Purpose: Non-operative management (NOM) has emerged as a promising organ-preserving strategy for patients with rectal cancer who achieve a clinical complete response (cCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). However, no standardized treatment protocol has been established for watch-and-wait strategies. Materials and Methods: This prospective study evaluated oncological outcomes of NOM combined with 4 months of adjuvant capecitabine. Patients with resectable rectal cancer (≤ 8 cm from the anal verge, cT2-4 or N+) underwent CRT (50-54 Gy in 25-27 fractions with capecitabine). Eight weeks post-CRT, a multidisciplinary team assessed cCR. Patients achieving cCR received six cycles of capecitabine (2 weeks on/1 week off) and were actively monitored. Results: Among 89 patients receiving CRT (2018-2023), 17 (19.1%) achieved cCR and were included. The median age was 65 years, and 64.7% were male. Eleven (64.7%) completed all six cycles of adjuvant therapy. After a median follow-up of 31.4 months, 11 patients (64.7%) remained disease-free. Local regrowth occurred in six patients (35.3%) with 2- and 4-year rates of 34.5% and 47.6%, respectively. Five underwent radical surgery, and one received transanal excision with systemic chemotherapy. At the time of assessment, 15 patients (88.2%) showed no evidence of disease, while two (11.8%) received palliative chemotherapy. All patients were alive. Conclusion NOM with adjuvant capecitabine showed promising oncological outcomes, offering an alternative to passive watch-and-wait approaches. Further refinement through multidisciplinary strategies is warranted.

Purpose: This study compares the dosimetric properties of EBT3 and EBT4 GAFchromic films in transmission and reflection scanning modes, focusing on dose response, sensitivity, and postirradiation stability. Methods: The EBT3 and EBT4 films were irradiated at doses of 0–10 Gy using a Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator at 6 MV. The films were scanned at intervals between 1 and 336 hours after irradiation in both transmission and reflection modes. Net optical density (NetOD) values from each scan were used to evaluate dose response and sensitivity, with calibration curves created for each film and scan mode. Dose differences between calculated and delivered doses were assessed over time. Results: The EBT3 and EBT4 films exhibited similar dose–response curves and stable NetOD values across both scanning modes. However, EBT4 exhibited reduced sensitivity variability in response to dose changes. After irradiation, NetOD values increased up to 24 hours before stabilizing, suggesting that a 24-hour scan time is sufficient for consistent measurements. Dose differences between films and modes remained within ±4%. Conclusions EBT4 offers comparable dosimetric performance to EBT3, with additional benefits, such as improved dose–response linearity and reduced sensitivity fluctuations. The findings indicate that EBT4 can serve as a reliable successor to EBT3.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage is a rare complication that can occur due to dural defects during spinal surgery, hindering the improvement of the surgical site and increasing the possibility of infection. DuraSeal® is a dural sealing adhesive that prevents CSF leakage and is used as an adjunct to enable the watertight repair of dural defects when the dura is damaged during spinal surgery. In the present case, DuraSeal® was applied to repair a dural defect in the surgical area after thoracic spine surgery, and no neurological problems occurred immediately after surgery. However, a day later, the patient’s paraparesis worsened; therefore, reoperation was performed and the symptoms improved.

Purpose: This study compares the dosimetric properties of EBT3 and EBT4 GAFchromic films in transmission and reflection scanning modes, focusing on dose response, sensitivity, and postirradiation stability. Methods: The EBT3 and EBT4 films were irradiated at doses of 0–10 Gy using a Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator at 6 MV. The films were scanned at intervals between 1 and 336 hours after irradiation in both transmission and reflection modes. Net optical density (NetOD) values from each scan were used to evaluate dose response and sensitivity, with calibration curves created for each film and scan mode. Dose differences between calculated and delivered doses were assessed over time. Results: The EBT3 and EBT4 films exhibited similar dose–response curves and stable NetOD values across both scanning modes. However, EBT4 exhibited reduced sensitivity variability in response to dose changes. After irradiation, NetOD values increased up to 24 hours before stabilizing, suggesting that a 24-hour scan time is sufficient for consistent measurements. Dose differences between films and modes remained within ±4%. Conclusions EBT4 offers comparable dosimetric performance to EBT3, with additional benefits, such as improved dose–response linearity and reduced sensitivity fluctuations. The findings indicate that EBT4 can serve as a reliable successor to EBT3.

Purpose: This study compares the dosimetric properties of EBT3 and EBT4 GAFchromic films in transmission and reflection scanning modes, focusing on dose response, sensitivity, and postirradiation stability. Methods: The EBT3 and EBT4 films were irradiated at doses of 0–10 Gy using a Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator at 6 MV. The films were scanned at intervals between 1 and 336 hours after irradiation in both transmission and reflection modes. Net optical density (NetOD) values from each scan were used to evaluate dose response and sensitivity, with calibration curves created for each film and scan mode. Dose differences between calculated and delivered doses were assessed over time. Results: The EBT3 and EBT4 films exhibited similar dose–response curves and stable NetOD values across both scanning modes. However, EBT4 exhibited reduced sensitivity variability in response to dose changes. After irradiation, NetOD values increased up to 24 hours before stabilizing, suggesting that a 24-hour scan time is sufficient for consistent measurements. Dose differences between films and modes remained within ±4%. Conclusions EBT4 offers comparable dosimetric performance to EBT3, with additional benefits, such as improved dose–response linearity and reduced sensitivity fluctuations. The findings indicate that EBT4 can serve as a reliable successor to EBT3.

Purpose: This study compares the dosimetric properties of EBT3 and EBT4 GAFchromic films in transmission and reflection scanning modes, focusing on dose response, sensitivity, and postirradiation stability. Methods: The EBT3 and EBT4 films were irradiated at doses of 0–10 Gy using a Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator at 6 MV. The films were scanned at intervals between 1 and 336 hours after irradiation in both transmission and reflection modes. Net optical density (NetOD) values from each scan were used to evaluate dose response and sensitivity, with calibration curves created for each film and scan mode. Dose differences between calculated and delivered doses were assessed over time. Results: The EBT3 and EBT4 films exhibited similar dose–response curves and stable NetOD values across both scanning modes. However, EBT4 exhibited reduced sensitivity variability in response to dose changes. After irradiation, NetOD values increased up to 24 hours before stabilizing, suggesting that a 24-hour scan time is sufficient for consistent measurements. Dose differences between films and modes remained within ±4%. Conclusions EBT4 offers comparable dosimetric performance to EBT3, with additional benefits, such as improved dose–response linearity and reduced sensitivity fluctuations. The findings indicate that EBT4 can serve as a reliable successor to EBT3.

Purpose: This study compares the dosimetric properties of EBT3 and EBT4 GAFchromic films in transmission and reflection scanning modes, focusing on dose response, sensitivity, and postirradiation stability. Methods: The EBT3 and EBT4 films were irradiated at doses of 0–10 Gy using a Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator at 6 MV. The films were scanned at intervals between 1 and 336 hours after irradiation in both transmission and reflection modes. Net optical density (NetOD) values from each scan were used to evaluate dose response and sensitivity, with calibration curves created for each film and scan mode. Dose differences between calculated and delivered doses were assessed over time. Results: The EBT3 and EBT4 films exhibited similar dose–response curves and stable NetOD values across both scanning modes. However, EBT4 exhibited reduced sensitivity variability in response to dose changes. After irradiation, NetOD values increased up to 24 hours before stabilizing, suggesting that a 24-hour scan time is sufficient for consistent measurements. Dose differences between films and modes remained within ±4%. Conclusions EBT4 offers comparable dosimetric performance to EBT3, with additional benefits, such as improved dose–response linearity and reduced sensitivity fluctuations. The findings indicate that EBT4 can serve as a reliable successor to EBT3.

PURPOSE: Cholecystectomy in patients with an intact gallbladder after endoscopic removal of stones from the common bile duct (CBD) remains controversial. We conducted a case-control study to determine the risk of recurrent CBD stones and the benefit of cholecystectomy for prevention of recurrence after endoscopic removal of stones from the CBD in Korean patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 317 patients who underwent endoscopic CBD stone extraction between 2006 and 2012 were included. Possible risk factors for the recurrence of CBD stones including previous cholecystectomy history, bile duct diameter, stone size, number of stones, stone composition, and the presence of a periampullary diverticulum were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean duration of follow-up after CBD stone extraction was 25.4+/-22.0 months. A CBD diameter of 15 mm or larger [odds ratio (OR), 1.930; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.098 to 3.391; p=0.022] and the presence of a periampullary diverticulum (OR, 1.859; 95% CI, 1.014 to 3.408; p=0.045) were independent predictive factors for CBD stone recurrence. Seventeen patients (26.6%) in the recurrence group underwent elective cholecystectomy soon after endoscopic extraction of CBD stones, compared to 88 (34.8%) in the non-recurrence group; the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.212). CONCLUSION: A CBD diameter of 15 mm or larger and the presence of a periampullary diverticulum were found to be potential predictive factors for recurrence after endoscopic extraction of CBD stones. Elective cholecystectomy after clearance of CBD stones did not reduce the incidence of recurrent CBD stones in Korean patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Bile Duct Diseases/*diagnosis/epidemiology/surgery ; Case-Control Studies ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholecystectomy/*methods ; Common Bile Duct/*pathology/radiography ; Elective Surgical Procedures ; Female ; Gallstones/epidemiology/*surgery ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; *Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic

Alveolar adenoma is a very rare benign intraparenchymal lung tumor originating from type II pneumocytes. It can be mistaken for other benign tumors or lung cancer in radiological images. It is especially difficult to distinguish alveolar adenoma from sclerosing hemangioma. A small aspiration biopsy specimen, such as with percutaneous needle aspiration, is insufficient for a pathological diagnosis. Surgical resection is the only method by which a pathological diagnosis can be made and the disease treated. An alveolar adenoma presenting as multiple nodules is very rare and has to our knowledge not been reported in Korea previously. Here, we report a case of alveolar adenoma in multiple nodules in a 57-year-old female and review the literature.
Adenoma* ; Biopsy, Needle ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lung* ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Pneumocytes

Cinnabar is the mineral with mercury in combination with sulfur, and it has been used to make charms in China and Korea. If cinnabar is overheated, mercury vapor that is extremely hazardous or sometimes fatal can be released. We experienced 5 patients of a family who were exposed to mercury vapor when they burnt charms. One of them developed severe acute respiratory failure and the patient needed mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Despite treatment with cortiocosteroid, D-penicillamine, ECMO and plasmapheresis, the radiologic findings of a patient worsened and he died.
Burns ; China ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Korea ; Mercury Compounds ; Penicillamine ; Plasmapheresis ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Sulfur