Objectives: Changes in the pancreatic volume (PV) are useful as potential clinical markers for some pancreatic-related diseases. The objective of this study was to measure the volume of the pancreas using computed tomography (CT) volumetry and to evaluate the relationships between sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and sarcopenia. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the abdominal CT scans of 1,003 subjects whose ages ranged between 10 and 90 years. The pancreas was segmented manually to define the region of interest (ROI) based on CT images, and then the PVs were measured by counting the voxels in all ROIs within the pancreas boundary. Sarcopenia was identified by examination of CT images that determined the crosssectional area of the skeletal muscle around the third lumbar vertebra. Results: The mean volume of the pancreas was 62.648 ± 19.094 cm3. The results indicated a negative correlation between the PV and age. There was a positive correlation between the PV and BMI for both sexes, females, and males (r = 0.343, p < 0.001; r = 0.461, p < 0.001; and r = 0.244, p < 0.001, respectively). Additionally, there was a positive correlation between the PV and sarcopenia for females (r = 0.253, p < 0.001) and males (r = 0.200, p < 0.001). Conclusions CT pancreas volumetry results may help physicians follow up or predict conditions of the pancreas after interventions for pancreatic-related disease in the future.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an elevated risk of venous thromboembolism compared with the general population. The most common sites of venous thromboembolism in IBD patients are the deep veins of the legs, the pulmonary system, and portal and mesenteric veins. However, cerebral venous thrombosis is rarely associated with IBD. This report describes a case of cerebral venous thrombosis in a patient with Crohn's disease. A 17-year-old girl, diagnosed 4 years earlier with Crohn's disease, presented with headache and vomiting. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain with venography showed venous thrombosis in the cortical veins, superior sagittal sinus, right transverse sinus, and right internal jugular vein. The patient immediately started anticoagulation therapy with intravenous heparin infusion followed by daily oral rivaroxaban 10 mg. Follow-up imaging after 2 weeks showed resolution of the thrombosis, with recanalization of the cortical veins, superior sagittal sinus, right transverse sinus, and right internal jugular vein. She continued rivaroxaban therapy for 6 months, and remained well, without neurologic sequelae. A high level of concern for cerebral venous thrombosis may be important when treating active IBD patients, because anticoagulation treatment can prevent fatal complications.
Adolescent ; Brain ; Crohn Disease* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Heparin ; Humans ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases ; Jugular Veins ; Leg ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mesenteric Veins ; Phlebography ; Rivaroxaban ; Superior Sagittal Sinus ; Thrombosis ; Veins ; Venous Thromboembolism ; Venous Thrombosis* ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of a sodium reduction program at local restaurants through nutrition education and examination of the health of restaurant owners and cooks. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study was a single-arm pilot intervention using a pre-post design in one business district with densely populated restaurants in Seoul, South Korea. The intervention focused on improving nutrition behaviors and psychosocial factors through education, health examination, and counseling of restaurant personnel. Forty-eight restaurant owners and cooks completed the baseline survey and participated in the intervention. Forty participants completed the post-intervention survey. RESULTS: The overweight and obesity prevalences were 25.6% and 39.5%, respectively, and 74.4% of participants had elevated blood pressure. After health examination, counseling, and nutrition education, several nutrition behaviors related to sodium intake showed improvement. In addition, those who consumed less salt in their baseline diet (measured with urine dipsticks) were more likely to agree that providing healthy foods to their customers is necessary. This study demonstrated the potential to reduce the sodium contents of restaurant foods by improving restaurant owners' and cooks' psychological factors and their own health behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: This small pilot study demonstrated that working with restaurant owners and cooks to improve their own health and sodium intake may have an effect on participation in restaurant-based sodium reduction initiatives. Future intervention studies with a larger sample size and comparison group can focus on improving the health and perceptions of restaurant personnel in order to increase the feasibility and efficacy of restaurant-based sodium reduction programs and policies.
Blood Pressure ; Commerce ; Counseling ; Diet ; Education ; Health Behavior ; Health Education ; Korea* ; Nutrition Policy ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Pilot Projects* ; Prevalence ; Psychology ; Restaurants* ; Sample Size ; Seoul ; Sodium* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal neoplasm of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. These tumors are frequently small, asymptomatic and found incidentally. GI bleeding is a common complication of these tumors, but small sized, very low risk GIST rarely complicated with fatal bleeding. In this report, we describe a 42-year-old woman with a jejunal GIST accompanied by severe GI bleeding. She presented with melena and an angiographic embolization was performed for a jejunal mass with bleeding. However, rebleeding was suspected after an angiographic embolization and an emergent segmental resection for the bleeding mass was performed. She was finally diagnosed as a 1.8 cm sized very low risk GIST in jejunum. In conclusion, physician should consider that even very low risk GIST can be the cause of GI bleeding when there is severe bleeding.
Adult ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors* ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Jejunum* ; Melena

BACKGROUND: Conventional stripping is considered to be the standard procedure for great saphenous vein (GSV) varicosities, but many other alternative treatments such as cryostripping, endovenous laser therapy (EVLT), radio-frequency ablation, and ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy have been developed. Among them, both cryostripping and laser therapy have been reported to be less traumatic, with lower rates of complications and recurrences when compared to conventional stripping. To compare the efficacy of these treatments, we have analyzed and compared the mid-term clinical outcomes of cryostripping and EVLT. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with varicose veins of the GSV and treated with cryostripping or laser therapy between September 2008 and April 2013 were enrolled in this study. Duplex ultrasonography was used for the diagnosis and evaluation of varicosity and reflux, and the clinical-etiology-anatomy-pathophysiology classification was used to measure the clinical severity. The symptoms, Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), recurrence rates, and complication rates of the cryostripping and laser therapy groups were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: A total of 68 patients were enrolled in this study. 32 patients were treated with cryostripping, and 36 patients were treated with laser therapy. The median follow-up period was 29.6 months. Recurrence was noted in three patients from the cryostripping group and in two patients from the EVLT group. There was no difference in the VCSS score, operative time, duration of hospital stay, and complication rate between the cryostripping group and the EVLT group. CONCLUSION: The mid-term clinical outcomes of cryostripping were not inferior to those of EVLT. Further, considering its cost-effectiveness, cryostripping seems to be a safe and feasible method for the treatment of varicose veins.
Classification ; Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Laser Therapy* ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Recurrence ; Saphenous Vein ; Sclerotherapy ; Ultrasonography ; Varicose Veins*

Lymphangioma is a benign vascular lesion with characteristics of subepithelial tumor which can proliferate in the lymphatic system. Lymphangioma of the small-bowel mesentery is rare, having been reported in less than 2% of all lymphangiomas. Lymphangioma does not require any specific treatment because it is absolutely a benign tumor. However, surgical exploration is rarely required for cases with disease-related symptoms or complications, or for those misdiagnosed as a malignant lesion. We recently experienced a case of mesenteric cavernous lymphangomas in a 53-year-old female who was misdiagnosed as having a liposarcoma. The final diagnosis was confirmed by a pathologic examination of the specimen that was obtained via laparoscopic exploration. Herein, we report a very rare case of mesenteric cavernous lymphangioma along with a brief review of relevant literature.
Female ; Humans ; Intestine, Small/pathology ; Laparoscopy ; Lymphangioma/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Mesentery/pathology ; Middle Aged ; Peritoneal Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A 35-year-old man was admitted to Korea University Anam Hospital for evaluation of intermittent chest pain. Computed tomography of the chest showed enlargement of a previously identified anterior mediastinal mass and also a well-defined, circumscribed mass in the subcarinal area, surrounded by the roof of the left atrium, right pulmonary artery, and the carina. Complete resection of the intrapericardial tumor was performed through median sternotomy without cardiopulmonary bypass. Pathologic examination identified the tumor as schwannoma, of an ancient type, diffusely positive for the S-100 antigen. Unlike other reported cases, grossly, the tumor did not seem to be involved with any nerve.
Adult ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass* ; Chest Pain ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Hyperplasia* ; Korea ; Neurilemmoma* ; Pericardium ; Pulmonary Artery ; Sternotomy* ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: A closed pleural biopsy is commonly performed for diagnosing patients exhibiting pleural effusion if prior thoracentesis is not diagnostic. However, the diagnostic yield of such biopsies is unsatisfactory. Instead, a thoracoscopic pleural biopsy is more useful and less painful. METHODS: We compared the diagnostic yield of needle thoracoscopic pleural biopsy performed under local anesthesia with that of closed pleural biopsy. Sixty-seven patients with pleural effusion were randomized into groups A and B. Group A patients were subjected to closed pleural biopsies, and group B patients were subjected to pleural biopsies performed using needle thoracoscopy under local anesthesia. RESULTS: The diagnostic yields and complication rates of the two groups were compared. The diagnostic yield was 55.6% in group A and 93.5% in group B (p<0.05). Procedure-related complications developed in seven group A patients but not in any group B patients. Of the seven complications, five were pneumothorax and two were vasovagal syncope. CONCLUSION: Needle thoracoscopic pleural biopsy under local anesthesia is a simple and safe procedure that has a high diagnostic yield. This procedure is recommended as a useful diagnostic modality if prior thoracentesis is non-diagnostic.
Anesthesia, Local* ; Biopsy* ; Humans ; Needles* ; Pleural Diseases ; Pleural Effusion* ; Pneumothorax ; Syncope, Vasovagal ; Thoracoscopy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of a simplified zero ischemia technique using kidney donor computed tomographic (CT) angiography and conventional laparoscopic bulldog clamps. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a review of seven robot-assisted partial nephrectomies (RAPNs) performed by a single surgeon from January 2012 to May 2012. Using a simplified protocol of 3-dimentional reconstruction, tertiary arterial branches supplying the tumor were selectively clamped prior to resection. We used conventional laparoscopic bulldog clamps instead of microsurgical vessel clamps. The patients' demographic information, perioperative outcomes, pathologic outcomes and pre- and postoperative renal functions up to 3 months follow-up were analyzed. RESULTS: RAPN were successfully performed for seven complex renal hilar tumors. There were no significant differences in the total operation time, estimated blood loss or postoperative outcomes compared with published literature on standard RAPN. Negative surgical margins were reported in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: We presented a simplified-zero ischemia technique using kidney Donor CT angiography and conventional laparoscopic bulldog clamps. We have also demonstrated its safety and feasibility in patients with complex renal hilar tumors. This modified technique can be easily adopted by most surgeons who are currently performing RAPN.
Angiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Ischemia ; Kidney ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Nephrectomy ; Robotics ; Tissue Donors

In chest wall reconstruction after wide chest wall resection, the use of a musculocutaneous flap or prosthetic materials is inevitable for maintaining thoracic movement and a closed pleural cavity. We report a case of a 63-year-old male with a large invasive thymic carcinoma in the anterior mediastinum. The mass measured 6.8 cm and involved the sternum, left side of the parasternal area, ribs, and intercostal muscles. The patient underwent subtotal sternectomy, radical thymectomy, and reconstruction with biological mesh (Permacol). Successful chest wall reconstruction without any other complications was achieved, demonstrating the effectiveness of Permacol.
Collagen ; Humans ; Intercostal Muscles ; Male ; Mediastinum ; Pleural Cavity ; Ribs ; Sternum ; Thoracic Wall ; Thymectomy ; Thymoma