PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of disease-free prostate (PC), kidney (KC), and bladder cancer (BC) survivors with that of the general population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study included 331 urological cancer (UC) survivors (114 PC, 108 KC, and 109 BC) aged ≥ 50 years disease-free for at least 1 year after surgery. The control group included 1,177 subjects without a history of cancer. The HRQoL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30, the Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of any of the functioning sub-scales and symptoms, except significantly lower social functioning observed in BC survivors than that observed in KC survivors. Although the three groups of UC survivors showed essentially similar functioning sub-scales and symptoms when compared to the general population, PC and BC survivors showed significantly lower social functioning and a lower appetite than that observed in controls. KC survivors showed lower physical functioning, as well as higher pain and dyspnea. Although all three groups of UC survivors reported higher financial difficulties, they also reported higher perceived social support than that reported by the non-cancer control group. No statistically significant difference was observed in terms of depressive symptoms between each group of UC survivors and the general population. CONCLUSION: Disease-free survivors of the three major types of UCs showed generally similar HRQoL compared to the general population, as well as compared to each other.
Appetite ; Depression* ; Dyspnea ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Kidney* ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Quality of Life* ; Survivors* ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urologic Neoplasms

PURPOSE: While concerns regarding trastuzumab-related cardiac dysfunction (TRCD) in patients with breast cancer are increasing, there is a lack of evidence supporting the current recommendations for TRCD monitoring. We aimed to investigate the clinical predictors of TRCD in the adjuvant setting of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive breast cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From August 2003 to April 2016, consecutive 998 patients who were treated with adjuvant trastuzumab for breast cancer were retrospectively evaluated. TRCD was defined as a decrease ≥10% in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), with a decline below the normal limit or symptomatic heart failure. RESULTS: Among 787 eligible patients who had complete data sets consisting of both baseline and follow-up assessment of left ventricular systolic function by echocardiography (mean age, 49.9±9.5 years), 58 (7.4%) developed TRCD. TRCD patients had lower baseline LVEF (63% [59–66] vs. 65% [61–68], p=0.016) and more frequently administered Adriamycin (98% vs. 89%, p=0.022) than those without TRCD. On follow-up echocardiography, a drop in LVEF ≥5% within the first 3 months was more frequent in TRCD patients (78.3% vs. 38.4%, p<0.001). Regardless of baseline LVEF and Adriamycin treatment, a drop in LVEF ≥5% within the first 3 months of trastuzumab administration was strongly associated with the development of TRCD (adjusted hazard ratio, 45.1[17.0–127.6], p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The overall incidence of TRCD was 7.4% in Asian breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant trastuzumab. A decline in LVEF ≥5% within the first 3 months of trastuzumab initiation was strongly associated with TRCD development in patients with breast cancer.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Cardiotoxicity ; Dataset ; Doxorubicin ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Incidence ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke Volume ; Trastuzumab

PURPOSE: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) information related to radical prostatectomy (RP) is valuable for prostate cancer (PC) patients needing to make treatment decisions. We aimed to investigate HRQOL change in PC patients who underwent three types of RP (open, laparoscopic, or robotic) and compared their HRQOL with that of general population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were prospectively recruited between October 2014 and December 2015. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and PC-specific module (PR25) were administered before surgery (baseline) and at postoperative 3 and 12 months. At each time point, HRQOL was compared, and a difference of 10 out of 0-100 scale was considered clinically significant. RESULTS: Among 258 screened patients, 209 (41 open, 63 laparoscopic, and 105 robotic surgeries) were included. Compared to baseline, physical, emotional, and cognitive functioning improved at 12 months. Role functioning worsened at 3 months, but recovered to baseline at 12 months. Pain, insomnia, diarrhea, and financial difficulties also significantly improved at 12 months. Most PR25 scales excluding bowel symptoms deteriorated at 3 months. Urinary symptoms and incontinence aid recovered at 12 months, whereas sexual activity and sexual function remained poor at 12 months. Clinically meaningful differences in HRQOL were not observed according to RP modalities. Compared to the general population, physical and role functioning were significantly lower at 3 months, but recovered by 12 months. Social functioning did not recover. CONCLUSION: Most HRQOL domains showed recovery within 12 months after RP, excluding sexual functioning and social functioning. Our findings may guide patients considering surgical treatment for PC.
Cohort Studies ; Diarrhea ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Quality of Life ; Sexual Behavior ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Weights and Measures

Primary sternal osteomyelitis is a rare disease. Common infectious organisms causing primary sternal osteomyelitis include Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Actinomyces species are common saprophytes of the oral cavity, but there have been few reports in the literature of primary sternal osteomyelitis caused by Actinomyces species. We describe a case of primary sternal osteomyelitis caused by Actinomyces israelii without pulmonary involvement.
Actinomyces* ; Actinomycosis ; Mouth ; Osteomyelitis* ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Rare Diseases ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Sternum

We present a case of left ventricular pseudoaneurysm, which is a very rare and fatal complication of cardiac procedures such as mitral valve replacement. A 55-year-old woman presented to the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at Hanyang University Seoul Hospital with chest pain. Ten years prior, the patient had undergone double valve replacement due to aortic regurgitation and mitral steno-insufficiency. Surgical repair was successfully performed using a prosthetic pericardial patch via a left lateral thoracotomy.
Aneurysm, False* ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Chest Pain ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; Seoul ; Thoracotomy

Enterobacter cloacae has emerged as an important nosocomial pathogen, but is rarely a cause of sacroiliitis. Herein, we present the first reported case of Enterobacter cloacae sacroiliitis associated with sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A previously healthy 14-year-old boy presented with low-grade fever and pain in the left side of the hip that was aggravated by walking. Pelvic computed tomography (CT) showed normal findings, and the patient received supportive care for transient synovitis with no antibiotics. However, there was no clinical improvement. On the third day of hospitalization, magnetic resonance imaging of the hip revealed findings compatible with sacroiliitis, for which vancomycin and ceftriaxone were administered. The patient suddenly developed high fever with dyspnea. Chest radiography and CT findings and a PaO2/FiO2 ratio <200 mmHg were suggestive of ARDS; the patient subsequently received ventilatory support and low-dose methylprednisolone infusions. Within one week, defervescence occurred, and the patient was able to breathe on his own. Following the timely recognition of, and therapeutic challenge to, ARDS, and after 6 weeks of parenteral antimicrobial therapy, the patient was discharged in good health with no complications.
Adolescent* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ceftriaxone ; Dyspnea ; Enterobacter cloacae* ; Fever ; Hip ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; Radiography ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult* ; Sacroiliitis* ; Sepsis ; Synovitis ; Thorax ; Vancomycin ; Walking

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMTs) are rare tumors of intermediate malignant potential that can occur anywhere in the body. We describe an interesting case of a hypervascular IMT in the mediastinum that could be resected completely following embolization of the feeding vessels. A 17-month-old girl with complaints of cough and fever for 3 months was referred to our hospital. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed a large mass in the right hemithorax that shifted the mediastinum to the left. Primary excision was considered but not performed because there was very active capsule wall bleeding due to the hypervascular tumor. After embolization of the feeding vessels, successful complete resection was carried out. Approximately 6 weeks after the operation, follow-up CT scan showed no evidence of recurrent disease. Preoperative embolization is a good option for performing complete resection of hypervascular IMTs that could reduce the recurrence rate.
Cough ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infant ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; Mediastinum ; Myofibroblasts ; Recurrence ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

No abstract available.
Adult ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*diagnosis/radiography ; Female ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Thoracic Vertebrae/*abnormalities/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Acquired bronchoesophageal fistula rare. Conservative treatment such as endoscopy is widely used. The recurrence rate after endoscopic treatment, however, is not well known. We report here on a case of a 54-year-old female who presented with recurrent bronchoesophageal fistula after endoscopic treatment that filled the fistula tract with Histoacryl(R).
Endoscopy ; Esophageal Diseases ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: For staging primary lung cancer, integrated positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging is popular. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of PET/CT scanning in lymph nodal staging of lung cancer. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We studied 48 patients who had received CT, PET/CT and pulmonary resections due to primary non-small cell lung cancer in our hospital between January 2006 and August 2009. Mediastinal lymph nodes were classified as superior mediastinal nodes, aortic nodes, inferior mediastinal nodes, or N1 nodes. We compared the power of CT and PET/CT for diagnosing pulmonary lymph nodes for each of the four types of nodes. RESULT: PET/CT was more sensitive than CT for all groups except inferior mediastinal nodes. However, the differences were not significant (McNemar's test: superior mediastinal nodes, p=0.109; aortic nodes, p=1.000; inferior mediastinal nodes, p=0.625, N1 nodes, p=0.424). CONCLUSION: The accuracy of PET/CT is similar to that of CT alone for staging lymph nodes. The two imaging modalities might be used as complementary, cooperative tools. We expect that integrated PET/CT will be found to be significantly mmore sensitive after more trials are done and more data is accumulated.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Electrons ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Positron-Emission Tomography