Purpose: We aimed to investigate the causes and clinical features of compressive optic neuropathy in Koreans. Methods: We analyzed the medical records of patients diagnosed with compressive optic neuropathy from March 2014 to December 2023 to determine the cause of optic nerve compression, symptoms and symptom patterns at first visit, accompanying symptoms, types of visual field defects, and visual prognosis after surgery. In addition, the results of visual field tests and optical coherence tomography were analyzed to determine the positivity rate of each test and factors affecting test results. Results: A total of 73 patients were diagnosed with compressive optic neuropathy, and the most common cause was pituitary tumor (37 patients, 50.7%) followed by meningioma (16 patients, 21.9%), hemangioma (4 patients, 5.5%), thyroid ophthalmopathy (4 patients, 5.5%), and paranal sinus tumor tumor (2 patients, 2.7%). In terms of symptom pattern, half of the patients had vision and visual field defects that appeared gradually (41 patients, 56.2%), but there were also quite a few patients whose symptoms appeared suddenly (17 patients, 23.3%). The positivity rate of the diagnostic test was highest for visual field testing (89.0%). In pituitary tumors, tumor size affected diagnostic test results (p = 0.01). Conclusions The most common cause of compressive optic neuropathy in South Koreans was a pituitary tumor. Deterioration of visual function can also occur acutely, and visual field testing was useful for diagnosis.

It is difficult to determine a cause of bile duct stricture and dilatation. Eosinophilic cholangitis, a rare benign condition, may be one cause of bile duct stricture and dilatation. It can be evaluated using various methods of histopathology, radiographs, endoscopy, and hematologic findings. Treatment generally involves steroid therapy which can lead to improvement. This case report will discuss eosinophilic cholangitis, emphasizing that while it can easily be overlooked but should be considered in differential diagnoses.

The anticancer drugs have evolved significantly, spanning molecular targeted therapeutics (MTTs), immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Complications associated with these drugs vary widely based on their mechanisms of action. MTTs that target angiogenesis can often lead to complications related to ischemia or endothelial damage across various organs, whereas non-anti-angiogenic MTTs present unique complications derived from their specific pharmacological actions. ICIs are predominantly associated with immunerelated adverse events, such as pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, thyroid disorders, hypophysitis, and sarcoid-like reactions. CAR-T therapy causes unique and severe complications including cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. ADCs tend to cause complications associated with cytotoxic payloads. A comprehensive understanding of these drug-specific toxicities, particularly using medical imaging, is essential for providing optimal patient care. Based on this knowledge, radiologists can play a pivotal role in multidisciplinary teams. Therefore, radiologists must stay up-to-date on the imaging characteristics of these complications and the mechanisms underlying novel anticancer drugs.

Clinical trials for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy are in the early stages but are expected to progress alongside new treatment approaches. This suggests that imaging will play an important role in monitoring disease progression, treatment response, and treatment-related side effects. There are, however, challenges that remain unresolved, regarding imaging in CAR T-cell therapy. We herein discuss the role of imaging, focusing on how tumor response evaluation varies according to cancer type and target antigens in CAR T-cell therapy. CAR T-cell therapy often produces rapid and significant responses, and imaging is vital for identifying side effects such as cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. Radiologists should be aware of drug mechanisms, response assessments, and associated toxicities to effectively support these therapies. Additionally, this article highlights the importance of the Lugano criteria, which is essential for standardized assessment of treatment response, particularly in lymphoma therapies, and also explores other factors influencing imaging-based evaluation, including emerging methodologies and their potential to improve the accuracy and consistency of response assessments.

Endometriosis, a prevalent but debilitating condition affecting women, poses significant challenges in diagnosis and management. The current 2024 guideline, developed by the Korean Society of Endometriosis (KSE), builds upon the 2018 KSE guideline. This guideline aims to provide customized recommendations tailored to Korea’s unique clinical aspects and medical environment, and addresses key areas such as diagnosis, medical and surgical management, considerations for special populations, and its complex relationship with cancer.

Background/Aims: Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) is associated with prognosis in patients with COVID-19. However, there is limited data on the correlation between the prognosis of COVID-19 and varying KL-6 levels at different time points. We investigated the optimal cutoff values of the initial and peak serum KL-6 levels to predict mortality and evaluated their correlation with mortality. Methods: This retrospective cohort study collected data on serially collected serum KL-6 levels in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 between October 2020 and January 2022 at a single tertiary hospital in South Korea. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and Youden index were used to determine the cutoff points for the initial and peak KL-6 levels that best predicted 30-day mortality. The association between the initial and peak KL-6 values was assessed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Results: A total of 349 patients were included in this study. The mean initial and peak KL-6 levels were significantly higher in the non-survivor group than in the survivor group. The initial and peak KL-6 values that best predicted 30-day mortality were 491.85 U/mL and 660.05 U/mL, respectively. An initial KL-6 level greater than 491.85 U/mL and a peak KL-6 level greater than 660.05 U/mL were significantly associated with 30-day mortality. Conclusions The initial and peak levels of KL-6 were significantly associated with 30-day mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. These findings suggest that serially monitoring blood KL-6 levels could be a valuable prognostic indicator for COVID-19.

Background/Aims: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) frequently occurs in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly when influenced by factors such as abdominal infections, IBD flare-ups, or surgical procedures. The implications of PVT range from immediate issues such as intestinal ischemia to long-term concerns including portal hypertension and its complications. However, there is a notable gap in comprehensive studies on PVT in IBD, especially with the increasing incidence of IBD in Asia. This research aimed to evaluate the clinical features and outcomes of PVT in patients with IBD at a leading hospital in South Korea. Methods: This retrospective analysis reviewed adult patients diagnosed with both IBD and PVT from 1989 to 2021 at a renowned South Korean medical center. The study focused on patient characteristics, specifics of PVT, administered treatments, and outcomes, all confirmed through enhanced CT scans. Results: A total of 78 patients met the study’s criteria. Notably, only 20.5% (16/78) were treated with oral anticoagulants; however, a vast majority (96.2%; 75/78) achieved complete radiographic resolution (CRR). When comparing patients receiving anticoagulants to those who did not, a significant preference for anticoagulant use was observed in cases where the main portal vein was affected, as opposed to just the left or right veins (p = 0.006). However, multivariable analysis indicated that neither anticoagulant use nor previous surgeries significantly impacted CRR. Conclusions Patients with IBD and PVT generally had favorable outcomes, regardless of anticoagulant use.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of herpes zoster (HZ), particularly those receiving immunosuppressive treatments such as corticosteroids, thiopurines, and biologics, which elevate the likelihood of varicella-zoster virus reactivation. Despite this, vaccination rates among patients with IBD remain low. Shingrix, a recombinant zoster vaccine, is generally preferred because of its high efficacy (> 90%) and safety profile in immunocompromised individuals, unlike the live attenuated zoster vaccine (Zostavax). This review underscores the importance of HZ vaccination for patients aged ≥ 50 years, as well as for younger patients receiving high-risk therapies such as JAK inhibitors. Tailored vaccination strategies based on individual risk factors, including disease severity, medication use, and ethnicity, may enhance prevention. Given the higher incidence of HZ in certain populations, such as those in Korea, vaccination recommendations should be adapted accordingly. Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of Shingrix in younger patients with IBD to ensure sustained protection and prevent complications, such as postherpetic neuralgia.