• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.236-241
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• 1992

Background: As well as fiberoptic bronchoscopy, chest computerized tomographic scan can now differentiate the benign from malignant causes and the obstructive from non-obstructive causes of lung collapse. This study was designed to evaluate the usefulness of chest CT scan and fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of middle lobe syndrome. Method: We reviewed the clinical features, roentgenographic changes, pathologic findings and bronchoscopic findings in 16 patients with middle lobe syndrome who were admitted to Severance Hospital during period of January, 1987 through January, 1992. Results: The male to female ratio was 1:1. The most common symptoms were cough and sputums. Crackle was the most common physical finding. Underlying disease was lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis and endobronchial tuberculosis in 3 each other, benign stenosis in 2, lung abscess, broncholithiasis, bronchial chondroma, pneumonia and nonspecific inflammation in 1 each other. Conclusion: We conclude that the combination of chest computerized tomogram and fiberoptic bronchoscopy was most desirable for the diagnosis of middle lobe syndrome.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.223-231
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• 1997

A total of 322 patients with endobronchial tuberculosis (8.1%) out of 3,982 subjects who had a flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopic examination at the Department of Pulmonary Medicine of Hanyang University Hospital between the beginning of March 1982 and the end of April 1996 were included in this study. The peak incidence occurred in the second decade, and the male to female was 1 : 3.0. The barking cough with variable amounts of sputum was the most common chief complaint in 56.9% of the 313 patients. Other complaints included dyspnea, chest pain, fever, hemoptysis, and generalized weakness. Localized wheeze was heard over the chest in 16.9% of the 313 patients. Infiltration/consolidation was the most common roentgenographic finding of the chest in 64.2%. Bronchoscopically, hypertrophy with luminal narrowing was the most common findings in 32.3% of the 322 patients and left main bronchus was the most frequently involved in 24.0%. Using fiberoptic bronchoscopy allows not only substantial meaningful assessment of endobronchial tuberculosis but also makes a differential diagnosis of lung cancer in older patients. We need further evaluations of standard bronchoscopic classification of endobronchial tuberculosis, diagnostic accuracy of endobronchial tuberculosis by PCR, a large prospective study of effects of corticosteroids in endobronchial tuberculosis patients, and appropriate treatment of atelectasis by endobronchial tuberculosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.297-302
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• 2003

Background : Airway obstruction due to blood clot occurs unusually but in a variety of clinical settings. Initial efforts for removal of the endobronchial blood clot involve flexible bronchoscopic evaluation with saline lavage and suctioning and then forceps extraction. If unsuccessful, further options include rigid bronchoscopy, Fogarty catheter dislogement of the clot, and topical thrombolytic agents. The several successful uses of endobronchial streptokinase or urokinase to dissolve an endobronchial blood clot have been previously reported, but not yet in Korea. Herein we describe a 51-year old man with superior vena cava thrombosis secondary to Behcet's disease who experienced life threatening airway obstruction after hemoptysis due to a large organized blood clot in left main bronchus. Urokinase(260,000 U), injected through a fiberoptic bronchoscope, totally dissolved the clot. No complications occurred.

• Medical Lasers
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.55-59
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• 2021

A foreign body in the airway can be a potentially life-threatening event. The diagnosis and treatment of foreign bodies in the airway are a challenge for otolaryngologists. Despite the improvements in medical care and public awareness, approximately 3,000 deaths occur each year from foreign body aspiration. A high degree of vigilance is required to ensure prompt treatment and avoid the complications of foreign body aspiration. The author encountered a case of a 77-year-old female patient who had aspirated an unknown foreign body that was fixed in her main bronchus. An initial attempt was made to remove it with a flexible bronchoscope but failed due to the patient's hypoxemic state during the procedure. Under general anesthesia, a rigid bronchoscopic examination was performed, but it was difficult to approach the object due to the bronchus curvature. Instead, a cryotherapy instrument of bronchoscopy was applied. The foreign body was frozen and removed to the carina, where a laryngoscope and laryngeal forceps were used to remove it.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.6
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• pp.545-550
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• 2009

Background: Endobronchial ultrasonogram (EBUS) has increased the diagnostic yield of a bronchoscopic biopsy of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPL). This study evaluated the diagnostic yield of EBUS-guided transbronchial biopsy (TBB) and the visibility of EBUS PPL. Methods: Between August 2007 and November 2008, 50 patients (32 men and 18 women, median age, 61.1${\pm}$10 yrs; range, 16 to 80 yrs) whose PPL lesions could not be detected with flexible bronchoscopy were enrolled in this study. Among the 50 patients, 40 cases were malignant lesions (adenocarcinoma 25, squamous cell carcinoma 10, small cell carcinoma 5) and 10 cases were benign lesions (tuberculoma 7, fungal ball 1, other inflammation 2). Results: The mean diameter of the target lesion was 35.4${\pm}$4.3 mm. Of the 50 patients examined, the overall diagnostic yield by EBUS-TBLB was 46.0% (23/50). The visualization yield of EBUS was 66.0% (33/50). A definitive diagnosis of PPL localized by EBUS was established using EBUS-TBLB in 69.6% (23/33) of cases. The diagnostic yields from washing cytology and brushing cytology from a bronchus identified by EBUS were 27.0% and 45.4% respectively. The diagnostic yields reached 78.7% when the three tests (washing cytology, brushing cytology and EBUS-TBLB) were combined. The visualization yield of EBUS in lesions <20 mm was significantly lower than that in lesions ${\geq}$20 mm (p=0.04). The presence of a bronchus leading to a lesion (open bronchus sign) on the chest CT scan was associated with a high visualization yield on EBUS (p=0.001). There were no significant complications associated with EBUS-TBLB. Conclusion: EBUS-TBLB is a safe and effective method for diagnosing PPL. The lesion size and open bronchus signs are significant factors for predicting the visualization of EBUS.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.677-684
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• 1995

Background: Broncholithiasis is uncommon but clinically important because it may cause a variety of nonspecific symptoms and signs prior to the onset of lithoptysis, and rarely massive hemoptysis. Method: A retrospective clinical study was done on 11 case of broncholithiasis diagnosed at Kyungpook National University Hospital from Jan. 1985 to Dec. 1993. The study investigated the clinical features, radiologic findings, bronchoscopic findings and management. Results: 1) The common symptoms included cough, dyspnea, hemoptysis, fever and purulent sputum. Lithoptysis occurred in 3 patients. 2) The radiologic findings were variable and nonspecific. Hilar calcification and parenchymal calcification were the most common findings. 3) The bronchoscopy was performed in 10 patients and revealed broncholiths in 9 patients. 4) Chemical composition of broncholiths was analyzed in 2 patients. Calcium carbonate was main component. 5) In 6 out of 9 patients in whom broncholiths was revealed by bronchoscopy, broncholiths were successfully extracted through the flexible bronchoscope. 6) In 9 patients, broncholithiasis was related to tuberculosis and in 1 case, related to silicosis. Conclusion: Broncholithiasis shows a variable clinical spectrum. Tuberculosis is the most common cause of broncholithiasis. In the case of no accompanied complication, nonsurgical management such as bronchoscopic removal and conservative therapy is an effective measure.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.110-115
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• 2009

Background: A forceps-biopsy is performed to acquire tissue from patients with an endobronchial carcinoma using a flexible bronchoscope. Recently, a cryo-biopsy has also been used to acquire tissue samples. Cryo-biopsy is the diagnostic application of extreme cold for the local destruction of abnormal living tissue. This technique is safe, with no radiation danger, no risk of electrical accidents, and a little risk of bleeding. This study compared a forceps-biopsy with a cryo-biopsy using a flexible bronchoscope, and examined the chemosensitivity and level of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) in the specimens obtained from the cryo-biopsy. Methods: We present a prospective study of 30 consecutive patients who underwent a forceps-biopsy between January 2007 and October 2007 with a mean age of 62.1 years and a male:female ratio of 5 : 1. A flexible bronchoscope was inserted to the area of the abnormal lesions, and a cryo-probe was then applied through the working channel of the flexible bronchoscope. A temperature of approximately -h80 was delivered to the tumor site for 8 seconds. The cryo-biopsy was performed after destroying the tumor mass. Results: The mean size of the tissue from the forceps-biopsy and cryo-biopsy were 2.0${\pm}$1.2 mm and 6.0${\pm}$3.0 mm. A chemosensitivity test was performed on 5 specimens obtained using cryo-biopsy and the level of VEGF was examined in 2 specimens obtained from a cryo-biopsy. There were no side effects in either group. Conclusion: Cryo-biopsy using a flexible bronchoscope is a safe and effective technique for acquiring tissue samples.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.75-80
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• 2009

A 44 year-old nonsmoker female presented to our hospital with persistent cough with sputum for three months. She had been diagnosed as pneumonia and treated with antibiotics in a local hospital but was transferred to our hospital because of no symptomatic improvement. We performed flexible bronchoscopy and found an ovoid and smooth surfaced mass obstructing the bronchus of right middle lobe. The biopsy specimen revealed a benign tumor composed of spindle cells without dysplasia consistent with leiomyoma. There was no evidence of leiomyoma in uterus. The right middle lobectomy and bronchoplasty were performed and the patient was healthy twelve months later. Primary endobronchial leiomyoma is a rare benign tumor of the lung. Herein we report a case of primary endobronchial leiomyoma diagnosed during treatment of pneumonia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 1993

30 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax underwent videothoracoscopic treatment between March and July 1992. The patients ranged in age from 16 years to 62 years (mean age, 30.4 years) and the incidence according to age group was highest as 50 % in the adolescence between 21 and 30 years old. The indications of the therapeutic videothoracoscopy for spontaneous pneumothorax were recurrence (30.8％), persistent air leak (30.8％), visible blebs on the chest X-ray (20.4％), tension pneumothorax (15.4％), and bilaterality (2.6％). Intraoperative scopic findings were as follows; blebs (87.1％), pleural adhesion (45.2％), and pleural effusion (22.6％). The operation was performed under general anesthesia with one lung intubation guided by flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Procedures included bleb and/or wedge resection, tetracycline pleurodesis with mechanical abrasion, and parietal pleurectomy. Successful treatment was obtained in 66.7％ (20/30) and the mean postoperative hospital stay of the successful cases was 5 days. Videothoracoscopy also provided the benefits of lesser postoperative pain, rapid recovery, short hospitalization, and smaller scar of wound by reduced trauma on access. The total 13 postoperative complications were occured in 10 patients, which showed somewhat higher rate than that of other reports because of lack of experiences in the earlier period, however, it had decreased progressively as experiences were accumulated and instruments were improved in the later period. The operative mortality was absent. Conclusively, videothoracoscopy is a new interesting modality of surgical treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax and also can be extensively applicable in the diagnosis and treatment of other thoracic surgery.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.78-81
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• 2004

A 73-year-old man who had undergone a right pneumonectomy and open window thoracostomy due to tuberculous empyema, presented with purulent discharge from the previous operation site. The computed tomography of the chest showed diffuse pleural thickening and a low attenuated lesion, with air bubbles in a dependent portion of the right hemithorax. These air bubbles were revealed to be due to 7 pieces of retained surgical gauze by flexible bronchoscopy. The patient showed marked clinical improvement with diminished purulent discharge after removal of the foreign bodies.