Purpose: Gastric cancer (GC) is among the most prevalent and fatal cancers worldwide.National cancer screening programs in countries with high incidences of this disease provide medical aid beneficiaries with free-of-charge screening involving upper endoscopy to detect early-stage GC. However, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused major disruptions to routine healthcare access. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the diagnosis, overall incidence, and stage distribution of GC. Materials and Methods: We identified patients in our hospital cancer registry who were diagnosed with GC between January 2018 and December 2021 and compared the cancer stage at diagnosis before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to age and sex. The years 2018 and 2019 were defined as the “before COVID” period, and the years 2020 and 2021 as the “during COVID” period. Results: Overall, 10,875 patients were evaluated; 6,535 and 4,340 patients were diagnosed before and during the COVID-19 period, respectively. The number of diagnoses was lower during the COVID-19 pandemic (189 patients/month vs. 264 patients/month) than before it.Notably, the proportion of patients with stages 3 or 4 GC in 2021 was higher among men and patients aged ≥40 years. Conclusions During the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall number of GC diagnoses decreased significantly in a single institute. Moreover, GCs were in more advanced stages at the time of diagnosis. Further studies are required to elucidate the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and the delay in the detection of GC worldwide.

Background/Aims: Subepithelial tumors (SETs) are small, mostly asymptomatic lesions with normal overlying mucosa, usually identified incidentally on endoscopy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pathologic diagnosis of SETs, and to assess the diagnostic yield and impact of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) biopsy on the management of patients with SETs. Materials and Methods: We included 52 subepithelial lesions in this study during the study period. Inclusion criteria included size of the SET >2 cm, and a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) that cannot be excluded using EUS. We performed an endoscopic biopsy of each SET using the ESD technique. Results: The mean diameter of the lesions was 24.15±6.0 mm. The diagnostic yield of this method was 96.15%. Among the 52 participants, 45 were located in the stomach, four in the esophagus, and three in the duodenum. The pathologic diagnoses included: 17 leiomyomas, 13 GISTs, 11 ectopic pancreases, two carcinomas, two inflammatory fibroid polyps, two Brunner’s gland hyperplasia, two lipomas, one glomus tumor, and two remained undiagnosed. The mean duration of the procedure was 13.44±2.41 minutes. Three complications were associated with the procedure. Conclusions Deep biopsy via ESD is useful in determining the histopathologic nature of SETs. This method minimizes the need for unnecessary surgery in benign SETs.

Background/Aims: Subepithelial tumors (SETs) are small, mostly asymptomatic lesions with normal overlying mucosa, usually identified incidentally on endoscopy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pathologic diagnosis of SETs, and to assess the diagnostic yield and impact of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) biopsy on the management of patients with SETs. Materials and Methods: We included 52 subepithelial lesions in this study during the study period. Inclusion criteria included size of the SET >2 cm, and a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) that cannot be excluded using EUS. We performed an endoscopic biopsy of each SET using the ESD technique. Results: The mean diameter of the lesions was 24.15±6.0 mm. The diagnostic yield of this method was 96.15%. Among the 52 participants, 45 were located in the stomach, four in the esophagus, and three in the duodenum. The pathologic diagnoses included: 17 leiomyomas, 13 GISTs, 11 ectopic pancreases, two carcinomas, two inflammatory fibroid polyps, two Brunner’s gland hyperplasia, two lipomas, one glomus tumor, and two remained undiagnosed. The mean duration of the procedure was 13.44±2.41 minutes. Three complications were associated with the procedure. Conclusions Deep biopsy via ESD is useful in determining the histopathologic nature of SETs. This method minimizes the need for unnecessary surgery in benign SETs.

Sinus pericranii is a rare vascular anomaly characterized by abnormal venous communication betweenthe inner and outer regions of the cranial cavity. Here, we report a case of sinus pericraniiand venous malformations in the right periorbital region of a 2-year-old girl. Radiologic findingsshowed venous malformations in the right parietal region communicating with the superior sagittalsinus in the intracranial region. There were notable improvements following surgical resectionfor the abnormal venous lesions and several sclerotherapies. Presence of a bluish and pulsatingmass on the scalp, which showed bruit on auscultation, may indicate sinus pericranii, whichshould be included in the differential diagnosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study compared two types of skin graft reconstruction for the defect of the radial forearm free flap. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Ten cases of split-thickness skin graft (STSG) harvested from the thigh were analyzed. Also, ten cases of full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) harvest from the inguinal area applied with vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) system were analyzed. RESULTS: The defect size of the radial forearm was increased more in the STSG group than in the FTSG group (p<0.05). Skin grafts were recovered completely sooner in the FTSG group than in the STSG group although it was not statistically significant (p=0.082). Five complications (pruritus, hypertrophic scar) were found in the donor site in the STSG group (p<0.05). FTSG gave better scores according to the Vancouver Scar Scale in terms of pigmentation, pliability, and height (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: FTSG harvested from the inguinal area with the application of VAC system has many advantages for the defect of the radial forearm free flap although it is usually used for smaller size defects than for STSGs.
Cicatrix ; Forearm ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Methods ; Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy ; Pigmentation ; Pliability ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skin Transplantation ; Skin ; Thigh ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study compared two types of skin graft reconstruction for the defect of the radial forearm free flap. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Ten cases of split-thickness skin graft (STSG) harvested from the thigh were analyzed. Also, ten cases of full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) harvest from the inguinal area applied with vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) system were analyzed. RESULTS: The defect size of the radial forearm was increased more in the STSG group than in the FTSG group (p<0.05). Skin grafts were recovered completely sooner in the FTSG group than in the STSG group although it was not statistically significant (p=0.082). Five complications (pruritus, hypertrophic scar) were found in the donor site in the STSG group (p<0.05). FTSG gave better scores according to the Vancouver Scar Scale in terms of pigmentation, pliability, and height (p<0.05). CONCLUSION FTSG harvested from the inguinal area with the application of VAC system has many advantages for the defect of the radial forearm free flap although it is usually used for smaller size defects than for STSGs.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although increasing evidence has indicated that radial access is a beneficial technique, few studies have focused on Korean subjects. The aim of this study was to evaluate current practice of coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using radial access in South Korea. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 6338 subjects were analyzed from Korean Transradial Intervention prospective registry that was conducted at 20 centers in Korea. After evaluating the initial access, subjects intended for radial access were assessed for their baseline, procedure-related, and complication data. Subjects were categorized into three groups: group of overall subjects (n=5554); group of subjects who underwent PCI (n=1780); and group of subjects who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) (n=167). RESULTS: The rate of radial artery as an initial access and the rate of access site crossover was 87.6% and 4.4%, respectively, in overall subjects. Those rates were 82.4% and 8.1%, respectively, in subjects who underwent PCI, and 60.1% and 4.8%, respectively, in subjects who underwent PPCI. For subjects who underwent CAG, a 6-F introducer sheath and a 5-F angiographic catheter was the most commonly used. During PCI, a 6-F introducer sheath (90.6%) and a 6-F guiding catheter were standardly used. CONCLUSION: The large prospective registry allowed us to present the current practice of CAG and PCI using radial access. These data provides evidence to achieve consensus on radial access in CAG and PCI in the Korean population.
Catheters ; Consensus ; Coronary Angiography* ; Korea ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Prospective Studies* ; Radial Artery ; Registries

PURPOSE: We evaluated the prognostic significance of T3 subtypes and the role of adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with resected the American Joint Committee on Cancer stage IIB T3N0M0 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: T3N0 NSCLC patients who underwent resection from January 1990 to October 2009 (n = 102) were enrolled and categorized into 6 subgroups according to the extent of invasion: parietal pleura chest wall invasion, mediastinal pleural invasion, diaphragm invasion, separated tumor nodules in the same lobe, endobronchial tumor <2 cm distal to the carina, and tumor-associated collapse. RESULTS: The median overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were 55.3 months and 51.2 months, respectively. In postoperative T3N0M0 patients, the tumor size was a significant prognostic factor for survival (OS, p = 0.035 and DFS, p = 0.035, respectively). Patients with endobronchial tumors within 2 cm of the carina also showed better OS and DFS than those in the other T3 subtypes (p = 0.018 and p = 0.016, respectively). However, adjuvant radiotherapy did not cause any improvement in survival (OS, p = 0.518 and DFS, p = 0.463, respectively). Only patients with mediastinal pleural invasion (n = 25) demonstrated improved OS and DFS after adjuvant radiotherapy (n = 18) (p = 0.012 and p = 0.040, respectively). CONCLUSION: The T3N0 NSCLC subtype that showed the most favorable prognosis is the one with endobronchial tumors within 2 cm of the carina. Adjuvant radiotherapy is not effective in improving survival outcome in resected T3N0 NSCLC.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Diaphragm ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Joints ; Pleura ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant* ; Thoracic Wall

The aim of our study was to determine the impact of vascular access on in-hospital major bleeding (IHMB) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We analyzed 995 patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and unstable angina at the Can Rapid risk stratification of Unstable angina patients Suppress ADverse outcomes with Early implementation of the ACC/AHA guidelines (CRUSADE) moderate- to very high-bleeding risk scores in trans-radial intervention (TRI) retrospective registry from 16 centers in Korea. A total of 402 patients received TRI and 593 patients did trans-femoral intervention (TFI). The primary end-point was IHMB as defined in the CRUSADE. There were no significant differences in in-hospital and 1-yr mortality rates between two groups. However, TRI had lower incidences of IHMB and blood transfusion than TFI (6.0% vs 9.4%, P = 0.048; 4.5% vs 9.4%, P = 0.003). The patients suffered from IHMB had higher incidences of in-hospital and 1-yr mortality than those free from IHMB (3.1% vs 15.0%, P < 0.001; 7.2% vs 30.0%, P < 0.001). TRI was an independent negative predictor of IHMB (odds ratio, 0.305; 95% confidence interval, 0.109-0.851; P = 0.003). In conclusions, IHMB is still significantly correlated with in-hospital and 1-yr mortality. Our study suggests that compared to TFI, TRI could reduce IHMB in patients with ACS at moderate- to very high-bleeding risk.
Acute Coronary Syndrome/mortality/*pathology ; Aged ; Female ; Femoral Artery ; *Hemorrhage ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Radial Artery ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the usefulness of arterial embolization on sacral and pelvic giant cell tumor (GCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 9 patients who had undergone serial arterial embolization between December 1996 and May 2008. We analyzed the clinical outcomes and therapeutic responsiveness of arterial embolization on sacral and pelvic GCT. RESULTS: Six of 9 cases showed progression of disease (PD) status, even if 5 cases showed PD status despite of additional treatments including surgery and radiation, implying that serial arterial embolization on sacral and pelvic GCT is not effective. Three of 9 cases showed stable disease (SD) or continuous disease free (CDF) status and we analyzed associated factors with these good responses for embolization by chi2 test. The number of feeding vessels under six (p=0.048) and the number of collateral arterial supply under three (p=0.048) in the first angiogram showed significant relationships with good response for embolization, while remaining tumor staining by contrast after the first embolization and repeated embolization times were not significant. CONCLUSION: Although serial arterial embolization is not an effective modality on sacral and pelvic giant cell tumors, it may be a pilot modality under narrow indication of tumors with poor vascularity at first angiogram.
Giant Cell Tumors* ; Giant Cells* ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Pelvic Bones ; Retrospective Studies ; Sacrum