• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2011

서 론 : 미세갑상선유두상암종 환자에서 불필요한 예방적 중앙 림프절절제술을 피하기 위해서 림프절 전이를 수술 전에 예측하는 수단이 필요하다. 림프관 생성 및 성장의 조절에 VEGF-C/D, VEGFR-3 pathway, podoplain이 관여된다는 사실이 밝혀져 있다. 림프관 생성 및 성장과 관련된 인자인 VEGF-C/D, podoplanin에 대한 면역조직화학염색과 반정량적 분석을 통해 미세갑상선유두상암종에서 림프절전이와의 관련성을 확인하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법 : 2006년 9월부터 2008년 6월까지 본원에서 미세갑상선유두상암종으로 진단받고 1인 술자에 의해 갑상선 전 절제술 및 예방적 중앙 림프절절제술을 받은 104명의 환자 중 중앙 림프절 전이가 있었던 환자와 없었던 환자를 각각 25명씩 무작위로 선별하여 종양부위에 면역화학염색을 실시하여 림프관생성인자의 발현 정도를 비교하였다. 결 과 : 대상군 50예 중 VEGF-C/D는 50예(100%) 모두 발현이 되었고 podoplanin은 33예(66%)에서 발현이 되었다. 그 중 VEGF-C는 10예(20%)에서 약한 양성, 37예(74%)에서 중등도 양성, 3예(6%)에서 강한 양성소견을 보였고 VEGF-D는 9예(18%)에서 약한 양성, 37예(74%)에서 중등도 양성, 4예(8%)에서 강한 양성소견을 보였다. 중앙 림프절 전이 음성 환자 군과 양성 환자 군으로 분류하였을 때 VEGF-C/D의 발현율의 차이는 p-value가 각각 0.48, 1.00으로 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. 50예 전체를 대상으로 하여 종양의 개수, 최대크기, 검출된 전체 림프절의 수, 양성 림프절의 수, 주변조직 침범여부에 따른 VEGF-C/D의 발현도 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. Podoplanin의 경우 염색 여부에 따라 양성군과 음성군으로 나누어 분석하였을 때 종양의 개수, 최대크기, 검출된 림프절의 수, 양성 림프절의 수, 주변조직 침범여부도 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. 결 론 : VEGF-C/D는 대상군 전체(100%)에서 발현이 되었고 podoplanin은 66%에서 발현이 되었다. 림프관 생성인자로 알려진 VEGF-C/D및 podoplanin이 미세갑상선유두상암종에서 많이 발현이 되는 것으로 보아 위 인자들이 림프절 전이를 일으키는 인자 중 하나로 생각된다. 하지만 미세갑상선유두상암종에서 중앙 림프절 전이를 예측할 수 있는 인자로 부적합 한 것으로 생각되며 향후 더 많은 증례를 통해 관련성 여부에 대한 연구가 필요하고 또 다른 인자의 관련성에 대해서 연구가 필요하겠다.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.5
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• pp.1246-1257
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• 2021

Purpose To assess the predictive factors and describe the imaging features of mediastinal lymph node (MLN) metastases in patients with head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods We compared the clinical features and disease characteristics (sex, age, site of primary tumor, histologic type, history of prior treatments, TNM stages, and metastasis in cervical LNs) of patients with head and neck cancers between the MLN metastasis and no MLN metastasis groups. We also evaluated the chest CT (distribution and maximum dimension of the largest LN) and PET/CT (maximum standardized uptake value) features of MLN metastases based on the MLN classification. Results Of the 470 patients with head and neck cancer, 55 (11.7%) had MLN metastasis, involving 150 mediastinal stations. Hypopharynx cancer, recurrent tumor, T4 stage, N2/N3 stages, and M1 stage were found to be significant predicting factors for MLN metastasis. The most common location of MLN metastasis was ipsilateral station 2 (upper paratracheal LNs, 36.4%), followed by ipsilateral station 11 (interlobar LNs, 27.3%) and ipsilateral station 10 (hilar LNs, 25.5%). Conclusion Metastasis to MLNs should be considered in patients with head and neck cancer, especially in cases that are associated with a hypopharyngeal cancer, recurrent tumor, and high TNM stages.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.665-671
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• 2004

