Purpose: The use of gallium-68 prostate-specific membrane antigen-11 positron emission tomography/computed tomography (Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET/CT) is becoming increasingly common among men with prostate cancer (PCa). However, it remains uncertain which patients will derive the most benefit, and there is a scarcity of real-world data regarding its impact on altering treatment plans. This study investigated which patients would most benefit from Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET/CT, focusing on detection rates and changes in treatment strategies, drawing from a single-center experience. Materials and Methods: In total, 230 men with PCa who underwent Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET/CT between November 2021 and August 2022 were included in this retrospective study. The patients were classified into 5 groups based on their disease status: group 1, further work-up for high-risk localized PCa; group 2, de novo metastatic PCa; group 3, biochemical recurrence after definitive treatment; group 4, castration-resistant PCa; group 5, others. The positivity rate, positive lesions, predictive value of lymph node metastases, comparison with conventional images, and treatment changes after Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET/CT were analyzed in each group. Results: Of the 230 patients, 40 (17.4%), 20 (8.7%), 77 (33.5%), 76 (33.0%), and 17 (7.4%) were classified into groups 1–5, respectively. Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET/CT showed lesions in 74.8% of patients, and the optimal cutoff value for PSA was 1.99 ng/mL. Lesions not observed on conventional imaging were found in 62 patients (33.2%). In 38 patients (13.5%), treatment was changed due to Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET/CT. Conclusions These real-world data suggest that Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET/CT may be clinically useful for various disease conditions, as substantial stage migration and subsequent treatment changes occur in men with PCa. However, the prognostic impact of this modality remains unclear; thus, a well-designed prospective study is needed to address this issue.

To investigate the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in pork on the market in Korea, an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for tissue fluid (CAU-tf-ELISA) was developed using a soluble extract of T. gondii RH strain tachyzoites. As the standard positive controls, the piglets were experimentally infected with T. gondii: Group A (1,000 cysts-containing bradyzoites), Group B (500 cysts-containing bradyzoites) and Group C (1.0×103 or 1.0×104 tachyzoites). The CAU-tf-ELISA demonstrated infection intensity-dependent positivity toward tissue fluids with average cut-off value 0.15: 100% for Group A, 93.8% for Group B and 40.6% for Group C. When tissue-specific cut-off values 0.066–0.199 were applied, CAU-tf-ELISA showed 96.7% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive and 90.0% negative predictive values. When compared with the same tissue fluids, performance of CAU-tf-ELISA was better than that of a commercial ELISA kit. Of the 583 Korea domestic pork samples tested, anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected from 9.1% of whole samples and 37.9% from skirt meat highest among pork parts. In the 386 imported frozen pork samples, 1.8% (skirt meat and shoulder blade) were positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies. In Korea, prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in the pork on retail markets appeared high, suggesting that regulations on pig farming and facilities are necessary to supply safe pork on the tables.
Agriculture ; Antibodies ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Korea ; Meat ; Prevalence ; Red Meat ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Shoulder ; Social Control, Formal ; Toxoplasma

The laryngeal granuloma (LG) is non-neoplastic lesion that mainly develops in the posterior vocal folds. It is welknown that mis- or overuse of voice, habitual coughing, and endotracheal intubation can become the cause of LG. The laryngopharyngeal reflux also comes into the spotlight as an etiologic factor. Although LG has a tendency to recur easily, it is not a premalignant lesion. The co-existence with granuloma and laryngeal cancer has not been reported earlier. Recently, we encountered a 72-year-old man with a posterior glottic mass, which was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma coexisting with granuloma. To our knowledge, this is a first report on two coexisting carcinomas in the glottis.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* ; Cough ; Glottis* ; Granuloma* ; Granuloma, Laryngeal ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; Laryngopharyngeal Reflux ; Neoplasms, Squamous Cell ; Vocal Cords ; Voice

Schwannomas are benign neoplasms arising from the sheath of myelinated nerve fibers and may occur in any part of the body. They mostly occur in the head and neck region, accounting for about 25% to 45% of all cases. The eighth cranial nerve is the most common site of origin. About 4% of all head and neck schwannomas originate in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. The best treatment of schwannomas is surgical excision. Since it is an encapsulated tumor, difficultly is rarely encountered in its complete removal, and recurrence is unlikely. We present a unique and rare case of a 71-year-old man with a recurrent septal mass, finally diagnosed as a schwannoma, with a review of the literature.
Aged ; Head ; Humans ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Septum ; Neck ; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated ; Neurilemmoma* ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Recurrence ; Vestibulocochlear Nerve

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, known as a distinctive type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is an extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma. It most frequently occurs in the stomach but has also been described in various non-gastrointestinal lesions, such as the salivary glands, conjunctiva, thyroid, orbit, lung, breast, kidney, liver, and prostate etc. It occurs very rarely in buccal mucosa. The MALT lymphoma tends to remain localized for long periods and respond to locally direct therapy. We recently encountered an 80-year-old male presenting with a foreign body sensation in the oral cavity; he was finally diagnosed as MALT lymphoma. We report this rare and unique case with a review of literature.
Aged, 80 and over ; Breast ; Conjunctiva ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone* ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Male ; Mouth ; Mouth Mucosa ; Orbit ; Prostate ; Salivary Glands ; Sensation ; Stomach ; Thyroid Gland

In most cases, skull base osteomyelitis arises from infections of external auditory canal, middle ear or paranasal sinuses. On the other hand, atypical or central skull base osteomyelitis has no evidence of external otitis or other infection sources. It is often found located on clivus and involves lower cranial nerves and brainstem through the foramina of skull base. The overall rate of mortality reaches 10% and long-term neurologic sequelae are seen in additional 31% of cases regardless of aggressive treatment. We recently encountered a 68-year-old man with right facial pain and generalized headache, and we achieved good outcome with the recovery of vocal cord palsy and disappearance of headache by surgical debridement and long-term antibiotics. We report it with a review of literature.
Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Brain Stem ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; Cranial Nerve Diseases* ; Cranial Nerves ; Debridement ; Ear Canal ; Ear, Middle ; Facial Pain ; Hand ; Headache ; Humans ; Mortality ; Osteomyelitis* ; Otitis Externa ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Skull Base* ; Vocal Cord Paralysis

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the gender differences in the clinical presentation and treatment patterns between Korean women and men with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data from extensive clinical assessments of 721 patients (162 women and 559 men) with AS, who were diagnosed at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, between January 2000 and September 2009. Clinical data, regarding the disease onset, disease duration, clinical presentations, status of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27, and bone mineral density, were determined using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Finally, we analyzed the medical treatments prescribed for these patients. RESULTS: The ratio of men to women was 3.45:1. Compared to men, women were older at the time of diagnosis, had shorter disease durations, and were diagnosed in earlier stages of the disease. More women had a history of uveitis at diagnosis than men. Back pain was the main presenting symptom, and its prevalence was the same in both genders. Fewer women showed cervical and thoracic axial involvement than men. Initially, more women had wrist and hand pain than men; however, at some point, peripheral arthritis development was equally likely in both genders. Women experienced shoulder pain, during the disease course, more often thanmen. On the other hand, men presented with knee and hip pain more often than women. Sulfasalazine and anti-TNF agents were more often prescribed to women. CONCLUSION: The presentation and progression of AS showed a difference between women and men. Because of these differences, AS should be considered when a women presents with peripheral arthritis or uveitis in the early stage of the disease.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Arthritis ; Back Pain ; Bone Density ; Female ; Hand ; Hip ; Humans ; Knee ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder Pain ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; Sulfasalazine ; Uveitis ; Wrist

While ancient schwannoma (AS) from the cervical sympathetic chain is very rare. Preoperative Horner's syndrome resulting from cervical sympathetic chain schwannoma (CSCS) is extremely rare. A 58-year-old woman visited our clinic with a huge lateral neck mass that had been present for thirteen years. Ptosis and enophthalmos were observed on the left eye. After radiologic evaluation, we assessed the CSCS by performing surgical excision. Finally, pathologic examination revealed it to be AS. There has been no recurrence for 15 months after discharge, however Horner's syndrome has become more prominent. We report this unique case of ancient schwannoma with literature review.
Enophthalmos ; Eye ; Female ; Horner Syndrome ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Neurilemmoma ; Preoperative Period ; Recurrence ; Sympathetic Nervous System