Background: This study aimed to examine trends in postoperative survival and surgical methods over a 25-year period in patients surgically treated for metastatic spinal tumors. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of patients who underwent surgical treatment for metastatic spinal tumors between 1996 and 2020. For trend analysis, the study cohort was divided into three groups according to the year of surgery: 1996– 2004, 2005–2012, and 2013–2020. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to examine survival, and the log-rank test was used to compare the survival of the top six common cancers among the periods. The surgical methods were grouped and examined as follows: fixation only, palliative decompression and fixation, gross total removal and fixation, and total en bloc spondylectomy. Results: This study included a total of 608 patients. There were 78 patients in 1996–2004, 236 in 2005–2012, and 294 in 2013– 2020. Regarding the overall survival trend, the group 2013–2020 had a significantly improved survival as compared to the other two groups (p < 0.001). According to specific cancer sites, significant survival improvement was observed in patients with lung, kidney, and breast cancers (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.022, respectively). There were no significant changes in the primary sites of the liver, colorectum, or prostate. Regarding surgical methods, the proportion of gross total tumor removal declined, whereas the proportion of palliative decompression and fixation and fixation only procedures increased. Conclusions During the past 25 years, significant survival improvement was observed in patients with lung, kidney, and breast cancers. There was no improvement in survival in patients with liver, colorectal, and prostate cancers. In terms of surgical techniques, palliative decompression and fixation only procedures increased, while gross total tumor removal declined

Objectives: . This study aimed to elucidate the patterns of upper airway collapse in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients with a low body mass index (BMI). Methods: . We designed and conducted a retrospective cohort study. Consecutive patients diagnosed with OSA who underwent drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) were included. Patients were classified into four groups according to their BMI. Age, sex, and polysomnography data were investigated. The patterns of upper airway collapse were characterized by the structures involved (soft palate, tongue base, lateral pharyngeal wall, and epiglottis). We compared the patterns of upper airway collapse in the supine and lateral decubitus position among the four BMI groups using the chi-square test and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis. Results: . A total of 627 patients (male, 517; mean age, 47.6±12.8 years) were included, consisting of 45, 79, 151, and 352 patients who were underweight or lower normal-weight (defined as the low BMI group), upper normal-weight, overweight, and obese, respectively. Severity indicators of OSA, such as the overall apnea-hypopnea index and duration of SaO2 below 90%, were significantly lower in patients with a low BMI than in obese patients, while their average oxygen saturation was significantly higher. The most common obstruction site in the supine position was the tongue base in patients with a low BMI (100%), whereas this obstruction site was significantly less common in obese patients (54.8%). Tongue base obstruction was mostly relieved in the lateral position, with no discernible obstruction in 86.7% of the low BMI patients. Conclusion . Airway obstruction in OSA patients with a low BMI is mostly due to tongue base obstruction, which improves in the lateral position. These characteristics should be kept in mind when considering treatment options for this subgroup of OSA patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Tolvaptan is a very effective treatment for hypervolemic or euvolemic hyponatremia. We compared the clinical efficacy of and response to tolvaptan in patients with the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) and congestive heart failure (CHF). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 50 patients (SIADH, n = 30; CHF, n = 20) who were prescribed tolvaptan between July 2013 and October 2015. Tolvaptan was prescribed when the serum sodium level was < 125 mmol/L and the standard treatment failed. Normonatremia was defined as a serum sodium level of > 135 mmol/L. RESULTS: After the initiation of tolvaptan therapy, there was an immediate response in the urine volume and serum sodium level in all patients. The improvements in the urine volume and serum sodium concentration were highest within the first 24 hours of treatment. In addition, the mean change in the serum sodium level during the first 24 hours was significantly higher in patients with SIADH than in those with CHF (∆Na, 9.9 ± 4.5 mmol/L vs. 6.9 ± 4.4 mmol/L, respectively; p = 0.025). Also, the mean maintenance dose was lower, and the total duration of tolvaptan use was slightly shorter in the SIADH group than CHF group (21.5 ± 14.9 days vs. 28.0 ± 20.1 days, p = 0.070). CONCLUSIONS: The early response to tolvaptan treatment was better in patients with SIADH than in those with CHF. Thus, the tolvaptan treatment strategy should be differed between patients with SIADH and those with CHF.
Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart Failure* ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome* ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Sodium ; Treatment Outcome

Malignant lymphoma is tumor of the immune system. It is mainly found in the lymph node but it can also originate from extranodal organs such as gastrointestinal tract, sinonasal tract, and etc. We experienced a case of 18-year-old female patient with a huge nasopharyngeal mass. The patient visited our clinic with complaints of nasal obstruction and mouth breathing without general symptoms. After extirpation and biopsy of the nasopharyngeal mass, lesion was diagnosed as malignant lymphoma. In immunohistochemistry, CD 20, Bcl-2, Bcl-6 were positive. Final diagnosis was diffused large B cell lymphoma, for which she received chemotherapy (Rituximab, Cyclophosp, Ahamide, Adriamycin, Vincristine, Prednisone). We report a case of huge malignant lymphoma that occurred in the nasopharynx with a brief review of literature.
Adolescent* ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Therapy ; Female* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Immune System ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Mouth Breathing ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nasopharynx ; Vincristine

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Normal myocardial perfusion is closely associated with very low rates of cardiac events and better long-term outcomes; however, little is known about its prognostic value in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). METHODS: A total of 286 incident patients underwent baseline cardiac evaluations using echocardiography and stress-rest single-photon emission computed tomography. Perfusion scans for 177 patients (61.9%) who had a summed stress score (SSS) < 4 were normal. RESULTS: During the 4-year follow-up period, 79 cardiac events occurred. Patients with a SSS < 4 had significantly lower annual rates of cardiac events than did those with a SSS ≥ 4 (6.4% vs. 13.2%; hazard ratio, 0.54; 95% confidence interval, 0.31 to 0.94). Among patients with a SSS < 4, however, cardiac event rates significantly differed according to the presence of comorbid conditions such as old age, diabetes, history of coronary artery disease, and elevated C-reactive protein levels. In addition, the presence of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction and LV hypertrophy at the start of hemodialysis strongly influenced future cardiac events. CONCLUSIONS In patients with ESRD, normal perfusion scans usually indicate a significantly low risk of adverse cardiac events. However, even in patients with normal perfusion scans, the cardiovascular prognosis is largely dependent on baseline inflammation levels and comorbidities.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We identified the impact of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) followed by therapeutic hypothermia on survival and neurologic outcome in patients with prolonged refractory in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA). METHODS: We enrolled 16 adult patients who underwent ECPR followed by therapeutic hypothermia between July 2011 and December 2015, for IHCA. Survival at discharge and cerebral performance category (CPC) scale were evaluated. RESULTS: All patients received bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); the mean CPR time was 66.5±29.9 minutes, and the minimum value was 39 minutes. Eight patients (50%) were discharged alive with favorable neurologic outcomes (CPC 1–2). The mean follow-up duration was 20.1±24.3 months, and most deaths occurred within 21 days after ECPR; thereafter, no deaths occurred within one year after the procedure. CONCLUSION: ECPR followed by therapeutic hypothermia could be considered in prolonged refractory IHCA if bystander-initiated conventional CPR is performed.
Adult ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation* ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Arrest* ; Humans ; Hypothermia, Induced*

No abstract available.
Administration, Metronomic ; Aged* ; Capecitabine* ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Drug Therapy* ; Humans

Nuclear protein in testis (NUT) midline carcinoma (NMC) is a rare and aggressive tumor that is genetically characterized by chromosomal rearrangement of the NUT gene. NMC predominantly involves the midline structures of the body and the sinonasal tract is considered a preferential site. While the optimal management of NMC is unclear, more than 80% of patients will die within one year of their diagnosis despite intensive treatment. We report two cases of NMC of the sinonasal tract. Histopathologic results of the punch biopsy showed undifferentiated and poorly differentiated carcinoma. NUT immunohistochemical staining results were positive. Multimodal treatments including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy were performed. We also present a literature review to compare with the present cases. In our cases, we emphasize the importance of the early diagnosis and intensive treatment of NMC.
Biopsy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Nuclear Proteins* ; Nuts ; Radiotherapy ; Testis*

Neurofibromas are benign, slow-growing nerve sheath tumors of the peripheral nervous system, arising from Schwann cells, and classically associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (Nf1, von Recklinghausen's disease). They occur rarely in the gastrointestinal tract as isolated neoplasms, outside the classical clinical feature of neurofibromatosis. We herein present an isolated colonic neurofibroma without any systemic signs of neurofibromatosis. A 59-year-old female came to our hospital for constipation. On physical examination, general appearance showed no definite skin lesions. A subepithelial tumor measuring 0.8 cm was detected at the distal descending colon on colonoscopy. The lesion was removed completely by endoscopic resection. Microscopic examination showed proliferation of spindle cells in the mucosa and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for S-100 protein. The above morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics were consistent with a diagnosis of a solitary neurofibroma of the sigmoid colon.
Colon ; Colon, Descending ; Colon, Sigmoid* ; Colonoscopy ; Constipation ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms ; Neurofibroma* ; Neurofibromatoses ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Physical Examination ; S100 Proteins ; Schwann Cells ; Skin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: High dorsal deflection of the nasal septum around cartilage or the perpendicular plate is technically difficult to correct. The objective of this study was to assess whether correction of high septal deviation during septoplasty is necessary to improve nasal airflow. PATIENTS AND SURGICAL METHOD: Twenty-one patients with high septal deviation around the septal cartilage or the perpendicular plate were included in this study. In order to improve nasal obstruction, septoturbinoplasty was performed, but high septal deviation was not corrected. Subjective and objective improvements were evaluated using the visual analogue scale and acoustic rhinometry 1 month before and 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: After correction of nasal septum deviation except high septal deviation and reduction of turbinate mucosal volume, postoperative nasal volume and minimum cross-sectional area were significantly increased. Subjective symptom scales for nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and posterior nasal drip were considerably improved after limited septoturbinoplasty in patients who still had high dorsal deflection of the nasal septum. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that limited septoturbinoplasty without excessive resection of high dorsal deflection of the nasal septum can improve nasal airflow and reduce subjective symptoms, including nasal obstruction.
Cartilage ; Humans ; Methods ; Nasal Obstruction* ; Nasal Septum ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Sneezing ; Turbinates ; Weights and Measures