Background and Objectives: The quality of life after thyroidectomy, such as voice change, is considered to be as important as control of the disease. In this study, we aimed to evaluate changes in both subjective and objective voice parameters after thyroidectomy resulting in normal morbidity of the vocal cords.Materials and Method In this prospective cohort study, 204 patients who underwent thyroidectomy with or without central neck dissection at a single referral center from Feb 2015 to Aug 2016 were enrolled. All patients underwent prospective voice evaluations including both subjective and objective assessments preoperatively and then at 2 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Temporal changes of the voice parameters were analyzed. Results: Values of the subjective assessment tool worsened during the early postoperative follow-up period and did not recover to the preoperative values at 12 months postoperatively. The maximal phonation time gradually decreased, whereas most objective parameters, including maximal vocal pitch (MVP), reached preoperative values at 3–6 months postoperatively. The initial decrease in MVP was significantly greater in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy, and their MVP recovery time was faster than that of patients undergoing lobectomy (p=0.001). Patients whose external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve was confirmed intact by electroidentification showed no difference in recovery speed compared with patients without electroindentification (p=0.102), although the initial decrease in MVP was lower with electroidentification. Conclusion Subjective assessment in voice quality and maximal phonation time after thyroidectomy did not show recovery to preoperative values. Aggravation of MVP was associated with surgical extent and electroidentification.

PURPOSE: Although anaphylaxis is recognized as an important, life-threatening condition, data are limited regarding its triggers in different age groups. We aimed to identify anaphylaxis triggers by age in Korean children. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of medical records for children diagnosed with anaphylaxis between 2009 and 2013 in 23 secondary or tertiary hospitals in South Korea. RESULTS: A total of 991 cases (mean age=5.89±5.24) were reported, with 63.9% involving patients younger than 6 years of age and 66% involving male children. Food was the most common anaphylaxis trigger (74.7%), followed by drugs and radiocontrast media (10.7%), idiopathic factors (9.2%), and exercise (3.6%). The most common food allergen was milk (28.4%), followed by egg white (13.6%), walnut (8.0%), wheat (7.2%), buckwheat (6.5%), and peanut (6.2%). Milk and seafood were the most common anaphylaxis triggers in young and older children, respectively. Drug-triggered anaphylaxis was observed more frequently with increasing age, with antibiotics (34.9%) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (17.9%) being the most common causes. CONCLUSIONS: The most common anaphylaxis trigger in Korean children was food. Data on these triggers show that their relative frequency may vary by age.
Anaphylaxis* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Arachis ; Child* ; Contrast Media ; Egg White ; Epidemiology ; Fagopyrum ; Humans ; Juglans ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; Milk ; Retrospective Studies* ; Seafood ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Triticum

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to classify the outer membrane of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) histologically and to determine the clinical and radiological meaning of the classified membranes. METHODS: The outer membrane specimen of 31 patients who underwent surgery for CSDH were acquired in this study. The specimen was classified into four types and each were analyzed of the symptoms on the admission day and during the period from trauma to surgery. The radiological features such as subdural fluid density, Hounsfield number, thickness of the hematoma, and midline shift were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 6% of type I, 29% of type II, 39% of type III, and 26% of type IV neomembranes. The cases of CSDH accompanied by neurologic deficit were highest from type IV of 63%, followed by type II with 56%. On the radiological findings such as Hounsfield unit, hematoma thickness and midline shift, only hematoma thickness between type II and III were statistically significant (p=0.021). The hematoma thickness and midline shift were greatest in type II. On computed tomography scans, the isodense, hyperdense and laminar type that shows the high recurrence rate formed 75% of type II and 67% of type IV while type III had the low possibility of recurrence rate (33%). CONCLUSION: We have identified that the outer membrane have the tendency to develop from type I to IV in time while type II and type IV may have more risk of neurologic deficit and the high possibility of recurrence.
Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic* ; Humans ; Membranes* ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Recurrence ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism is associated with the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the spine in the Korean population. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted to investigate the association between I/D polymorphism of the angiotensin I converting enzyme (peptidyl-dipeptidase A) 1 (ACE) gene and OPLL. The 95 OPLL patients and 274 control subjects were recruited. Polymerase chain reaction for the genotyping of ACE I/D polymorphism was performed. The difference between the OPLL patients and the control subjects was compared using the contingency chi2 test and the logistic regression analysis. For statistical analysis, SPSS, SNPStats, SNPAnalyzer, and Helixtree programs were used. RESULTS: The genotype and allele frequencies of ACE I/D polymorphism showed significant differences between the OPLL patients and the control subjects (genotype, p<0.001; allele, p=0.009). The frequencies of D/D genotype and D allele in the OPLL group were higher than those in the control group. In logistic regression analysis, ACE I/D polymorphism was associated with OPLL (dominant model; p=0.002; odd ratio, 2.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.33-3.65). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the deletion polymorphism of the ACE gene may be a risk factor for the development of OPLL in the Korean population.
Alleles ; Angiotensin I* ; Angiotensins* ; Case-Control Studies ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Longitudinal Ligaments* ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk Factors ; Spine

BACKGROUND: E-cadherin, cortactin, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 have roles in tumor development or progression, but their expression has not been fully investigated in pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia (PEH) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck. METHODS: We evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin, cortactin, and MMP-9 in 29 cases of PEH and 97 cases of SCC. Additionally, we evaluated their relationship with clinicopathologic factors and prognostic implications in SCC. RESULTS: Thirty-five cases of SCC showed reduced expression of E-cadherin, whereas none of the PEH did. A total of 20 cases and 11 cases of SCC were immunoreactive for cortactin and MMP-9, respectively, whereas none of the PEH did. In SCC, reduced expression of E-cadherin was correlated with cortactin expression and invasion depth. Cortactin expression was correlated with differentiation, T classification, and recurrence and/or metastasis. MMP-9 expression was correlated with invasion depth. Cortactin expression was correlated with poor overall survival and relapse-free survival and it was an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced expression of E-cadherin and the expression of cortactin may be helpful for the differential diagnosis of PEH and SCC. Furthermore, cortactin expression in association with reduced E-cadherin expression is correlated with poor prognosis in SCC.
Cadherins ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cortactin ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Head ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Hyperplasia ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

