OBJECTIVE: To analyze the complications of percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy using CT-based imaging modalities for needle guidance in comparison with fluoroscopy in a large retrospective cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by multiple Institutional Review Boards and the requirement for informed consent was waived. We retrospectively included 10568 biopsies from eight referral hospitals from 2010 through 2014. In univariate and multivariate logistic analyses, 3 CT-based guidance modalities (CT, CT fluoroscopy, and cone-beam CT) were compared with fluoroscopy in terms of the risk of pneumothorax, pneumothorax requiring chest tube insertion, and hemoptysis, with adjustment for other risk factors. RESULTS: Pneumothorax occurred in 2298 of the 10568 biopsies (21.7%). Tube insertion was required after 316 biopsies (3.0%), and hemoptysis occurred in 550 cases (5.2%). In the multivariate analysis, pneumothorax was more frequently detected with CT {odds ratio (OR), 2.752 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.325–3.258), p < 0.001}, CT fluoroscopy (OR, 1.440 [95% CI, 1.176–1.762], p < 0.001), and cone-beam CT (OR, 2.906 [95% CI, 2.235–3.779], p < 0.001), but no significant relationship was found for pneumothorax requiring chest tube insertion (p = 0.497, p = 0.222, and p = 0.216, respectively). The incidence of hemoptysis was significantly lower under CT (OR, 0.348 [95% CI, 0.247–0.491], p < 0.001), CT fluoroscopy (OR, 0.594 [95% CI, 0.419–0.843], p = 0.004), and cone-beam CT (OR, 0.479 [95% CI, 0.317–0.724], p < 0.001) guidance. CONCLUSION: Hemoptysis occurred less frequently with CT-based guidance modalities in comparison with fluoroscopy. Although pneumothorax requiring chest tube insertion showed a similar incidence, pneumothorax was more frequently detected using CT-based guidance modalities.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Needle ; Chest Tubes ; Cohort Studies ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Ethics Committees, Research ; Fluoroscopy ; Hemoptysis ; Image-Guided Biopsy ; Incidence ; Informed Consent ; Lung Neoplasms ; Multivariate Analysis ; Needles ; Pneumothorax ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

On page 323, the grant number was incorrectly numbered as HI15C1234. The correct number is HI15C3390.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the diagnostic accuracy of percutaneous transthoracic needle lung biopsies (PTNBs) on the basis of the intention-to-diagnose principle and identify risk factors for diagnostic failure of PTNBs in a multi-institutional setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 9384 initial PTNBs performed in 9239 patients (mean patient age, 65 years [range, 20–99 years]) from January 2010 to December 2014 were included. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of PTNBs for diagnosis of malignancy were measured. The proportion of diagnostic failures was measured, and their risk factors were identified. RESULTS: The overall accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 91.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 90.6–91.7%), 92.5% (95% CI, 91.9–93.1%), 86.5% (95% CI, 85.0–87.9%), 99.2% (95% CI, 99.0–99.4%), and 84.3% (95% CI, 82.7–85.8%), respectively. The proportion of diagnostic failures was 8.9% (831 of 9384; 95% CI, 8.3–9.4%). The independent risk factors for diagnostic failures were lesions ≤ 1 cm in size (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.86; 95% CI, 1.23–2.81), lesion size 1.1–2 cm (1.75; 1.45–2.11), subsolid lesions (1.81; 1.32–2.49), use of fine needle aspiration only (2.43; 1.80–3.28), final diagnosis of benign lesions (2.18; 1.84–2.58), and final diagnosis of lymphomas (10.66; 6.21–18.30). Use of cone-beam CT (AOR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.13–0.75) and conventional CT-guidance (0.55; 0.32–0.94) reduced diagnostic failures. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of PTNB for diagnosis of malignancy was fairly high in our large-scale multi-institutional cohort. The identified risk factors for diagnostic failure may help reduce diagnostic failure and interpret the biopsy results.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Cohort Studies ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Image-Guided Biopsy ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung ; Lymphoma ; Needles ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity

In this article, a part of fund and grant supports was omitted unintentionally.

PURPOSE: Previously, we reported the presence of virus-encoded microRNAs (miRNAs) in the urine of prostate cancer (CaP) patients. In this study, we investigated the expression of two herpes virus-encoded miRNAs in prostate tissue. METHODS: A total of 175 tissue samples from noncancerous benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), 248 tissue samples from patients with CaP and BPH, and 50 samples from noncancerous surrounding tissues from these same patients were analyzed for the expression of two herpes virus-encoded miRNAs by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunocytochemistry using nanoparticles as molecular beacons. RESULTS: Real-time reverse transcription-PCR results revealed significantly higher expression of hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2-miRH9- 5p in surrounding noncancerous and CaP tissues than that in BPH tissue (each comparison, P<0.001). Of note, these miRNA were expressed equivalently in the CaP tissues and surrounding noncancerous tissues. Moreover, immunocytochemistry clearly demonstrated a significant enrichment of both hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2-miR-H9 beacon-labeled cells in CaP and surrounding noncancerous tissue compared to that in BPH tissue (each comparison, P<0.05 for hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2- miR-H9). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that increased expression of hsv1-miR-H18 and hsv2-miR-H95p might be associated with tumorigenesis in the prostate. Further studies will be required to elucidate the role of these miRNAs with respect to CaP and herpes viral infections.
Carcinogenesis ; Herpesviridae ; Humans ; Hyperplasia* ; Immunohistochemistry ; MicroRNAs ; Nanoparticles ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

This is a case report of a 68-year-old man with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accompanied by hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu disease, and hepatic vascular malformation. HHT is an autosomal dominant disorder of the fibrovascular tissue that is characterized by recurrent epistaxis, mucocutaneous telangiectasias, and visceral arteriovenous malformations. HHT is caused by mutation of the genes involved in the signaling pathway of transforming growth factor-beta, which plays an important role in the formation of vascular endothelia1. Hepatic involvement has been reported as occurring in 30-73% of patients with HHT. However, symptomatic liver involvement is quite rare, and the representative clinical presentations of HHT in hepatic involvement are high-output heart failure, portal hypertension, nodular regenerative hyperplasia, and symptoms of biliary ischemia. Some cases of HCC in association with HHT have been reported, but are very rare. We present herein the characteristic radiologic and genetic findings of HHT that was diagnosed during the evaluation and treatment of HCC.
Activin Receptors, Type II/genetics ; Aged ; Angiography ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*complications/*therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Exons ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/*complications/*therapy ; Male ; Mutation ; *Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic/complications/genetics/pathology/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: We designed a water-based bolus device for radiation therapy in Kaposi's sarcoma. This study evaluated the usefulness of this new device and compared it with the currently used rice-based bolus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We fashioned a polystyrene box and cut a hole in order to insert patient's extremities while the patient was in the supine position. We used a vacuum-vinyl based polymer to reduce water leakage. Next, we eliminated air using a vacuum pump and a vacuum valve to reduce the air gap between the water and extremities in the vacuum-vinyl box. We performed CT scans to evaluate the density difference of the fabricated water-based bolus device when the device in which the rice-based bolus was placed directly, the rice-based bolus with polymer-vinyl packed rice, and the water were all put in. We analyzed the density change with the air gap volume using a planning system. In addition, we measured the homogeneity and dose in the low-extremities phantom, attached to six TLD, and wrapped film exposed in parallel-opposite fields with the LINAC under the same conditions as the set-up of the CT-simulator. RESULTS: The density value of the rice-based bolus with the rice put in directly was 14% lower than that of the water-based bolus. Moreover, the value of the other experiments in the rice-based bolus with the polymer-vinyl packed rice showed an 18% reduction in density. The analysis of the EDR2 film revealed that the water-based bolus shows a more homogeneous dose plan, which was superior by 4.0~4.4% to the rice-base bolus. The mean TLD readings of the rice-based bolus, with the rice put directly into the polystyrene box had a 3.4% higher density value. Moreover, the density value in the case of the rice-based bolus with polymer-vinyl packed rice had a 4.3% higher reading compared to the water-based bolus. CONCLUSION: Our custom-made water-based bolus device increases the accuracy of the set-up by confirming the treatment field. It also improves the accuracy of the therapy owing to the reduction of the air gap using a vacuum pump and a vacuum valve. This set-up represents a promising alternative device for delivering a homogenous dose to the target volume.

Toluene is known to cause a moderate degree of hypokalemia, myalgia, and even muscular weakness. We encountered the patient with acute hypokalemic paralysis in a chronic glue sniffer. A 32-year-old Korean male was taken to the emergency room with muscle weakness and somnolence. His serum chemistries showed severe hypokalemia and hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. The urine toxicology screening showed excess levels of hippuric acid. His serum potassium level and metabolic acidosis were corrected after interruption of the offending agents and KCl & bicarbonate replacement. We report a case of severe hypokalemic muscular paralysis with renal tubular acidosis resulting from toluene inhalation.
Acidosis ; Acidosis, Renal Tubular* ; Adhesives ; Adult ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Hypokalemia ; Inhalation ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Muscle Weakness ; Myalgia ; Paralysis* ; Potassium ; Toluene ; Toxicology

The pregnancy-associated breast cancer is one of the most common malignancy developed during pregnant period and occupies 1-2% of the all breast cancer patients. There is no evidence to implicate pregnancy or lactation in either the etiology and the progression of breast cancer. Careful breast examination early in the pregnancy is very important to find solid masses before breast engorgement hides them. But unfortunately, delay in the diagnosis is common and most of patients with operable primary lesions have positive axillary lymph nodes. The treatment of choice is the modified radical mastectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. The authors report a patient of breast cancer diagnosed and treated during pregnancy with review of literature.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Lactation ; Lymph Nodes ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Pregnancy*

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Recently, treatment failure with the third generation of cephalosporin was increasingly noted in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). We therefore were to evaluate the pattern of antibiotic resistance and its clinical significance. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 580 episodes of SBP occurring between 1995 and 1999. There were 87 episodes of SBP in 1995, 222 in 1998, and 271 in 1999. The pattern of isolated organisms and antibiotic resistance, and prognostic factors for survival, were analyzed. RESULTS: Microorganisms were isolated in 41% of total episodes. The three most frequently isolated organisms were E. coli (48%), K. pneumoniae (15%), and Aeromonas (8%). The percentage of resistant strains to cefotaxime (9%, 14%, 32%) and ciprofloxacin (13%, 21%, 32%) significantly increased. The proportion of E. coli producing extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) also increased significantly (0%, 16%, 33%). The need of secondary antibiotics such as imipenem due to treatment failure was significantly increased from 0% in 1995 to 33% in 1999. Overall in-hospital mortality, however, was not changed (20%, 20%, 24%, respectively). The factor affecting early mortality was renal failure at diagnosis. Prognostic factors for long-term survival were the presence of associated malignancy and ESBL-producing microorganisms. CONCLUSION: Microorgansims resistant to third generation cephalosporin and quinolone were increasingly isolated over the 5 years in patients with SBP. Measures to prevent in-hospital spread of resistant strains and indiscreet use of antibiotics should therefore be instituted.
4-Quinolones ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology ; Bacterial Infections/complications/*drug therapy/*microbiology/mortality ; Cephalosporin Resistance ; Drug Resistance ; English Abstract ; Female ; Human ; Liver Cirrhosis/complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritonitis/complications/*drug therapy/microbiology/mortality ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate