A 76-year-old male presented with dizziness and disequilibrium. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an acute ischemic stroke in the left anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) territory. Three days after admission the patient developed peripheral facial palsy with no radiological exacerbation of the infarction. He was managed with antiplatelet therapy and supportive care. Both the facial palsy and initial cerebellar symptoms resolved within 1 month. This case highlights delayed facial palsy as a rare presentation of AICA infarction.

Purpose: This study evaluated the early outcomes of hyperopic small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) using the VisuMax 800 femtosecond laser in a South Korean cohort, focusing on safety, efficacy, refractive predictability, and centration accuracy. Methods: This retrospective study included 11 eyes from seven patients who underwent hyperopic SMILE using the VisuMax 800 between December 1, 2024, and October 31, 2025, at Onnuri Eye Hospital in Jeonju, South Korea. All eyes completed at least 3 months of postoperative follow-up. Preoperative and postoperative evaluations included uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest refraction, tomography, and wavefront aberrometry. Outcomes were analyzed using the standard nine graphs for refractive surgery. Astigmatic changes were assessed using the Alpins vector method. Optical zone decentration was calculated using postoperative Placido-Scheimpflug topography. Results: The median preoperative spherical equivalent (SEQ) was +2.50 diopters (D) (interquartile range [IQR], 1.94–4.12 D). At 3 months, eight eyes (72.7%) were within ±0.50 D and all eyes (100%) were within ±1.00 D of the residual SEQ. The median efficacy index was 0.90 (IQR, 0.80–0.95). CDVA was unchanged in 63.6% of eyes and decreased by one line in 36.4%; no eye lost two or more lines. The median safety index was 0.86 (IQR, 0.80–1.00). Root mean square higher-order aberrations (RMS HOA) increased by +0.38 μm (IQR, 0.09–0.52 μm). The median vertex-based decentration was 0.064 mm (IQR, 0.036–0.091 mm). Decentration demonstrated a significant positive correlation with RMS HOA (rho = 0.709, p = 0.014). Conclusions Hyperopic SMILE using the VisuMax 800 produced favorable early clinical outcomes with high centration accuracy as well as shorter surgical time. Larger prospective studies with longer follow-up are necessary to determine long-term stability.

Hepatic angiomyolipoma is a rare benign tumor that often mimics hepatocellular carcinoma on imaging. Here, we report a rare case of hepatic angiomyolipoma with extensive hemorrhagic degeneration, resulting in a large hemorrhagic component that mimicked a complicated cystic neoplasm. A 43-year-old woman presented with mild abdominal distension, and imaging revealed a 16-cm multiloculated cystic mass in the left hepatic lobe. Computed tomography revealed a thick, enhancing wall and septa with hyperattenuating internal fluid. On gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, arterial enhancement was observed along the thick wall, and a subtle opposedphase signal drop indicated a small fat component that was initially missed. Laparoscopic left lobectomy was performed under suspicion of a malignant cystic neoplasm. Histopathological examination revealed an angiomyolipoma composed of thick-walled vessels, spindle-shaped muscle bundles, and scant adipocytes, with human melanoma black 45 positivity and absence of an epithelial lining, consistent with hemorrhagic degeneration. This case highlights how hemorrhagic degeneration can pose a significant diagnostic challenge by masking the typical features of hepatic angiomyolipoma, leading to diagnostic confusion with complicated cystic tumors.

Purpose: This study evaluated the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) and locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) treated with upfront FOLFIRINOX followed by local-regional therapy (LRT), surgical resection (SR), and radiotherapy (RT). We aimed to identify specific patient subgroups for which RT may serve as a reasonable alternative to SR for local tumor control. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 116 patients (SR group, n= 70; RT group, n= 46) at a single center between 2015 and 2020. Survival outcomes were compared based on LRT modalities, focusing on identifying subgroups in which RT provided an efficacy comparable to that of SR. Results: Among 116 patients, the SR group achieved a significantly higher 5-year overall survival (OS) than the RT group (27.1% vs. 8.7%, P< 0.0001), despite similar progression-free survival (P= 0.23). Significant prognostic factors for OS included carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) response in BRPC (P= 0.02) and radiologic partial response in LAPC (P= 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed that, while SR provided a survival advantage in CA19-9 responders, no significant difference in OS was observed between SR and RT in CA19-9 non-responders (P= 0.37). Conclusion Although surgery remains the gold standard, RT may be considered a justifiable local alternative for CA19-9 non-responders and surgically ineligible patients with LAPC, yielding comparable outcomes in these specific, biologically unfavorable subgroups.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts are artificial vascular grafts commonly utilized for reconstructing the middle hepatic vein during living donor liver transplantation. In this report, we present three cases of expanded PTFE (ePTFE) graft migration into the gastrointestinal tract. These migrations were incidentally discovered and later migrated grafts were successfully removed endoscopically. The first case involved a patient presenting with epigastric discomfort, with a migrated ePTFE graft observed in the duodenal lumen during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). In the second case, a patient who visited the emergency room with hematochezia was found to have a migrated ePTFE graft in the colonic lumen on colonoscopy. The third case involved a patient undergoing regular EGD after endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer; graft migration into the duodenal lumen was documented over time through sequential surveillance EGDs. The graft was endoscopically removed after complete migration. Contrary to previous reports, the three cases presented here did not exhibit serious clinical symptoms, and they were successfully treated through endoscopic foreign body removal without complications. We believe these occasions were possible due to the slow migration of the graft and the concurrent spontaneous closure of the fistula tract.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts are artificial vascular grafts commonly utilized for reconstructing the middle hepatic vein during living donor liver transplantation. In this report, we present three cases of expanded PTFE (ePTFE) graft migration into the gastrointestinal tract. These migrations were incidentally discovered and later migrated grafts were successfully removed endoscopically. The first case involved a patient presenting with epigastric discomfort, with a migrated ePTFE graft observed in the duodenal lumen during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). In the second case, a patient who visited the emergency room with hematochezia was found to have a migrated ePTFE graft in the colonic lumen on colonoscopy. The third case involved a patient undergoing regular EGD after endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer; graft migration into the duodenal lumen was documented over time through sequential surveillance EGDs. The graft was endoscopically removed after complete migration. Contrary to previous reports, the three cases presented here did not exhibit serious clinical symptoms, and they were successfully treated through endoscopic foreign body removal without complications. We believe these occasions were possible due to the slow migration of the graft and the concurrent spontaneous closure of the fistula tract.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts are artificial vascular grafts commonly utilized for reconstructing the middle hepatic vein during living donor liver transplantation. In this report, we present three cases of expanded PTFE (ePTFE) graft migration into the gastrointestinal tract. These migrations were incidentally discovered and later migrated grafts were successfully removed endoscopically. The first case involved a patient presenting with epigastric discomfort, with a migrated ePTFE graft observed in the duodenal lumen during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). In the second case, a patient who visited the emergency room with hematochezia was found to have a migrated ePTFE graft in the colonic lumen on colonoscopy. The third case involved a patient undergoing regular EGD after endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer; graft migration into the duodenal lumen was documented over time through sequential surveillance EGDs. The graft was endoscopically removed after complete migration. Contrary to previous reports, the three cases presented here did not exhibit serious clinical symptoms, and they were successfully treated through endoscopic foreign body removal without complications. We believe these occasions were possible due to the slow migration of the graft and the concurrent spontaneous closure of the fistula tract.

Purpose: With the revision of the Organ and Transplantation Act in 2018, the hand has become legal as an area of transplantable organs in Korea. In January 2021, the first hand allotransplantation since legalization was successfully performed, and we have performed a total of three successful hand transplantation since then. By comparing and incorporating our experiences, this study aimed to provide a comprehensive reconstructive solution for hand amputation in Korea. Materials and Methods: Recipients were selected through a structured preoperative evaluation, and hand transplantations were performed at the distal forearm level. Postoperatively, patients were treated with three-drug immunosuppressive regimen, and functional outcomes were monitored. Results: The hand transplantations were performed without intraoperative complications. All patients had partial skin necrosis and underwent additional surgical procedures in 2 months after transplantation. After additional operations, no further severe complications were observed. Also, patients developed acute rejection within 3 months of surgery, but all resolved within 2 weeks after steroid pulse therapy. Motor and sensory function improved dramatically, and patients were very satisfied with the appearance and function of their transplanted hands. Conclusion Hand transplantation is a viable reconstructive option, and patients have shown positive functional and psychological outcomes. Although this study has limitations, such as the small number of patients and short follow-up period, we should focus on continued recovery of hand function, and be careful not to develop side effects from immunosuppressive drugs. Through the present study, we will continue to strive for a bright future regarding hand transplantation in Korea.

Purpose: This study compared 3D-T1 high resolution isovolumetric examination (3DTHRIVE) multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) imaging of shoulder magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) with conventional MR images and validated the diagnostic agreements of isovolumetric MRA with and without compressed sensing (CS). Materials and Methods: Seventy-three patients who underwent shoulder MRA, including image sets of conventional 2D fast spin echo (FSE) sequences and isotropic 3D-THRIVE sequences with and without CS, were evaluated. The CS acceleration factor was set to 1.5.In the first session, MPR images on the 3D-THRIVE sequence with CS were analyzed using current standard 2D FSE sequences in the axial, oblique-coronal, and oblique-sagittal planes. In the second session, 3D-THRIVE sequences with and without CS were compared with respect to image quality and degree of artifacts. Overall image quality scores and artifacts for conventional 2D images and 3D-THRIVE MPR with CS were analyzed using a paired t-test. The diagnostic agreement for pathological lesions of the shoulder in 3DTHRIVE with and without CS was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients. Results: CS in the isotropic 3D-THRIVE showed a reduction in scanning time from 104 s (non-CS) to 81 s (CS). The diagnostic agreement between 2D FSE and 3D-THRIVE for shoulder tendon pathologies was excellent for subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and biceps tendons. The inter-rater agreements were excellent, and CS-3D-THRIVE demonstrated excellent diagnostic agreement for certain tendon pathologies compared with 3D-THRIVE without CS. Conclusion CS-accelerated isotropic 3D-THRIVE shoulder MRA can provide diagnostically acceptable images of tendon pathology with a reduced scan time. Shoulder MRI using 3D-THRIVE with CS may replace standard 2D FSE sequences in patients who require rapid imaging.

Purpose: Renal tumors account for approximately 7% of all childhood cancers. These include Wilms tumor (WT), clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK), malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney (MRTK), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), congenital mesoblastic nephroma (CMN) and other rare tumors. We investigated the epidemiology of pediatric renal tumors in Korea. Materials and Methods: From January 2001 to December 2015, data of pediatric patients (0–18 years) newly-diagnosed with renal tumors at 26 hospitals were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among 439 patients (male, 240), the most common tumor was WT (n=342, 77.9%), followed by RCC (n=36, 8.2%), CCSK (n=24, 5.5%), MRTK (n=16, 3.6%), CMN (n=12, 2.7%), and others (n=9, 2.1%). Median age at diagnosis was 27.1 months (range 0-225.5) and median follow-up duration was 88.5 months (range 0-211.6). Overall, 32 patients died, of whom 17, 11, 1, and 3 died of relapse, progressive disease, second malignant neoplasm, and treatment-related mortality. Five-year overall survival and event free survival were 97.2% and 84.8% in WT, 90.6% and 82.1% in RCC, 81.1% and 63.6% in CCSK, 60.3% and 56.2% in MRTK, and 100% and 91.7% in CMN, respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusion The pediatric renal tumor types in Korea are similar to those previously reported in other countries. WT accounted for a large proportion and survival was excellent. Non-Wilms renal tumors included a variety of tumors and showed inferior outcome, especially MRTK. Further efforts are necessary to optimize the treatment and analyze the genetic characteristics of pediatric renal tumors in Korea.