68 Ga-DOTA-peptide PET/CT is a valuable tool for diagnosing neuroendocrine tumors (NET). Various tumors and normal human tissue express the somatostatin receptor (SSTR), warranting attention to positive findings on 68  Ga-DOTA-peptide PET/CT. However, overexpression of SSTR in glomus tumors has not yet been reported. Gastric glomus tumors show many similar features of NET and are often misdiagnosed. We present the case of a 61-year-old male with a glomus tumor who underwent distal gastrectomy under the pretense of an NET grade 1 because the nodule showed focal intense uptake on preoperative 68  Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT.

PURPOSE: The rare incidence of isolated para-aortic lymph node (PALN) recurrence of colorectal cancer has precluded the formulation of treatment guidelines. This study evaluated and compared the effects of different treatment modalities on survival outcomes in patients with PALN recurrence. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with isolated PALN recurrence after curative resection for primary colorectal cancer from January 2004 to December 2014 were evaluated retrospectively. Patients with isolated recurrence were selected using imaging modalities. Overall survival (OS) and survival after recurrence (SAR) were analyzed and compared between different treatments using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The median OS was 64 months with a median follow-up time of 50 months. Of the 46 patients with PALN recurrence, 35 (76.1%) had isolated recurrences. Of these 35 patients, 16 underwent PALN resection and 19 received chemotherapy. Median SAR was significantly longer in patients who did than did not undergo resection (71 months vs. 39 months, P = 0.017). Median OS tended to be longer in patients who did than did not undergo resection (77 months vs. 62 months, P = 0.055). SAR was similar in patients who received radiotherapy and those who underwent resection (34 months vs. 46 months, P = 0.146). Three of 16 patients (18.8%) who underwent resection were found to be recurrence-free. CONCLUSION Surgical resection of isolated PALN recurrence may benefit patients, with favorable survival outcomes and by providing definitive diagnosis for proper treatment planning.

BACKGROUND: Skin grafts are required in numerous clinical procedures, such as reconstruction after skin removal and correction of contracture or scarring after severe skin loss caused by burns, accidents, and trauma. The current standard for skin defect replacement procedures is the use of autologous skin grafts. However, donor-site tissue availability remains a major obstacle for the successful replacement of skin defects and often limits this option. The aim of this study is to effectively expand full thickness skin to clinically useful size using an automated skin reactor and evaluate auto grafting efficiency of the expanded skin using Yucatan female pigs. METHODS: We developed an automated bioreactor system with the functions of real-time monitoring and remote-control, optimization of grip, and induction of skin porosity for effective tissue expansion. We evaluated the morphological, ultra-structural, and mechanical properties of the expanded skin before and after expansion using histology, immunohistochemistry, and tensile testing. We further carried out in vivo grafting study using Yucatan pigs to investigate the feasibility of this method in clinical application. RESULTS: The results showed an average expansion rate of 180%. The histological findings indicated that external expansion stimulated cellular activity in the isolated skin and resulted in successful grafting to the transplanted site. Specifically, hyperplasia did not appear at the auto-grafted site, and grafted skin appeared similar to normal skin. Furthermore, mechanical stimuli resulted in an increase in COL1A2 expression in a suitable environment. CONCLUSION: These findings provided insight on the potential of this expansion system in promoting dermal extracellular matrix synthesis in vitro. Conclusively, this newly developed smart skin bioreactor enabled effective skin expansion ex vivo and successful grafting in vivo in a pig model.
Bioreactors ; Burns ; Cicatrix ; Contracture ; Extracellular Matrix ; Female ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Vitro Techniques ; Methods ; Models, Animal ; Porosity ; Skin Transplantation ; Skin* ; Swine ; Tissue Expansion ; Tissue Expansion Devices ; Transplants

Guide wire fracture during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is rare. It can cause fatal complications such as thrombus formation, embolization, and perforation. Guide wire fracture could occur during intervention for severely calcified stenotic lesions, and rarely from distal small branches of stenotic lesions. There are several methods for its management depending on the material character, position, length of the remnant, and the patient's condition. If percutaneous retrieval was not achieved, the surgical procedure should be considered for prevention of potential risks, although the remnant guide wire does not usually cause complications. We experienced a patient with a guide wire fracture during PCI, and managed to prevent its complications through surgical removal of the remnant wire. We report this case here.
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention* ; Thrombosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke requires consistent care, but there is concern over the "weekend effect", whereby a weekend admission results in a poor outcome. Our aim was to determine the impact of weekend admission on clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke in Korea. METHODS: The outcomes of patients admitted on weekdays and weekends were compared by analyzing data from a prospective outcome registry enrolling 1247 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to four neurology training hospitals in South Korea between September 2004 and August 2005. The primary outcome was a poor functional outcome at 3 months, defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) of 3-6. Secondary outcomes were 3-month mortality, use of thrombolysis, complication rate, and length of hospitalization. Shift analysis was also performed to compare overall mRS distributions. RESULTS: On weekends, 334 (26.8%) patients were admitted. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the weekday and weekend groups except for more history of heart disease and shorter admission time in weekend group. Univariate analysis revealed poor functional outcome at 3 months, 3-month mortality, complication rate, and length of hospitalization did not differ between the two groups. In addition, overall mRS distributions were comparable (p=0.865). After adjusting for baseline factors and stroke severity, weekend admission was not associated with poor functional outcome at 3 months (adjusted odds ratio, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.74-1.50). Furthermore, none of secondary endpoints differed between the two groups in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Weekend admission was not associated with poor functional outcome than weekday admission in patients with acute ischemic stroke in this study. The putative weekend effect should be explored further by considering a wider range of hospital settings and hemorrhagic stroke.
Heart Diseases ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Neurology ; Odds Ratio ; Prospective Studies ; Republic of Korea ; Stroke

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the telomerase expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the relationship between the serum level of several soluble factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hepatocyte growth factor, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and matrix metallopeptidase-9 and the clinicopathological features of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 50 HNSCC patients and 15 normal controls. The telomerase activity in the PBMCs was measured by Telomere Repeat Amplification Protocols. The serum levels of the soluble factors were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The expression of telomerase in the PBMCs of HNSCC patients was significantly correlated with the N and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stages. The serum VEGF level was significantly higher in the patients with an advanced T stage, N stage and AJCC stage. Serum VEGF was significantly related with the expression of telomerase in the PBMCs. The telomerase expression and the VEGF expression were shown to be independent factors associated with poor survival. CONCLUSION: The telomerase expression in the PBMCs and the serum VEGF level of HNSCC patients were significantly correlated with the N stage, the AJCC stage and the prognosis.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Head ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Interleukins ; Joints ; Neck ; Prognosis ; Telomerase ; Telomere ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

We report on a case of hepatic splenosis. A 32-yr-old man underwent a splenectomy due to trauma at the age of 6. He had been diagnosed as being a chronic hepatitis B-virus carrier 16 yr prior to the surgery. The dynamic computer tomography (CT) performed due to elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (128 ng/mL) demonstrated two hepatic nodules, which were located near the liver capsule. A nodule in Segment IVa had a slight enhancement during both the arterial and portal phases, and another nodule in Segment VI showed a slight enhancement only in the portal phases. Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the mass in Segment VI showed enhanced development in the arterial phases and slight hyperintensivity to the liver parenchyma in the portal phases. These imaging findings suggested a hypervascular tumor in the liver, which could be either focal nodular hyperplasia, adenoma, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Even though these lesions were diagnosed as HCC, some of the findings were not compatible with typical HCC. On dynamic CT and MRI, all lesions showed a slight arterial enhancement and did not show early venous washout. All lesions were located near the liver capsule. These findings, along with a history of splenectomy, suggested a diagnosis of hepatic splenosis.
Adult ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/complications/*diagnosis/surgery ; Focal Nodular Hyperplasia/diagnosis/pathology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/complications/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver/*pathology ; Liver Neoplasms/complications/*diagnosis/surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Splenosis/*diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; alpha-Fetoproteins/biosynthesis

PURPOSE: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has the highest incidence between the ages of 60 and 70 years. As the elderly population has been increasing in the last several decades, the proportion of patients older than 70 years of age with resectable pancreatic cancer is expected to increase in our society. This retrospective observation was performed to evaluate surgical value of pancreaticoduodenectomy for the elderly patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 1990 to June 2005, among the patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the elder patients older than 70 years of age were retrospectively reviewed. Perioperative surgical outcomes, including general clinicopathologic features, morbidity, mortality, and survival outcomes, were investigated based on available medical records. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients underwent pancreaticoduodenenctomy (PD) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Among them, 11 patients (14.3%) were 70 years older. More frequent incidences of morbidity (8 out of 11 vs. 25 out of 65, p=0.049), especially delayed gastric emptying (3 out of 8 vs. 3 out of 66, p=0.035), were observed and overall length of hospital stay was also longer in the elderly (49.2 +/- 13.9 days vs. 36.1 +/- 13.2, p=0.012). However, no significant differences in mortality rate and survival outcomes were noted when comparing with those of the younger patients (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: We agree with the opinion that age factor can not be absolute contraindication for pancreaticoduodenectomy, however, appropriate preoperative evaluations, proper patient selection considering life expectancy, advanced surgical techniques and detailed perioperative management are mandatory to guarantee the safety of pancreaticoduodenectomy performed in the elderly with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma/pathology/*surgery ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/pathology/*surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology/*surgery ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy/*methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: We present our experiences of pancreatic insulinoma among the functioning neuroendocrine neoplasm of the pancreas, to review the natural history and suggest proper management. METHODS: From June 1990 to August 2006, patients with diagnosis of pancreatic insulinoma were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (5 men and 8 women) with median age of 42 years (range, 12~68 years) were investigated. One patient (12%) with pancreatic insulinoma was MEN 1. Intraoperative ultrasound scan (sensitivity, 88%) was the most powerful modality for tumor localization. Sixteen neoplasms with median tumor size 1 cm (range, 0~3 cm) were found. Ten neoplasm (62%) were located in the heads/ necks of the pancreas. Six neoplasm (38%) were located in the tails. Five neoplasm (31%) were located around the neck areas near the SMV or PV. Twelve patients (92%) underwent enucleation, and two patients (15%) underwent distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy. 100% of patients with pancreatic insulinoma have survived and the overall disease free 10-year survival was found to be about 85.7%. CONCLUSION: Exact localization of tumor by intraoperative ultrasound and effective surgical removal can be significantly beneficial for good prognosis.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Insulinoma* ; Male ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1 ; Natural History ; Neck ; Pancreas ; Pancreatectomy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Splenectomy ; Ultrasonography

Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) has been reserved for intractable and relapsing immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) despite medical treatment. With further experiences of LS in ITP, we investigated long term outcomes of LS, especially newly developed morbidities, and tried to find predictive factors for favorable outcomes. From August 1994 to December 2004, fifty-nine patients whose follow-up period was more than 12 months after LS were investigated. After a long-term follow-up (median 54 months, range 12.5-129 months), a complete response (CR) was found in 28 patients (47.5%), partial response in 24 (40.7%), and no response in 7 (11.9%). The relapse rate during follow-up periods was 15.2%. The rapid response group (p=0.017), in which the platelet count increased more than twice of the preoperative platelet count within 7 days after LS, relapsing after medical treatment (p=0.02), and the satisfactory group as the initial result of LS (p=0.001) were significant for predicting CR in univariate analysis, but only the initial satisfactory group was an independent predictive factor for CR in multivariate analysis (p=0.036, relative risk=6419; 95% CI, 1.171-35.190). Infections were the most frequent morbidities during the follow-up period, which were treated well without mortality. LS is a safe and effective treatment modality for ITP. Active referral to surgery might be required, considering complications and treatment results related to long-term use of steroid-based medications.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laparoscopy/*methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic/*surgery/therapy ; Recurrence ; Splenectomy/*methods ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome