1.Assessing Laser Safety in Dermatology:Eye Protection and Infection Control Practices Among Board-Certified Korean Dermatologists
Sejin OH ; Yeong Ho KIM ; Bo Ri KIM ; Hyun-Min SEO ; Soon-Hyo KWON ; Hoon CHOI ; Hae Woong LEE ; Jung-Im NA ; Chun Pill CHOI ; Joo Yeon KO ; Hwa Jung RYU ; Suk Bae SEO ; Jong Hee LEE ; Chang-Hun HUH ; Hei Sung KIM
Annals of Dermatology 2026;38(1):69-74
Background:
Laser procedures are integral to dermatologic practice, yet safety measures- particularly regarding ocular protection and plume control- are poorly studied in real-world settings.
Objective:
To evaluate current practices in eye protection, infection control, and occupational risk awareness among Korean dermatologists performing laser treatments.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among board-certified dermatologists at the 2024 Korean Society for Dermatologic Laser Surgery meeting. The questionnaire covered demographics, laser frequency, use of goggles and masks, infection control strategies, ophthalmologic monitoring, and history of warts or cancer.
Results:
Seventy-nine respondents completed the survey. All reported using protective goggles, but only 26.6% and 22.8% did so for CO 2 and erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet lasers, respectively. Only 24.1% underwent regular eye exams, and 13.9% reported eye conditions after starting laser practice. While 89.9% used masks, 40.8% used dental masks, which are inadequate for plume protection. Suction devices were used by 94.9%, though performance specifications were unclear. Warts were reported by 46.8% of respondents; two reported cancer diagnoses after initiating laser work.
Conclusion
Despite high overall adherence to basic safety practices, critical gaps remain. Our findings highlight the need for standardized guidelines and long-term occupational health monitoring to ensure safe laser practice.
2.Current Clinical Perspectives on Rosacea Management: Insights From a Korean Multicenter Expert Opinion Survey
Bo Ri KIM ; Sejin OH ; Ju Hee HAN ; Jimyung SEO ; Hyun-Min SEO ; Soon-Hyo KWON ; Hoon CHOI ; Jung U SHIN ; Jae We CHO ; Boncheol Leo GOO ; Jung-Im NA ; Dong Hun LEE ; Chun Pill CHOI ; HaeWoong LEE ; Joo Yeon KO ; Hwa Jung RYU ; Nark-Kyoung RHO ; Hyunjo KIM ; Ga-Young LEE ; Jong Hee LEE ; Nala SHIN ; Sang Ju LEE ; Suk Bae SEO ; Geun Soo LEE ; Hei Sung KIM ; Chang-Hun HUH
Annals of Dermatology 2026;38(1):42-50
Background:
Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by erythema, papules, ocular symptoms, and heightened sensitivity. Patients with neurogenic symptoms such as burning or stinging remain particularly difficult to manage. Current guidelines often underrepresent energy-based devices (EBDs), pigmentary sequelae, psychosocial burden, and ocular comorbidities.
Objective:
To examine Korean dermatologists’ expert perspectives on rosacea management, focusing on skin sensitivity, neurogenic symptoms, pigmentary changes, psychosocial impact, ocular involvement, and EBD use.
Methods:
A web-based, 29-item survey was administered to 25 board-certified Korean dermatologists (May–June 2025). Quantitative and qualitative responses were analyzed.
Results:
Erythematotelangiectatic and papulopustular phenotypes with sensitivity skin predominated. EBDs (pulsed dye laser, intense pulsed light) were frequently used but limited by cost and sensitivity issues. Neurogenic symptoms were recognized but rarely treated with neuromodulators. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation was infrequent, yet monitoring was inconsistent.Psychosocial and ocular aspects were acknowledged but seldomly systematically addressed.Respondents expressed interest in emerging adjunctive treatments such as cold plasma, skin boosters, and holistic care approaches.
Conclusion
Korean dermatologists adopt individualized strategies for rosacea, yet practice gaps remain regarding neurogenic symptoms, pigmentary complications, and psychosocial and ocular comorbidities. Findings support the need for updated multidisciplinary, phenotype-driven guidelines aligned with real-world practice.
3.Screening Outcomes of Supplemental Automated Breast Ultrasound in Women With Nondense Breasts Undergoing Mammography
Mi-ri KWON ; Mi Yeon LEE ; Suhyeon MOON ; Eun Sook KO ; Eun Young KO ; Boo Kyung HAN ; Inyoung YOUN ; Yoon Jung CHOI ; Shin Ho KOOK ; Jai Min RYU ; Ji Soo CHOI
Korean Journal of Radiology 2026;27(1):14-26
Objective:
To evaluate the performance of supplemental automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) added to mammography-based breast cancer screening for women with nondense breasts.
Materials and Methods:
A retrospective search of radiology databases at two tertiary institutions identified asymptomatic women with nondense breasts who underwent breast cancer screening using both digital mammography (DM) and supplemental ABUS between January 2020 and December 2023. We excluded women without sufficient follow-up data or those without an established final diagnosis, including histopathologic results. The performance measures of DM alone and ABUS combined with DM (ABUS plus DM) were compared. The primary outcome was the cancer detection rate (CDR), and the secondary outcomes were sensitivity and specificity. Subgroup analyses were performed for women with scattered fibroglandular density and almost entirely fatty breasts.
Results:
A total of 2,904 pairs of screening examinations were performed in 1,683 women (59 ± 10 years), detecting 26 cancers. In comparison with DM alone, ABUS plus DM showed higher CDR (9.0 vs. 7.9 per 1,000 examinations, P < 0.001), higher sensitivity (100% [26/26] vs. 88.5% [23/26], P < 0.001), and lower specificity (95.0% [2,735/2,878] vs. 97.9% [2,817/2,878], P < 0.001). In women with scattered fibroglandular density, ABUS increased the CDR from 7.4 to 8.5 per 1,000 examinations and improved the sensitivity from 87.0% [20/23] to 100% [23/23] (P < 0.001). In women with almost entirely fatty breasts, ABUS plus DM showed the same CDR (16.4 per 1,000 examinations) and sensitivity (100% [3/3]) as DM alone. Three cancers (11.5% [3/26]), all of which were stage T1N0, were detected only by supplemental ABUS.
Conclusion
Supplemental ABUS improved cancer detection and sensitivity in women with nondense breasts, with the benefits primarily observed in those with scattered fibroglandular density.
9.Real-World Clinical Practice on Skin Rejuvenation Among Korean BoardCertified Dermatologists: SurveyBased Results
Sejin OH ; Yeong Ho KIM ; Bo Ri KIM ; Hyun-Min SEO ; Soon-Hyo KWON ; Hoon CHOI ; Haewoong LEE ; Jung-Im NA ; Chun Pill CHOI ; Joo Yeon KO ; Hwa Jung RYU ; Suk Bae SEO ; Jong Hee LEE ; Hei Sung KIM ; Chang-Hun HUH
Annals of Dermatology 2025;37(3):123-130
Background:
Skin rejuvenation has become an increasingly popular noninvasive approach to address age-related changes such as sagging, wrinkles, and skin laxity. Energy-based devices (EBDs) and injectables are widely used, but their application requires careful customization based on individual patient characteristics to optimize outcomes and minimize potential adverse effects.
Objective:
This study aimed to explore clinical practice patterns among board-certified dermatologists in South Korea, focusing on their strategies for tailoring skin rejuvenation treatments to individual patients, including the integration of EBDs, injectables, and senotherapeutics.
Methods:
A structured survey comprising 10 questions was administered to 13 experienced dermatologists specializing in skin rejuvenation. The survey covered treatment strategies for patients with varying facial fat volumes, pain management approaches, and the use of EBDs, injectables and senotherapeutics.
Results:
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and radiofrequency (RF) were the most employed EBDs, often combined with injectables for enhanced outcomes. For patients with higher facial fat, HIFU and deoxycholic acid injections were preferred for contouring and tightening. For those with lower facial fat, biostimulatory agents such as poly-D, L-lactic acid and microneedle RF were favored to restore volume and elasticity. Pain management strategies included topical anesthetics and stepwise protocols. Although less commonly used, senotherapeutics were occasionally prescribed for specific conditions, such as melasma and extensive photoaging.
Conclusion
Dermatologists in South Korea employ a variety of patient-specific strategies for skin rejuvenation, combining various EBDs, injectables, and senotherapeutics. These findings highlight the importance of personalized treatment protocols and the need for further research to optimize treatment efficacy and safety.
10.Feasibility of Circulating Tumor DNA Detection in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients With Central Nervous System Involvement in Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Seok Jin KIM ; Jin Ju KIM ; Mi Ri PARK ; Bon PARK ; Kyung Ju RYU ; Sang Eun YOON ; Won Seog KIM ; Saeam SHIN ; Seung-Tae LEE
Annals of Laboratory Medicine 2025;45(1):90-95
We explored the utility of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) sequencing as a noninvasive diagnostic tool for detecting central nervous system (CNS) involvement in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Secondary CNS involvement in DLBCL, although rare (~5% of cases), presents diagnostic and prognostic challenges during systemic disease progression or relapse. Effective treatment is impeded by the blood–brain barrier. This was a prospective cohort study (Samsung Lymphoma Cohort Study III) involving 17 patients with confirmed CNS involvement. High-throughput sequencing was conducted using targeted gene panels designed to detect low-frequency variants and copy number alterations pertinent to lymphomas in ctDNA extracted from archived CSF samples. Despite challenges such as low DNA concentrations affecting library construction, the overall variant detection rate was 76%. Detected variants included those in genes commonly implicated in CNS lymphoma, such as MYD88. The study highlights the potential of CSF ctDNA sequencing to identify CNS involvement in DLBCL, providing a promising alternative to more invasive diagnostic methods such as brain biopsy, which are not always feasible. Further validation is necessary to establish the clinical utility of this method, which could significantly enhance the management and outcomes of DLBCL patients with suspected CNS involvement.

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