Background: Lymph node metastasis is commonly reported in thoracic esophageal cancer, even in the early esophageal cancer which may be localized only in the mucosa or within the submucosal layer. Although lymph node metastasis greatly influence long-term outcome and cure of the disease, endoscopic mucosal resection or photodynamic therapy without lymph node dissection is widely attempted. The investigation of the pattern of lymph node metastasis and results of surgical resection of superficial esophageal cancer is needed. Material and Method: Pattern of lymph node metastsis and depth of tumor invasion were studied retrospectively from 44 patients with early esophageal cancer who underwent radical resection of the tumor from December, 1995 to August, 2001. Result: Lymph node metastasis was found in 10 patients (22.7%) out of total of 44 patients. Lymph node metastasis was found in 0% (0 of 3), 0% (0 of 4), 50% (2 of 4), and 24.24% (8 of 33) of tumors that invaded the intraepitherium, lamina propria, muscularis mucosa, and submucosa respectively. Anatomically distant lymph node metastases were found more frequently in recurrent laryngeal nerve node(5 cases of 10 patients) and in intraperitoneal node (8 cases of 10). than intrathoracic node (3 cases of 10). There was no operative mortality, however, there were 1 hospital death in patient with lamina propria cancer, 1 late death in patient with submucosal cancer. Three-year survival rates (except hospital death) were 100% in mucosal cancer and 97.0% in submucosal cancer (p>0.05), and 100% in the node negative group and 90.0% in the node positive group (p>0.05). Conclusion: The survival rate of superficial esophageal cancer patient who was recieved operative resection was excellent. But, lymph node metastasis were found in superficial esophageal cancer, even in esophageal cancer limited to the muscularis mucosa. Systemic lymph node dissection which includes recurrent laryngeal nerve nodes and intraperitoneal nodes was recommended for favorable outcome in superficial esophageal cancer.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.154-160
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• 2006

Purpose: According to the 2nd English Edition of the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association (JGCA) in 1998, in case of distal gastric cancer, the 14v (superior mesenteric vein) lymph node (LN) is included in the N2 group. However, in Korea, a modified radical gastrectomy is performed, and a 14v LN dissection is not done as a routine procedure. Thus, we investigated the rate of metastatic 14v LNs, evaluated the necessity of dissection of the 14v LN, and searched for indications of 14v LN dissection. Materials and Methods: From April 2004 to August 2005, we enrolled the patients who were diagnosed as having advanced gastric cancer in the distal third portion of the stomach. We peformed a distal gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection as defined in the 2nd English edition of the JGCA classification. We calculated the positive rate of metastatic LNs of each station and analyzed the relationship between the positive rates of No.6 LNs and 14v LNs. We also compared the positive 14v LN group with the negative 14v LN group. Results: The total number of patients was 50, the mean age was 56 (range $30{\sim}80$) years, and sex ratio (Male/Female) was 1.63 : 1. In 47 (94%) cases, distal a gastrectomy with gastroduodenostomy was done, and in the remaining 3 (6%) cases, a distal gastrectomy with gastrojejunostomy was done. The most frequently metastatic LNs were nos. 3 and 6 (54%). The metastatic rate of the f4v LN was 10%, which was similar to that of LN no. 9. In the comparison of the 14v positive group with the 14v negative group, there were significant differences in the numbers of metastatic LNs (mean 25.4 vs 4.91, P<0.001) and the numbers of metastatic no. 6 LNs, (mean 6.8 vs 1.42, P<0.001), and if no. 6 LNs were metastatic, the possibility of metastasis to the 14v LN was 19.2%. In the 14v positive group, all cases were more than stage 3 by the UICC 6th edition. Conclusion: In cases of advanced cancer with metastasis to the no. 6 IN, there was a good chance of metastasis to the 14v LN. Thus, in the operative field, if the tumor is advanced to more than stage 3 by the UICC classification and the no. 6 LN is metastatic, a 14v LN dissection is necessary. However, the usefulness of a 14v LN dissection should be evaluated prospectively through an analysis of tumor recurrence and long-term survival.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.3 s.19
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• pp.163-168
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• 2005

Purpose: We analyzed cases of advanced gastric cancer (AGC) by using two nodal stagings, UICC and Japanese systems. We also analyzed cases of UICC N3M0 by different ways to see which nodal system or group had better prognostic power. Materials and Methods: From Feb. 1990 to May 2000, 197 UICC M0 patients of AGC who had undergone curative resection were analyzed by using the nodal stagings of the UICC and the Japanese systems. Also, 58 patients with UICC N3M0 gastric cancer were analyzed by using the Japanese n-staging, metastatic ratio and the metastatic number Results: The 5-year survival rates were 62.9%, 33.0% and 21.2% for UICC N1, N2 and N3, and 61.2% and 25.3% for Japanese n1 and n2, respectively in patients of N3M0 AGC, the 5-year survival rates were 62.5% for Japanese n1, and 33.0% and 22.9% for metastatic ratios of less than 0.5 and metastatic numbers below 26, respectively significantly better than the 5-year survival rates for higher ratios and numbers (P=0.018, 0.021). Conclusion: UICC N staging of gastric cancer has better prognostic power with differentiation between stages than Japanese n staging. In patients with UICC N3M0 gastric cancer, the metastatic ratio and the metastatic number, as well as the Japanese n staging, were valuable prognostic factors.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.478-486
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• 2000

Purpose: The sentinel lymph node is defined as the first draining node from a primary tumor and reflects the histologic feature of the remainder of the lymphatic basin status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative radioguided gamma probe for identification and removal of sentinel lymph node in breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Lymphoscintigraphy was performed preoperatively in 15 patients with biopsy proven primary breast cancer. Tc-99m antimony sulfide colloid was injected intradermally at four points around the tumor. Imaging acquisition included dynamic imaging, followed by early and late static images at 2 hours. The sentinel lymph node criteria on lymphoscintigraphy is the first node of the highest uptake in early and late static images. We tagged the node emitting the highest activity both in vivo and ex vivo. Histologic study for sentinel and axillary lymph node investigation was done by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining. Results: On lymphoscintigraphy, three of 15 patients had clear lymphatic vessels in dynamic images, and 11 of 15 patients showed sentinel lymph node in early static image and three in late static 2 hours image. Mean detection time of sentinel lymph node on lymphoscintigraphy was $33.5{\pm}48.4$ minutes. The sentinel lymph node localization and removal by lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative gamma probe were successful in 14 of 15 patients (detection rate: 93.3%). On lymphoscintigraphy, 14 of 15 patients showed $2.47{\pm}2.00$ sentinel lymph nodes. On intraoperative gamma probe, $2.36{\pm}1.96$ sentinel lymph nodes were detected. In 7 patients with positive results of sentinel lymph node metastasis, 5 patients showed positive results of axillary lymph node (sensitivity: 72%) but two did not. In 7 patients with negative results of sentinel lymph node metastasis, all axillary nodes were free of disease (specificity: 100%). Conclusion: Sentinel lymph node biopsy with lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative gamma probe is a reliable method to predict axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer, and unnecessary axillary lymph node dissection can be avoided.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2014

Purpose: As PET-MRI which has excellent soft tissue contrast is developed as integration system, many researches about clinical application are being conducted by comparing with existing display equipments. Because PET-MRI is actively used for head and neck cancer diagnosis in our hospital, lymph node metastasis before the patient's surgery was diagnosed and clinical usefulness of head and neck cancer PET-MRI scan was evaluated using pathological opinions and idiopathy surrounding tissue metastasis evaluation method. Materials and Methods: Targeting 100 head and neck cancer patients in SNUH from January to August in 2013. $^{18}F-FDG$ (5.18 MBq/kg) was intravenous injected and after 60 min of rest, torso (body TIM coil, Vibe-Dixon) and dedication (head-neck TIM coil, UTE, Dotarem injection) scans were conducted using $Bio-graph^{TM}$ mMR 3T (SIEMENS, Munich). Data were reorganized using iterative reconstruction and lymph node metastasis was read with Syngo.Via workstation. Subsequently, pathological observations and diagnosis before-and-after surgery were examined with integrated medical information system (EMR, best-care) in SNUH. Patient's diagnostic information was entered in each category of $2{\times}2$ decision matrix and was classified into true positive (TP), true negative (TN), false positive (FP) and false negative (FN). Based on these classified test results, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, false negative and false positive rate were calculated. Results: In PET-MRI scan results of head and neck cancer patients, positive and negative cases of lymph node metastasis were 49 and 51 cases respectively and positive and negative lymph node metastasis through before-and-after surgery pathological results were 46 and 54 cases respectively. In both tests, TP which received positive lymph node metastasis were analyzed as 34 cases, FP which received positive lymph node metastasis in PET-MRI scan but received negative lymph node metastasis in pathological test were 4 cases, FN which received negative lymph node metastasis but received positive lymph node metastasis in pathological test was 1 case, and TN which received negative lymph node metastasis in both two tests were 50 cases. Based on these data, sensitivity in PET-MRI scan of head and neck cancer patient was identified to be 97.8%, specificity was 92.5%, accuracy was 95%, FN rate was 2.1% and FP rate was 7.00% respectively. Conclusion: PET-MRI which can apply the acquired functional information using high tissue contrast and various sequences was considered to be useful in determining the weapons before-and-after surgery in head and neck cancer diagnosis or in the evaluation of recurrence and remote detection of metastasis and uncertain idiopathy cervical lymph node metastasis. Additionally, clinical usefulness of PET-MRI through pathological test and integrated diagnosis and follow-up scan was considered to be sufficient as a standard diagnosis scan of head and neck cancer, and additional researches about the development of optimum MR sequence and clinical application are required.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.70-78
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• 2008

Purpose: VEGF-C and VEGF-D are angiogenetic factors, and abnormal expression of E-cadherin hasa role in the progression of gastric carcinoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the expression of E-cadherin, VEGF-C and VEGF-D with the presence of lymph node metastases (LNM) using cytokeratin 18 in early gastric cancer (EGC). Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemical staining for E-cadherin, VEGF-C and VEGF-D was performed in 49 EGC patients from March 1997 to December 2002. To evaluate the real extent of LNM, 1,562 lymph nodes from 49 patients were re-examined with the use of cytokeratin 18. Results: Eleven (0.7%) LNM were newly found in 12.2% (n=6) of patients. The real LNM rate was 3.6% in mucosal invasive (m) cancer and 38.1% in submucosal invasive (sm). Stage migration was seen in three patients (6.1%). Abnormal expression of E-cadherin was detected in 36.7% of the patients and expression of VEGF-C and VEGF-D was detected in 16.3% and 36.7% of the patients, respectively. Abnormal expression of E-cadherin was significantly correlated with tumor differentiation (P=0.0103) and Lauren classification (P<0.0001). There was no positive relationship of VEGF-C and VEGF-D expression with the clinicopathological findings for EGC including LNM. However, the frequency of lymph node metastases was significantly higher in patients that demonstrated abnormal expression of E-cadherin with positive immunoreactivity of VEGF-C or VEGF-D (P=0.031). Conclusion: In present study, we could not demonstrate a relationship between the presence of LNM and expression of VEGF-C and VEGF-D in EGC. However, VEGF-C or VEGF-D expression, in addition to the abnormal expression of E-cadherin, was correlated with the real extent of LNM in EGC.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.81 no.4
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• pp.933-938
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• 2020

Brachiocephalic venous aneurysm (BVA) development is an extremely rare, particularly as a primary vascular disorder. BVAs may be misinterpreted as lymphadenopathies owing to the variable degrees of enhancement seen in imaging studies, especially among patients with underlying malignancy. We report a BVA that mimicked lymph node metastasis on CT in a 60-year-old female who had undergone subtotal gastrectomy for stomach cancer. After follow-up chest CT with different bolus times and Doppler ultrasonography, a venous aneurysm originating from the brachiocephalic vein was diagnosed. We emphasize that, to make an accurate diagnosis, physicians should be aware of the potential diagnostic pitfalls and have a high index of suspicion for BVA when encountering certain lesions in the cervical area.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.1
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• pp.239-245
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• 2022

Contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis is a rare entity in breast cancer and is currently classified as a distant metastasis; however, recent studies have proposed aggressive curative treatment since this entity may manifest as a locoregional disease. Herein, we report a rare case of contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis that presented with imaging findings 22 months after the initial breast cancer diagnosis in a 67-year-old female. The patient underwent lymph node dissection of the axilla with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. A follow-up examination 6 months after surgery showed no evidence of tumor recurrence or metastasis.