degree of pruritus using the visual analogue scale (VAS) were evaluated. Plasma histamine levels and diamine oxidase (DAO) activity were determined, and compared with those of the control group. RESULTS: Seventeen adult patients were recruited and of these, 12 completed the 4-week histamine-free diet. There was no significant difference in the basal plasma histamine levels between the patients and controls. Basal DAO activity was significantly higher in patients compared to the controls. There was no significant difference in plasma histamine levels after the histamine free-diet and DAO activity was not altered. Moreover, EASI and VAS were similar before and after the histamine-free diet. CONCLUSION: Ingested histamine might be unrelated with AD severity and a histamine-free diet is unhelpful for adult patients with AD.
Adult* ; Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing) ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Diet* ; Eating ; Eczema ; Histamine ; Humans ; Plasma ; Pruritus

We report a case of chronic encapsulated intracerebellar hematoma occurring during infancy. An 18 month-old boy was admitted because for 3 months, his head could not be held upright, but fell to the left. Computed tomographic(CT) scanning and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) of the brain revealed a round mass at the cerebellar vermis ; the lesion simulated a cerebellar tumor such as a medulloblastoma. The mass was surgically removed and found to be a well-encapsulated organized intracerebral hematoma. The characteristic clinical and radiologic findings and histopathologic features are discussed, and a survey of the literature is included.
Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Cerebellar Neoplasms ; Head ; Hematoma* ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Medulloblastoma

No abstract available.
Cryotherapy* ; Pemphigus, Benign Familial*

No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Milk Hypersensitivity* ; Milk*

No abstract available.
Eczema* ; Hand* ; Rubber*

Migrant workers face challenging working conditions, resulting in physical and mental vulnerability. The objective is to identify their health vulnerabilities and ensure their right to health. Health records of 163 migrant workers (113 males and 50 females) (Group A) and 163 Korean citizens (Group B) visiting our institution were analyzed from August 2021 to July 2022. Both groups underwent urine analysis, chest radiography, and various blood tests. Statistical analysis using independent t-tests and χ2 tests was performed. Group A had a significantly higher rate of hepatitis B virus surface antigen-positive patients, lower vaccination rates for hepatitis B, and poorer nutritional status compared to Group B. Group B generally exhibited higher levels of albumin, glucose, total cholesterol, and thyroidstimulating hormone. There were significant quantitative differences in multiple blood cell and hemoglobin measurements between the two groups. These findings emphasize the need for policy support and public awareness to protect the health rights of migrant workers.

The incidence of paraplegia following drain of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) by lumbar puncure below a spinal block is rare, and most of them occurred in spinal tumor. We report a case of acute paraplegia following lumbar puncture for computed tomography myelography(CTM) in a 42-year-old man who sustained a cervical disc herniation. Four hours after lumbar puncture for CTM, sudden paraplegia was developed. After emergent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion with cervical plating, the patient recovered completely. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of spinal shock complicating lumbar puncture for routine myelography in a patient with cervical disc herniation. The prompt recognition of this unusual complication of lumbar puncture may lead to good clinical outcome. Instead of CTM requiring lumbar puncture, MRI should be considered as the initial diagnostic procedure in a patient of cervical disc herniation associated with myelopathy. We discuss the possible mechanisms of acute paraplegia following lumbar puncture with literature review.
Adult ; Diskectomy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Myelography ; Paraplegia* ; Shock ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; Spinal Puncture*

We report a case of thymic hyperplasia accompanied by pericardial lipomatosis and right facial hemihypertrophy in an 8-year-old boy. On imaging studies, the hyperplastic thymus had prominent curvilinear and nodular fatty areas simulating a fat-containing anterior mediastinal mass, which is an unusual finding in children. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a child with a combination of thymic hyperplasia, pericardial lipomatosis, and right facial hemihypertrophy. The radiologic findings are presented with a brief discussion.
Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Facial Asymmetry/complications/*diagnosis ; Heart Diseases/complications/*diagnosis/surgery ; Humans ; Hypertrophy/pathology ; Lipomatosis/complications/*diagnosis/surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pericardium/*pathology ; Thymus Hyperplasia/complications/*diagnosis/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed