Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in Korea and the third leading cause of death from cancer. Treatment outcomes for colon cancer are steadily improving due to national health screening programs with advances in diagnostic methods, surgical techniques, and therapeutic agents.. The Korea Colon Cancer Multidisciplinary (KCCM) Committee intends to provide professionals who treat colon cancer with the most up-to-date, evidence-based practice guidelines to improve outcomes and help them make decisions that reflect their patients’ values and preferences. These guidelines have been established by consensus reached by the KCCM Guideline Committee based on a systematic literature review and evidence synthesis and by considering the national health insurance system in real clinical practice settings. Each recommendation is presented with a recommendation strength and level of evidence based on the consensus of the committee.

Background: The Korean Society of Thoracic Radiology (KSTR) recently constructed a nation-wide coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) database and imaging repository, referred to the Korean imaging cohort of COVID-19 (KICC-19) based on the collaborative efforts of its members. The purpose of this study was to provide a summary of the clinico-epidemiological data and imaging data of the KICC-19. Methods: The KSTR members at 17 COVID-19 referral centers retrospectively collected imaging data and clinical information of consecutive patients with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction-proven COVID-19 in respiratory specimens from February 2020 through May 2020 who underwent diagnostic chest computed tomography (CT) or radiograph in each participating hospital. Results: The cohort consisted of 239 men and 283 women (mean age, 52.3 years; age range, 11–97 years). Of the 522 subjects, 201 (38.5%) had an underlying disease. The most common symptoms were fever (n = 292) and cough (n = 245). The 151 patients (28.9%) had lymphocytopenia, 86 had (16.5%) thrombocytopenia, and 227 patients (43.5%) had an elevated CRP at admission. The 121 (23.4%) needed nasal oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation (n = 38; 7.3%), and 49 patients (9.4%) were admitted to an intensive care unit.Although most patients had cured, 21 patients (4.0%) died. The 465 (89.1%) subjects underwent a low to standard-dose chest CT scan at least once during hospitalization, resulting in a total of 658 CT scans. The 497 subjects (95.2%) underwent chest radiography at least once during hospitalization, which resulted in a total of 1,475 chest radiographs. Conclusion The KICC-19 was successfully established and comprised of 658 CT scans and 1,475 chest radiographs of 522 hospitalized Korean COVID-19 patients. The KICC-19 will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the clinical, epidemiological, and radiologic characteristics of patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Previously, cutaneous lymphomas were classified according to either the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) or the World Health Organization (WHO) classification paradigms. The aim of this study was to determine the relative frequency of Korean cutaneous lymphoma according to the new WHO-EORTC classification system. METHODS: A total of 517 patients were recruited during a recent 5 year-period (2006-2010) from 21 institutes and classified according to the WHO-EORTC criteria. RESULTS: The patients included 298 males and 219 females, and the mean age at diagnosis was 49 years. The lesions preferentially affected the trunk area (40.2%). The most frequent subtypes in order of decreasing prevalence were mycosis fungoides (22.2%), peripheral T-cell lymphoma (17.2%), CD30+ T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder (13.7%), and extranodal natural killer/T (NK/T) cell lymphoma, nasal type (12.0%). Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma accounted for 11.2% of cases, half of which were secondary cutaneous involvement; other types of B-cell lymphoma accounted for less than 1% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison with data from Western countries, this study revealed relatively lower rates of mycosis fungoides and B-cell lymphoma in Korean patients, as well as higher rates of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma and NK/T cell lymphoma.
Academies and Institutes ; Classification* ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymphoma* ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; Male ; Mycosis Fungoides ; Prevalence ; T-Lymphocytes ; World Health Organization

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To prevent getting wrong information and improve high quality of life, it is necessary to provide accurate information and patient education. This study aimed to collect basic data and develop educational program for thyroid cancer patient by understanding their educational needs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 16 and June 15, 2012, 159 patients who underwent thyroid cancer surgery were enrolled. This survey consisted of 5 areas including management of the symptom and the complication after surgery, postoperative wound and dietary management, treatment plan after discharge, medication management, and daily life. RESULTS: The most common way for the patients to acquire information about the disease was Internet and the patients who used INTERNET as their information source were 54.7%. Doctors (76.1%) and nurses (21.4%) were the preferred educators for the patients, and small group education was the preferred education method. Specifically the need for "management of the symptom and the complication after surgery" was the highest (3.33), followed by "treatment plan after discharge" (3.31), "medication management" (3.19), "postoperative wound and dietary management" (3.17). CONCLUSION: Medical team including doctors and nurses should be the center to activate small group education for patients. Professional and individualized education program should be developed to give the proper education to patients and their family.
Education ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Internet ; Methods ; Patient Education as Topic ; Quality of Life ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Wounds and Injuries

Extravasation of contrast media into subcutaneous tissue is a relatively frequent complication. Although most patients complain of initial swelling, tightness, and burning pain at the site of extravasation, some experience little or no discomfort. In most cases, conservative management is recommended. However, severe injury after extravasation of contrast media have been reported, including skin ulceration, tissue necrosis, and compartment syndrome, in which cases surgical intervention should be considered. We report a case of a 53-year-old man who had severe localized reaction due to extravasation of contrast media for a follow-up brain CT scan after subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Brain ; Burns ; Compartment Syndromes ; Contrast Media ; Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Necrosis ; Skin Ulcer ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Subcutaneous Tissue

PURPOSE: The glutathione-S-transferase (GST)P1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotypes have been associated with an increased risk of prostate, bladder, and lung cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the GSTP1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotypes and the risk of prostate cancer in Korean men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 166 patients with histologically confirmed prostate cancer. The control group consisted of 327 healthy, cancer-free individuals. The diagnosis of prostate cancer was made by transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy. Patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma were divided into organ-confined (< or =pT2) and non-organ-confined (> or =pT3) subgroups. The histological grades were subdivided according to the Gleason score. The GSTP1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotypes were determined by using polymerase chain reaction-based methods. The relationship among GSTP1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 polymorphisms and prostate cancer in a case-control study was investigated. RESULTS: The frequency of the GSTM1 null genotype in the prostate cancer group (54.2%) was higher than in the control group (odds ratio=1.53, 95% confidence interval=1.20-1.96). The comparison of the GSTP1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 genotypes and cancer prognostic factors, such as staging and grading, showed no statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: An increased risk for prostate cancer may be associated with the GSTM1 null genotype in Korean men, but no association was found with the GSTT1 or GSTP1 genotypes.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy ; Case-Control Studies ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Neoplasm Grading ; Prostate ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder

A 62-year-old Korean woman was admitted to our department to evaluate a chronic cough and sputum, which had begun several weeks ago. The patient had been diagnosed with systemic sclerosis in 2004. Autoantibody screening tests were negative for the anticentromere and antitopoisomerase antibodies. She received therapy with combined cyclophosphamide, a calcium channel blocker, D-penicillamine, and low dose steroid. In 2006, a pulmonary function test (PFT) showed a restrictive pattern, and a computed tomography (CT) scan of the lungs revealed interstitial lung disease, but no symptoms were present, so we maintained her on the medication. In October 2008, a chest x-ray and CT scan of the lungs demonstrated aggravation with bilateral basal interstitial infiltrates and hilar lymphadenopathy. Cyclophosphamide pulse therapy was conducted six times during 6 months, but there was no change on her chest CT and PFT, and she had no symptoms, so we decided to follow up. On admission, no significant interval change in the reticular opacity of both lower lungs was observed, but several lymph nodes were enlarged on a chest and neck CT. The skin showed multiple large polygonal-shaped scaled lesions on her upper and lower extremities. Biopsies were taken from the skin of the lower extremities and the left cervical lymph node. Typical non-caseating granulomas corresponding to sarcoidosis were found along with systemic sclerosis findings.
Antibodies ; Biopsy ; Calcium Channels ; Cough ; Cyclophosphamide ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Lung ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Penicillamine ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Sarcoidosis ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; Skin ; Sputum ; Thorax

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cilostazol, a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase III (PDE III), prevents inactivation of the intracellular second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and irreversibly inhibits platelet aggregation and vasodilation. Hence, we performed this prospective randomized study to evaluate the clinical effects of additional cilostazol administration in patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy after drug-eluting stent (DES) insertion. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between December 2003 and June 2006, we enrolled a total 603 consecutive patients who underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with DES insertion at Dong-A University Hospital. Study patients received dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel, n=301) for at least six months or dual antiplatelet therapy (six months) combined with cilostazol medication for one month (triple therapy, n=302) after PCI. We investigated the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at one month and six months after the initiation of medical therapy. MACE was defined as a composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), stent thrombosis, and target lesion revascularization (TLR). Platelet function was evaluated in 66 patients (dual therapy group, n=40; triple therapy group, n=26) using a Chrono-Log platelet aggregometer and the VerifyNow P2Y12 assay system. RESULTS: The MACE rate was 0.66% in the triple therapy group (death only, 0.67%) and 1.67% in the dual therapy group (death, 0.67%; MI, 0.67%; stent thrombosis, 0.99%; TLR, 0.99%) at one month after PCI (p=0.087). At six months, there were no differences in the MACE rate between the two groups (triple group vs. dual group=2.65% vs. 3.99%, p=0.864). In laboratory tests, platelet aggregation induced by agonists of ADP (27.92+/-13.04% vs. 40.9+/-15.78%, p=0.0008), collagen (13.73+/-6.95% vs. 27.43+/-14.87%, p=0.03), and epinephrine (10.38+/-7.82% vs. 15.5+/-10.45%, p=0.0000) were lower in the triple therapy group versus the dual therapy group. However, platelet aggregation induced by agonists of arachidonic acid (3.23+/-1.07% vs. 3.78+/-2.12%, p=0.23) and ristocetin (29.19+/-35.55% vs. 44.78+/-32.65%, p=0.07) and aspirin reaction unit (412.96+/-96.25 vs. 427.93+/-76.24, p=0.48) measured by VerifyNow were not different in the triple group versus the dual group. CONCLUSION: Additional administration of cilostazol did not decrease the MACE rate when compared to dual therapy six months after PCI in patients with DES.
Adenosine Diphosphate ; Adenosine Monophosphate ; Arachidonic Acid ; Aspirin ; Blood Platelets ; Collagen ; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 3 ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Epinephrine ; Humans ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Platelet Aggregation ; Prospective Studies ; Ristocetin ; Second Messenger Systems ; Stents ; Tetrazoles ; Thrombosis ; Ticlopidine ; Vasodilation

BACKGROUND: Neurosurgical site infection may have serious sequelae, especially that occurring after craniotomy. A nationwide prospective multicenter study was performed in Korea to determine the incidence and risk factors for surgical site infections (SSI) after craniotomy. Methods: We collected demographic data, clinical and operative risk factors for SSI, and information regarding the antibiotics administered for the patients who underwent craniotomy in 17 hospitals between July and December of 2008. All the data were collected using a real-time web-based reporting system. RESULTS: Of the 1,020 patients who underwent craniotomy, 31 (3%) developed SSI, including 4 with superficial incisional SSI, 2 with deep incisional SSI, and 25 with organ/space SSI. The SSI rate was predicted on the basis of the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) risk index. The SSI rate of 3.1%, 3.3%, and 1.8% were ascribed NNIS scores of 0, 1, and 2, respectively. The independent risk factors for SSI identified were postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage (odds ratio, 12.13; 95% confidence interval, 4.54-32.42) and preoperative Glasgow coma scales score < or =8 (odds ratio, 2.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-5.18). Third generation cephalosporins were the most frequently (in 65.6% of the cases) used for prophylaxis. CONCLUSION: A multicenter SSI surveillance system for craniotomy was first established in Korea. The NNIS risk index was not effective in identifying the patients at risk. We required to further analyze a large number of SSI cases to correctly identify the risk factors for SSI after craniotomy.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antibiotic Prophylaxis ; Cephalosporins ; Coma ; Craniotomy ; Cross Infection ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Weights and Measures