• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.70-73
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• 2008

A 65 year-old man with hepatocellulcar carcinoma (HCC) admitted to treat left lower leg swelling and pus discharge suspecting osteomyelitis. MRI of his lower leg revealed the bone metastasis. Whole body FDG PET/CT additionally detected left shoulder and right ilium metastasis. Hematemesis suddenly developed in this patient after 3 weeks. Metastasis of right tonsil was histologically proven. When we reviewed his FDG PET/CT, there was asymmetric mild hypermetabolism in the right tonsil. When focal hypermetabolism is shown in the organ physiologically taking glucose up such as tonsil, we should cautiously assess whole body PET/CT in the examination of distant metastasis. We present a patient with multiple distant metastasis including tonsil from HCC showing increased FDG uptake with the literature review.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.370-373
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• 2006

The case of postoperative hemorrhage occurring apart from the operative site as a complication of intracranial surgery is a rare malady, especially when it involves the cerebellum after supratentorial aneurysm surgery. In a review of the literature, the possible etiologies for cerebellar hemorrhage are: coagulopathy, intraoperative urokinase irrigation, excessive head rotation on positioning, brain shift due to excessive cerebrospinal fluid[CSF] and epidural hemovac drainage. We experienced six cases of cerebellar hemorrhage after supratentorial aneurysm surgery, and all of the patients were improved by instituting conservative medical treatment. The possible mechanism for the remote cerebellar hemorrhages seen in our series is probably a multifactorial effect, such as excessive epidural hemovac and CSF drainage, and jugular venous compression due to the operative position. The purpose of this report is to alert neurosurgeons to the existence of this syndrome and to suggest several ways of minimizing the possibility of their patients developing remote cerebellar hemorrhage.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.175-179
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• 2006

Objective : The surgical outcome of anterior lumbar interbody fusion[ALlF] with pedicle screw fixation for elderly isthmic spondylolisthesis was analyzed. Methods : Consecutive nineteen elderly patients [aged 65 years or more] with isthmic spondylolisthesis [Grade I or II] who underwent single level ALIF with pedicle screw fixation in 2002 were analyzed. Using clinical chart and mailed questionnaires, preoperative and postoperative Visual Analogue Scale[VAS] of back and leg pain and postopertive Macnab criteria were evaluated. Results : The mean age at the time of operation was 68.4 years [range 65 to 78 years]. Twelve patients underwent ALIF with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation. Seven patients underwent ALIF followed by posterior decompression and pedicle screw fixation. The postoperative complication rate was 10.5% [wound dehiscence in 1 patient and incisional hernia in 1 patient]. There was no postoperative major morbidity or mortality. At a mean follow-up duration of 30.7 months [range 25 to 35 months], 93.3% [14/15] of the patients showed excellent or good outcomes in terms of Macnab criteria. The mean VAS scores of back pain and leg pain significantly decreased after surgery. Conclusion : ALIF with pedicle screw fixation yielded favorable results for elderly isthmic spondylolisthesis in selected cases.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.110-113
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• 2006

Surgery and radiotherapy are mainly used for plasma cell neoplasm which constitutes about $1{\sim}2%$ of human malignancy. The authors carried out Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy[FSRT] on the residual tumor after the subtotal removal of Intracranial plasmacytoma. A huge mass lesion was observed on MRI [magnetic resonance image] in the left anterior and middle cranial fossa of a 63-year-old man with left exophthalmus which lasted for a month, and was suspected as a meningioma with strong contrast enhancement. Extramedullary plasmacytoma was diagnosed on histopathological examination. After the surgery, FSRT was also carried out on the residual tumor which invaded the skull base. One-year follow up after FSRT showed contrast enhancement only in the left sphenoid bone on MRI, which indicated significant decrease in the size of the tumor without any abnormal neurologic deficits. We treated intracranial plasmacytoma which invaded left anterior and middle cranial fossa and surrounded cavernous sinus without cranial nerve deficit through subtotal tumor removal and FSRT.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.153-160
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• 2022

This retrospective study reports the effectiveness of Daoyin exercise therapy in a patient with lower back pain who suffered from idiopathic scoliosis. A patient was treated with Korean medicine containing Daoyin exercise therapy for 4 weeks. The patient was assessed for the numeral rating scale (NRS), Cobb's angle, correctability, and coronal balance. After treatment, the NRS of low back pain decreased from 9 to 1. The Cobb's angle of the thoracic curve decreased from 27.31° to 17.66°. The Cobb's angle of the lumbar curve decreased from 21.86° to 9.05°. Correctabililty was 35.34% in the thoracic curve and 58.60% in the lumbar curve. And coronal balance decreased from positive 32.80 mm to negative 3.20 mm. This study suggests that Daoyin exercise therapy could be effective therapeutic choice for lower back pain with idiopathic scoliosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.312-314
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• 2024

A 3-year-old boy with Glenn physiology exhibited refractory heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. To improve the patient's oxygen saturation, he underwent ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation with concomitant Fontan completion. The extracardiac conduit Fontan operation was performed with a 4-mm fenestration. For VAD implantation, Berlin Heart cannulas were positioned at the left ventricular apex and the neo-aorta. Following weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, a temporary continuous-flow VAD, equipped with an oxygenator, was utilized for support. After a stabilization period of 1 week, the continuous-flow VAD was replaced with a durable pulsatile-flow device. Following 3 months of support, the patient underwent transplantation without complications. The completion of the Fontan procedure at the time of VAD implantation, along with the use of a temporary continuous-flow device with an oxygenator, may aid in stabilizing postoperative hemodynamics. This approach could contribute to a safe transition to a durable pulsatile VAD in patients with Glenn physiology.

• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.152-162
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• 2024

Objective: Stroke is the second-leading cause of death globally. Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) represents 10-15% of ischemic strokes in Western countries and up to 47% in Asian countries. Patients with ICAS have an especially high risk of stroke recurrence. The aim of this meta-analysis is to reassess recurrent stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), and other outcomes with stenting versus best medical management for symptomatic ICAS. Methods: The search protocol was developed a priori according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The OVID Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception to August 14th, 2022. Results: This meta-analysis included four randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with a total number of 991 patients. The mean age of participants was 57 years. The total number of intracranial stenting patients was 495, and the number of medical treatment patients was 496. The included studies were published between 2011 and 2022. Two studies were conducted in the USA, and the other two in China. All included studies compared intracranial stenting to medical treatment for ICAS. Conclusions: In patients with ischemic stroke due to symptomatic severe intracranial atherosclerosis, the rate of 30-day ischemic stroke, 30-day intracerebral hemorrhage, one-year stroke in territory or mortality favored the medical treatment alone without intracranial stenting. The risk of same-territory stroke at last follow-up, disabling stroke at last follow-up, and mortality did not significantly favor either group. Intracranial stenting for atherosclerosis did not result in significant benefit over medical treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.206-210
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• 2008

Background: Although the cause of hyperhidrosis has not been the subject of close investigation, there are cases for which excessive sweating happens at the hands, feet and armpits due to hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system. This usually occurs in people less than 25 years old and it often causes difficulties for their social and occupational life and there is a decrease in the quality of life. Therefore, this should also be examined according to the mental state of the patient who suffers from hyperhidrosis. Methods: The Minnesota Multiple Personality Inventory was administered to 59 patients in the Hyperhidrosis Center from March, 2006 to March, 2007. The MMPI's validity and 10 clinic standards were analyzed. The results were compared according to gender and age. Results: Of the standard clinical items, psychopathy and conversion hysteria were 21.1% and 17.5%, respectively. On comparison between males (47.5%) and females (52.5%), the females had a higher score for the hypochondriasis item. The patients above 18 years old had a significantly higher level of hypochondriasis and hypomania compared to the patients below 18 years old. Conclusions: When analyzing the personality of the patients with essential hyperhidrosis with using the MMPI, it was difficult to look for relations with the mental factor. Therefore, it is necessary to develop diagnostic tests for younger people with considering the relations with the period of morbidity.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.148-153
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• 2006

Objective : The authors conducted this study to present the long-term treatment outcomes [minimum 2 years] of Gamma knife radiosurgery[GKS] for trigeminal neuralgia[TN] and to demonstrate the correlation of treatment outcomes and the anatomical characteristics of TN. Methods : From 1997 to 2003, 44 consecutive patients suffering from medically intractable pain underwent GKS for TN. A single 4mm collimator was used with a median maximum dose of 80Gy [range $75{\sim}80Gy$] prescribed to the root entry zone of the trigeminal nerve. Median follow up duration was 30 months [range $24{\sim}78\;months$]. Anatomical measurements of trigeminal nerve in magnetic resonance images during GKS planning were correlated with clinical outcome. Results : Twenty-two patients [50%] achieved an excellent outcome [BNI grade I & II], 20 patients [45.5%] a good outcome [grade IIIa & IIIb], and only 2 patients [4.5%] a poor outcome [grade IV & V]. Eleven patients [25.0%] experienced pain recurrence after initial pain relief. Smaller volume of trigeminal nerve area irradiated more than 40Gy was significantly correlated with excellent outcome in both univariate and multivariate analyses respectively [P=0.033 and 0.040]. Conclusion : Anatomical considerations during the planning of GKS would be helpful for predicting clinical outcome in TN.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 2007

Background: We evaluated the role and effects of prolotherapy in patients presenting with lower back pain and detected sacral asymlocation, by retrospectively analyzing the results of prolotherapy performed at our institute. Methods: Twenty-three patients with referred pain in the lower back rather than distinct radiculopathy, were detected to have sacral asymlocation by simple X-ray from May 2004 through July 2005. The patients were treated with prolotherapy and manipulation by the Ongley's method around the lumbosacral junction, iliolumbar ligament, and sacroiliac joint. They were treated for approximately one to two week intervals, and during this period were rechecked by X-ray and evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: A total of 23 patients were included in the study (10 male and 13 female), and the average age was 41 years. The average VAS at the time of visit was B.5, the average treatment time was 4,7 days, and the average VAS after treatment was 2.1. Conclusions: Back pain, and associated leg and buttock pain, originate from several causes. In these case analyses, instability around the lumbosacral area and sacral asymlocation might have been important causes of patient back pain and associated buttock and leg pain. We therefore applied prolotherapy as well as manipulation techniques devised by Ongley to these patients, and obtained good results.