Metastases of malignant tumors to the oral region from distant sites are uncommon. A 45-year-old man with painless gingival swelling was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the lung. On cytology, clusters of tumor cells on mucous background revealed enlarged nuclei, indistinct cell borders, and irregular nuclear membranes. Some cells showed nuclear inclusions, nuclear grooves and small nucleoli. These findings are indicative of metastatic adenocarcinoma. We present a case of gingival metastasis from a lung adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nuclear Envelope

The main cause of death in hemodialysis patients is cardiovascular disease. Aortic dissection with rupture is one of the most life threatening cardiovascular diseases. The risk of developing aortic dissection can be increased by renal failure or hemodialysis and the morbidity also increases in Turner syndrome. Here, we report a case of Turner syndrome patient who died from ruptured aortic dissection after hemodialysis, and review relevant literature. A 59 year-old female presented to the emergency department complaining of severe dyspnea and general weakness. Six months ago, she had undergone an operation at another hospital due to horseshoe kidney and staghorn calculus. After the operation, acute renal failure developed, so she received hemodialysis. The chest x-ray image taken at the time of admission showed mediastinal widening compared to image taken 6 months ago. Aortic dissection was diagnosed by chest computer tomograph. Chromosomal analysis was performed and the study revealed the mosaicism of Turner syndrome (45,X/ 46,XX). The genetic defect, renal failure and especially hemodialysis were thought as important risk factors in the development of aortic dissection in this patient. Although storongly advised to have emergency operation, the patient only wanted conservative management. Two months later, the patient died from aorta rupture.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Aorta ; Aortic Diseases ; Calculi ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cause of Death ; Dyspnea ; Emergencies ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; Mosaicism ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Risk Factors ; Rupture ; Thorax ; Turner Syndrome

A phytobezoar is the most common type of bezoar, which is a gastrointestinal mass composed of vegetable. A persimmon is a common cause of a phytobezoar. The majority of bezoars are found in the stomach, with the small intestine being the next most commonly involved site. The colon is a rare site for a bezoar. Recently, we experienced a colonic bezoar that caused colonic obstruction in a 66-year-old female patient who took persimmons regularly. The patient came to the hospital because of abdominal pain and distension. To differentiate a tumor or other problems that can cause intestinal obstruction, we performed an abdominal computed tomography scan and found an ovoid intraluminal mass with a mottled gas pattern in the distal descending colon. A large impacted bezoar was seen in the sigmoid colon, which was completely obstructed, and it was successfully removed by using colonoscopy.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Bezoars ; Colon ; Colon, Descending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colonoscopy ; Diospyros ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intestine, Small ; Porphyrins ; Stomach ; Vegetables

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe, diffuse mucocutaneous reactions that can be elicited by drugs, infection, malignancy, and herbal supplements. A wide variety of mucocutaneous events, such as systemic contact dermatitis, have been reported to be elicited by Rhus chicken, although cases of SJS and TEN are rare. Here, we present a case of SJS caused by Rhus-chicken ingestion. A 48-year-old man who wanted to improve his health and treat a gastrointestinal problem ingested Rhus chicken in the traditional manner. Twenty-four hours later, he developed a multiple erythematous maculopapular skin rash with vesicles and bullaes on 30% of the body surface and multiple erosions on the lips. He was diagnosed with SJS/TEN and showed characteristic clinical findings induced by Rhus chicken. After the patient stopped Rhus-chicken ingestion and received methylprednisolone and antibiotics, his symptoms, signs, and laboratory findings improved. With this case, we emphasize that SJS and TEN can occur after ingesting Rhus chicken, although the incidence is very low.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Blister ; Chickens ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Eating ; Epidermal Necrolysis, Toxic ; Exanthema ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lip ; Methylprednisolone ; Middle Aged ; Rhus ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

PURPOSE: Treatment of ovarian metastasis from colorectal cancer has been controversial. We investigated the clinicopathologic features and treatment outcomes of patients with ovarian metastasis from colorectal carcinoma. METHODS: From January 1996 to May 2009, 567 women were treated for colorectal cancer. Of those, 23 patients were diagnosed as having ovarian metastasis. We reviewed 19 pathologically proven cases, retrospectively. RESULTS: The incidence of ovarian metastasis was 4.0%. The number of cases involving synchronous ovarian metastases was 9 (47.4%), and 10 cases (52.6%) involved metachronous ovarian metastases. Thirteen patients had metastases located in the pelvis and 6 also had peritoneal dissemination in addition to the ovarian metastasis. Twenty (63.1%) were treated with grossly complete resection. After a median follow-up duration of 45 months (range of 6~96 months), the median survival after the diagnosis of ovarian metastasis was 40 months. The median overall survival was significantly longer in the grossly complete resection group (48.5 vs. 16 months; P=0.001). For median survival after the diagnosis of ovarian-metastasis, patients with grossly complete resection showed a significantly more favorable survival rate than the group with remnant tumors (46.5 vs 9 months; P=0.009). The survival of patients with metastases located in the pelvis was better than the group with peritoneal dissemination. CONCLUSION: Grossly complete resection would be of help to improve the prognosis in selective patients with metastasis from colorectal cancer, especially when metastasis is located in the pelvis.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pelvis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate